Dear Members,
Your Board of Directors present herewith the 10th Annual Report on the
business & operations of the Company along with the Audited Financial Statements for
the financial year ended 31st March, 2024.
1. FINANCIAL RESULTS (Rs. in lakhs)
|
Year ended March 31, 2024 |
Year ended March 31, 2023 |
Revenue from Operations (Gross) |
1,09,658.03 |
95,341.98 |
Profit before Finance Costs, Tax, Depreciation and
Amortization |
21,463.52 |
13,264.53 |
Less: Depreciation & Amortization Expenses |
2,542.54 |
2,519.49 |
Finance Costs |
3,261.74 |
3,035.97 |
Profit/(Loss) Before Tax |
15,659.24 |
7,709.07 |
Less: Provision for Tax |
|
|
Current Tax |
4,263.74 |
1,337.85 |
Deferred Tax Charge |
(245.46) |
1,345.07 |
Profit/(Loss) After Tax |
11,640.96 |
5,026.15 |
2. OPERATING PERFORMANCE
During the year under review, your Company continued with various
modernization and de-bottlenecking activities. Your Company has also undertaken a capital
project to increase the Sugarcane Crushing Capacity from 7500 TCD to 10000 TCD and to
improve Energy Efficiency at its Narkatiaganj Unit, at an estimated cost of H165 Crores,
to be funded with optimum mix of debt & internal accruals.
A detailed analysis of the Company's operations, future expectations
and business environment has been given in the Management Discussion & Analysis Report
which is made an integral part of this Report and marked as "Annexure A".
3. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 2023-24
The Company recorded Total Revenue of H1,09,815.04 lakhs (including
other income aggregating to H157.01 lakhs) during the financial year ended 31st March,
2024. The Gross Revenue from Operations of the Company for the year 2023-24 stood at
H1,09,658.03 lakhs. The Profit before Finance Costs, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation
for the year under review stood at H21,463.52 lakhs representing 19.55% of the total
revenue.
There is no change in the nature of business of the Company during the
year under review.. There were no significant or material orders passed by regulators,
courts or tribunals impacting the Company's operation in future.
There were no material changes and commitments affecting the financial
position of the Company which have occurred between the end of the financial year to which
the financial statement relates and date of this report.
4. DIVIDEND
Your Board has recommended a dividend of H10/- per equity share and
additionally a special one-time dividend of H5/- per equity share totalling to H15/-
(150%) per equity share (face value of H10/- each) for the financial year ended March 31,
2024. The proposal is subject to the approval of the Members at the 10th Annual General
Meeting (AGM) of your Company scheduled to be held on August 1, 2024. The dividend will
entail a cash outflow of H2,113.74 lakhs (previous year H986.41 lakhs).
As permitted under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 ("the
Act"), the Board does not propose to transfer any amount to General Reserve
5. PUBLIC DEPOSITS
During the year, the Company has not accepted any deposits from the
public under Chapter V of the Act.
There was no public deposit outstanding as at the beginning and end of
the financial year 2023-24.
6. SHARE CAPITAL
During the year under review, the Authorized Share Capital of the
Company stood at H40,10,00,000/- (Rupees Forty crore and ten lakhs) divided into
2,51,00,000 (Two crore fifty one lakhs) Equity Shares of H10/- (Rupees ten) each and
15,00,000 (Fifteen lakhs) Preference Shares of H100/- and there is no change in the
authorised capital. The Issued and Subscribed Share Capital of your Company, as on 31st
March, 2024, stood at H14,09,16,300/- divided into 1,40,91,630 Equity Shares of H 10/-
each.
7. SUBSIDIARY, ASSOCIATE AND JOINT VENTURE
The Company does not have a subsidiary, associate or joint venture as
on March 31, 2024. However, the Company has in place a policy for determining material
subsidiaries in line with the requirement of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015 ('Listing
Regulations') as amended from time to time. The said Policy is being disclosed on the
Company's website at the webiink http://biria-sugar.com/Assets/Magadh/Magadh-
Sugar-Policy-for-Determining-Material-Subsidiaries. pdf.
8. CREDIT RATING
India Ratings and Research - a Credit Rating Agency, has assigned the
Company Credit Rating IND A stable with respect to iong-term bank faciiities whereas
short-term bank faciiities rating has been assigned rating of IND A1.
9. HUMAN RESOURCES
The Company continues to create a productive, learning and caring
environment by implementing robust and comprehensive HR processes, fair transparent
performance evaiuation and taking new initiatives to further aiign its Human Resource
poiicies to meet the growing needs of its business.
10. DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors comprises of six NonExecutive Directors having
experience in varied fields and a Whole time Director. Out of six Non-Executive Directors,
five are Independent Directors and one Promoter Director. Mr Chandra Shekhar Nopany is the
Promoter Chairperson of the Company. The Board is duly constituted with proper balance of
executive, non-executive, independent and woman directors.
The Board of Directors is of the opinion that the Independent Directors
are persons of integrity with high ievei of ethicai standards, they possess requisite
expertise and experience for appointment as Independent Director of the Company..
Mr. Chandra Shekhar Nopany wiii retire by rotation at the ensuing
Annual General Meeting and being eligible has offered himseif for re-appointment as
Director of the Company.
Pursuant to Section 161 and other appiicabie provisions of the Act,
read with Articies of Association of the Company, the Board of Directors at its meeting
heid on May 14, 2024 appointed Mr. Rajan Arvind Daiai (DIN: 00546264) as an Additional
Director, to hold office tiii the ensuing Annual General Meeting. The same is being piaced
before the Members of the Company for approval.
Other information on the Directors inciuding required particuiars of
Director retiring by rotation is provided in the Notice convening the Annual General
Meeting.
A certificate obtained by the Company from a company secretary in
practice, confirming that none of the Directors on the Board of Directors of the Company
have been debarred or disquaiified from being appointed or continuing as director of
companies by the Securities and Exchange Board of India /Ministry of Corporate Affairs or
any such statutory authority, is enclosed as "Annexure E" to this Report.
11. KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL
The Key Managerial Personnel of the Company as on 31st March, 2024 are
as under:
a. Mr. Chandra Mohan, Whole time Director
b. Mr. Sudershan Bajaj, Chief Financial Officer
c. Mr. S Subramanian, Company Secretary
Aii Directors, Key Managerial Personnel and Senior Management of the
Company have confirmed compiiance with the Code of Conduct appiicabie to Directors &
employees of the Company and a deciaration to the said effect by the Whoie-time Director
is made part of Corporate Governance Report which forms part of this report. There has
been no change in this poiicy during the year under review. The Code is available on the
Company's website at the webiink http://biria-sugar.com/Assets/Magadh/
Magadh-Sugar-Code-of-Conduct.pdf. Aii Directors
have confirmed compliance with the provisions of Section 164 of the
Companies Act, 2013.
12. FAMILIARISATION PROGRAMME
Periodic presentations are made at the Board Meetings, business,
performance updates & business strategy of the Company. The details of the
familiarisation programme (other than through meeting of Board and its Committees)
imparted to Independent Director are uploaded on the website of the Company and available
at the weblink https://www.birla-sugar.com/ Assets/Magadh/MSEL-Famprog%2022-23.pdf
13. REMUNERATION POLICY
In pursuance of the provisions of Section 178 of the Companies Act,
2013 and Listing Regulations, the Company has formulated a Remuneration Policy which is
available at the website of the Company at the weblink https://www.birla-sugar.com/Assets/
Magadh/Magadh%20Sugar%20-%20Nomination%20 and%20Remuneration%20Policy.pdf
14. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY POLICY
Your Company believes in long term strategy to contribute to the
well-being and development of the society especially the rural population around its
plants at Narkatiaganj, Sidhwalia and Hasanpur. As part of its CSR initiatives, the
Company is working mainly in the areas of imparting School Education, Technical &
Vocational Education, Rural Development, Community Healthcare etc. This multi-pronged CSR
approach is showing notable improvement in the quality of life of rural population. The
Company continues to support local initiatives to improve infrastructure as well as
support in other corporate social responsibilities. The CSR Policy as approved by the
Board is available on Company's weblink http://
birla-sugar.com/Assets/Magadh/Magadh-Sugar-CSR- Policy.pdf There has been no change in
this policy during the year under review.
The composition and terms of reference of Corporate Social
Responsibility Committee are given in the Corporate Governance Report. The Annual Report
on CSR activities (including the details of the development and implementation of the
Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) as prescribed under Section 135 of the Companies
Act, 2013 and the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014 is
attached as "Annexure I" to this Report.
For the purpose of Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, the amount
equivalent to 2% of the average net profits of the Company made during the immediately
preceding three financial years works out to H 127.63 lakhs. As against this, the Company
had spent H 130.77 lakhs on CSR projects / programs during the Financial Year 2023-24.
15. BOARD MEETINGS
A calendar of Meeting is prepared and circulated in advance to the
Directors. The Board evaluates all the decisions on a collective consensus basis amongst
the Directors. During the financial year ended 31st March 2024, 5 (Five) Meetings of the
Board of Directors of the Company were held. The details of the Board Meetings held during
the year under review are given in the Corporate Governance Report forming a part of this
Annual Report. The intervening gap between the Meetings was within the period prescribed
under the Companies Act, 2013 and the Listing Regulations.
The Company has complied with the applicable Secretarial Standards
prescribed under Section 118(10) of the Companies Act, 2013.
16. INTERNAL COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE
An Internal Complaints Committee was constituted by the Company in
terms of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)
Act, 2013. The said Act aims at protecting women's right to gender equality, life and
liberty at workplace to encourage women participation at work. The Committee meets all the
criteria including its composition mentioned in the Act and relevant Rules. No complaint
has been received by the Committee during the year under review.
17. LOANS, GUARANTEE AND INVESTMENTS
It is the Company's policy not to give any loans, directly or
indirectly, to any person (other than to employees under contractual obligations) or to
other body corporate or person. In compliance with Section 186 of the Companies Act, 2013,
loans to employees bear applicable interest rates. During the year under review, the
Company has not made any investment in securities of other body(ies) corporate. The
details of Investments, Loans and Guarantees covered under the provisions of Section 186
of the Companies Act, 2013 are given in the notes to the Financial Statements.
18. RELATED PARTY CONTRACTS / ARRANGEMENTS
ALL Related Party Transactions entered during the year were on arm's
Length basis and in the ordinary course of business. There have been no
materiaLLy-significant reLated party transactions made by the Company with the Promoters,
the Directors or the Key ManageriaL Personnel which may be in conflict with the interests
of the Company at large. Accordingly, disclosure of contracts or arrangements with ReLated
Parties as required under Section 134(3)(h) of the Companies Act, 2013 in Form AOC-2 is
not applicable.
The Policy on Related Party Transactions as approved by the Board can
be accessed on the Company's website at following web-link https://www.birLa-sugar.
com/Assets/Magadh/Magadh-Sugar-ReLated-Party- Transaction-PoLicy.pdf. The details of
related party transactions are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
19. RISK MANAGEMENT
In line with the regulatory requirements, the Company has formally
framed Risk Management Policy to identify and assess the key risk areas, monitor and
report the compliance and effectiveness of the same. A Risk Management Committee, is in
pLace comprising of an Independent Director, WhoLe time Director, Chief Financial Officer
and the Group President to oversee the risk management process in the Company with an
objective to review the major risks which effect the Company from both the externaL and
the internaL environment perspective. Appropriate actions have been initiated to either
mitigate, partiaLLy mitigate, transfer or accept the risk (if need be) and monitor the
risks on a reguLar basis. The detaiLs of the terms of reference, number and date of
meeting, attendance of director and remuneration paid to them are separateLy provided in
the Corporate Governance Report.
20. INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS
The Company has laid down internal financial controL's, through a
combination of Entity LeveL controLs, Process LeveL controLs and IT GeneraL controls
inter-aLia to ensure orderly and efficient conduct of business, incLuding adherence to the
Company's poLicies and procedures, accuracy and compLeteness of accounting records and
timeLy preparation and reporting of reLiabLe financiaL
statements/information, safeguarding of assets, prevention and
detection of frauds and errors. The evaLuations of these internaL financiaL controLs were
done through the internaL audit process and were aLso reviewed by the Statutory Auditors.
Based on their view of these reported evaLuations, the directors confirm that, for the
preparation of financiaL statements for the financiaL year ended March 31, 2024, the
appLicabLe Accounting Standards have been foLLowed and the internaL financiaL controLs are
generaLLy found to be adequate and were operating effectiveLy & that no significant
deficiencies were noticed.
21. WHISTLE BLOWER / VIGIL MECHANISM
The Company has estabLished a vigiL mechanism and adopted whistLe
bLower poLicy, pursuant to which whistLe bLowers can report concerns about unethicaL
behaviour, actuaL or suspected fraud or vioLation of the Company's code of conduct poLicy.
The mechanism provides adequate safeguards against victimisation of persons who use this
mechanism. The brief detaiL about this mechanism may be accessed on the Company's website
at the webLink http://www.birLa- sugar.com/Assets/Magadh/Magadh-Sugar-WhistLe-
BLower-PoLicy.pdf
During the year, the auditors, the secretarial auditors and cost
auditors have not reported any fraud under Section 143(12) of the Companies Act, 2013 and
the Companies (Audit and Auditors) RuLes, 2014.
22. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & ANNUAL RETURN
Your Directors strive to maintain highest standards of Corporate
Governance. The Corporate Governance Report for the FinanciaL Year 2023-24 is attached as
"Annexure B" to this Report. The declaration of the WhoLe-time Director
confirming compLiance with the 'Code of Conduct' of the Company is enclosed as
"Annexure C" to this Report and Auditor's Certificate confirming compLiance with
the conditions of Corporate Governance is encLosed as "Annexure D" to this
Report.
A copy of annuaL return of the Company is avaiLabLe on the website of
the Company at the webLink: https://www.birLa-sugar.com/Magadh-SharehoLders-
Info/AnnuaL-Returns-Magadh.
23. RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
During the year under review the Company has undertaken Research &
DeveLopment initiatives with
an intention to improve the sugar recovery ratio and to educate the
cane growers to cultivate improved variety of sugarcane and to otherwise increase the
sucrose contents in their produce.
24. AUDITORS, AUDIT QUALIFICATIONS AND BOARD'S EXPLANATIONS
STATUTORY AUDITORS
The shareholders of the Company, at the AGM held on July 21, 2022, had
appointed M/s B SR & Co LLP, Chartered Accountants, (Firm Registration No.
101248W/W-100022), as Auditors of the Company to hold office for a term of 5 (five)
consecutive years from the conclusion of the Eighth AGM of the Company held on July 21,
2022 till the conclusion of the Thirteenth AGM of the Company.
There has been no qualification, reservation, adverse remark or
disclaimer in the Auditor's Reports.
The Notes to the Financial Statements read with the Auditor's Reports
are self-explanatory and therefore, do not call for further comments or explanations.
COST AUDITORS
Pursuant to Section 148 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with The
Companies (Cost Records and Audit) Amendment Rules, 2014, the cost audit records
maintained by the Company in respect of its Sugar activity is required to be audited. Your
Directors have, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, appointed M/s D
Radhakrishnan & Co., Cost Accountants, as the Cost Auditor to audit the cost accounts
of the Company for the financial year 202425. As required under the Companies Act, 2013,
the remuneration payable to the Cost Auditor is required to be placed before the Members
in a general meeting for their ratification.
SECRETARIAL AUDITOR
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Act and The Companies
(Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014, your Company had
appointed Messrs Vinod Kothari & Co., Practising Company Secretaries to undertake the
Secretarial Audit of the Company for the financial year 2023-24. The Secretarial Audit
Report is annexed herewith as "Annexure F" and which is self-explanatory.
There are no qualification, reservation, observation, disclaimer or
adverse remark in the Secretarial Audit Report.
During the year, the auditors, the secretarial auditors and cost
auditors have not reported any fraud under Section 143(12) of the Companies Act, 2013 and
the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014.
25. INVESTOR EDUCATION AND PROTECTION FUND
During the year under review, the Company was not required to transfer
any unclaimed/unpaid dividend and shares to IEPF.
The details of unclaimed/unpaid dividends are available on the website
of the Company at www. birla-sugar.com
26. ENERGY CONSERVATION, TECHNOLOGY ABSORPTION AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE
EARNINGS & OUTGO
The information on conservation of energy, technology absorption and
foreign exchange earnings and outgo as stipulated under Section 134(3) (m) of the
Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule, 8 of The Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, is annexed
herewith as "Annexure G ".
27. PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES
The human resource is an important asset which has played pivotal role
in the performance and growth of the Company over the years. Your Company maintains
healthy work environment and the employees are motivated to contribute their best in the
working of the Company. The information required to be disclosed in pursuance of Section
197 of the Companies Act, 2013, read with Rule 5 of the Companies (Appointment and
Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014, is annexed as "Annexure H"
and forms an integral part of this Report.
28. DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
To the best of their knowledge and belief and according to the
information and explanations obtained by them, your Directors make the following
statements in terms of Section 134(3)(c) of the Companies Act, 2013:
a. that in the preparation of the annual financial statements for the
year ended March 31, 2024, the applicable accounting standards have been followed along
with proper explanation relating to material departures, if any;
b. that such accounting policies as mentioned in Note 3 of the Notes to
the Financial Statements have been selected and applied consistently and judgement and
estimates have been 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 March 31, 2024 and of the profit or loss
of the Company for the year ended on that date;
c. that proper and sufficient care has been taken for the maintenance
of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act,
2013 for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and
other irregularities;
d. that the annual financial statements have been prepared on a going
concern basis;
e. that proper internal financial controls were in place and that the
financial controls were adequate and were operating effectively.
f. that systems to ensure compliance with the provisions of all
applicable laws were in place and were adequate and operating effectively.
29. CEO/CFO CERTIFICATION
Mr. Chandra Mohan, the Whole time Director and Mr. Sudershan Bajaj,
Chief Financial Officer have submitted certificates to the Board as contemplated under
Regulation 17(8) of the Listing Regulations, 2015.
30. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Your Directors take this opportunity of recording their appreciation of
the shareholders, financial institutions, bankers, suppliers and cane growers for
extending their support to the Company. Your Directors are also grateful to various
ministries in the Central Government and State Government of Bihar, the Sugar Directorate
and the Sugar Development Fund for their continued support to the Company. The Board of
Directors also convey its sincere appreciation of the commitment and dedication of the
employees at all levels.
|
For and on behalf of the Board |
|
Chandra Shekhar Nopany |
Place: Kolkata |
Chairperson |
Dated 14th May, 2024 |
DIN 0014587 |