Henry Sackville Barlow Ghazali Awang Norzilah Megawati Dato’ Abdul Rahman Adam @ Adham Abdullah BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Abdul Khalid Ibrahim Tan Sri Dato’ Abdul Khalid Ibrahim Directors Datuk Abdullah Ali Adam @ Adham Abdullah Henry Sackville Barlow Ghazali Awang Norzilah Megawati Dato’ Abdul Rahman Ong Euwan George Ong Euwan George Tan Sri Dato’ Abdul Khalid Ibrahim – Group Chief Executive Ghazali Awang – Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services Datuk Abdullah Ali Ali Haji Ahmad – Director, Plantation Wong Poh Weng – Director, Manufacturing & Engineering Services AUDITORS PRINCIPAL BANKERS Mohamed Rahim Ismail – Director, Property Ernst & Young 4th Floor, Kompleks Antarabangsa Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Malayan Banking Berhad HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad MANAGING AGENT REGISTERED OFFICE SHARE REGISTRAR Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad Wisma Guthrie 21, Jalan Gelenggang Damansara Heights 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Telephone : 603-254 1644 Facsimile : 603-255 7934 Telex : MA 30346 Wisma Guthrie 21, Jalan Gelenggang Damansara Heights 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Telephone : 603-254 1644 Facsimile : 603-255 7934 Telex : MA 30346 Malaysian Share Registration Services Sendirian Berhad 7th Floor, Exchange Square Bukit Kewangan 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Telephone : 603-206 8099 Facsimile : 603-206 3736/206 3731 SECRETARIES Halimatus Saadiah Abdul Rabah (LS 01389) Megat Nazirudin Megat Shamsuddin (LS 00139) 12 SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF MANAGING AGENT DATE AND PLACE OF INCORPORATION Incorporated on 21 June 1966 in Malaysia STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange 13 DATUK ABDULLAH ALI GHAZALI AWANG Age 77. Director since 1979. Chairman of The KAB Group Berhad, CBI (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Makro Cash & Carry Distribution (M) Sdn. Bhd. and Century Chemical Works Sdn. Berhad. Also Director of a few other private limited companies and President of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Educated at Raffles College, Singapore in History & Economics, London School of Economics, England in Economics and Australian National University, Canberra, Australia in Political Science. Formerly, Malaysia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Singapore, and Malaysia’s Ambassador to Germany, Greece, Ireland and Switzerland. Age 53. Director since 1994. Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad. Also Board member of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad, Highlands & Lowlands Berhad, BIMB Unit Trust Management Berhad and several subsidiary companies of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad. Educated at University of Newcastle, Australia in Commerce. Formerly, Funds Manager of Shell Malaysia Limited. Also a Chartered Accountant (Australia). TAN SRI DATO’ ABDUL KHALID IBRAHIM Age 53. Chairman since 1994. Group Chief Executive Officer of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad. Also Chairman of Highlands & Lowlands Berhad, Kontena Nasional Berhad, Amanah Capital Malaysia Berhad, Amanah Merchant Bank Berhad and Amanah Smallcap Fund Berhad. Director of a few private companies and other public companies which include Amanah General Insurance Berhad, Malaysia Discount Berhad, SIRIM Berhad, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad and Titan Petrochemicals & Polymers Berhad. He is also on the Board of Directors of Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia and National Productivity Centre, and Member of Executive Committee of Unit Trust Fund of Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah. Educated at University of Malaya in Economics and received a Masters in Business Administration from University of Queensland, Australia. Formerly, Group Chief Executive of Permodalan Nasional Berhad. He was awarded Malaysia’s CEO of the Year 1997 Award in December 1998. 14 ADAM @ ADHAM ABDULLAH Age 64. Director since 1994. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Malayan Estates Staff Provident Fund. Formerly, Director of Estates of Golden Hope Plantations Berhad. 15 AUDIT PROFILE Committee of directors – Composition, Terms of Reference and Functions MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE • Datuk Abdullah Ali – Chairman ONG EUWAN GEORGE Age 44. Director since 1996. Senior Manager, Research & Technology Analysis of Permodalan Nasional Berhad. Also Alternate Director of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad and Director of Malaysia Aica Berhad and Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad. Educated at Swinburne College of Technology in Australia. Also a Certified Practising Accountant. HENRY SACKVILLE BARLOW Age 55. Director since 1994. Entrepreneur. Director of HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad, Golden Hope Plantations Berhad and a few other public companies and private limited companies. Also a Council Member of the Incorporated Society of Planters and Honorary Secretary of Heritage of Malaysia Trust. Educated at Eton College and Trinity College, University of Cambridge. Formerly, Finance Director of Barlow Boustead Estates Agency Sdn. Bhd. and Joint Managing Director of Highlands & Lowlands Berhad. Also a Chartered Accountant. NORZILAH MEGAWATI DATO’ ABDUL RAHMAN Age 40. Director since 1994. Controller, Corporate Business Development & Monitoring of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad. Also Director of Highlands & Lowlands Berhad, Alternate Director of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad and Director of a few subsidiary companies of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad. Educated at University of Malaya in Law. Formerly, Manager, Group Chief Executive’s Office of Permodalan Nasional Berhad. • Adam @ Adham Abdullah • Henry Sackville Barlow All the abovenamed are Independent Non-Executive Directors 1 COMPOSITION The Board shall elect an Audit Committee, comprising at least three and not more than five directors, the majority of whom shall be independent of senior management and operating executives and unencumbered by any relationships that might, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, be considered to be a conflict of interest. 2 PRIMARY PURPOSES The Committee shall: a b c d e Provide assistance to the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities relating to the corporate accounting and reporting practices of Guthrie Ropel Berhad and all its wholly and majority-owned subsidiary companies (Group). Maintain, through regularly scheduled meetings, a direct line of communication between the Board and the external auditors as well as internal auditors. Avail to the external and internal auditors a private confidential audience at any time they desire and request through the Committee Chairman, with or without the prior knowledge of Management. Act upon the Board of Directors’ request to investigate and report on any issues or concerns in regard to the management of the Group. Review existing practices and recommend to Management to formalise an ethics code for all executives and members of the staff of the Group. 3 FUNCTIONS The Committee shall review, appraise and report to the Board on: a b c 16 The quality and effectiveness of the entire accounting and internal control system. The adequacy of the audit effort by both the external auditors and the internal auditors. The propriety of accounting policies adopted by Management and accepted by the external auditors, where alternatives are also acceptable. d e f g The adequacy of the disclosure of information essential to a fair and full presentation of the financial affairs of the Group. Any significant difficulties encountered or material discoveries made by the external auditors or internal auditors. The effects of any changes in accounting principles or of any developments emanating from the accounting profession or any statutory authority. The firm of external auditors retained by the Group, and the Committee’s recommendation to retain or replace such firm in the ensuing year. 4 MEETINGS The Audit Committee held four meetings during the financial year ended 31 December 1999 with the Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services, the Senior Manager, Internal Audit and the Company Secretary in attendance. On average, the attendance by the Audit Committee members at meetings in 1999 was 90%. Representatives of the External Auditors and other officers of the Managing Agent were also invited to brief the Audit Committee on specific issues. Evaluation was made of the audit planning strategy of the Internal Auditors and that of the External Auditors to confirm the groundwork for the annual audit of the Group. The Audit Committee reviewed and appraised the audit reports by the Internal Auditors, the various internal control systems in place and the financial accounts of the Group. Special notice was taken of significant issues arising from the annual audit of the Group by the External Auditors. At the conclusion of each meeting, recommendations were made for Management to improve on internal controls, procedures and systems of the Group, wherever appropriate. 5 REPORTS/MINUTES Detailed audit reports by the Internal Auditors together responses by Management are circulated to all members of the Audit Committee, the Group Chief Executive and Divisional Directors of the Managing Agent. Minutes of meetings of the Audit Committee are circulated to all members of the Board. 17