Goodricke Group Ltd.(GGL), a part of UK based Duncan Lawrie Group was incorporated in 1977 to takeover the Indian business and assets of eight Sterling Tea companies comprising seventeen tea estates. The Duncan Lawrie Group have a controlling stake in GGL through its group companies Assam-Dooars Investment, which hold 48.10% of stake in GGL and Western-Dooars Investment, which holds 25.90% stake in GGL._x000D_ _x000D_ The company has taken acquisition route to expand its plantation area, especialy in Darjeeling District of West Bengal in 1984. Under this acquisition policy it had already acquired Castleton Tea Estate and Margarets'Hope Tea Estate through its subsidiary 'Tiru Tea'._x000D_ _x000D_ The UK-based Lawrie group, together with GGL, has acquired a 45% stake in the Soaltee group of Nepal, which produces two lac kg pa of tea. It also has received an offer from Himalaya Tea Garden and Farming Pvt Ltd, Nepal, to participate in its equity as a joint venture partner to assist in its expansion and modernisation schemes. It plans extension planting in Darjeeling._x000D_ _x000D_ During 1999-2000, the exports were affected to the introduction of Certification Trade Mark (CTM). Also, instant tea had another difficult year, due to lower shipments to US and other markets. The packet tea operation was also unfavourable with lower take-off due to gult in the market and severe price competition. In 2001-02 the company introduced 'Goodricke Gold' in the market and the initial response was encouraging._x000D_