Lotus Chocolate Company Ltd has announced key changes to its board of directors, with one resignation and one new appointment taking effect on February 27, 2026. The company disclosed these developments under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Director Resignation

Mr. Krishnakumar Thirumalai (DIN: 00079047), who served as Non-Executive Non-Independent Director, has resigned from his position effective February 27, 2026. The company received his resignation letter on February 27, 2026 at 2:10 P.M. (IST). In his resignation letter, Mr. Thirumalai cited other pre-occupations as the reason for stepping down from his directorial role.

The Board of Directors placed on record its sincere appreciation for the contribution made by Mr. Krishnakumar Thirumalai during his tenure on the Board of the Company.

New Director Appointment

The Board of Directors, based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Rafathullah (DIN: 06744446) as an Additional Director (Non-Executive Director) with effect from February 27, 2026. The resolution appointing Mr. Rafathullah was passed by the Board of Directors on February 27, 2026 at around 8:22 P.M. (IST).

Professional Background

Mr. Mohammed Rafathullah brings extensive experience to the board, with over three decades of expertise in driving business turnarounds and large-scale transformations. His professional background spans multiple industries including FMCG, Telecom, IT and ISP businesses across India and South Asia.

Key Experience:

• Companies: Gandour Chocolates, Dukes Biscuits, ACT Broad Band, Bharti Teletech, Heinz India, and GlaxoSmithKline
• Expertise: P&L and Board-level leadership in sales & distribution, brand management and manufacturing
• Focus: Business turnarounds supported by measurable growth and execution excellence

Educational Qualifications:

• PG Diploma in Marketing Management from Annamalai University
• Bachelor's degree in Science from Osmania University
• Currently pursuing Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) from ESGCI, Paris, with research focus on "Disruptive Strategies for Exponential Business Growth"

Regulatory Compliance

The company has confirmed that Mr. Mohammed Rafathullah is not related to any Director of the Company. In accordance with the circular dated June 20, 2018, issued by the Stock Exchange, the company confirmed that Mr. Rafathullah is not debarred from holding the office of Director by virtue of any order passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India or any other such authority.

His appointment is subject to the approval of the members of the Company and upon such approval, he shall be liable to retire by rotation in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Articles of Association of the Company.

Lotus Chocolate Company Limited has announced a temporary shutdown of its manufacturing facility to conduct a comprehensive operational assessment. The company disclosed this development in a regulatory filing under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Facility Details and Operations

The manufacturing facility subject to the temporary shutdown is located at Survey No 161/A, S.V. CO-OP Industrial Area, IDA Bollaram, Sangareddy District, Telangana. This legacy plant currently operates in the production of various chocolate-based products, with its primary focus on choco chips and choco slabs that cater mainly to business-to-business customers.

Shutdown Timeline and Scope

The company plans to undertake a detailed and systematic assessment during this period, which will involve a comprehensive review of multiple operational aspects.

Assessment Activities

The planned assessment will cover several critical areas of the manufacturing facility:

• Existing plant layout evaluation
• Machinery assessment and review
• Equipment analysis and inspection
• Operational capacity evaluation
• Infrastructure assessment

These activities are designed to provide the company with a thorough understanding of its current manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure status.

Expected Impact on Operations

The company has indicated that during the fifteen-day period, there will be intermittent disruption to normal plant operations. However, Lotus Chocolate Company Limited has stated that this operational pause is not anticipated to have a material impact on the company's sales performance.

The temporary shutdown represents a strategic initiative by the company to evaluate and potentially optimize its manufacturing operations while minimizing disruption to its business activities and customer relationships.