Central Provinces Manganese Ore Co Ltd , 1924-1975

The company originated in an agreement for working manganese ore in the Central Provinces, India, 18 December 1899, between Patrick Macfadyen, Henry Gribble Turner and George Henry Glass. The partnership became known as the Central Provinces Prospecting Syndicate, with offices at 305 Winchester House, Old Broad Street, EC2, and was registered as a limited company of that name on 30 January 1908. The name was changed to the Central Provinces Manganese Ore Company on 15 May 1924. Its head office moved to 308 Winchester House in 1926, 120 Winchester House in 1954, 4-7 Chiswell Street EC1 in 1965, and 99-101 Regent Street W1 in 1974. In June 1962, all the company's mines except one (Balapur Hamesha, Dongri Buzurg) and its fixed assets and consumable stores were transferred, by agreement with the Government of India, to the newly-constituted Manganese Ore (India) Limited in return for 49% of the latter's share capital, the balance being held by the Indian Government and the Government of the states of Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh. The company's right to renew its options on its one remaining mine was refused by the former state in September 1971, but it eventually resumed work at the mine in accordance with a staying order of the High Court of Bombay.

In June 1973, the company's articles of association were amended to enable it to operate in general investment. Its quotation on the London Stock Exchange was cancelled in October 1975. Its holdings in Manganese Ore (India) Limited were purchased by the Government of India on 21 December 1977 and from that date the company has carried on investment business only. The company owned 50% of the share capital of the United Kingdom Ferro-manganese Company which it formed together with a group of English ferro-manganese makers in 1926 to buy, sell and refine various ores. Its office was at 328 Winchester House, EC2. It appears to have ceased trading in 1975.