Press Release

Press Release

Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. Launches ‘Jivana Iodised Salt’

Oct 02, 2015

Homemakers can now benefit from both Jivana sugar and Jivana salt.

After the success of the Jivana Classic Sugar, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. has launched Jivana Refined Iodised Salt. Both Jivana salt & sugar are certified under Food Safety Standard Authority India (FSSAI)

Jivana Iodised salt comes from Kutch and is harvested from saltpans using safe & natural solar evaporation methods that help retain the required goodness of iodine. It is also enriched with macro minerals like magnesium and calcium that are vital for physical and mental health.

The salt is available in one kg packs across the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat and expanding.

Jivana Classic Sugar, is hygienic, unadulterated, pure sugar, manufactured using automated production processes. The medium-­‐sized sugar crystals are extracted from the first and best juice of each stalk of cane, guaranteeing the right amount of sweetness each time. It comes from Godavari Biorefineries Ltd., a sugar refinery in Karnataka operating for over 75 years.

Jivana Classic sugar is available in one kg and five kg packs in 1600 stores across Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Udaipur, and few other towns of Rajasthan.

The food division of the group will focus on branded food products and food additives.

About Godavari Biorefineries Ltd

Godavari Biorefineries Ltd is one of India’s leading and sustainable manufacturer of foods, biofuels, specialty chemicals, power, compost, waxes, and related products, using sugarcane as the primary feedstock.

For more information, email at: consumercare@somaiya.com or call on: 022-61702111

For more information, please visit: www.somaiya.com

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Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. Raises $15 Million (Rs. 90 Crore) From Mandala Capital

May 12, 2015

Godavari Biorefineries Ltd, (“Godavari”), one of India’s leading and sustainable manufacturers of foods, biofuels, specialty chemicals, power and related products, using sugarcane as the primary feedstock, today announced that it has raised $ 15 million (Rs 90 Crore) in equity, from funds managed by Mandala Capital.

This investment in research and innovation to address the Global needs for Green products and Chemicals is part of Godavari’s strategy to enhance returns by strengthening the portfolio of higher-­‐margin products to address the significant and growing demand for chemical products made from renewable feedstock. Godavari’s strength in manufacturing and expertise in renewable feedstock provides high yields and low conversion costs.

In recent years, Godavari has been following a strategy focused on creating higher value than its peers globally from every unit of its feedstock, be it sugarcane, molasses, ethyl alcohol, bagasse, or, in the future, any other biomass. In pursuit of its vision to increase the current level of extracted value, Godavari has been investing heavily in innovation, research and collaboration in the production of sugar, power and ethanol and in the manufacture of value added, complex chemicals derived from ethanol as well as the waste products of the sugar refining process.

The funds invested by Mandala Capital will be used for Phase I of this strategy, which involves a new manufacturing plant for specialty chemicals, an increased capacity for ethanol production, debottlenecking of existing plants and strengthening the company’s utility infrastructure. It will also fund an expanded facility for research and development.

Godavari has a current capacity to manufacture over 70 million liters of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and is among the larger producers of ethanol in India. It is a pioneer in the use of ethanol as a feedstock for the production of chemicals and is among a handful globally, to make and sell chemicals from ethanol. Some of the chemicals it manufactures currently include acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, crotonaldehyde, MPO, paraldehyde, and other specialty chemicals, often providing an alternative, renewable source of supply to oil-­‐based petrochemicals. Godavari’s products find applications in paints, printing inks, pharmaceuticals, flexible packaging, fragrances and cosmetics. Godavari is a preferred supplier to a wide number of Indian companies, and global multinationals such as Hindustan Coca-­‐Cola Beverages Limited, BASF and others including some of the world’s leading companies in the beverage, confectionery, pharmaceuticals, fragrances and chemicals sectors.

Samir Somaiya, Chairman, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. said, “Research and sustainability is at the core of all that we do. Our focus is on developing new production processes to manufacture specialty and high performance chemicals using biomass as raw materials within the value chain. For us, innovation in green chemistry is a source of growth and expansion for the company as well as our commitment to the triple bottom line of social, ecological and financial gain.”

Uday Garg, CEO of Mandala Capital said, “We have followed the progress of Mr. Samir Somaiya and his team at Godavari for several years and witnessed firsthand the transformation of the Company from a traditional sugar business into an integrated bio refinery. The “more value per ton” strategy is ambitious and innovative. Early successes in supplying complex chemicals to the exacting requirements of global players demonstrate the viability of the process chemistry being developed by Godavari, its impact to the bottom line and the ability of the team to innovate sustainable solutions for customers on a commercial basis.”

Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. a member of the Somaiya Group, was established in 1939 and is one of the leading companies in the Indian Sugar Industry. It has sugar, ethanol, power and chemical plants in Karnataka and Maharashtra. Godavari expects a turnover exceeding Rs. 1,200 crores for the year ended March 2016.

Godavari believes in pursuing the triple bottom line in its approach to doing business. All of this is powered by innovation. The company is working with its farmers to ensure soil health, water use efficiency, and intercropping, to enable the farmer to earn better returns while at the same time, keep the earth healthy for the long term. Godavari also works by creating social infrastructure for education in the area that it serves.

Mandala Capital Ltd. manages private equity funds that invest in companies focused on the agribusiness sector in the Indian subcontinent.

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Godavari Biorefineries Limited Launched its New Chemical Plant

Godavari Biorefineries Limited inaugurated its new MPO plant with a capacity of 4,000 tons per annum, at Sakarwadi in Maharashtra. 

Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. is a biorefining company producing sugar, biofuels, chemicals, power, compost, waxes, and related products, using sugarcane as the primary feedstock.  The company has manufacturing plants at Sameerwadi, Bagalkot district in Karnataka and Sakarwadi, Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra.

Inaugurating the plant, Shri Prakash Mehta, Minister of Housing, Labour & Mines, Guardian Minister of Raigad District, Government of Maharashtra, said, “The development of this plant will contribute to the socio-economic development of the area. The commitment of the company for this region began with Karamshibhai Somaiya when he founded the company here and this became his Karmabhoomi. From the past 76 years, the company has worked for the development of this area”.

Samir Somaiya, Chairman and Managing Director said, “The new unit will allow us to offer customized chemicals and solutions for the global markets. It is part of our strategy to meet the growing demand for chemicals manufactured from renewable feedstocks using sustainable practices”.

The company had recently raised private equity from Mandala Capital, a part of which was for the setting up of this plant.

About Godavari Biorefineries Limited

Godavari Biorefineries Ltd., a member of the Somaiya Group, was established in 1939 and is one of the leading companies in the Indian sugar industry.  It has sugar, power and chemical plants in Karnataka and Maharashtra. Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. expects a turnover exceeding Rs. 1,200 Crores for the year ended March 2016.

The company undertakes continuous research and innovates for making new products and entering new markets in order to derive maximum value from its feedstock. The company has been pioneers in the making of ethanol based chemicals and is now working on the utilisation of biomass to make a wider variety of products.

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Somaiya Vidyavihar School Children from Ahmednagar Participate in Robotic Competition in Mumbai

Mumbai, Economic Times | Jul 15, 2015

School children from Sharda English Medium School, Kopargaon; Somaiya Vidya Mandir, Lakshmiwadi & Somaiya Vidya Mandir, Sakarwadi participated in an exciting robotic competition organized by K. J. Somaiya Institute of Engineering and Information Technology, Mumbai.

This initiative by Somaiya Vidyavihar was done to ensure that Robotics that is part of the education system in the international schools in high schools globally and in cities in India is made available to the children in all their schools. Says, Dr. Dilip R. Pangavhane, Principal of K. J. Somaiya Institute of Engineering and Information Technology (KJSIEIT) “ Working with robots is a great way for encouraging interest in Science and Math. It inspires innovation, encourages creativity and analytical ability. At Somaiya Vidyavihar, we have a culture of sharing knowledge amongst all our institutions. We were thus very keen to ensure that the students of schools of Somaiya Vidyavihar, including the ones in rural areas also get the opportunity to learn robotics. We have been amazed at the level of interest, and talent that the children have shown”.

In June, KJSIEIT college students had visited the schools in Kopergaon and held a workshop to train the students in the most exciting field of Robotics.

Animesh Kukade, a class 9 student from Sharda English Medium School, Kopargaon said, “Robotics is fun. We have to coordinate many things at the same time, like the timing & speed of the robotic car, going over the obstructions, tracking the penalties and operating it. It is an amazing experience. The college students taught us everything in a simple manner and made us understand the basics very clearly. "

A Quality education initiative for rural children by Godavari Biorefineries Limited in association with Somaiya Vidyavihar -­‐Sharda English Medium School, Kopargaon, Somaiya Vidya Mandir Laxmiwadi, and Somaiya Vidya Mandir, Sakarwadi.

Teachers, students from Somaiya Vidyavihar, Mumbai as well as guests from international colleges often visit the schools to share their knowledge. The success of the various initiatives has seen the children show great interest in their studies. The success of the efforts can be seen by the fact that each of the schools achieved over 90% results in SSC.

Somaiya Vidyavihar has over 34 educational institutions across Maharashtra and Karnataka.

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