Some of the successful brands of VST, (the erstwhile Vazir Sultan Tobacco Company) are Charminar, Charminar Special Filter, Charms Mini Kings and Charms Virginia Filter. VST was incorporated in 1930 at Hyderabad, AP, and has a factory at Secunderabad, AP. It has a collaboration with the BAT Group, UK, which holds a 32.16% stake in the company. In 1990, the company entered the United Arab Emirates market, launching Kingston Mini Kings. To develop the export business, it introduced fire-cured, light-soil Burley and other non-traditional varieties of tobacco, followed by another brand, Kingston Dual Filter, in 1991. In the same year, it was accorded the status of an export house. It also acquired an import licence for two sophisticated high-speed precision Log Max cigarette manufacturing machines from France. The company also exports agricultural products. VST's subsidiaries are Hallmark Tobacco Company Pvt Ltd, VST Distribution, Storage & Leasing Company Pvt Ltd (VDSL) and Tobacco Diversification Investments Pvt Ltd (TDIL). During the year 2004-05 Tobacco Diversification Investments Pvt Ltd amalgamated with VST Distribution, Storage & Leasing Company which came into effect on 1st April 2004. The company has alloted 3030000 1% Usecured Optionally Convertable Debentures of Rs 10 each, in lieu of VST's holding in the TDIL in the ratio of 1:1. VST's Plant Location is at Azamabad in Hyderabad. VST introduced Gold Premium Filter in Jul.'93. In 1992-93, it entered into a technical collaboration agreement with High Value Horticulture, UK. It has signed an agreement with Science and Technology Ventures, Israel. In 1994, the company incorporated VST Natural Products (formerly VST Agro Tech), to establish manufacturing facilities to process high value horticultural crops, for export. In 1994-95, the company had launched two brands - Vijay Deluxe and Charminar Standard. VST is the largest exporter of cigarettes to the middle-east from India. SEBI cleared the open offer of Brightstar Investment to acquire 20% equity stake in the company. The Open Offer made by Bright Star Investments Ltd at Rs.112 per share was revised to Rs.151 per share and the counter offer made by Russell Credit Ltd at Rs.115 per share was also revised to Rs.125 per share respectively. Both the offer was closed in during June,2001. Processing lines of the company have been modernised during the year 2003-04 by inducting Hauni KT2 Stem Cutter to improve filling values and reduce tobacco wastage and New Design spillage free Cut Stem and Cut Lamina Autofeeds to reduce tobacco wastage in the year 2004-05.It also installed a new humidification system with auto controls on Relative Humidity to improve stored cut tobacco moisture consistency and freshness. In the year 2003-04 the secondary manufacturing department has also modernised by incorporated new Auto Feed Systems on individual making machines in order to ensure consistency of the product in . The secondary department has been modernised by inducting two Molmac MK9 MTF (one for filter and one for micros), New weight control systems (TEWS and MRK3), IPMs (individual Parcellers) and installed new Quality Test modules to improve and maintain consistent product quality in the year 2004-05.