We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of Ambuja Cements Limited ("the Company”), which comprise the Balance sheet as at March 31, 2025, the Statement of Profit and Loss, including the statement of Other Comprehensive Income, the Cash Flow Statement and the Statement of Changes in Equity for the year then ended, and notes to the Standalone financial statements, including a summary of material accounting policies and other explanatory information which includes a Joint Operation (hereafter referred to as the "Standalone Financial Statements”).
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, and based on the consideration of reports of other auditor on separate financial statements and on the other financial information of the joint operation, the aforesaid standalone financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013, as amended ("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, 2025, its profit including other comprehensive (loss) / income, its cash flows and the changes in equity for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit of the standalone financial statements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs), as 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 audit opinion on the standalone financial statements.
Emphasis of Matter
We draw your attention to Note 49 of the accompanying standalone financial statements which, describes the uncertainty related to the outcome of ongoing litigation with the Competition Commission of India.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the standalone financial statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2025. 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. For each matter below, our description of how our audit addressed the matter is provided in that context.
We have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report. We have fulfilled the responsibilities described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the standalone financial statements section of our report, including in relation to these matters. Accordingly, our audit included the performance of procedures designed to respond to our assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the standalone financial statements. The results of our audit procedures, including the procedures performed to address the matters below, provide the basis for our audit opinion on the accompanying standalone financial statements.
Key audit matters
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How our audit addressed the key audit matter
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Revenue recognition, including discounts and rebates to Customers (as described in Notes 3(I), 3.1(VI) and 37 of the standalone financial statements)
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The Company recognises revenue upon the transfer of control of goods to the customer, provided there are
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Our audit procedures included the following:
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no unfulfilled obligations. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received, adjusted for discounts, incentives, price concessions, rebates, and other
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Ý We have assessed the Company's accounting policies relating to recognition and measurement of revenue, discounts, incentives and rebates by comparing with
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similar adjustments. The timing of revenue recognition,
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applicable accounting standards.
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the determination of when control is transferred,
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Ý We have evaluated the design and implementation of the
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and the assessment of unfulfilled obligations require
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Company's internal controls over revenue recognition,
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significant judgment, particularly given the complexity
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including policies for discounts, rebates, and incentives,
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of sales arrangements (including through Master Supply Agreements (MSA)) and the varying terms and conditions across different customer agreements. This complexity is further compounded by the need to accurately estimate and apply discounts, rebates, and other adjustments to arrive at the fair value of consideration in the appropriate
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ensuring alignment with Ind AS 115.
Ý We have reviewed a sample of sales contracts, the underlying documentation for discounts, incentives and rebates recorded and disbursed during the year to assess the timing of transfer of control has been satisfied and verified delivery terms and conditions to
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period and the completeness of the expenses.
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ensure revenue recognition aligns with the transfer of
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The Company has established commercial policy that
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control to customers.
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sets benchmarks or limits for margins in case of MSA
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with related parties and for discounts and rebates, within which individual sales regions can design and implement their own schemes. This decentralised approach allows regional sales teams flexibility in offering rebates, which may result in variations between regions in terms of the
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Ý We have tested accuracy and consistency of discounts, rebates, and incentives applied to revenue transactions. Assessed the reasonableness of management's estimates for measurement of variable considerations including in case of MSA transaction with related
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level of discounts provided.
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parties, contractual terms including historical trends of payments and reversal of discounts, incentives
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Given the inherent complexity and judgment involved
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and rebated to provisions made to assess the
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in determining the timing of revenue recognition, the
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current year accruals.
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assessment of control transfer, and the estimation
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of discounts and rebates including cut offs, revenue recognition has been identified as a key audit matter.
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Ý Analysed regional schemes to ensure compliance with the Company's overall commercial policy and benchmarks. Also, evaluated the impact of sales region KPIs linked to revenue targets on the application of discounts and rebates, ensuring no undue influence on revenue recognition.
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Litigation and claims (as described in Notes 3(H), 3.1 (I) and 49 of the standalone financial statements)
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The Company has significant ongoing legal proceedings
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Our audit procedures included the following:
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for various matters relating to direct tax. indirect tax, government incentive claims and other legal matters relating to Company's operations under various laws prevailing in India. The Company has also deposited substantial amounts against various matters or accounted
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Ý
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Obtained and read the Company's accounting policies with respect to contingent liabilities and provisions and assessed its compliance with Ind AS 37 "Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets",
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as receivable from authorities against dispute, which
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Ý
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Obtained understanding of the Company's process and
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has been classified as "Duty, taxes paid under protest
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controls to identify and monitor all litigations, Including
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with Government Authorities against various disputes
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Company's process of assessment of litigations as
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- Other non-current assets” in Note 13. The provisions
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'probable', 'possible' and 'remote' and reporting to the
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made against legal matters have been included in Other
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Board of Directors / Audit Committee.
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Payables - Other current liability” in Note 35.
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Ý
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Discussed with the management including the
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Due to the magnitude and complexity involved in these
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person responsible for legal and compliance to
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matters, management's judgement regarding recognition.
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obtain an understanding of the matters involved and
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measurement and disclosure of provisions for these legal
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development in these matters compared to previous
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matters is inherently uncertain and might change over
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year. For significant direct and indirect tax matters and
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time as the outcome of the legal cases are determined or
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government incentive claims including special incentive,
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dispute gets settled. Accordingly, it has been considered
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we assessed the management conclusion with the
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as a key audit matter.
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support of internal specialists. For claims/matters settled during the year based on the orders/management assessment, we verified orders/management conclusion, as appropriate and verified whether the claims/matters settled were properly accounted for in the books.
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Ý
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Obtained and assessed management conclusion basis the related documentation / correspondence and opinions from external legal experts (where applicable) for other significant legal matters, as provided by the management. For incentive claims, reviewed management assessment for likelihood of recoverability.
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Ý
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Obtained direct legal confirmations for significant matters from external law firms handling such matters to corroborate management conclusions.
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Ý
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Assessed the objectivity and competence of the external legal experts / law firms and internal specialist as referred above.
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Ý
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Reviewed the disclosures made by the Company in the standalone financial statements.
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Ý
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Obtained necessary representations from the management.
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Impairment assessment of material Investments in subsidiaries (as described in Notes 3(E), and 9 of the standalone financial statements)
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The Company holds significant investments in subsidiaries
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Our audit procedures in relation to impairment assessment
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(including loans of INR 985.92 crores) amounting to INR
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of Company's investment in and loans to subsidiaries
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26,339.32 crores as at March 31, 2025. These investments are accounted for at cost less allowance for impairment, if any. The management assesses at least annually the existence of impairment indicators of each shareholding
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included the following:
Ý Obtained an understanding of the management policy on assessment of impairment/ loans of investment in
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in such subsidiaries by reference to the requirements
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subsidiaries and assumptions used by the management
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under Ind AS 36. If such indicator exists, impairment loss is determined and recognised in the standalone financial statements in accordance with the accounting policies.
With regards loans given to subsidiaries, including step down subsidiaries, Ind AS 109 'Financial Instrument',
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including design and implementation of relevant key controls. We have tested the design and operating effectiveness of these controls.
Ý Obtained and compared the carrying values of the Company's investment in its subsidiaries with their respective net worth as per audited financial statements
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require the Company to provide for impairment of its financial asset measured at amortised cost, if any, using
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for the year ended March 31, 2025.
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the expected credit loss ('ECL) approach.
The processes and methodologies for assessing and determining the recoverable amount of investments/
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Ý For potential impairment indicators identified by management for material investments in subsidiaries, obtained and assessed the appropriateness of the
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loans in subsidiaries are based on complex assumptions
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methodology used in the impairment model, the input data and underlying assumptions used such as future
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and require use of significant managements judgment,
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levels of operations, discount rate etc. and considered
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in particular with reference to forecast of future cash
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historical performance vis-a-vis budgets for
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flows relating to the period covered by the respective subsidiary Company's strategic business plan, normalised
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respective subsidiaries.
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cash flows assumed as a basis for terminal value, as well
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Ý Assessed the recoverable value by performing sensitivity
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as the long-term growth rates and discount rates applied
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testing of key assumptions used, analysed and examined
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to such forecasted cash flows.
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the business plans approved along with assumptions and estimates used by management and tested the
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Considering the significant level of management judgment required in estimating the cash flows and the complexity
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arithmetical accuracy of these models.
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of the assumptions used, this matter has been identified
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Ý Compared the carrying value of the investments and
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as a key audit matter.
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loans to subsidiaries with their respective net assets value and earnings for the period.
Ý Assessed the disclosure is in accordance with applicable accounting standards and Schedule III to the Note 9 in the standalone financial statements of the Company.
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Other Information
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 accompanying standalone financial statements and our auditor's report thereon.
Our opinion on the accompanying standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the accompanying standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether such 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 the Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Standalone Financial Statements
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 (loss) / 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 (Ind AS) specified under section 133 of the Act read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, as amended. 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 the 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.
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 Charged with Governance are also responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process.
Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
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.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
Ý 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.
Ý 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.
Ý Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
Ý 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.
Ý 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.
Ý Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial statements and other financial information of the joint operation to express an opinion on the standalone financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the audit of the financial statements of the components which have been audited by us. For the joint operation included in the standalone financial statements, which have been audited by other auditor, such other auditor remains responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the audits carried out by them. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.
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.
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.
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 for the financial year ended March 31, 2025 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.
Other Matter
We did not audit the financial statements and other financial information, in respect of one joint operation, whose financial statements include total assets of H 0.85 crores as at March 31, 2025 and total revenues of Nil and net cash inflows of H 0.08 crores for the year ended on that date. These financial statements and other financial information of the said joint operation has been audited by other auditor, whose financial statements, other financial information and auditor's report has been furnished to us by the Management. Our opinion on the standalone financial statements, in so far as it relates to the amounts and disclosures included in respect of the joint operation and our report in terms of sub-sections (3) of Section 143 of the Act in so far as it relates to the aforesaid joint operation, is based solely on the report of such other auditor. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020 ("the Order”), issued by the Central Government of India in terms of sub-section (11) of section 143 of the Act based on our audit and on the consideration of report of the other auditor on separate financial statements and the other financial information of the joint operation company, incorporated in India, as noted in the 'other matter' paragraph, we give in the "Annexure 1” a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order.
2. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, based on our audit and on the consideration of report of the other auditor on separate financial statements and the other financial information of the joint operation, as noted in the 'other matter' paragraph, we report to the extent applicable, that:
Nature of delay
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Due date
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Date of payment
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Number of days of delays
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Amount involved (In crores)
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Delay in depositing unpaid dividend declared for year ended
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September 28, 2024
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October 28, 2024
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30
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1.33
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(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 relating to preparation of the aforesaid financial statement have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books except for the matters stated in sub-clause 2(i)(vi) below on reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditor's) Rules, 2014;
(c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss including the Statement of Other Comprehensive (loss) / income, the Cash Flow Statement and 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 financial statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act, read with Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, as amended;
(e) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31, 2025 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2025 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164 (2) of the Act;
(f) The modification relating to the maintenance of accounts and other matters connected therewith are as stated in the paragraph (b) above on reporting under Section 143(3)(b) and in sub-clause 2(i)(vi) below on reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditor's) Rules;
(g) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to standalone financial statements and the operating
effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure 2” to this report. This report does not include Report on the internal financial controls under clause (i) of Sub-section 3 of Section 143 of the Companies Act, 2013 (the 'Report on internal financial controls') in respect of the joint operation company since in our opinion and according to the information and explanation given to us, the said report on internal financial controls is not applicable to the joint operation, basis the exemption available under MCA notification no. G.S.R. 583(E) dated June 13, 2017, read with corrigendum dated July 13, 2017;
(h) In our opinion, the managerial remuneration for the year ended March 31, 2025 has been paid / provided by the Company to its directors in accordance with the provisions of section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act.
(i) 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 Note 49 to the standalone financial statements;
ii. The Company has made provision, as required under the applicable law or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, if any, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts- Refer Note 55 to the standalone financial statements;
iii. Following are the instances of delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) by the Company,
iv. a) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in the note 59(5) to the standalone financial statements, no funds 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 ("Intermediaries”), 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 Beneficiaries”) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries;
b) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in the note 59(6) to the standalone financial statements, no funds have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Funding Parties”), 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 Beneficiaries”) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries; and
c) Based on such audit procedures performed that have been 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 mis-statement.
v. The final dividend paid by the Company during the year in respect of the same declared for the previous year is in accordance with section 123 of the Act to the extent it applies to payment of dividend. As stated in note 25 to the standalone financial statements, the Board of Directors of the Company have proposed final dividend for the year which is subject to the approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. The dividend declared is in accordance with section 123 of the Act to the extent it applies to declaration of dividend.
vi. Based on our examination which included test checks, the Company has used accounting software for maintaining its books of account which has a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the software, except the audit trail feature is enabled, for certain direct changes to database when using certain privileged / administrative access rights which got stabilised and enabled from March 25, 2025, as described in note 74 to the standalone financial statements.
Further, during the course of our audit we did not come across any instance of audit trail feature being tampered with in respect of the accounting software where audit trail was enabled. Additionally, the audit trail of relevant prior years has been preserved for record retention to the extent it was enabled and recorded in those respective years by the Company as per the statutory requirements for record retention, as described in note 74 to the standalone financial statements.
For S R B C & CO LLP
Chartered Accountants ICAI Firm Registration Number: 324982E/E300003
per Santosh Agarwal
Partner
Membership Number: 093669 UDIN: 25093669BMJBHH2264
Place of Signature: Ahmedabad, Gujarat Date: April 29, 2025
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