Dear Members,
The Board of Directors are pleased to present the 34th
Integrated Annual Report of the Company along with the audited financial statements
(standalone and consolidated) for the financial year ended March 31,2024.
Financial Highlights
The Board's Report is prepared based on the standalone financial
statements of the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013
("Act"), and SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations,
2015 ("Listing Regulations"), the Company has prepared its financial statements
as per Indian Accounting Standards ("IndAS") for the financial year 2023-24. The
Company's financial performance for the year under review alongwith previous year's
figures are given hereunder -
(Rs in Lakh)
Particulars |
Standalone |
Consolidated |
|
2023-24 |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2022-23 |
Revenue from Operations |
402,012.20 |
3,91,459.99 |
7,77,240.70 |
6,93,579.19 |
Other Income |
2,922.42 |
3,682.45 |
4,964.91 |
4,302.14 |
Operating Profit before Finance Costs, Depreciation, Tax and
Extraordinary items |
26,858.88 |
26,354.81 |
98,753.33 |
74,372.84 |
Less: Depreciation and amortisation expenses |
3,852.44 |
2,889.97 |
15,290.65 |
12,690.72 |
Less: Finance Cost |
1,877.25 |
2,396.79 |
8,296.72 |
8,210.03 |
Share of net profit/(loss) of associates and joint ventures
accounted for using the equity method |
- |
- |
4,886.65 |
2,786.22 |
Profit Before Tax |
21,129.19 |
21,068.05 |
80,052.75 |
56,258.31 |
Less: Tax Expense |
5,162.70 |
5,036.83 |
20,292.86 |
13,982.53 |
Profit After Tax |
15,966.49 |
16,031.22 |
59,759.89 |
42,275.78 |
Total Comprehensive income for the year |
16,073.65 |
15,666.24 |
62,732.50 |
45,893.31 |
Company's Performance Overview:
During the financial year 2023-24:
? Revenue from operations on a standalone basis increased to Rs.
4,02,012.00 Lacs against Rs. 3,91,459.99 Lacs in the previous year with a growth of 2.62%.
? The cost of goods sold as a percentage of revenue from operations
increased to 79.33%, up from 76.43% in the previous year.
? Employee cost as a percentage of revenue from operations increased
to 2.48% (Rs. 10,045.20 Lacs), up from 2.24% (Rs. 8,844.74 Lacs) in the previous year.
? Other expenses as a percentage of revenue from operations decreased
to 11.56% (Rs. 46,791.56 Lacs) as against 14.66% (Rs. 57,916.90 Lacs) in the previous
year.
? Profit before exceptional items and tax for the current year is Rs.
21,129.19 Lacs as against Rs. 21,068.05 Lacs in the previous year with a growth of 0.29%.
? Profit after tax for the current year is Rs. 15,966.49 Lacs as
against Rs. 16,031.22 Lacs in the previous year.
? On a consolidated basis, the Group achieved revenue of Rs.
7,77,240.70 Lacs as against Rs. 6,93,579.19 Lacs - a growth of 10.76%.
? Net profit for the Group for the current year is Rs. 59,759.89 Lacs
as against Rs. 42,275.78 Lacs in the previous year with a growth of 29.26%.
For a detailed analysis of the Company's financial performance, please
refer to the Management Discussion & Analysis Report, which forms part of the Annual
Report.
Dividend
In terms of Regulation 43A of the Listing Regulations, the Company's
Board of Directors adopted the Dividend Distribution Policy, which sets out the parameters
and circumstances to be considered by the Board of Directors in determining the
distribution of dividends to its shareholders and/or the utilization of the retained
profits earned by the Company. The Dividend Distribution Policy
is available on the Company's website at
http://www.Itgroup.in/pdf/Dividend-PolicyFinal.pdf.
In line with the above policy, your Directors have recommended a final
dividend of Rs. 1/per fully paid- up equity share of face value of Rs. 1/each
for the financial year 2023-24. The payment of the final dividend is subject to the
approval of shareholders at the 34th Annual General Meeting ("AGM").
The book closure date for the payment of the final dividend for the
financial year 2023-24 will be Thursday, September 19, 2024, to Thursday, September 26,
2024 (both days inclusive).
In view of the applicable provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961, dividend
paid or distributed by the Company shall be taxable in the hands of the shareholders. Your
Company shall, accordingly make the payment of the final dividend after deduction of tax
at source.
During the year under review, the Board of Directors of the Company at
their meeting held on July 28, 2023, declared an Interim dividend of Rs. 0.50 (50%) per
equity share of the face value of Re. 1 each. The interim dividend was paid to the
shareholders within the stipulated time period.
The total dividend amount for the financial year 2023-24, including the
proposed final dividend, amounts to Rs. 1.50 (100%) per equity share of the face value of
Re. 1 each.
Further, the Board of Directors at their meeting held on May 17, 2024
declared an interim dividend and on July 25, 2024 declared 2nd interim dividend, of Rs.
0.50 (50%) each per equity share of the face value of Re. 1 /- for the financial year
2023-24.
Transfer of Amount to Investor Education and Protection Fund
Pursuant to Sections 124 and 125 of the Act read with the Investor
Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules,
2016 ("IEPF Rules"), dividend, if not claimed for a period of seven years from
the date of transfer to Unpaid Dividend Account of the Company, is liable to be
transferred to IEPF. Further, all the shares in respect of which the dividend has remained
unclaimed for seven consecutive years or more from the date of transfer to the Unpaid
Dividend Account shall also be transferred to the IEPF Authority. The said requirement
does not apply to shares in respect to which there is a specific order of Court, Tribunal
or Statutory Authority restraining any transfer of the shares.
In light of the aforesaid provisions, the Company, during the financial
year 2023-24, has transferred the unpaid/ unclaimed dividend amount of Rs. 2,42,874,
pertaining to the final dividend for the financial year 2014-15, to the Investor Education
and Protection Fund ("IEPF") established by the Central Government. The details
of unpaid and unclaimed dividend amounts lying with the Company as on the date of last
Annual General Meeting are available on the Company's website at http://www.
ltgroup.in/index.html.
Further, 30,669 equity shares of the Company, in respect of which
dividend has not been claimed for seven consecutive years or more from the date of
transfer to the unpaid dividend account, have also been transferred to the demat account
of IEPF Authority during the financial year 2023-24. The relevant details of equity shares
transferred to IEPF are also available on the Company's website at
http://www.ltgroup.in/index.html.
Shareholders whose unpaid dividends and/or shares have been transferred
to IEPF may contact the Company's registrar and Share Transfer Agent to lodge a claim for
a refund of the unpaid dividends/shares (as applicable) out of the IEPF.
Particulars of Loans, Guarantees or Investments
The particulars of loans given, investments made, and guarantees
provided by the Company, under Section 186 of the Act, as of March 31, 2024, are furnished
in Annexure - I and form part of this Report.
Highlights of performance of Subsidiaries, Associates, Joint Ventures
and their contribution to the overall performance of the Company.
A statement containing salient features of the financial statements of
Subsidiary / Associate / Joint Venture companies, as per Section 129(3) of the Act, are
provided in Annexure II.
The companies which have become and /or ceased to be
Subsidiary/Associate of the Company during the financial year 2023-24 are also mentioned
in Annexure II.
The financial statements of the subsidiaries, as required, are
available on the Company's website and can be accessed at
http://www.ltgroup.in/index.html.
The Company has formulated a Policy for determining Material
Subsidiaries. The Policy is available on the Company's website and can be accessed at
http://ltgroup. in/pdf/LT-Foods-Material-Subsidiary-Policy-2021.pdf.
Daawat Foods Limited (Subsidiary), LT Foods Americas, Inc. and LT Foods
Europe, BV (Fellow Subsidiary) are material subsidiaries of the Company as on March 31,
2024, as per the provisions of the Listing Regulations.
Further, the Annual Accounts and related documents of the subsidiary
Companies shall be kept open for inspection at the Registered & Corporate Office of
the Company. The Company shall also make available copy thereof upon specific request by
any member of the Company interested in obtaining the same. The Consolidated Financial
Statements presented by the Company in this Annual Report include the financial
information of its subsidiaries.
During the year, the Company has completed the sale of its 6% stake in
LT Foods UK Limited (Step down Subsidiary of the Company's subsidiary) to Shahzeab Mukhtar
Bhat, UAE, for an amount of GBP 9.16 lacs.
Share Capital & Finance:
During the financial year 2023-24, there was no change in the Company's
authorised, issued, subscribed, and paid-up share capital.
The Company has issued Commercial Papers (500 units) amounting to Rs.
2,500 Lacs during the financial year 2024-25. These Commercial Papers are listed on both
the stock exchanges viz. National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited.
The Company has not defaulted on payment of any dues to the financial
lenders.
The Company's borrowing programme has received the highest credit
ratings from India Ratings and Research Private Limited. The details of the same are given
in the Corporate Governance Report, which forms part of this Annual Report and is also
available on the Company's website.
Confirmations:
a. During the year under review, the Company has not:
? issued any shares, warrants, debentures,
bonds, or any other convertible or non- convertible securities.
? issued equity shares with differential rights as to dividend, voting
or otherwise.
? issued any sweat equity shares to its
Directors or employees.
? made any change in voting rights.
? reduced its share capital or bought back shares.
? failed to implement any corporate action.
b. The Company's securities were not suspended for trading during the
year.
c. The disclosure pertaining to the explanation for any deviation or
variation in connection with certain terms of a public issue, rights issue, preferential
issue, etc., does not apply to the Company.
Reserves
The Company has transferred Rs. 16,073.65 lacs to the Reserves during
the financial year.
Details relating to deposits covered under Chapter V of the Companies
Act, 2013
The Company has not accepted any deposits from the public under Chapter
V of the Act, and as such, no principal or interest was outstanding as of the balance
sheet date.
Directors and Key Managerial Personnel Board of Directors
As of March 31, 2024, the Board of Directors comprises 9 Directors
(including 2 women Directors), 5 of which are Independent Director(s), 1 Non-Executive
Director(s) and 3 Promoter Director(s) / Managing Director(s) & CEO.
Change in Directorate:
a. Appointment of Independent Directors
The Board of Directors, based on the recommendations of the Nomination
and Remuneration Committee, inter alia, approved the following appointments, subject to
the approval of the shareholders of the Company:
? Appointment of Mr. Satish Chander Gupta (DIN: 00025780) as an
Independent Director of the Company for a period of five years with effect from June 16,
2023.
? Appointment of Mr. Raju Lal (DIN: 10347298) as an Independent
Director of the Company for a period of five years with effect from January 25, 2024.
In the board's opinion, Mr. Satish Chander Gupta and Mr. Raju Lal bring
the required experience, integrity, expertise, and relevant proficiency, which will add
tremendous value to the Board's ability to exercise its role effectively.
Mr. Satish Chander Gupta and Mr. Raju Lal provided the requisite
declarations and eligibility confirmations under the provisions of the Act and Listing
Regulations for consideration of their appointment as Independent Directors.
Mr. Satish Chander Gupta has a master's degree in Commerce and has
completed CAIIB from the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance. He has over 41 years of
experience in the Banking Industry, is a retired Chairman and Managing Director from
Punjab National Bank, and has previously held positions as Chairman and Managing Director
at Indian Overseas Bank, Chairman at ISMT Ltd., and Chairman at Kamanwala Housing &
Construction Ltd, to name a few.
Mr. Raju Lal is a Chartered Accountant by qualification. He is a
versatile and communicative professional with over 30 years of experience in capturing
profitable business opportunities and motivating talented, cross-functional teams of large
numbers of employees. He has a diverse experience across various aspects of Strategic
Planning & Execution, Operational Excellence & Process Optimization, Regulatory
Compliance & Risk Management, Leadership & Team Development, Change Management
& Adaptability and Business Development. In his past assignments, he has served as a
partner with EY LLP, TCS, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
The appointment of Mr. Satish Chander Gupta and Mr. Raju Lal as the
Independent Directors of the Company for the term as mentioned above was subsequently
approved by the shareholders of the Company through special resolutions passed with the
requisite majority by way of postal ballot via remote e-voting on September 02, 2023 and
MarcRs 14, 2024, respectively. Details of the same are provided in the Corporate
Governance Report, forming part of this Integrated Annual Report.
b. Retirement by rotation and subsequent re-appointment
In accordance with the provisions of Section 152 and other applicable
provisions, if any, of the Act and the Articles of Association of the Company, Mr.
Surinder Kumar Arora (DIN: 01574728), Managing Director of the Company, is liable to
retire by rotation at the ensuing AGM and being eligible has offered himself for
re-appointment.
Based on the performance evaluation and recommendation of the
Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the Board of Directors recommends his
re-appointment to the Company's Board, and he is liable to retire by rotation.
The brief profile of Mr. Surinder Kumar Arora is given in the Notice of
the ensuing AGM and is also available on the Company's website at http://
ltgroup.in/index.html.
The appropriate resolution for Mr. Surinder Kumar Arora's
re-appointment is being placed for the approval of the Company's shareholders at the
ensuing AGM.
The Annexure to the Notice of the AGM discloses details regarding his
experience, attributes, skills, disclosure of relationships between directors inter- se,
directorships held in other companies, committee memberships, etc., as stipulated under
Regulation 36 of the Listing Regulations and Secretarial Standard on General Meetings
issued by ICSI.
Key Managerial Personnel
Mr. Ashwani Kumar Arora, Managing Director & CEO, Mrs. Monika
Chawla Jaggia, Company Secretary and Mr. Sachin Gupta, Chief Financial Officer, are the
Key Managerial Personnel ("KMP") of the Company in accordance with the provision
of Sections 2(51) and 203 of the Act read with the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration
of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014.
During the year under review, there were no changes to the KMP of the
Company.
Directors' Responsibility Statement
Pursuant to Section 134(3)(c) of the Act, the Directors to the best of
their knowledge, hereby state and confirm that:
a. In the preparation of the annual accounts, the applicable accounting
standards had been followed along with proper explanation relating to material departures;
b. The Directors had selected such accounting policies and applied them
consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent to give a
true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company at the end of the financial year
and of the profit and loss of the Company for that period;
c. The Directors had taken proper and sufficient care for the
maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of this Act
for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and
other irregularities;
d. The Directors had prepared the annual accounts on a going concern
basis;
e. The Directors had 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 had devised proper systems to ensure compliance with
the provisions of all applicable laws and that such systems were adequate and operating
effectively.
The aforesaid statement has also been reviewed and confirmed by the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
Declaration from Directors
The Company has, inter alia, received the following declarations from
all the Independent Directors confirming that:
a. they meet the criteria of independence as prescribed under the
provisions of the Act, read with Schedule IV and Rules issued thereunder, and the Listing
Regulations. There has been no change in the circumstances affecting their status as
Independent Directors of the Company;
b. they have complied with the Code for Independent Directors
prescribed under Schedule IV to the Act; and
c. they have registered themselves with the Independent Director's
Database maintained by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and have qualified the
online proficiency self-assessment test or are exempted from passing the test as required
in terms of Section 150 of the Act read with Rule 6 of the Companies (Appointment and
Qualifications of Directors) Rules, 2014.
The Company's Board of Directors has taken on record the declaration
and confirmation submitted by the Independent Directors after undertaking due assessment
of the veracity of the same. None of the Directors of the Company are disqualified from
being appointed as Directors as specified under Section 164(1) and 164(2) of the Act read
with Rule 14(1) of the Companies (Appointment and Qualifications of Directors) Rules, 2014
(including any statutory modification(s) and/or re- enactment(s) thereof for the time
being in force) or are debarred or disqualified by the Securities and Exchange Board of
India ("SEBI"), Ministry of Corporate Affairs ("MCA") or any other
such statutory authority.
All members of the Board and Senior Management have affirmed compliance
with the Code of Conduct for Board and Senior Management for the financial year 2023-24.
The Company had sought the following certificates from independent and
reputed Practicing Company Secretary confirming that:
a. None of the Directors on the Company's board has been debarred or
disqualified from being appointed and/or continuing as Directors by SEBI/MCA or any other
such statutory authority.
b. Independence of the Company's directors in terms of the provisions
of the Act read with Schedule IV and Rules issued thereunder and the Listing Regulations.
Familiarisation Programme for Independent Directors
All Independent Directors are familiarised with the operations and
functioning of the Company at the time of their appointment and on an ongoing basis. The
details of the training and familiarisation programme are given in the Report of Corporate
Governance forming part of this Integrated Annual Report. They are also available on the
Company's website at http://www.ltgroup.in/ business-and-investors.html#investor-updates.
Board Evaluation
The Nomination and Remuneration Policy of the Company empowers the
Nomination and Remuneration Committee to formulate a process for effective evaluation of
the performance of the Directors, Committees of the Board, and the Board as a whole. The
criteria for the evaluation and outcomes are set out in the Corporate Governance Report
forming part of this Integrated Annual Report.
Board Meetings
Four meetings of the Board of Directors were held during the year under
review. The details of the Board of Directors of the Company meetings held and attended by
the Directors during the financial year 2023-24 are given in the Corporate Governance
Report forming part of this Integrated Annual Report.
As prescribed by the Act and the Listing Regulations, the maximum
interval between any two meetings did not exceed 120 days.
Committees
As of March 31, 2024, the Board has 6 Committees viz. Audit Committee,
Nomination and Remuneration Committee, Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, Risk
Management Committee, Stakeholders Relationship Committee and Management Committee.
During the year under review, the Company's Board of Directors have
delegated the authority to approve the transmission, dematerialisation of shares, etc., to
a Managing Committee. A summary of approved transmissions, dematerialisation of shares,
etc., is placed before the Board of Directors from time to time as per the Listing
Regulations.
During the year, all recommendations of the Committees of the Board
have been accepted by the Board. A detailed note on the composition of the Board and its
Committees, governance of committees including its terms of reference, number of committee
meetings held during the financial year 2023-24, and attendance of the members is provided
in the Report of Corporate Governance forming part of this Integrated Annual Report. The
composition and terms of reference of all the Committees of the Company's Board of
Directors are in line with the provisions of the Act and the Listing Regulations.
Auditors & Auditors Report Statutory Auditors
M/s MSKA & Associates, Chartered Accountants (Firm Registration
Number 105047W), were appointed as the Statutory Auditors of the Company for a period of
five years at the 30th AGM of the Company to hold office till the conclusion of
the 35th AGM.
MSKA has confirmed that they are not disqualified from continuing as
Statutory Auditors of the Company and satisfy the independence criteria. The Statutory
Auditors have issued an unmodified opinion on the financial statements for the financial
year 2023-24, and the Statutory Auditor's Report forms part of this Integrated Annual
Report.
Secretarial Auditors
M/s. D Dixit & Associates, Practicing Company Secretary
(Certificate of Practice No. 7871), has been appointed as the Secretarial Auditor of the
Company.
The Secretarial Audit Report received from M/s. D Dixit &
Associates, for the financial year 2023-24 under Section 204 of the Act read with Rules
made thereunder and
Regulation 24A of the Listing Regulations is set out as Annexure III
to this Report.
The Secretarial Compliance Report received from M/s. D Dixit &
Associates, for the financial year 2023- 24, in relation to compliance with all applicable
SEBI Regulations/ Circulars/Guidelines issued thereunder, Secretarial Standards issued by
ICSI, pursuant to the requirements of Regulation 24A of the Listing Regulations, is filed
with the Stock Exchanges.
As required by Schedule V of the Listing Regulations, the Auditor's
Certificate on Corporate Governance received from M/s. D Dixit & Associates is annexed
to the Report on Corporate Governance and forms part of this Integrated Annual Report.
Observations/ remarks specified in the said reports, along with the
status of the said observations/remarks as on the date of this report, are mentioned
below:
The Board Composition requirement was not met during the financial year
ended March 31, 2024. However, the Company thereafter complied with the said requirement.
Pursuant to the requirement of Regulation 24A of the Listing
Regulations, the Secretarial Audit Report of Daawat Foods Limited, material unlisted
subsidiary, incorporated in India, of the Company, is annexed to this report as Annexure
IV to this Report
Cost Auditors and Cost Records
The maintenance of cost records and requirement of cost audit as
prescribed under the provisions of Section 148(1) of the Act, read with Rule 3 and Rule 4
of The Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Rules, 2014, are not applicable to the business
activities carried out by the Company.
Reporting by Auditors
During the year under review, the Statutory Auditors and the
Secretarial Auditors have confirmed that they have not encountered any event indicating
the commitment of any fraud by the Company's officers or employees. Thus, no reporting
under the provisions of section 142(12) of the Act and the Rules made thereunder was
required.
Internal Auditor
During the year under review, M/s. Grant Thornton India LLP was
appointed as the Company's Internal Auditors for the financial year 2023-24. M/s Grant
Thornton India LLP resigned as Internal Auditors of the Company, w.e.f. January 17, 2024,
as they have shown their inability to hold such a position. In terms of compliance with
the provisions of Section 138 of the Act read with Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, the
Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, approved the appointment
of M/s. Protiviti India Member Private Limited, as its Internal Auditors of the Company
w.e.f. January 25, 2024.
Internal Controls
The Company has well-established and robust internal control systems
commensurate with the nature of its business, size & scale and complexity of its
operations. They are implemented across all processes, units and functions. Internal
control systems comprising policies and procedures are designed to ensure sound management
of the Company's operations, safekeeping 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. The Audit Committee also
periodically reviews the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control systems and guides
on their further strengthening.
No material observation was made by the Company's internal auditor or
statutory auditors during the year under review regarding the efficiency and effectiveness
of such controls.
Internal Financial Controls Related to Financial Statements
The Company has designed and implemented a comprehensive Internal
Financial Controls System for financial reporting to ensure that all transactions are
authorised, recorded, and reported correctly in a timely manner. The Company's Internal
Financial Controls for financial reporting provide reasonable assurance over the integrity
and reliability of the Company's financial statements.
The Company has detailed work instructions, Standard Operating
Procedures, policies, and processes that define roles, responsibilities, and required
actions. Functional heads are responsible for ensuring compliance with all laws and
regulations and with management's policies and procedures.
The Company's Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") system of
SAP S/4 HANA is well-leveraged and implemented towards day-to-day transaction accounting
and financial reporting. The Company's ERP and allied information technology solutions
provide a strong technology architecture for financial reporting controls. The Company's
investment in an advanced automation system to enable automated accounting and financial
closing procedures in various areas has resulted in better accuracy and faster financial
reporting with fewer manual interventions. The financial statement preparation has been
automated to ensure end-to-end system-driven reporting across the Group, reducing the
scope of manual errors.
The Company actively tracks all changes in Accounting Standards, the
Act, and other applicable regulations and changes the underlying systems, processes, and
financial controls to ensure adherence.
The Company's financial results are audited every quarter by its
Statutory Auditors. The policies ensure that the subsidiary companies follow uniform
accounting treatment as well. International subsidiaries provide the information required
to consolidate accounts in the format prescribed by the Company. The accounts of the
subsidiary and joint venture companies are audited and certified by their respective
Statutory Auditors for consolidation. The Company has implemented an audit trail on the
books of accounts.
Related Party Transactions
The Company has been entering into transactions with related parties,
including entities directly and/or indirectly controlled by members of the Promoter(s)
& Promoter(s) Group, for its business purposes. These transactions primarily include
such transactions permissible and provided for under the provisions of the Act, the
Listing Regulations, and the Income-Tax laws.
The Company follows robust internal processes before entering into
transactions with related parties, and the considerations that govern these transactions
are the same as those applicable to other vendors of the Company. All transactions are
undertaken for the benefit of the Company and in compliance with the applicable laws.
As a part of the Company's annual planning process, before the
beginning of a financial year, details of all the transactions proposed to be executed
with related parties, including the estimated amount of transactions to be executed,
manner of determination of pricing and commercial terms, etc. are presented to the Audit
Committee for its consideration and approval. The details of said transactions are also
placed before the Board of Directors for their information. The Director, if interested in
a transaction, does not participate in discussing the item relating to that transaction.
Further approval is sought during the year for any new transaction/ modification to the
previously approved limits/ terms of contracts with the related parties. This is followed
by a quarterly review of the related party transactions by the Audit Committee.
A declaration in Form AOC-2, as required under sections 134(3)(h) read
witRs 188(1) of the Act is enclosed as Annexure V to this report. The Policy on the
Related Party Transactions is available on the Company's website and can be accessed at:
http://www.ltgroup.in/pdf/LT- Food-Related-Party-Transactions-2022.pdf.
Policy on Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
As per the requirements of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
(Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 ("the Prevention of Sexual
Harassment Act"), the Company has formulated a Policy on Prevention of Sexual
Harassment at Workplace for prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment at
the workplace. An Internal Complaints Committee has also been set up to address any
complaints received.
The Company is committed to providing a safe and conducive work
environment to all of its employees and associates. The Policy also provides shelter to
contract workers, probationers, temporary employees, trainees, apprentices, and any person
visiting the Company at its office.
The Company periodically conducts sessions for employees across the
organisation to build awareness about the Policy and the provisions of the Prevention of
Sexual Harassment Act.
During the financial year 2023-24, no complaint was reported under the
provisions of Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act and none was pending from the previous
financial year.
The Company's Policy for the prevention of sexual harassment is
available on the Company's website at https://www.ltgroup.in/pdf/POSH-framework.pdf.
Whistle Blower Policy / Vigil Mechanism
The Company promotes ethical behaviour in all its business activities
and aligns with the best governance practices. The Company has a robust vigil mechanism
through its Whistle Blower Policy approved and adopted by the Company's Board of Directors
in compliance with the provisions of Section 177(10) of the Act and Regulation 22 of the
Listing Regulations.
The Policy provides adequate protection to all its stakeholders who
report unethical practices and irregularities. Details of whistle blower complaints
received, if any, and the functioning of the whistle blower mechanism are reviewed
periodically by the Audit Committee. No person has been denied access to the Chairperson
of the Audit Committee. During the financial year 2023-24, no complaint was received under
the Whistle Blower Policy of the Company. Details of whistle blower policy are available
in the Corporate Governance Report, which forms part of this Annual Report.
The Whistle Blower Policy has been appropriately communicated within
the Company and its Group and is also available on the Company's website at
http://ltgroup. in/pdf/Whistle-Blower%20PolicyAugust%202021.pdf.
Nomination and Remuneration Policy
The Nomination and Remuneration Policy of the Company, inter alia,
provides that the Nomination and Remuneration Committee shall:
? lay down the effective manner of performance evaluation of the
Board, its Committees and the Directors;
? formulate the criteria for Board membership, including the
appropriate mix of Executive & Non- Executive Directors and Board Diversity;
? approve and recommend compensation packages and policies for
Directors, Key Managerial Personnel and Senior Management Personnel; and
? such other matters as provided under the provisions of section 178
of the Act and the provisions of Listing Regulations.
The salient features of the Company's Nomination and Remuneration
Policy are outlined in the Corporate Governance Report, which forms part of this
Integrated Annual Report. The Policy is also available on the Company's website and can be
accessed at http://www. ltgroup.in/pdf/LT-Foods-Remuneration-Policy.pdf.
Remuneration of Directors, Key Managerial Personnel and Senior
Management
The remuneration paid to the Directors, Key Managerial Personnel and
senior management is in accordance with the Nomination and Remuneration Policy formulated
in accordance with the provisions of Section 178 of the Act and Regulation 19 read with
Schedule II of the Listing Regulations. Further details are given in the Report of
Corporate Governance, which forms part of this Integrated Annual Report.
The ratio of remuneration of each Director to the median employees'
remuneration as per Section 197(12) of the Act read with Rule 5(1) of the Companies
(Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014, as amended, is
disclosed in Annexure VI of this report. The statement containing particulars of
remuneration of employees as required under Section 197(12) of the Act, read with Rules
5(2) & 5(3) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel)
Rules, 2014, as amended, is available on the Company's website at
http://www.ltgroup.in/index.html. Any Member desirous of obtaining a copy of the said
annexure may download the same from the website of the Company or write to the Company
Secretary at ir@ltgroup.in.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The Company has in place a CSR & ESG (CSR) Committee in terms of
the requirements of section 135 of the Act read with rules made thereunder.
The Company's CSR policy is available on its website at
http://ltgroup.in/pdf/LT-Foods-CSR-Policy-2021.pdf. and the Annual Action Plan is
available on its website at http://www.ltgroup.in/index.html.
The Corporate Governance Report, which forms part of the Integrated
Annual Report, provides a brief note regarding the composition of the CSR Committee.
Annexure VII which forms part of this Board Report, provides the disclosures required
under section 135 of the Act, read with Rule 8(1) of the Companies (Corporate Social
Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014.
The Company's Chief Financial Officer has certified that the CSR funds
disbursed for the projects have been utilized for the purposes and in the manner approved
by the Board.
Risk Management
The Company recognises that risk is an integral and inevitable part of
business, and it is fully committed to managing the risks proactively and efficiently. Our
success as an organisation depends on our ability to identify and leverage the
opportunities while managing the risks. The Company has a disciplined process for
continuously assessing risks, in the internal and external environment and minimising the
impact of risks. The Company incorporates the risk mitigation steps in its strategy and
operating plans.
The objective of the Company's Risk Management process is to enable
value creation in an uncertain environment, promote good governance, proactively address
stakeholder expectations, and improve organisational resilience and sustainable growth.
The Company has a risk management policy in place that articulates the
approach to address uncertainties in its endeavour to achieve its stated and implicit
objectives. The Risk Management Committee of the Company has been entrusted by the Board
with the responsibility of reviewing the risk management process in the Company and
ensuring that all short-term and long- term implications of key strategic and business
risks are identified and addressed by the management. The Audit Committee takes the mantle
of reviewing the risk management systems of the Company.
The Board has approved the revised Risk Management Policy on the
recommendation of the Risk Management Committee and the Audit Committee. The Company
regularly identifies uncertainties and, after assessing them, devises short-term and
long-term actions to mitigate any risk that could materially impact the Company's
long-term plans. Mitigation plans for significant risks are well integrated with business
plans and are reviewed on a regular basis by senior leadership.
The Company periodically reviews and improves the adequacy and
effectiveness of its risk management systems, considering the rapidly changing business
environment and evolving complexities. Through the risk management process, the Company
aims to contain risk within its risk appetite.
The Board believes that no risks threaten the Company's existence. The
Company's Risk Management Policy is available on its website at
http://www.ltgroup.in/pdf/LT- Foods%20-Risk-Management.pdf.
Integrated Annual Report
The Company continues its integrated reporting journey in the current
financial year, aligning with the IR framework published by the International Financial
Reporting Standards Foundation (IFRS).
The Integrated Annual Report comprises both financial and non-financial
information to illustrate how different 'capitals' are deployed to create value. This
enables the members to make well-informed decisions and better understand the Company's
long-term perspective and value creation for all stakeholders.
Management Discussion and Analysis Report:
Pursuant to Regulation 34(2)(e) of the Listing Regulations, the
Management Discussion and Analysis Report forms an integral part of this Integrated Annual
Report and gives the details, inter alia, about the performance of the Companies India and
International Operations, important changes in these businesses, supply chain, external
environment, and economic outlook during the year under review.
During the year under review, there was no change in the nature of the
Company's business.
Confirmations:
a. There were no revisions of financial statements and the Board's
Report of the Company during the year under review, and
b. There were no material changes and commitments that affect the
financial position of the Company which have occurred between the end of the financial
year 2023-24 and the date of this Report.
Corporate Governance Report
Our Corporate Governance practices reflect our value system, which
encompasses our culture, policies, and relationships with our stakeholders. Integrity and
transparency are key to our Corporate Governance practices to ensure that we always gain
and retain our stakeholders' trust. Corporate Governance is about maximizing shareholder
value legally, ethically, and sustainably. At LT Foods, the Board exercises its fiduciary
responsibilities in the widest sense of the term. We also endeavour to enhance long-term
shareholder value in all our business decisions.
A detailed Report on Corporate Governance, pursuant to the requirements
of Regulation 34 of the Listing Regulations, forms part of this Integrated Annual Report.
A certificate from CS Debasis Dixit, Practicing Company Secretary, the Secretarial Auditor
of the Company, confirming compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance during the
financial year 2023-24, as stipulated under the Listing Regulations, is annexed to the
said Corporate Governance Report. A Certificate of the CEO and CFO of the Company in terms
of Listing Regulations, inter-alia, confirming the correctness of the financial and cash
flow statements, adequacy of the internal control measures and reporting of matters to the
Audit Committee, is also annexed to the said Corporate Governance Report.
Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR)
As the significance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
issues grows within the corporate landscape, how companies report on these matters has
evolved. With an increasing global awareness of business impacts on society and the
environment, ESG reporting demands considerable attention. LT Foods is committed to
transparently communicating its ESG performance in alignment with international standards
to stakeholders. The BRSR Report adheres to the format outlined in the amendment to
Regulation 34(2)(f) of the Listing Regulations, as specified in Gazette Notification No.
SEBI/LAD-NRO/GN/2021/22 dated May 05, 2021, is integrated into our Annual Report. Aligned
with the nine principles of the National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct issued
by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, the BRSR for the financial year
2023-24 has been developed. We have bolstered our robust reporting structure and
mechanisms to ensure accurate and reliable data capture for BRSR disclosures.
Additionally, the Company is incorporating the BRSR core indicators in its Report.
LT Foods firmly upholds the belief that sustainable and inclusive
growth can only be achieved through a robust foundation of environmental and social
responsibility complemented by effective governance. Our report shows our ongoing
endeavours to adopt and enact a balanced approach to ESG criteria within our business
operations, a commitment we transparently communicate to stakeholders.
In addition to BRSR Core reporting, LT Foods is also publishing its
first Sustainability Report with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative Framework
(GRI). The Company will publish the Sustainability Report for the financial year 2023-24
separately.
Annual Return
In accordance with Section 92(3) read with Section 134(3)(a) of the Act
and the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014, the Annual Return of the
Company as of March 31, 2024, in Form MGT-7, is available on the Company's website at
http://ltgroup.in/ investor-updates/ annual-return.html.
The Annual Return will be submitted to the Registrar of Companies
within the timelines prescribed under the Act.
Compliance with Secretarial Standards
The Company has complied with Secretarial Standards issued by ICSI on
Meetings of the Board of Directors, General Meetings, and voluntarily the Secretarial
Standards on Dividend and Report of the Board of Directors.
Awards and Accolades
This integrated annual report provides details of some of the
significant accolades earned by the Company during the financial year 2023-24.
Conservation of Energy, Technology Absorption and Foreign Exchange
Earnings & Outgo
The details of energy conservation, technology absorption and foreign
exchange earnings and outgo as required under section 134(3) of the Act read with Rule 8
of Companies (Accounts of Companies) Rules, 2014, as follows:
Conservation of Energy
(i) Measures Undertaken or Impact on
Energy Conservation:
1. Process Automation: Our Company has implemented comprehensive plant
automation initiatives to augment operational efficiency and enhance product quality,
thereby minimizing manual errors.
2. Efficiency Enhancement Projects: The Company has successfully
executed projects focused on reducing line and power factor losses, optimizing compressed
air usage, enhancing loading efficiency, minimizing wastage, and streamlining power
consumption processes.
3. Integration of Renewable Energy: Currently, 49.5% of our total
energy requirements across all units in India are met through renewable sources such as
steam turbines and solar power. This year, we are ambitiously targeting to increase this
figure to 60%.
4. Rainwater Harvesting: Emphasizing sustainable water management, our
Company has actively pursued the recharging of rainwater harvesting pits through
innovative methods, including collecting roof runoff. Furthermore, we have installed
additional harvesting pits within our plants and warehouses during the current fiscal
year, furthering our commitment to environmental stewardship.
(ii) Utilization of Alternate Sources of Energy
1. By-product Utilization: The installation of a new turbine (1.25 MW)
at our Mandideep Plant made a significant stride towards sustainability. This initiative
has enabled us to harness energy from by-products effectively, contributing to our
renewable energy portfolio.
2. Solar Energy Initiative: In line with our commitment to
environmental responsibility, we have recently installed state-of-the-art solar panels
(100 kW) at the Mandideep Plant. This installation has bolstered our renewable energy
capacity and underscores our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint.
Together, these initiatives have resulted in a notable 27% increase in
the contribution of renewable energy at our Mandideep Plant, marking a significant step
towards achieving our sustainable energy goals.
(iii) Capital investment on energy conservation equipment:
1. The organization has implemented a flash recovery system for steam
dryers, enhancing energy conservation through utilising recovered heat for hot water
generation and reducing steam usage.
2. Modifying our drying processes to operate on low-pressure steam
aligns with our carbon neutrality objectives.
3. Improvements in our compressed air system, including pipeline
resizing and booster pump installation, enhance energy conservation efforts. These
initiatives underscore our commitment to sustainable practices and environmental
stewardship.
Technology Absorption
(i) Initiatives Towards Technology Absorption:
1. Digitization Advancements: Our Company continues to make significant
strides in digitization with initiatives such as EWMS (Extended Warehouse Management
System) and the implementation of high-tech applications that support on-site data feeding
with built-in breakdown detection features. These efforts aim to enhance operational
efficiency and maintain stringent quality standards across our processes.
2. Integration of Bar Codes: As part of our commitment to modernize
operations, we have integrated Bar Codes as a cornerstone tool. This initiative is pivotal
in facilitating seamless production planning and ensuring comprehensive traceability from
the initial stages of production to invoicing. By leveraging Bar Codes, we can
meticulously monitor operations, promptly identify discrepancies, and uphold precise
scheduling and thorough traceability throughout our production cycles.
(ii) Benefits Derived
1. Enhanced Productivity and Efficiency: Our strategic focus on
automation and efficiency projects has yielded tangible improvements in productivity
across our operations. We have optimized resource utilization and enhanced overall
efficiency by streamlining processes and leveraging advanced technologies.
2. Cost Optimization: We have successfully reduced operational costs by
adopting energy- efficient technologies and increasing our reliance on renewable energy
sources. This proactive approach aligns with our sustainability goals and enhances our
competitive edge by minimizing energy consumption and maintenance expenditure.
(iv) Expenditure on Research and Development
Our ongoing commitment to innovation includes endeavours to reduce our
water usage and carbon footprint through cutting-edge technologies. For instance, we are
actively exploring the adoption of low-emission refrigerants and battery-operated Material
Handling Equipment (MHEs). Additionally, we are pioneering the reuse of treated wastewater
utilizing advanced methods. Furthermore, we are implementing low-pressure steam in our
manufacturing processes, underscoring our dedication to sustainable practices and
operational excellence. These initiatives exemplify our proactive approach to research and
development in pursuit of environmental stewardship and efficiency.
Foreign Exchange Earnings and Outgo:
Details of total foreign exchange spent and the foreign exchange earned
are as follows:
(Rs in Lakh)
Particulars |
31-03-2024 |
31-03-2023 |
Value of imports on CIF basis |
|
|
Capital goods |
11.80 |
11.20 |
Stores and spares |
463.54 |
910.72 |
Rice |
279.77 |
106.99 |
Other |
92.50 |
4.62 |
Total |
847.61 |
1,033.54 |
Expenditure in foreign currency |
|
|
Legal & Professional |
58.76 |
102.66 |
Interest and other charges to bank |
144.87 |
53.96 |
Clearing & Forwarding |
4,051.12 |
6,238.37 |
Expense |
|
|
Advertisement |
1,200.97 |
78.27 |
Sales promotion |
146.64 |
61.94 |
Commission on export sales |
- |
124.08 |
Others |
5.74 |
17.71 |
Total |
5,608.11 |
6,676.99 |
Earnings in foreign currency |
|
|
FOB value of exports |
1,76,425.85 |
1,52,053.80 |
Total |
1,76,425.85 |
1,52,053.80 |
Change in the nature of business
There is no change in the nature of the business operations of the
Company, during the financial year ended March 31,2024.
Material changes and commitments, if any, affecting the financial
position between the end of the financial year and the date of Report.
There are no material changes and commitments affecting the financial
position of the Company between the end of the financial year ended March 31, 2024 and the
date of this Report.
Details of significant and material orders passed by the regulators or
courts
During the financial year 2023-24, no significantly material order was
passed by the regulators or courts or tribunals impacting the going concern status and the
Company's operations in the future.
Affirmations
To the best of our knowledge and the information available, no
application against the Company was filed in any court in India under the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code, 2016, nor any proceedings thereunder is pending as on March 31,2024.
During the year under review, there was no instance of onetime
settlement with any bank or financial institution.
Acknowledgements
Our heartfelt gratitude to our consumers, whose sustained support and
feedback have always enabled LT Foods to take account of their unique and evolving needs
and accordingly diversify the product portfolio to drive utmost consumer satisfaction. We
thank our employees, core contributors to our goodwill and growth, for their dedicated
efforts and unwavering commitment in achieving our shared goals and helping us to navigate
every challenge. Our success would not be possible without the dedication of our vendors,
whose continued partnership has helped us to forge an extensive global footprint and
reinforce our industry leadership.
We sincere appreciate the stewards of good governance and responsible
practicesthe regulatory authorities, bankers, financial institutions, rating
agencies, stock exchanges and depositories, auditors, legal advisors, consultants, and
other stakeholders. You have played an instrumental role in creating a level playing field
and enforcing transparency, ethics, and accountability within every aspect of our
operations.
|
For and on behalf of |
|
Board of Directors of LT Foods Limited |
Gurugram |
Vijay Kumar Arora |
July 25, 2024 |
Chairman and Managing Director |