Annual Report 2012

2005 - Its more than just oil. Its liquid engineering

Your Company has had an excellent 2005, with growth across all key metrics. This performance is reassuring since it comes at a time when the external environment has been extremely challenging. The year saw unprecedented material costs increases and intense competition amongst industry players. However the intrinsic “Strength Within” your Company – brand, people, distribution, technology and innovation has propelled delivery of this impressive performance in 2005.

It is heartening to see these inner strengths come together, such that we could understand our customers better and thereby connect successfully with them. Your Company is focused on margin management through customer segmentation. Castrol was able to take price increases successfully by continuing to offer innovative propositions that meet the growing demand of its consumers.

It is in difficult times that strong organizations take a challenging stance. Castrol seized the strategic opportunity to meet the challenge of the shift in the profile of consumers due to the booming personal mobility segment. During 2005, your Company took the initiative to relaunch the Castrol Masterbrand. All elements of the brand were changed and updated. All new communication has been most aptly summarized in the brand’s new tagline “Its more than just oil. Its Liquid Engineering.”

2005 saw your Company make huge strides in health and safety. Your Company received recognition and awards for excellent works done in road safety, work place safety and energy conservation.

Our people continue to be a key asset and are often hailed as a pool of functional excellence in the wider BP world. Keeping the long term in mind, your Company continues to focus on leadership development and enhancing the competencies of staff. The organization also provided greater focus and sensitivity towards issues such as creating a diverse workforce and an inclusive work environment where everyone can succeed.

All this should only make us stronger and bolder going into 2006.

Naveen Kshatriya
Managing Director