United Spirits Limited
Report on the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
Opinion
1. We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of United Spirits Limited ("the Company”), which comprise the Standalone Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2024, and 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 for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of material accounting policy information and other explanatory information "(hereinafter referred to as "the standalone financial statements”).
2. 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 accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2024, and total comprehensive income (comprising of profit and other comprehensive income), changes in equity and its cash flows for the year then ended.
Basis for Opinion
3. We conducted our audit 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 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.
Emphasis of Matter:
4. We draw attention to the following matters:
a) Note 40(a) to the standalone financial statements which explains the uncertainties post completion of the Initial Inquiry, which identified references to certain Additional Parties and certain Additional matters, the then MD & CEO, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, had carried out an Additional Inquiry that revealed transactions indicating actual and potential diversion of funds from the Company
and its Indian and overseas subsidiaries to, in most cases, Indian and overseas entities that appear to be affiliated or associated with the Company's erstwhile non-executive Chairman and other potentially improper transactions. Post the completion of Additional Inquiry certain regulatory notices and communications were received from Securities Exchange Board of India, Directorate of Enforcement and Authorised Dealer banks ('AD') to which the Company has responded. Subsequently, the Company commenced the rationalisation process for divestment/ liquidation/ merger of certain overseas subsidiaries including step down subsidiaries and completion of the above Rationalisation process is subject to regulatory approvals in India and overseas. The Company filed suits for recovery of certain amounts against relevant parties and individuals identified in the Additional Inquiry including excess managerial remuneration paid to the former Executive Director and CFO which have been fully provided for or expensed in past periods. The management is currently unable to estimate the financial impact on the Company, if any, arising out of potential non compliances with applicable laws as above.
b) Note 40(d) to the standalone financial statements, which describes the uncertainty relating to the final outcome of litigations with a bank ("the bank”) that continues to retain the pledge of certain assets of the Company and of the Company's shares held by USL Benefit Trust (of which the Company is the sole beneficiary) despite the Company prepaying the term loan to that bank along with the prepayment penalty and further depositing an additional sum of ' 46 crore demanded by the bank and as directed by the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka (the "Court”). Based on management assessment supported by external legal opinions, the Company has disclosed the aforesaid amount of ' 46 crore under Other Non-current financial assets as recoverable from the bank pending the final outcome of the litigation. In a separate proceeding before the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal, the bank's appeal against the judgement awarded by Debt Recovery Tribunal in favour of the Company in respect of attachment of the aforesaid pledged shares for recovery of the loans advanced by the bank to Kingfisher Airlines Limited is pending disposal.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of the matters described under paragraph 4 above.
Key audit matters
5. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, 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.
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Key audit matter
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How our audit addressed the key audit matter
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Assessment of the appropriateness of provisions recognised and
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Our audit procedures included the following:
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contingent liabilities disclosed in respect of certain tax matters.
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• Understood, assessed and tested the design and operating
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(Refer Notes 8, 17 and 42(a) and 42 (b) to the standalone financial statements)
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effectiveness of the Company's controls in respect of the identifying potential tax exposures and/ or the accounting and disclosures thereof.
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As at March 31, 2024, the Company has significant tax exposures and is subject to periodic assessments/ demands by tax authorities
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• Evaluated the related accounting policy for recognising
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on transfer pricing, income tax and a range of indirect tax matters.
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provisioning for tax exposures and disclosure of contingent liabilities with the requirements of the relevant accounting
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Consequent to such tax assessments and demands relating to past
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standards.
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several years, the Company has paid certain amounts under protest
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• Obtained management's assessment in respect of tax
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at various dates. The Company has also filed appeals with various
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demands on whether cash outflow is either probable, possible
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appellate authorities against such demands.
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or remote.
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Management judgement is involved in assessing the likelihood of
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• Evaluated management's assessment with the help of
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ultimate outcome of the tax disputes to decide on the accounting/ disclosure requirements. For certain complex matters the probable amount of the cash outflow determined by the Management
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auditors' experts, where necessary, as follows:
- For the samples selected, read the correspondences
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received during the year from the tax authorities/
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is supported by opinions obtained from external tax counsels/ assessment performed by internal expert (management tax experts).
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orders from the appellate authorities.
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- Read and assessed the views provided by the
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We considered this a key audit matter as:
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management/ management tax experts as applicable.
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(a) The amounts involved are significant to the standalone
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- Assessed management's position on significant tax
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financial statements;
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exposures in accordance with the tax laws and past precedents of tax judgements.
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(b) Change in the management's judgements and estimates may significantly affect the provisions recognised or contingent liabilities disclosed; and
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- Assessed completeness of litigations by inquiring with the management, and perusal of Board minutes.
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- Evaluated the objectivity, independence, competence
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(c) Matters of disputes are complex in some cases due to the
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and capabilities of the management tax experts.
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nature of the industry in which the Company operates and
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- Evaluated the adequacy of the disclosures made in the
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are subject to interpretations under tax laws.
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standalone financial statements.
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Based on the above procedures, we considered the management's assessment in recognising the provisions and disclosing contingent liabilities in respect of the stated tax matters, as reasonable.
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Other Information
6. The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the Chairman's Message, Managing Director and CEO's Message, Director's Report, Management Discussion and Analysis, and Corporate Governance report but does not include the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon, which we obtained prior to the date of this auditor's report. The Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) and assurance report thereon are expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor's report. Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not and will 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 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 on the other information that we obtained prior to the date of this auditor's report, 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. When we read the BRSR and assurance report thereon, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance.
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.
Responsibilities of management and those charged with governance
for the standalone financial statements
7. The Company's Board of Directors is 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 financial position, financial performance, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards 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.
8. In preparing the standalone financial statements, management is 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 management either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. Those Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the standalone financial
statements
9. 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.
10. As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
(a) 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.
(b) 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 standalone financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
(c) Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
(d) 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 auditor's report. However, future
events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
(e) 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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
14. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020 ("the Order”), issued by the Central Government of India in terms of sub-section (11) of Section 143 of the Act, we give in the "Annexure B” a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
15. 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 except for the matters stated in paragraph 15(h)(vi) below on reporting
under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended).
(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 Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act.
(e) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors, 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 maintenance of accounts and other matters connected therewith, reference is made to our remarks in paragraph 15(b) above on reporting under Section 143(3)(b) and paragraph 15(h)(vi) below on reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Rules.
(g) 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 A”.
(h) 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 Notes 8, 17, 40(a), 40(c), 40(d) and 42 to the standalone financial statements);
ii. The Company was not required to recognise a provision as at March 31, 2024 under the applicable law or accounting standards, as it does not have any material foreseeable losses on longterm contract. The Company did not have any derivative contracts as at March 31, 2024. (Refer Note 39 to the standalone financial statements);
iii. There were no amounts which were required to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company during the year ended March 31, 2024. (Refer Note 16 to the standalone financial statements);
iv. (a) The management has represented that,
to the best of its knowledge and belief, 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 (Refer Note 51(vii) to the standalone financial statements);
(b) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, 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 (Refer Note 51(vii) to the standalone financial statements); and
(c) Based on such audit procedures that we considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under sub-clause (a) and (b) contain any material misstatement.
v. The dividend declared and paid during the year by the Company is in compliance with Section 123 of the Act.
vi. Based on our examination, which included test checks, the Company has used an accounting software for maintaining its books of account which has a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and that has operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the software, except that the audit trail is not maintained for any changes made through specific access and direct database changes. Further, for the accounting software maintained by the third-party payroll service provider, in the absence of adequate information around the audit trail feature, we are unable to comment on it. Other than for the instances mentioned above, based on our procedures performed, we did not notice any instance of the audit trail feature being tampered with.
16. The Company has paid/ provided for managerial remuneration in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act.
For Price Waterhouse & Co Chartered Accountants LLP
Firm Registration Number: 304026E/ E-300009
Dibyendu Majumder
Partner
Place: Mumbai Membership Number: 057687
Date: May 24, 2024 UDIN: 24057687BKFTPO5001
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