ITC Limited is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal.

[5] Established
in 1910 as the 'Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited', the company was renamed as the 'India Tobacco
Company Limited' in 1970 and later to 'I.T.C. Limited' in 1974. The dots in the name were removed in September
2001 for the company to be renamed as 'ITC Limited' where 'ITC' would no longer be an initialism.

ITC Ltd is one of India's foremost private sector companies. ITC has a diversified presence in Cigarettes,
Hotels, Paperboards & Specialty Papers, Packaging, Agri-Business, Packaged Foods & Confectionery,
Information Technology, Branded Apparel, Personal Care, Stationery, Safety Matches and other FMCG
products. While ITC is an outstanding market leader in its traditional businesses of Cigarettes, Hotels,
Paperboards, Packaging and Agri-Exports, it is rapidly gaining market share even in its nascent businesses
of Packaged Foods & Confectionery, Branded Apparel, Personal Care and Stationery.

During the year first six decades of the company's existence were primarily devoted to the growth and
consolidation of the Cigarettes and Leaf Tobacco businesses.

In the year 1975, the company launched its Hotels business with the acquisition of a hotel in Chennai. In
the year 1979, they entered the Paperboards business by promoting ITC Bhadrachalam Paperboards Ltd,
which today has become the market leader in India.

In the year 1985, the company set up Surya Tobacco Co. in Nepal as an Indo-Nepal and British joint
venture. In the year 1990, the company acquired Tribeni Tissues Ltd, a Specialty paper manufacturing
company and a major supplier of tissue paper to the cigarette industry. The merged entity was named
the Tribeni Tissues Division (TTD). In the year 1990, the company set up the Agri Business Division for
export of agri-commodities. Today, the Division is one of India's largest exporters.

In the year 2000, the company spun off its information technology business into a wholly owned
subsidiary, ITC Infotech India Ltd, to more aggressively pursue emerging opportunities in this area. The
company also entered the Lifestyle Retailing business with the Wills Sport range of international quality
relaxed wear for men and women in the year 2000.

ITC also initiated a foray into the popular segment with its men's wear brand, John Players, in 2002.

In the year 2003, the company entered the biscuits segment with the introduction of Sunfeast. Also, the
company forayed into the marketing of Agarbattis (incense sticks) in partnership with the cottage sector.
The company's popular agarbattis brands include Spriha and Mangaldeep across a range of fragrances
like Rose, Jasmine, Bouquet, Sandalwood, Madhur, Sambrani and Nagchampa.

The company launched 'Fiama Di Wills', a premium range of Shampoos, Shower Gels and Soaps in
September, October and December 2007 respectively.

During the year 2009-10, the company launched new variants of 'Gold Flake' and 'Navy Cut Filter Kings'
with innovative product features, limited edition packs of 'Classic' and launch of new brands like 'Flake
Excel Filter' and 'Duke Filter'. The company also launched its premium line of hand-rolled cigars in select
markets under the brand name 'Armenteros'.
During the year, the company launched 'mint-o GOL' in the 'chews' category. In the Agarbattis, the
company launched a new variant, 'Fragrance of Temple', in Tamil Nadu, under the 'Mangaldeep' brand,
which delivers temple aroma. In the personal care segment, the company launched 'Fiama Di Wills' Gel
Bathing Bar. Also, they strengthened the brand 'Vivel' with the launch of the 'Milk Cream & Glycerine'
bathing bar in the winter care segment, and 'Deo Spirit' in the freshness segment.

In October 2009, the company launched the ITC Royal Gardenia, a 292 room luxury offering in Bengaluru.
It is the largest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum rated hotel in the world
and the first in Asia to achieve this distinction.

Eventually the company launched mass-appeal brands like Classmate:notebooks and John
Players:menswear.

In 2014, ITC has been voted among the top two 'Buzziest Brands' in the 'Corporate' category by 'afaqs',
one of the world's largest marketing and advertising portals. ITC's leading personal care brand and one of
India's most exciting brands introduced Love & Nourish'. ITC becomes fastest firm to clock Rs 1,000 cr
revenue in stationery market. ITC's Engage range takes second spot in deo market by volume. ITC also
replaces TCS as India's most admired company.

On 13 February 2015, ITC announced that the company has entered into Asset Purchase Agreements
with M/s. Johnson & Johnson Ltd., India & M/s. Johnson & Johnson Pte. Ltd., Singapore for purchase of
Savlon' and Shower To Shower' trademarks and other intellectual property, respectively, primarily for use
in India.

On 23 February 2015, ITC announced that the company has been declared as the highest/successful
bidder for Park Hyatt Hotel located at 263-C Arossim, Cansaulim, Goa along with land and built up area
of the hotel together with all buildings and structures and plant & machineries.

On 2 April 2016, ITC announced that the company has been compelled to shut its cigarette factories with
effect from 1 April 2016 until clarity emerges in the uncertain state of the rules on health warning on
cigarette packs. On 8 May 2016, ITC announced that its cigarette factories are commencing production
progressively.