Madras Aluminium Company Ltd - Stock Valuation and Financial Performance

Madras Aluminium Company (MALCO) is part of Vedanta Resources, a London-listed metals and mining major with aluminium, copper and zinc operations in UK, India and Australia.

MALCO is a primary aluminium producer in South India with operations encompassing mining, refining, smelting and power generation, Madras Aluminium Company Ltd. (MALCO) was established in 1965 at Mettur Dam, near the city of Salem, Tamil Nadu in collaboration with Montecatine of Italy. MALCO is the only integrated primary Aluminium Metal complex in the entire South India with its own captive mining, refining, smelting and power generation operations.

MALCO was taken over by the Sterlite group in 1995 and the new management has re-written the success story of MALCO after which the company is surging ahead to achieve global recognition in Aluminium production.

The company has its own bauxite mines in the state of Tamil Nadu, at Yercaud (Salem district) having reserves of 0.8 million tons and Kolli Hills (Namakkal district) having reserves of 0.9 million tons. The company has an integrated aluminum complex at Mettur comprising 40,000 tons per annum of aluminum smelter, 80,000 tons per annum alumina refinery, captive power plant (CPP) of 75 megawatt (3 x 25 megawatt) and associated metal casting and fabrication facilities. Each E.C. Ingot and Alloy Ingot weighs approximately 20 kilograms and six kilograms, respectively. It supplies Wire Rod in diameter of 9.5 millimeter, as well as in F Temper that is as manufactured condition.

The Vedanta Group holds 80% of the share capital of MALCO. India is positioned to become one of the world’s largest producers of aluminium, with the 6th largest reserves of bauxite globally of c2.3 billion tonnes and the 4th largest reserves of coal worldwide of over 250 billion tonnes.  Of these reserves, over 1.4 billion tonnes of bauxite and 62 billion tonnes of coal reserves are co-located in the State of Orissa alone. The next phase of brownfield growth projects undertaken by the company comprises a 1,250 kt aluminium smelter project in Jharsuguda, Orissa (the “Jharsuguda II Project”), as well as a 325 kt aluminium smelter project together with an associated 1,200 MW captive thermal power plant in Korba, Chattisgarh (the “Korba III Project”).  Correspondingly, it will also increase the alumina production capacity at Lanjigarh from 1.4 mtpa to 5 mtpa.

Product range

• The company is involved in mining, refining, smelting, and power generation operations. The company also manufactures electrical conductor and alloy grade ingots, and electrical conductor grade wire rods, as well as busbars for electrical applications in energy intensive industries.
• MALCO manufactures E.C. Grade and Alloy Grade (LM Series) Ingots as per IS Specification. Each E.C. Ingot and Alloy Ingot weighs approximately 20 kgs and 6 kgs, respectively. Alloy Ingot is produced as per standard chemical composition as well as customer's specification.
• Madras Aluminium Company Ltd. (MALCO) supplies Wire Rod in diameter of 9.5 mm ( + 0.5 mm ), as well as in ‘F’ Temper i.e. ‘as manufactured’ condition. MALCO offers E.C. Grade Wire Rod.
• The company has unique horizontal casting facility and manufactures customized Busbars with a wide range of cross section as well as length. The Busbar is used for electrical applications in energy intensive industries, as current carrying media.

Achievements/ recognition

• MALCO is ISO 8001 certified for quality management system, ISO 14001 for the environment management system and OHSAS 18001 for occupational heath and safety management system.
• Recent awards of the company include the ICWAI National Award for Excellence in Cost Management - first prize in Private Sector Manufacturing Unit Category by the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) on July 2, 2007;
• The Finalist Award of Excellence in Corporate Governance, instituted by the Institute of Directors & World Council for Corporate Governance;
• The CII Award for Excellence in Water Management.

Recent developments

Twin Star Holdings which holds 80% or 9,00,00,000 equity shares of Rs 2 each of The Madras Aluminium Company Ltd, is planning  to further acquire 2,25,00,000 shares, or around 20% from the public shareholders. In doing so, Twin Star seeks to delist the equity shares of MALCO..