We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited ("the Company"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2024, and the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), Statement of Changes in Equity and Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended, and notes to the standalone financial statements, including a summary of material accounting policies and other explanatory information (hereinafter referred to as "standalone financial statements").
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 Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 201 5, as amended, ("Ind AS") and the other accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2024 profit, total comprehensive income, changes in equity and its cash flows 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) 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 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 on the standalone financial statements.
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 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. We have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report:
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Key Audit Matter
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Auditor's Response
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Evaluation of uncertain tax positions:
The company has material uncertain tax positions for liability of ' 23,781.76 Lakhs including matters under dispute which involves significant judgment to determine the possible outcome of these disputes. Refer Note 38 to the standalone financial statements.
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Principal Audit Procedures
Our audit procedure included:
• Evaluated the related accounting policy for provisioning for tax exposures and obtained details of completed tax assessments and demands up to the year ended March 31, 2024 from the management.
• Evaluated auditee's response /opinion taken from various tax experts by auditee to challenge the underlying assumptions in estimating the tax provision and the possible outcome of the disputes. We also considered legal precedence and other rulings in evaluating management's position on these uncertain tax positions.
• Additionally, we considered the effect of new information in respect of uncertain tax positions as at March 31, 2024 to evaluate whether any change was required to management's position on these uncertainties. We evaluated the adequacy of disclosures in the standalone financial statements.
Based on the above procedures performed, the results of
management's assessment were considered to be consistent
with the outcome of our procedures.
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Key Audit Matter
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Auditor's Response
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Impairment of property, plant and equipment:
The Company has discontinued its operations at Fiber & Polymer unit due to non-viability of its products. Carrying Value of the assets of the Fiber & Polymer unit as on March 31, 2024 works out to ' 4,688.93 Lakhs & ' 135.28 Lakhs respectively. We have considered this issue to be a key audit matter because the analysis performed by management requires the use of complex estimates and judgments regarding the future earnings performances / recoverable amount of the currently discontinued units to which the aforementioned assets belong.
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Principal Audit Procedures
Our audit procedure included:
• Evaluated the management's various viable proposals, impairment calculations, assessing the net recoverable value of the currently discontinued units used in the models, and the process by which they were drawn up, including comparing them to the latest circle rates of the Land, and testing the underlying calculations.
Based on our audit procedures, we found management's assessment in determining the carrying value of the property, plant and equipment of Fiber and Polymer unit to be reasonable. Refer Note 48(i) to the standalone financial statements.
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Assessment of implications of Government policies/notifications on recognition of subsidy revenue and its recoverability:
During the year, the company has recognised subsidy revenue amounting to ' 3,53,338.54 Lakhs and the aggregate amount of subsidy receivable as at March 31, 2024 is ' 1,10,630.80 Lakhs. The amount of subsidy income and the balance receivable are significant to the standalone financial statements. We focused on this area since the recognition of subsidy revenue and the assessment of recoverability of the related subsidy receivables is subject to significant judgments of the management. The areas of subjectivity and judgment include interpretation and satisfaction of conditions specified in the notifications / policies in the estimation of timing and amount of recognition of subsidy revenue, likelihood of recoverability and allowance if any in relation to the outstanding subsidy receivables.
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Principal Audit Procedures
Our audit procedure included:
• Understood and evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls as established by the management in recognition of subsidy revenue and assessment of the recoverability of outstanding subsidy.
• Evaluated the management's assessment regarding reasonable certainty of complying with the relevant conditions as specified in the notifications / policies. We also reviewed the calculation of urea concession income including escalation / de-escalation adjustments as per relevant policy parameters in this regard.
• We assessed the reasonableness of the recoverability of subsidy receivable by reviewing the management's analysis and information used to determine the recoverability of subsidy receivable, ageing of receivables and historical collection trends and evaluated adequacy of disclosures in the standalone financial statements.
Based on the above procedures performed, the management's assessment of implications of government notifications / policies on recognition of subsidy revenue and its recoverability was considered to be reasonable.
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Accuracy of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosures of revenues and other related balances in view of adoption of Ind AS 115 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers":
The company primarily manufactures and sells a number of fertilizer and chemical products to its customers, mainly through its own distribution network. Sales contracts specifically w.r.t Bill and Hold transaction contains constructive obligation for transfer of control to the buyer. As per the terms of the contract with the customers, the company used to recognize the sale based on the invoicing and considering the transfer of control and other criteria set out in para B81 of Ind AS 115. Refer Note 45 to the standalone financial statements.
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Principal Audit Procedures
Our audit procedure:
• Focused on transactions occurring within proximity of the year end in the Fertilizer segment, obtaining evidence to support the appropriate timing of revenue recognition based on terms and conditions set out in sales contracts, delivery documents and dealers' confirmation.
Based on the above procedures performed, we found management's assessment in recognizing the revenue for Bill & Hold transactions are to be reasonable.
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Information Other than the Standalone Financial Statements and Auditor's Report Thereon
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report (i.e. the Board's Report and Annexure to Board's Report, Business Responsibility & Sustainability Report, Management Discussion and Analysis, Corporate Governance Report and Shareholder's Information) but does not include the standalone financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The other information is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor's report thereon.
Our opinion on the 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 standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information identified above when it becomes available 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.
When we read the Other Information, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance as required under SA 720 (Revised) 'The Auditor's Responsibilities Related to Other Information'.
Responsibilities of 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, total comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows 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, 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 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.
The 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
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:
• 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.
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under section 1 43(3)(i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the company has adequate internal financial controls system in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
• 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.
• 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.
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 of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditors' report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matters 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:
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, we give in the "Annexure A”, a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
2. 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 Statement 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, read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, as amended.
e) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31, 2024 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2024 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 B” to this report.
g) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's Report in accordance with the requirements of section 1 97(1 6) of the Act, as amended:
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the managerial remuneration has been paid/provided by the company to its directors during the year is in accordance with provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V of the Act.
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, 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 no 38 to the standalone financial statements;
ii. Provision has been made in the standalone financial statements, as required under the applicable law or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, if any, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts.
iii. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor's Education and Protection Fund by the company during the year.
iv. (a) The management has represented that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, 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 their knowledge and belief, 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;
(c) Based on the audit procedures that has 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 (i) and (ii) of Rule 11 (e), as provided under (a) and (b) above, contain any material mis-statement.
v. The final dividend proposed in the previous year, declared and paid by the company during the year, is in compliance with section 1 23 of the Act.
As stated in note 20 to the standalone financial statement, the Board of Directors of the Company has proposed final dividend for the year which is subject to the approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. The amount of dividend proposed is in accordance with section 1 23 of the Act, as applicable.
vi. Based on our examination, which included test checks, the company has used an 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. Further, during the course of our audit we did not come across any instance of audit trail feature being tampered with.
As proviso to Rule 3(1) of the Companies(accounts) Rules, 2014 is applicable from April 1, 2023, reporting under Rule 11(g) of Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 on preservation of audit trail as per the statutory requirements for record retention is not applicable for the financial year ended March 31, 2024.
For Parikh Mehta & Associates Chartered Accountant Firm Reg. No.: 112832W
Sd/-Tejal Parikh Partner
Place : Gandhinagar Membership No. 109600
Date : May 21, 2024 UDIN : 24109600BKACFY3323
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