Dear Members,
Your Directors are pleased to present the 77th Annual Report in the
form of Fifth Integrated Report of our Company along with the Audited Financial Statements
for the year ended 31st March 2024.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial performance of our Company for the year ended 31st March
2024 is summarised below:
Particulars |
Consolidated |
Standalone |
|
FY 2023-24 |
FY 2022-23 |
FY 2023-24 |
FY 2022-23 |
Revenue from Operations |
1,30,978.48 |
1,17,627.08 |
25,847.33 |
26,839.71 |
Other Income |
1,264.10 |
3,612.05 |
1,256.60 |
1,018.34 |
Total Income |
1,32,242.58 |
1,21,239.13 |
27,103.93 |
27,858.05 |
Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and
Amortisation (EBITDA) |
20,836.53 |
20,477.64 |
3,572.64 |
4,198.23 |
Less: Finance Costs |
(1,654.72) |
(1,320.27) |
(440.42) |
(367.67) |
Less: Depreciation and Amortisation Expenses |
(5,001.32) |
(4,551.59) |
(1,215.06) |
(1,097.29) |
Profit Before Share in Profit of Equity Accounted
Investees, Exceptional Items and Tax |
14,180.49 |
14,605.78 |
1,917.16 |
2,733.27 |
Share in Profit of Equity Accounted Investees |
88.68 |
208.96 |
- |
- |
Exceptional Items |
(569.36) |
(88.03) |
(715.60) |
(88.03) |
Profit Before Tax (PBT) |
13,699.81 |
14,726.71 |
1,201.56 |
2,645.24 |
Tax Expenses |
3,774.16 |
3,648.51 |
256.17 |
521.51 |
Profit for the Year Attributable to: |
9,925.65 |
11,078.20 |
945.39 |
2,123.73 |
Shareholders of the Company |
5,624.49 |
6,827.26 |
945.39 |
2,123.73 |
Non-Controlling Interest |
4,301.16 |
4,250.94 |
- |
- |
Other Comprehensive Income for the Year Attributable to: |
3,962.47 |
(3,180.78) |
3,896.30 |
(3,074.01) |
Shareholders of the Company |
3,893.39 |
(3,104.23) |
3,896.30 |
(3,074.01) |
Non-Controlling Interest |
69.08 |
(76.55) |
- |
- |
Total Comprehensive Income for the Year Attributable to: |
13,888.12 |
7,897.42 |
4,841.69 |
(950.28) |
Shareholders of the Company |
9,517.88 |
3,723.03 |
4,841.69 |
(950.28) |
Non-Controlling Interest |
4,370.24 |
4,174.39 |
- |
- |
Profit for the Year Attributable to Shareholders of the
Company |
5,624.49 |
6,827.26 |
945.39 |
2,123.73 |
Opening Balance in Retained Earnings |
12,980.04 |
10,159.72 |
9,476.76 |
8,013.25 |
-Gain / (Loss) on Re-measurement of Defined Benefit Plans |
(1.15) |
49.01 |
14.21 |
(2.57) |
- Gain on Sale of Non-Current Investments transferred to
Retained Earnings from equity instruments through OCI |
- |
1.37 |
- |
- |
- Stake Dilution in Subsidiary Companies |
(606.16) |
(10.85) |
- |
- |
Amount Available for Appropriation |
17,997.22 |
17,026.51 |
10,436.36 |
10,134.41 |
Add / Less: Transfer to Debenture Redemption Reserve |
(12.75) |
- |
- |
- |
Transfer to General Reserve |
(5,000.00) |
(3,000.00) |
- |
- |
Transfer to Special Reserve Fund |
(645.16) |
(387.20) |
- |
- |
Dividend Paid on Equity Shares |
(657.21) |
(657.65) |
(657.21) |
(657.65) |
Other movements during the year |
332.41 |
(1.62) |
334.20 |
- |
Closing Balance in Retained Earnings |
12,014.51 |
12,980.04 |
10,113.35 |
9,476.76 |
DIVIDEND
Based on our Company's performance, your Directors have
recommended dividend of RS. 10 per equity share of face value of H 2 each
(on fully paid-up shares and partly paid-up shares in proportion to their share in the
paid-up share capital) for the year ended 31st March 2024.
The dividend, if approved by the Members, would involve a cash outflow
of ~ RS. 664.03 crore.
In terms of the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961, dividend shall
be taxed in the hands of shareholders at applicable rate of taxes. Our Company shall
withhold tax at source appropriately.
The recommended dividend is in line with our Company's Dividend
Distribution Policy which is available on the Company's website at
https://www.grasim.com/upload/pdf/ Grasim Dividend Policy 16.pdf
TRANSFER TO RESERVES
The Board of Directors (Board') of the Company has decided
not to transfer any amount to the General Reserves, for the year ended 31st March 2024.
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
On a consolidated basis, the revenue from operations for FY 2023-24,
stood at RS. 1,30,978.48 crore registering a growth of ~11.35% as compared to the
previous year of RS. 1,17,627.08 crore. The Consolidated EBITDA increased to RS.
20,836.53 crore for FY 2023-24, which was 1.75% higher than that of previous year of RS.
20,477.64 crore.
On a standalone basis, revenue from operations for FY 2023-24 stood at RS.
25,847.33 crore, as compared to RS. 26,839.71 crore in the previous year. The
standalone EBITDA is RS. 3,572.64 crore for FY 2023-24 which was RS. 4,198.23
crore in the previous year. The standalone PAT is RS. 945.39 crore for FY 2023-24
which was RS. 2,123.73 crore in the previous year.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS
Sustainability Linked Non-Convertible Debentures (NCD's)
During the year, our Company has received an investment from the
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group,
for RS. 1,250 crore (equivalent to approximately $150 million) by way of
subscription to Non-Convertible Debentures (NCD's) issued by the Company.
The Sustainability Linked NCDs will support the Company's
investment in paints manufacturing. IFC's investment will accelerate Grasim's
decarbonisation drive through the increased adoption of renewable energy and water
recycling in the paints manufacturing process.
Paints Business
On 22nd February 2024, our Company announced the launch of its paints
brand, Birla Opus', aiming for RS. 10,000 crore gross revenue
within 3 years of full-scale operations, thereby entering decorative paints industry of ~ RS.
74,000 crore (~75% is organised sector).
Birla Opus has six strategically located, integrated, and global scale
manufacturing plants with high level of automation with a total commercial capacity of
1,332 MLPA (million litres per annum) - a 40% addition to the current industry capacity.
The commercial production has commenced at 3 sites namely Ludhiana (Punjab), Panipat
(Haryana) and Cheyyar (Tamil Nadu) on 30th April 2024 with total installed capacity of 636
MLPA. The project work at Chamarajanagar (Karnataka), Mahad (Maharashtra) and Kharagpur
(West Bengal) is progressing well. The Company has spent capex of RS. 4,471 crore
during FY 2023-24 and ~RS. 7,000 crore cumulatively up to FY 2023-24.
Birla Opus will offer the widest range of decorative paints in the
industry, witRs. 145+ products and 1,200+ SKUs across water-based paints, enamel paints,
wood finishes, waterproofing and wallpapers. The products offered will be across consumer
segments - economy, premium, luxury, designer finishes and institutional clients. The
Company's products are being sold under the main brand name of Birla Opus and
sub-brands of One' for luxury products, Calista' for
premium products, Style' for economy products and Prime' for
institutional range products.
The Company aims to expeditiously expand its distribution to over 6,000
towns through a network of 150 depots integrated with the warehousing systems by the FY
2024-25 end. This will be industry-first distribution expansion for any consumerfacing
products to such a large extent within such a short period of time. Birla Opus products
will be available across all 1 lakh population towns in India by July 2024.
Birla Opus is also offering higher product warranty than leading
players in most water-based products and first-time warranty on enamels and wood finish
products. As part of the inaugural offer, consumers will get an additional 10% volume on
water-based products and contractors will get loyalty benefits across most of the
products.
Birla Opus is installing at dealers' premises, new-age compact
tinting machines witRs. 40% reduced footprint enabling easier colour adoption.
Birla Pivot, the B2B E-commerce business unit of our Company surpasses
K 1,000 crore revenue in its first year of operations
Birla Pivot (B2B E-commerce) platform for building materials, has hit a
remarkable milestone of achieving RS. 1,000 crore revenue in its first full year of
operations FY 2023-24.
Birla Pivot has created a new-age, high-growth digital platform that
catalyses the growth of small businesses in India and provides an impetus to the
government's vision of Digital India'.
Birla Pivot has grown rapidly since its inception in Feb 23 and
accomplished some key milestones across every area:
Launched Birla Pivot platform as a cloud native, microservices
based modular platform within 5 months. This foundation will support increasing complexity
and scale of business in the future.
The platform offers a wide range of products, now encompassing
more than 35 product categories and over 18,000 SKUs sourced from 150+ Indian and
international brands. These categories include essential construction materials like
cement, steel, plywood, sanitaryware, tiles, among others. Additionally, in response to
the increasing demand for superior yet cost-effective products, the unit has introduced
its private label for Plywood and Tiles.
Birla Pivot's customer base spans top-tier EPC companies,
civil contractors, real estate developers, OEMs, fabricators, dealers, and retailers. With
successful deliveries to over 200 cities across 25 states, the unit has established a
robust network of suppliers and logistics providers, facilitating seamless operations, and
ensuring a Pan-India reach. The Company's intelligent tech platform provides
real-time updates on orders and enhances operational efficiency across the supply chain.
Industry Context
India's construction materials industry is undergoing exponential
growth and is projected to double to $ 200 billion in next five years. With less than 2%
digital penetration, the construction industry faces many challenges - from fragmented
supplier networks, and logistical bottlenecks to access to credit.
However, this remains one of the sectors that is yet to see meaningful
disruption or adoption of technology. Indian B2B supply chain continues to operate in an
inefficient, fragmented, and localised manner with a lot of involvement from
intermediaries. There is limited presence of large-scale distributors or digital channels,
and sourcing happens largely offline. There is a huge opportunity to create a platform
that can manage end to end requirements for the customers - right from demand prediction /
sourcing to post delivery.
The aspiration for Birla Pivot is to reach a $1 billion revenue in the
next three to four years, leveraging technology to create smarter and more efficient
solutions across the value chain. This would be the first big milestone in our journey of
building the largest and the most trusted B2B E-commerce platform in India.
Amalgamation of Aditya Birla Solar Limited with Aditya Birla Renewables
Limited
During the year, the Hon'ble National Company Law Tribunal
(NCLT') Mumbai Bench vide its order dated 23rd June 2023, approved the Scheme
of Amalgamation of Aditya Birla Solar Limited with and into Aditya Birla Renewables
Limited (wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) and their respective shareholders under
Section 230 to 232 and other applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 (the
Act'). The certified copy of NCLT order dated 28th June 2023, was filed with the
Registrar of Companies on 24th July 2023 and accordingly, the scheme was made effective on
the said date.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In accordance with the provisions of the Act, read with the Companies
(Accounts) Rules, 2014, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and
Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (Listing Regulations' / SEBI
Listing Regulations') and Ind AS 110 - Consolidated Financial Statements and Ind AS
28 - Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures, the Audited Consolidated Financial
Statements forms integral part of this Integrated Annual Report. Consolidated Financial
Statements include financial performance of the Company's subsidiaries, Associates
and Joint Ventures, which inter-alia includes UltraTech Cement Limited, Aditya Birla
Capital Limited, Aditya Birla Renewables Limited and other entities as mentioned in notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
SUBSIDIARIES, ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURE COMPANIES
During the year, there is no change in the direct Subsidiaries,
Associates and Joint Venture Companies of the Company.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 129(3) of the Act, read
with the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, a report on the performance and financial
position of each of the subsidiaries, associates and joint venture Companies is provided,
in the prescribed Form AOC-1, in Annexure A' to this Report.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 136 of the Act, the
Audited Standalone and Consolidated Financial Statements and related information of the
Company and audited accounts of each of its subsidiaries are available on the website of
the Company at https://www.grasim.com/ investors/results-reports-and-presentations
UltraTech Cement Limited and Aditya Birla Capital Limited are the material listed
Subsidiary Companies of the Company. Our Company does not have any material unlisted
Subsidiary. The Audit Committee and the Board reviews the financial statements,
significant transactions and working of all Subsidiary Companies, and the minutes of
unlisted subsidiary Companies/Joint Venture are placed before the Board.
Our Company has in accordance with the Listing Regulations adopted the
Policy for determining material subsidiaries. The said Policy is available on the
Company's website at https:// www.grasim.com/upload/pdf/Grasim Policy Material
Subsidiary Cos.pdf
UltraTech Cement Limited (UltraTech')
UltraTech is the top-tier manufacturer of grey cement and ready-mix
concrete (RMC), and one of the largest manufacturers of white cement in India. UltraTech
operates 24 integrated manufacturing units, 31 grinding units, 1 clinkerisation unit and 8
bulk packaging terminals. It also has 307 RMC plants across 134 cities. UltraTech has one
white cement unit and three wall care putty units. As on 31st March. 2024,
UltraTech's grey cement capacity in India stood at 140.8 MTPA, reflecting an addition
of 13.8 MTPA capacity in a year alone. Its robust logistics network includes daily
dispatch of 50+ rakes, 12,000+ trucks addressing the requirement of 1,00,000+ channel
partners. Following the commissioning of two new plants in April 2024 with a total
capacity of 5.4 MTPA in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, UltraTech's overall capacity
crossed the 150 MTPA+ milestone.
For FY 2023-24, consolidated grey cement sales volumes grew 13% YoY to
117 MT, with capacity utilisation at 84%. RMC sales volumes grew 32% YoY to 11.31 Mn M3.
The share of green power (WHRS + renewables) in total power consumption was at 23.6%.
Consolidated revenue grew 12% YoY to RS. 70,908 crore. EBITDA improved 22% YoY to RS.
13,586 crore while PAT jumped 38% YoY to RS. 7,005 crore, driven by increase in
volume, lower energy costs and lower logistics cost. Operating cash flow increased to RS.
10,898 crore from RS. 9,069 crore in the year earlier period.
Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL')
Key Highlights of ABCL's Consolidated Performance for the
Financial Year ended 31st March. 2024 are as under:
Consolidated Revenue: RS. 34,008 crore (growth of 24%
YoY)
Consolidated Net Profit (excluding one offs): RS. 2,768
crore (growth of 44% YoY)
Overall AUM across asset management, life insurance and health
insurance at over RS. 4,36,442 crore (growth of 21% YoY)
Overall lending book (NBFC and Housing Finance) at RS. 1,24,059
crore (grew 31% YoY)
Gross premium (across Life and Health Insurance) at RS. 20,961
crore (grew 18% YoY)
SHARE CAPITAL
The Authorised Share Capital of the Company stood at RS. 4,23,50,00,000
comprising of 2,06,25,00,000 Equity Shares of RS. 2 each and 11,00,000 Redeemable
Cumulative Preference Shares of RS. 100 each as at 31st March. 2024.
Issued Share Capital of the Company stood at RS. 1,36,11,06,322
comprising of 65,84,79,226 Equity Shares and 2,20,73,935 Rights Equity Shares of Face
Value RS. 2 each as at 31st March. 2024.
Subscribed and paid-up capital of the Company stood at RS. 1,32,79,93,907
comprising of 65,84,79,226 Equity Shares of RS. 2 each fully paid-up and
2,20,70,910 Equity Shares of RS. 0.5 each partly paid-up as at 31st March. 2024.
During the year, the Company allotted 47,100 equity shares of RS. 2
each pursuant to the exercise of Stock Options in terms of the Employees Stock Option
Scheme - 2013 of the Company.
ISSUE OF EQUITY SHARES ON RIGHTS BASIS
During the year under review, our Company has undertaken a rights issue
to raise capital.
The key details of Rights Issue are as under:
1. Amount to be raised: RS. 3,999.80 crore
2. Rights ratio: 6 Rights Equity Shares for every 179 fully
paid-up Equity Shares held by eligible shareholders on the record date.
3. Number of Rights Equity Shares allotted:
2,20,70,910 shares
4. Price of Rights Equity Shares: RS. 1,812 per Rights Equity
Share when fully paid-up, including a premium of RS. 1,810 per Rights Equity Share.
5. Payment terms: On application, RS. 453 (comprising RS. 0.50
towards face value and RS. 452.50 towards premium) Rights Equity Shares Price was paid.
Additionally, there would be up to three additional calls with terms and conditions as
decided by the Board / Rights Issue Committee, to be completed on or before March. 2026.
The purpose of the Rights Issue was to raise the necessary capital from
its existing shareholders for repayment or pre-payment of its certain borrowing of the
Company and general corporate purposes.
The Board at its meeting held on 22nd May 2024 has decided to make the
first call of RS. 453 per Rights Equity Share (comprising RS. 0.50 towards face value and
RS. 452.50 towards premium) in respect of outstanding partly-paid up Equity Shares as on
Record date i.e. 14th June 2024.
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION SCHEME AND PURCHASE OF TREASURY SHARES
During the year, Grasim Employees' Welfare Trust
(Trust') acquired 3,89,207 equity shares of the Company from the secondary
market. As per Ind AS, purchase of own equity shares are treated as treasury shares. The
Trust constituted in terms of the Company's Employee Stock Option Schemes
(ESOS') holds 21,20,981 equity shares of the Company as on 31st March. 2024 for
transfer to the eligible employees under ESOS 2018 and ESOS 2022.
ESOS-2013
During the year, the Stakeholders' Relationship Committee of the
Board allotted 47,100 equity shares of RS. 2 each of the Company to Stock Option Grantees,
pursuant to the exercise of the Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units
(RSUs') under ESOS-2013.
ESOS-2018
During the year, 2,63,353 equity shares were transferred from the Trust
account to the employees account due to exercise of Stock Options and RSUs by the grantees
under ESOS-2018.
ESOS-2022
During the year, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee
(NRC') of the Board approved grant of 4,99,087 Stock Options and 70,325
Performance Stock Units (PSUs') to the eligible employees, including Managing
Director of the Company, under ESOS-2022.
The ESOS-2018 and ESOS-2022 are being administered through the Trust.
The details of Stock Options and RSUs granted pursuant to ESOS-2013 and
ESOS-2018 and Stock Options and PSUs granted pursuant to ESOS-2022, and the other
disclosures in compliance with the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (Share Based Employee Benefits and Sweat Equity) Regulations, 2021, are available on
your Company's website at https://www.grasim.com/Upload/PDF/ esos-disclosure-2024.pdf
A certificate from the Secretarial Auditors with respect to
implementation of your Company's ESOS, will be available at the ensuing AGM for
inspection by the Members.
DEPOSITS
During the year, your Company has not accepted or renewed any deposits
within the meaning of Section 73 of the Act, read with the Companies (Acceptance of
Deposits) Rules, 2014.
ISSUE OF NON-CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
During the year, our Company has issued following NCD's on private
placement basis:
Particulars of NCD's |
Face Value |
Amount |
Listed, Rated, Unsecured, Redeemable, NCD's |
RS. 1,00,000 each |
RS. 1,000 crore |
Unlisted, Rated, Unsecured, Redeemable, NCD's |
RS. 1,00,00,000 each |
RS. 1,250 crore |
Total |
|
Rs 2,250 crore |
Our Company has redeemed 7,000 fully paid-up, Unsecured, Listed, Rated,
Redeemable, NCD's of face value of RS. 10,00,000 each aggregating to RS. 700
crore during the year.
PARTICULARS OF LOANS, GUARANTEES AND INVESTMENTS
Pursuant to Section 186 of the Act read with the Companies (Meetings of
the Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014, disclosures relating to loans and investments as on
31st March. 2024 are given in the Notes to the Financial Statements. During the year,
there are no guarantees issued or securities provided by the Company in terms of Section
186 of the Act read with the Rules issued thereunder.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Management Discussion and Analysis for the year, as stipulated under
the Listing Regulations, is presented in a separate section and forms an integral part of
this Integrated Annual Report.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Your Directors re-affirm their continued commitment to the best
practices of Corporate Governance. Corporate Governance principles form an integral part
of the core values of the Company. Our Company is in compliance with the provisions
relating to Corporate Governance.
The Report on Corporate Governance for the year, as stipulated under
Regulation 34 of the Listing Regulations, is presented in a separate section, and forms an
integral part of this Integrated Annual Report. A certificate from the Statutory Auditors
on its compliance is given in Annexure B' to this Report.
DIRECTORS AND KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL Appointment / Re-appointment of
Directors
In accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Articles of
Association of the Company, Smt. Rajashree Birla and Mr. Raj Kumar, Non-executive
Directors of our Company, are liable to retire by rotation at the ensuing Annual General
Meeting (AGM').
Smt. Rajashree Birla, being eligible, has offered herself for
re-appointment at the ensuing AGM.
Further, in terms of the Listing Regulations, no listed Company shall
appoint or continue the appointment of a Non-executive Director, who has attained the age
of 75 years, unless a special resolution is passed to that effect. Smt. Rajashree Birla,
has attained the age of 75 years, resolutions seeking her re-appointment and continuation
as Non-executive Director form part of the Notice of ensuing AGM.
Brief profile of Smt. Rajashree Birla is provided in the Report on
Corporate Governance and Notice of AGM.
Mr. Raj Kumar does not seek re-appointment at the ensuing AGM.
During the year, the Board appointed Mr. Sushil Agarwal (DIN: 00060017)
as an Additional Director (Non-executive Director) of the Company, liable to retire by
rotation, with effect from 8th February 2024. The Members of the Company have approved his
appointment as Non-executive Directors of the Company through Postal Ballot w.e.f. 16th
April 2024.
The Board of Directors at their meeting held on 22nd May 2024, based on
recommendation of NRC and subject to the approval of Members of the Company, approved the
appointment of the following Directors:
1. Mr. Ashvin Dhirajlal Parekh (DIN: 06559989), Independent Director,
with effect from 23rd August 2024 upto 22nd August 2029 (both days inclusive).
2. Mr. Haigreve Khaitan (DIN: 00005290), Independent Director, with
effect from 26th September 2024 upto 25th September 2029 (both days inclusive).
3. Mr. Mukkavilli Jagannath (DIN: 10090437), Nonexecutive Director,
with effect from 26th September 2024, liable to retire by rotation.
The Company will seek approval of the Members for appointment of above
Directors at the ensuing AGM of the Company.
The Board at its meeting held on 22nd May 2024 noted that the tenure of
Mr. Cyril Shroff and Dr. Thomas M Connelly, Jr. as an Independent Directors, shall come to
an end on 22nd August 2024.
Cessation of Directors
Dr. Santrupt Misra (DIN: 00013625) has stepped down as a Non-executive
Director of the Company with effect from 28th December 2023, due to other plans and
engagements. There was no other material reason for his resignation except as stated.
The Board placed on record its sincere appreciation for the valuable
contribution and services rendered by Dr.Santrupt Misra during his tenure with the
Company.
There is no pecuniary or business relationship between the
Non-executive Directors and the Company, except for the sitting fees and commission
payable to the Non-executive Directors, in accordance with the applicable laws and
approval of the Members of the Company.
Key Managerial Personnel
Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 2(51) and 203 of the Act, Mr.
Harikrishna Agarwal, Managing Director, Mr. Pavan Kumar Jain, Chief Financial Officer
(CFO') and Mr. Sailesh Kumar Daga, Company Secretary are the Key Managerial
Personnel (KMP') of the Company as on 31st March. 2024.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
The Board of the Company met 6 (Six) times during the year to
deliberate on various matters. The meetings were held on 26th May 2023, 10th August 2023,
16th October 2023, 13th November 2023, 4th January 2024 and 8th February 2024. Further
details are provided in the Report on Corporate Governance, which forms an integral part
of this Integrated Annual Report.
STATUTORY COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD Audit Committee
The Audit Committee comprises of Mr. N. Mohan Raj, Chairman, Dr. Thomas
M. Connelly Jr., Mr. V. Chandrasekaran and Mr. Harikrishna Agarwal as its members.
Majority of the members including Chairman of Audit Committee are Independent Directors.
The CFO of your Company is a permanent invitee at the Audit Committee Meetings.
Nomination and Remuneration Committee
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC') comprises
of Ms. Anita Ramachandran, Chairperson, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Mr. Adesh Kumar Gupta
and Mr. Cyril Shroff as its members. Majority of the members including Chairperson of NRC
are Independent Directors.
Corporate Social Responsibility Committee
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR') Committee
comprises of Smt. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Ms. Anita Ramachandran and Mr. Harikrishna
Agarwal as its members.
Stakeholders' Relationship Committee
The Stakeholders' Relationship Committee (SRC')
comprises of Ms. Anita Ramachandran, Chairperson, Mr. Yazdi Piroj Dandiwala and Mr.
Harikrishna Agarwal as its members.
Risk Management and Sustainability Committee
The Risk Management and Sustainability Committee (RMSC')
comprises of Mr. N. Mohan Raj, Chairman, Dr. Thomas M. Connelly, Jr., Mr. V.
Chandrasekaran, Mr. Harikrishna Agarwal, Mr. Kapil Agrawal, Mr. Jayant V. Dhobley and Mr.
Rakshit Hargave as its members.
The CFO and Chief Sustainability Officer of our Company are permanent
invitees at the RMSC Meetings.
All the recommendations made by the above Committees, during the year,
were accepted by the Board of the Company.
Further details relating to the above Committees are provided in the
Report on Corporate Governance, which forms an integral part of this Integrated Annual
Report.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
Our Company has received declarations from all the Independent
Directors of the Company, confirming that:
a) they meet the criteria of independence as prescribed under Section
149(6) of the Act and Regulation 16(1 )(b) of the Listing Regulations;
b) they are not aware of any circumstance or situation which exists or
may be reasonably anticipated, that could impair or impact their ability to discharge
their duties with an objective of independent judgement and without any external
influence; and
c) they have registered their names in the Independent Directors
Databank.
Our Company's Board is of the opinion that the Independent
Directors possess requisite qualifications, experience and expertise in Corporate
Governance, Legal & Compliance, Financial Literacy, General Management, Human Resource
Development, Industry Knowledge, Technology, digitisation & innovation, Marketing,
Risk Management, Strategic Expertise and Sustainability and they hold highest standards of
integrity.
FORMAL ANNUAL EVALUATION
Pursuant to the provisions of the Act and the Listing Regulations, the
Board has carried out an annual evaluation of its own performance, its Committees,
Independent Directors, Non-executive Directors, Executive Director and the Chairman of the
Board.
The NRC of the Board has laid down the manner in which formal annual
evaluation of the performance of the Board, its Committees and Individual Directors has to
be made. It includes circulation of evaluation forms separately for evaluation of the
Board and its Committees, Independent Directors / Non-executive Directors / Executive
Director and the Chairman of the Company.
The performance of Non-independent Directors, the Board, as a whole,
and the Committees of the Board has been evaluated by Independent Directors in a separate
meeting. At the same meeting, the Independent Directors also evaluated the performance of
the Chairman of the Company, after taking into account the views of Executive Director and
Nonexecutive Directors. Evaluation as done by the Independent Directors was submitted to
the NRC and subsequently to the Board.
Thereafter, the Board at its meeting discussed the performance of the
Board, as a whole, its Committees and Individual Directors. The Board expressed
satisfaction on the overall functioning of the Board and its Committees. The Board was
also satisfied with the contribution of the Directors, in their respective capacities,
which reflected the overall engagement of the Individual Directors.
The new Director inducted on the Company's Board attends an
orientation programme. The details of the programme for familiarisation of Independent
Directors are provided in the Report on Corporate Governance, which forms an integral part
of this Integrated Annual Report and is also available on the Company's website at
https://www.grasim.com/Upload/ PDF/familiarisation-programme-independent-directors.pdf
DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
The audited accounts for the year are in conformity with the
requirements of the Act and the Accounting Standards. The financial statements reflect
fairly the form and substance of transactions carried out during the year and reasonably
present your Company's financial condition and results of operations.
Pursuant to Section 134(5) of the Act, the Board of Directors, to the
best of its knowledge and ability, confirms that:
a) in the preparation of the Annual Accounts, the applicable accounting
standards have been followed along with proper explanation relating to material
departures, if any;
b) t he accounting policies selected have been applied consistently,
and judgements and estimates are made that are reasonable and prudent, so as to give a
true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at 31st March. 2024, and of
the profit of the Company for the year ended on that date;
c) proper and sufficient care have been taken for the 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 fraud and other
irregularities;
d) annual accounts have been prepared on a going concern'
basis;
e) the Directors have laid down proper internal financial controls, 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.
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY ABSORPTION AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE
EARNINGS AND OUTGO
The information on Conservation of Energy, Technology Absorption and
Foreign Exchange Earnings and Outgo stipulated under Section 134(3)(m) of the Act, read
with the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, is given in Annexure C' to
this Report.
INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT
The Company is publishing its Integrated Annual Report for the FY
2023-24. This report is prepared in alignment with the Integrated Reporting Framework laid
down by the International Integrated Reporting Council and aims at presenting the value
creation approach for our stakeholders.
AUDITORS AND AUDIT REPORTS
Statutory Auditors
M/s. B S R & Co. LLP, Chartered Accountants (Registration No.
101248W/W-100022) and M/s. KKC & Associates LLP, Chartered Accountants (Registration
No. 105146W/ W100621), were appointed as Joint Statutory Auditors of the Company for a
term of 5 (five) consecutive years, to hold office till the conclusion of the 79th AGM and
80th AGM of the Company, respectively.
The observations made by the Joint Statutory Auditors on the Financial
Statements (Standalone and Consolidated) of the Company, in their Report for the financial
year ended 31st March. 2024, read with the Notes therein, are self-explanatory and,
therefore, do not call for any further explanation or comments from the Board of Directors
under Section 134(3)(f) of the Act. The Auditors' Report does not contain any
qualification, reservation, disclaimer or adverse remark.
Branch Auditor
The Board at its meeting held on 22nd May 2024 approved the appointment
of M/s. Singhi & Co. (Registration Number 302049E), Chartered Accountants, as the
Branch Auditor of the Company to hold office from the conclusion of this AGM until the
conclusion of the 78th AGM of the Company to conduct the audit for Paints Business of the
Company, for the financial year 2024-25 at a remuneration not exceeding RS. 50 lakh plus
tax as applicable and reimbursement of out- of-pocket expenses.
The resolution seeking appointment of Branch Auditor forms part of
Notice of the ensuing AGM.
Cost Auditor
Our Company is required to prepare and maintain the cost accounts and
cost records pursuant to Section 148(1) of the Act read with rules made thereunder.
Based on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board appointed
M/s. D. C. Dave & Co., Cost Accountants, Mumbai (Registration No. 000611), as the Cost
Auditors to conduct the cost audit of the Company for FY 2024-25 at a remuneration of RS.
26 lakh plus applicable taxes and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
The Company has received consent from M/s. D. C. Dave & Co., Cost
Accountants, to act as the Cost Auditor of your Company for FY 2024-25, along with the
certificate confirming their eligibility.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 148(1) of the Act and Rule
14 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, the remuneration payable to the Cost
Auditor is required to be ratified by the Members of the Company. Accordingly, an Ordinary
Resolution, for ratification of remuneration payable to the Cost Auditor for FY 2024-25,
forms part of the Notice of the ensuing AGM.
Secretarial Auditor
The Secretarial Audit Report, issued by M/s. BNP & Associates,
Company Secretaries, Mumbai, for the FY 2023-24, is given in Annexure D' to
this Report. The Secretarial Audit Report does not contain any qualification, reservation,
disclaimer or adverse remark. The Secretarial Compliance Report for the financial year
ended 31st March. 2024, in relation to compliance of all applicable SEBI Regulations /
circulars / guidelines issued thereunder, pursuant to the requirement of Regulation 24A of
the Listing Regulations, is available on the website of the Company at
https://www.grasim.com/Upload/ PDF/annual-secretarial-compliance-report-22052024.pdf
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Act and Rules made
thereunder, M/s. BNP & Associates, Company Secretaries, Mumbai, are appointed as
Secretarial Auditor to conduct the Secretarial Audit of the Company for FY 2024-25.
SECRETARIAL STANDARDS
During the year, our Company is in compliance with the applicable
Secretarial Standards specified by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
REPORTING OF FRAUDS BY AUDITORS
No instances of fraud were reported by the Auditors of the Company
under Section 143 (12) of the Act.
DISCLOSURES
Contracts and Arrangements with Related Parties
During the year, all contracts / arrangements / transactions entered
into by the Company with Related Parties were on arm's length basis and in the
ordinary course of business. There are no material transactions with any Related Party as
defined under Section 188 of the Act, read with the Companies (Meetings of Board and its
Powers) Rules, 2014.
In line with the requirements of the Act and amendment to the Listing
Regulations, all Related Party Transactions have been approved by the Audit Committee and
reviewed by it on a periodic basis. Our Company has formulated a Policy on Related
Party Transactions', which is also available on the Company's website at
https://www.grasim.com/upload/pdf/Grasim policy on RPT.pdf. The Policy intends to ensure
that proper reporting, approval and disclosure processes are in place for all transactions
between the Company and Related Parties.
The details of contracts and arrangements with Related Parties of the
Company for the financial year ended 31st March. 2024, are given in Notes to the
Standalone Financial Statements, forming part of this Integrated Annual Report.
The Board at its meeting held on 22nd May 2024 has approved entering
into material Related Party Transaction(s) with i) Hindalco Industries Limited, a promoter
group Company for an aggregate value of up to RS. 1,250 crore; and ii) AV Group NB
Inc, Canada (AVNB'), Joint Venture of the Company for an aggregate value of up
to RS. 1,108 crore.
As per Listing Regulations, the resolutions for approving the
above-mentioned material Related Party Transaction(s) form part of the Notice of ensuing
AGM.
Further, during the year, the approval of the Members obtained on 16th
April 2024 for the material Related Party Transaction(s) between the following related
parties, proposed to be entered during the FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26:
i. ABReL (RJ) Projects Limited, an indirect Subsidiary of the Company
and ABReL EPC Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary (WoS') of the
Company for an aggregate value of up to RS. 2,600 crore;
ii. ABReL (RJ) Projects Limited, an indirect Subsidiary of the Company
and Aditya Birla Renewables Limited, a WoS of the Company for an aggregate value of up to RS.
1,325 crore; and
iii. Aditya Birla Renewables Subsidiary Limited, an indirect Subsidiary
of the Company and ABReL EPC Limited, an indirect WoS of the Company for an aggregate
value of up to RS. 1,450 crore.
VIGIL MECHANISM / WHISTLE-BLOWER POLICY
Our Company has established a mechanism for directors and employees to
report instances and concerns about unethical behaviour, actual or suspected fraud, or
violation of the Company's Code of Conduct. It also provides adequate safeguards
against the victimisation of employees, who avail the mechanism and allows direct access
to the Chairman of the Audit Committee in exceptional cases. During the year, no person
was denied access to the Audit Committee.
The details of the Vigil Mechanism are also provided in the Report on
Corporate Governance, which forms an integral part of this Integrated Annual Report and
the Vigil Mechanism / Whistle-Blower Policy is available on the website of the Company at
https://www.grasim.com/Upload/PDF/whistle- blower-policy.pdf
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
In terms of the provisions of Section 135 of the Act and Rules made
thereunder, the Board has a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR') Committee,
which is chaired by Smt. Rajashree Birla. The other Members of the Committee as on 31st
March. 2024, are Ms. Anita Ramachandran, Independent Director and Mr. Harikrishna Agarwal,
Managing Director. Dr. Pragnya Ram, Group Executive President - CSR is a permanent invitee
to the Committee. The Corporate Social Responsibility Policy (CSR Policy'),
indicating the activities undertaken by the Company, is available on your Company's
website at https://www.grasim.com/Upload/PDF/grasim-csr- policy.pdf
Our Company is a caring corporate citizen and lays significant emphasis
on development of the host communities around which it operates. Our Company, with this
intent, has identified several projects relating to Social Empowerment and Welfare, Rural
Development, Sustainable Livelihood, Health Care and Education, during the year, and
initiated various activities in neighbouring villages around its plant locations.
During the year, the Company has spent RS. 58.39 crore, of which
RS. 40.99 crore (Excluding RS. 4.50 crore spent towards the amount
outstanding for financial year 2022-23) was spent towards obligatory CSR of the Company
and an amount of RS. 12.90 crore was voluntarily spent for CSR activities.
The initiatives undertaken by the Company on CSR activities, during the
year, are given in Annexure E' to this Report, in the format prescribed
in the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014, as amended.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Our Company continues to place significant emphasis on robust risk
management and sustainability practices to safeguard its interests and ensure sustainable
growth amidst an evolving business landscape. The risk management framework encompasses
identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of various risks across the
organisation. Our Company has a Board level Risk Management and Sustainability Committee
(RMSC'), which is inter alia, mandated to frame policy, monitor implementation
and review risk management and sustainability performance of the Company. The Company has
in place a risk management policy, which is available on the Company's website at
https://www.grasim.com/Upload/PDF/risk-management- policy.pdf.
The Company has diligently identified and assessed a spectrum of risks
inherent in its operations, encompassing external, strategic, financial, operational,
sustainability, knowledge, cyber security and compliance domains. Through proactive
measures, we strive to anticipate potential risks and promptly address emerging challenges
to maintain operational resilience and protect shareholder value. In response to
identified risks, the Company has implemented comprehensive mitigation strategies tailored
to each risk category. The Management Discussion & Analysis Report sets out the key
risks identified, and mitigation plans thereof.
During the fiscal year, the RMSC met thrice to review the risk
management and sustainability performance covering various risks as stated above. The
Board remains vigilant in overseeing the effectiveness of these risk management and
sustainability measures and is confident in the Company's ability to navigate
uncertainties and capitalise on opportunities for sustainable value creation. There are no
risks, which in the opinion of the Board, threaten the existence of the Company.
BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
As per Regulation 34(2)(f) of the Listing Regulations, a separate
section on Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report, describing the initiatives
taken by the Company from environmental, social and governance perspective, forms an
integral part of this Integrated Annual Report.
ANNUAL RETURN
Pursuant to Sections 92 and 134 of the Act, and the Rules made
thereunder, the Annual Return of your Company as on 31st March. 2024 is available on the
Company's website at https://www.grasim.com/Upload/PDF/form-MGT-7-annual-
return-fy24.pdf
INTERNAL CONTROLS
Our Company has in place adequate internal control systems (including
internal financial control system) commensurate with the size and complexity of its
operations. Internal control systems comprising of policies and procedures are designed to
ensure sound management of the Company's operations, safe keeping of its assets,
optimal utilisation of resources, reliability of its financial information and compliance.
Systems and procedures are periodically reviewed to keep pace with the growing size and
complexity of the Company's operations. During the year, no material or serious
observation has been received from the Joint Statutory Auditors of your Company, citing
inefficiency or inadequacy of such controls.
REMUNERATION POLICY
The Company's remuneration policy is directed towards rewarding
the performance based on review of achievements. The remuneration policy is in consonance
with the existing industry practice. There has been no change in the policy during the
year.
The Remuneration Policy of the Company, as formulated by the NRC of the
Board is given in Annexure F' to this Report and is also available on
the Company's website at https://
www.grasim.com/upload/pdf/ABG-executive-remuneration- philosophy-policv.pdf
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D)
The R&D projects undertaken by the Company focus on developing and
commercialising premium differentiated products, improving our competitive cost position,
product quality and environmental sustainability. To support these goals, the businesses
are managing a pipeline of projects that are addressing near and mid-term needs, as well
as the exploration of future opportunities.
CELLULOSIC STAPLE FIBRE (CSF)
The Cellulosic Staple Fibre (CSF) business is one of the leading global
players in the Manmade Fibre (MMF) industry, and is recognized in the industry for its
customer centricity, product quality and cost-competitiveness. This is enabled by a
relentless focus on process consistency, operational efficiency and the delivery of
innovative products that create sustainable value for its customers.
Sustainability continues to be central to the business strategy. The
business's efforts to continuously expand its sustainable footprint were again
recognized by the global NGO Canopy, which awarded the Business the highest rating of Dark
Green Shirt with industry-leading aggregate points. Several notable innovations, including
the launch of three new products contributed to this achievement.
The business launched Birla Viscose Ecosoft, which is a new variant of
viscose fibre, made from bamboo pulp. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plant species
that is less resource intensive to cultivate versus other plants and hence increasingly
seen as an eco-friendly solution for textile needs. Birla Viscose Ecosoft fibres offer
high durability & better moisture management. The resultant fabrics allow for high
breathability, aiding in thermo-regulation. They are also characterised by soft textures
and are light in weight.
The business launched Birla Viscose Intellicolor, which is a patented
viscose fibre product that promises to redefine the textile industry landscape by
addressing a longstanding challenge with conventional reactive dyeing and helps achieve
brighter shades with high tinctorial value and color depth compared to reactive dyes with
the same concentration of dyes. These innovative fibres use cationic or basic dyes,
thereby reducing dye input and enabling up to 95% dye-bath exhaustion. Additionally, this
product eliminates the need for salt and soda ash, streamlining operations while
significantly reducing environmental impact in dye-houses.
The business also launched Birla SaFR, which are inherently
flame-retardant sustainable cellulosic fibres, ideal for making flame retardant fabrics.
These fibres are 100% plant based, made from wood pulp sourced from sustainably managed
forests and manufactured in facilities that adhere to highest global norms on
environmental responsibility.
The Business continued its membership with the Industry Consortium
Fashion For Good, and participated in the evaluation of novel pigments made from waste
feed-stocks such as industrial carbon, algae and wood, for making dope dyed cellulosic
fibres. The novel pigments could potentially replace synthetic dyes, and offer a more
sustainable means of textile production with a lower carbon footprint.
These new products and developments affirm our conviction that it is
possible to create innovative and sustainable products while delivering excellent
technical performance. In the realm of textile recycling and circularity, we have
continued to collaborate with leading global innovators such as Renewcell, SaXcell, and
Sodra. We successfully manufactured commercial quantities of Liva Reviva cellulosic
fibers, incorporating 30% of Renewcell's Circulose pulp. Additionally, the
processability of pulps from Sodra and Saxcell was rigorously evaluated in pilot runs.
The Business continues to harness the transformational potential of
Industry 4.0 and AI/ML developments for addressing unique manufacturing problems. In the
past year, prototyping of different advanced sensors combined with AI/ML and advanced
imaging tools was done to provide real-time information regarding quality of intermediate
process streams and final product. These new tools are been extensively tested on a
commercial lines, and will provide valuable insights, which are key to consistency and
quality. The R&D team has combined first-principles thermodynamic modelling with data
analytics to make dashboards that provide a comprehensive real-time information regarding
equipment / process health, enabling the plant operators to run their lines at optimal
levels.
Through our journey from concept to commercialisation and plant
implementation of various new ideas, we have realized the importance of well-equipped
pilot facilities in the innovation lifecycle. To accelerate the development of new
sustainable feedstock options, we have established a kilo-scale pulping facility.
Additionally, we are in the advanced stages of commissioning a larger pilot plant facility
designed for small-lot testing of pulps from alternative feedstocks. This facility is
expected to become operational in the second quarter of FY2025. It will also support
testing of process conditions and new chemistries aimed at improving the efficiency and
sustainability of the pulp-making process.
This Business has excellence in managing its diverse patent and
trademark portfolio of branded products, including 25 patent filings out of whicRs. 13 are
granted patents. It also has 4 publications in the current financial year.
With a strong products portfolio, and a committed and passionate
workforce, the Business is well-set to continue its prominence in MMF industry, and to
serve its customers and stakeholders with high quality products and services.
CELLULOSIC FASHION YARN (CFY)
The Fashion Yarn business (Cellulosic Fashion Yarn-CFY) is taking the
lead in introducing products in the market which has a potential to capture silk market.
CFY business is now shifting its focus towards green Cellulosic Fashion yarn manufacturing
with indigenously developed technology. A proof of concept has been successfully
demonstrated at the laboratory scale, and there are plans underway to invest in
establishing a pilot plant. Furthermore, CFY's Research and Development team has
developed a tracer mechanism for Dull yarn products, enhancing the ability to trace
products at various stages of consumption across the value chain.
CHEMICALS
Our Company's Research and Development (R&D')
efforts are focusing on cost optimisation, developing new products after understanding
customers latent needs and further enhancing our chlorine derivate portfolio.
Water Treatment Business being focus, our Company leveraged its R&D
Centre for solving water treatment problems in potable water, some major health problems
(reducing the Al load from treated water), working on STP of carbon black effluent which
has pungent odour and oil content, providing water & waste-water treatment solutions
to Oil and Natural Gas refineries, Pulp & Paper, rubber pyrolysis, quarries,
economical solutions for Effluent Treatment Plants, colour removal to textile ETPs and
CETPs and Grey water treatment to recycle domestic water and others.
R&D Team at Vilayat Site worked closely with customers from cable
compounding, PVC pipes, garden pipes and artificial leather industries, developed greener
and sustainable formulations and commercialise under Twist' brand.
Our Company's R&D which is recognised by the Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and is executing collaborative project with many
renowned institutes. The Company received NSF / ANSI and Kosher certifications for its
operating Units, certifications from FSSAI for food grade calcium chloride products,
Eco-Passport by OEKO-TEX for new product range developed for textile industry and EU-REACH
/ UK-REACH for long chain chlorinated paraffins. R&D Centre published research
articles / papers and presentations in the area of Water Treatment and Cleaning solutions
at various forums like CII, ITM-IIM-Bhubaneshwar, IIT-Roorkee, IMA-CIPET and Everything
About Water journal.
Our Company's R&D Centre has also collaborated with the Aditya
Birla Science and Technology Company Private Limited (ABSTCPL') and the
academia in the scientific and technical forums. R&D Centre has also worked with the
industry to develop multiple improved technology of phosphoric acid, technology
improvement of mono chloro acetic acid, new products for PVC compounding based on
different variants of long chain chlorinated paraffin for export markets. The Company is
also developing speciality blends (plastics, water treatment, etc.), new formulations for
home and personal care FMCG segment and chemicals for agrochemical applications.
Various enhancements in production process have also been undertaken by
the team to enhance its efficacy and quality of deliverables. Our Company observed an
improvement in quality of HSBP product and plant capacity, developed new recipes in PAC
liquid production for improved shelf life and usability of product.
Our Company has started first of its kind pilot facility in India at
Renukoot site to evaluate suitability of new membranes, coating and salt types for
chlor-alkali production by testing various membranes at operating conditions similar to
commercial plant. The facility can help in making data driven decision by cross verifying
vendors claim for their products.
SPECIALITY CHEMICALS (EPOXY POLYMERS & CURING AGENTS)
Your Company's R&D team is leading and driving the
Sustainability portfolio through New Product Development in the area of Bio-based
products, waterless, solvent free, green processes and chemistries, as well as innovation
in the area of Recyclability & Circularity of Materials. The teams are also involved
in synthesising new molecules and in developing products and applications that drive
growth of speciality segment for the business.
R&D team is working with leading Universities, Institutes and
Global experts in building the innovation footprint and speeding up the research to market
phase.
R&D team is engaged in development of various bio-based products.
R&D has developed polyamide hardeners which are based on bio-materials like fatty
acids & dimer acids derived from plant sources.
R&D team is involved in application development in epoxy system
solutions for composite segment, wind segment, pipes, LPG, CNG & RS. 2 storage tanks,
e-mobility, products for power generation, transmission & distribution and
auto-electronics, powder coating segment, adhesives and construction segment, water
soluble coating solution for can coating applications, developing products for floor
coating and marble coating.
TEXTILES
Our Company is involved in driving innovation, servicing new customers
with focus on sustainability and customers emerging needs, and constantly improving its
processes.
Our Company has launched:
1. COMFYCOOL - Active cooling Linen Fabric range. Using innovative
Thermoregulation technology which is triggered by body heat & moisture, COMFYCOOL
Fabrics augments natural properties of Linen fabrics with the ability to dynamically
respond to body heat, thus keeping the wearer cool & comfortable.
2. Cotton / Lyocell premium stretch fabric range designed for shirting
applications that offers brilliant sheen and comfort.
Our Company continues to develop blends in both linen and wool with
sustainable fibres, such as Silk, Cashmere, Lyocell, Hemp etc.
Our Company is working towards developing Circular Value Chain of Linen
through pre-consumer recycling into new fabrics. This will help creating sustained value
and help to reduce our environmental footprints further.
Our Company is continuously working in collaboration with ABSTCPL,
TRADC (Textile Research & Application Development Centre) and global partners, e.g.,
CELC, Wool Mark, HeiQ, Sanitized, Asahi-Kasei and other specialty fibres and chemical
suppliers to explore and develop innovative yarns and fabrics.
These R&D activities are aimed at addressing the present and future
needs of the Textile business.
INSULATORS
During the year our R&D efforts were focused on customer
requirements-based initiatives, design optimisation for cost and performance, accelerated
new products approval and indigenisation of key raw materials. Developmental actions were
taken in the following areas:
Optimisation of design of two major Disc Insulator products and
implementation after customer acceptance.
Development of Insulators for High Voltage Direct Current
(HVDC') transmission applications.
Overseas customer approval for 4 new transmission line products.
Weight reduction of Metal Parts using 3D Simulation.
Increase in usage of Indigenous clays to substitute imported
clays.
PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES
Disclosures pertaining to remuneration and other details as required
under Section 197(12) of the Act, read with Rule 5(1) of the Companies (Appointment and
Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014, are given in Annexure G' to
this Report.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 197(12) of the Act read
with Rules 5(2) and 5(3) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial
Personnel) Rules, 2014, the names and other particulars of employees drawing remuneration
in excess of the limits, set out in the aforesaid rules, forms part of this Report. In
line with the provisions of Section 136(1) of the Act, the Report and Accounts, as set out
therein, are being sent to all the Members of the Company, excluding the aforesaid
information about the employees. Any Member, who is interested in obtaining these
particulars about employees, may write to the Company Secretary at
grasim.secretarial@adityabirla.com.
POLICY ON PREVENTION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE
Our Company has zero tolerance for sexual harassment at workplace. Our
Company has adopted a Policy on Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment
at Workplace in line with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
(Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act'), and the Rules
framed thereunder. All employees (permanent, contractual, temporary, trainees) are covered
under this policy.
Our Company has constituted Internal Complaints Committee to redress
and resolve any complaints arising under the POSH Act. There were 2 (two) complaints
pending at the beginning of the year. During the year, 5 (five) complaints were received.
6 (six) complaints were resolved and 1 (one) was outstanding as on 31st March. 2024. The
Company is committed to providing a safe and conducive work environment to all its
employees and associates.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Our Company's human resource is the strong foundation for creating
many possibilities for its business. The efficient operations of manufacturing units,
market development and expansion for various products were the highlight of our people
effort.
Continuous people development for developing knowledge and skills
coupled with the Talent Management practices will deliver the talent needs of the
Organisation. Our Company's employee engagement score reflects high engagement and
pride in being part of the Organisation.
The Group's Corporate Human Resources plays a critical role in the
Company's talent management process.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Some of the significant accolades earned by our Company during the year
include:
Sustainable Organisation 2023 by The Economic Times
Sustainable Organisation 2023 by BW Business World
Sustainable Organisation 2023 by Nava Bharat
Textiles Business certified as a Great Place to WorkRs.
2024.
Silver in BRSR-Large Cap (Manufacturing Sector) Sustainability
Reporting Awards 2022-23 by ICAI
Winner of CII Industrial IP Award 2023 for Best Trademark
Portfolio in Large Manufacturing / Engineering Category
Birla Cellulose - No. 1 ranking in Canopy's Hot Button
Report 2023 for its commitment to conserve Ancient and Endangered Forests and promote
circular solutions.
Cellulosic Division Vilayat awarded CII-ITC Excellence in
Environment Management 2023
Cellulosic Division, Vilayat - Bharuch wins 1st prize at FICCI
Water Awards 2023.
SFD, Nagda - Silver in Water Harvesting at CSR Health Impact
Awards
SFD, Nagda - CII ITC Award for Excellence in Environment
Management, 2023
Harihar Polyfibers & Grasilene Division - Platinum at Apex
India Green Leaf Awards in Sustainability (Textile Sector)
Grasilene Division - Gold at IRIM-National Awards for
Manufacturing Competitiveness
Aditya Birla Insulators, Rishra - ICC Social Impact 2024
CFY business - ICC Award 2022 by Indian Chemical Council in
Energy Conservation & Management.
Textiles Business Golden Peacock CSR Award 2023
Textiles Business - CII - ITC Sustainability Award 2023
(Corporate Excellence)
Jayashree Textile - Gold at International Convention on Quality
Control Circles 2023
Chemical Units at Renukoot, Karwar and Vilayat awarded - IRIM
National Award of Manufacturing Competitiveness
Chemicals, Rehla - CII IQ National level Safety Practice
Competition Award (Manufacturing Process)
Chemicals, Ganjam Unit - Gold in FICCI Leader in Energy
Management (Electrical)
CFY Business - Energy Saving champion award-2023 by Forbes
Marshall
CFY team - SRTEPC - Best Export Performance 2022-23
(Continuous Viscose Filament Yarn Category)
UPDATE ON MATERIAL ORDERS PASSED BY THE REGULATORS
The Competition Commission of India (CCI') had passed
an order under Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002, dated 16th March. 2020, imposing a
penalty of RS. 301.61 crore. The Company had filed an appeal against the order
before the Hon'ble National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT'), and
has obtained a stay by depositing RS. 30.16 crore with NCLAT by way of fixed
deposit. While the matter is pending before the NCLAT, CCI has passed another order dated
3rd June 2021, and levied a penalty of RS. 3.49 crore on the Company (@ RS. 1
lakh per day for a period of 349 days and continuing thereafter) for noncompliance with
its order passed on 16th March. 2020. Our Company has filed a writ petition with the
Hon'ble Delhi High Court, and the Hon'ble Delhi High Court has stayed the
operation of the CCI order at 3rd June 2021.
The CCI has passed another order dated 6th August 2021, under
Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002, for the period of 2017-18. However, because of the
penalty of RS. 301.61 crore has already been imposed on the Company in a previous
order; the CCI deemed it appropriate not to impose any further monetary penalty on the
Company. The Company filed an appeal before the Hon'ble NCLAT.
Our Company, backed by independent expert's opinion,
believes that the above orders are not tenable in law. Accordingly, no provision has been
made in the books of account on account of these matters.
GENERAL
Your Directors state that no disclosure or reporting is required
in respect of the following items as there were no transactions
on these matters during the year:
1. No material changes and commitments affected the financial position
of the Company between the end of the financial year and the date of this Report.
2. I ssue of equity shares with differential rights as to dividend,
voting or otherwise;
3. I ssue of shares (including sweat equity shares) to employees of the
Company under any Scheme save and except ESOS referred to in this report;
4. The Managing Director of the Company does not receive any
remuneration or commission from any of its subsidiaries;
5. There were no revisions in the financial statement(s);
6. There has been no change in the nature of business of the Company;
7. No significant or material orders were passed by the Regulators or
Courts or Tribunals which impact the going concern status and the Company's
operations in the future. The update on the status of material orders passed by the
Regulators or Court or Tribunals is provided in this Report;
8. There were no proceedings initiated under the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code, 2016;
9. There was no instance of one-time settlement with any Bank or
Financial Institution; and
10. There was no failure to implement any Corporate Action.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Your Directors express their deep sense of gratitude to the
shareholders, banks, financial institutions, stakeholders, business associates, Central
and State Governments for their co-operation and support and look forward to their
continued support in future.
Your Directors very warmly thank all our employees for their
contribution to the Company's performance. We applaud them for their superior levels
of competence, dedication and commitment to our Company.