MRPL eyes Mallya's Mangalore Fertilizers stake

[email protected] (Times of India)
May 8, 2012

mcfMumbai, May 8: Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL), majority owned by state-owned ONGC, has expressed interest to acquire promoter's stake in Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers (MCF), said a source directly involved with the matter.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya's UB Group holds little over 30% stake in MCF, a non-core investment that may be sold to fund its bleeding Kingfisher Airlines. MRPL managing director Uttam Kumar Basu has written a letter to Mallya last month expressing interest to takeover MCF and seeking permission to start a due diligence. U K Basu declined to offer any comments while ONGC chairman Sudhir Vasudeva, who is in Kuwait to attend an international oil and gas conference, could not be immediately reached for his comments.

Recent media reports said Zuari Industries and Chambal Chemicals & Fertilizers have evinced interest to buy Mallya's fertilizer unit. The ONGC subsidiary finds MCF a strategic fit, which is in close vicinity and the refinery by-products naphtha and fuel oil may be used as feed stock to operate the fertilizer plant.

MRPL MD U K Basu term is coming to an end in June and MRPL director technical P P Upadhya is likely to take over new MD from July. "Yes, MRPL is interested in that asset but it's too premature to comment anything at this point of time," said the source briefed about the matter, adding that we are yet to hear anything from UB group. MCF shares closed at Rs 40, valuing the firm close to Rs 500 crore. But the deal is likely to be done at a premium considering the over 200 acres land bank of the company can be used for further expansion.

"I don't think UB Group is interested in keeping this fertilizer business under its fold and it would be a good move if they sell it to MRPL because of the synergies it draws. With this sale, UB Group will get some breathing space as it struggles to keep afloat the debt laden kingfisher airlines," said investment advisor S P Tulsian.




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Media Release
March 11,2020

Mangalore, Mar 11: There everybody busy in hailing ‘Padmashree’ Harekala Hajabba. They wondered how an orange seller turned into an educationist with his grit and high objectives. However, the center of attraction- Harekala Hajabba was thinking how to transfer a cheque of rupees one lakh to a current account of his school!

Dakshina Kannada District Kannada and Culture Department had an interaction program with Harekala Hajabba at Ravindra Kalabhavana of University College Mangaluru on Wednesday. The department, as well as Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners’ Association felicitated the achiever. They also honored Hajabba with a cash of rupees one lakh. Instantly, the man decided to utilize the amount for his school! 

In his address, Guruvappa N T Balepuni, who introduced Harekala Hajabba to society opined that with his simplicity, humbleness, moreover his service without any expectation, Hajabba is being respected everywhere. Though he is an illiterate, three universities have made his life as lessons for students. “He has kept around Rs 50-55 lakh, including his award money for the development of school. January 25, the day on which ‘Padmashree’ award has been declared to Hajabba is a memorable day for me too,” he added. 

Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners’ Association President Dinram Alva and former president Jayaram Shekha opined that there is lot to learn from Hajabba and he is a model for the society. Recalling his old- harsher days, Hajabba said, “Parents should make mind to save government schools. A literate can achieve anything, he can lead the society,” he said and called upon for the communal harmony. 

Presiding over the function, Principal Dr. Uday Kumar M A said that Harekala Hajabba is best example how a pure-hearted man achieves any height, simplicity can make someone so rich. In his welcome speech District Kannada and Culture Department Deputy director Rajesh G, depicted Hajabba as ‘modern time Mahatma Gandhi’. Economics PG Coordinator Dr. Jayavantha Nayak and M.Com Coordinator Dr. Abobakkar Siddiq were present on the occasion.

 

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News Network
March 30,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 30: The total number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka has climbed to 88 on Sunday after five more persons tested positive for the lethal infection.

"Five more COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka taking positive cases in the state to 88," said the State health department.

Of the five, one is a close contact of an earlier confirmed patient and the others are workers of a pharmaceutical company in Mysuru, from where a person had tested positive, the department said.

The country is under a 21-day lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has infected 1,071 people so far.

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News Network
July 3,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 3: Four central crime branch (CCB) police personnel tested positive for coronavirus on Friday in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.

So far, eighteen police personnel, including an official of the ACP rank and 12 from Ullal police station, have tested positive for Covid-19 in the district in the last few days, police sources said.

A policeman from Mangaluru Rural station and another from Puttur station have also been infected.

All the personnel who tested positive have been admitted to the designated Covid-19 hospitals.

City police commissioner Vikash Kumar Vikash said adequate protection has been provided to police personnel who were fighting the pandemic and the members of their families.

As of Thursday, the total coronavirus cases in the district stood at 923 and the toll 18 while the state's infection count has crossed the 18,000 mark with 272 deaths.

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