The original promoter family of stationery major Camlin has acquired pre-school chain Camlin Alpha Kids Limited, which was a wholly owned subsidiary of Kokuyo Camlin Ltd, for an undisclosed amount.
The stake is bought by Dilip Dandekar and his associates, the previous promoters of Camlin Ltd. Dankekars hold 5.38 per cent in Kokuyo Camlin Ltd of the total promoter and promoter group holding of 74.98 per cent.
In May 2011, Kokuyo S&T Company Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s Kokuyo Company Ltd acquired a controlling stake in Camlin Ltd from the promoters. The name of the company was changed to Kokuyo Camlin Ltd.
Camlin Alpha Kids runs pre-schools under the Alpha Kids brand. It started its first centre in 2009 at Lokhandwala (Andheri) in Mumbai. Later, three more centres were opened in Juhu, Malad and Khargar in the city.
For the year ended March 31, 2013, it posted revenues of Rs 2.45 crore with a net loss of Rs 1.6 crore.
It is a small regional player in the pre-school business which is dominated by the likes of Tree House, KidZee, EuroKids and Kangaroo Kids, among others.
(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)
