Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT), India’s largest paper company, of the $3 billion Avantha Group announced today the appointment of Mr. R. Varadhan as the head of the Research & Competency Division in Pulp & Paper (RCDP). RCDP will engage in conducting research and development studies in paper manufacturing including pulping/bleaching, stock preparation, coating, environment safety and provide expertise to the Pulp & Paper industry.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Gautam Thapar, Chairman Avantha Group said, ‘For India to achieve greater heights in the Pulp & Paper business; R&D will have to play a key role. I strongly believe that research is a core competency and a strategic resource for the Paper Industry.”

Mr. R. Vardhan said, “I am excited about this assignment with RCDP as it fills a major gap and long felt need. RCDP will be the premium research provider for the Pulp & Paper industry.”

RCDP will provide the following services:

1. Research and Development services
2. Process and Environmental audits & Consultancy
3. Knowledge Processing outsourcing services through relationships with leading Research Institutes in the country and overseas
4. Testing and Analytical Services

The RCDP will be governed by independent Management Research Advisory Committee comprising select experts, senior executives and eminent scientists. Introduction of the latest global trends and best practices will accelerate growth in the industry.

“It is imperative for the growth of the Industry that research projects are carried out at different levels and I believe that by providing a competent R&D resource we will create a stronger and healthier Industry,” added Mr. Gautam Thapar.

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About Avantha:

Avantha Group is one of India’s leading business conglomerates. Its successful entities include BILT, Crompton Greaves, Global Green, Avantha Power and Infrastructure, Solaris Chemtech, Salient Business Solutions, and Avantha Technologies. International subsidiaries include Pauwels, SFI, Intergarden, Ganz, Microsol and Sonomatra. The over US$ 3 bn Avantha Group is on the path for a turnover of US$ 10 bn and a market capitalization of US$ 25 bn by 2013. The Group has business interests in diverse areas including power transmission and distribution equipment and services; paper and pulp; energy and infrastructure; food processing; farm forestry; chemicals; IT & ITES. Led by Mr. Gautam Thapar, Avantha demonstrates strong leadership globally and emerges as a focused corporate, leveraging its knowledge, leadership and operations, adding lasting value for its stakeholders and investors.

About BILT

Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT), part of the US$ 3 billion Avantha Group, is India’s largest manufacturer of writing and printing (W&P) paper. BILT accounts for over 50% of the coated wood-free paper market, an impressive 85% of the bond paper market and nearly 45% of the hi-bright Maplitho market in India. BILT has six manufacturing units across the country, with a capacity for producing 4.5 lakh tonnes of paper and 1 lakh tonne of pulp every year. In 2007, BILT acquired Sabah Forest Industries or SFI, Malaysia’s largest pulp and paper company with a production capacity of 1.5 lakh tonnes of paper and over 1.3 lakh tonnes of pulp per annum. This acquisition has elevated BILT’s global ranking to 87.