The Aditya Birla Group, India's first multinational corporation, traces its origins back to the tiny village of Pilani in the Rajasthan desert, where Seth Shiv Narayan Birla started cotton trading operations in 1857. Today, the Group's footprint extends to 27 countries and its revenues are US$ 29 billion. We retrace the highlights of this remarkable journey, starting from the present:

2011

:: The Government of India will bestow the Padma Bhushan Award on Mrs. Rajashree Birla for her exemplary contribution in the area of ‘Social Work’.The Padma Bhushan is among the highest civilian awards in India and will be conferred on Mrs Birla at a special ceremony in March 2011.

2010:: Ultratech's 'Concern for Health' project awarded the

Asian Corporate Social Responsibility Award by the Asian Institute of Management Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility.

:: Hindalco ranked ninth across industries on Forbes Asia's Fab 50 companies list of Asia's 50 most valued companies.

:: Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development receives 'Hello Hall of Fame' award for 'Exemplary Philanthropist of the year' from Worldwide Media Goup's 'Hello' celebrity

:: Indian Rayon, Veraval (a division of Aditya Birla Nuvo) is awarded The Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for

Clean Technologies by The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

:: Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Group, presented the All India Management Association (AIMA) Managing India Award 2010 for ' Business Leader of the Year'. AIMA confers these awards to persons who are “exemplary leaders who have made a fundamental difference”.

:: Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, awarded the Global Golden Peacock Life Time Achievement Award for Community Development for the year 2010 for "Outstanding Contribution Towards Community Development and Social Welfare".

:: Hindalco and Birla White declared winners in the Golden Peacock Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility 2010 by an eminent international jury, headed by Justice P.M. Bhagwati, the erstwhile Chief Justice of India.

:: The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development team up with Columbia University's research centre, the Columbia Global Centers' Earth Institute in Mumbai, to become its principal partner. The Earth Institute's goal is to help achieve sustainable development primarily by expanding people's understanding of the earth as one integrated system.

2009:: Grasim's pulp and fibre division wins the highly

prestigious Asian CSR Award. The Asian CSR Awards, Asia's Premier CSR Awards program, is a project of the

Asian Institute of Management, Manila.:: The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Government

of Thailand confers “The Best Labor Relations and Welfare Award, 2009” on Indo Thai Synthetic Company Limited.

:: Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund named "The Asset Management Company of the Year, India", by the Hong Kong based magazine, The Asset, in the country awards category of their "Triple A Investment Performance Awards 2009".

:: CNBC TV18 Crisil recognises Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund as "The Mutual Fund House of the Year" in 2008 and 2009 (for 2007 and 2008), creating history as the only fund house to have won this recognition in two consecutive years.

:: Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund named the best "Onshore Fund House — India" by Hong Kong based magazine, The Asian Investor, at the Investment Performance Awards 2009.

:: Rajiv Gandhi Award for Eminence in Social Field, 2009 conferred on Mrs. Rajashree Birla by Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Union Minister of State, Commerce & Industry) on 19 August 2009. The award recognises Mrs. Birla's pathbreaking work among the poor, more so in India's villages, carried out through the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development.

:: Idea Cellular wins the Economic Times' "Emerging Company of the Year Award for 2009".

:: Vikram Cement and Aditya Cement wins the Federation of Indian Mineral and Industries' "Social

Awareness Award for the year 2008-09".:: Reader's Digest Pegasus Star Award conferred on

Hindalco in recognition of work that truly exemplifies the highest values of society and corporate leadership for social responsibility and sustainable development initiatives. Mrs. Rajashree Birla who spearheads all the Group's social projects received this much coveted award on behalf of Hindalco from Mr. Arun Jaitley, MP, Rajya Sabha, on 21 January 2009 in Delhi.

2008:: The President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil confers the

much coveted Rotary International Polio Eradication Champion Award on Mrs. Rajashree Birla in an elegant function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Delhi), attended by the Chairman, select Rotarians and WHO officials.

2007:: The Aditya Birla Group honoured with the India Today

Group's Readers Digest Gold award in recognition of the work that truly exemplifies the highest values of society as well as those of Reader's Digest. The award was received by Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Center for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, at the Pegasus Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2007 function.

:: Hindalco awarded the CII - Sorabji Green Business Centre "National Award for Excellence in Water Management 2007".

:: In May 2007, Novelis becomes a Hindalco subsidiary with the completion of the acquisition process. The transaction makes Hindalco the world's largest aluminum rolling company and one of the biggest

producers of primary aluminum in Asia, as well as being India's leading copper producer.

2006:: Hindalco enters into a joint venture with Almex USA

Inc. :: TransWorks Information Services announces success

of bid to acquire Minacs Worldwide.:: Grasim Industries Limited, India; Thai Rayon Public

Company Limited, Thailand; and P.T. Indo Bharat Rayon, Indonesia, form a JV with Hubei Jing Wei Chemical Fibre Company, China, for VSF.

2005:: Indian Rayon re-christened as Aditya Birla Nuvo.:: Aditya Birla Group to set up a world-class aluminium

project in Orissa.:: The Aditya Birla Group signs a framework agreement

to acquire St Anne Nackawic Pulp Mill, Canada.

2004 :: Board reconstituted with Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla

taking over as Chairman.:: Completion of the implementation process to demerge

the cement business of L&T and completion of open offer by Grasim, with the latter acquiring controlling stake in the newly formed company UltraTech.

:: Grasim, Nagda, receives the FICCI Annual Award 2003-2004 in recognition of corporate initiaitve in rural development.

:: Aditya Birla Chemicals (India) Limited, Rehla, Jharkhand, receives the

FICCI Annual Award 2003-2004 in recognition of corporate initiative in family welfare.

:: Hindalco recieves India CFO Award 2004 for excellence in finance in a large corporate.

:: Scheme of Arrangement announced to merge Indal with Hindalco.

:: Indian Rayon completes its brownfield expansion of 40,000tpa at Hi-Tech Carbon, Gummidipundi, taking total capacity to 1,60,000tpa.

:: Deming Award for Indo Gulf.:: Indal won FICCI Award 2002-2003 for 'Corporate

Initiative in Rural Development'.

2003 :: Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Group,

selected as Business India's Businessman of the Year - 2003.

:: Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla selected as The Economic Times' Business Leader of the year.

:: The Group is ranked 16th in India's first ever survey of 'Great places to work in', published in Business World magazine. The Group's joint venture concern, Birla Sun Life Insurance, is ranked 9th in the same study.

:: The Group is ranked 20th in a study on the 'Best Employers in India', conducted by Hewitt Associates and Business Today.

:: Hindalco receives the Asian CSR Award for its "Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme". The Asian CSR Awards are Asia's premier awards programme on corporate social responsibility.

:: The Group acquires the Mount Gordon Copper mines in Australia, another strategic step in becoming a globally competitive copper player.

:: Liaoning Birla Carbon, the Group's first carbon black company in China, is incorporated.

:: Indian Rayon acquires TransWorks, a leading Indian ITES / BPO company.

:: The board of engineering major Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) decides to demerge its cement business into a separate cement company (CemCo), in which L&T will retain 20 per cent of its equity with the balance to be distributed to their shareholders in proportion to their shareholding in L&T. As a consequence, Grasim to acquire an 8.5 per cent equity stake from L&T and then make an open offer for 30 per cent of the equity of CemCo, to acquire management control of CemCo.

:: The Group divests its entire 37.38 per cent equity stake in Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

:: Birla Copper acquires the Nifty Copper Mines in Australia, as part of a strategic plan to make the company an integrated copper producer, and source raw material for its copper smelter at Dahej, Gujarat.

:: Indian Rayon formally launches its insulators joint venture with NGK Insulators Ltd., Japan, christening it as "Birla NGK Insulators Private Limited.

:: Birla Copper, a strategic business unit of Hindalco, is accorded London Metal Exchange (LME) registration. Its copper cathodes are approved as 'Grade A' copper brand by LME.

2002

:: The Grasim board approves an open offer for purchase of up to 20 per cent of the equity of L&T, in accordance with the provisions and guidelines issued by the Securities & Exchange Board of India Regulations, 1997.

:: Grasim increases stake in L&T to 14.15 per cent (351.84 lakh shares).

:: Landmark corporate restructuring of Hindalco and Indo Gulf. The fertiliser business of Indo Gulf to be demerged into a separate company called Indo Gulf Fertilisers. Indo Gulf's copper business to be merged with Hindalco, creating a non-ferrous metals powerhouse.

:: Grasim divests its Gwalior unit to Melodeon Exports Limited, and consolidated textile operations at a single location in Bhiwani, MP, which will manufacture both 'Grasim' and 'Graviera' brands.

:: PSI Data Systems acquires Birla Technologies Ltd, bringing the Group IT services business under one umbrella.

:: Indal acquires a controlling stake in Anapurna Foils Ltd (AFL), to augment its position in the foil and packaging sectors. Subsequently AFL is merged with Indal.

2001 :: Grasim acquires 2.50 crore shares – representing just

over 10 per cent of the equity – in L&T from Reliance Industries Ltd.

:: Birla Consultancy & Software Services spun off; becomes a separate entity called Birla Technologies Ltd.

:: Indian Rayon acquires a stake in PSI Data Systems, in

one of the largest cash transactions in the Indian technology sector.

:: Grasim closes its pulp plant at Mavoor as a part of its restructuring initiatives.

2000 :: Indian Rayon acquires Madura Garments and selected

overseas brand rights, taking the Group to the top of the league in the branded apparels sector.

:: The Group forays into e-business through a strategic alliance of its software arm, Birla Software and Consultancy Services (BCSS), with Lawson Software (USA).

:: 'Gyanodaya', the Institute of Management Learning of the Aditya Birla Group, inaugurated.

:: Hindalco acquires Indal. The Indal board is reconstituted. Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla became Indal's new chairman. The Group holding went up to 74.6 per cent, and further increased to 96 per cent in FY03.

:: The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) grants registration in principle to Birla Sun Life Insurance Company.

:: Indian Rayon acquires major world rights for international apparel brands Louis Philippe, Allen Solly and Peter England.

:: The Group announces its intention to launch a 450 MW 'Green Power Project' in Karnataka .

:: The merger of Birla AT&T and Tata Cellular is completed.

1999

:: A joint venture with financial services major Sun Life of Canada is inked, as part of the overall restructuring of the Group's financial services business.

1998 :: The Group forms a 50:50 joint venture company with

Tembec Inc. of Canada, called A.V. Cell Inc., to supply pulp for the Group's VSF operations.

:: Grasim acquires Dharani Cement and Shree Digvijay Cement to consolidate the Group's leadership position in cement.

:: The cement businesses of Indian Rayon and Grasim are consolidated into a single division of Grasim – the biggest restructuring ever by any corporate entity in India.

:: The Group forays into copper with the commissioning of Indo Gulf's copper smelter – the largest of its kind in India.

:: Thai Organic Chemicals begins commercial operations of chlor-alkali and epichlorohydrin.

1996 :: To honour the memory of the late Aditya Birla, a new

corporate logo – Aditya, the rising sun – is launched.:: All Group companies are consolidated under the

umbrella of the Aditya Birla Group, led by Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla.

:: P.T. Indo Liberty Textiles is incorporated to manufacture yarn in Indonesia.

1995 :: The Group enters the telecommunications sector

through a joint venture with AT&T (USA).

:: Thai Sulphites & Chemicals is incorporated to manufacture sodium sulphite and sodium metabisulphite.

1994 :: The Birla Growth Fund is renamed Birla Global Finance

Limited, as its span of operations expands.:: Alexandria Carbon Black, the Group's first joint venture

with the Egyptian government, is established.

1992 :: Thai Epoxy and Allied Products commences production

of epoxy resins in Thailand.

1991 :: Pan Century Oleochemicals commences production of

fatty acids and glycerine in Malaysia.

1990 :: Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla gets actively involved in

the Group's operations.

1989:: Thai Peroxide commences manufacturing of hygrogen

peroxide solutions in Thailand.

1988 :: The government liberalises the petroleum industry.

The Aditya Birla Group enters into a joint venture with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd to set up a three-

million-tonne refinery, Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), at Mangalore, Karnataka.

1987 :: Indian Rayon is renamed Indian Rayon and Industries

Limited (IRIL), to reflect its wide horizon of activities.:: Thai Acrylic Fibre is incorporated to produce fibre and

tow.

1986:: The Birla Growth Fund set up to finance industrial

equipment, plants and machinery, and consumer durables, as well as for stock market operations.

1985 :: India's first gas-based fertiliser plant in the private

sector – Indo Gulf – goes on stream at Jagdishpur, UP.

1984 :: Thai Polyphosphates and Chemicals commences

production of sodium phosphates in Thailand.

1982 :: P.T Indo Bharat Rayon established. It was the first

producer of Viscose Staple Fibre in Indonesia.

1978:: Thai Carbon Black, the Group's first carbon black

company incorporated in Thailand.

1977 :: Pan Century Edible Oils incorporated in Malaysia. It

went on to become the world's largest single-location palm oil refinery.

1975 :: The Indo Phil Group of companies, the first Indo-

Filipino joint venture commences production of spun yarn.

1974 :: Thai Rayon, the Group's Viscose Rayon Staple Fibre

business incorporated in Thailand.

1973 :: P.T. Elegant Textiles established to manufacture spun

yarn. It marked the Group's first venture in Indonesia.

1969 :: Mr. Aditya Birla sets up Indo Thai Synthetics Company

Ltd, the Group's first overseas company.

1967:: Hindalco sets up a captive power plant at Renusagar –

a significant strategic move.

1966 :: The Indian Rayon Corporation Ltd is acquired.

1965 :: Mr. Aditya Birla, grandson of the legendary

Ghanshyamdas Birla, starts the Eastern Spinning Mills & Industries.

1962:: Hindalco commences production at its aluminium

complex at Renukoot, UP.

1958 :: Hindalco is incorporated.

1947 :: Grasim is incorporated. It commences operations with

a small rayon weaving unit at Gwalior, MP.

1919 :: Ghanshyamdas Birla, grandson of Shiv Narayan Birla,

sets up the first Birla jute mill, marking his entry into the manufacturing sector. Rapid business expansion followed.

1857 :: The foundation of the Birla Group of Companies laid by

Seth Shiv Narayan Birla – cotton trading operations commenced at Pilani, Rajasthan.

Globally, the Aditya Birla Group is:

:: A metals powerhouse, among the world's most cost-efficient aluminium and copper producers. Hindalco-Novelis is the largest aluminium rolling company. It is one of the three biggest producers of primary aluminium in Asia, with the largest single location copper smelter

:: No.1 in viscose staple fibre:: The fourth-largest producer of insulators :: The fourth-largest producer of carbon black:: The fifth-largest producer of acrylic fibre:: The eighth-largest cement producer:: Among the best energy-efficient fertiliser plants

In India: :: One of the leading cement producers:: The top fashion (branded apparel) and lifestyle player

:: The second-largest producer of viscose filament yarn:: The second-largest in the chlor-alkali sector:: Among the top four mobile telephony companies:: Among top 10 Indian BPO companies by revenue size:: A leading player in life insurance and asset

management:: Among the top three supermarket chains in the retail

business

Beyond business

Transcending business for over 50 years now, the Group has been and continues to be involved in meaningful welfare-driven initiatives that distinctly impact the quality of life of the weaker sections of society in India, South-East Asia and Egypt.

In India, the Group's social projects span 2,500 villages. It reaches out to seven million people annually through the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, spearheaded by Mrs. Rajashree Birla. Its focus is healthcare, education, sustainable livelihood, infrastructure and espousing social causes.

The Group runs 42 schools, which provide quality education to over 45,000 children in India's interiors. Of these, over 18,000 children receive free education. An additional 8,000 students receive merit scholarships. Likewise at its 18 hospitals in India, more than a million patients are given extremely subsidised medical care. To embed corporate social responsibility as a way of life in organisations, the Group has set up the FICCI – Aditya Birla CSR Centre for Excellence, in Delhi.

The Group transcends the conventional barriers of business and reaches out to the marginalised because of its conviction of bringing in a more equitable society.

Our Vision

To be a premium global conglomeratewith a clear focus on each business.

Our Mission

To deliver superior value to our customers, shareholders, employees and society at large.

Our Values

IntegrityCommitmentPassionSeamlessnessSpeed

Our focus areas

Our rural development activities span five key areas and our single-minded goal here is to help build model villages that can stand on their own feet. Our focus areas are healthcare, education, sustainable livelihood, infrastructure and espousing social causes.

Education 

 

Mobile clinics - doctors visit once a weekMedical camps - general and issue-basedHealth training and awarenessSanitation - toilets, training, smokeless chullahs, biogasSafe drinking waterMother and child healthReproductive healthAwareness building

Sustainable development and livelihood and agriculture and watershed

Balwadis (pre-school) Adult educationNon-formal educationContinuing educationScholarships for girls, merit and technical education