bikes4u

The Group has succeeded in establishing enduring partnerships with some leading Japanese companies in response to the development and growth of national markets, the global opening of international trade and the free movement of capital. In the engineering sector, Atlas has had a technical collaboration agreement with Honda Motor Company of Japan since 1962, currently the oldest amongst all non-Japanese companies. These relations were further consolidated by Honda Motor’s equity participation in Atlas Honda Ltd. followed by higher equity participation in Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd. and Honda Atlas Power Product (Private) Ltd.

Atlas Battery Ltd., which has enjoyed technical assistance from Japan Storage Battery Co. since 1968, became a joint venture between Atlas and JSB by the purchase of equity by the latter in Atlas Battery Ltd.

Allwin Engineering Industries Ltd. has full access to the technical know-how and back-up of Honda Foundry Co. Ltd., Japan, the Federal Mogul, U.K., Meehanite, U.K., UE Automotive, F.C.C. Co. and Toyo Denso for its high quality precision engineering components for the automotive industry.

In the financial sector, Muslim Insurance Co. Ltd. has had a long association with leading international reinsurance companies including Munich Re, Swiss Re, Yasuda, Tokio Marine, Cooper Gay, among others.

Atlas Investment Bank Limited was formed in 1990 as a joint venture between Atlas Group and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd., Japan with the Asian Development Bank as the first subscriber. Atlas Lease Limited a joint venture between the Atlas Group, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd. and National Investment Trust, incorporated in 1989 was merged with Atlas Investment Bank Ltd. in 2001. Shirazi Investments (Pvt) Ltd. has taken over the shares of joint venture partners, after the merger.

In the Trading Sector, Shirazi Trading Company (Private) Limited represents international manufacturers of heavy equipment and machinery like MAN B&W Diesel of Germany/Denmark, Tideland Signals of USA/Singapore, Vallon of Germany and DKK Corporation of Japan. Shirazi Trading Company is also a franchise holder in Pakistan of leading brands such as Pitney Bowes, Canon and Hewlett Packard.

The Group entered into another joint venture with TOTALFINA of France marketing petroleum products and established Total Atlas Lubricants Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. in 1997 to produce and distribute lubricants, oils and greases in Pakistan.

The Atlas Group has not only introduced modern technologies in Pakistan but has also set an example in professional management in harmony with the country’s own cultural environment, thus providing a sense of active participation at every level-from the grass roots to the top. To cope-up with the growing needs of the Group, permanent cells have been established for the Human Resource Development, as well as MIS to introduce the state of the art IT facilities in the Group. The Remuneration Committee is headed by the director from outside the Group and the Board Audit Committee is constituted in each company chaired by the non-executive directors.

Realizing its social responsibilities as a corporate citizen, the Group has been playing a full role promoting centers of professional education, contributing to health facilities, helping law enforcement agencies and playing its due role in improving the quality of life with the commitment that what has come from the society should be shared with the society. Shirazi Foundation has been established in order to focus on community’s growth particularly through health care and education.

The growth of the Atlas Group is the result of its focus on good Corporate Governance.

The Group aims to strive for excellence in all areas of endeavors, to make each company in the Group highly profitable, a provider of high quality goods and services, an attractive organization to work for, and a reliable business partner and associate.

YUSUF H. SHIRAZI