Frontline Corporation Ltd - Stock Valuation and Financial Performance

Frontline Corporation (FCL) established in 1989, is the flagship company of well-known Agarwal Group. With unrelenting perseverance and far reaching vision, the initial ventures into coal trading led to financing blossomed fast. Under the dynamic and principled leadership, the company flourished and what started out as a small venture soon spread to all parts of West Bengal and Bihar. By the end of the 50’s the company emerged as one of the few respected and leading coal trading companies in eastern India.

The company’s business is spread over a varied sectors; it is engaged in wind energy, coal & coke, industrial chemicals, warehousing, refractories, automotive components, and transportation.

FCL has more than 15 years of experience in the field of bulk transportation. It is head-quartered at Ahmedabad and having its network all over the country. It has a track record of continuous profit making since inception. It is mainly into the business of bulk transportation, trading of auto components, manufacturing of refractory items and wind energy generation. Its total turnover exceeded Rs. 100 crore for 2004-05.

FCL manages a fleet of more than 500 HCVs for only corporate clients for transportation activities for raw materials and finished products of corporates like - Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd., L&T Cement, Haldia Petro Chemicals Ltd., Birla Copper, Indo Gulf Fertilizers etc. It has dealership of reputed Auto components brands – MICO and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M). It has also ventured into the lucrative Wind Energy business.

The company is envisaging significant restructuring of its transportation business and is planning to invest significantly in other higher businesses like auto components as well. Also, with eind rnergy business becoming more lucrative the company has ambitious plans for this sector.

Different divisions of the company

• Wind Energy -There is a large growing demand in the country for Energy and any measure to reduce the dependence of depleting fossil fuels is harbinger not only towards sustainable development but also energy security. Wind power provides cost-effective part of the solution to global warming.FCL has installed capacity of 725 Kwh and the power generated is sold to TNEB. Projects generating energy through renewable sources and help in reduction of GHG are eligible for CERs (Carbon Emission Reduction) under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under Kyoto Protocol. We are in the process of getting the project registered under CDM.
• Coal& Coke - FCL has also ventured into the trading of steaming coal, coking coal and low ash metallurgical coke (LAM). It has developed expertise to provide customized commercial transportation and logistical solutions for handling large consignments of coal and coke.
• Industrial Chemicals -FCL is consignee distributor of Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd. (GHCL), which is one of the largest manufacturers of Industrial soda ash in the country. The company has a large stockyard of soda ash at Howrah near Kolkata from where a large number of steel, fertilizer, chemical, silicate and glass, manufacturing plants are serviced and supplied soda ash.
• Refractories -FCL has entered into the field of manufacturing of refractory products. It is manufacturing High Grog, Hi-Aluminas, Mullit, 90% Alumina refractories, Castables of all varities Romming Mass, Mortar etc. For this, it has got modern manufacturing facilities including three shuttle kilns made as per design and drawing from a German company. The products are being supplied to most of the coke-oven plants, steel units, cement plants, etc. in India.
• Automotive Components -FCL is the main dealer cum service agent of the reputed MICO brand automotive components. It has established excellent infrastructure facilities to cater to the demand of this brand. A sales and service station has been set up in the commercial heart of Ahmedabad city. A centrally positioned Godown with sufficient inventory has been set up and to provide timely supplies to its clients in both the wholesale and retail segments, it has arranged for ready-to-deliver mobility. Also, a 24-hour workshop is being operated to provide dependable and prompt services for repairs and maintenance of MICO products. The business has been flourishing since beginning.
• Transportation - Frontline Corporation Ltd (FCL) is today, one of India’s largest transport companies managing a fleet of over 500 trucks catering to the customized needs of bulk handling and transportation of cargo throughout the country. It has branches right across the country. The company has carved an enviable reputation for itself in various operations.

Associates of the company include:

• Fairdeal Supplies Pvt. Ltd. (FDSPL) :It is the main group company of FCL and is a Private Limited Company. Its business activities include – Manufacturing / Trading of Coal / Coke and Wind Energy Generation. The total turnover exceeded Rs. 200 crore for 2004-05.
• Falgun Exports Pvt. Ltd.: Its main business activities include – Trading in Shares, Loan Transfer and Wind Energy Generation.
• Neha Trades & Finance Pvt. Ltd.: Its main business activities include – Trading in Industrial Items and Wind Energy Generation.
• Nova Impex Pvt. Ltd.: Its main commercial activity is maintenance and rentals of godowns, which the Group constructs and leases out to large, reputed Corporations.
• Fair Chemical & Marketing: Its main operation is marketing of Soda Ash in the Eastern region, head-quartered at the Kolkata office.