Shri Vasuprada Plantations Ltd - Stock Valuation and Financial Performance

Joonktollee Tea & Industries was established 134 years ago, on August 6, 1874. John Elliot was appointed to manage the affairs of a small tea estate in Upper Assam. The name is today synonymous with premium black and green teas.

In 1920’s the Elliot clan handed over the management and control to the managing agency of Kettlewell Bullen & Co. Ltd. Subsequently, in the year 1954, the house of Bangurs acquired the managing agency and the company and brought them under their fold. The name of the company was changed to “Joonktollee Tea & Industries” (JTIL). Since then the company has been under the management of the Bangurs. Over the years, the company has grown in stature and size and is a leader in producing quality teas and enjoying one of the best Assam CTC mark in North India. From a leading mark in premium orthodox teas, the company, changing with the times, is now regarded as one of the best Assam CTC mark and does have an unstinted track record of the business with the brand. Its green teas are also one of its kinds.

The performance on the financial front has also been spectacular. The company’s ordinary capital of Rs.80,000 has grown to Rs 323.36 lakh. The company has an uninterrupted dividend record for over 50 years. JTIL entered the new millennium with a vision to improve its performance on all fronts with the continued support of its shareholders, workers, staff, management and above all the connoisseurs of premium teas the world over.

To have a large capital base and net worth, two south India based plantation companies, viz. The Kalasa Tea  Produce Company Limited and Cowcoody Estates Limited belonging to the house of Bangurs stood merged with this company w.e.f. 1st April, 2001. The area of operation of the company was enlarged and diversified, since apart from tea, the transferor companies also deal in other plantation crops, viz., coffee, pepper, cardamom, areca, vanilla etc.

With a view to consolidate the resources of the company and to carry out the agro base activities more conveniently and advantageously with a larger asset base the company entered into Scheme of Arrangement w.e.f. 1st October, 2006 under which a subsidiary and six other companies merged with JTIL and certain assets were transferred to other subsidiary companies. The high courts of Kolkata, Chennai and Guwahati sanctioned the Scheme of Arrangement as per the terms consented by the shareholders and the financial results of 31st March, 2008 were prepared after giving effect of the aforesaid scheme.

Products:

• Tea• Coffee• Rubber

Divisions:

1. Plantation Division – North India

• Joonktollee Tea Estate

Joonktollee Tea Estate is situated in Barbam, Dibrugarh District of Upper Assam. The total area of the estate comprises 1867.98 acres, out of which 1202.82 acres is under plantation.

• Nilomoni Tea Estate

During the year 2004-2005, JTIL acquired controlling interest in Shyam Sundar Tea Co. Pvt. Ltd. (owner of Nilmoni Tea Estate) to ensure greater availability of green leaf to the expanded Joonktollee Tea Factory.

2. Plantation Division – South India

• Goomankhan Estate

The estate is situated at Hirebile, P.O. 577121, Chikmagalur District, Karnataka and produces multiple crops viz. tea, coffee, black pepper & areca. Its predominant crop being black tea, has an installed capacity of 8,25,000 Kg of made tea. The total area of the estate is 1015 acres of which planted area is 843 acres.

• Cowcoody Estate

Cowcoody Estate is located in the Western Ghats of South India at 3200 to 4000 Feet above MSL, in Coorg District, Somwarpet, in Karnataka. The estate is primarily engaged in the cultivation and production of coffee, apart from minor produces comprising of cardamom, black pepper, etc. Out of the total coffee production, 80% is parchment coffee.

Subsidiaries:

1. Jamirah Tea Company:

The company acquired controlling stake in Jamirah Tea Company during the financial year 2008-09 by investing Rs 1097 lakh. Jamirah Tea Company became the subsidiary of JTIL with effect from July 23, 2008. Jamirah Tea Company has a tea estate namely Jamirah Tea Estate near Dibrugarh, Assam with a capacity to produce 10 lakh kg of made tea.

2. Cochin Malabar Estates And Industries:

Cochin Malabar Estates And Industries was incorporated on March 14, 1930 and has been carrying on the business of rubber plantation in the states of Kerala & Karnataka. With the exit of  Jimmy Gazdar, the erstwhile promoter in 2006, the Bangurs have become the promoters of Cochin Malabar Estates And Industries Limited holding 53% of the paid up capital approx.

3. Gloster Real Estate:

Gloster Real Estate is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company incorporated on September 26, 2006 under the Companies Act, 1956 under the Registrar of Companies, West Bengal. It was incorporated with the main object of carrying out and to act as a constructing, creating, improving, altering, developing all types of infrastructural facilities relating to township project such as road, ropeways, dams, bridges, hotels etc. Gloster Real Estate Private Limited has real estate property in Kolkata generating a rental income.

4. Cowcoody Builders:

Cowcoody Builders is a wholly owned subsidiary of JTIL incorporated on September 26, 2006 under the Companies Act, 1956 under the Registrar of Companies, West Bengal. It was incorporated with the main object of carrying out and to act as a constructing, creating, improving, altering, developing all types of infrastructural facilities relating to township project such as road, ropeways, dams, bridges, hotels etc. Cowcoody Builders Private limited has real estate property in Coimbatore and Sreerampore, Kolkata generating a rental income and a building in Jaipur.

5. Pranav Infradev Company:

Pranav Infradev Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company incorporated on September 26, 2006 under the Companies Act, 1956 under the Registrar of Companies, West Bengal. It was incorporated with the main object of carrying out and to act as a constructing, creating, improving, altering, developing all types of infrastructural facilities relating to township project such as road, ropeways, dams, bridges, hotels etc.  Pranav Infradev Company Private Limited has real estate property near EM Bypass in Kolkata which will be developed.

Group Companies:

• Kettlewell Bullen & Company

• Phosphate Company

• Port Shipping Company

• Oriental Company

• Madhav Trading Corporation

• Cambay Investment Corporation

• Kherapati Vanijya

Certificates and Awards:

• ISO 22000 - Plantation, Processing, Marketing & Distrbution of Tea

• ISO 9000: 2008 - Marketing & Distribution of Tea

• ISO 9000: 2008 - Procession of Tea Leaves

• IILY 2008 - 6th India Coffee Quality Prize for 'Expresso' 2007-2008 (Classified 3rd)

• IILY 2008 - 6th India Coffee Quality Prize for 'Expresso' 2007-2008

• Golden Leaf 2007 - The Golden Leaf India Awards 2006-2007

• Golden Leaf 2005 - The Golden Leaf India Awards 2004-2005

• IILY 2005 - 3rd India Coffee Quality Prize for 'Expresso' 2004-2005  â€¢ IILY 2004 - 2nd India Coffee Quality Prize for 'Expresso' 2003-2004