IP RINGS LIMITED
ANNUAL REPORT 2004-2005
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Ladies & Gentlemen:
I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to the Fourteenth Annual General
Meeting of IP Rings Ltd.
I extend a warm welcome to Mr. Koji Takeuchi, General Manager, Application
Engineering Dept., Nippon Piston Ring Co. Ltd., Japan, and a Director on
our Board, who has come from Japan specially to attend this AGM.
The Notice convening this meeting and the Directors' Report, along with the
audited accounts have been with you for sometime and, with your permission,
I shall take them as read.
The Indian economy grew at a steady pace during the financial year 2004-05
with the manufacturing and services sector driving the growth. However, the
sharp rise in the international crude oil prices and steep increase in
steel and other metals acted as a damper to the otherwise bullish
performance by the manufacturing sector.
The Automotive sector continued its buoyant growth with all the segments
showing an impressive growth in production and sales.
The Passenger Vehicle production (including utility vehicles) reached 1.2
Million Nos. registering a 22% growth and export of these vehicles rose by
28.70l0 over the previous year to reach 166,413 Nos. Equally impressive was
the growth in Commercial Vehicles, which registered an increase of 27% over
the previous year.
Goods carrying three wheeler production increased by 23% and motorcycles by
19%. Turning to the Tractor industry, the year has been an outstanding one,
with sales registering a 30% growth over the previous year.
At the back of this impressive growth in the Automotive Sector, the Indian
Auto Component Industry continued its significant growth registering 28%
over the previous year, with an impressive growth of more than 30% in
exports.
You will be happy to know that this impressive growth, coupled with the
bright prospects of India emerging as a sourcing hub for global auto
majors, should help the industry to perform well in the years to come.
While the upswing in the industry is resulting in increased volumes, the
component manufacturers have to contend against continued pressure on price
realization. The pressure on price from OEMs and competition in the after
market are having a severe impact on the margins.
Because of your Company's relentless drive towards improvement in
productivity and cost control measures, you will be pleased to learn that
during the year under review, your Company achieved a record turnover of
Rs. 51.52 Crores, as compared to Rs. 47.68 Crores, earning a profit before
tax of Rs. 7.34 Crores, as against Rs. 7.09 Crores in the previous year.
Your Directors have recommended a dividend of 30% for the year ended 31st
March 2005, which would absorb Rs. 238.87 lakhs including dividend tax.
While there is a slow-down in the commercial vehicle sector during the
first quarter of this financial year, the other segments have registered
satisfactory levels of performance
The pressure on operating profits could only be overcome by relentless
drive towards improved productivity and tighter control on costs. Your
Company is going all out to implement these measures to improve
profitability.
Your Company would strive hard and continue to retain its frontline
position in the OE and the After Market segments by all round improvements
in its operations.
Continuing the capacity increase exercise started during the last financial
year, your Company will reach a capacity of 10 Million rings during this
financial year.
The new Transmission Products Division commenced commercial production
during the end of the last financial year. Your Directors are pleased to
report that the operations of this Division are progressing satisfactorily
and the Company has been able to successfully implement the technology and
is in a position to achieve full levels of activity in the coming months.
Your Directors are confident that the activities of this Division will
substantially add to the growth in turnover and profits during the current
year.
I wish to place on record our appreciation of the valuable support extended
by our Collaborators - Nippon Piston Ring Co. Ltd. Japan.
Our sincere thanks are also due to our Promoter Company - India Pistons
Ltd., for its wholehearted support in all our activities.
I wish to place on record the continued support we have been receiving from
our valued customers, OEMs and the After Market, including STUs.
I would also like to thank my colleagues on the Board for their sincere
contribution and our Bankers for their continued support.
Our employees have been continuously putting in their best to improve the
performance of the Company on all fronts and I wish to place on record our
appreciation of their dedicated efforts.
The dedication and zeal with which our Management Team has been functioning
deserves a special mention.
Before I conclude, I would like to convey our Special Thanks to our
Shareholders who have continued to repose their confidence in the Company.
Thank You
N. VENKATARAMANI
Vice Chairman
Source : Fourteenth Annual General Meeting
Source Date : Wednesday, July 27, 2005
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