Mar 31, 2023
To the Members of United Spirits LimitedReport on the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
Opinion
1. We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of United Spirits Limited ("the Companyâ), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2023, and the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
2. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Actâ) in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2023, total comprehensive income (comprising of profit and other comprehensive loss), changes in equity and its cash flows for the year then ended.
3. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under Section 143(10) of the Act . Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the "Auditor''s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statementsâ section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the standalone financial statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
4. We draw attention to the following matters:
a) Note 40(a) to the Standalone Financial statements which explains the uncertainties post completion of the Initial Inquiry, which identified references to certain Additional Parties and certain Additional matters, the then MD & CEO, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors,
had carried out an Additional Inquiry that revealed transactions indicating actual and potential diversion of funds from the Company and its Indian and overseas subsidiaries to, in most cases, Indian and overseas entities that appear to be affiliated or associated with the Company''s erstwhile non-executive Chairman and other potentially improper transactions. Post the completion of Additional Inquiry certain regulatory notices and communications were received from Securities Exchange Board of India, Directorate of Enforcement and Authorised Dealer banks (''AD'') to which the Company has responded. Subsequently, the Company commenced the rationalisation process for divestment/ liquidation/ merger of certain overseas subsidiaries including step down subsidiaries and completion of the above Rationalisation process is subject to regulatory approvals in India and overseas. The Company filed suits for recovery of certain amounts against relevant parties and individuals identified in the Additional Inquiry including excess managerial remuneration paid to the former Executive Director and CFO which have been fully provided for or recognised as expense in prior years. The management is currently unable to estimate the financial impact on the Company, if any, arising out of potential non compliances with applicable laws as above.
b) Note 40(d) to the Standalone Financial Statements, which describes the uncertainty relating to the final outcome of litigations with a bank ("the bankâ) that continues to retain the pledge of certain assets of the Company and of the Company''s shares held by USL Benefit Trust (of which the Company is the sole beneficiary) despite the Company prepaying the term loan to that bank along with the prepayment penalty and further depositing an additional sum of ''459 million demanded by the bank and as directed by the Hon''ble High Court of Karnataka (the "Courtâ). Based on management assessment supported by external legal opinions, the Company has disclosed the aforesaid amount of ''459 million under Other Non-current financial assets as recoverable from the bank pending the final outcome of the litigation. In a separate proceeding before the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal, the bank''s appeal against the judgement awarded by Debt Recovery Tribunal in favour of the Company in respect of attachment of the aforesaid pledged shares for recovery of the loans advanced by the bank to Kingfisher Airlines Limited is pending disposal.
c) As explained in Note 49 to the Standalone Financial Statements, the scheme for amalgamation of Pioneer Distilleries Limited with the Company was approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on November 4, 2022, with an appointed date of April 1, 2021. The Company has accounted for the amalgamation as per the accounting treatment specified in the scheme in accordance with Appendix C of Ind AS 103, Business Combinations of entity under common control and, accordingly, the comparative balances presented for the previous year in the Standalone Financial Statements have been restated.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of the matters described under paragraph 4 above.
5. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the standalone financial statements as a whole and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Key audit matter |
How our audit addressed the key audit matter |
Assessment of the appropriateness of provisions |
Our audit procedures included the following: |
recognised and contingent liabilities disclosed in respect of certain tax matters. (Refer Notes 8, 17 and 42 to the |
⢠Understood, assessed and tested the design and operating effectiveness |
standalone financial statements) |
of the Company''s controls for identifying potential tax exposures and/ or |
As at March 31, 2023, the Company has significant tax exposures and is subject to periodic assessments/ |
the accounting and disclosures thereof. ⢠Evaluated the related accounting policy for recognising provisions for tax |
demands by tax authorities on transfer pricing, income |
exposures and disclosure of contingent liabilities with the requirements of |
tax and a range of indirect tax matters. Consequent |
the relevant accounting standards. |
to such tax assessments and demands relating to past several years, the Company has paid certain amounts |
⢠Obtained management''s assessment in respect of tax demands on whether cash outflow is either probable, possible or remote. |
under protest at various dates. The Company has also filed appeals with various appellate authorities against |
⢠Evaluated management''s assessment with the help of auditors'' experts, |
such demands. |
where necessary, as follows: |
Management judgement is involved in assessing the |
- For the samples selected, read the correspondences received |
likelihood of ultimate outcome of the tax disputes to |
during the year from the tax authorities/ orders from the appellate |
decide on the accounting/ disclosure requirements. For |
authorities. |
certain complex matters the probable amount of the cash outflow determined by the Management is supported by |
- Read and assessed the views provided by the management/ |
opinions obtained from external tax counsels/ assessment |
management tax experts as applicable. |
performed by internal experts (management tax experts). We considered this a key audit matter as: |
- Assessed management''s position on significant tax exposures in accordance with the tax laws and past precedents of tax judgements. |
⢠The amounts involved are significant to the |
- Assessed completeness of litigations by inquiring with the |
standalone financial statements; |
management, and perusal of Board minutes. |
⢠Change in the management''s judgements and |
- Evaluated the objectivity, independence, competence and |
estimates may significantly affect the provisions |
capabilities of the management tax experts. |
recognised or contingent liabilities disclosed; and ⢠Matters of disputes are complex in some cases due |
- Evaluated the adequacy of the disclosures made in the standalone financial statements. |
to the nature of the industry in which the Company operates and are subject to interpretations under |
Based on the above procedures, we considered the management''s assessment |
tax laws. |
in recognising the provisions and disclosing contingent liabilities in respect of the |
stated tax matters, as reasonable. |
6. The Company''s Board of Directors is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, but does not include the financial statements and our auditor''s report thereon.
7. Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
8. In connection with our audit of the standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the standalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
governance for the standalone financial statements
9. The Company''s Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act.
This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
10. In preparing the standalone financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company''s ability to continue
as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. Those Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the Company''s financial reporting process.
11. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor''s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these standalone financial statements.
12. As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
a) Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the standalone financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
b) Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under Section 143(3) (i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the Company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
c) Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
d) Conclude on the appropriateness of management''s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company''s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor''s report to the related disclosures in the standalone financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor''s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
e) Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the standalone financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the standalone financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
13. We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
14. We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
15. From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor''s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
16. As required by the Companies (Auditor''s Report) Order, 2020 ("the Orderâ), issued by the Central Government of India in
terms of sub-section (11) of Section 143 of the Act, we give in the
Annexure B a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs
3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
17. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, we report that:
(a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books.
(c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including other comprehensive income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account.
(d) In our opinion, the aforesaid Standalone Financial Statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act.
(e) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31, 2023, taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2023, from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act.
(f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure Aâ.
(g) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor''s Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended), in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
i. The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its standalone financial statements. (Refer Notes 8, 17, 40(c), 40(d) and 42 to the standalone financial statements)
ii. The Company was not required to recognise a provision as at March 31, 2023 under the
applicable law or accounting standards, as it does not have any material foreseeable losses on longterm contracts. The Company did not have any derivative contracts as at March 31, 2023. (Refer Note 39 to the standalone financial statements)
iii. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company during the year. (Refer Note 16 to the standalone financial statements)
iv. (a) The management has represented that,
to the best of its knowledge and belief, no funds which are material either individually or in aggregate have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to or in any other person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Intermediariesâ), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall, whether, directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Company ("Ultimate Beneficiariesâ) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries (Refer Note 51(vii) to the standalone financial statements);
(b) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, no funds which are material either individually or in aggregate have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Funding Partiesâ), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall, whether, directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in
any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party ("Ultimate Beneficiariesâ) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries (Refer Note 51(vii) to the standalone financial statements); and
(c) Based on such audit procedures that we considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under sub-clauses (a) and (b) contain any material misstatement.
v. The Company has not declared or paid any dividend during the year.
vi. As proviso to Rule 3(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 (as amended), which provides for books of account to have the feature of audit trail, edit log and related matters in the accounting software used by the Company, is applicable to the Company only with effect from financial year beginning April 1, 2023, the reporting under clause (g) of Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended), is currently not applicable.
18. The Company has paid/ provided for managerial remuneration in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act.
Firm Registration Number: 304026E/ E-300009 Chartered Accountants
Partner
Place: Mumbai Membership Number: 057687
Date: May 18, 2023 UDIN: 23057687BGVGAK4135
Mar 31, 2022
Report on the Audit of the Standalone financial statementsOpinion
1. We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of United Spirits Limited ("the Companyâ), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2022, and the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
2. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Actâ) in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2022, and total comprehensive income (comprising of profit and other comprehensive income), changes in equity and its cash flows for the year then ended.
3. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under Section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the "Auditor''s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statementsâ section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Emphasis of Matter
4. We draw attention to the following matters:
a) As explained in Note 40(a) to the Standalone Financial statements regarding the uncertainties post completion of the Initial Inquiry, which identified references to certain Additional Parties and certain Additional matters, the then MD & CEO, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, had carried out an Additional Inquiry that revealed transactions indicating actual and potential diversion of funds from the Company and its Indian and overseas subsidiaries to, in most cases, Indian and overseas entities that appear to be affiliated or
associated with the Company''s erstwhile non-executive Chairman and other potentially improper transactions. Post completion of Additional Inquiry certain regulatory notices and communications were received from Securities and Exchange Board of India, Directorate of Enforcement and Authorised Dealer banks to which the Company has responded. Subsequently, the Company commenced the rationalisation process for divestment/ liquidation/ merger of certain overseas subsidiaries including step down subsidiaries and completion of the above Rationalisation process is subject to regulatory approvals in India and overseas. The company filed suits for recovery of certain amounts against relevant parties and individuals identified in the Additional Inquiry including excess managerial remuneration paid to the former Executive Director and CFO which have been fully provided for or recognised as expense in prior years. The management is currently unable to estimate the financial impact on the Company, if any, arising out of potential non compliances with applicable laws as above.
b) As explained in Note 40(d) to the Standalone Financial Statements, which describes the uncertainty relating to the final outcome of litigations with a bank ("the bankâ) that continues to retain the pledge of certain assets of the Company and of the Company''s shares held by USL Benefit Trust (of which the Company is the sole beneficiary) despite the Company prepaying the term loan to that bank along with the prepayment penalty and further depositing an additional sum of INR 459 million demanded by the bank and as directed by the High Court of Karnataka (the "Courtâ).
Based on management assessment supported by external legal opinions, the Company has disclosed the aforesaid amount under Other Non-current financial assets as recoverable from the bank pending the final outcome of the litigation. In a separate proceeding before the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal, the bank''s appeal against the judgement awarded by Debt Recovery Tribunal in favour of the Company in respect of attachment of the aforesaid pledged shares for recovery of the loans advanced by the bank to Kingfisher Airlines Limited is pending disposal.
c) As explained in Note 40(e) to the standalone financial statements, the Company identified certain information suggesting continuing past practices resulting in differences in reporting to the relevant regulatory authorities of yields of certain non-potable intermediates and associated process losses in the liquor manufacturing process. The aforesaid note also describes the related actions taken and monitoring of future developments by the Company in this respect.
5. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Key audit matter |
How our audit addressed the key audit matter |
Assessment of the appropriateness of provisions recognised and |
Our audit procedures included the following: |
contingent liabilities disclosed in respect of certain tax matters |
⢠Understood, assessed and tested the design and operating |
(Refer notes 8, 17 and 42 to the standalone financial statements) |
effectiveness of the Company''s controls in respect of the identifying potential tax exposures and/ or the accounting and disclosures thereof. |
As at March 31, 2022, the Company has significant tax exposures |
⢠Evaluated the related accounting policy for recognising provisions |
and is subject to periodic assessments/ demands by tax authorities |
for tax exposures and disclosure of contingent liabilities with the |
on transfer pricing, income tax and a range of |
requirements of the relevant accounting standards. |
indirect tax matters. Consequent to such tax assessments and demands relating to past several years, the Company has paid certain amounts under protest at various dates. The Company |
⢠Obtained management''s assessment in respect of tax demands on whether cash outflow is either probable, possible or remote. |
⢠Evaluated management''s assessment with the help of auditor''s |
|
has also filed appeals with various appellate authorities against such demands. |
experts, where necessary, as follows: |
o For the samples selected, read the correspondences received during the year from the tax authorities/ orders from the appellate authorities. |
|
Management judgement is involved in assessing the likelihood of |
|
ultimate outcome of the tax disputes to decide on the accounting/ |
o Read and assessed the views provided by the management/ |
disclosure requirements. For certain complex matters the probable amount of the cash outflow determined by the Management |
management tax experts as applicable. |
is supported by opinions obtained from external tax counsels/ |
o Assessed management''s position on significant tax exposures |
assessment performed by management. |
in accordance with the tax laws and past precedents of tax judgements. |
o Assessed completeness of litigations by inquiring with the |
|
We considered this a key audit matter as: |
management, and perusal of Board minutes. |
⢠The amounts involved are significant to the standalone |
o Evaluated the objectivity, independence, competence and |
financial statements; |
capabilities of the management tax experts. |
⢠Change in the management''s judgements and estimates |
o Evaluated the adequacy of the disclosures made in the |
may significantly affect the provisions recognised or contingent |
standalone financial statements. |
liabilities disclosed; and |
Based on the above procedures, we considered the management''s |
⢠Matters of disputes are complex in some cases due to the nature of the industry in which the Company operates and are |
assessment in recognising the provisions and disclosing contingent liabilities in respect of the stated tax matters, as reasonable. |
subject to interpretations under tax laws. |
6. The Company''s Board of Directors is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Report of the Directors, Business Responsibility Report, Corporate Governance Report and Management Discussion and Analysis, but does not include the financial statements and our auditor''s report thereon.
7. Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
8. In connection with our audit of the standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the standalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Responsibilities of management and those charged with governance
for the Financial Statements
9. The Company''s Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
10. In preparing the standalone financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company''s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. Those Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the Company''s financial reporting process.
Auditor''s responsibilities for the audit of the Standalone Financial
Statements
11. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor''s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable
assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these standalone financial statements.
12. As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
a) Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the standalone financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
b) Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under Section 143(3) (i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
c) Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
d) Conclude on the appropriateness of management''s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company''s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor''s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor''s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
e) Evaluate the overall presentation, structure, and content of the standalone financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the standalone financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
13. We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
14. We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
15. From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor''s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
16. As required by the Companies (Auditor''s Report) Order, 2020 ("the Orderâ), issued by the Central Government of India in terms of sub-section (11) of Section 143 of the Act, we give in the "Annexure Bâ statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
17. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, we report that:
(a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books.
(c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including other comprehensive income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flow dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account.
(d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act.
(e) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31, 2022 and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is
disqualified as on March 31, 2022 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act.
(f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure Aâ.
(g) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor''s Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended), in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its financial statements - Refer Notes 8, 17, 40(c), 40(d) and 42 to the standalone financial statements;
The Company was not required to recognise a provision as at March 31, 2022 under the applicable law or accounting standards, as it does not have any material foreseeable losses on long-term contracts. The Company did not have any derivative contracts as at March 31, 2022.
There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company during the year.
(a) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, no funds which are material either individually or in the aggregate have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to or in any other person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Intermediariesâ), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall, whether, directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Company ("Ultimate Beneficiariesâ) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries (Refer Note 52 (vii) to the standalone financial statements);
(b) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, no funds which are material either individually or in the aggregate have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Funding Partiesâ), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the
Company shall, whether, directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party ("Ultimate Beneficiariesâ) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries (Refer Note 52 (vii) to the standalone financial statements); and
(c) Based on such audit procedures that we considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under sub-clause (a) and (b) contain any material misstatement.
The Company has not declared or paid any dividend during the year.
18. The Company has paid/provided for managerial remuneration in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act.
For Price Waterhouse & Co Chartered Accountants LLP
Firm Registration Number: 304026E/ E-300009 Chartered Accountants
Partner
Membership Number: 057687 UDIN: 22057687AJSYKP6717
Place: Bengaluru Date: May 27, 2022
Mar 31, 2021
Report on the audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
1. We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of United Spirits Limited ("the Company"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31,2021, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
2. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 (the "Act") in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2021, its total comprehensive income (comprising of profit and other comprehensive income), changes in equity and its cash flows for the year then ended.
3. We conducted our audit of the standalone financial statements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under Section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the Auditor''s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
4. We draw attention to the following matters:
a) As explained in Note 40(a) to the standalone financial statements, upon completion of the Initial Inquiry, which identified references to certain Additional Parties and certain Additional Matters, the MD & CEO, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, had carried out an Additional Inquiry that revealed transactions indicating actual and potential diversion of funds from the Company and its Indian and overseas subsidiaries to, in most cases,
Indian and overseas entities that appear to be affiliated or associated with the Company''s erstwhile non-executive Chairman and other potentially improper transactions. The amounts identified in the Additional Inquiry have been fully provided for or expensed by the Company and/or its subsidiaries in earlier periods. Management is currently unable to estimate the financial impact on the Company, if any, arising from potential non-compliances with applicable laws in respect of the above.
b) As explained in Note 40(b)(i) to the standalone financial statements, the Company has commenced the rationalisation process for divestment/ liquidation/ merger of certain overseas subsidiaries including step down subsidiaries. The completion of the above process is subject to regulatory and other approvals (in India and overseas). At this stage, it is not possible for the management to estimate the financial impact on the Company, if any, arising out of potential historical non-compliances with applicable laws, if established.
c) As explained in Note 40(d) to the standalone financial statements, the Managerial remuneration for the year ended March 31,2015 included an amount paid in excess of the limit prescribed under the provisions of Schedule V to the Act by INR 134 million to the former Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer (ED & CFO). The Company has initiated steps, including by way of filing a suit for recovery before the jurisdictional court, to recover such excess remuneration from the former ED & CFO.
d) Note 40(e) to the standalone financial statements which describes the various regulatory notices and communications received from Securities Exchange Board of India (''SEBI''), Ministry of Corporate Affairs (''MCA'')/ Registrar of Companies, Karnataka (the ''Registrar''), Directorate of Enforcement (''ED'') to which the Company has responded to and communication received from the Company''s authorised dealer banks (''AD'') to which the Company is in the process of responding.
e) Note 40(f) to the standalone financial statements which describes the uncertainty relating to the final outcome of litigations with a bank ("the bank") that continues to retain the pledge of certain assets of the Company and of the Company''s shares held by USL Benefit Trust (of which the Company is the sole beneficiary) despite the Company prepaying the term loan to that bank along with the prepayment penalty and further depositing an additional sum of INR 459 million demanded by the bank and as directed by the Hon''ble High Court of Karnataka (the "Court"). Based on management assessment supported by external legal opinions, the Company has disclosed the aforesaid amount of INR 459 million under Other
Non-current financial assets as recoverable from the bank pending the final outcome of the litigation. In a separate proceeding before the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal, the bank''s appeal against the judgement awarded by Debt Recovery Tribunal in favour of the Company in respect of attachment of the aforesaid pledged shares for recovery of the loans advanced by the bank to Kingfisher Airlines Limited is pending disposal.
f) As explained in Note 40(g) to the standalone financial statements, the Company came across information suggesting continuing past practices resulting in differences in reporting to the relevant Regulatory Authorities of yields of certain non-potable intermediates and associated process losses in the liquor manufacturing process. Related actions taken and monitoring of future
development by the Company in this respect have been described in the said note.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of the matters described
under paragraph 4 above.
5. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the standalone financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Key audit matter |
How our audit addressed the key audit matter |
a) Assessment of Expected Credit Loss (ECL) provision in respect of Loans to subsidiaries (Refer Notes 5 and 31 to the standalone financial statements) These loans to subsidiaries fall within the scope of Ind AS 109-Financial Instruments and are measured at amortised cost using effective interest method. A credit loss provision is recorded to adjust the balance to the present value of estimated cash flows. The Company has made a (net) provision for credit loss of INR 475 million (March 31, 2020: IR 478 million) for the year ended March 31, 2021. We considered provisioning for credit loss on loans to subsidiaries as a key audit matter as estimation of credit loss provision requires management to make significant assumptions on forward looking information for subsidiaries such as financial projections, other resources and the ability of the subsidiaries to repay those loans. |
Our audit procedures included the following: ⢠Understood, evaluated and tested the design and operating effectiveness of Company''s controls to assess the adequacy of credit loss on loans to subsidiaries. ⢠Tested the methodology applied in the credit loss provision estimation by comparing it to the requirements of the relevant accounting standard. ⢠Examined the repayment terms by reference to the loan agreements with subsidiaries ⢠Tested the mathematical accuracy of management''s model used to calculate credit loss provision and evaluated key underlying assumptions such as expected growth in revenue, cost savings, timing and ability to repay loans by evaluation of forecasts of future cash flows. ⢠Evaluated the adequacy of disclosures made in the standalone financial statements. Based on above audit procedures performed, we did not note any significant exception to ECL provision in respect of loans to subsidiaries. |
a) Assessment of the appropriateness of provisions recognised and contingent liabilities disclosed in respect of certain tax matters (Refer notes 8, 17 and 42 to the standalone financial statements and Appendix 1 to Annexure A of the Audit Report) |
Our audit procedures included the following: ⢠Understood, assessed and tested the design and operating effectiveness of the Company''s controls in respect of identifying potential tax exposures and/or the accounting and disclosures thereof. ⢠Evaluated the related accounting policy for provisioning for tax exposures/ disclosure of contingent liabilities by comparing it to the requirements of the relevant accounting standards. |
Other Information
6. The Company''s Board of Directors is responsible for preparation of the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Report of the Directors, Business Responsibility Report, Corporate Governance Report and Management Discussion and Analysis, but does not include the standalone financial statements and our auditor''s report thereon.
7. Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
8. In connection with our audit of the standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the standalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have
Key audit matter |
How our audit addressed the key audit matter |
As at March 31, 2021, the Company has significant tax |
⢠Obtained management''s assessment in respect of tax demands |
exposures and is subject to periodic assessments/ demands by |
on whether tax outflow is either probable, possible or remote. |
tax authorities on transfer pricing, income tax and a range of |
⢠Evaluated the management''s assessment with the help of |
indirect tax matters. Consequent to such tax assessments and |
auditors'' experts, where necessary, as follows: |
demands relating to past several years, the Company has paid certain amounts under protest at various dates. The Company |
o For the samples selected, read the correspondences |
has also filed appeals with various appellate authorities against such demands. |
received during the year from the tax authorities/ orders from appellate authorities. |
Management judgement is involved in assessing the likelihood |
o Read views provided by the management/ management tax experts as applicable. |
of ultimate outcome of the tax disputes to decide on the accounting/ disclosure requirements. In certain complex matters the probable amount of the outflows determined by |
o Assessed management''s positions on significant tax exposures in accordance with tax laws and past precedents of tax judgements. |
management is supported by opinions obtained from external |
|
tax counsels/ assessment performed by internal experts |
o Ensured completeness of litigations by inquiring with the |
(management tax experts). |
management, review of board minutes, and review of |
We considered this a key audit matter as: |
significant legal expenses. o Evaluated the objectivity, competence and capabilities of the management tax experts. |
⢠The amounts involved are significant to the standalone |
o Evaluated the adequacy of disclosures made in the |
financial statements. |
standalone financial statements. |
⢠Change in the management''s judgements and estimates may |
Based on the above procedures, we considered the management''s |
significantly affect the provisions recognised or contingent |
|
liabilities disclosed. |
assessment in recognising provisions and disclosing contingent |
liabilities in respect of the stated tax matters, as reasonable. |
|
⢠Matters of disputes are complex in some cases due to the industry in which the Company operates and may lack clarity under tax laws. |
performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
9. The Company''s Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance (including other comprehensive income), changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act . This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and
for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate implementation and maintenance of accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
10. In preparing the standalone financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company''s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Company''s financial reporting process.
Financial Statements
11. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor''s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these standalone financial statements.
12. As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit.
13. We also:
a) Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the standalone financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls.
b) Obtain an understanding of internal controls relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under Section 143(3) (i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
c) Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
d) Conclude on the appropriateness of management''s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company''s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor''s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor''s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
e) Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the standalone financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
14. We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal controls that we identify during our audit.
15. We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
16. From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor''s report unless law
g) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor''s Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
i. The Company has disclosed the impact, if any, of pending litigations as at March 31, 2021 on its financial position in its standalone financial statements - Refer Notes 8, 17, 40(c),
40(d), 40(f) and 42 to the standalone financial statements;
ii. The Company has long-term contracts for which there are no material foreseeable losses. The Company did not have derivative contracts as at March 31, 2021 - Refer Note 39 to the standalone financial statements;
iii. The Company has transferred amounts required to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by due dates during the year ended March 31, 2021 . Also Refer Note 16 to the Standalone financial statements;
iv. The reporting on disclosures relating to Specified Bank Notes is not applicable to the Company for the year ended March 31,2021.
19. The Company has paid/ provided for managerial remuneration in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act.
For Price Waterhouse & Co Chartered Accountants LLP
Firm Registration Number: 304026E/E-300009
Chartered Accountants
Dibyendu Majumder
Partner
Membership Number: 057687
UDIN: 21057687AAAAAP6562
Place : Bengaluru
Date : May 21, 2021
Mar 31, 2019
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS'' REPORT
To the Members of United Spirits Limited
Report on the audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
Opinion
1. We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of United Spirits Limited ("the Company"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2019, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
2. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 (the "Act") in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the Indian Accounting Standards prescribed under Section 133 of the Act read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, as amended, ("Ind AS") and other accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31,2019,and its total comprehensive income (comprising of profit and other comprehensive income), changes in equity and its cash flows for the year then ended on that date.
Basis for opinion
3. We conducted our audit of the standalone financial statements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under Section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the Auditor''s Responsibilities for the audit of the Standalone Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Emphasis of Matter
4. We draw attention to the following matters:
a) As explained in Note 41 to the standalone financial statements, upon completion of the Initial Inquiry,
which identified references to certain Additional Parties and certain Additional Matters, the MD & CEO, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, had carried out an Additional Inquiry that revealed transactions indicating actual and potential diversion of funds from the Company and its Indian and overseas subsidiaries to, in most cases, Indian and overseas entities that appear to be affiliated or associated with the Company''s erstwhile nonexecutive Chairman and other potentially improper transactions.The amounts identified in the Additional Inquiry have been fully provided for or expensed by the Company and/or its subsidiaries in earlier periods. Management is currently unable to estimate the financial impact on the Company, if any, arising from potential non-compliances with applicable laws in respect of the above.
b) As explained in Note 42(b) to the standalone financial statements, pursuant to its strategic objective of divesting non-core assets and rationalization of its subsidiaries, the Company has commenced the rationalization process and has sought approval of regulatory authorities for divesting its stake in an overseas subsidiary and liquidating three of its wholly owned overseas subsidiaries and three of its wholly owned step-down overseas subsidiaries. The completion of the above divestment as well as liquidations by the Company are subject to regulatory and other approvals (in India and overseas). At this stage, it is not possible for the management to estimate the financial impact on the Company, if any, arising out of potential historical non-compliances, if established, with applicable laws, with respect to its overseas subsidiaries.
c) As explained in Note 44(a) to the standalone financial statements, the Managerial remuneration for the year ended March 31, 2015 included an amount paid in excess of the limit prescribed under the provisions of Schedule V to the Act by INR 134 million to the former Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer (ED & CFO). The Company has initiated steps, including by way of filing a suit for recovery before the jurisdictional court, to recover such excess remuneration from the former ED & CFO.
d) Note 45 to the standalone financial statements:
i) regarding clarifications sought by Securities and Exchange Board of India on matters covered by the Company''s Initial Inquiry and Additional Inquiry and certain aspects of the agreement entered into by the Company with its erstwhile non-executive Chairman to which the Company has responded;
ii) regarding various issues raised and show cause notices issued pursuant to an inspection under Section 206(5) of the Companies Act, 2013 by Ministry of Corporate Affairs/ Registrar of Companies, Karnataka, alleging violation of certain provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and Companies Act, 2013, to which the Company had responded. Following the aforesaid show cause notices,the Company received a letter dated October 13, 2017 from the Registrar of Companies, Karnataka (the "Registrar") inviting the Company''s attention to the compounding provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and Companies Act, 2013. The Company thereafter filed applications for compounding of offences with the Registrar in relation to three show cause notices, applications for adjudication with the Registrar in relation to two show cause notices and requested the Registrar to drop one show cause notice based on expert legal advice received, for which response is awaited.
iii) regarding the ongoing investigation by the Directorate of Enforcement in connection with the agreement entered into by the Company with its erstwhile non-executive Chairman and investigations under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 to which the Company had responded; and
iv) regarding clarifications sought by Authorised Dealer banks in relation to certain queries from the Reserve Bank of India with regard to remittances made in prior years by the Company to its overseas subsidiaries, past acquisition of
the Whyte and Mackay group, clarifications on Annual Performance Reports submitted for prior years and clarifications on compliances relating to the Company''s overseas Branch office, to which the Company has responded/ is in process of responding.
e) As explained in Note 46 to the standalone financial statements, the Company is in litigation with a bank ("the Bank") that continues to retain the pledge of certain assets of the Company and of the Company''s shares held by USL Benefit Trust (of which the Company is the sole beneficiary) despite the Company prepaying the term loan to that bank along with the prepayment penalty and further depositing an additional sum of INR 459 million demanded by the Bank and as directed by the Hon''ble High Court of Karnataka (the "Court"). The Court has directed the Bank not to deal with the pledged assets of the Company (including the shares held by USL Benefit Trust) as mentioned above till the disposal of the original writ petition filed by the Company in the Court.
f) As explained in Note 48 to the standalone financial statements, the Company came across information suggesting continuing past practices resulting in differences in reporting to the relevant Regulatory Authorities of yields of certain non-potable intermediates and associated process losses in the liquor manufacturing process, and the related actions taken by the Company in this respect.The Company will continue to monitor developments, if any, on this matter.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of the matters described under paragraph 4 above.
Key audit matters
5. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the standalone financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Key audit matter |
How our audit addressed the key audit matter |
a) Assessment of the appropriateness of provisions recognised and contingent liabilities disclosed in respect of certain tax matters (Refer notes 8, 18 and 50 to the standalone financial statements and Appendix 1 to Annexure A of the Audit Report) As at March 31, 2019, the Company has significant tax exposures and is subject to periodic assessments/ challenges by tax authorities on transfer pricing, income tax and a range of indirect tax matters. |
Our audit procedures included the following: ⢠Understood, assessed and tested the design and operating effectiveness of the Company''s controls in respect of identifying potential tax exposures and/or the accounting and disclosures thereof. ⢠Evaluated the related accounting policy for provisioning for tax exposures/ disclosure of contingent liabilities. |
Key audit matter |
How our audit addressed the key audit matter |
Consequent to such tax assessments and demands relating to past several years, the Company has paid certain amounts under protest at various dates. The Company has also filed appeals with various appellate authorities against such demands. Management judgement is involved in assessing the likelihood of ultimate outcome of the tax disputes to decide on the accounting/ disclosure requirements. In certain complex matters the probable amount of the outflows determined by management is supported by opinions obtained from external tax counsels/ experts (management tax experts). We considered this a key audit matter as: ⢠The amounts involved are significant to the standalone financial statements ⢠Change in the management''s judgements and estimates may significantly affect the provisions recognised or contingent liabilities disclosed ⢠Matters of disputes are complex in some cases due to the industry in which the Company operates and may lack clarity under tax laws. |
⢠Obtained management''s assessment in respect of tax demands on whether tax outflow is either probable, possible or remote. |
⢠Along with the auditors'' experts, where necessary, evaluated the management''s assessment as follows: |
o For the samples selected, read the correspondences received during the year from the tax authorities. |
o Read views provided by the management, management tax experts as applicable. |
o Assessed management''s positions on significant tax exposures for reasonableness. |
o Ensured completeness of litigations by inquiring with the management, review of board minutes, and review of significant legal expenses. |
o Evaluated the objectivity, competence and capabilities of the management tax experts |
o Evaluated the adequacy of disclosures made in the standalone financial statements. |
Based on the above procedures, we considered the management''s assessment in recognising provisions and disclosing contingent liabilities in respect of the stated tax matters, as reasonable. |
b) Assessment of Expected Credit Loss (ECL) provision in respect of Loans to subsidiaries (Refer Note 31 to the standalone financial statements) The Company has outstanding loans due from some of its subsidiaries aggregating to INR 60,616 million as at year end. These loans to subsidiaries fall within the scope of Ind AS 1 09- Financial Instruments and are measured at amortised cost using effective interest method. A credit loss provision is recorded to adjust the balance to the present value of estimated cash flows. The Company carries an accumulated credit loss provision of INR 54,363 million against such loans as at year end. We considered provisioning for credit loss on loans to subsidiaries as a key audit matter as estimation of credit loss provision requires management to make significant assumptions on forward looking information for subsidiaries such as financial projections and the ability of the subsidiaries to repay those loans. |
Our audit procedures included the following: |
⢠Understanding, evaluation of the design and testing the operating effectiveness of controls to assess the adequacy of credit loss on loans to subsidiaries. |
⢠Tested the methodology applied in the credit loss provision estimation by comparing it to the requirements of the relevant accounting standard. |
⢠Tested the mathematical accuracy of management''s model used to calculate credit loss provision. |
⢠Examined the repayment terms by reference to the loan agreements with subsidiaries and evaluated key underlying assumptions such as expected growth in revenue, cost savings, timing and ability to repay loans by evaluation of forecasts of future cash flows. |
⢠Evaluated the adequacy of disclosures made in the standalone financial statements. |
Based on above audit procedures performed, we did not note any significant exception to ECL provision in respect of loans to subsidiaries. |
Other Information
6. The Company''s Board of Directors is responsible for preparation of other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Report of the Directors, Business Responsibility Report, Corporate Governance Report and Management Discussion and Analysis, but does not include the standalone financial statements and our auditor''s report thereon.
7. Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
8. In connection with our audit of the standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the standalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Responsibilities of management for the Standalone Financial Statements
9. The Company''s Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance (including other comprehensive income), changes in equity and cashflows of the Company in accordance with the Ind AS and other accounting principles generally accepted in India. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate implementation and maintenance of accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
10. In preparing the standalone financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company''s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Company''s financial reporting process.
Auditor''s responsibilities for the audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
11. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor''s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these standalone financial statements.
12. As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit.
13. We also:
a) Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the standalone financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
b) Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under Section 143(3)(i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
c) Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
d) Conclude on the appropriateness of management''s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company''s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor''s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor''s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
e) Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the standalone financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
14. We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal controls that we identify during our audit.
15. We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
16. From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor''s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
17. As required by the Companies (Auditor''s Report) Order, 2016, issued by the Central Government of India in terms of Section 143(11) of the Act ("the Order"), and on the basis of such checks of the books and records of the Company as we considered appropriate and according to the information and explanations given to us, we give in the "Annexure A" statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
18. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, we report that:
a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books.
c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including other comprehensive income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account.
d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act, read with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014.
e) The matters stated in paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (e) and (f) of paragraph 4 above titled ''Emphasis of matter'' in our opinion, may have an adverse effect on the functioning of the Company.
f) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31,2019 and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2019 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act.
g) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to the standalone financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure B".
h) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor''s Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
i. The Company has disclosed the impact, if any, of pending litigations as at March 31, 2019 on its financial position in its standalone financial statements - Refer Notes 8,18,43,44,46,47 and 50 to the standalone financial statements;
ii. The Company did not have any long term contracts including derivative contracts as at March 31, 2019 for which there were any material foreseeable losses - Refer Note 56 to the standalone financial statements;
iii. The Company has transferred amounts required to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by due dates during the year ended March 31, 2019 except for five instances aggregating to INR 1 million with delays ranging from 5 to 22 days; and
iv. The reporting on disclosures relating to Specified Bank Notes is not applicable to the Company for the year ended March 31,2019.
For Price Water house & Co Chartered Accountants LLP |
Firm Registration Number: 304026E/E-300009 |
Pradip Kanakia |
Partner |
Membership Number: 039985 |
Bengaluru |
May 29, 2019 |
ANNEXURE ATO INDEPENDENT AUDITORS'' REPORT
Referred to in paragraph 17 of the Independent Auditors'' Report of even date to the members of United Spirits Limited on the standalone financial statements as of and for the year ended March 31,2019
i. (a) The Company is maintaining proper records showing full particulars, including quantitative details and situation, of fixed assets.
(b) The fixed assets are physically verified by the Management according to a phased programme designed to coverall the items over a period of three years which, in our opinion, is reasonable having regard to the size of the Company and the nature of its assets. Pursuant to the programme, a portion of the fixed assets has been physically verified by the Management during the year and no material discrepancies have been noticed on such verification.
(c) The title deeds of immovable properties, as disclosed in Note 3.1 to the standalone financial statements (Property, plant and equipment), are held in the name of the Company, except as disclosed below:
Particulars |
Freehold land |
Leasehold land |
Buildings |
Number of cases |
3 |
1 |
3 |
Gross carrying amount as at March 31,2019 (INR millions) |
16 |
10 |
398 |
Net carrying amount as at March 31, 2019 (INR millions) |
16 |
5 |
351 |
ii. The physical verification of inventory including stocks with certain third parties and excluding stock in transit have been conducted at reasonable intervals by the Management during the year. In respect of inventory lying with the remaining third parties, these have substantially been confirmed by them. The discrepancies noticed on physical verification of inventory as compared to book records were not material.
iii. There are no companies covered in the register maintained under Section 189 of the Act for the purpose of loans granted by the Company.
iv. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of Section 185 and 186 of the Act in respect of the loans and investments made. The Company has not provided any guarantees or security to parties covered under Section 185 and 186 of the Act.
v. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of Sections 73, 74, 75 and 76 or any other relevant provisions of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder to the extent notified, with regard to the deposits accepted from the public. According to the information and explanations given to us, no order has been passed by the Company Law Board or National Company Law Tribunal or Reserve Bank of India or any Court or any otherTribunal on the Company in respect of the aforesaid deposits.
vi. The Central Government of India has not specified the maintenance of cost records under Section 148 (1) of the Act for any of the products of the Company.
vii. (a) According to the information and explanations given to us including management''s assessment in respect of the provident fund matter as referred to in Note 50 (d) to the standalone financial statements and the records of the Company examined by us, in our opinion, the Company is generally regular in depositing the undisputed statutory dues in respect of provident fund, employees'' state insurance, tax deducted at source, tax collected at source, value added tax, goods and services tax, though there has been a delay in a few cases and is regular in depositing other undisputed statutory dues including sales tax, duty of excise, income tax, duty of customs and other material statutory dues, as applicable, with appropriate authorities.
The extent of the arrears of undisputed statutory dues outstanding as at March 31,2019, for a period of more than six months from the date they became payable are as follows:
Name of the statute |
Nature of dues |
Amount (INR million) |
Period to which the amount relates |
Due date |
Date of Payment |
Stamp duty acts of various states |
Stamp duty and interest thereon |
138# |
Various |
Various |
Not yet paid |
# Estimated amount of liability including interest for delay in payment.
(b) According to the information and explanations given to us and the records of the Company examined by us, the particulars of dues of income tax, sales tax, value added tax, service tax, duty of customs, duty of excise and entry tax as at March 31, 2019 which have not been deposited on account of a dispute are disclosed in Appendix 1 to this report. There have been no dues of goods and services tax which have not been deposited on account of a dispute.
viii. According to the records of the Company examined by us and the information and explanations given to us, the Company has not defaulted in repayment of loans or borrowings to any financial institution or bank or Government or dues to debenture holders as at the balance sheet date.
ix. The Company has not raised any moneys by way of initial public offer, further public offer (including debt instruments) and term loans. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(ix) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
x. During the course of our examination of the books and records of the Company, carried out in accordance with the generally accepted auditing practices in India, and according to the information and explanations given to us, except for the matter relating to differences in reporting to relevant Regulatory Authorities of yields of certain non-potable intermediates and associated process losses in the liquor manufacturing process described in Note 48 to the standalone financial statements for the year ended March 31,2019, we have neither come across any instance of material fraud by the Company or on the Company by its officers or employees, noticed or reported during the year, nor have we been informed of such case by the Management.
xi. Read with paragraph 4(c) of our report of even date on the standalone financial statements, the Company has paid/ provided for managerial remuneration in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act.
xii. As the Company is not a Nidhi Company and the Nidhi Rules, 2014 are not applicable to it, the provisions of Clause 3(xii) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
xiii. The Company has entered into transactions with related parties in compliance with the provisions of Sections 177 and 188 of the Act. The details of such related party transactions have been disclosed in the standalone financial statements as required under Indian Accounting Standard (Ind AS) 24, Related Party Disclosures specified under Section 133 of the Act read with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules 2014.
xiv. The Company has not made any preferential allotment of shares or fully or partly convertible debentures during the year. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(xiv) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
xv. The Company has not entered into any non cash transactions with its directors or persons connected with them. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(xv) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
xvi. The Company is not required to be registered under Section 45-IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(xvi) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
For Price Water house & Co Chartered Accountants LLP |
Firm Registration Number: 304026E/E-300009 |
Pradip Kanakia |
Partner |
Membership Number: 039985 |
Bengaluru |
May 29, 2019 |
APPENDIX 1 - PARTICULARS OF TAX DUES NOT DEPOSITED ON ACCOUNT OF A DISPUTE*
Referred to in paragraph vii(b) of Annexure A to the Independent Auditors''Report to the members of United Spirits Limited on the standalone financial statements as of and for the year ended March 31,2019
Name of the statute |
Nature of dues |
Disputed amount (INR millions) |
Amount paid (INR millions) |
Unpaid Amount (INR millions) |
Financial Year to which the amount relates |
Forum where the dispute is pending |
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
Income Tax |
563 |
563 |
- |
2006-07 to 2008-09 |
Assessing Officer of Income Tax |
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
IncomeTax |
2,553 |
1,615 |
938 |
1996-97,2003-04,2005-06, 2007-08,2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13 and 2013-14 |
Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) |
IncomeTax Act, 1961 |
Income Tax |
7,023 |
302 |
6,721 |
2014-15 |
Dispute Resolution Panel |
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
Income Tax |
16,767 |
7,080 |
9,687 |
1988-89 to 1989-90, 1991-92 to 1993-94, 1995-96, 1997-98 to 2000-01, 2002-03 to 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 to 2008-09, 2011- 12 to 2013-14 |
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal |
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
Income Tax |
1,679 |
- |
1,679 |
1993-94 to 2004-05 |
High Courts of various states |
Customs Act, 1962 |
Custom Duty |
0 |
- |
0 |
1997-98 |
Commissioner of Customs |
Customs Act, 1962 |
Custom Duty |
2 |
- |
2 |
1993-94 to 1995-96 |
Madras High Court |
Service Tax - Finance Act 1994 |
Service Tax |
1,344 |
- |
1,344 |
2006-07 to 2015-16 |
Commissioner of Service Tax |
Service Tax - Finance Act 1994 |
Service Tax |
678 |
31 |
647 |
2004-05 to 2006-07, 2008-09 to 2010-11 |
Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal |
Service Tax - Finance Act 1994 |
Service Tax |
1 |
- |
1 |
2012-13 |
High Court of Kerala |
Central Excise Act, 1944 |
Central Excise Duty |
1,473 |
70 |
1,403 |
1994-95, 1999-2000 and 2017-2018 |
Commissioner of Central Excise |
Central Excise Act, 1944 |
Central Excise Duty |
2 |
2 |
1999-2000 |
Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise |
|
Karnataka Sales Tax Act, 1957 |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
43 |
43 |
1996-97 and 2006-07 |
Civil Court, Karnataka |
|
West Bengal Sales Tax Act, 1994 |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
760 |
" |
760 |
2015-16 |
Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Central and Various State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
32 |
6 |
26 |
1993-94to 1997-98,2010-11 to 2014-15 |
Commercial Tax Officer |
* As represented by the management
#''0''indicates that the amounts involved are below INR five lakhs and the sign''-''indicates that amounts are Nil
Referred to in paragraph vii(b) of Annexure A to the Independent Auditors'' Report to the members of United Spirits Limited on the standalone financial statements as of and for the year ended March 31, 2019
Name of the statute |
Nature of dues |
Disputed amount (INR millions) |
Amount paid (INR millions) |
Unpaid Amount (INR millions) |
Financial Year to which the amount relates |
Forum where the dispute is pending |
Central and Various State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/Value Added Tax |
137 |
41 |
96 |
1994-95 to 1996-97, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2009-10 to 2013-14, 2015-16 |
Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Central and Various State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/Value Added Tax |
21 |
0 |
21 |
2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07 to 2013-14, 2016-17and 2017-18 |
Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Central and Various State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/Value Added Tax |
213 |
53 |
160 |
1985-86,1989-90, 2004-05 to 2013-14 and 2015-16and 2017-18 |
Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Central and Various State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/Value Added Tax |
1,619 |
471 |
1,148 |
2000-01 to 2014-15 |
Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Central and Various State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/Value Added Tax |
237 |
47 |
190 |
1987-88,1990-91, 1992-93 to 2000-01, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08,2009-10 to 2013-14 |
Commercial Taxes Appellate Tribunal |
Central and Various State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/Value Added Tax |
15 |
15 |
1993-94,2003-04, 2005-06 |
Commercial Taxes Appellate Tribunal and Revisionary Board |
|
Central and Various State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/Value Added Tax |
198 |
157 |
41 |
1978-79 to 1984-85, 1988-89,1989-90, 1992-93,1993-94, 1996-97 to 2001 -02, 2007-08 and 2009- 10 to 2011-12 |
High Courts of various states |
Various Entry Tax Acts |
Entry Tax |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1989-90 |
Assessing Officer |
Various Entry Tax Acts |
Entry Tax |
37 |
37 |
2010-11 to 2012-13 |
Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
|
Various Entry Tax Acts |
Entry Tax |
7 |
1 |
6 |
2007-08 to 2010- 11 |
Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Various Entry Tax Acts |
Entry Tax |
24 |
16 |
8 |
2000-01,2004-05 and 2007-08 |
Commercial Taxes Appellate Tribunal |
Various Entry Tax Acts |
Entry Tax |
250 |
- |
250 |
2005-06, 2009-10 |
High Court of various states |
Various Entry Tax Acts |
Entry Tax |
39 |
30 |
9 |
2003-04 to 2013-14 |
Supreme Court |
Bengal Excise Act, 1909 and Bengal Excise (Amendment) Act, 2012 |
State Excise |
13 |
13 |
1993-94 |
Civil Court, West Bengal |
|
Bengal Excise Act, 1909 and Bengal Excise (Amendment) Act, 2012 |
State Excise |
0 |
0 |
1994-95 and 2014-15 |
Collector of State Excise, West Bengal |
|
Bengal Excise Act, 1909 and Bengal Excise (Amendment) Act, 2012 |
State Excise |
9 |
9 |
1993-94 and 2016-17 |
Additional District Magistrate, West Bengal |
|
Various State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
26 |
- |
26 |
2010-11 to 2017-18 |
Superintendent of State Excise |
Various State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
103 |
6 |
97 |
1974-75 to 1988-89, 1993-94 to 1998-99, 2002-03 to 2009-10, 2011-12,2013-1410 2016-17 |
Commissioners of State Excise |
Various State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
69 |
3 |
66 |
1987-88,2001-0210 2003-04 and 2005-06 |
Additional Commissioners of Excise |
Various State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
24 |
- |
24 |
2001 -02 and 2003-04 to 2007-08 |
State Taxation Tribunals |
Various State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
474 |
140 |
334 |
1972-73,1973-74,1980-81,1982-83,1997-98, 1998-99,2001-02,2002-03,2010-11,2012-1310 2015-16 |
High Courts of various states |
Various State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
1,234 |
75 |
1,159 |
1971-72,1992-93,1996-97, 2002-03 |
Supreme Court |
* As represented by the management
#''0''indicates that the amounts involved are below INR five lakhs and the sign''-''indicates that amounts are Nil
ANNEXURE B TO INDEPENDENT AUDITORS'' REPORT
Report on the Internal Financial Controls under Section 143(3) (i) of the Act
1. We have audited the internal financial controls with reference to the financial statements of United Spirits Limited ("the Company") as of March 31, 2019 in conjunction with our audit of the standalone financial statements of the Company for the year ended on that date.
Management''s Responsibility for Internal Financial Controls
2. The Company''s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal financial controls based on the internal control over financial reporting criteria established by the Company considering the essential components of internal control stated in the Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting (the "Guidance Note") issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ("ICAI"). These responsibilities include the design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls that were operating effectively for ensuring the orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to company''s policies, the safeguarding of its assets, the prevention and detection of frauds and errors, the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records.and the timely preparation of reliable financial information, as required under the Act.
Auditors'' Responsibility
3. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company''s internal financial controls with reference to financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Guidance Note and the Standards on Auditing deemed to be prescribed under Section 143(10) of the Act to the extent applicable to an audit of internal financial controls, both applicable to an audit of internal financial controls and both issued by ICAI. Those Standards and the Guidance Note require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether adequate internal financial controls with reference to financial statements were established and maintained and if such controls operated effectively in all material respects.
4. Our audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the adequacy of the internal financial controls system with reference to financial statements and their operating effectiveness. Our audit of internal financial controls with reference to financial statements included obtaining an understanding of internal financial controls with reference to financial statements, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls based on the assessed risk.The procedures selected depend on the auditor''s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error.
5. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the Company''s internal financial controls system with reference to the financial statements.
Meaning of Internal Financial Controls with reference to Financial Statements
6. A company''s internal financial control with reference to financial statements is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company''s internal financial control with reference to financial statements includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorisations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorised acquisition, use, or disposition of the company''s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Inherent Limitations of Internal Financial Controls with reference to Financial Statements
7. Because of the inherent limitations of internal financial controls with reference to financial statements, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, projections of any evaluation of the internal financial controls with reference to financial statements to future periods are subject to the risk that the internal financial control with reference to financial statements may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Opinion
8. In our opinion, the Company has, in all material respects, an adequate internal financial controls system with reference to financial statements and such internal financial controls with reference to financial statements were operating effectively as of March 31, 2019, based on the internal control over financial reporting criteria established by the Company considering the essential components of internal control stated in the Guidance Note issued by ICAI.
For Price Water house & Co Chartered Accountants LLP |
Firm Registration Number: 304026E/E-300009 |
Pradip Kanakia |
Partner |
Membership Number: 039985 |
Bengaluru |
May 29, 2019 |
Mar 31, 2018
Report on the Standalone Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) Financial Statements
1. We have audited the accompanying standalone Ind AS financial statements of United Spirits Limited(âthe Companyâ), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2018, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Cash Flow Statement and the Statement of Changes in Equity for the year then ended, and a summary of the significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
Managementâs Responsibility for the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements
2. The Companyâs Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Companies Act, 2013 (âthe Actâ) with respect to the preparation of these standalone Ind AS financial statements to give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance (including other comprehensive income), cash flows and changes in equity of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Indian Accounting Standards specified in the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015 (as amended) under Section 133 of the Act. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design,implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls,that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the standalone Ind AS financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditorsâ Responsibility
3. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these standalone Ind AS financial statements based on our audit.
4. We have taken into account the provisions of the Act and the Rules made thereunder including the accounting and auditing standards and matters which are required to be included in the audit report under the provisions of the Act and the Rules made thereunder.
5. We conducted our audit of the standalone Ind AS financial statements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing specified under Section 143(10) of the Act and other applicable authoritative pronouncements issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Those Standards and pronouncements require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone Ind AS financial statements are free from material misstatement.
6. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and the disclosures in the standalone Ind AS financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditorsâ judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the standalone Ind AS financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal financial control relevant to the Companyâs preparation of the standalone Ind AS financial statements that give a true and fair view, in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of the accounting estimates made by the Companyâs Directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the standalone Ind AS financial statements.
7. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the standalone Ind AS financial statements.
Opinion
8. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone Ind AS financial statements give the information required by the Act in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2018, and its total comprehensive income (comprising of profit and other comprehensive income), its cash flows and the changes in equity for the year ended on that date.
Emphasis of Matter
9. We draw attention to the following matters:
a) As explained in Note 42 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements, the Managerial remuneration for the year ended March 31, 2015 included amounts paid to managerial personnel in excess of the limits prescribed under the provisions of Schedule V to the Act by INR 51 million to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) and by INR 134 million to the former Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer (ED & CFO). With regard to excess remuneration paid to MD & CEO the Company has made the necessary application, along with the required clarifications, for Central Government approval, response to which is awaited. Further, in respect of excess remuneration paid to the former ED & CFO the Company has initiated steps, including by way of filing a suit for recovery before the jurisdictional court, to recover such excess remuneration.
b) As explained in Note 40 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements, upon completion of the Initial Inquiry, which identified references to certain Additional Parties and certain Additional Matters, the MD & CEO, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, had carried out an Additional Inquiry that revealed transactions indicating actual or potential fund diversions to entities that appear to be affiliated or associated with the erstwhile non-executive Chairman of the Company and other potentially improper transactions. The amounts identified in the Additional Inquiry have been fully provided for or expensed by the Company or its subsidiaries in earlier periods. Management is currently unable to estimate the financial impact on the Company, if any, arising from potential non-compliances with applicable laws in respect of the above.
c) As explained in Note 44 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements, the Company is in litigation with a bank (âthe Bankâ) that continues to retain the pledge of certain assets of the Company and of the Companyâs shares held by USL Benefit Trust (of which the Company is sole beneficiary) despite the Company prepaying the term loan to that bank along with the prepayment penalty and further depositing an additional sum of INR 459 million demanded by the Bank and as directed by the Honourable High Court of Karnataka (the âCourt1). The Court has directed the Bank not to deal with the pledged assets of the Company (including Companyâs shares held by USL Benefit Trust) as mentioned above till the disposal of the original writ petition filed by the Company in the Court.
d) Note 46 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements which describes the uncertainty related to the outcome of Special Leave Petition (the âSLPâ) filed by the Government of Bihar with the Honourable Supreme court, in relation to the ban imposed by the Government of Bihar on trade and consumption of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and Foreign Liquor in the State of Bihar with effect from April 5, 2016 which was set aside by the Honourable High Court of Patna in its judgment dated September 30, 2016. The statutory duties (VAT and Excise duty) paid on such stocks aggregating to INR 553 million (including duties paid by the tie-up manufacturing units) have been considered as good and receivable from the Government of Bihar not withstanding a letter received during the quarter ended September 30, 2017 by the Company from the Government of Bihar stating that it is not liable to refund the aforesaid statutory duties under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. The Company has on October 17, 2017, filed a writ petition before the Honourable High Court of Patna seeking refund of the aforesaid statutory duties paid by the Company to the Government of Bihar, which is presently pending adjudication.
e) Note 43 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements:
i. regarding clarifications sought by Securities and Exchange Board of India on matters covered by the Companyâs Initial Inquiry and Additional Inquiry and certain aspects of the agreement between the Company and its erstwhile nonexecutive chairman to which the Company has responded;
ii. regarding various issues raised and show cause notices issued pursuant to an inspection under Section 206(5) of the Act by Ministry of Corporate Affairs/ Registrar of Companies, Karnataka, alleging violation of certain provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and Companies Act, 2013, to which the Company had responded. Further, the Company has received a letter dated October 13, 2017 from the Registrar of Companies, Karnataka (the âRegistrarâ) inviting the Companyâs attention to the compounding provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and Companies Act, 2013 following the aforesaid show cause notices. The Company has filed applications for compounding of offences with the Registrar in relation to three show cause notices, applications for adjudication with the Registrar in relation to two show cause notices and has requested the Registrar to drop one show cause notice based on an expert legal advice received;
iii. regarding the ongoing investigation by the Directorate of Enforcement under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 to which the Company has responded; and
iv. regarding clarifications sought by Authorised Dealers in relation to certain queries from Reserve Bank of India with regard to remittances made in prior years to subsidiaries of the Company, past acquisition of the Whyte and Mackay group, clarifications on Annual Performance Reports submitted for prior years and clarifications on compliances relating to the Companyâs overseas Branch office, to which the Company has responded.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of the matters described above.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
10. As required by the Companies (Auditorâs Report) Order, 2016, issued by the Central Government of India in terms of Section 143(11) of the Act (âthe Orderâ), and on the basis of such checks of the books and records of the Company as we considered appropriate and according to the information and explanations given to us, we give in the Annexure B a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order.
11. As required by Section 143 (3) of the Act, we report that:
a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books.
(c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including other comprehensive income), the Cash Flow Statement and the Statement of Changes in Equity dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account.
(d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone Ind AS financial statements comply with the Indian Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act.
(e) The matters stated in paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e) of paragraph 9 above titled âEmphasis of matterâ, in our opinion, may have an adverse effect on functioning of the Company.
(f) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31, 2018 and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2018 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164 (2) of the Act.
(g) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in Annexure A.
(h) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditorsâ Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, in our opinion and to the best of our knowledge and belief and according to the information and explanations given to us:
i) The Company has disclosed the impact, if any, of pending litigations as at March 31, 2018 on its financial position in its standalone Ind AS financial statements - Refer Notes 18, 41, 42, 44, 46 and 49 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements;
ii) The Company did not have any long-term contracts including derivative contracts as at March 31, 2018 for which there were any material foreseeable losses- Refer Note 55 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements;
iii) There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company during the year ended March 31, 2018; and
iv) The reporting on disclosures relating to Specified Bank Notes is not applicable to the Company for the year ended March 31, 2018.
ANNEXURE B TO INDEPENDENT AUDITORSâ REPORT
Referred to in paragraph 10 of the Independent Auditorsâ Report of even date to the members of United Spirits Limited on the standalone financial statements as of and for the year ended March 31, 2018
i. (a) The Company is maintaining proper records showing full particulars, including quantitative details and situation, of fixed assets.
(b) The fixed assets are physically verified by the Management according to a phased programme designed to cover all the items over a period of three years which, in our opinion, is reasonable having regard to the size of the Company and the nature of its assets. Pursuant to the programme, a portion of the fixed assets has been physically verified by the Management during the year and no material discrepancies have been noticed on such verification.
(c) The title deeds of immovable properties, as disclosed in Note 3.1 (Property, plant and equipment) and Note 13 (Assets classified as held for sale) to the standalone Ind AS financial statements, are held in the name of the Company except as disclosed below:
Particulars |
Freehold land |
Leasehold land |
Buildings |
Property, plant and equipment: |
|||
Number of cases |
6 |
4 |
5 |
Gross carrying amount as at March 31, 2018 (INR millions) |
241 |
36 |
431 |
Net carrying amount as at March 31, 2018 (INR millions) |
241 |
21 |
393 |
Assets classified as held for sale: |
|||
Number of cases |
- |
- |
2 |
Net carrying amount as at March 31, 2018 (INR millions) |
- |
- |
2 |
ii. The physical verification of inventory excluding stocks with third parties and stock in transit have been conducted at reasonable intervals by the Management during the year. In respect of inventory lying with third parties, these have substantially been confirmed by them. The discrepancies noticed on physical verification of inventory as compared to book records were not material.
iii. There are no companies covered in the register maintained under Section 189 of the Act for the purpose of loans granted by the Company.
iv. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of Section 185 and 186 of the Act in respect of the loans and investments made and guarantees and securities provided by it.
v. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of Sections 73, 74, 75 and 76 or any other relevant provisions of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder to the extent notified, with regard to the deposits accepted from the public. According to the information and explanations given to us, no order has been passed by the Company Law Board or National Company Law Tribunal or Reserve Bank of India or any Court or any other Tribunal on the Company in respect of the aforesaid deposits.
vi. The Central Government of India has not specified the maintenance of cost records under Section 148(1) of the Act for any of the products of the Company.
vii. (a) According to the information and explanations given to us and the records of the Company examined by us, in our opinion, the Company is generally regular in depositing the undisputed statutory dues in respect of provident fund, employeesâ state insurance, tax deducted at source, tax collected at source, value added tax, entry tax, service tax, krishi kalyan cess and swachh bharat cess though there has been delays in some cases and is regular in depositing other undisputed statutory dues including sales tax,duty of excise, duty of customs, goods and service tax with effect from July 1, 2017 and other material statutory dues, as applicable, with appropriate authorities.
The extent of the arrears of statutory dues outstanding as at March 31, 2018, for a period of more than six months from the date they became payable are as follows:
Name of the statute |
Nature of dues |
Amount (INR million) |
period to which the amount relates |
Due date |
Date of payment |
Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958 |
Stamp duty and interest thereon |
200 # |
September 2006 |
September 2006 |
Not yet paid |
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
Tax deducted at Source |
18 |
March 2017 to August 2017 |
7th of next month |
May 18, 2018 |
West Bengal Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas, 2012 |
Entry tax |
1 |
April 2017 to June 2017 |
July 6, 2017 |
April 23, 2018 |
# Estimated amount of liability including interest for delay in payment.
(b) According to the information and explanations given to us and the records of the Company examined by us, the particulars of dues of income tax, sales tax, service tax, duty of customs,duty of excise, entry tax and value added tax as at March 31, 2018 which have not been deposited on account of a dispute are disclosed in Appendix 1.
viii. According to the records of the Company examined by us and the information and explanation given to us, the Company has not defaulted in the repayment of loans or borrowings to any financial institution or bank or dues to the debenture holders as at the balance sheet date. The Company does not have any loans or borrowings from the Government as at balance sheet date.
ix. The Company has not raised any moneys by way of initial public offer, further public offer (including debt instruments) and term loans. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(ix) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
x. During the course of our examination of the books and records of the Company, carried out in accordance with the generally accepted auditing practices in India, and according to the information and explanations given to us, we have neither come across any instance of material fraud by the Company or on the Company by its officers or employees, noticed or reported during the year, nor have we been informed of any such case by the Management.
xi. Read with paragraph 9(a) of our report of even date on the standalone Ind AS financial statements, the Company has paid/ provided for managerial remuneration in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act.
xii. As the Company is not a Nidhi Company and the Nidhi Rules, 2014 are not applicable to it, the provisions of Clause 3(xii) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
xiii. The Company has entered into transactions with related parties in compliance with the provisions of Sections 177 and 188 of the Act. The details of such related party transactions have been disclosed in the standalone Ind AS financial statements as required under Indian Accounting Standard (Ind AS) 24, Related Party Disclosures specified under Section 133 of the Act read with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules 2014.
xiv. The Company has not made any preferential allotment of shares or fully or partly convertible debentures during the year. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(xiv) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
xv. The Company has not entered into any noncash transactions with its directors or persons connected with him. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(xv) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
xvi. The Company is not required to be registered under Section 45-IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(xvi) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
For Price Water house & Co Chartered Accountants LLP
Firm Registration Number: 304026E/E-300009
Pradip Kanakia
Partner
Membership Number: 039985
Bengaluru
May 24, 2018
Mar 31, 2017
Report on the Standalone Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) Financial Statements
1. We have audited the accompanying standalone Ind AS financial statements of United Spirits Limited (âthe Companyâ), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2017, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Cash Flow Statement and the Statement of Changes in Equity for the year then ended, and a summary of the significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
Management''s Responsibility for the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements
2. The Company''s Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Companies Act, 2013 (âthe Actâ) with respect to the preparation of these standalone Ind AS financial statements to give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance (including other comprehensive income), cash flows and changes in equity of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Indian Accounting Standards specified in the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015 (as amended) under Section 133 of the Act. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the standalone Ind AS financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditors'' Responsibility
3. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these standalone Ind AS financial statements based on our audit.
4. We have taken into account the provisions of the Act and the Rules made thereunder including the accounting and auditing standards and matters which are required to be included in the audit report under the provisions of the Act and the Rules made thereunder.
5. We conducted our audit of the standalone Ind AS financial statements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing specified under Section 143(10) of the Act and other applicable authoritative pronouncements issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Those Standards and pronouncements require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone Ind AS financial statements are free from material misstatement.
6. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and the disclosures in the standalone Ind AS financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the Auditors'' judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the standalone Ind AS financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal financial control relevant to the Company''s preparation of the standalone Ind AS financial statements that give a true and fair view, in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of the accounting estimates made by the Company''s Board of Directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the standalone Ind AS financial statements.
7. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the standalone Ind AS financial statements.
Opinion
8. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone Ind AS financial statements give the information required by the Act in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2017, and its total comprehensive income (comprising of profit and other comprehensive income), its cash flows and the changes in equity for the year ended on that date.
Emphasis of Matter
9. We draw attention to the following Matters:
a) As explained in Note 44 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements, the Managerial remuneration for the year ended March 31, 2015 included amounts paid to managerial personnel in excess of the limits prescribed under the provisions of Schedule V to the Act by INR 51 million to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) and by INR 134 million to the former Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer (ED & CFO). With regard to excess remuneration paid to MD & CEO the Company has made the necessary application, along with the required clarifications, for Central Government approval, response to which is awaited. Further, in respect of excess remuneration paid to the former ED & CFO the Company has initiated steps, including by way of filing a suit for recovery before the jurisdictional court, to recover the excess remuneration.
b) As explained in Note 41 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements, upon completion of the Initial Inquiry, which identified references to certain Additional Parties and certain Additional Matters , the MD & CEO, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, had carried out an Additional Inquiry that revealed actual or potential fund diversions arising from improper transactions aggregating to INR 9,135 million and other potentially improper transactions aggregating to INR 3,118 million involving the erstwhile non-executive Chairman of the Company and entities that appear to be affiliated or associated with the said non-executive Chairman. The amounts identified in the Additional Inquiry have been fully provided for or expensed by the Company or its subsidiaries in earlier periods except for INR 217 million which has been accounted for as exceptional item during the year (Refer Note 41(c) to the standalone Ind AS financial statements). Management is currently unable to estimate the financial impact on the Company, if any, arising from potential non-compliances with applicable laws in respect of the above.
c) As explained in Note 46 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements, the Company is in litigation with a bank (''the Bank'') that continues to retain the pledge of certain assets of the Company and of the Company''s shares held by USL Benefit Trust (of which the Company is sole beneficiary) despite the Company prepaying the term loan to that bank along with the prepayment penalty and further depositing an additional sum of INR 459 million demanded by the Bank and as directed by the Honourable High Court of Karnataka (the ''Court''). The Court has directed the Bank not to deal with the pledged assets of the Company (including the shares held by USL Benefit Trust) as mentioned above till the disposal of the original writ petition filed by the Company in the Court.
d) Note 48 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements which describes the uncertainty related to the outcome of Special Leave Petition (the âSLPâ) filed by the Bihar State Government with the Honourable Supreme court, in relation to the ban imposed by the Bihar State Government on trade and consumption of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and Foreign Liquor in the State of Bihar with effect from April 5, 2016 which was set aside by Honourable High Court of Patna in its judgment dated September 30, 2016. Further, consequent to the notification dated January 24, 2017 issued by the Bihar State Government, which as a consequence, criminalises the continued storage of all stock of raw materials and finished goods in the State of Bihar, the Company is in the process of transferring its stock of raw materials and finished goods lying in its premises and the ''billed stocks'' currently in the possession of Bihar State Beverages Corporation Limited, outside the state of Bihar. The statutory duties (VAT and Excise duty) paid on such stocks aggregating to INR 553 million (including receivable from tie-up manufacturing units) have been considered as good and receivable from the Bihar State Government and is disclosed as Other non-current asset.
e) Note 45 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements:
i. regarding clarifications sought by Securities and Exchange Board of India on matters covered by the Company''s Initial Inquiry and Additional Inquiry and certain aspects of the agreement between the Company and its erstwhile non-executive chairman to which the Company has responded;
ii. regarding various issues raised and show cause notices issued pursuant to an inspection under Section 206(5) of the Companies Act, 2013 by Ministry of Corporate Affairs/ Registrar of Companies, alleging violation of certain provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and Companies Act, 2013, to which the Company has responded;
iii. regarding the ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 to which the Company has responded; and
iv. regarding clarifications sought by Authorized Dealers in relation to certain queries from Reserve Bank of India with regard to remittances made in prior years to subsidiaries and branch of the Company in the United Kingdom and past acquisition of the Whyte and Mackay group, to which the Company has responded.
f) Note 61 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements which states that the Company has adopted Ind AS for the financial year commencing from April 1, 2016, and accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared by the Company''s Management in compliance with Ind AS.
Our opinion is not qualified in respect of the matters described above.
Other Matter
10. The comparative financial information of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2016 and the transition date opening balance sheet as at April 1, 2015 included in the standalone Ind AS financial statements, are based on the previously issued statutory financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 prepared in accordance with the Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2006 (as amended) which were audited by the predecessor auditor who expressed modified opinions vide their reports dated May 26, 2016 and May 27, 2015, respectively. The adjustments to those financial statements for the differences in accounting principles adopted by the Company on transition to Ind AS have been audited by us.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
11. As required by the Companies (Auditor''s Report) Order, 2016, issued by the Central Government of India in terms of Section 143(11) of the Act (âthe Orderâ), and on the basis of such checks of the books and records of the Company as we considered appropriate and according to the information and explanations given to us, we give in the Annexure B a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order.
12. As required by Section 143 (3) of the Act, we report that:
a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books of account.
c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including other comprehensive income), the Cash Flow Statement and the Statement of Changes in Equity dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account.
d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone Ind AS financial statements comply with the Indian Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act.
e) The matters described in sub-paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and
(e) of paragraph 9 above titled âEmphasis of Matterâ, in our opinion, may have an adverse effect on the functioning of the Company.
f) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31, 2017 and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2017 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164 (2) of the Act.
g) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls over financial reporting of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in Annexure A.
h) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditors'' Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, in our opinion and to the best of our knowledge and belief and according to the information and explanations given to us:
i. The Company has disclosed the impact, if any, of pending litigations as at March 31, 2017 on its financial position in the standalone Ind AS financial statements - Refer Notes 18, 42, 46, 48 and 54 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements;
ii. The Company did not have any long term contracts including derivative contracts for which there were any material foreseeable losses - Refer Note 60 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements;
iii. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company during the year ended March 31, 2017; and
iv. The Company has provided requisite disclosures in the standalone Ind AS financial statements as to holdings as well as dealings in Specified Bank Notes during the period from November 8, 2016 to December 30, 2016. Based on audit procedures and relying on the management representation we report that the disclosures are in accordance with books of account maintained by the Company and as produced to us by the Management - Refer Note 62 to standalone Ind AS financial statements. However, as stated in Note 62 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements, amounts aggregating to INR 145,500 as stated by the management were received from transactions which were not permitted.
i. (a) The Company is maintaining proper records showing full particulars, including quantitative details and situation, of fixed assets.
(b) The fixed assets are physically verified by the Management according to a phased programme designed to cover all the items over a period of three years which, in our opinion, is reasonable having regard to the size of the Company and the nature of its assets. Pursuant to the programme, a portion of the fixed assets has been physically verified by the Management during the year and no material discrepancies have been noticed on such verification.
(c) The title deeds of immovable properties, as disclosed in Note 3.1 (Property, plant and equipment) and Note 13 (Assets classified as held for sale) to the standalone Ind AS financial statements, are held in the name of the Company except as disclosed below:
Amounts in INR million
Particulars |
Freehold land |
Leasehold land |
Buildings |
Property, plant and equipment: |
|||
Number of cases |
9 |
3 |
Various |
Gross Carrying amount as at March 31, 2017 |
262 |
48 |
465 |
Net Carrying amount as at March 31, 2017 |
262 |
27 |
436 |
Assets classified as held for sale: |
|||
Number of cases |
- |
- |
5 |
Gross and Net carrying amount as at March 31, 2017 |
- |
- |
39 |
The Company is in the process of collating and identifying title deeds.
ii. The physical verification of inventory excluding stocks with third parties and stock in transit have been conducted at reasonable intervals by the Management during the year. In respect of inventory lying with third parties, these have substantially been confirmed by them. The discrepancies noticed on physical verification of inventory as compared to book records were not material.
iii. There are no companies covered in the register maintained under Section 189 of the Act for the purpose of loans granted by the Company.
iv. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of Sections 185 and 186 of the Act in respect of a guarantee provided by it. The Company has not granted any loans or made any investments to the parties covered under Sections 185 and 186 of the Act.
v. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of Sections 73, 74, 75 and 76 or any other relevant provisions of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder to the extent notified, with regard to the deposits accepted from the public. According to the information and explanations given to us, no order has been passed by the Company Law Board or National Company Law Tribunal or Reserve Bank of India or any Court or any other Tribunal on the Company in respect of the aforesaid deposits.
vi. The Central Government of India has not specified the maintenance of cost records under Section 148(1) of the Act for any of the products of the Company.
vii. (a) According to the information and explanations given to us and the records of the Company examined by us, the Company is generally regular in depositing undisputed statutory dues in respect of tax deducted at source, tax collected at source, service tax, employee state insurance, provident fund, sales tax, valued added tax, krishi kalyan cess and swachh bharat cess though there has been delays in some cases and is regular in depositing other undisputed statutory dues, including, duty of customs , duty of excise, and other material statutory dues, as applicable, with the appropriate authorities. The undisputed dues in respect of stamp duty relating to earlier years have not been deposited till date. The extent of the arrears of statutory dues outstanding as at March 31, 2017, for a period of more than six months from the date they became payable are as follows:
Name of the statute |
Nature of dues |
Amount (INR million) |
Period to which the amount relates# |
Due date# |
Date of Payment |
Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958 |
Stamp duty and interest thereon |
200 |
September 2006 |
September 2006 |
Not yet paid |
# Interest pertains to the period from September, 2006 to March 31, 2017.
(b) According to the information and explanations given to us and the records of the Company examined by us, the particulars of dues of income tax, sales tax, service tax, duty of customs, duty of excise, entry tax and value added tax as at March 31, 2017 which have not been deposited on account of a dispute are disclosed in Appendix 1.
viii. According to the records of the Company examined by us and the information and explanation given to us, the Company has not defaulted in repayment of loans or borrowings to any financial institution or bank as at the balance sheet date. The Company does not have any loans or borrowings from Government or dues to debenture holders as at the balance sheet date.
ix. The Company has not raised any money by way of initial public offer or further public offer (including debt instruments) during the year. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations given to us, term loans have been applied for the purposes for which they were obtained during the year.
x. During the course of our examination of the books and records of the Company, carried out in accordance with the generally accepted auditing practices in India, and according to the information and explanations given to us, except for the matter mentioned below, for which the Management has taken appropriate steps, we have neither come across any instance of material fraud by the Company or on the Company by its officers or employees, noticed or reported during the year, nor have we been informed of such case by the Management.
As explained in Note 41 to the standalone Ind AS financial statements and in Paragraph 9 (b) of our report of even date on the standalone Ind AS financial statements, upon completion of the Initial Inquiry, which identified references to certain additional parties and certain additional matters, the MD & CEO, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors, had carried out an Additional Inquiry that revealed improper transactions indicating actual or potential fund diversions arising from improper transactions aggregating to INR 9,135 million and other potentially improper transactions aggregating to INR 3,118 million involving the erstwhile non-executive Chairman of the Company and entities that appear to be affiliated or associated with the said erstwhile non-executive Chairman. The amounts identified in the Additional Inquiry have been fully provided for or expensed by the Company or its subsidiaries in earlier periods except for INR 217 million which has been accounted for as exceptional item during the year (Refer Note 41 (c) to the Ind AS standalone financial statements).
xi. Read with paragraph 9 (a) of our report of even date on the Ind AS standalone financial statements, the Company has paid/ provided for managerial remuneration in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of Section 197 of the Act.
xii. As the Company is not a Nidhi Company and the Nidhi Rules, 2014 are not applicable to it, the provisions of Clause 3(xii) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
xiii. The Company has entered into transactions with related parties in compliance with the provisions of Sections 177 and 188 of the Act. The details of such related party transactions have been disclosed in the standalone Ind AS financial statements as required under Indian Accounting Standard (Ind AS) 24, Related Party Disclosures, specified under Section 133 of the Act, read with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014.
xiv. The Company has not made any preferential allotment or private placement of shares or fully or partly convertible debentures during the year.
xv. The Company has not entered into any non cash transactions with its directors or persons connected with him. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(xv) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
xvi. The Company is not required to be registered under Section 45-IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Accordingly, the provisions of Clause 3(xvi) of the Order are not applicable to the Company.
Amounts in INR million
Name of the statute |
Nature of dues |
Disputed Amount |
Paid Amount |
Unpaid Amount |
Period to which the amount relates (Financial Year) |
Forum where the dispute is pending |
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
Income Tax |
762 |
762 |
- |
2005-06 to 2008 -09 |
Assessing Officer of Income Tax |
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
Income Tax |
4,996 |
- |
4,996 |
2012-13 |
Dispute Resolution Panel |
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
Income Tax |
2,165 |
376 |
1,789 |
2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08 to 2012-13 |
Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) |
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
Income Tax |
2,529 |
2,529 |
1988-89 to 1992-93, 1995-96, 199900 to 2003-04, 2006-07 to 2008-09 and 2011-12 |
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal |
|
Income Tax Act, 1961 |
Income Tax |
1,679 |
- |
1,679 |
1993-94 to 2004-05 |
High Courts |
Customs Act, 1962 |
Custom Duty |
5 |
- |
5 |
1995-96 to 1997-98 |
High Courts |
Service Tax - Finance Act 1994 |
Service Tax |
293 |
31 |
262 |
2004-05 to 2006-07, 2009-10 and 2010-11 |
Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal |
Service Tax - Finance Act 1994 |
Service Tax |
118 |
116 |
2 |
2004-05 and 2015-16 |
High Courts |
Central Excise Act, 1944 |
Central Excise Duty |
1,095 |
70 |
1,025 |
1993-94 and 2000-01 |
Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal |
Central Excise Act, 1944 |
Central Excise Duty |
1 |
- |
1 |
1994-95 and 1995-96 |
Commissioner of Central Excise |
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
69 |
3 |
66 |
1983-84, 2001-02 to 2003-04 |
Additional Commissioner of Excise |
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
9 |
- |
9 |
1993-94, 2003-04, 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2016-17 |
Additional District Magistrate |
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
29 |
4 |
25 |
1995-96, 2001-02, 2003-04 to 200708, 2011-12 to 2013-14 |
State Taxation Tribunal |
Bengal Excise Act, 1909 and Bengal Excise (Amendment) Act, 2012 |
State Excise |
13 |
13 |
1992-93 to 1998-99 |
Civil Court |
|
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1994-95, 1998-99 and 2014-15 |
Collector of State Excise |
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
124 |
11 |
113 |
1963-64 to 1972-73, 1976-77 and 1977-78, 1980-81 to 1991-92, 1993-94 to 1996-97, 1998-99, 2001-02, 2003-04 to 2007-08, 2012-13, 2015-16 and 2016-17 |
Commissioner of State Excise |
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
2 |
- |
2 |
1994-95 |
District Magistrate and Collector of State Excise |
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
541 |
187 |
354 |
1972-73 and 1973-74, 1979-80 to 2015-16 |
High Courts |
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
6 |
- |
6 |
1994-95 |
State Taxation Tribunal |
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
13 |
- |
13 |
1986-87, 1992-93, 1997-98, 1998-99 and 2015-16 |
Superintendent of State Excise |
Respective State Excise Acts |
State Excise |
1,234 |
75 |
1,159 |
1971-72, 1996-97 to 2011-12 |
Supreme Court |
* As represented by Management.
Amounts in INR million
Name of the statute |
Nature of dues |
Disputed Amount |
Paid Amount |
Unpaid Amount |
Period to which the amount relates (Financial Year) |
Forum where the dispute is pending |
Central and Respective State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
10 |
- |
10 |
2003-04 to 2013-14 |
Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Central and Respective State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
119 |
85 |
34 |
1982-83 2000-01, 2004-05 and 200506, 2007-08, 2009-10 to 2012-13 |
Commercial Tax Appellate Tribunal |
Central and Respective State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
4 |
- |
4 |
1993-94, 2003-04, 2005-06 and 2006-07 |
Commercial Taxes Appellate and Revisional Board |
Central and Respective State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
106 |
- |
106 |
1994-95 to 1996-97, 2005-06 to 2007-08, 2010-11 and 2012-13 |
Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Karnataka sales Tax Act, 1957 and Karnataka Value Added Tax Act, 2003 |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
43 |
43 |
1995-96 and 2006-07 |
Civil Court |
|
Central and Respective State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
32 |
- |
32 |
1990-00, 2010-11 to 2014-15 |
Commercial Tax Officer |
Central and Respective State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
773 |
773 |
1978-79, 1980-81 and 1981-82, 1984-85 and 1985-86, 2002-03 and 2015-16 |
Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
|
Central and Respective State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
271 |
- |
271 |
1985-86, 2003-04, 2006-07 to 201112, 2013-14, and 2016-17 |
Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Central and Respective State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
182 |
182 |
1978-79 to 1986-87, 1988-89 and 1989-90, 1992-93 and 1993-94, 199697 to 2002-03, 2005-06, 2007-08 and 2009-10 to 2012-13 |
High Courts |
|
Central and Respective State Sales Tax Acts |
Sales Tax/ Value Added Tax |
342 |
- |
342 |
1999-00 to 2012-13 |
Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Respective State Entry Tax Act |
Entry Tax |
8 |
- |
8 |
2007-08, 2012-13 and 2013-14 |
Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Respective State Entry Tax Act |
Entry Tax |
12 |
- |
12 |
2005-06 |
Commercial Taxes Appellate and Revisional Board |
Respective State Entry Tax Act |
Entry Tax |
150 |
28 |
122 |
1987-88, 2000-01, 2004-05, 2007-08, 2009-10 to 2011-12 |
Commercial Tax Appellate Tribunal |
Respective State Entry Tax Act |
Entry Tax |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1989-90 |
Assessing Officer |
Respective State Entry Tax Act |
Entry Tax |
37 |
- |
37 |
2010-11 to 2012-13 |
Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Respective State Entry Tax Act |
Entry Tax |
58 |
2 |
56 |
1984-86, 2005-06 and 2012-13 |
High Courts |
Respective State Entry Tax Act |
Entry Tax |
7 |
1 |
6 |
2007-10 |
Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes |
Respective State Entry Tax Act |
Entry Tax |
249 |
33 |
216 |
2003-04 to 2013-14 |
Supreme Court |
* As represented by Management.
for Price Waterhouse & Co Chartered Accountants LLP
Firm Registration Number: 304026E/E-300009
Chartered Accountants
Pradip Kanakia
Partner
Membership Number: 039985
Stockholm
May 30, 2017
Mar 31, 2015
Report on the Standalone Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of
United Spirits Limited ("the Company"), which comprise the balance
sheet as at 31 March 2015, the statement of Profit and loss and the
cash flow statement of the Company for the year then ended, and a
summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory
information.
Management's Responsibility for the Standalone Financial Statements The
Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in
Section 134(5) of the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Act") with respect to
the preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a
true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance and
cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles
generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards
specified under Section 133 of the Act, read with Rule 7 of the
Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014. This responsibility also includes
maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the
provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and
for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection
and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments
and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design,
implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls,
that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and
completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and
presentation of the financial statements that give a true and fair view
and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor's Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these standalone
financial statements based on our audit.
We have taken into account the provisions of the Act, the accounting
and auditing standards and matters which are required to be included in
the audit report under the provisions of the Act and the Rules made
thereunder.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing
specified under Section 143(10) of the Act. Those Standards require
that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about
the amounts and the disclosures in the financial statements. The
procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the
assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk
assessments, the auditor considers internal financial control relevant
to the Company's preparation of the financial statements that give a
true and fair view in order to design audit procedures that are
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing
an opinion on whether the Company has in place an adequate internal
financial controls system over financial reporting and the operating
effectiveness of such controls. An audit also includes evaluating the
appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness
of the accounting estimates made by the Company's Directors, as well as
evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and
appropriate to provide a basis for our qualified audit opinion on the
standalone financial statements.
Basis for Qualified Opinion
1. As stated in Notes 26 (a) and (e) to the financial statements,
during the year ended 31 March 2014, certain parties who had previously
given the required undisputed balance confirmations for the year ended
31 March 2013, claimed in their balance confirmations to the Company
for the year ended 31 March 2014 that they had advanced certain amounts
to certain alleged UB Group entities and that the dues owed by such
parties to the Company would, to the extent of the amounts owing by
such alleged UB Group entities to such parties in respect of such
advances, be paid / refunded by such parties to the Company only upon
receipt of their dues from such alleged UB Group entities. These dues
of such parties to the Company were on account of advances by the
Company in the earlier years under agreements for enhancing capacity,
obtaining exclusivity and lease deposits in relation to Tie-up
Manufacturing Units ("TMUs"); agreements for specific projects; or dues
owing to the Company from customers. In response to these claims, under
the instruction of the Board of Directors of the Company ("Board"), a
preliminary internal inquiry was initiated by the Management. Based on
the findings of the preliminary internal inquiry by the Management,
under the instructions of the Board; and Management's assessment of
recoverability, an aggregate amount of Rs.6,495.5 million (including
interest claimed) was provided in the financial statements for the
financial year ended 31 March 2014 and was disclosed as prior period
items. During the year ended 31 March 2015, an additional provision of
Rs.216 million was made for interest claimed during the year. The
Company has not made provision for any unclaimed interest on these
amounts.
During the year ended 31 March 2014, the Board had also directed a
further detailed and expeditious inquiry in relation to the above
matter, the role of individuals involved and potential non-compliance
(if any) with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and other
regulations applicable to the Company in relation to such transactions,
and the possible existence of any other transaction of a similar nature
("Inquiry"). While the Inquiry has since been completed, with regard to
the possible existence of any other transaction of a similar nature,
the Inquiry identified references to certain additional parties
("Additional Parties") in various documents, which documents dealt with
transactions involving the counterparties referred to above. The
Inquiry also identified certain additional matters ("Additional
Matters") where the documents identified concerns as to the propriety
of the underlying transactions.
Based on its current knowledge, the Management believes that the
provisions made with respect to the above matters are adequate and no
additional material adjustments are likely to be required in relation
thereto. The Board has directed the Management to expeditiously review
the Additional Matters and transactions with the Additional Parties and
report to the Board on Management's conclusions on the transactions and
any further impact on the Company's financial statements. Pending such
review of the Additional Matters and transactions with Additional
Parties, we are unable to comment on the nature of these transactions;
the provisions established; or any further impact on the financial
statements including the impact on the opening balances for the year.
Further, pending resolution of the above disputes, we are unable to
comment on whether the provision established for interest is
appropriate.
2. As stated in Note 24(d) to the financial statements, as per the
requirements of the equity listing agreements entered into by the
Company with various stock exchanges in India and various circulars and
regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India
("SEBI") and applicable provisions of the Act, the Company sought
approval of its equity shareholders for certain agreements in the
extraordinary general meeting ("EGM") held on 28 November 2014. Some of
the agreements, as detailed in the aforesaid note, were not approved by
the equity shareholders in the aforesaid EGM. The Company has sought
clarification/direction from SEBI with respect to the implications
arising from the non-approval of the said agreements. Pending the
clarification/direction from the SEBI, during the year ended 31 March
2015, the Company has recognised the underlying expenses pursuant to
these agreements up to 28 November 2014 aggregating Rs.1,357 million.
The Company has not recognised charges arising out of non-approved
agreements aggregating Rs.486 million for the period from 29 November
2014 to 31 March 2015 and has disclosed the same as contingent
liability. Further, subsequent to 28 November 2014, in response to the
letters received by the Company from some of the concerned
counterparties, the Company has made payments amounting to Rs.74
million to such counterparties with respect to the dues for services
received prior to 28 November 2014 specifically stating that the said
amounts would be refundable to the Company if it is determined that
such amounts were not payable by the Company in view of the
shareholders not having approved the respective agreements. Pending the
resolution of this matter, we are unable to comment on the accounting
treatment of the expenses under the agreement, balance due to/from the
respective counterparties and any other implications resulting from
such non-approval.
3. As stated in note 45 to the financial statements, the Managerial
remuneration for the year ended 31 March 2015 aggregated Rs.65 million
and Rs.153 million towards remuneration of the Managing Director and
Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) and the Executive Director and Chief
Financial Officer (ED & CFO) respectively. The aforesaid amounts
includes remuneration in excess of the limits prescribed under the
provisions of Schedule V to the Act. The Company is in the process of
obtaining the requisite approval from the Central Government for such
excess remuneration. In the absence of the required approval, we are
unable to assess the impact of such excess remuneration on the
financial statements of the Company.
Qualified Opinion
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the
explanations given to us, except for the possible effects of the
matters described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph above,
the aforesaid standalone financial statements give the information
required by the Act in the manner so required and give a true and fair
view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in
India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at 31 March 2015, and
its loss and cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Emphasis of Matter We draw attention to:
1. Note 26(b) to the financial statements, which states that, during
the year ended 31 March 2014, various pre-existing loans / advances /
deposits (together with interest) due from United Breweries (Holdings)
Limited ("UBHL") by the Company and its subsidiaries aggregating
Rs.13,374 million on 3 July 2013, were consolidated into a single loan
agreement dated 3 July 2013 entered into between the Company and UBHL.
As per the terms of the said loan agreement, an amount of Rs.1,911
million (gross of tax) was payable by UBHL to the Company towards the
interest payable as of January 2015. However, the Company is yet to
receive such interest payment from UBHL. The Company has received a
letter from UBHL stating that it is involved in litigations with
various creditors of Kingfsher Airlines in different Courts all over
the country, and that some of the winding up petitions fled against
UBHL have been admitted by the High Court of Karnataka. As a result of
the above and other relevant factors, during the year ended 31 March
2015, the Company has provided the remaining principal balance of the
loan aggregating Rs.9,955 million (in addition to the Rs.3,303 million
that was provided for during the year ended 31 March 2014) and has not
recognized interest income of Rs.1,207 million (previous year: 963
million);
2. Note 29(i) to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that
Tern Distilleries Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company ("TERN") will be amalgamated with the Company pursuant to a
Draft Rehabilitation Scheme and applicable provisions of Sick
Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 with the appointed
date 1 April 2013 ("TERN Scheme"). The entire operations of TERN
comprise transactions with the Company. The net impact on the
stand-alone financial performance of the Company from such amalgamation
is expected to be insignificant when effected. The equity shareholders
of the Company approved the TERN Scheme at their EGM held on 18 March
2014 and the approval by the Board for Industrial and Financial
Reconstruction is awaited. Pending approval of the TERN Scheme, no
effect has been given in the financial statements;
3. Note 29(ii) to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that
SW Finance Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company
will be amalgamated with the Company with the appointed date 1 January
2014 ("SWFCL Scheme") pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
Companies Act, 1956, and subject to the sanction of the Honourable
jurisdictional High Courts/any such competent authority. The accounting
for the above amalgamation shall be done upon receiving the necessary
sanctions / approval from various regulatory authorities including the
Registrar of Companies. Upon the SWFCL Scheme becoming effective, SWFCL
will stand merged with the Company. Pending approval of the SWFCL
Scheme, no effect has been given in the financial statements;
4. Note 25(a) to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that
during the year ended 31 March 2014, the Company decided to prepay
credit facilities availed from a bank amounting to Rs.6,217 million
secured by assets of the Company and pledge of shares of the Company
held by the USL Benefit Trust. The Company deposited a sum of Rs.6,280
million including prepayment penalty of Rs.40 million with the bank and
instructed the bank to debit the amount from the cash credit account
towards settlement of the loan and release the assets / shares pledged
by the Company. The bank, however, disputed the prepayment and
continues to debit the account towards the instalments and interest as
per the loan agreement. The Company has disputed the same and a case is
pending before the Honourable High Court of Karnataka. On 31 March
2015, the bank demanded an amount of Rs.474 million towards principal
and interest on the said loan. The Company has sought for a stay from
the Honourable High Court of Karnataka with respect to the aforesaid
demand. Pending settlement with the bank, the loan amount and balance
available in cash credit account is presented on net basis in the
financial statements as at 31 March 2015;
5. Note 30 to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that (i)
the Company has received a notice from the Ministry of Corporate
Affairs for an inspection, under section 206(5) of the Act, of the
books of accounts and other books and papers of the Company; (ii) the
Company has received a notice under Section 131 of the Income Tax Act,
1961; and (iii) the Company has received letters from erstwhile
auditors who served as the Company's statutory auditors during the
period covered by the Inquiry, seeking to understand the impact of the
findings of the Inquiry on their respective audit reports;
6. Note 26 to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that the
Inquiry noted certain regulatory non-compliances with respect to the
Companies Act, 1956, the listing agreement with the stock exchanges in
India and other regulations as mentioned in the said note, and that the
financial impact of these non-compliances on the Company were estimated
by Management to be not material; and
7. Note 28 to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that
during the financial year ended 31 March 2015, based on the reasons
mentioned in the said note, the Company has reassessed the
recoverability of the loans and advances to and investments in certain
subsidiaries. The Company has thus provided for amounts aggregating
Rs.3,544 million and Rs.3,618 million with respect to loans, advances
and investments in relation to these subsidiaries respectively.
Our opinion is not qualified in respect of these matters.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2015 ("the
Order") issued by the Government of India in terms of sub-section (11)
of section 143 of the Act, we give in the Annexure a statement on the
matters specified in the paragraph 3 and 4 of the order to the extent
applicable.
2. As required by Section 143 (3) of the Act, we report that:
(a) except for the matters described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion
paragraph above, we have sought and obtained all the information and
explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were
necessary for the purposes of our audit;
(b) except for the possible effects of the matter described in the
Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph above, in our opinion proper
books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so
far as it appears from our examination of those books;
(c) the balance sheet, the statement of Profit and loss and the cash
flow statement dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the
books of account;
(d) except for the possible effects of the matter described in the
Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph above, in our opinion, the
aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with the Accounting
Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act, read with Rule 7 of
the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014;
(e) the matters described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph
above, and the matters described in sub-paragraphs (1), (6) and (7) of
the Emphasis of Matter paragraph above, in our opinion, may have an
adverse effect on the functioning of the Company;
(f) on the basis of the written representations received from the
directors as on 31 March 2015 taken on record by the Board of
Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on 31 March 2015
from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164 (2) of the
Act;
(g) the qualification relating to the maintenance of accounts and other
matters connected therewith are as stated in the Basis for Qualified
Opinion paragraph above; and
(h) with respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's
Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors)
Rules, 2014, in our opinion and to the best of our information and
according to the explanations given to us:
a. The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its
financial position in its financial statements  Refer Notes 25(a),
33(b) and 50 to the financial statements;
b. The Company did not have any long term contracts including
derivative contracts for which there were any material foreseeable
losses  Refer Note 49 to the financial statements;
c. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be
transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the
Company.
Annexure referred to in Paragraph 1 in Report on Other Legal and
Regulatory Requirements of the Independent Auditor's Report to the
members of the Company on the financial statements for the year ended
31 March 2015.
We report that:
(i) (a) The Company has maintained proper records showing full
particulars, including quantitative details and situation of fixed
assets.
(b) The Company has a regular programme of verification of its fixed
assets by which all fixed assets are verified in a phased manner over a
period of three years. In our opinion, this periodicity of physical
verification is reasonable having regard to the size of the Company and
the nature of its assets. Pursuant to the programme, certain fixed
assets have been physically verified during the year and no material
discrepancies were observed on such verification.
(ii) (a) The inventory, except goods-in-transit and stocks lying with
third parties, has been physically verified by the Management during
the year. In our opinion, the frequency of such verification is
reasonable. For stocks lying with third parties at the year-end,
written confirmations have been obtained by the Management.
(b) The procedures for the physical verification of inventories
followed by the Management are reasonable and adequate in relation to
the size of the Company and the nature of its business.
(c) The Company is maintaining proper records of inventories. The
discrepancies noticed on verification between the physical stocks and
the book records were not material.
(iii) According to the information and explanation given to us, the
Company has granted loans to eleven companies, firms or other parties
covered in the Register maintained under Section 189 of the Companies
Act, 2013 ('the Act'). These loans includes loan to United Breweries
(Holdings) Limited ("UBHL") by way of conversion of certain
pre-existing loans / advances / deposits due to the Company and its
subsidiaries (refer Paragraph 1 under 'Emphasis of Matter').
Further, as stated in Note 26, the Board had directed a detailed and
expeditious inquiry in relation to certain transactions identified
during the year ended 31 March 2014. The Inquiry stated that between
2010 and 2013, funds involved in many of these transactions were
diverted from the Company and/or its subsidiaries to certain UB Group
companies, including in particular, Kingfisher Airlines Limited
("KFA"), which is a party covered in the register maintained under
Section 189 of the Act.
Additionally, pending the completion of the review of the Additional
Matters and transactions with Additional Parties identified through the
Inquiry as disclosed in Paragraphs 1 under 'Basis for Qualified
Opinion', we are unable to comment whether any such arrangements
represent transactions with any body corporate covered in the register
maintained under Section 189 of the Act.
(a) As stated in Paragraph 2 under 'Basis for Qualified Opinion', in
the case of the loan granted to UBHL, a company covered in the Register
maintained under Section 189 of the Act, the loan agreement was not
approved by the Equity Shareholders in the Extraordinary General
Meeting held on 28 November 2014. We have been informed by the
Management that, the Company has sought clarification/ direction from
the SEBI with respect to the implications arising from the non-
approval of the said agreement. The Company is evaluating steps for
recovery of the loan. Further, as stated in Paragraph 1 under 'Emphasis
of Matter', the Company has not received the first instalment of
interest amounting to Rs.1,911 million (gross of tax) with respect to
the loan. No interest has been received on this loan to date. The loan
has been fully provided for in the financial statements.
With respect to loans given to other companies, firms or other parties
covered in the Register maintained under Section 189 of the Act, the
principal and interest are repayable either on demand or the repayment
terms are not stipulated. According to the information and explanation
given to us, we understand that no amounts were demanded by the Company
during the year.
(b) According to information and explanation provided to us, the
Company is evaluating the required steps for the recovery of the
principal and interest due in respect of the loan granted to UBHL.
Further, as stated in Note 26(a), the Company is also in the process of
initiating recovery proceedings with respect to the funds that may have
been diverted from the Company and/or its subsidiaries to certain UB
Group companies.
(iv) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, there is an adequate internal control system commensurate
with the size of the Company and the nature of its business with regard
to purchase of inventories and fixed assets and with regard to the sale
of goods and services. We have not observed any major weakness in the
internal control system during the course of the audit.
(v) In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the Company has complied with the directives issued by the
Reserve Bank of India and the provisions of Sections 73 to 76 or any
other relevant provisions of the Act and the rules framed thereunder
(as applicable) with regard to deposits accepted from the public.
Accordingly, there have been no proceedings before the Company Law
Board or National Company Law Tribunal (as applicable) or Reserve Bank
of India or any Court or any other Tribunal in this matter and no order
has been passed by any of the aforesaid authorities.
(vi) The Central Government has not prescribed the maintenance of cost
records under Section 148(1) of the Act for any of the products
manufactured by the Company.
(vii) (a) According to the information and explanations given to us and
on the basis of our examination of the records of the Company, amounts
deducted / accrued in the books of account in respect of undisputed
statutory dues including Provident fund, Employees' State Insurance,
Income-tax, Sales-tax, Wealth tax, Service-tax, Duty of customs, Duty
of excise, Value added tax and any other material statutory dues have
generally been regularly deposited during the year by the Company with
the appropriate authorities, though there has been a slight delay in a
few cases.
According to the information and explanations given to us, no
undisputed amounts payable in respect Provident fund, Employee State
Insurance, Income-tax, Sales-tax, Wealth tax, Service-tax, Duty of
customs, Duty of excise, Value added tax and any other material
statutory dues were in arrears, as at 31 March 2015, for a period of
more than six months from the date they became payable.
(b) According to the information and explanations given to us, dues of
Income-tax, Sales-tax, Wealth tax, Service tax, Duty of customs, Duty
of excise and Value added tax that have not been deposited on account
of any dispute are stated in Appendix 1.
(c) According to the information and explanations given to us, the
amounts which were required to be transferred to the Investor Education
and Protection Fund in accordance with the relevant provisions of the
Companies Act, 1956 and rules framed thereunder has been transferred to
such fund within time.
(viii) The accumulated losses of the Company at the end of the year are
not less than fifty percent of its net worth. The Company has incurred
cash losses in the current and previous financial year.
(ix) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the Company has not defaulted in the repayment of dues to
a bank or to any financial institution except that in case of loans due
to banks, principal amounting to Rs.25.78 million and interest
aggregating Rs.69.24 million were repaid with a delay of upto 1 day and
5 days, respectively. The Company did not have any outstanding
debentures during the year.
(x) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the terms and conditions on which the Company has given
guarantees for loans taken by others from banks or financial
institutions are not prejudicial to the interest of the Company.
(xi) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the term loans taken by the Company and applied during the
year were for the purpose for which they were raised.
The Inquiry referred to in Paragraph 1 of the 'Basis for Qualified
Opinion' and Paragraph 1 of the 'Emphasis of Matter', stated that
certain funds were diverted to other UB Group entities in earlier
years. Such diversions may indicate application of term loans for
purposes other than for which they were raised.
(xii) (a) As stated in Note 26 and Paragraph 1 of the Basis for
Qualified Opinion, the Board had directed a detailed and expeditious
inquiry in relation to certain transactions identified during the year
ended 31 March 2014. The Inquiry stated that between 2010 and 2013,
funds involved in many of these transactions were diverted from the
Company and/or its subsidiaries to certain UB Group companies. The
Inquiry Report also indicated that the manner in which certain
transactions were conducted, prima facie, indicates various
improprieties and legal violations.
(b) As stated in Note 26(b), with regard to the prior transactions that
were consolidated into the single loan due from UBHL on 3 July 2013,
the Inquiry stated that, prima facie, between 2010 and July 2013,
certain transactions appear to have been undertaken and certain
accounting entries appear to have been made to show a lower exposure of
the Company to UBHL than that which actually existed at that time. The
inquiry also indicates that the manner in which these transactions were
conducted and these entries made, prima facie, indicates various
improprieties and legal violations.
(c) As discussed in Note 26(c), the Inquiry indicated that an agreement
signed with an Alleged Claimant for a lien on certain investments of
the Company, to secure an advance by the Alleged Claimant to KFA, was
entered into without appropriate Board authorisation or approval.
We have submitted a report under Section 143(12) of the Companies Act,
2013 and the relevant rules thereunder, seeking the Audit Committee's
reply/observations to the matters listed in (a) to (c) above. As at the
date of this report, we are awaiting a reply/observations from the
Audit Committee.
Additionally, pending the completion of the review of the Additional
Matters and transactions with Additional Parties identified through the
Inquiry as disclosed in Paragraph 1 under 'Basis for Qualified
Opinion', we are unable to comment whether any arrangements covered by
such review can be termed as 'fraud' and whether there are other
instances of a similar nature.
for B S R & Co. LLP
Chartered Accountants
Firm Registration Number: 101248W/W-100022
Sunil Gaggar
Partner
Membership Number: 104315
Place: Mumbai
Date: 27 May 2015
Mar 31, 2014
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of United Spirits
Limited ("the Company"), which comprise the balance sheet as at 31
March 2014, the statement of profit and loss and the cash flow
statements of the Company for the year then ended and a summary of
significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
Management''s responsibility for the financial statements
Management is responsible for the preparation of these financial
statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position,
financial performance and cash flows of the Company in accordance with
Accounting Standards referred to in sub-section (3C) of Section 211 of
the Companies Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") read
with the General Circular 15/2013 dated 13 September 2013 of the
Ministry of Corporate affairs in respect of Section 133 of the
Companies Act, 2013. This responsibility includes the design,
implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to the
preparation and presentation of the financial statements that give a
true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due
to fraud or error.
Auditor''s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance
with the Standards on Auditing issued by the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India. Those Standards require that we comply with
ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures
selected depend on the auditor''s judgment, including the assessment of
the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether
due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor
considers internal control relevant to the Company''s preparation and
fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit
procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the
purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity''s
internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness
of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of the accounting
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and
appropriate to provide a basis for our qualified audit opinion.
Basis for Qualified Opinion
1. As stated in Note 26(a) to the financial statements, certain parties
who had previously given the required undisputed balance confirmations
for the year ended 31 March 2013, alleged during the current year, that
they have advanced certain amounts to certain alleged UB Group entities
and linked the confirmation of amounts due to the Company to repayment
of such amounts to such parties by the alleged UB Group entities. Also,
some of these parties stated that the dues to the Company will be paid
/ refunded only upon receipt of their dues from such alleged UB Group
entities. These dues of such parties are on account of advances by the
Company in the earlier years under agreements for enhancing capacity,
obtaining exclusivity and lease deposits in relation to Tie-up
Manufacturing Units; agreements for specific projects; or dues owing to
the Company from customers. These claims received in the current year
may indicate that all or some of such amounts may have been improperly
advanced from the Company to such parties for, in turn, being advanced
to the UB Group entities. However, this can only be confirmed after a
detailed inquiry. Based on the findings of the preliminary internal
inquiry by the Management, under the instructions of the Board of
Directors; and Management''s assessment of recoverability, an aggregate
amount of Rs. 6,495.4 million has been provided in the financial
statements and has been disclosed as prior period items. Based on its
current knowledge, the Management believes that the aforesaid provision
is adequate and no additional material adjustments to the financial
statements are likely to be required in relation to this matter. As
stated in paragraph 4 below, the Board of Directors have instructed the
Management to undertake a detailed inquiry into this matter. Pending
such inquiry, we are unable to comment on the nature of these
transactions; the provision established; or any further impact on the
financial statements;
2. As stated in Note 30(f) to the financial statements, subsequent to
the balance sheet date, the Company received a letter dated 5 May 2014
from the lawyers of an entity (Alleged Claimant) alleging that the
Alleged Claimant had advanced loans amounting to Rs. 2,000 million to
Kingfisher Airlines Limited (hereinafter referred to as "KFA"), a UB
Group entity, in an earlier year on the basis of agreements, executed
in December 2011 and January 2012, through which the Company was
alleged to have created a lien on certain investments in favour of the
Alleged Claimant as security for the aforesaid loans. The letter
alleged that KFA had defaulted in repayment of the aforesaid loans as
well as interest of Rs. 790 million due thereon and demanded that the
Company should pay the aforesaid amounts and pending such repayments,
create a valid pledge on the specified investments. The Company
responded to the aforesaid letter vide its letters dated 3 June 2014
and 28 July 2014, wherein the Company denied knowledge of the purported
loan transactions and the purported agreements for the creation of
security on such investments held by the Company. A letter dated 31
July 2014 was received from the Alleged Claimant wherein they have
stated that the notice sent earlier did not take into account an
addendum to the loan agreement; and after examining the aforesaid
addendum, they have no claim or demand of any nature against the
Company. In September 2014, scanned copies of the purported agreements
and certain related documents were obtained by the Company. These
documents indicate that while the agreements may have sought to create
a lien on certain investments of the Company; subsequently, the Alleged
Claimant and KFA sought to negotiate the release of the lien, which was
formalised vide a second addendum in September 2012.
The Management has represented to us that the Company had no knowledge
of these purported agreements; that the Board of Directors of the
Company have not approved any such purported agreements; and it is not
liable under any such purported agreements. We are unable to conclude
on the validity of these agreements; any required compliance with the
provisions of the Companies Act, 1956; and any consequential impact of
the same;
3. As stated in Note 26(b) to the financial statements, the Company and
its subsidiaries had various pre- existing loans / advances / deposits
due from United Breweries (Holdings) Limited (hereinafter referred to
as "UBHL "). During the current year, pursuant to a previous resolution
passed by the Board of Directors on 11 October 2012, these dues
(together with interest) were consolidated into an unsecured loan
aggregating Rs. 13,374 million vide an agreement dated 3 July 2013. The
loan has been granted for a period of 8years with a moratorium period
of 6years. Certain lenders have filed petitions for winding-up against
UBHL. UBHL has provided guarantees to lenders and other vendors of
Kingfisher Airlines Limited, which have been invoked and are currently
being challenged in courts. The Company has also filed its affidavit
opposing the aforesaid winding- up petition and the matter is
sub-judice. Based on its assessment of the recoverability of the loan,
the Company has made a provision of Rs. 3,303 million against the loan
outstanding and has not recognised the interest income of Rs. 963
million on the loan. Given the various uncertainties involved with
respect to the litigations involving UBHL as aforesaid and the extended
period for repayment of the loan, we are unable to comment on the level
of provision established;
4. As stated in Note 26(c) to the financial statements, the Board of
Directors have instructed the Management to undertake a detailed
inquiry in relation to the matters stated in the paragraphs above; the
possible existence of any other transaction of a similar nature; the
role of individuals involved; and potential non-compliance (if any)
with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 and other regulations
applicable to the Company. The Board has also instructed the Management
to engage independent advisers and specialists, as required, for the
inquiry. As the inquiry is yet to be carried out, we are unable to
comment on any further adjustment that could be identified as a result
of the inquiry; its resultant impact on the financial statements; and
any potential non-compliances with the provisions of the Companies Act,
1956 and other regulations; and
5. Though the observations in paragraph 1 above relate to claims
received in the current year, the underlying transactions were entered
into in earlier years. Accordingly, the financial statements of those
earlier years and consequently the opening balances may be incorrectly
stated to that extent. Further, the detailed inquiry as referred to in
paragraph 4 above may result in further adjustments that may have an
impact on the opening balances.
Opinion
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the
explanations given to us, except for the effects of the matter
described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph, the financial
statements give the information required by the Act in the manner so
required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the
accounting principles generally accepted in India:
(a) in the case of the balance sheet, of the state of affairs of the
Company as at 31 March 2014;
(b) in the case of the statement of profit and loss, of the loss for
the year ended on that date; and
(c) in the case of the cash flow statement, of the cash flows for the
year ended on that date.
Emphasis of Matter
We draw attention to:
1. Note 25(c) to the financial statements, which states that subsequent
to the balance sheet date, a bank has declared one of the directors of
the Company as a willful defaulter in respect of another company where
he is a promoter director. The Reserve Bank of India''s Master Circular
on Willful Defaulters along with certain covenants in the loan
agreements sanctioned by the Company''s bankers raise an uncertainty on
the impact of this development on the availability of credit facilities
to the Company. The said director has assured the Board that he will
take appropriate steps to ensure that the operations of the Company are
not impacted. Having received such assurance from the said director and
appropriate comfort from the controlling shareholder of the Company,
the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis;
2. Note 27(a) to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that
during the year, on 8 November 2013, the Board of Directors approved
the scheme of arrangement between United Spirits Limited and Enrica
Enterprises Private Limited (''Enrica'') and its shareholders and
creditors as the case may be (''the Scheme'') in respect of transfer of
undertaking of the Company in Tamil Nadu by way of slump sale on a
going concern basis under Section 391 read with Section 394 of the
Companies Act, 1956, with appointed date 1 April 2013. The Scheme has
been approved by the equity shareholders, secured creditors and
unsecured creditors at the court convened meeting held on 16 June 2014.
The relevant petitions have been filed before the respective
jurisdictional High Courts by the Company and Enrica and awaiting for
their approval. The Company has also entered into a franchise agreement
with Enrica which prescribes a royalty payment to the Company for grant
of manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sale rights to Enrica in
defined territories. From the appointed date upto the effective date,
the royalty payable shall be a fixed amount per case or the
Franchisee''s Profit (before tax and royalty) in respect of the
franchised products, whichever is lower. Subsequent to the effective
date, royalty at net sales realization linked slab rate will accrue to
the Company as per the franchise agreement. Pending approval of the
scheme, no effect has been given in the financial statements;
3. Note 28(i) to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that
Tern Distilleries Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company (''TERN'') will be amalgamated with the Company pursuant to a
Draft Rehabilitation Scheme and applicable provisions of Sick
Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 with the appointed
date 1 April 2013 (''TERN Scheme''). The entire operations of TERN
comprise transactions with the Company. The net impact on the
stand-alone financial performance of the Company from such amalgamation
is expected to be insignificant when effected. The equity shareholders
of the Company have approved the TERN Scheme at their Extraordinary
General Meeting held on 18 March 2014 and the approval by the Board for
Industrial and Financial Reconstruction is awaited. Pending approval
of the TERN Scheme, no effect has been given in the financial
statements;
4. Note 28(ii) to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that
SW Finance Co. Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company will
be amalgamated with the Company with the appointed date 1 January 2014
(''SWFCL Scheme'') pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Companies
Act, 1956, and subject to the sanction of the Honourable jurisdictional
High Courts / any such competent authority. The accounting for the
above amalgamation shall be done upon receiving the necessary sanctions
/ approval from various regulatory authorities including the Registrar
of Companies. Upon the SWFCL Scheme becoming effective, SWFCL will
stand merged with the Company. Pending approval of the SWFCL Scheme, no
effect has been given in the financial statements;
5. Note 27(b) to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that
the Board of Directors decided to initiate a process based on the
outline time-table provided in connection with the decision of the
Office of Fair Trade to explore a potential sale of all or part of
Whyte and Mackay Group (WMG). As a culmination of this process,
subsequent to the year-end, on 9 May 2014 for an Enterprise Value of
GBP 430 million, the Company''s wholly owned subsidiary, United Spirits
(Great Britain) Limited (USGBL or the Seller) entered into a Share Sale
and Purchase agreement (SPA) with Emperador UK Limited and Emperador
Inc. in relation to the sale of the entire issued share capital of
Whyte and Mackay Group Limited. USGBL appointed third party financial
advisers in respect of the sale process. The financial closure of the
proposed transaction as contemplated by the terms of the SPA (as may be
amended and modified from time to time), is subject to satisfaction of
certain conditions precedent. The equity shareholders of the Company
have approved the proposed sale of WMG by the Seller. The Company has
filed an application with Reserve Bank of India (through authorized
dealer of the Company) for its approval. Based on the Management''s
assessments of the recoverability of the investments and loans given
for the Whyte and Mackay Group, a provision amounting to Rs. 43,216
million has been made in the books including diminution in the value of
investment in subsidiaries viz Palmer Investment Group Limited and
Montrose International S.A.; the same has been disclosed as an
exceptional item; and
6. Note 25(b) to the financial statements, wherein it is stated that
during the year ended 31 March 2014, the Company decided to prepay
credit facilities availed from a bank amounting to Rs. 6,216.6 million
secured by assets of the Company and pledge of shares of the Company
held by the USL Benefit Trust. The Company deposited a sum of Rs. 6,280
million including prepayment penalty of Rs. 40 million with the bank
and instructed the bank to debit the amount from the cash credit
account towards settlement of the loan and release the assets / shares
pledged by the Company. The bank, however, disputed the prepayment and
continues to debit the account towards the installments and interest as
per the loan agreement. The Company has disputed the same and a case is
pending before the Honourable High Court of Karnataka. Pending
settlement with the bank, the loan amount and balance available in cash
credit account is presented on net basis in the financial statements as
at 31 March 2014.
Our opinion is not qualified in respect of these matters.
Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor''s Report) Order, 2003 ("the
Order") issued by the Central Government of India in terms of
sub-section (4A) of Section 227 of the Act, we give in the Annexure a
statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order.
2. As required by Section 227(3) of the Act, we report that:
a. Except for the matters described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion
paragraph, we have obtained all the information and explanations which
to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purpose
of our audit;
b. Except for the matters described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion
paragraph, in our opinion, proper books of account as required by law
have been kept by the Company so far as appears from our examination of
those books;
c. The balance sheet, the statement of profit and loss, and the cash
flow statement dealt with by this report are in agreement with the
books of account;
d. Except for the possible effects of the matters described in the
Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph, in our opinion, the Balance
Sheet, Statement of Profit and Loss and Cash Flow Statement comply with
the accounting standards referred to in sub-section (3C) of section 211
of the Act read with the General Circular 15/2013 dated 13 September
2013 of the Ministry of Corporate affairs in respect of Section 133 of
the Companies Act, 2013; and
e. On the basis of written representations received from the directors
as on 31 March 2014, and taken on record by the Board of Directors,
none of the directors is disqualified as on 31 March 2014, from being
appointed as a director in terms of clause (g) of sub-section (1) of
Section 274 of the Act.
Other matter
The financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 March
2013, were audited by another auditor whose report dated 15 May 2013
expressed an unmodified opinion on those statements.
Annexure referred to in our Report to the members of United Spirits
Limited ("the Company") for the year ended 31 March 2014.
We report that:
(i) (a) The Company has maintained proper records showing full
particulars, including quantitative details and situation of fixed
assets.
(b) The Company has a regular programme of physical verification of its
fixed assets by which all fixed assets are verified in a phased manner
over a period of three years. In our opinion, this periodicity of
physical verification is reasonable having regard to the size of the
Company and the nature of its assets. Pursuant to the programme, a
portion of fixed assets has been physically verified during the year
and no material discrepancies were noticed on such verification.
(c) Fixed assets disposed off during the year were not substantial, and
therefore, do not affect the going concern assumption.
(ii) (a) The inventory, except goods-in-transit and stocks lying with
third parties, has been physically verified by the Management during
the year. In our opinion, the frequency of such verification is
reasonable. For stocks lying with third parties at the year-end,
written confirmations have been obtained by the Management.
(b) The procedures for physical verification of inventories followed by
the Management are reasonable and adequate in relation to the size of
the Company and the nature of its business.
(c) The Company is maintaining proper records of inventories. The
discrepancies noticed on verification between the physical stocks and
the book records were not material.
(iii) (a) According to the information and explanations given to us,
the Company has granted an unsecured loan to a company covered in the
register maintained under Section 301 of the Companies Act, 1956 (''the
Act'') by way of conversion of certain pre-existing loans / advances /
deposits due to the Company and its subsidiaries (refer paragraph 3
under ''Basis for Qualified Opinion''). The year-end balance of the loan
and the maximum amount outstanding during the year amounted to Rs.
13,374 million.
Further, as mentioned in paragraph 1 under ''Basis for Qualified
Opinion'', certain parties alleged that they have advanced certain
amounts to certain alleged UB Group entities and linked the
confirmation of amounts due to the Company to repayment of such amounts
to such parties by the alleged UB Group entities. Also, some of these
parties stated that the dues to the Company will be paid / refunded
only upon receipt of their dues from such alleged UB Group entities.
Considering the matters disclosed in paragraphs 1 and 4 of ''Basis for
Qualified Opinion'', we are unable to comment whether any such
arrangements represent transactions with any company / firm / other
party covered in the register maintained under Section 301 of the Act.
(b) In our opinion, the rate of interest and other terms and conditions
on which the above unsecured loan has been granted to the company
covered in the register maintained under Section 301 of the Act as
stated in sub-clause (a) above, are prima facie, prejudicial to the
interest of the Company.
Based on its assessment of recoverability, the Company has during the
current year, made a provision of Rs. 3,303 million against the loan
and has not recognised any interest income (amounting to Rs. 963
million on the said loan).
Further, as mentioned in paragraph 1 under ''Basis for Qualified
Opinion'', a provision of Rs. 6,495.4 million has been made with respect
to amounts due from certain parties who alleged that they have advanced
certain amounts to alleged UB Group entities.
(c) According to the information and explanations given to us, in case
of the unsecured loan granted to the company covered in the register
maintained under Section 301 of the Act as stated in sub-clause
(a) above, no amounts were repayable during the year as per the terms
of the loan agreement. Considering the matters disclosed in paragraphs
1 and 4 under ''Basis for Qualified Opinion'', we are unable to comment
on the regularity in the receipt of the principal amount and interest
relating to any other loan, secured or unsecured, that may have been
granted to any company / firm / other party covered in the register
maintained under Section 301 of the Act, as a result of the
transactions disclosed in paragraphs 1 and 4 under ''Basis for Qualified
Opinion''.
(d) According to the information and explanations given to us, in case
of the unsecured loan granted to the company covered in the register
maintained under Section 301 as stated in sub-clause (a) above, there
is no overdue amount of more than Rupees one lakh in respect of the
said loan.
Considering the matters disclosed in paragraphs 1 and 4 under ''Basis
for Qualified OpinionÂ, we are unable to comment whether there is
overdue amount of more than Rupees one lakh in respect of any other
loan, secured or unsecured, that may have been granted to any company /
firm / other party covered in the register maintained under Section 301
of the Act, as a result of the transactions disclosed in paragraphs 1
and 4 under ''Basis for Qualified OpinionÂ.
e) The Company has not taken any loans, secured or unsecured, from
companies, firms or other parties covered in the register maintained
under Section 301 of the Act. Accordingly, the provisions of clauses
4(iii)(f) and 4(iii)(g) of the Order are not applicable.
(iv) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, and having regard to the explanation that purchases of
certain items of inventories and fixed assets are for the Company''s
specialised requirements and suitable alternative sources are not
available to obtain comparable quotations, there is an adequate
internal control system commensurate with the size of the Company and
the nature of its business with regard to purchase of inventories and
fixed assets and with regard to the sale of goods and services during
the year.
Except for the matter discussed below, we have not observed any major
weaknesses in the internal control system during the course of the
audit.
Considering the matters stated under ''Basis for Qualified Opinion'', we
are unable to comment on the adequacy of the internal control system of
the Company at certain points in time during the earlier years with
respect to such instances as stated under ''Basis for Qualified
Opinion''.
(v) (a) In our opinion and according to the information and
explanations given to us, the particulars of contracts or arrangements
entered into during the year referred to in Section 301 of the Act have
been entered in the register required to be maintained under that
Section.
However, considering the matters stated under ''Basis for Qualified
Opinion'', particularly paragraphs 1 and 4 thereof, we are unable to
comment whether the particulars of any such contracts or arrangements
that may result from the transactions disclosed under ''Basis for
Qualified Opinion'' and that need to be entered in the register
maintained under Section 301 of the Act, have been so entered.
(b) Further to our comments in paragraph (v) (a) above, in our opinion,
and according to the information and explanations given to us, the
transactions entered in the register maintained under Sections 301 of
the Act, exceeding the value of Rs 5 lakh with each party during the
year have been made at prices which are reasonable having regard to the
prevailing market prices at the relevant time except for purchases of
certain services which are for the Company''s specialised requirements
and for which suitable alternative sources are not available to obtain
comparable quotations. However, on the basis of information and
explanations provided, the same appear reasonable.
(vi) In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of Section
58A, Section 58AA or other relevant provisions of the Act and the rules
framed thereunder / the directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India
(as applicable) with regard to deposits accepted from the public.
Accordingly, there have been no proceedings before the Company Law
Board or National Company Law Tribunal (as applicable) or Reserve Bank
of India or any Court or any other Tribunal in this matter and no order
has been passed by any of the aforesaid authorities.
(vii) In our opinion, the Company has an internal audit system
commensurate with the size and nature of its business during the year,
except in relation to matters stated under ''Basis for Qualified
Opinion'', where the internal audit system needs to be strengthened.
(viii) We have broadly reviewed the books of account maintained by the
Company pursuant to the rules prescribed by the Central Government for
the maintenance of cost records under Section 209(1)(d) of the Act in
respect of the products manufactured by the Company and are of the
opinion that prima facie, the prescribed accounts and records have been
made and maintained. However, we have not made a detailed examination
of the records .
(ix) (a) According to the information and explanations given to us and
on the basis of our examination of the records of the Company, amounts
deducted / accrued in the books of account in respect of undisputed
statutory dues including Provident Fund, Investor Education and
Protection Fund, Employees'' State Insurance, Income- tax, Sales tax,
Wealth tax, Service tax, Customs duty, Excise duty and other material
statutory dues have generally been regularly deposited during the year
by the Company with the appropriate authorities, though there has been
a slight delay in a few cases.
According to the information and explanations given to us, no
undisputed amounts payable in respect of Provident Fund, Investor
Education and Protection Fund, Employees'' State Insurance, Income-tax,
Sales tax, Wealth tax, Service tax, Customs duty, Excise duty and other
material statutory dues were in arrears as at 31 March 2014 for a
period of more than six months from the date they became payable.
(b) According to the information and explanations given to us, there
are no dues of Custom duty and Wealth tax which have not been deposited
with the appropriate authorities on account of any dispute. The
particulars of dues of Income-tax, Sales tax, Service tax and Excise
duty as at 31 March 2014 which have not been deposited on account of
disputes are stated in Appendix 1.
(x) The accumulated losses of the Company at the end of the year are
not less than fifty percent of its net worth. The Company has incurred
cash losses in the financial year. However, no cash losses were
incurred in the immediately preceding financial year.
(xi) I n our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the Company has not defaulted in the repayment of dues to
a bank or to any financial institution except that in case of loans due
to banks, principal amounting to Rs. 410 million and interest amounting
to Rs. 474 million were repaid with a delay of upto 67 days and 37
days, respectively. The Company did not have any outstanding debentures
during the year.
(xii) The Company has not granted any loans and advances on the basis
of security by way of pledge of shares, debentures and other
securities.
(xiii) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the Company is not a chit fund/ nidhi/ mutual benefit
fund/ society.
(xiv) According to the information and explanations given to us, the
Company is not dealing or trading in shares, securities, debentures and
other investments.
(xv) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the terms and conditions on which the Company has given
guarantees for loans taken by others from banks or financial
institutions are not prejudicial to the interest of the Company.
(xvi) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the term loans taken by the Company and applied during the
year were for the purpose for which they were raised.
However, considering the matters stated under ''Basis for Qualified
Opinion'', particularly paragraphs 1, 3 and 4, we are unable to comment
whether any transactions relating to such matters represent application
of term loans for the purpose for which they were raised.
(xvii) According to the information and explanations given to us and on
an overall examination of the balance sheet of the Company, we are of
the opinion that the funds raised on short-term basis have not been
used for long-term investment.
(xviii)The Company has not made any preferential allotment of shares to
companies/ firms/ parties covered in the register maintained under
Section 301 of the Act.
(xix) The Company did not have any outstanding debentures during the
year.
(xx) The Company has not raised any money by public issues during the
year and there was no opening unutilised money raised by public issues.
(xxi) As mentioned in detail in paragraphs 1 and 2 under ''Basis for
Qualified Opinion'', wherein it is stated that:
* certain parties alleged that they have advanced certain amounts to
certain alleged UB Group entities and linked the confirmation of
amounts aggregating to Rs 5,846.9 million due to the Company to
repayment of such amounts to such parties by the alleged UB Group
entities. Further, some of these parties stated that the dues to the
Company will be paid / refunded only upon receipt of their dues from
such alleged UB Group entities; and
* an alleged instance of a purported agreement to create a lien on
certain investments of the Company as security against loans given by
an Alleged Claimant to Kingfisher Airlines Limited (KFA) in earlier
years was noted. However, in a letter dated 31 July 2014 from the
Alleged Claimant, it was stated that the allegation made earlier did
not take into account an addendum to the loan agreement; and after
examining the aforesaid addendum and the agreement, the Alleged
Claimant does not have any claim or demand of any nature against the
Company. Subsequently, in September 2014, scanned copies of the
purported agreements were furnished to the Management by KFA. The
Management has represented to us that the Company had no knowledge of
these purported agreements; that the Board of Directors of the Company
have not approved any such purported agreements; and it is not liable
under any such purported agreements.
Pending the completion of the inquiry as mentioned in paragraph 4 under
''Basis for Qualified Opinion'', we are unable to conclude whether these
instances can be termed as ''fraud'' and whether there are other
instances of a similar nature.
for B S R & Co. LLP
Chartered Accountants
Firm registration number: 101248W/W-100022
Sunil Gaggar
Partner
Membership number: 104315
Place : Mumbai
Date : 4 September 2014
Mar 31, 2013
Report on the Financial Statements
1. We have audited the accompanying financial statements of United
Spirits Limited, (''''the Company''''), which comprise the Balance Sheet as
at 31 March 2013, the Statement of Profit and Loss and Cash Flow
Statement for the year then ended, and a summary of significant
accounting policies and other explanatory information.
Management''s Responsibility for the Financial Statements
2. Management is responsible for the preparation of these financial
statements, that give a true and fair view of the financial position,
financial performance and cash flows of the Company in accordance with
the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the
Accounting Standards referred to in sub- section (3C) of Section 211 of
the Companies Act, 1956 ("the Act"). This responsibility includes the
design, implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to
the preparation and presentation of the financial statements that give
a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether
due to fraud or error.
Auditors'' Responsibility
3. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance
with the Standards on Auditing issued by the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India. Those Standards require that we comply with
ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
from material misstatement.
4. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence
about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The
procedures selected depend on the auditors'' judgment, including the
assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk
assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the
Company''s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements
in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the
circumstances. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of
accounting policies used and the reasonableness of the accounting
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
presentation of the financial statements.
5. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient
and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
6. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to
the explanations given to us, the financial statements give the
information required by the Act in the manner so required and give a
true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles
generally accepted in India:
i) in the case of the Balance Sheet, of the state of affairs of the
Company as at 31 March 2013;
ii) in the case of Statement of Profit and Loss, of the profit for the
year ended on that date; and
iii) in the case of the Cash Flow Statement, of the cash flows for the
year ended on that date.
Emphasis of Matter
7. We draw attention to note 26 to the financial statements with
regard to the recoverability of certain loans and deposits made
directly and indirectly to a group company. Our opinion is not
qualified in respect of this matter.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
8. As required by the Companies (Auditor''s Report) Order, 2003 ("the
Order") issued by the Central Government of India in terms of
sub-section (4A) of Section 227 of the Act, we give in the Annexure a
statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order.
9. As required by Section 227(3) of the Act, we report that:
a. we have obtained all the information and explanations which to the
best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purpose of our
audit;
b. in our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have
been kept by the Company so far as appears from our examination of
those books;
c. the financial statements dealt with by this report are in agreement
with the books of account;
d. in our opinion, the financial statements comply with the Accounting
Standards referred to in sub-section (3C) of Section 211 of the Act;
and
e. on the basis of written representations received from the
directors, as on 31 March 2013 and taken on record by the Board of
Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on 31 March 2013
from being appointed as a director in terms of clause (g) of
sub-section (1) of Section 274 of the Act.
Annexure to the Independent Auditors'' Report of even date to the
members of United Spirits Limited, on the financial statements for the
year ended 31 March 2013.
Based on the audit procedures performed for the purpose of reporting a
true and fair view on the financial statements of the Company and
taking into consideration the information and explanations given to us
and the books of account and other records examined by us in the normal
course of audit, we report that:
(i) (a) The Company has maintained proper records showing full
particulars, including quantitative details and situation of fixed
assets.
(b) The Company has a regular programme of physical verification of its
fixed assets under which fixed assets are verified in a phased manner
over a period of three years, which, in our opinion, is reasonable
having regard to the size of the Company and the nature of its assets.
No material discrepancies were noticed on such verification.
(c) In our opinion, a substantial part of fixed assets has not been
disposed off during the year.
(ii) (a) The management has conducted physical verification of
inventory at reasonable intervals during the year, except for goods in
transit.
(b) The procedures of physical verification of inventory followed by
the management are reasonable and adequate in relation to the size of
the Company and the nature of its business.
(c) The Company is maintaining proper records of inventory and no
material discrepancies between physical inventory and book records were
noticed on physical verification.
(iii) (a) The Company has granted unsecured loans to one party covered
in the register maintained under Section 301 of the Act. The maximum
amount outstanding during the year is Rs. 4,382.405 million and the
year-end balance is Rs. 4,382.405 million.
(b) In our opinion, the rate of interest and other terms and conditions
of such loans are not, prima facie, prejudicial to the interest of the
Company.
(c) In respect of the loans granted, the receipt of the interest is
regular.
(d) There is no overdue amount in respect of loans granted to such
companies, firms or other parties.
e) The Company has not taken any loans, secured or unsecured from
companies, firms or other parties covered in the register maintained
under Section 301 of the Act. Accordingly, the provisions of clauses
4(iii)(f) and 4(iii)(g) of the Order are not applicable.
(iv) In our opinion, there is an adequate internal control system
commensurate with the size of the Company and the nature of its
business for the purchase of inventory and fixed assets and for the
sale of goods and services. During the course of our audit, no major
weakness has been noticed in the internal control system in respect of
these areas.
(v) (a) In our opinion, the particulars of all contracts or
arrangements that need to be entered into the register maintained under
Section 301 of the Act have been so entered.
(b) In our opinion, the transactions made in pursuance of such
contracts or arrangements and exceeding the value of rupees five lakhs
in respect of any party during the year have been made at prices which
are reasonable having regard to the prevailing market prices at the
relevant time.
(vi) In our opinion, the Company has complied with the directives
issued by the Reserve Bank of India, the provisions of Sections 58A and
58AA and other relevant provisions of the Act and the Companies
(Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 1975, as applicable, with regard to the
deposits accepted from the public. According to the information and
explanations given to us, no order has been passed by the Company Law
Board or National Company Law Tribunal or Reserve Bank of India or any
Court or any other Tribunal, in this regard.
(vii) In our opinion, the Company has an internal audit system
commensurate with its size and the nature of its business.
(viii) We have broadly reviewed the books of account maintained by the
Company pursuant to the Rules made by the Central Government for the
maintenance of cost records under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of
Section 209 of the Act in respect of Company''s products/services and
are of the opinion that, prima facie, the prescribed accounts and
records have been made and maintained. However, we have not made a
detailed examination of the cost records with a view to determine
whether they are accurate or complete.
(ix) (a) Undisputed statutory dues including provident fund, investor
education and protection fund, employees'' state insurance, income-tax,
sales-tax, wealth tax, service tax, custom duty, excise duty, cess and
other material statutory dues, as applicable, have generally been
regularly deposited with the appropriate authorities, though there has
been a slight delay in a few cases. Further, no undisputed amounts
payable in respect thereof were outstanding at the year-end for a
period of more than six months from the date they became payable.
(b) The dues outstanding in respect of sales-tax, income- tax, custom
duty, wealth-tax, excise duty, cess on account of any dispute, are
given in Appendix 1.
(x) In our opinion, the Company has no accumulated losses at the end of
the financial year and it has not incurred cash losses in the current
and the immediately preceding financial year.
(xi) In our opinion, the Company has not defaulted in the repayment of
dues to any financial institution nor did it have any debentures
outstanding during the year. However there have been certain delays in
the repayment of interest and principal on term loans taken from the
banks. The delay upto 30 days amounted to Rs. 662.7 million and Rs.
1,306.6 million with respect to interest and principal respectively and
the delay between 30 to 90 days amounted to Rs. 672.2 million and Rs.
2,971.6 million with respect to interest and principal respectively.
There were no continuing defaults as at the balance sheet date.
(xii) The Company has not granted any loans and advances on the basis
of security by way of pledge of shares, debentures and other
securities. Accordingly, the provisions of clause 4(xii) of the Order
are not applicable.
(xiii) In our opinion, the Company is not a chit fund or a nidhi/
mutual benefit fund/ society. Accordingly, provisions of clause 4(xiii)
of the Order are not applicable.
(xiv) In our opinion, the Company is not dealing or trading in shares,
securities, debentures and other investments. Accordingly, the
provisions of clause 4(xiv) of the Order are not applicable.
(xv) In our opinion, the terms and conditions on which the Company has
given guarantee for loans taken by others from banks or financial
institutions are not, prima facie, prejudicial to the interest of the
Company.
(xvi) In our opinion, the Company has applied the term loans for the
purpose for which these loans were obtained.
xvii) In our opinion, no funds raised on short-term basis have been
used for long-term investment by the Company.
(xviii) During the year, the Company has not made any preferential
allotment of shares to parties or companies covered in the register
maintained under Section 301 of the Act. Accordingly, the provisions of
clause 4(xviii) of the Order are not applicable.
(xix) The Company has neither issued nor had any outstanding debentures
during the year. Accordingly, the provisions of clause 4(xix) of the
Order are not applicable.
(xx) The Company has not raised any money by public issues during the
year. Accordingly, the provisions of clause 4(xx) of the Order are not
applicable.
(xxi) No fraud on or by the Company has been noticed or reported during
the period covered by our audit.
For Walker, Chandiok & Co
Chartered Accountants
Firm Registration No: 001076N
per Aasheesh Arjun Singh
Place : Bengaluru Partner
Date : 15 May, 2013 Membership No. 210122
Mar 31, 2012
1. We have audited the attached Balance Sheet of United Spirits
Limited, (the 'Company') as at March 31, 2012, and also the Statement
of Profit and Loss and the Cash Flow Statement for the year ended on
that date, annexed thereto (collectively referred as the 'financial
statements'). These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audit.
2. We conducted our audit in accordance with the auditing standards
generally accepted in India. Those Standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for
our opinion.
3. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2003 (the
'Order')(as amended), issued by the Central Government of India in
terms of sub-section (4A) of Section 227 of the Companies Act, 1956
(the 'Act'), we enclose in the Annexure a statement on the matters
specified in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order.
4. Further to our comments in the Annexure referred to above, we
report that:
(a) We have obtained all the information and explanations, which to the
best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our
audit;
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have
been kept by the Company so far as appears from our examination of
those books;
(c) The financial statements dealt with by this report are in agreement
with the books of account;
(d) On the basis of written representations received from the
directors, as on March 31, 2012 and taken on record by the Board of
Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2012
from being appointed as a director in terms of clause (g) of
sub-section (1) of Section 274 of the Act;
(e) In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to
the explanations given to us, the financial statements dealt with by
this report comply with the accounting standards referred to in
sub-section (3C) of Section 211 of the Act and give the information
required by the Act, in the manner so required and give a true and fair
view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in
India, in the case of:
(i) the Balance Sheet, of the state of affairs of the Company as at
March 31, 2012;
(ii) the Statement of Profit and Loss, of the profit for the year ended
on that date; and
(iii) the Cash Flow Statement, of the cash flows for the year ended on
that date.
Annexure to the Auditors' Report of even date to the members of United
Spirits Limited, on the fnancial statements for the year ended 31 March
2012.
Based on the audit procedures performed for the purpose of reporting a
true and fair view on the financial statements of the Company and
taking into consideration the information and explanations given to us
and the books of account and other records examined by us in the normal
course of audit, we report that:
(i) (a) The Company has maintained proper records showing full
particulars, including quantitative details and situation of fixed
assets.
(b) The Company has a regular programme of physical verification of its
fixed assets under which fixed assets are verified in a phased manner
over a period of three years which, in our opinion, is reasonable
having regard to the size of the Company and the nature of its assets.
No material discrepancies were noticed on such verification.
(c) In our opinion, a substantial part of fixed assets has not been
disposed off during the year.
(ii) (a) The managementhasconducted physical verification of inventory
at reasonable intervals during the year, except goods-in-transit.
(b) The procedures of physical verification of inventory followed by
the management are reasonable and adequate in relation to the size of
the Company and the nature of its business.
(c) The Company is maintaining proper records of inventory and no
material discrepancies were noticed on physical verification.
(iii) (a) The Company has granted unsecured loans to one party covered
in the register maintained under Section 301 of the Act. The maximum
amount outstanding during the year is Rs. 1,129.700 Million and the
year-end balance is Rs. 180 Million.
(b) In our opinion, the rate of interest and other terms and conditions
of such loans are not, prima facie, prejudicial to the interest of the
Company.
(c) In respect of loans granted, receipt of the principal amount and
interest is regular.
(d) There is no overdue amount in respect of loans granted to such
companies, firms or other parties.
e) The Company has not taken any loans, secured or unsecured from
companies, firms or other parties covered in the register maintained
under Section 301 of the Act. Accordingly, the provisions of clauses
4(iii)(f) and 4(iii)(g) of the Order are not applicable.
(iv) In our opinion, there is an adequate internal control system
commensurate with the size of the Company and the nature of its
business for the purchase of inventory and fixed assets and for the
sale of goods and services. During the course of our audit, no major
weakness has been noticed in the internal control system in respect of
these areas.
(v) (a) In our opinion, the particulars of all contracts or
arrangements that need to be entered into the register maintained under
Section 301 of the Act have been so entered.
(b) In our opinion, the transactions made in pursuance of such
contracts or arrangements and exceeding the value of rupees five lakhs
in respect of any party during the year have been made at prices which
are reasonable having regard to prevailing market prices at the
relevant time.
(vi) In our opinion, the Company has complied with the directives
issued by the Reserve Bank of India, the provisions of Sections 58A and
58AA and other relevant provisions of the Act and the Companies
(Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 1975 as applicable with regard to the
deposits accepted from the public. According to the information and
explanations given to us, no order has been passed by the Company Law
Board or National Company Law Tribunal or Reserve Bank of India or any
Court or any other Tribunal, in this regard.
(vii) In our opinion, the Company has an internal audit system
commensurate with its size and the nature of its business
(viii)To the best of our knowledge and belief, the Central Government
has not prescribed maintenance of cost records under clause (d) of
sub-section (1) of Section 209 of the Act, in respect of Company's
products/ services. Accordingly, the provisions of clause 4(viii) of
the Order are not applicable.
(ix) (a) Undisputed statutory dues including provident fund, investor
education and protection fund, employees' state insurance, income-tax,
sales-tax, wealth-tax, service-tax, custom duty, excise duty, cess and
other material statutory dues, as applicable, have generally been
regularly deposited with the appropriate authorities. No undisputed
amounts payable in respect thereof were outstanding at the year-end for
a period of more than six months from the date they became payable.
(b) The dues outstanding in respect of sales-tax, income- tax, custom
duty, wealth-tax, excise duty, cess on account of any dispute, are
given in Appendix 1.
(x) In our opinion, the Company has no accumulated losses at the end of
the financial year and it has not incurred cash losses in the current
and the immediately preceding financial year.
(xi) In our opinion, the Company has not defaulted in repayment of dues
to any financial institution nor did it have any debentures outstanding
during the year. In respect of dues to banks, their acceptance of the
Company's application for reschedulement of certain amounts originally
due on March 30 and March 31, 2012 totalling to an amount of Rs.
1,058.500 Million, was received subsequent to the year end and hence
the amount is outstanding.
(xii) The Company has not granted any loans and advances on the basis
of security by way of pledge of shares, debentures and other
securities. Accordingly, the provisions of clause 4(xii) of the Order
are not applicable.
(xiii) In our opinion, the Company is not a chit fund or a nidhi/
mutual benefit fund/ society. Accordingly, the provisions of clause
4(xiii) of the Order are not applicable.
(xiv) In our opinion, the Company is not dealing or trading in shares,
securities, debentures and other investments. Accordingly, the
provisions of clause 4(xiv) of the Order are not applicable.
(xv) In our opinion, the terms and conditions on which the Company has
given guarantee for loans taken by others from banks or financial
institutions are not, prima facie, prejudicial to the interest of the
Company.
(xvi) In our opinion, the Company has applied the term loans for the
purpose for which these loans were obtained.
(xvii) In our opinion, no funds raised on short-term basis have been
used for long-term investment.
(xviii) During the year, the Company has not made any preferential
allotment of shares to parties or companies covered in the register
maintained under Section 301 of the Act. Accordingly, the provisions of
clause 4(xviii) of the Order are not applicable.
(xix) The Company has neither issued nor had any outstanding debentures
during the year. Accordingly, the provisions of clause 4(xix) of the
Order are not applicable.
(xx) The Company has not raised any money by public issues during the
year. Accordingly, the provisions of clause 4(xx) of the Order are not
applicable.
(xxi) No fraud on or by the Company has been noticed or reported during
the period covered by our audit.
Referred to paragraph ix(b) of the Annexure to the Auditors' report of
even date to the members of United Spirits Limited, on the fnancial
statements for the year ended March 31, 2012.
Name of the Demand Payment Period for which the amount
relates
statute (Rs. Million) (Rs.
Million)
The Income-tax 11.685 11.685 Assessment years 1992-93,
1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96,
Act, 1961 1996-97
468.252 434.539 Assessment years 1994-95,
1995-96, 2000-01, 2001-02,
2002-03, 2003-04, 2006-07,
2007-08
569.880 567.057 Assessment years 1991-92,
1992-93, 1995-96, 2002-03,
2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06,
2008-09, 2009-10
3.620 - Assessment year 2004-05
Central and 84.823 95.178 1981-82,1982-83,1983-84,1984-85
Respective 87.724 27.992 1978-81,1980-81,1981-82,1982
-83,1984-86,1988-89,
State Sales Tax 1989-90, 1990-91, 1992-93,
1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98,
Acts 1999-00, 2001-02, 2002-03,
2003-08, 2005-06
150.058 98.255 1978-81, 1980-81, 1981-82,
1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85,
1985-86, 1986-90, 1987-88,
1989-90, 1989-96, 1990-91,
1991-92, 1991-93, 1992-93,
1992-95, 1993-94, 1994-95,
1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-01,
1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00,
2000-01, 2004-05, 2007-08
215.451 217.930 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02,
2002-03, 2004-05, 2005-06,
2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09,
2009-10
53.690 42.671 1976-77, 1977-78, 1978-79,
1979-80, 1984-85, 1985-86,
1992-93, 2002-03, 2003-04,
2005-07, 2007-08, 2008-09,
2009-10, 2011-12
221.981 20.877 1974-76, 1982-83, 1995-96,
1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-06,
2002-03, 2003-04, 2008-09
8.612 6.604 1974-75, 1975-76, 1983-84,
1993-94, 1995-96, 1997-98,
1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03,
2003-04, 2004-05
54.980 - 1993-94,2004-05,2005-06,2006-07
13.723 0.544 1993-94,2004-05,2005-06,2006-07
Respective 46.778 - 1971-72,1991-95,1995-98,2001-
02,2009-10
State Excise 174.766 75.140 1963-64,1972-74,1983-84,1986-
87,1988-91,1989-90,
Acts 1990-92, 1991-92, 1991-94,
1992-93, 1993-94, 1996-11,
1998-01, 1999-00, 2000-11,
2001-02, 2001-11, 2002-03,
2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08,
2008-11, 2010-11
17.464 - 1995-96
269.808 1.283 1974-81, 1980-81, 1981-82,
1982-83, 1983-84, 1983-85,
1984-85, 1985-86, 1985-87,
1986-87, 1987-88, 1987-89,
1988-89, 1989-90, 1991-92,
1991-96, 1993-94, 1993-95,
1995-96, 1995-98, 1998-99,
2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04,
2004-05, 2004-05, 2005-06
1.593 - 1986-87, 1992-93, 1992-99,
1997-98
1.701 - 1994-95
12.170 - 1981-84
8.311 - 1993-94
0.081 - 1994-95
The Central 6.000 - 1991-95,1995-98,2001-02
Excise Act, 1944
25.635 - 1989-97,1996-97,2004-05
0.534 - 1995-95,1995-96,2004-05
0.481 - 1995-96
Name of the Statue Forum where dispute is
pending
The Income-tax
Act, 1961 Supreme Court
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal
Commissioner of Income Tax
(Appeals)
Assessing Officer
Central and
Respective
State Sales Tax
Acts Supreme Court
High Court's
Appellate Tribunal
Joint Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Assesing Officer
Appellate and Revisional board
Additional Commissioner
Respective
State Excise
Acts Supreme Court
High Court's
Appellate Tribunal
Excise Commissioner
Excise Superintendent
District Magistrate and Collector
Chinsurah Court, Hooghly
Additional District Magistrate
Collector
The Central
Excise Act, 1944 Supreme Court
High Court's
Commissioner of Central excise
Assistant commissioner of Customs
* The annexure does not include cases where the respective authorities
have appealed against orders in favour of the Company.
For Walker, Chandiok & Co
Chartered Accountants
Firm Registration No: 001076N
per Aashish Arjun Singh
Place : Mumbai Partner
Date : May 29, 2012 Membership No. 210122
Mar 31, 2011
1. We have audited the attached Balance Sheet of United Spirits
Limited (the "Company") as at March 31, 2011, and the related Profit
and Loss Account and Cash Flow Statement for the year ended on that
date annexed thereto, which we have signed under reference to this
report. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's Management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audit.
2. We conducted our audit in accordance with the auditing standards
generally accepted in India. Those Standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by Management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for
our opinion.
3. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2003, as
amended by the Companies (Auditor's Report) (Amendment) Order, 2004
(together the "Order"), issued by the Central Government of India in
terms of sub- section (4A) of Section 227 of The Companies Act, 1956'
of India (the 'Act') and on the basis of such checks of the books and
records of the Company as we considered appropriate and according to
the information and explanations given to us, we give in the Annexure a
statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order.
4. Further to our comments in the Annexure referred to in paragraph 3
above, we report that:
(a) We have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the
best of our knowledge and belief, were necessary for the purposes of
our audit;
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have
been kept by the Company so far as appears from our examination of
those books;
(c) The Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account and Cash Flow Statement
dealt with by this report are in agreement with the books of account;
(d) In our opinion, the Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account and Cash
Flow Statement dealt with by this report comply with the accounting
standards referred to in sub-section (3C) of Section 211 of the Act;
(e) On the basis of written representations received from the
directors, as on March 31, 2011 and taken on record by the Board of
Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2011
from being appointed as a director in terms of clause (g) of
sub-section (1) of Section 274 of the Act;
(f) In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to
the explanations given to us, the said financial statements together
with the notes thereon and attached thereto give, in the prescribed
manner, the information required by the Act, and give a true and fair
view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in
India:
(i) in the case of the Balance Sheet, of the state of affairs of the
company as at March 31, 2011;
ii) in the case of the Profit and Loss Account, of the profit for the
year ended on that date; and
iii) in the case of the Cash Flow Statement, of the cash flows for the
year ended on that date.
Annexure to the Auditors' Report
[Referred to in paragraph 3 of the Auditors' Report of even date to the
members of United Spirits Limited on the financial statements for the
year ended March 31, 2011]
1. (a) The Company is maintaining proper records showing full
particulars, including quantitative details and situation, of fixed
assets.
(b) The fixed assets are physically verified by the Management
according to a phased programme designed to cover all the items over a
period of three years which, in our opinion, is reasonable having
regard to the size of the Company and the nature of its assets.
Pursuant to the programme, a portion of the fixed assets has been
physically verified by the Management during the year and no material
discrepancies between the book records and the physical inventory have
been noticed.
(c) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, a substantial part of fixed assets has not been disposed
of by the Company during the year.
2. (a) The inventory, excluding stocks held by a wholly owned
subsidiary in respect of which physical verification is not feasible
because of the nature of business of the Company, has been physically
verified by the Management during the year. In our opinion, the
frequency of verification is reasonable.
(b) In our opinion, read with our remarks in paragraph 2(a), procedures
of physical verification of inventory followed by the Management are
reasonable and adequate in relation to the size of the Company and the
nature of its business.
(c) On the basis of our examination of the inventory records, in our
opinion, the Company is maintaining proper records of inventory. The
discrepancies noticed on physical verification of inventory as compared
to book records were not material.
3. (a) The Company has granted unsecured loans, to a Company covered
in the register maintained under Section 301 of the Act. The maximum
amount involved during the year and the year end balance of such loans
aggregates to Rs. 2,796.086 Million and Rs. Nil, respectively.
(b) In our opinion, the rate of interest and other terms and conditions
of such loans are not prima facie prejudicial to the interest of the
Company.
(c) In respect of the aforesaid loans, the parties are repaying the
principal amounts as stipulated and are also regular in payment of
interest, where applicable.
(d) In respect of the aforesaid loans, there is no overdue amount more
then Rupees One Lakh.
(e) The Company has not taken any loans, secured or unsecured, from
companies, firms or other parties covered in the register maintained
under Section 301 of the Act.
4. In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, there is an adequate internal control system commensurate
with the size of the Company and the nature of its business for the
purchase of inventory, fixed assets and for the sale of goods and
services. Further, on the basis of our examination of the books and
records of the Company, and according to the information and
explanations given to us, we have neither come across nor have been
informed of any continuing failure to correct major weaknesses in the
aforesaid internal control system.
5. (a) In our opinion and according to the information and
explanations given to us, the particulars of contracts or arrangements
referred to in Section 301 of the Act have been entered in the register
required to be maintained under that section.
(b) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the transactions made in pursuance of such contracts or
arrangements and exceeding the value of Rupees Five Lakhs in respect of
any party during the year have been made at prices which are reasonable
having regard to the prevailing market prices at the relevant time.
6. In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of Sections
58A and 58AA or any other relevant provisions of the Act and the
Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 1975 with regard to the
deposits accepted from the public. According to the information and
explanations given to us, no Order has been passed by the Company Law
Board or National Company Law Tribunal or Reserve Bank of India or any
Court or any other Tribunal on the Company in respect of the aforesaid
deposits.
7. In our opinion, the Company has an internal audit system
commensurate with its size and nature of its business.
8. The Central Government of India has not prescribed the maintenance
of cost records under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of Section 209 of
the Act for any of the products of the Company.
9. (a) According to the information and explanations given to us and
the records of the Company examined by us, in our opinion, the Company
is regular in depositing the undisputed statutory dues including
provident fund, investor education and protection fund, employees state
insurance, income-tax, sales-tax, wealth tax, service tax, customs
duty, excise duty, cess and other material statutory dues as
applicable, with the appropriate authorities.
(b) According to the information and explanations given to us and the
records of the Company examined by us, the particulars of dues of
incometax, sales-tax, wealth-tax, service-tax, customs duty, excise
duty and cess as at March 31, 2011 which have not been deposited on
account of a dispute are given in Appendix 1.
10. The Company has no accumulated losses as at March 31, 2011 and it
has not incurred any cash losses in the financial year ended on that
date or in the immediately preceding financial year.
11. According to the records of the Company examined by us and the
information and explanation given to us, the Company has not defaulted
in repayment of dues to any financial institution or bank or debenture
holders as at the balance sheet date.
12. In our opinion, the Company has maintained adequate documents and
records in the cases where the Company has granted loans and advances
on the basis of security by way of pledge of shares, debentures and
other securities.
13. The provisions of any special statute applicable to chit fund /
nidhi / mutual benefit fund/ societies are not applicable to the
Company.
14. In our opinion, the Company is not a dealer or trader in shares,
securities, debentures and other investments.
15. In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the terms and conditions of the guarantees given by the
Company, for loans taken by others from banks or financial institutions
during the year, are not prejudicial to the interest of the Company.
16. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations
given to us, on an overall basis, the term loans have been applied for
the purposes for which they were obtained.
17. On the basis of an overall examination of the balance sheet of the
Company, in our opinion and according to the information and
explanations given to us, there are no funds raised on a short-term
basis which have been used for long-term investment.
18. The Company has not made any preferential allotment of shares to
parties and companies covered in the register maintained under Section
301 of the Act during the year.
19. The Company has not issued debentures during the year and there
are no debentures outstanding as at year end.
20. The Company has not raised any money by public issues during the
year.
21. During the course of our examination of the books and records of
the Company, carried out in accordance with the generally accepted
auditing practices in India, and according to the information and
explanations given to us, we have neither come across any instance of
fraud on or by the Company, noticed or reported during the year, nor
have we been informed of such case by the Management.
Appendix-1 to the Auditors' Report
[Referred to paragraph 9(b) of the Annexure to the Auditors' report of
even date to the members of United Spirits Limited]
Amount Forum where the dispute
Name o the
Statute Period to which the
amount relates
(Rs. Million) is pending
The Income-
Tax Act, 1961 194.268 2002-03, 2003-04,
2004-05, 2008-09 Commissioner of Income
tax (Appeals)
251.261 1994-95, 2000-01,
2001-02, 2003-04, Income Tax Appellate
Tribunal
2004-05, 2005-06,
2006-07, 2007-08
3.620 2004-05 Assessing Officer
Central and
Respective State 68.870 1982-83, 1984-86,
1988-89, 1989-90, High Court
Tax Acts 1990-91, 1992-93,
1995-96, 1996-97,
1997-98, 1999-00,
2001-02, 2005-06
82.662 1985-86, 1987-88,
1993-94, 1994-95, Appellate Tribunal
1995-96, 1996-97,
1997-98, 1997-01,
1998-99, 1999-00,
2000-01
9.210 1999-00, 2000-01,
2001-02, 2002-03,
2007-08 Joint Commissioner
18.056 1984-85, 1992-93,
2002-03, Deputy Commissioner
2005-07, 2007-08
200.780 1974-76, 1995-96,
1999-06, 2002-03 Assistant Commissioner
2.835 1993-94, 1995-96,
1997-98, 2004-05 Assessing Officer
54.980 1993-94,2004-05,
2005-06, 2006-07 Appellate and Revisional
board
5.579 2006-07, 2007-08 Additional Commissioner
Respective State
Excise Acts 5.287 1971-72,1972-73,
1973-74, Supreme Court
1977-78,1978-79,
1979-80,
1980-81,1981-82,
1981-2011
232.226 1963-64,1972-74,
1983-84, 1986-87, High Court
1988-91,1991-92,
1992-93, 1993-94,
1996-97,1997-98,
1998-99, 1999-00,
1998-01, 2000-01,
2002-03, 2003-04,
2001-11, 2008-10
17.464 1995-96 Appellate Tribunal
265.254 1974-81, 1980-81,
1981-82, 1982-83, Excise Commissioner
1983-84, 1983-85,
1984-85, 1985-86,
1985-87, 1986-87,
1987-88, 1988-89,
1989-90, 1991-92,
1991-96, 1993-94,
1993-95, 1995-96,
1995-98, 1998-99,
2001-02, 2002-03,
2004-05, 2005-06
1.593 1986-87, 1992-99,
1992-99,1997-98 Excise Superintendent
1.701 1994-95 District Magistrate and
Collector
12.170 1981-84 Chinsurah Court, Hooghly
8.311 1993-94 Additional District
Magistrate
0.081 1994-95 Collector
The Central
Excise Act, 1944 6.000 1991-95,1995-98,
2001-02 Supreme Court
0.534 1994-95 Commissioner of Central
Excise
25.635 1989-97,1996-97,
2004-05 High Court
0.481 1995-96 Assistant Commissioner
of Customs
For Price Waterhouse
Firm Registration Number: 007568S
Chartered Accountants
Usha A. Narayanan
New Delhi Partner
August 3, 2011 Membership Number: 23997
Mar 31, 2010
1. We have audited the attached Balance Sheet of United Spirits
Limited (the "Company") as at March 31, 2010, and the related Profit
and Loss Account and Cash Flow Statement for the year ended on that
date annexed thereto, which we have signed under reference to this
report. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Companys Management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audit.
2. We conducted our audit in accordance with the auditing standards
generally accepted in India. Those Standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by Management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for
our opinion.
3. As required by the Companies (Auditors Report) Order, 2003, as
amended by the Companies (Auditors Report) (Amendment) Order, 2004
(together the ÃOrderÃ), issued by the Central Government of India in
terms of sub-section (4A) of Section 227 of The Companies Act, 1956
of India (the Act) and on the basis of such checks of the books and
records of the Company as we considered appropriate and according to
the information and explanations given to us, we give in the Annexure a
statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order.
4. Further to our comments in the Annexure referred to in paragraph 3
above, we report that:
(a) We have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the
best of our knowledge and belief, were necessary for the purposes of
our audit;
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have
been kept by the Company so far as appears from our examination of
those books;
(c) The Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account and Cash Flow Statement
dealt with by this report are in agreement with the books of account;
(d) In our opinion, the Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account and Cash
Flow Statement dealt with by this report comply with the accounting
standards referred to in sub-section (3C) of Section 211 of the Act;
(e) On the basis of written representations received from the
directors, as on March 31, 2010 and taken on record by the Board of
Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2010
from being appointed as a director in terms of clause (g) of
sub-section (1) of Section 274 of the Act;
(f) In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to
the explanations given to us, the said financial statements together
with the notes thereon and attached thereto give, in the prescribed
manner, the information required by the Act, and give a true and fair
view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in
India:
(i) in the case of the Balance Sheet, of the state of affairs of the
company as at March 31, 2010;
ii) in the case of the Profit and Loss Account, of the profit for the
year ended on that date; and
iii) in the case of the Cash Flow Statement, of the cash flows for the
year ended on that date.
Annexure to the Auditors Report [Referred to in paragraph 3 of the
Auditors Report of even date to the members of United Spirits Limited
on the financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2010]
1. (a) The Company is maintaining proper records showing full
particulars, including quantitative details and situation, of fixed
assets.
(b) The fixed assets are physically verified by the Management
according to a phased programme designed to cover all the items over a
period of three years which, in our opinion, is reasonable having
regard to the size of the Company and the nature of its assets.
Pursuant to the programme, a portion of the fixed assets has been
physically verified by the Management during the year and no material
discrepancies between the book records and the physical inventory have
been noticed.
(c) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, a substantial part of fixed assets has not been disposed
of by the Company during the year.
2. (a) The inventory, excluding stocks held by a wholly owned
subsidiary in respect of which physical verification is not feasible
because of the nature of business of the Company, has been physically
verified by the Management during the year. In our opinion, the
frequency of verification is reasonable.
(b) In our opinion, read with our remarks in paragraph 2(a), procedures
of physical verification of inventory followed by the Management are
reasonable and adequate in relation to the size of the Company and the
nature of its business.
(c) On the basis of our examination of the inventory records, in our
opinion, the Company is maintaining proper records of inventory. The
discrepancies noticed on physical verification of inventory as compared
to book records were not material.
3. (a) The Company has not granted any loans, secured or unsecured, to
companies, firms or other parties covered in the register maintained
under Section 301 of the Act.
(b) The Company has not taken any loans, secured or unsecured, from
companies, firms or other parties covered in the register maintained
under Section 301 of the Act.
4. In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, there is an adequate internal control system commensurate
with the size of the Company and the nature of its business for the
purchase of inventory, fixed assets and for the sale of goods and
services. Further, on the basis of our examination of the books and
records of the Company, and according to the information and
explanations given to us, we have neither come across nor have been
informed of any continuing failure to correct major weaknesses in the
aforesaid internal control system.
5. (a) In our opinion and according to the information and
explanations given to us, the particulars of contracts or arrangements
referred to in Section 301 of the Act have been entered in the register
required to be maintained under that section.
(b) In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the transactions made in pursuance of such contracts or
arrangements and exceeding the value of Rupees Five Lakhs in respect of
any party during the year have been made at prices which are reasonable
having regard to the prevailing market prices at the relevant time
except for sale of goods aggregating to Rs.652.507 Million and purchase
of services aggregating to Rs.138.893 Million as there are no market
prices comparable to those sold/purchased, which, however are
considered to be of special nature as explained by the Management of
the Company.
6. In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the Company has complied with the provisions of Sections
58A and 58AA or any other relevant provisions of the Act and the
Companies (Acceptance of Deposits) Rules, 1975 with regard to the
deposits accepted from the public. According to the information and
explanations given to us, no Order has been passed by the Company Law
Board or National Company Law Tribunal or Reserve Bank of India or any
Court or any other Tribunal on the Company in respect of the aforesaid
deposits.
7. In our opinion, the Company has an internal audit system
commensurate with its size and nature of its business.
8. The Central Government of India has not prescribed the maintenance
of cost records under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of Section 209 of
the Act for any of the products of the Company.
9. (a) According to the information and explanations given to us and
the records of the Company examined by us, in our opinion, except dues
in respect of Maharashtra Value Added Tax, the Company is regular in
depositing undisputed statutory dues including investor education and
protection fund, employees state insurance, income-tax, wealth tax,
service tax, customs duty, excise duty and other material statutory
dues as applicable, with the appropriate authorities. The extent of the
arrears of statutory dues outstanding as at March 31, 2010, for a
period of more than six months from the date they became payable are as
follows :
Period to Date of
Name of Nature Amount
which the Due Pay-
the of (Rs. in
amount date ment
statute dues Million)
relates
Maharashtra Not
Sales April 1,
Value Added 12.937 2005-06 yet
Tax 2006
Tax, 2002 paid
(b) According to the information and explanations given to us and the
records of the Company examined by us, the particulars of dues of
income- tax, sales-tax, wealth-tax, service-tax, customs duty, excise
duty and cess as at March 31, 2010 which have not been deposited on
account of a dispute are given in Appendix 1.
10. The Company has no accumulated losses as at March 31, 2010 and it
has not incurred any cash losses in the financial year ended on that
date or in the immediately preceding financial year.
11. According to the records of the Company examined by us and the
information and explanation given to us, the Company has not defaulted
in repayment of dues to any financial institution or bank or debenture
holders as at the balance sheet date.
12. In our opinion, the Company has maintained adequate documents and
records in the cases where the Company has granted loans and advances
on the basis of security by way of pledge of shares, debentures and
other securities.
13. The provisions of any special statute applicable to chit fund/
nidhi/ mutual benefit fund/ societies are not applicable to the
Company.
14. In our opinion, the Company is not a dealer or trader in shares,
securities, debentures and other investments.
15. In our opinion and according to the information and explanations
given to us, the terms and conditions of the guarantees given by the
Company, for loans taken by others from banks or financial institutions
during the year, are not prejudicial to the interest of the Company.
16. In our opinion, and according to the information and explanations
given to us, on an overall basis, the term loans have been applied for
the purposes for which they were obtained.
17. On the basis of an overall examination of the balance sheet of the
Company, in our opinion and according to the information and
explanations given to us, there are no funds raised on a short-term
basis which have been used for long-term investment.
18. The Company has not made any preferential allotment of shares to
parties and companies covered in the register maintained under Section
301 of the Act during the year.
19. The Company has not issued debentures during the year and there
are no debentures outstanding as at year end.
20. The Management has disclosed the end use of money raised by public
issues (Refer Note 3 on Schedule 18) which has been verified by us.
21. During the course of our examination of the books and records of
the Company, carried out in accordance with the generally accepted
auditing practices in India, and according to the information and
explanations given to us, we have neither come across any instance of
fraud on or by the Company, noticed or reported during the year, nor
have we been informed of such case by the Management.
For Price Waterhouse
Firm Registration Number: 007568S
Chartered Accountants
J.Majumdar
Partner
Membership Number: F51912
Place : New Delhi
Date : August 18, 2010