Mar 31, 2022
We have the honour to present our Sixty-Second Annual Report and Audited Statement of Accounts for the year ended March 31,2022.
2021-22 Operations: Main Results
We are pleased to report excellent results in 2021-22. Once again, sales are the highest ever. Revenue from operations in 2021-22 is Rs.958.01 crores (up 24.7% over the previous year).
This year, profits are also the highest ever. Profit before tax is Rs.112.91 crores (4.5% higher than the previous year). Net profit after tax is Rs.83.89 crores (4.0% higher than the previous year).
Management Discussion and Analysis
We operate in the market consisting of Pressure Cookers and Cookware. The industry structure is quite competitive with both small-scale and organized sector units.
The industry has been facing an unprecedented inflation in raw material costs for over a year. This has impacted our margins, though our full year profits are the highest ever. At the same time, this has helped us improve our position in the market as some low cost players are threatened by the high aluminium prices.
We expect our products to continue to do well with the 39 new launches we have done during the year and the further plans that we have.
Our permanent employees as on April 1,2021, were 609 and as on March 31, 2022, were 595 through normal attrition and recruitment. The morale of our employees at all locations is high and industrial relations are normal. We appreciate the contribution of our employees to the successful working of your Company.
Net profit after tax as a percentage of net sales in 2021-22 was 8.8% as against 10.5% in 2020-21. The average shareholders'' funds/net worth grew to Rs. 195.40 crores vs. Rs.158.64 crores in 2020-21. The net return after tax on shareholders'' funds/net worth was 43% (in 2020-21: 51%).
Control Systems
In our judgment, the Company has adequate financial and administrative systems and controls and an effective internal audit function.
Key Financial ratios
The details of significant changes (25% or more) in the key financial ratios for the year 2021-22 as compared to the year 2020-21 are as follows:
ratio |
FY 2021-22 |
FY 2020-21 |
formula used |
reason for change |
Trade payables turnover ratio |
17.48 |
12.80 |
Purchases/ Average trade payables |
Increase in the ratio reflects the trend of increasing raw material prices during the year. |
Cash flow during the year was good. Cash and cash equivalents plus balances with banks on deposit accounts as on March 31, 2022, were Rs.59.88 crores (previous year: Rs.161.29 crores). The inventory is higher this year as we have increased production substantially. We have plans to utilise these funds appropriately, in managing working capital and in further expanding production capacity.
risks and Concerns
Your Company has constituted a Risk Management Committee as required under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, the details of which are provided in the Report on Corporate Governance.
All foreseeable risks that the Company may encounter and concerns have been addressed in a documented Risk Management Framework and Policy which is reviewed by the Risk Management Committee and the Board from time to time.
Raw material cost inflation has impacted our profitability. Our capital and financial resources, liquidity position, supply chain and assets remain healthy.
opportunities and Threats
The excellent demand for our brands augurs well for the future of the Company.
While the cost of Aluminium, our main raw material, has come down on the London Metal Exchange since March 31, 2022, the future outlook on the trend is difficult to predict. Your Company is taking effective steps to deal with the challenge.
General inflation can impact the purchasing power of our customers.
Raw material prices are a cause for concern - many items have increased sharply in the last year - we have taken
appropriate price increases in order to partially mitigate the impact. Management continues to diligently watch cost increase trends and seeks effective cost controls and necessary adjustment in prices as needed from time to time.
Outlook
We believe the outlook for our business is excellent under the circumstances. In this year, we have further strengthened the good reputation we have amongst our consumers and traders, associates and vendors. We expect to continue to increase our sales and profits.
All forward-looking statements in our report are based on our assessments and judgments exercised in good faith at this time. Of course, actual developments and/or results may differ from our present anticipation.
Mr. Tej Paul Sharma was appointed by the shareholders on the recommendation of the Board as the Executive Director - Sales with effect from August 1, 2021.
Mr. Neil Vasudeva was appointed by the shareholders on the recommendation of the Board as the Executive Director - Marketing with effect from August 1,2021.
Mr. Murli Aildas Teckchandani was appointed by the shareholders on the recommendation of the Board as an Independent Director for a first term of five consecutive years with effect from August 1,2021. The Board is pleased to state that his experience, expertise and integrity will assist the Board in its functioning.
Mr. Ravi Kant was re-appointed by the shareholders at the 61st AGM of the Company on July 29, 2021, as an Independent Director for a second term of five years with effect from August 4, 2021, on the recommendation of the Board.
Mr. Gerson da Cunha, Independent Director, ceased to be a Director with effect from January 7, 2022, due to his sad demise. The Company has immensely benefitted from his expertise and sagacious advice on all matters during his tenure of 29 years. The Directors place on record their highest gratitude and deep appreciation for his valuable guidance received during his tenure with the Company.
All the five Independent Directors, namely, General V. N. Sharma (Retd.), Mr. E. A. Kshirsagar, Mr. Ravi Kant, Prof. Leena Chatterjee and Mr. Murli Aildas Teckchandani, have given written declarations that they meet the criteria of independence as laid down under Section 149(6) of the Companies Act, 2013, and Regulation 16(1)(b) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
Mrs. Susan M. Vasudeva retires by rotation as a Director at the 62nd AGM of the Company and, being eligible, offers herself for re-appointment for which the Board has resolved to recommend to the shareholders a suitable resolution.
As required by the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, a special resolution is proposed for your approval at the 62nd Annual General Meeting for the continuation of the directorship of Mr. Murli Aildas Teckchandani, Non- Executive Independent Director, who will attain the age of 75 years during 2022-23.
The present tenures of Mr. Subhadip Dutta Choudhury, Chairman and Managing Director designated as the Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Sudeep Yadav, Vice-Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, will end on September 30, 2022. The Board at its Meeting (Serial No. 28) held on May 26, 2022, approved and resolved to recommend to the shareholders suitable resolutions for the re-appointments of Mr. Dutta Choudhury as the Chairman and Managing Director designated as the Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Yadav as the Vice-Chairman and Chief Financial Officer for a further period of three years each with effect from October 1, 2022, on revised terms as stated in the Notice to Shareholders for the 62nd AGM of the Company.
A presentation was made on May 25, 2022, to all the Directors, including Independent Directors, to update them on the Company''s performance. The required details of the Independent Directors'' Familiarization Programs are available at https://www.hawkinscookers.com/idfp.
2021-22 Operations: Other Aspects
The value of exports at Rs.68.91 crores in 2021-22 was up 5.1% over the previous year. Foreign Exchange used in 2021-22 was Rs.4.96 crores (Rs.6.15 crores in the previous year).
Our Research & Development Unit is recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The expenditure on Research & Development in 2021-22 was Rs.5.27 crores, 1.0% higher than the previous year. Required details are given in Appendix I.
Efforts continue in our factories and offices to save energy wherever possible.
The required details of Fixed Deposits taken under Sections 73 and 76 of the Companies Act, 2013, are as follows:
(a) Additional Amount accepted during the year: Rs.10.69 crores.
(b) Amount remained unpaid or unclaimed as at the end of the year is Nil.
(c) Default in repayment of deposits or payment of interest thereon: Nil.
The Board of Directors has adopted the Dividend Distribution Policy in terms of the requirements of the Listing Regulations. The Policy is available on the website of the Company at https://www.hawkinscookers.com/download/ DividendDistributionPolicy.pdf.
Out of the amount available for appropriation of Rs.157.88 crores (previous year: Rs.123.32 crores), we propose:
⢠Rs.1.00 crore transfer to General Reserve (previous year: Rs.1.00 crore) and
⢠Rs.156.88 crores as surplus carried to the Balance Sheet (previous year: Rs.122.32 crores).
We are pleased to recommend Rupees Sixty as final dividend per Equity Share of Rs.10 (previous year: Nil). During the year under review an Interim Dividend of Rs. Ninety per Equity Share of the face value of Rs.10 per share (previous year: Rs. Eighty per share) was declared and paid by the Company. With the above recommendation, the total dividend for the FY 2021-22 aggregates to Rs.150 per Equity Share (previous year: Rs.80 per Equity Share). The dividend recommendation is in accordance with the Dividend Distribution Policy of the Company.
Directorsâ Responsibility Statement
The Board confirms that:
1. The Directors have taken proper and sufficient care 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.
2. In the preparation of the Annual Accounts, the applicable accounting standards have been followed and proper explanation given relating to material departures, if any. The Directors have prepared the Annual Accounts on a going-concern basis.
3. The Directors have selected such accounting policies and applied them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at the end of the financial year and of the profit and loss of the Company for that period.
4. Based on the framework of the internal financial controls and compliance systems established and maintained by the Company, the work performed by the Internal, Statutory and Secretarial Auditors, including audit of the internal financial controls over financial reporting by the Statutory Auditors, and the reviews performed by the Management and the relevant Board Committees, including the Audit Committee, the Board is of the opinion that the Company''s internal financial controls were adequate and effective during the financial year 2021-22.
5. The Directors have devised proper systems that are, in our opinion, adequate and operating effectively to ensure compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws.
The Board has formulated a Corporate Governance Code of Conduct for all the Directors of the Board and the Senior Managers of the Company. This Code is available on the website of the Company. All Directors and Senior Management Personnel have affirmed compliance with the Code. A declaration to this effect signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company appears elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) act, 2013
The Company has constituted Internal Complaints Committees at each of the five locations of the Company under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, to redress complaints received regarding sexual harassment. In the year 2021-22, no case of sexual harassment of women was filed under the said Act.
Business responsibility report
A separate section on Business Responsibility forms part of our Report describing the initiatives taken by the Company from an environmental, social and governance perspective. The Business Responsibility Policy has also been placed on the Company''s website at https://www.hawkinscookers.com/ download/BusinessResponsibilityPolicy.pdf.
A separate section on Corporate Governance forms part of our Report. A certificate has been received from the Auditors of the Company regarding compliance of the conditions of Corporate Governance as stipulated under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. Both appear elsewhere in the Annual Report.
M/s. Kalyaniwalla & Mistry LLP Chartered Accountants, had been appointed as the Statutory Auditors of the Company at the 57th Annual General Meeting held on August 2, 2017, for an initial term of five years from the conclusion of the 57th Annual General Meeting till the conclusion of the 62nd Annual General Meeting of the Company. The Board of Directors of the Company at its Meeting held on May 26, 2022, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, has decided to recommend to the shareholders the re-appointment of M/s. Kalyaniwalla & Mistry LLP (Firm Registration No.104607W/W100166), Chartered Accountants, as the Statutory Auditors of the Company for a second term of five years from the conclusion of the 62nd Annual General Meeting till the conclusion of the 67th Annual General Meeting of the Company.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Company has appointed M/s. Jayshree Dagli and Associates, Company Secretaries in Practice, to undertake the secretarial audit of the Company for the year 2021-22. The Secretarial Audit Report is annexed as Appendix ii.
Maintenance of Cost Records and the requirement of a Cost Audit under the provisions of Section 148(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, are not applicable to our Company.
The Annual Return of the Company for the year 2021-22 shall be filed within 60 days of the ensuing 62nd AGM. The Return for the year 2020-21 filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs after the 61st AGM held in the year 2021 is available on the Company''s website at https://www. hawkinscookers.com/download/Form_MGT-7_2020-21.pdf.
Contracts or Arrangements with Related Parties
All related party transactions during the year were on arm''s length basis and were not material as per the Related Party Transactions Policy of the Company.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The Company has selected a project called Improving the Health of Women and Children and Saving Energy and Money by using Pressure Cookers. The Company continued its education campaign through a public service campaign in newspapers, about the dangers of Indoor Air Pollution and how to use the Pressure Cooker to mitigate it, and how to save 25% fuel cost using the Pressure Cooker, with the potential of conserving precious fuel resources for India. Additionally, the
Company donated to the Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital; the Red Cross Society, Hoshiarpur and the Prime Minister''s National Relief Fund.
The Company has spent the entire amount of Rs. 192.47 lakhs required to be spent on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the year 2021-22 and the excess amount of Rs.1.30 lakhs spent on CSR in 2021-22 is carried forward to the financial year 2022-23 for setting off from the CSR spend target for 2022-23, as duly approved by the Board.
The required Annual Report on CSR is given as Appendix iii.
Directorsâ performance Evaluation
The performance evaluation of each Director of the Board was carried out by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee at its Meeting (Serial No.14) held on May 25, 2022, as per the criteria set by it earlier. The said criteria are included in the Corporate Governance Report enclosed herewith. The performance evaluation of the non-Independent Directors, the Board as a whole and the Chairman of the Board was carried out by the Independent Directors at their separate meeting held on May 25, 2022.
The Board of Directors at its Meeting (Serial No.28) held on May 26, 2022, reviewed the reports of evaluation received from the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the Independent Directors and also the functioning of the Committees of the Board and carried out the evaluation of the Board as a whole, the Committees of the Board and each Director and found the performance of the Board, the Committees and all the individual Directors to be satisfactory.
On the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the Board has framed a Remuneration Policy for all employees of the Company including senior management and the Directors. The Remuneration Policy of the Company is designed to attract, motivate and retain suitable manpower in a competitive market. The remuneration package for each person is designed keeping a balance between fixed remuneration and profit and performance-linked incentives in order to achieve corporate performance targets. The Policy is aligned with the Company''s mission, which states: "Our single-minded determination to please customers drives the kind of people we employ and promote, the investments we make and the results we produce."
The Remuneration Policy is placed at the Company''s website at https://www.hawkinscookers.com/download/ RemunerationPolicy.pdf. The Board affirms that all the remunerations are as per the Remuneration Policy of the Company. Information as per Section 197 of the Companies Act, 2013, is given in Appendix IV.
The Company has an established Vigil Mechanism/ Whistle Blower Policy for Directors and employees to report concerns or grievances including unethical behaviour, fraud or violation of the Company''s Corporate Governance Code
of Conduct. The authority for the implementation of the Policy rests with the Vice-Chairman and Chief Financial Officer under the overall supervision of the Audit Committee of the Board.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mumbai SUBHADIP DUTTA CHOUDHURY
June 29, 2022 CHAIRMAN
Mar 31, 2018
The have the honour to present our Fifty-Eighth Annual Report and Audited Statement of Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2018.
2017-18 Operations: Main Results
We are pleased to report good results. Once again, sales are the highest ever. Revenue from operations including excise duty in 2017-18 was Rs. 556.61 crores (up 3.1% over the previous year). The revenues are not comparable since Revenues for the periods up to June 30, 2017, include Excise Duty while Revenues for the periods after June 30, 2017, are exclusive of Goods and Service Tax which subsumed Excise Duty. Therefore, the growth of Revenue from operations on a comparable basis for the year ended March 2018 over the year ended March 2017 is actually 7.9% (Rs. 552.56 crores in 2017-18 versus Rs. 512.28 crores in 2016-17).
This year, profits are also the highest ever. Profit before tax was Rs. 73.81 crores (4.0% higher than the previous year). Net profit after tax was Rs. 48.68 crores (2.6% higher than the previous year).
The net return after tax on the average of the yearâs opening and closing shareholdersâ funds/net worth (including the amount of the proposed dividend and the tax thereon) was 45% (previous year: 46%).
As required, the Company has reported its results for the first time under the new accounting standard Ind AS. Previous yearsâ figures have been re-stated as per Ind AS.
All forward-looking statements in our report are based on our assessments and judgments exercised in good faith at this time. Of course, actual developments and/or results may differ from our present anticipation.
2017-18 operations: other aspects
The value of exports at Rs. 34.76 crores in 2017-18 was up 2.4% over the previous year. Foreign Exchange used in 2017-18 was Rs. 1.30 crores (Rs. 6.39 crores in the previous year).
As our Research & Development Unit is recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, our expenditure on R&D in 2017-18 is eligible for the benefit of deductibility of expenses at the rate of 150% for the purpose of the computation of income tax subject to the necessary approvals by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Income Tax Department (previous year the benefit of deductibility of R&D expenses was at the rate of 200%). The expenditure on Research & Development in 2017-18 was Rs. 3.70 crores, 9% lower than the previous year. Required details are given in Appendix I. Efforts continue in our factories and offices to save energy wherever possible.
The required details of Fixed Deposits taken under Sections 73 and 76 of the Companies Act, 2013, are as follows:
(a) Amount accepted during the year: Rs. 5.64 crores.
(b) Amount remained unpaid or unclaimed as at end of the year: Nil.
(c) Default in repayment of deposits or payment of interest thereon: Nil.
Dividend and Appropriations
We are pleased to recommend Rupees Seventy as dividend per Equity Share of Rs.10 (previous year: Rupees Seventy per Share). Our recommendation takes into account the profitability, the circumstances and the requirements of the business.
Out of the amount available for appropriation of Rs.60.52 crores (previous year: Rs. 58.38 crores), we propose:
- Rs. 2.00 crore transfer to General Reserve (previous year: Rs. 1.00 crore) and
- Rs. 58.52 crores as surplus carried to the Balance Sheet (previous year: Rs. 57.38 crores).
Directorsâ Responsibility Statement
The Board confirms that:
1. The Directors have taken proper and sufficient care 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.
2. In the preparation of the Annual Accounts, the applicable accounting standards have been followed and proper explanation given relating to material departures, if any. The Directors have prepared the Annual Accounts on a going-concern basis.
3. The Directors have selected such accounting policies and applied them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company at the end of the financial year and of the profit and loss of the Company for that period.
4. Based on the framework of the internal financial controls and compliance systems established and maintained by the Company, the work performed by the Internal, Statutory and Secretarial Auditors, including audit of the internal financial controls over financial reporting by the Statutory Auditors, and the reviews performed by Management and the relevant Board Committees, including the Audit Committee, the Board is of the opinion that the Companyâs internal financial controls were adequate and effective during the financial year 2017-18.
5. The Directors have devised proper systems that are adequate and operating effectively to ensure compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws.
Code of Conduct
The Board has formulated a Corporate Governance Code of Conduct for all the Directors of the Board and the Senior Managers of the Company. This Code is available on the website of the Company. All Directors and Senior Management Personnel have affirmed compliance with the Code. A declaration to this effect signed by the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company appears elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) act, 2013
As required under the abovementioned Act, we report that in the year 2017-18 no case of sexual harassment of women was filed under the said Act.
Corporate Governance
A separate section on Corporate Governance forms part of our Report. A certificate has been received from the Auditors of the Company regarding compliance of the conditions of Corporate Governance as stipulated under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. Both appear elsewhere in the Annual Report.
Directors
Mr. Sudeep Yadav retires by rotation as a Director at the 58th AGM of the Company and, being eligible, offers himself for re-appointment for which the Board has resolved to recommend to the shareholders a suitable resolution.
As required by the SEBI (Listing Obligations & Disclosure Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations, 2018, notified on May 9, 2018, Special Resolutions are proposed for your approval at the 58th Annual General Meeting for the continuing from April 1, 2019, of the existing directorships of the following seven Non-Executive Directors who have attained or will attain the age of 75 years during 2019-20: Mr. Brahm Vasudeva, Mr. J. M. Mukhi, Mr. Shishir K. Diwanji, Mr. Gerson da Cunha, General V. N. Sharma (Retd.), Mr. E. A. Kshirsagar and Mr. Ravi Kant.
All the six Independent Directors, namely, Mr. J. M. Mukhi, Mr. Shishir K. Diwanji, Mr. Gerson da Cunha, General V. N. Sharma (Retd.), Mr. E. A. Kshirsagar and Mr. Ravi Kant have given written declarations that they meet the criteria of independence as laid down under Section 149(6) of the Companies Act, 2013.
The Chief Executive Officer made presentations to the Independent Directors to update them on the Companyâs operations, products and marketing policies, the challenges faced by the Company in 2017-18, how the Company has managed them and the challenges before the Company in 2018-19. Further, all the six Independent Directors also attended a 6-hour Familiarization Program at the Hawkins Thane factory. The required details of the Independent Directorsâ Familiarization Programs are available at http://www.hawkinscookers.com/idfp.pdf,
Auditors
M/s. Kalyaniwalla & Mistry LLP (Firm Registration No.104607W/W100166), Chartered Accountants, have been appointed as the Statutory Auditors of the Company for an initial term of five years from the conclusion of the 57th Annual General Meeting till the conclusion of the 62nd Annual General Meeting of the Company,
Secretarial Audit
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Company had appointed M/s. Jayshree Dagli & Associates, Company Secretaries in Practice, to undertake the secretarial audit of the Company for the year 2017-18. The Secretarial Audit Report is annexed as Appendix II.
Extract of Annual Return in Form MGT-9 (Section 92(3) of the Companies Act, 2013)
Given in Appendix iii are the details required as per the following seven sections:
I. Registration and Other Details
II. Principal Business Activities of the Company
III. Particulars of Holding, Subsidiary and Associate
Companies
IV. Shareholding Pattern
V. Indebtedness
VI. Remuneration of Directors and Key Managerial
Personnel
VII. Penalties/Punishment/Compounding of Offences
Contracts or Arrangements with related parties
All related party transactions during the year were on an armâs length basis and were not material as per the Related Party Transactions Policy of the Company.
Corporate Social responsibility
The Company has selected an appropriate project called Improving the Health of Women and Children by Cutting Indoor Air Pollution with Pressure Cooking. After the successful pilot project conducted by the Company itself in a few villages in Jalna and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra in 2016-17, we have decided to implement the said project appropriately scaled up with suitable Implementation Partner(s). The Company has initiated this approach by partnering with Bhagirath Gramvikas Pratishthan (BGP) in implementing the said project in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. The village women were explained how they could reduce their and their childrenâs exposure to Indoor Air Pollution by the use of Pressure Cookers - with live demonstrations and pressure cookers being offered to the villagers by BGP at a 50% discount on the MRP
However, because of the time taken to identify and implement the said project with a suitable Implementation Partner, we could not spend all of the Rs. 1.17 crores on activities under Corporate Social Responsibility in the year ended March 31, 2018.
We plan to scale up the implementation of the said project in 2018-19 in partnership with the suitably identified and selected Implementation Partner(s) in one or more States of India. The required Annual Report on CSR is given as Appendix iV.
Directorsâ performance evaluation
The performance evaluation of each Director of the Board was carried out by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee at its Meeting held on May 30, 2018, as per the criteria set by it earlier. The said criteria are included in the Corporate Governance Report enclosed herewith. The performance evaluation of the non-Independent Directors, the Board as a whole and the Chairman of the Board was carried out by the Independent Directors at their separate meeting held on May 30, 2018. The Board of Directors at its meeting held on May 30, 2018, reviewed the reports of evaluation received from the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the Independent Directors and also the functioning of the Committees of the Board and carried out the evaluation of the Board as a whole, the Committees of the Board and each Director and found the performance of the Board, the Committees and all the individual Directors to be satisfactory.
Remuneration policy
On the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the Board has framed a remuneration policy for all employees of the Company including senior management and the Directors. The remuneration policy of the Company is designed to attract, motivate and retain suitable manpower in a competitive market. The remuneration package for each person is designed keeping a balance between fixed remuneration and profit and performance-linked incentives in order to achieve corporate performance targets. The policy is aligned with the Companyâs mission, which states: âOur single-minded determination to please customers drives the kind of people we employ and promote, the investments we make and the results we produce.â The Remuneration Policy is placed at the Companyâs website at http://www.hawkinscookers.com/ download/RemunerationPolicy.pdf. The Board affirms that the remuneration is as per the Remuneration Policy of the Company, Information as per Section 197 of the Companies Act, 2013, is given in Appendix V.
Vigil Mechanism
The Company has established a Vigil Mechanism/Whistle Blower Policy for Directors and employees to report genuine concerns or grievances including unethical behaviour, fraud or violation of the Companyâs Corporate Governance Code of Conduct. The authority for the implementation of the policy rests with the Executive Director-Finance & Administration under the overall supervision of the Audit Committee of the Board.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mumbai BRAHM VASUDEVA
June 25, 2018 CHAIRMAN
Mar 31, 2017
We have the honour to present our Fifty-Seventh Annual Report and Audited Statement of Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2017.
2016-17 Operations: Main Results
We are pleased to report excellent results.
Once again, sales are the highest ever. Revenue from operations including excise duty in 2016-17 was Rs. 606.16 crores (up 6.1% over the previous year) and, net of excise duty, it was Rs. 578.61 crores (up 6.3% over the previous year).
This year, profits are also the highest ever. Profit before tax was Rs. 68.20 crores (13.2% higher than the previous year). Net profit after tax was Rs. 45.61 crores (13.1% higher than the previous year).
The net return after tax on shareholders'' funds/net worth (after reducing the amount of the proposed dividend and the tax thereon - to make the net worth comparable to the previous year) was 74% (previous year: 67%).
Management Discussion and Analysis
We operate in the Kitchenware segment consisting of Pressure Cookers and Cookware. The industry structure is quite competitive with both small scale and organized sector units.
In 2016-17, we did not take a price increase. This, along with our now extremely effective advertising, has led to a growth in demand for our pressure cookers and cookware. Our improved distribution has also helped sales. Our efforts at more efficient procurement and production have produced a good impact on our profits.
We have undertaken projects to renovate and increase the production capacity of our plants. The required investment is generated from internal resources. The new products launched during the year have done well.
The number of permanent employees as on April 1, 2016, was 789 and as on March 31, 2017, was 728. The morale of our employees at all locations is high. A three-year settlement with our workers in Hoshiarpur has been signed. Industrial relations at all our locations were and are normal. We appreciate very much the contribution of our employees to the successful working of your Company,
Profit before tax as a percentage of net sales in 2016-17 was 11.8% as against 11.1% in the previous year. Net profit after tax as a percentage of net sales in 2016-17 was 7.9% as against 7.4% in the previous year.
Cash flow during the year was comfortable. Cash and cash equivalents as on March 31, 2017, were Rs. 64.29 crores (previous year: Rs. 48.92 crores). We have plans to utilize these funds appropriately.
Control Systems
In our judgment, the Company has adequate financial and administrative systems and controls and an effective internal audit function.
Risks and Concerns
All foreseeable risks that the Company may encounter and concerns have been addressed in a documented Risk Management Framework which is reviewed by the Board from time to time.
Threats and Opportunities
Management continues to diligently watch cost increase trends and seeks effective cost controls and necessary adjustment in prices as needed from time to time. We are prepared for the impact of the Goods and Services Tax and believe we are well equipped to deal with it.
The current and long-term vitality of the demand for our brands augur well for the future of your Company.
Outlook
We believe the outlook for our business is excellent. In this year, we have further strengthened the good reputation we have amongst our consumers, customers and associates and vendors. We expect to continue to increase our sales and profits,
All forward-looking statements in our report are based on our assessments and judgments exercised in good faith at this time. Of course, actual developments and/or results may differ from our present anticipation.
2016-17 Operations: Other Aspects
The value of exports at Rs. 32.83 crores in 2016-17 was up 18.4% over the previous year. Foreign Exchange used in 2016-17 was Rs. 6.39 crores (Rs. 1.33 crores in the previous year).
As our Research & Development Unit is recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, our expenditure on R&D in 2016-17 is eligible for the benefit of deductibility of expenses at the rate of 200% for the purpose of the computation of income tax subject to the necessary approvals by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Income Tax Department. The expenditure on Research & Development in 2016-17 was Rs. 4.06 crores, up 20% over previous year. Required details are given in Appendix I. Efforts continue in our factories and offices to save energy wherever possible.
The details of Fixed Deposits under Sections 73 and 76 of the Companies Act, 2013, are as follows:
(a) Amount accepted during the year: Rs. 1.33 crores.
(b) Amount remained unpaid or unclaimed as at end of the year: Nil.
(c) Default in repayment of deposits or payment of interest thereon: Nil.
Dividend and Appropriations
We are pleased to recommend Rupees Seventy as dividend per Equity Share of Rs.10 (previous year: Rupees Sixty per Share). Our recommendation takes into account the profitability, circumstances and requirements of the business.
Out of the amount available for appropriation of Rs. 58.38 crores (previous year: Rs. 51.95 crores), we propose:
-Rs. 1.00 crore transfer to General Reserve (previous year: Rs. 1.00 crore) and
-Rs. 57.38 crores as surplus carried to the Balance Sheet (previous year: Rs. 12.77 crores). The much larger said amount this year is because the entire proposed dividend and the tax thereon which is Rs. 44.55 crores is carried as surplus to the balance sheet as is required by the Accounting Standard 4 in the year under report.
Directors'' Responsibility Statement
The Board confirms that:
1. The Directors have taken proper and sufficient care 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.
2. In the preparation of the Annual Accounts, the applicable accounting standards have been followed and proper explanation given relating to material departures. The Directors have prepared the Annual Accounts on a going-concern basis.
3. The Directors have selected such accounting policies and applied them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company at the end of the financial year and of the profit and loss of the Company for that period.
4. Based on the framework of the internal financial controls and compliance systems established and maintained by the Company, the work performed by the Internal, Statutory and Secretarial Auditors, including audit of the internal financial controls over financial reporting by the Statutory Auditors, and the reviews performed by Management and the relevant Board Committees, including the Audit Committee, the Board is of the opinion that the Company''s internal financial controls were adequate and effective during the financial year 2016-17.
5. The Directors have devised proper systems that are adequate and operating effectively to ensure compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws.
Code of Conduct
The Board has formulated a Corporate Governance Code of Conduct for all Directors of the Board and Senior Managers of the Company. This Code is available on the website of the Company. All Directors and Senior Management Personnel have affirmed compliance with the Code. A declaration to this effect signed by the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company appears elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
As required under the abovementioned Act, we report that in the year 2016-17 no case of sexual harassment of women was filed under the said Act.
Corporate Governance
A separate section on Corporate Governance forms part of our Report. A certificate has been received from the Auditors of the Company regarding compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance as stipulated under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. Both appear elsewhere in the Annual Report.
Directors
Mr. Ravi Kant was appointed as an Additional Director of the Company with effect from June 1, 2016. At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company held on August 4, 2016, the shareholders appointed him as an Independent Director for a period of five years.
Mrs. Susan M. Vasudeva retires by rotation as a Director at the 57th AGM of the Company and, being eligible, offers herself for re-appointment for which the Board has resolved to recommend to the shareholders a suitable resolution.
All the six Independent Directors, namely, Mr. J. M. Mukhi, Mr. Shishir K. Diwanji, Mr. Gerson da Cunha, General V, N. Sharma (Retd.), Mr. E. A. Kshirsagar and Mr. Ravi Kant have given written declarations that they meet the criteria of independence as laid down under Section 149(6) of the Companies Act, 2013.
The Chief Executive Officer made presentations to the Independent Directors to update them on the Company''s operations, products and marketing policies, and the main challenges faced by the Company in 2016-17 and how the Company has managed them. The required details of the Familiarization Program presentations made to the Independent Directors are available at www.hawkinscookers.com/idfp.
Auditors
As per Section 139 of the Companies Act, 2013, read with the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, the term of M/s. Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP (Firm Registration No. 1 17366W/W-100018), Chartered Accountants, as the Statutory Auditors of the Company expires at the conclusion of the 57th Annual General Meeting of the Company. The Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on May 25, 2017, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, has decided to recommend to the shareholders the appointment of M/s. Kalyaniwalla & Mistry LLP (Firm Registration No.104607W/W100166), Chartered Accountants, as the Statutory Auditors of the Company for an initial term of five years from the conclusion of the 57th Annual General Meeting till the conclusion of the 62nd Annual General Meeting of the Company. The Board places on record its appreciation for the services rendered admirably by M/s. Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP as the Statutory Auditors of the Company.
Secretarial Audit
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Company had appointed M/s. Jayshree Dagli & Associates, Company Secretaries in Practice, to undertake the secretarial audit of the Company for the year 2016-17. The Secretarial Audit Report is annexed as Appendix II.
Extract of Annual Return in Form MGT-9 (Section 92(3) of the Companies Act, 2013)
Given in Appendix III are the details required as per the following seven sections:
I. Registration and Other Details
II. Principal Business Activities of the Company
III. Particulars of Holding, Subsidiary and Associate
Companies
IV. Shareholding Pattern
V. Indebtedness
VI. Remuneration of Directors and Key Managerial
Personnel
VII. Penalties/Punishment/Compounding of Offences
Contracts or Arrangements with Related Parties
All related party transactions during the year were on an arm''s length basis and were not material as per the Related Party Transactions Policy of the Company,
Corporate Social Responsibility
The Company has selected an appropriate project called Improving the Health of Women and Children by Cutting Indoor Air Pollution with Pressure Cooking. A pilot project was conducted in a few villages in Jalna and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra in 2016-17. The village women were explained how they can reduce the exposure to Indoor Air Pollution by the use of Pressure Cookers with live demonstrations and pressure cookers were offered to the villagers at a 50% discount on the MRP
After evaluating the results of the pilot project, we concluded that it was a success and decided to pursue the project on a suitably enlarged scale. However, because of the time taken to conduct the pilot, we could not spend the Rs.1.10 crores on activities under Corporate Social Responsibility in the year ended March 31, 2017, as required by Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
We plan to scale up this project in 2017-18 by recruiting, training and deploying demonstrators in one or more States of India. The required Annual Report on CSR is given as Appendix IV.
Directorsâ Performance Evaluation
The performance evaluation of each Director of the Board was carried out by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee at its Meeting held on May 25, 2017, as per the criteria set by it earlier. The said criteria are included in the Corporate Governance Report enclosed herewith. The performance evaluation of the non-Independent Directors, the Board as a whole and the Chairman of the Board was carried out by the Independent Directors at their separate meeting held on May 25, 2017. The Board of Directors at its meeting held on May 25, 2017, reviewed the reports of evaluation received from the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the Independent Directors and also the functioning of the Committees of the Board and carried out the evaluation of the Board as a whole, the Committees of the Board and each Director and found the performance of the Board, the Committees and all the individual Directors to be satisfactory.
Remuneration Policy
On the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the Board has framed a remuneration policy for all employees of the Company including senior management and the Directors. The remuneration policy of the Company is designed to attract, motivate and retain suitable manpower in a competitive market. The remuneration package for each person is designed keeping a balance between fixed remuneration and profit and performance-linked incentives in order to achieve corporate performance targets. The policy is aligned with the Company''s mission, which states: "Our single-minded determination to please customers drives the kind of people we employ and promote, the investments we make and the results we produce." The Board affirms that the remuneration is as per the Remuneration Policy of the Company. Information as per Section 197 of the Companies Act, 2013, is given in Appendix V.
Vigil Mechanism
The Company has established a Vigil Mechanism/ Whistle Blower Policy for Directors and employees to report genuine concerns or grievances including unethical behaviour, fraud or violation of the Company''s Corporate Governance Code of Conduct. The authority for the implementation of the policy rests with the Executive Director-Finance & Administration under the overall supervision of the Audit Committee of the Board.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mumbai BRAHM VASUDEVA
June 28, 2017 CHAIRMAN
Mar 31, 2014
Dear Members,
We have the honour to present our fifty-fourth Annual Report and
Audited Statement of Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2014,
2013-14 Operations: Main Results
Once again, sales are the highest ever. Revenue from operations
including excise duty in 2013-14 was Rs.4,805.5 million (up 7.5% over
previous year) and, net of excise duly, it was Rs.4,570.8 million (up
7.6% over the previous year),
Profit before tax was Rs.570.6 million (14.0% more than the previous
year). Net profit after tax was Rs.382.8 million (12.3% more than the
previous year), The net return on shareholders funds (net worth)
was 69%.
Management Discussion and Analysis
With the end of the shortage of the supply of our products in the year
2012-13, 2013-14 was a year in which the main challenge was increasing
demand. Your Company has met this challenge mainly by the introduction
of new products, In Pressure Cookers, it has launched Hawkins Hevibase
which is a range of Induction Compatible Pressure Cookers in aluminium,
In Cookware, it has introduced a range of Induction Compatible
Cookware, both hard anodized and non-stick. These products have been
very well received in the market by dealers and consumers alike,
We continue our efforts in developing and launching new products. To
this end, we have significantly increased our human resources in
Research and Development,
The number of employees as on March 31, 2014, is 811. In May and June
2014, we have successfully completed Ihe negotiation of three-year wage
agreements with our Workers and Staff in Hoshiarpur. The morale of our
employees at all locations is high. We appreciate very much the
contribution of our employees to the successful working of your
Company,
Profit before tax as a percentage of net sales in 2013-14 was 12.5% as
against 11.8% in the previous year, Profit after tax as a percentage of
net sales in 2013-14 was 8.4% as against 8.0% in the previous year.
Consequent to the increase in input costs, we have taken a price
increase of about 6% in Pressure Cookers and 4.5% in Cookware on April
1,2014,
Cash flow during the year was comfortable. Cash and cash equivalents as
on March 31, 2014, were ^503.9 million (previous year: Rs.499.7 million).
We have plans to utilise these funds appropriately,
Control Systems
In our judgment, the Company has adequate financial and administrative
systems and controls and an effective internal audit function,
Risks and Concerns
All foreseeable risks that the Company may encounter and concerns have
been addressed in a documented Risk-Management framework which is
reviewed by the Board from time to time,
Threats and Opportunities
The general inflationary trend in the Indian economy is a cause for
concern. Management continues to diligently watch cost trends and seeks
effective cost controls and necessary adjustment in prices as needed
from time to time,
The current and long-term vitality in the demand for our brands -
Hawkins, Contura, Hevibase, Futura and Miss Mary - augur well for the
future of your Company,
Outlook
We believe the outlook for our business is excellent, The supply
shortage has been overcome and we are now considerably better poised to
take advantage of the opportunities in the marketplace to increase our
sales and profits handsomely,
At our meeting held on July 31, 2014, we considered and declared the
results for the quarter ended June 30,2014, In the said quarter,
compared with the corresponding quarter in the previous year, sales
were 29.1 % up and profit after tax was 44.6% up. The high magnitude of
first quarter increases in the current financial year is partially
because of the low base effect of the corresponding quarter in the
previous year and are unlikely to be sustained through the coming
quarters of the current year. Nevertheless, we believe that the good
start in the first quarter of the current year augurs well for the
results that we expect in the year 2014-15,
All forward-looking statements in our report are based on our
assessments and judgments exercised in good faith at this time. Of
course, actual developments and/or results may differ from our
anticipation,
2013-14 Operations: Other Aspects
The value of exports at Rs.268.2 million in 2013-14 was 10.2% up over the
previous year. Foreign Exchange used in 2013-14 was Rs.12.7 million
(Rs.41.7 million in the previous year),
Information as per Section 217(2A) of the Companies Act, 1956, is given
in Appendix I,
As our Research & Development unit is recognised by the Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research, our expenditure on R&D in 2013-14
shall be eligible for the benefit of deductibility of expenses at the
rate of 200% for the purpose of the computation of income tax, subject
to the necessary approvals by the Department of Scientific and
Industrial
Research and the Income Tax Department. The expenditure on Research &
Development in 2013-14 was Rs.19.7 million, up 81.8% over previous year.
Required details are given in Appendix II. Efforts continue in our
factories and offices to save energy wherever possible,
None of the fixed deposits maturing for payment prior to March 31,
2014, remained unclaimed as on that date,
Dividend and Appropriations
We are pleased to recommend Rupees Sixty per Share as dividend at the
rate of 600% (previous year: Rupees Fifty per share). Our
recommendation takes into account the profitability, circumstances and
requirements of the business,
Out of the amount available for appropriation of Rs.552.5 million
(previous year: Rs.529.0 million), we propose:
- Rs.317.3 million as provision for dividend (previous year: Rs.264.4
million)
- tax on proposed dividend Rs.53.9 million (previous year: Rs.44.9 million)
- Rs.50.0 million transfer to General Reserve (previous year: Rs.50.0
million) and
- Rs.131.3 million as surplus carried to the Balance Sheet (previous
year: Rs.169.7 million),
Directors'' Responsibility Statement
The Board confirms that:
1. The directors have taken proper and sufficient care for the
maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, for safeguarding the
assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and other
irregularities,
2. In the preparation of the Annual Accounts, the applicable
accounting standards have been followed and proper explanation given
relating to material departures, The directors have prepared the Annual
Accounts on a going-concern basis,
3. The directors have selected such accounting policies and applied
them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable
and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs
of the Company at the end of the financial year and of the profit of
the Company for that period,
Code of Conduct
The Board has formulated The Corporate Governance Code of Conduct for
all Directors of the Board and Senior Managers of 1he Company. This
Code has been posted on the website of the Company. All Directors and
Senior Management Personnel have affirmed compliance with the Code. A
declaration to this effect signed by the vIce-Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company appears elsewhere in this Annual
Report,
Corporate Governance
A separate section on Corporate Governance forms part of our Report. A
certificate has been received from the Auditors of the Company
regarding compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance as
stipulated under Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement with the Stock
Exchange. Both appear elsewhere in the Annual Report,
Directors
Mr. K. K. Kaul, Executive Director-Operations, retired at the end of
his contract on May 31, 2013. The Directors have recorded their
appreciation for the many contributions made by Mr. Kaul during his 28
years in your Company,
Mr. M. A. Teckchandani, Executive Director-Finance & Administration,
retired at the end of his contract on November 11, 2013. The Directors
wish to place on record their appreciation for the many contributions
made by Mr. Teckchandani during his 29 years in your Company,
Mr. Sudeep Yadav was appointed as Executive Director-Finance &
Administration (Designate) with effect from July 22,2013, and has taken
over from Mr. M. A. Teckchandani as Executive Director-Finance &
Administration with effect from November 12, 2013,
At the Board Meeting held on May 27, 2014, Mr. E. A. Kshirsagar has
been appointed as an Additional Director of the Company with effect
from June 1, 2014, to hold office up to the 54th Annual General
Meeting. A resolution is proposed for his appointment as an Independent
Director,
Following the changes made by the Companies Act, 2013, at the Board
Meeting held on July 31, 2014, the Board resolved:
- To recommend to shareholders resolutions to appoint the following
existing Directors, Messrs. Gerson da Cunha, S. K. Diwanji, J. M. Mukhi
and General V. N. Sharma (Retd.) as Independent Directors from the date
of the 54th Annual General Meeting for a period of five years each,
- To appoint Mrs. Susan Vasudeva as an Additional Director with effect
from August 1, 2014, and to recommend to shareholders a resolution to
appoint her as a woman Director from the date of the 54th Annual
General Meeting,
Auditors
Messrs. Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP retire and, being eligible, offer
themselves for reappointment,
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mumbai BRAHM VASUDEVA
August 11, 2014 CHAIRMAN
Mar 31, 2012
The have the honour to present our fifty-second Annual Report and
Audited Statement of Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2012.
2011-12 Operations: Main Results
Sales are the highest ever. Revenue from operations including excise
duty in 2011-12 was Rs.3,837.2 million (up 10.9% over previous year) and,
net of excise duty, it was Rs.3,675.4 million (up 10.1% over the previous
year).
Profit before tax was Rs.445.6 million (6.3% less than the previous
year). Net profit after tax was Rs.300.8 million (5.3% less than the
previous year).
The net return on shareholders funds (net worth) was 62%.
Directors' Responsibility Statement
The Board confirms that:
1. The directors have taken proper and sufficient care for the
maintenance of adequate accounting records in
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, for
safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting
fraud and other irregularities.
2. In the preparation of the Annual Accounts, the applicable
accounting standards have been followed and proper explanation given
relating to material departures. The directors have prepared the
Annual Accounts on a going-concern basis.
3. The directors have selected such accounting policies and applied
them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable
and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs
of the Company at the end of the financial year and of the profit of
the Company for that period.
Code of Conduct
The Board has formulated a Code of Conduct for all Directors of the
Board and Senior Managers of the Company. This Code has been posted on
the website of the Company. All Directors and Senior Management
Personnel have affirmed compliance with the Code. A declaration to this
effect signed by the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company appears elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Corporate governance
A separate section on Corporate Governance forms part of our Report. A
Certificate has been received from the Auditors of the Company
regarding compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance as
stipulated under Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement with the Stock
Exchange. Both appear elsewhere in the Annual Report.
Directors
Mr. Gerson da Cunha, Director, retires by rotation and, being eligible,
offers himself for reappointment for which a suitable resolution is
proposed for your approval. Mr. B. K. Khare, Director, retires by
rotation and, being eligible, offers himself for reappointment for
which a suitable resolution is proposed for your approval.
Auditors
Messrs. Deloitte Haskins & Sells retire and, being eligible, offer
themselves for reappointment.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mumbai BRAHM VASUDEVA
July 2, 2012 CHAIRMAN
Mar 31, 2011
We have the honour to present our fifty-first Annual Report and Audited
Statement of Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2011.
2010-11 OPERATIONS: MAIN RESULTS
We are happy to report that sales are the highest ever: sales
(including excise duty) in 2010-11 were Rs.3436 million; sales net of
excise duty were Rs.3315 million, up 16% over the previous year. Profit
before tax was Rs.475.5 million, 15% less than the previous year. Net
profit after tax for the year was Rs.317.7 million, 14% less than the
previous year. It should be remembered that in the previous year,
2009-10, profit before tax was up 90% and profit after tax was up 93%
over its previous year, 2008-09. In the year under report, 2010-11,
notwithstanding the lesser profits before and after tax than in
2009-10, the Return on Capital Employed was 53% and the Return on Net
Worth was 75%.
Information as per Section 217(2A) of the Companies Act, 1956, is given
in Appendix I.
We have obtained Recognition from the Department of Science and
Industrial Research for our in-house Research & Development unit. The
expenditure on Research & Development was Rs.9.5 million, (previous year:
Rs.10.2 million) Ã down by 7%. Required details are given in Appendix II.
Efforts continue in our factories and offices to save energy wherever
possible.
None of the fixed deposits maturing for payment prior to March 31,
2011, remained unclaimed as on that date.
DIVIDEND AND APPROPRIATIONS
We are pleased to recommend Rupees Forty per Share as dividend at the
rate of 400% (previous year: Rupees Forty per share). Our
recommendation takes into account the profitability, circumstances and
requirements of the business.
Out of the amount available for appropriation of Rs.478.9 million
(previous year: Rs.457.8 million), we propose
- Rs.211.5 million as provision for dividend (previous year: Rs.211.5
million)
- tax on proposed dividend Rs.34.3 million (previous year: Rs.35.1 million)
- Rs.50.0 million transfer to General Reserve (previous year: Rs.50.0
million) and
- Rs.183.0 million as surplus carried to the Balance Sheet (previous
year: Rs.161.2 million).
DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITy STATEMENT
The Board confirms that:
1. The directors have taken proper and sufficient care for the
maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the
provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, for safeguarding the assets of
the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and other
irregularities.
2. In the preparation of the Annual Accounts, the applicable
accounting standards have been followed and proper explanation given
relating to material departures. The directors have prepared the Annual
Accounts on a going- concern basis.
3. The directors have selected such accounting policies and applied
them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable
and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs
of the Company at the end of the financial year and of the profit of
the Company for that period.
Code of Conduct
The Board has formulated a Code of Conduct for all Directors of the
Board and Senior Managers of the Company. This Code has been posted on
the website of the Company. All Directors and Senior Management
Personnel have affirmed compliance with the Code. A declaration to this
effect signed by the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company appears elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Corporate governance
A separate section on Corporate Governance forms part of our Report. A
Certificate has been received from the Auditors of the Company
regarding compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance as
stipulated under Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement with the Stock
Exchange. Both appear elsewhere in the Annual Report.
DIRECTORS
Mr. J. M. Mukhi, Director retires by rotation and, being eligible,
offers himself for reappointment for which a suitable resolution is
proposed for your approval. General V.N. Sharma (Retired) retires by
rotation and, being eligible, offers himself for reappointment for
which a suitable resolution is proposed for your approval.
AUDITORS
Messrs. Deloitte Haskins & Sells retire and, being eligible, offer
themselves for reappointment.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mumbai BRAHM VASUDEVA
June 21, 2011 CHAIRMAN
Mar 31, 2010
We have the honour to present our fiftieth Annual Report and Audited
Statement of Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2010. As mentioned
in our report last year, 2008-09 was in fact our Golden Jubilee Year,
In 2009-10, we celebrated our Golden Jubilee appropriately by holding
functions at our plants and in Mumbai to which our associates, vendors,
employees and their families were invited. We feel that these functions
have significantly enhanced the understanding and enthusiasm of our
associates, vendors and employees about your Company and its character.
2009-10 OPERATIONS: MAIN RESULTS
We are happy to report that both sales and profits are the highest ever
in the history of your Company. Sales (including excise duty) in
2009-10 were Rs.2954 million; sales net of excise duty were Rs.2856
million, up 18% over the previous year. Profit before tax was Rs.558.8
million, up 90% over the previous year, Net profit after tax for the
year was Rs.368.4 million, up 93% over the previous year.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Profit before tax as a percentage of sales in 2009-10 was 18.9% as
against 11.5% in the previous year. Profit after tax as a percentage of
sales in 2009-10 was 12.5% as against 7.5% in the previous year, The
improvement in margins is the result of higher sales and moderation in
material costs.
Two new pressure cooker models were introduced in 2009-10 and were very
well received in the market - sales of these models in the aggregate
were 89 thousand units in the launch year. Four new cookware items were
similarly launched for a total sale of 27 thousand units,
Pressure Cooker sales volume increased by 19% and sales value by 1 7%
over the previous year, The number of directly transacting dealers has
gone up to 4,815, an increase of 29% on the previous year. Despite our
pressure cooker production increasing from 22.9 lakh units to 28.0 lakh
units, we were not able to supply fully the demand for our pressure
cookers. Similarly, in cookware our demand has been substantially more
than our ability to supply. Management is working to implement plans to
further increase supply of all our products significantly in 2010-11.
Although material costs in 2009-10 as a whole were significantly lower
than the previous year, the trend of costs during the year was upwards.
At present, the materials cost situation is uncertain and difficult to
forecast.
Cash flow during the year, taking into account operating, investing and
financing activities, was very
comfortable, The increase in cash and bank deposits at the end of the
year is Rs.250 million over the opening balance of Rs.144 million. The
cash and bank deposits as on March 31, 2010, is Rs.394 million. We have
plans to utilise these funds appropriately.
The number of employees as on March 31, 2010, is 900. Morale of
employees is high. Industrial relations are normal. We have long-term
settlements with our workers and staff in place in all our plants and
offices. We appreciate very much the contribution of all our employees.
Control Systems
In our judgment, the company has adequate financial and administrative
systems and controls and an effective internal audit function.
Risks and Concerns
All foreseeable risks that the Company may encounter and concerns have
been addressed in a documented risk management framework which is
reviewed by the Board from time to time.
Threats and Opportunities
The general inflationary trend in the indian economy is a cause for
concern. While the cost of raw materials had moderated, they may once
again move up irrationally and pose a threat. The Company continues to
diligently watch these trends and seeks effective cost controls and
necessary adjustment in prices as needed from time to time.
The continuing vitality of our brands - Hawkins, Futura and Miss Mary -
and the general, buoyant growth rate of the Indian economy augur well
for your Company.
Outlook
In our judgement, the outlook for our business is excellent. We are
well-positioned to take advantage of the growth of demand in our
markets competitively and to continue to increase our sales and profits
handsomely.
All forward-looking statements in our report are based on our
assessments and judgments exercised in good faith at this time. Of
course, actual developments and/or results may differ from our
anticipation.
2009-10 OPERATIONS: OTHER ASPECTS
FOB value of exports was Rs. 114.8 million, down 10% over the previous
year mainly owing to delayed shipments because of product scarcity.
Foreign Exchange used in
the year under report was Rs.6.9 million (previous year: Rs.l 0.4
million).
Information as per Section 217(2A) of the Companies Act, 1956, is given
in Appendix I. The expenditure on Research and Development was Rs.l0.2
million, (previous year: Rs.l l.T million) - down by 8%. Required
details are given in Appendix II. Efforts continue in our factories and
offices to save energy wherever possible. None of the fixed deposits
maturing for payment prior to March 31, 2010, remained unclaimed as on
that date.
DIVIDEND AND APPROPRIATIONS
We are pleased to recommend Rupees Forty per Share as dividend at the
rate of 400% (previous year: Rupees Twenty per share). Our
recommendation takes into account the profitability, circumstances and
requirements of the business.
Out of the amount available for appropriation of Rs.457.8 million
(previous year: Rs.258.2 million), we propose
- Rs.211.5 million as provision for dividend (previous year: Rs.l05.8
million)
- tax on proposed dividend Rs.35.1 million (previous year: Rs.l8.0
million)
- Rs.50.0 million transfer to General Reserve (previous year: Rs.45.0
million) and
- Rs.l61.2 million as surplus carried to the Balance Sheet (previous
year: Rs.89.5 million).
DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
The Board confirms that:
1. The directors have taken proper and sufficient care for the
maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the
provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, for safeguarding the assets of
the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and other
irregularities.
2. In the preparation of the Annual Accounts, the applicable
accounting standards have been followed and proper explanation given
relating to material departures. The directors have prepared the Annual
Accounts on a going concern basis.
3. The directors have selected such accounting policies and applied
them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable
and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs
of the Company at the end of the financial year and of the profit of
the Company for that period.
Code of Conduct
The Board has formulated a Code of Conduct for all Directors of the
Board and Senior Managers of the
Company. This Code has been posted on the website of the Company. All
Directors and Senior Management Personnel have affirmed compliance with
the Code. A declaration to this effect signed by the Vice-Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company appears elsewhere in this Annual
Report.
Corporate Governance
A separate section on Corporate Governance forms part of our Report. A
Certificate has been received from the Auditors of the Company
regarding compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance as
stipulated under Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement with the Stock
Exchange. Both appear elsewhere in the Annual Report.
DIRECTORS
The Company has received notices under section 257 of the Companies
Act, 1956 for reappointment of Mr. Brahm Vasudeva as a non-executive
Director with effect from April 26, 2011, for which a suitable
resolution is proposed for your approval. Subject to his being elected
as non-executive Director, the Board has resolved at its meeting held
on May 29, 2010 to reappoint Mr. Vasudeva as the non-executive Chairman
of the Board of the Company for a further period of five years with
effect from April 26, 2011, At its meeting held on May 29, 2010, the
Board has also reappointed Mr. Vasudeva as an Advisor to your Company
for a further period of five years subject to your approval for which a
suitable resolution is also proposed.
The Board at its meeting held on May 29, 2010, has reappointed Mr.
Subhadip Dutta Choudhury as Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer for
a further period of three years with effect from August 1, 2010, on
revised terms subject to your approval for which a suitable resolution
is proposed.
At its meeting held on May 29, 2010, the Board decided to change, the
responsibilities and designation of Mr. M, A. Teckchandani from
Executive Director - Operations to Executive Director - Finance &
Administration with effect from June 1, 2010, with all other terms of
his appointment remaining unchanged. Mr. Teckchandani retires by
rotation and, being eligible, offers himself for reappointment for
which a suitable resolution is proposed for your approval. The Board
also reappointed Mr. M. A, Teckchandani as Executive Director - Finance
& Administration for a further period of three years with effect from
November 12, 2010, on revised terms subject to your approval for which
a suitable resolution is also proposed.
The Board at its meeting held on May 29, 2010, appointed Mr. K. K. Kaul
as a Wholetime Director of the Company designated as Executive Director
- Operations
for a term of three years with effect from June 1, 2010, subject to
your approval for which a suitable resolution is proposed. Mr. Kaul has
served in your Company as an executive for the last 25 years at growing
levels of seniority and was Executive Vice President - Technical prior
to being appointed as Executive Director - Operations.
Mr. Shishir K. Diwanji, Director retires by rotation and, being
eligible, offers himself for reappointment for which a suitable
resolution is proposed for your approval.
AUDITORS
Messrs, Deloitte Haskins & Sells retire and, being eligible, offer
themselves for reappointment.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mumbai BRAHM VASUDEVA
June 21, 2010 CHAIRMAN
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