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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News Network
March 23,2020

Kasaragod, Mar 23: The district administration on Monday decided to abandon efforts to map out the movement details of the NRI who came from Dubai recently and came into contact with many in North Kerala.

The district has been completely locked down since Monday morning, on the directive of the Central Government. Prohibitory orders have been slapped in the district since Sunday night to restrict socialisation of the people.

As the person now in isolation have allegedly been non-cooperative, the authorities were finding it difficult to sketch out a rote map as his movement and socialisation has been so vast and wide since his arrival here on March 12.

The middle aged and popular NRI who landed at Karipur airpprt on March 11 had been in Calicut till midnight prior to boarding the Maveli Express to make it to his hometown Kasaragod, which is 160 kms away from Calicut. He had come into contact with very many, including two MLAs of the district, prior to getting tested positive and getting isolated in the hospital.

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News Network
January 19,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 19: The Karnataka government has given its nod to teach 'Vivekadeepini' slokhas, authored by Adi Shankaracharya, in schools across the state, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Saturday.

At an event called 'Vivekadeepini Mahasamarpane,' organised by Vedanta Bharati, Yediyurappa said, "It has been noticed that Vivekadeepini, which evolves the mind and illumines a person, has a great effect on students.

Parents and teachers have found a positive change among children who were inspired by Vivekadeepini." "Hence, the government has given its nod to allow teaching Vivekadeepini in the schools in Karnataka," he added.

According to the organisers of the event, around two lakh children from 50 schools participated in the event where they were taught to chant Vivekadeepini, comprising verses for the seekers in the spiritual journey.

Yediyurappa reminded the audience that the Indian culture and civilisation is the oldest and the best, which they should feel proud of. Likening Amit Shah to the first union home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he said, "After Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel if we have seen a union home minister, it is Amit Shah, who has successfully resolved many burning issues of the countries within a few months.

"Shah succeeded in finding a permanent solution to Kashmir issue," Yediyurappa said.

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News Network
April 3,2020

Mangaluru, Apr 3: The laboratory at District Wenlock Hospital has initiated trial for Covid 19 testing, close on the heels of receiving permission from state government.

Doctors, elected representatives and stakeholders had repeatedly demanded that a laboratory should be set up in the port city. Without the lab, the samples were sent either to Shivamogga or to Bengaluru for testing. When Heath Minister Sriramulu had visited Mangaluru on March 17, he had promised a lab in the city for testing of the samples.

Accordingly, the government gave permission for starting the laboratory at Wenlock Hospital. The process of registering the lab with Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) will be completed shortly. The laboratory will be fully operational only after it is registered.

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