Goodricke Group Limited

COMPANY’S PHILOSOPHY ON CODE OF GOVERNANCE:

The Company’s core business is the cultivation and production of tea and it is among the top three producers in India.

The Company strives to produce teas of top quality, which are acceptable to the discerning world market. This particularly applies to production from the Darjeeling and Assam gardens.

Likewise, the Company endeavours to care for all its employees by providing medical, educational and welfare facilities way beyond the basic requirements.

The Company’s overall philosophy is excellence in all spheres of its operations.

The Company, being an important constituent of Camellia Plc., the ultimate holding Company, is guided by the Statement of Business Principles enunciated by it for their global operations. The Business Principles, as adopted, cover amongst others, business integrity, health, safety, environment and social issues. The Principles are covered by a laid down framework which is monitored from time to time. Specific emphasis is given to the health, safety and welfare of the workers. These are in addition to the statutory rules as applicable. The Gardens have made important strides in family welfare, child immunization, health tracking and community welfare both in-house as well as for the adjoining villages. Afforestation and environment protections are key areas which are specifically covered and include integrated pest management systems, effluent treatment and community schemes to enhance awareness of protecting the environment. Tea Gardens, in general, are eco-friendly commercial operations and these additional measures enhance the same.

The Goodricke School for Special Education in Siliguri, North Bengal supported by the Company had commissioned in April 2006. It has been specifically designed and equipped for the physically and mentally challenged children. The Directors are proud to be associated with the same.

It has to be noted that the tea Industry serves a number of social, geo-political and environmental issues. Tea gardens essentially employ in its ranks tribes from remote corners of the country, who belong to the socially underprivileged section. The Government’s emphasis on social upliftment is more than fulfilled by the tea Industry. The gardens also provide subsidized foodgrains, housing, quality medical facilities, schooling for children and other long term benefits to the socially challenged sections of the society. Most of the gardens are located in remote areas and tea garden management have been providing micro administration in such far flung areas and have been indirectly helping State administration in governance.

The Company has ensured that its garden workers have the best possible care and thus have access to fresh drinking water, well equipped hospitals, maternity clinics, crèches, good schools and subsidized rations.

A 14 feet high statue of the Buddha created by the late artist Meera Mukherjee overlooks the magnificent gardens in Badamtam.

The Company’s shares are listed at the Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd (BSE). The first public issue of shares was made in September 1979. Since its incorporation four Bonus Issue of shares have been made as follows:-

Rs. /million
	Year	Capital (After increase)
Original Capital	1977	22.2
Bonus 1 for 5	1984	36.0
Bonus 1:1	1987	72.0
Bonus 1:2	1990	108.0
Bonus 1:1	1992	216.0
Thus, Bonus shares constitute 86% of the share capital.

1. The  Goodricke Group of Companies  regret to announce the  sudden demise  in London on 29th November 2009  of  Mr. Peter Alan Leggatt , MBE, Chairman of  Goodricke Group Ltd.  & its Group Companies, Stewart Holl (India) Ltd, and Amgoorie India Ltd.

 

Mr. Leggatt  joined the Board of  Directors  of the  three Companies  in  1988  and  was  appointed  Chairman in  1990. Mr. Leggatt  was the Executive  Director  of  Camellia plc ( one of the  world's largest tea producer )  and  Director  of  number of  Group  Companies  worldwide.

 

2. Mr. Peter John Field, Managing Director of Duncan Lawrie Ltd. ,  a  private bank  based in London  and  a Director of  the above  three  companies  has  been appointed as  the Chairman of  the  Board of  Directors of  Goodricke Group Ltd,  Stewart Holl ( India)  Ltd. and Amgoorie  India  Ltd. in  place of  Mr.  P.A. Leggatt.

 

3. The Goodricke Group continues to sponcer the "GOODRICKE EAST INDIA AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSIIP”. The 2009 meet will tee off at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club on 21st December 2009. This is  India's  oldest  golfing event  and   Indian  professionals  on the  world circuit like  Jeev Milkha Singh and  Jyoti  Randhawa  started  their  careers  as amateurs  in this  Goodricke  sponcered event . The Championship will conclude on 27th December 2009.

 

 A. The following Gardens have been granted HACCP CERTIFICATE for manufacture of Darjeeling Orthodox Black Tea:-

 

1.         Goodricke Group Limited

 

• Badamtam Tea Garden

• Barnesbeg Tea Garden

• Thurbo Tea Garden (Also certified for Green Tea)

 

2.         Amgoorie India Limited

 

• Castleton Tea Estate

• Margaret’s Hope Tea Estate

 

B. The following Gardens have been granted HACCP CERTIFICATE for manufacture of CTC Black Tea:-

 

Amgoorie India Limited

 

• Amgoorie Tea Estate

• Borbam Tea Estate

The  Annual  General Meeting of the members of the  Company  was  held  at  Science  City  mini  auditorium      on 7th April  2009 and  all  the  resolutions  as per  the Notice of  the meeting were  passed.  Mr. P.A. Leggett, Chairman of the Company chaired the meeting. 

 

Launch of  Goodricke  Tea  Lounge  at  Calcutta  Cricket & Football  Club at  Kolkata  in May '09  for  Ready to Drink  iced  teas  in  various  flavours  like peach, orange, & lemon  and  for  sale of  Goodricke  packet  teas.

• Himalayan Odyssey.

Executives from Goodricke Group Ltd joined the sixth edition of Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey and rode to the highest motorable mountain pass in the world. The Himalayan Odyssey which features prominently in the Indian biking calendar is an annual event organized by the Chennai based motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield ( a unit of Eicher motors ) for Enfield  aficionados across the country and the world and is considered to be the biggest , toughest and highest road trip organized in the country. The trip which is considered to be the ultimate test of man and machine against the forces of nature posed the severest of challenge to the participants and a number of riders opted out of the ride at different stages owing either to altitude  sickness, inclement weather or mechanical trouble in their motorcycles. The riders from our group M/s Vikram Singh Gulia, Abid Rehman and Shaibal Dutt, all experienced and consistent riders in their own right completed the Odyssey with flying colors emerging unscathed from the rigors of the trip signifying the indomitable spirit of Goodricke planters who are second to  none in all walks of life.

• Sri Lanka Visit

Our General Manager (Eng & Ops), Mr. A. Asthana recently made a visit to Sri Lanka to observe and assess some Orthodox Machinery.

• Japan Visit
  

Mr. J. D. Rai, Senior Manager, Thurbo TG and Group Manufacturing Advisor for Darjeeling visited Japan on the invitation of some dedicated Goodricke buyers. He visited The Show room of Leafull Corporation, Japan and some tea states as well.

• Darjeeling :

Located at around 7000 ft. above sea level with a unique combination of clonal China, soil, and climate, this region produces the finest teas known to man on its lush slopes shrouded by mountain mist.

Often enjoying royal patronage, the fine teas of this romantic hill station are light, bright, aromatic and flavoury and are savoured by connoisseurs the world over.

• Assam :

Lush and green, fed by the mighty Brahmaputra River, India’s largest tea growing state of Assam has Ten tea gardens belonging to the Goodricke Group Limited.

Both Orthodox and CTC teas are produced in this premium quality region and the produce is consumed in India and exported mainly to the UK, Middle East and Germany and elsewhere.

The teas are rich in colour with body and fullness and are in great demand as the ideal invigorating drink.

• Dooars :

Fed by mountain streams, this region has verdant forest areas and is generally known as elephant country. Due to its rich agro-climate, the area produces vibrant and robust teas of the CTC variety which is much sought after by the Local market.

Instant Teas – available hot or cold and ready to drink…

The Goodricke Group developed the concept of instant tea from green leaf at its R & D centre for 4 years before setting up the world’s first integrated Instant Tea Plant at Aibheel Tea Garden in the Dooars. This is a state of the art, computerised automated plant and its establishment in 1994 as an Export Oriented Unit marks a major development in the Indian Tea Industry.

Our Instant tea, available both in Hot Water Soluble and Cold Water Soluble form, is playing an increasingly important role in the world beverage scene and is a source of supply to leading manufacturers of ready to drink products world wide. There is now also an emerging trend for the usage of tea products in the food, confectionery and personal care industries as well

Our Instant Tea products can be designed to the customers’ specification using raw material ranging from black tea to green leaf from any region. The Plants proximity to the finest quality raw material available in the area itself is a major factor. It was certified and awarded Quality Management Systems on 18th September 2000 and is presently upgraded to ISO 9001:2000. It is also certified for ISO 14000:1996, GMP, HACCP and SQF by SGS (India) Limited.