Godrej Agrovet Limited
Report on the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
Opinion
We have audited the standalone financial statements of Godrej Agrovet Limited (the “Company”) which comprise the standalone balance sheet as at 31 March 2024, and the standalone statement of profit and loss (including other comprehensive income), standalone statement of changes in equity and standalone statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the standalone financial statements, including material accounting policies and other explanatory information.
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 (“Act”) in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at 31 March 2024, and its profit and other comprehensive loss, changes in equity and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under Section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those SAs are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities 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 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 thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our 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 period. 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.
Description of Key Audit Matters
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Revenue Recognition
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The key audit matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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Refer Note 1 [7(A)(i)] of accounting policy and Note 29 and Note 30 in standalone financial statements
The Company recognises revenue from sale of goods when control of the goods has transferred and when there are no longer any unfulfilled obligations to the customer. Depending on the contractual terms with the customers, this can be either at the time of dispatch or delivery of goods.
The Company has large number of customers and the sales contracts with customers have different terms relating to transfer of control of underlying goods and the right of return.
We identified the recognition of revenue from sale of products as a key audit matter because:
The Company and its external stakeholders focus on revenue as a key performance indicator. This could create an incentive for higher revenue to be recognised throughout the period (including period end), i.e., before the control of underlying goods have been transferred to the customer; and
Estimation of accrual for sales returns, particularly in the crop protection segment involves significant judgement.
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Our audit procedures included following:
Assessing the Company’s accounting policies in respect of revenue recognition by comparing with applicable accounting standards;
Evaluating the design, testing the implementation and operating effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over recognition of revenue on selected samples of transactions;
Perform substantive testing and cut-off testing throughout the period (including period end), by selecting samples using statistical sampling of revenue transactions recorded during and after the year and verifying the underlying documents, which included sales invoices, dispatch documents and proof of delivery, depending on the terms of contracts with customer;
Examining journal entries (using statistical sampling) posted to revenue to identify unusual or irregular items;
Evaluating the design and testing the implementation and operating effectiveness of the internal controls over accrual for sales returns, in crop protection segment;
Checking completeness and accuracy of the data used for accrual of sales returns, in crop protection segment by verifying the historical data with underlying books of accounts;
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Revenue Recognition
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The key audit matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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Examining historical trend of sales return claims to assess the assumptions and judgements used in accrual of sales returns in crop protection segment. Comparing historically recorded accruals to the actual amount of sales returns;
Evaluating adequacy of disclosures given in the standalone financial statements.
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Investments
See note 7 [a] to the standalone financial statements
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The key audit matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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The assessment of recoverable value of investment in certain subsidiaries involves significant judgement.
Management performs an annual impairment testing for these investments or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that they might be impaired.
The carrying value of these investment in subsidiaries is tested for impairment using a value in use model. We consider the impairment evaluation of investments in subsidiaries by management to involve significant estimates and judgement, due to the inherent uncertainty involved in forecasting and discounting future cash flows.
Accordingly, this is considered as a key audit matter.
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Our audit procedures include the following:
Assessing the Company’s accounting policy for impairment of investments in subsidiaries with applicable accounting standards;
Testing the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of key controls placed around the impairment assessment process of investment in subsidiaries;
Obtaining and assessing the valuation working prepared by the management for its impairment assessment;
Involving valuation specialists to assist in the evaluation of key assumptions such as discount rate, growth rate etc. in estimating projections, cash flows and methodologies used by the Company;
Comparing the current year’s performance with the projections used in previous year;
Assessing the sensitivity of the outcome of impairment assessment to changes in key assumptions; and
Comparing the carrying values of the Company’s investment in subsidiaries with their respective value in use and assessed the need for impairment (if any).
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Other Information
The Company’s Management and Board of Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Company’s annual report, but does not include the financial statements and auditor’s report thereon.
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 and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the standalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
Management's and Board of Directors' Responsibilities for the Standalone Financial Statements
The Company’s Management and Board of Directors are responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs, profit/ loss and other comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Indian Accounting Standards (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 of 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 standalone 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 Management and 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 Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Company’s financial reporting process.
Auditor’s Responsibilities 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 auditor’s 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:
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.
Obtain an understanding of internal 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 financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the Management and Board of Directors.
Conclude on the appropriateness of the Management and Board of Directors use of the going concern basis of accounting in preparation of standalone financial statements 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 auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
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 consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor’s 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. A. 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 books of account.
d. In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with the Ind AS specified under Section 133 of the Act.
e. On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on 31 March 2024 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on 31 March 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 financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in “Annexure B”.
B. 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:
a. . The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations as at 31 March 2024 on its financial position in its standalone
financial statements - Refer Note 46 to the standalone financial statements.
b. The Company did not have any long-term contracts including derivative contracts for which there were any material foreseeable losses.
c. There were no amounts which were required to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company.
d. (i) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in the Note 52 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 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.
(ii) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in the Note 52 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 directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Parties (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(iii) Based on the audit procedures performed that have been considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under subclause (i) and (ii) of Rule 11(e), as provided under (i) and (ii) above, contain any material misstatement.
e. The final dividend paid by the Company during the year, in respect of the same declared for the previous year, is in accordance with Section 123 of the Act to the extent it applies to payment of dividend.
As stated in Note 45 to the standalone financial statements, the Board of Directors of the Company have 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.
f. Based on our examination which included test checks, the Company has used an accounting software for maintaining its books of account which, along with access management tools, as applicable, have a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the software. Further, during the course of our audit we did not come across any instance of audit trail feature being tampered with.
C. With respect to the matter to be included in the Auditor’s 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 current year is in accordance with the provisions of Section 197 of the Act. The remuneration paid to any director is not in excess of the limit laid down under Section 197 of the Act. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has not prescribed other details under Section 197(16) of the Act which are required to be commented upon by us.
For B S R & Co. LLP
Chartered Accountants Firm’s Registration No.:101248W/W-100022
Koosai Lehery
Partner
Place: Mumbai Membership No.: 112399
Date: 08 May 2024 ICAI UDIN:24112399BKFRIG9934
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