Dewan Bahadur A M Murugappa Chettiar establishes a moneylending and banking business headquartered in Moulmein, Burma (now Myanmar). He learns Burmese to interact better with borrowers. The business flourishes.

The moneylending business expands to neighbouring countries like Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). A rubber plantation is acquired in Malaya (now Malaysia). AMM's sons Murugappa and Vellayan join the business.

A yarn business is started at Coimbatore and Pollachi.

The Indo-Union Insurance Co is set up.

Murugappa & Sons is set up.

In an opportunistic expansion, a petrol bunk and spare parts business is set up on the Burma Road after the invasion of China by the Japanese. Swastik & Co is set up. The company takes over the management of the rubber holdings of Harrison Crossfields, near Trivandrum. The business is now diversified into trading, textiles, rubber, insurance and stockbroking.

Top

The family firm in Burma acquires a large rice mill made over by the Imperial Bank of India. With Japanese expansionism rampant in Asia, the Murugappas move their assets to India, and explore business possibilities at the advent of the World War II. They zero in on steel security office equipment as well as sandpaper and emery cloth for the construction industry, all of which were imported then. The first factory is set up in Thiruvottiyur.

The Ceylon Universal Corporation and Ajax Products Ltd are set up.

The family acquires rubber plantation interests in the erstwhile Travancore state, and leverages its plantation experience in Malaya, Ceylon and Burma to grow the new business. The Jaya Spun Silk Mill and the New Ambadi Estates are acquired, and trading in goods commences. The Murugappa & Sons Estates Co Ltd is set up.

India becomes independent, changing all political equations. Coromandel Engineering is established, as a venture to enter the construction business.

Group founder Dewan Bahadur A M Murugappa Chettiar passes away. Tube Investments of India (TII) is set up to make bicycles at Ambattur in Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with the UK's Tube Investments. Eventually, it becomes a vertically integrated factory manufacturing tubes, strips, lamps and chains.

Top

T & M Industries Pvt Ltd formed as managing agents. The Dubarry estates are acquired.

Carborundum Universal (CUMI) is established, in association with Carborundum, USA, and Universal Grinding, UK, to make abrasives and grinding wheels.

Tube Products of India set up. Ceylon Universal Corporation and Dubarry estates sold.

TI Diamond Chains set up. TI Miller, a joint venture, started.

Coromandel Prodorite Ltd is set up.

TI Metal Sections commences operations.

Top

CUMI acquires bauxite mines at Bhatia, in Gujarat, for total integration. The company goes on to singlehandedly produce its raw materials, mining, calcining, producing grains and making the final products; abrasives.

Kadamane Estate, a plantation company, is purchased.

Bundy India Ltd, manufacturing tubing, is started in Baroda, Gujarat, with a US collaboration.

Ambadi Engineering Berhard is formed.

Eastern Abrasives is acquired. The Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Co Ltd (CIFCO) is established. TI (UK) divests its holding in TII to the group.

Both TII and CUMI float public issues.

Top

EID Parry is acquired from the financial institutions. The Group inherits a diversified but sick entity, with businesses in sugar, fertilisers, ceramics, confectionary and electronics, apart from trading through Parry Murray in London. The turnaround of Parry's begins.

Management of CWS (India), a tea company with acrege in the Annamalai Hills and Assam is taken over. TII buys out the Miller trademark worldwide. Murugappa Morgan Thermal Ceramics Ltd (MMTCL), a joint venture between CUMI and Morgan Crucibles plc, UK, is set up. Carborundum, USA, divests its shares in CUMI.

TI, UK, and Universal Grinding, UK, divest their shares in TII and CUMI, respectively.

The shareholding of Coromandel Fertilisers Ltd (CFL), originally a subsidiary of EID Parry, is increased.

The Murugappa Group is formed. The group's IMFL liquor businesses are divested.

Top

Parry Engineering & Exports Ltd is incorporated. TII acquires the Press Metal Corporation. Coromandel Cements is divested.

The engineering business of Parry & Co and TI Metal Forming Sales is merged with Parry Engineering and Exports Ltd (PEEL). Satavahana Chains is acquired. Hostile takeover of Wendt India is accomplished.

CIFCO makes an entry into vehicle finance. Ambadi Enterprises exports floor coverings and soft furnishings. Ambadi Engineering Berhard is liquidated.

The Group embarks on a radical transformation. The Murugappa Group Corporate Board is established. Three non-family members are appointed on the board for the first time. EID Parry floats a rights issue. Falcon Gulf Ceramics is acquired.

TII and EID Parry float GDR issues. Cholamandalam Securities Ltd and Cholamandalam AXA Risk Services Ltd are set up. Parry Overseas is started. CUMI sets up its hydel power project.

Top

Cholamandalam AMC Ltd set up. CUMI launches its windfarm power project. Additional stake in Cholamandalam Finance Ltd (CFL).

Hostile takeovers of Cutfast Abrasive Tools Ltd and Cutfast Polymers Ltd completed. The EID Parry sugar division sets up a co-generation plant.

Cauvery Sugar and Chemicals is acquired. Bundy India Ltd is divested. Its seeds division is spun off as a joint venture with Monsanto.

CUMI America Inc is set up. Johnson Pedder Ltd is acquired. Andhra Fertilisers is liquidated. The magnetic media unit and the wall tile unit are sold.

CUMI sets up its natural gas thermal power plant. Steel Strips and Tubes Ltd is acquired. Cholamandalam Distribution Services Ltd is launched. The group's R&D initiatives take off with the launch of nutraceuticals, bio-pesticides and ceramic colours.

Parry Nutraceuticals Ltd is incorporated. CUMI and CFL successfully complete a buyback of shares.

Top

The Murugappa family relinquishes the Group Chairman's position; M V Subbiah hands the baton to N S Raghavan, a non-family member. The Murugappa Group receives the 'IMD Distinguished Family Business Award'. It also enters the Information Technology (IT) field, as CUMI acquires a controlling stake in Net Access and Laserwords.

P S Pai joins the Murugappa Group as Executive Chairman.

Cholamandalam General Insurance ties up with Mitsui Sumitomo.

Top

EID Parry demerges its farm inputs division into Coromandel Fertilisers as part of its consolidation move.

Coromandel Fertilisers acquires Godavari Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, to become one of the major players in the phosphatic fertiliser industry.

As part of its drive for consolidation and disposing of non-core businesses, the Group divests its stake in Parry's Confectionery to Lotte, Korea.

EID Parry acquires New Horizon Sugar Mills Limited, Pondicherry.

M A Alagappan, assumes charge as Executive Chairman of the Murugappa Group
and A Vellayan, as Vice Chairman of the Group.