We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of CREDITACCESS GRAMEEN LIMITED (the "Company"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2024, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended, and notes to the standalone financial statements, including material accounting policy information and other explanatory information (referred to as "Standalone Financial Statements").
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 (the "Act") in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the Indian Accounting Standards prescribed under section 133 of the Act read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, as amended, ("Ind AS") and other accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31,2024, and its profit, total comprehensive income, the changes in equity and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit of the standalone financial statements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified
under section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibility for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the standalone financial statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules made thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the ICAI's Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence obtained by us is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the standalone financial statements.
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the standalone financial statements of the current financial year. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the standalone financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. We have determined the matter described below to be the key audit matter to be communicated in our report.
Key Audit Matter |
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How the key audit matter was addressed in our Audit
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Impairment of Loans (Expected Credit Losses)
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(Refer note 3.14 & 26 of the standalone financial statements)
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The Management estimates impairment
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Our audit procedures in relation to expected credit losses were focused on
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provision using Expected Credit loss (ECL)
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obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence as to whether the expected credit
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model for the loan exposure as per the Board
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losses recognised in the financial statements were reasonable and the related
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approved policy which is in line with Ind AS requirements and the relevant Reserve Bank
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disclosures in the financial statements made by the management were adequate.
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of India's (RBI) regulations/circulars.
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Our audit approach included testing the design, operating effectiveness of internal controls and substantive audit procedures in respect of expected credit
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The recognition and measurement of
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losses. These procedures included the following:
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impairment of loans involve significant management judgement. The Company's
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- We examined Policy of Board of Directors approving the methodology for
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impairment allowance is derived from
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computation of ECL that address policies, procedures and controls for
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estimates including the historical default and
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assessing and measuring credit risk on all lending exposures commensurate
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loss ratios using criteria in accordance with
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with the size, complexity and risk profile specific to the Company.
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Ind AS 109 and considering applicable RBI's regulations/ circulars. Collective impairment
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- We had performed the walkthrough of the ECL process.
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allowances are calculated using ECL model
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- We evaluated the design and operating effectiveness of controls across the
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which approximate credit conditions on
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processes relevant to ECL. These controls, among others, included controls
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homogenous portfolios of loans.
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over the classification of assets into stages.
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Since the recognition and measurement of impairment of loans is significant to the overall audit due to stakeholder and regulatory focus, we have ascertained this as a key audit matter.
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- We tested, on a sample basis, the input and historical data used for determining the Probability of Default (PD) and Loss Given Default (LGD) rates, model validation and agreed the data with the underlying books of account and records. We have also reviewed the system and processes relating to re-validation or re-assessment of various parameters and judgements involved in the same.
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The relevant disclosures are made in
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financial statements for ECL including those
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- We tested the arithmetical calculation of the workings of the ECL.
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relating to judgements and estimates by the Management in determination of the ECL.
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- We evaluated that the Company's impairment allowance is derived in
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Refer note 7(A), note 7(B) and note 41.2 to
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accordance with Ind AS 109 which also include considering the impact of
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the standalone financial statements.
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RBI's regulations/circulars.
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- We assessed the adequacy and appropriateness of disclosures in compliance with the Ind AS 107 on ECL including judgements used in estimation of ECL provision.
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Information Other than the Standalone Financial Statements and Auditor's Report Thereon
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Board of Directors' Report and Annexures thereto, Management Discussion and Analysis and other information/reports included in the Company's annual report (the "Reports"), but does not include the standalone financial statements and our auditors' report thereon. These reports are expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditors' report.
Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information identified above when it becomes available and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the standalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained during the course of our audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the other information, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance and take appropriate actions necessitated by the circumstances and the applicable laws and regulations.
Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Standalone Financial Statements
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation and presentation of these standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs, profit and other comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Ind AS specified under Section 133 of the Act. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the standalone financial statements, the Board of Directors are responsible for assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
The Company's Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process.
Auditor's Responsibility for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditors' report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these standalone financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
Ý Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the standalone financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The
risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
Ý Obtain an understanding of internal financial control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under section 143(3)(i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the Company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
Ý Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the management.
Ý Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the standalone financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditors' report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern; and
Ý Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the standalone financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the standalone financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor's report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse
that the representations under sub-clause (a) and (b), contain any material misstatement.
(v.) The Company has not declared or paid any dividend during the year. As stated in note 20.8 to the standalone financial statements, the Board of Directors of the Company has proposed final dividend for the year which is subject to the approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. The dividend declared is in accordance with section 123 of the Act to the extent it applies to declaration of dividend.
(vi.) As stated in Note 46 to the standalone financial statements and according to the information and explanations given to us by the Company and based on our examination which included test checks, the Company has used the accounting software for maintaining its books of account which has a feature of audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operated throughout the year for all the relevant transactions recorded in such software, except that the feature of audit trail (edit log) facility at database level has been enabled during the month of March 2024 for the loan management system and partly enabled
consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Other Matter
The standalone financial statements as at and for the year ended March 31, 2023, have been audited by PKF Sridhar & Santhanam LLP, Chartered Accountants, one of the joint auditors of the Company, together with another auditor whose report dated May 16, 2023 expressed an unmodified opinion on those standalone financial statements. Accordingly, we, Varma & Varma, Chartered Accountants do not express any opinion on the figures and disclosures reported in the standalone financial statements as at and for the year ended March 31,2023.
Our opinion on the standalone financial statements and our report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements below is not modified in respect of this matter.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditors' Report) Order, 2020 ("the Order"), issued by the Central Government of India in terms of Section 143 (11) of the Act, we give in the "Annexure A" a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
2. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, we report that:
a. We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b. In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books.
c. The Standalone Balance Sheet, the Standalone Statement of Profit and Loss including Other Comprehensive Income, the Standalone Statement of Changes in Equity and the Standalone Statement of Cash Flows dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the relevant books of account.
d. In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) specified under Section 133 of the Act.
e. On the basis of the written representations received from the directors and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31,2024 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act.
f. With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate
Report in "Annexure B", wherein we have expressed an unmodified opinion.
g. With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
(i.) The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its standalone financial statements - Refer Note 34 and 48(ix) to the standalone financial statements.
(ii.) The Company has made provision, as required under the applicable accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts.
(iii.) There were no amounts which were required to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company.
(iv.) (a) The Management has represented that, to the best of it's knowledge and belief, as disclosed in the note 48(vi)(A) to the standalone financial statements, no funds have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to or in any other person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Intermediaries"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall, whether directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Company ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(b) The Management has represented, that, to the best of it's knowledge and belief, as disclosed in the note 48(vi)(B) to the standalone financial statements, no funds have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Funding Parties"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall, whether directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(c) Based on the audit procedures performed by us that have been considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe
during the month of March 2024 for the general ledger accounting software.
During the course of our audit, we did not come across any instance of audit trail feature being tampered with for the period for which audit trail was enabled.
As the proviso to Rule 3(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 is applicable from April 01, 2023, reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 on preservation of audit trail as per the statutory requirements for record retention is not applicable for the financial year ended March 31,2024
3. With respect to the matter to be included in the Auditors' Report under Section 197(16) of the Act:
In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, the remuneration paid by the Company to its directors during the year is in accordance with the provisions of Section 197 of the Act.
PKF Sridhar & Santhanam LLP Varma & Varma
Chartered Accountants Chartered Accountants
(Firm's Registration No. 003990S/ S200018) (Firm's Registration No.004532S)
Seethalakshmi M K P Srinivas
Partner Partner
Membership No. 208545 Membership No. 208520
UDIN: 24208545BKAEMK7471 UDIN: 24208520BKBLUR4678
Place: Bengaluru Place: Bengaluru
Date: May 07, 2024 Date: May 07, 2024
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