Page 31 - FBL AR 2019-20
P. 31

Corporate   Statutory  FinanCial
                                                                                        overview  StatementS  StatementS




            Our business overview


            for FY 2019-20










                                                Key achievements, FY 2019-20
                                                   ƒ The Company developed a value-added variant of Vitamin D3 500 feed grade
                                                   ƒ Fermenta launched a new product, fish oil derived cholesterol, for the aquaculture
                                                  market
                                                   ƒ The Company established a wholly owned subsidiary in Germany – Fermenta
                                                  Biotech GmbH
                                                   ƒ The in-house cholesterol was manufactured as the Key Starting Material (KSM),
                                                  strengthening the Company’s self-reliance and sustainability




            Q: What were the challenges faced   relevance of a Company like ours that   Q: The year under review was also
            by the business in the last financial   is completely backward-integrated and   the first full financial year following
            year?                             hence suited for catering to consumer   the amalgamation of Fermenta with
            A: The decline in animal feed realisations   demand in a sustainable manner.  DIL Ltd.
            during the last financial year significantly   Q: Through what initiatives did the   A: At Fermenta, we see the amalgamation
            affected our overall revenues. Besides, an   Company strengthen the business?  as a game-changer for some good
            African Swine Flu in the second quarter                              reasons. It brought together the interests
            of the last financial year resulted in a cull   A: In the past, the Company would procure   of Fermenta and its parent Company in
            down of the global pig population, which   cholesterol to manufacture resin that   a synergic manner that we believe will
            moderated animal feed consumption.   would, in turn, be used to manufacture   enhance shareholder value across the
            The Company’s performance was further   either animal feed or human feed. During   foreseeable future. The merged entity
            impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic   the year under review, the Company   possesses precious real estate estimated
            during the last quarter of the financial   integrated backwards to the manufacture   in excess of H500 crores. The management
            year under review when Fermenta shut   of cholesterol, widening its value chain. We   has taken a decisive call to progressively
            operations at its manufacturing facilities   believe that the challenging manufacture   monetise this land parcel along with Thane
            at Kullu and Dahej for three weeks in   of cholesterol will achieve a number   One and utilise the proceeds in growing its
            accordance with government guidelines.   of things for our Company: strengthen   core business.
            However, the Company continued to   control over operations, strengthen quality
            address the requirements of the day and   and enhance our dependability for the   Q: Where does the Company go from
            build its business through the course of   sustainable supply of our end product. The   here?
            the year.                         cholesterol manufactured was successfully   A: The Company broad-based its
                                              included as a source of the Key Starting   geographic footprint in a decisive way
            Q: What was the brighter side of this   Material (KSM), which will strengthen   during the last financial year. The Company
            performance?                      the Company’s competitiveness position   launched a wholly owned subsidiary
            A: On the brighter side, we protected   and respect as an integrated self-reliant   in Germany, Fermenta Biotech GmbH,
            much of our offtake commitments across   Vitamin D3 manufacturer. This integration   which will enhance our visibility in Europe.
            most of our customers. The Company   makes us one of few players of our size in   Besides, the Company entered into a
            reported an increase in volumes. The other   the world to have integrated backwards,   contract manufacturing relationship with
            positive was that during the last quarter of   strengthening our respect. As an extension   a European company for manufacturing
            the year (extending into the first quarter   to our product portfolio, we were able to   value-added variants of its feed grade
            of the current financial year) there was   manufacture cholesterol from fish oil for   product. Similar value-added products
            increased focus around human immunity   applications in the aquaculture market   will typically be new variants where we
            requirements, expected to strengthen the   (specifically the shrimp feed segment),   will utilise third party manufacturing
            offtake of Vitamin D3 products. We believe   which was commercialised in the Latin   resources. This will strengthen our position
            that this development can enhance the   America and Asia Pacific markets.  in terms of quality, reach and enhance


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