To the Members,
The Board of Directors are delighted to present the 43rd
(Forty-Third) Annual Report on the business and operations of Finolex Industries Limited
("the Company") along with the summary of standalone and consolidated audited
financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2024.
Overview of Financial Performance:
Financial Results
( in Crore)
|
Standalone |
Consolidated |
Particulars |
2023-24 |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2022-23 |
Profit before depreciation and finance charges |
765.96 |
413.92 |
803.02 |
437.72 |
Less: Finance charges |
36.45 |
27.23 |
36.45 |
27.23 |
Profit before depreciation and taxation |
729.51 |
386.69 |
766.57 |
410.49 |
Less: i. Depreciation |
116.02 |
89.20 |
116.02 |
89.20 |
ii. Provision for taxation |
158.19 |
60.90 |
176.96 |
70.59 |
Profit after depreciation and taxation |
455.30 |
236.59 |
473.59 |
250.70 |
Add/(Less) : |
|
|
|
|
i. Retained earnings at the beginning of the year |
2,960.47 |
2,972.33 |
3,038.64 |
3,036.38 |
ii. Re-measurement of defined benefit plans and income tax
effect |
(2.43) |
(0.26) |
(2.46) |
(0.24) |
iii. Dividend |
(92.75) |
(248.19) |
(92.75) |
(248.19) |
Retained earnings at the end of the year |
3,320.58 |
2,960.47 |
3,417.02 |
3,038.64 |
Earning per equity share (in ) |
7.36 |
3.82 |
7.66 |
4.04 |
Operations
The operational performance is summarized below:
|
Standalone |
Consolidated |
Particulars |
2023-24 |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2022-23 |
Revenue from Operations |
4,317.43 |
4,397.05 |
4,317.43 |
4,397.05 |
Other Income |
181.11 |
121.38 |
179.95 |
120.92 |
Total Income |
4,498.54 |
4,518.43 |
4,497.38 |
4,517.97 |
Profit before tax |
613.49 |
297.49 |
612.33 |
297.03 |
Share of profit of associate before tax |
- |
- |
38.22 |
24.26 |
Profit after tax |
455.30 |
236.59 |
473.59 |
250.70 |
PVC Pipes and Fittings |
|
|
|
|
Production in MTs |
3,33,311 |
3,01,830 |
3,33,311 |
3,01,830 |
Sale in MTs |
3,36,577 |
3,03,026 |
3,36,577 |
3,03,026 |
Sale in Crore |
4,185.15 |
4,113.28 |
4,185.15 |
4,113.28 |
PVC Resin |
|
|
|
|
Production in MTs |
2,09,787 |
2,32,463 |
2,09,787 |
2,32,463 |
Sale in MTs (including inter divisional): |
1,96,542 |
2,39,638 |
1,96,542 |
2,39,638 |
Sale in Crore (including inter divisional): |
1,485.81 |
2,271.02 |
1,485.81 |
2,271.02 |
Total Production capacity of PVC Pipes is 4,20,000 MT p.a. and Fittings
is 50,000 MT p.a. The sales volume for PVC pipes & fittings was 3,36,577 MT for the
financial year ended March 31, 2024 as against 3,03,026 MT for the financial year ended
March 31, 2023. Total standalone income was at 4,498.54 Crore for the financial year
ended March 31, 2024 against 4,518.43 Crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2023.
Profit after tax was at 455.30 Crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2024 as
against 236.59 Crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2023.
Dividend
Your Directors recommend a dividend 2.50 per equity share of 2/- each
(previous year 1.50). Dividend is subject to approval of members at the ensuing Annual
General Meeting and subject to deduction of tax at source.
The dividend payout is in accordance with the Company's Dividend
Distribution Policy as formulated and adopted by the Board and can be accessed at the
link: https://www.finolexpipes.com/site/assets/
files/12927/dividend_distribution_policy.pdf.
Transfer to Reserves
As permitted under the Act, the Board does not propose to transfer any
amount to general reserve and has decided to retain the entire Income for FY 2024
of 805.69 Crore (previous year 1,202.64 Crore) in the profit and loss account.
Deposits
The Company has not accepted any deposits from public during the year
under review as described under Chapter V of the Companies Act, 2013. No amount on account
of principal or interest on deposits from public was outstanding as on the date of the
balance sheet.
Change in the Nature of Business
There has been no change in the nature of business of the Company,
during the period under review.
Management Discussion and Analysis
Pursuant to Regulation 34 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India
(Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (hereinafter referred
to as Listing Regulations'), a separate section on Management Discussion and
Analysis Report which also covers the operations reflecting the nature of business, forms
an integral part of this Annual Report.
Consolidated Financial Statements
As at the end of the financial year 2023-2024, your Company does not
have any subsidiary Company. However, it does have two associate companies namely
Finolex Plasson Industries Private Limited' and Pawas Port Limited'.
Your Company has consolidated the financials of Finolex Plasson
Industries Private Limited. Further, it is pertinent to note that, your Company has not
consolidated financials of an immaterial associate viz. Pawas Port Limited', in
which your Company holds 49.99% equity shares (0.05 Crore), which has not started any
operations.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 129 of the Companies Act,
2013 (the "Act") Schedule III of the Act and the Listing Regulations read with
IND AS -110 Consolidated Financial Statements and IND AS -28 Investments in Associates,
the consolidated financial statements are annexed and forms part of this Annual Report.
Revision in financial statements
There has been no revision in the financial statements of the Company
during the financial year 2023-24.
Subsidiary and Associate Companies
In terms of Section 129(3) of the Companies Act, 2013, a statement
containing salient features of the financial statements of the associate or joint venture
company(ies) in Form AOC-1, which forms an integral part of this Annual Report.
Pursuant to Rule 8(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, the
performance and financial position of the associate or joint venture companies is included
in the consolidated financial statements which forms integral part of this Annual Report.
During the financial year 2023-24, there is no change in associate
company(ies) of the Company.
The Company has formulated the policy on material subsidiaries in
consonance with the provisions of Regulation 16(i)(c) of the Listing Regulations. As
required under Regulation 46(2)(h) of the said Regulations, Material Subsidiary Policy has
been uploaded on the Company's website and can be accessed through
https://www.finolexpipes.com/site/ assets/files/12930/policy_on_material_subsidiary-1.pdf.
Pursuant to Regulation 34(3) of the Listing Regulations, the related
party disclosures as specified in Para A of Schedule V are given below:
Sr. No. In the accounts of |
Disclosure of amounts at the year end
and maximum amount of loans/ advances/investments outstanding during the year |
Remarks |
1. Holding Company |
n Loans and advances in the nature of loans
to subsidiary by name and amount. |
|
|
n Loans and advances in the nature of loans
to associates by name and amount. |
Refer Note below. |
|
n Loan and advances in the nature of loans
to firms/companies in which directors are interested by name and amount. |
|
2. Subsidiary |
Same disclosures as applicable to the parent company in the
accounts of subsidiary company. |
Refer Note below. |
3. Holding Company |
Investments by the loanee in the shares of parent company and
subsidiary company, when the company has made a loan or advance in the nature of loan. |
|
Note : Since the Company has no holding and subsidiary company, nothing
is required to be reported here.
Related Party Transactions
The related party transactions that were entered into during the
financial year were on an arm's length basis and were in the ordinary course of
business of the Company and prior omnibus approval is obtained for related party
transactions which are of repetitive nature.
There were no materially significant related party transactions which
could have potential conflict with the interests of the Company at large. None of the
transactions with related parties falls under the scope of Section 188(1) of the Act. The
information on transactions with related parties pursuant to Section 134(3)(h) of the Act
read with Rule 8(2) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 in Form AOC-2 does not apply
to the Company for FY 2024 and hence the same is not provided.
Particulars of related party transactions are stated in note no. 37 in
the financial statements.
Your Company has formulated a policy on related party transactions and
on dealing with related party transactions (RPT Policy'). The Policy is
available on Company's website and can be accessed through
https://www.finolexpipes.com/site/assets/files/12932/
related_partyfitransactions_policy.pdf
Corporate Governance
Your Company is committed to highest corporate governance practices.
Pursuant to Regulation 34 read with Schedule V of the Listing Regulations, a separate
section on the Corporate Governance Report, forms an integral part of Annual Report. A
certificate from Practicing Company Secretary confirming compliance with corporate
governance norms, is annexed to the Corporate Governance Report.
Material changes and commitments
There have been no material changes or commitments that have affected
the financial position of the Company between the close of FY 2024 and the date of this
report. There has been no change in the nature of business of the Company.
Risk Management
The Risk Management Committee was duly constituted by the Board in
compliance with the provisions of the Listing Regulations, details of the Committee along
with terms of reference are provided in the Corporate Governance Report.
The Company has a robust risk management policy and framework to
identify, evaluate business risks and opportunities. This framework seeks to create
transparency, minimize adverse impact on the business objectives and enhance the
Company's competitive advantage. The business risk framework defines the risk
management approach across the enterprise at various levels including documentation and
reporting. The frame work has different risk models which help in identifying risks trend,
exposure and potential impact analysis at a Company level and also separately for business
segments. Risk Management forms an integral part of the business planning and forecasting.
The key business risks identified by the Company and its mitigation plans are included in
the Management Discussion and Analysis Report.
Internal Financial Controls and their adequacy
The Company had laid down internal financial controls to be followed by
the Company and such policies and procedures adopted by the Company for ensuring the
orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to Company's
policies, safeguarding of its assets, prevention and detection of frauds and errors, the
accuracy and completeness of the accounting records and timely preparation of reliable
financial information.
Directors and Key Managerial Personnel
In accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Articles of
Association of the Company, Mr. Saurabh Dhanorkar (DIN: 00011322), Non-Executive &
Non-Independent Director of the Company, who retired by rotation in terms of Section
152(6) of the Act, was re-appointed by the members at the 42nd Annual General
Meeting held on August 28, 2023.
Mr. Ajit Venkataraman (DIN: 07289950), was appointed as Managing
Director, for a term of 5 years commencing from June 1, 2023, and such appointment was
also approved by the Members at the 42nd Annual General Meeting held on August
28, 2023.
Mr. Anil Whabi (DIN: 00142052) superannuated as Managing Director of
the Company on May 31, 2023. The Board places on record its sincere appreciation for the
contribution made by him during his tenure as Managing Director.
The Board of Directors of the Company, based on the recommendation of
the Nomination and Remuneration Committee her re-appointment and in accordance with the
provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and Articles of Association of the Company, Mrs.
Ritu Chhabria (DIN: 00062144), retires by rotation and being eligible offers herself for
re-appointment.
Key Managerial Personnel (KMP)
As on March 31, 2024, the following are Key Managerial Personnel
("KMPs") of the Company as per Sections 2(51) and 203 of the Act:
Mr. Ajit Venkataraman, Managing Director (w.e.f. June 1, 2023);
& Mr. Niraj Kedia, Chief Financial Officer. (ceased w.e.f. June 30, 2024).
Mr. Ashutosh B. Kulkarni, resigned and ceased as Company Secretary and
Key Managerial Personal of the Company w.e.f. close of business hours of January 14, 2024.
The Board placed on record its sincere appreciation for the contribution made by him over
the years.
The Board of Directors on recommendation of Nomination and Remuneration
Committee appointed Mr. Dakshinamurthy Iyer, as Company Secretary, Compliance Officer and
Key Managerial Personnel with effect from May 10, 2024.
Re-appointment of Independent Directors for a second term
The Board recommends the re-appointment of Ms. Bhumika L. Batra
(DIN: 03502004), Dr. Deepak R. Parikh (DIN: 06504537), Mr. Pradeep R. Rathi (DIN:
00018577) and Mr. Anami N. Roy (DIN: 01361110), as Independent Directors of the Company
for a second term of 5 (five) consecutive years commencing from 20th September
2024 upto 19th September 2029 (both days inclusive), not liable to retire by
rotation, for approval of members by way of a Special Resolution at the ensuing 43rd
AGM.
The resolutions for the aforesaid respective appointment(s) /
re-appointment(s) including payment of their remuneration / commission and details of
their brief resume, nature of expertise in specific functional areas, disclosure of
relationship between directors inter-se, names of the listed entities in which the person
also holds directorship and the membership of the Committee of the Board of Directors and
shareholding in the Company as required pursuant to Listing Regulations and Secretarial
Standards on General Meetings (SS-2) are contained in the notice of the ensuing annual
general meeting.
The Board recommends the re-appointment of Independent Directors as
stated above and payment of commission.
Independent Directors
All the Independent Directors of the Company have given declarations
that: a) they meet the criteria of independence as laid down under the Act and the Listing
Regulations; b) they are not aware of any circumstance or situation, which exist or may be
reasonably anticipated, that could impair or impact their ability to discharge their
duties with an objective of independent judgment and without any external influence
pursuant to Regulation 25 of SEBI Listing Regulations; c) In the opinion of the Board,
there has been no change in the circumstances which may affect their status as Independent
Directors of the Company and the Board is satisfied with the integrity, expertise, and
experience (including proficiency in terms of Section 150(1) of the Act and applicable
rules thereunder) of all Independent Directors on the Board. Further, in terms of Section
150 of the Act read with Rule 6 of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of
Directors) Rules, 2014, as amended, Independent Directors of the Company have included
their names in the data bank of Independent Directors and complied with the requirements
of passing proficiency test, as applicable. d) they have registered their names in the
Independent Directors' Databank.
Based on the confirmations/ disclosures received from the Independent
Non-Executive Directors in terms of Regulation 25 of the SEBI Listing Regulations
along-with a certificate issued by M/s. SVD & Associates, Practising Company
Secretaries, (Peer Review No: 669/2020) Secretarial Auditors of the Company, the Board of
Directors is of the opinion that the Independent Non-Executive Directors are of integrity
and possess the requisite expertise and experience.
Board Meetings
The Board meets at regular intervals to discuss and decide on the
Company's/business policy and strategy apart from other Board business. The Board
exhibits strong operational oversight with regular presentations in quarterly meetings.
During FY 2023-24, 7 (seven) Board Meetings were held, the details thereof have
been provided in the Corporate Governance Report.
Committees of the Board
As required under the Act and the Listing Regulations, the Company has
constituted the following statutory committees:
n Audit Committee
n Nomination and Remuneration Committee
n Stakeholders Relationship Committee
n Risk Management Committee
n Corporate Social Responsibility Committee
Details of all the Committees such as terms of reference, composition,
and meetings held during the year under review are disclosed in the Corporate Governance
Report, and forms an integral part of this Annual Report.
Familiarization Programme for Directors
The Company has put in place a familiarization programme for its
Directors including the independent directors in compliance of Regulation 25(7) of SEBI
Listing Regulations.
The details of the familiarization programme for independent directors
are available on the website of the Company and can be accessed through https://
www.finolexpipes.com/investors/compliance-report/
Policy on Directors' appointment and remuneration
The Company has adopted a Nomination and Remuneration Policy for
nomination and remuneration of Directors, Key Managerial Personnel (KMP), Senior
Management Personnel (SMP) and other employees, pursuant to the Act and SEBI Listing
Regulations, as amended from time to time.
Remuneration paid to Directors/KMP/SMP is as per the terms laid out in
the said policy, which can be accessed through https://www.finolexpipes.com/site/
assets/files/18437/nomination_andfiremunaration_ policy.pdf
Board Evaluation
The Company has put a mechanism in place to evaluate the performance of
the Board, its Committees and individual Directors in accordance with various parameters
suggested by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee like Board/Committee composition,
size, diversity, skill sets, Board process, frequency of meetings, information flow,
oversight of financial reporting and control process, leadership skills and qualities,
productive use of domain knowledge and experience, effective participation, etc. For
further details, please refer to Corporate Governance Report, which forms part of this
Annual Report.
Details pursuant to Section 197(12) of the Companies Act, 2013
The information required under Section 197(12) of the Act read with the
Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014, is annexed
as Annexure 1 and forms integral part of this Report.
Statutory Auditors and Auditors' Report
The Company has appointed M/s. Walker Chandiok & Co. LLP, Chartered
Accountants, (Firm Registration No. 001076N/N500013), as Statutory Auditors of the Company
for a period of five (5) years at the Forty-First (41st) Annual General Meeting
of the Company held on August 30, 2022.
Your Company's standalone and consolidated financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with Ind AS notified under Section 133 of the Act.
The report of the Statutory Auditors on the Standalone and Consolidated
Audited Financial Statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2024 is annexed and
forms integral part of this Annual Report. The Auditors' Report does not contain any
qualifications, reservations, adverse remarks or disclaimers and hence do not call for any
comments.
Statutory Auditors of the Company have not reported any fraud for the
year under review.
Cost Records and Cost Auditors
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 141 read with Section 148 of the
Act and Rules made thereunder, the Company had appointed M/s. S. R. Bhargave & Co.,
Cost Accountants (Firm Registration Number: 000218) as Cost Auditors of the Company for
conducting cost audit for FY 2023-24.
In accordance with Section 148(1) of the Act, the Company has
maintained accounts and cost records for the financial year 2023-24.
The Cost Audit Report for FY 2022-23, issued by M/s. S. R.
Bhargave & Co., Cost Auditors, in respect of the various products prescribed under
Cost Audit Rules, does not contain any qualifications, reservations, adverse remarks or
disclaimers and the same was filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on October 4,
2023.
Secretarial Auditors
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Companies Act, 2013
read with rules framed thereunder, the Company had appointed M/s. SVD
& Associates, Practicing Company Secretaries, Pune (Peer Review No:
669/2020) to carry out secretarial audit of the Company for the financial year 2023-24.
The Secretarial Audit Report for the financial year 2023-24, is annexed as Annexure
2 and forms integral part of this Report.
The Secretarial Auditor's Report do not contain any
qualifications, reservations, or adverse remarks or disclaimer.
Secretarial Standards
Your Company has devised proper systems to ensure compliance with the
provisions of Secretarial Standards (as applicable) issued by the Institute of Company
Secretaries of India and that such systems are adequate and operating effectively.
Disclosures
Your directors are pleased to furnish the following details which are
required to be reported by the Company in the Director's Report pursuant to Section
134(3) (a) to (q) of the Act:
i. Annual Return
In terms of Section 92(3) and Section 134(3) (a) of the Companies Act,
2013 read with the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014, the Annual
Return of the Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2024 is available on the
website of the Company and can be accessed through https://www.finolexpipes.
com/investors/compliance-report/
ii. Directors' Responsibility Statement
Your directors, on the basis of information and documents made
available to them, confirm that:
a) in the preparation of the annual financial statements for the year
ended March
31, 2024, the applicable accounting standards have been followed along
with proper explanation relating to material departures; b) the directors have selected
such accounting policies and applied them consistently and made judgments and estimates
that are reasonable and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs
of the Company as at March 31, 2024 and of the profit of the Company for the year ended on
that period; c) the directors have taken proper and sufficient care for maintenance of
adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013
for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and
other irregularities; d) the directors have prepared the annual accounts on a going
concern basis; e) the directors have laid down internal financial controls to be followed
by the Company and that such internal financial controls are adequate and were operating
effectively; and f) the directors have devised proper systems to ensure compliance with
the provisions of all applicable laws and that such systems were adequate and operating
effectively.
iii. Vigil Mechanism/Whistle Blower Policy
The Company has established a Vigil Mechanism and Whistle Blower Policy
for directors and employees to report to the management instances of unethical behaviour,
actual or suspected, fraud or violation of the Company's code of conduct or ethics
policy. The Company affirms that no Director(s) or Employee(s) has been denied access to
the Chairman of the Audit Committee and that no complaint was received during the year.
The said policy has been communicated to the Director(s) and
Employee(s) of the Company and is also posted on the website of the Company
https://www.finolexpipes.com/site/ assets/files/147243/whistle_blower_policy.pdf
iv. Policy relating to Prevention of Sexual Harassment
Pursuant to the requirements of the Sexual
HarassmentofWomenatWorkplace(Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, 2013
("POSH Act") and rules made thereunder, the Company has formulated and adopted a
Prevention of Sexual
Harassment Policy, to provide protection to employees at workplace and
for prevention and redressal of sexual harassment complaints and incidental matters.
Your directors state that during the year under review, there were no
complaints received / case filed pursuant to the POSH Act.
For further details, please refer to Corporate Governance Report, which
forms a part of this Annual Report.
v. Particulars of loans, guarantees or investments
The details, of loans given, investments made or guarantees given (as
applicable and if any) pursuant to Section 186 of the Companies Act, 2013, are disclosed
in the notes to the financial statements.
vi. Significant/Material Orders passed by the
Regulators/Courts/Tribunals
There are no significant and/or material orders passed by any
Regulators/Courts/ Tribunals impacting the going concern status of the Company and the
Company's operations in future.
Further no application, neither against the Company has been filed or
is pending under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016), nor the
Company has done any onetime settlement with any Bank or Financial institutions.
vii. Employee Stock Option Scheme
During the year under review, your directors confirm that no shares
were issued by the Company under the Finolex Industries Limited Employee Stock
Option Scheme/ Plan (ESOP) of the Company.
A statement giving complete details, as at March 31, 2024, pursuant to
Regulation 14 of the Securities Exchange Board of India (Share Based Employee Benefits and
Sweat Equity) Regulations, 2021, is available on the Company's website and can be
accessed through https:// www.finolexpipes.com/investors/compliance-report/
The Company has obtained certificate from M/s. SVD & Associates,
Secretarial Auditors of the Company, pursuant to Regulation 13 of the Securities Exchange
Board of India (Share
Based Employee Benefits and Sweat Equity) Regulations, 2021.
viii. Sweat equity shares and equity shares with differential voting
rights
Your directors confirm that neither sweat equity shares nor equity
shares with differential voting rights have been issued by the Company during the year
under review.
ix. Conservation of Energy, technology Absorption, Foreign Exchange
Earnings and Outgo
Information on conservation of energy, technology absorption, foreign
exchange earnings and outgo required to be given under Section 134(3) of the Act read with
Rule 8(3) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 is annexed to this report as Annexure
3, and forms integral part of this Annual Report.
x. Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report:
Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report, detailing the
various initiatives taken by the Company on the environmental, social and governance front
is annexed as Annexure 4 and forms an integral part of this Annual Report
xi. Corporate Social Responsibility:
In accordance with the requirements of Section 135 of the Act and Rules
framed thereunder, the Company has formulated a CSR Policy which is available on the
Company's website and can be accessed through https://www.finolexpipes.
com/site/assets/files/148640/corporate_social_ responsibility_-_policy.pdf
As a responsible corporate citizen, your Company conducts CSR
activities in education, healthcare, sanitation, skill developments, social welfare, water
conservation and women empowerment with its CSR partner, Mukul Madhav Foundation
("MMF"). Your Company has been actively contributing to the social and economic
development of the underprivileged mainly in and around the Company's plants situated
at Ratnagiri, Urse and Badhalawadi in the state of Maharashtra and at Masar in the state
of Gujarat.
The Annual Report on the CSR activities along with summary of the
Impact Assessment Report is annexed as Annexure 5 and forms an integral part
of the Annual Report.
Acknowledgements
Your directors take this opportunity to place on record their deep
sense of gratitude to the banks, financial institutions, central and state government
departments and local authorities for their guidance and support. Your directors are also
grateful to the customers, suppliers and business associates of the Company for their
continued co-operation and support.Yourdirectorsexpresstheirdeepappreciation for the
commitment, dedication and hard work put in by the employees at all levels. Lastly, your
directors are grateful for the confidence and faith shown in them by the shareholders of
the Company.
For and on behalf of the Board of Directors |
|
|
Prakash P. Chhabria |
Date: August 19, 2024 |
Executive Chairman |
Place: Nice, France |
DIN: 00016017 |