To
The Members,
The Directors are pleased to present their 42nd Annual
Report and Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March, 2024.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
Particulars |
31/03/2024 |
31/03/2023 |
Revenue from operations |
11,34,414 |
9,60,138 |
Other income |
21,831 |
38,998 |
Total Income |
11,56,245 |
9,99,136 |
Operating profit (loss) before depreciation and tax |
1,49,135 |
86,508 |
Depreciation |
24,824 |
24,530 |
Profit (loss) before tax |
1,24,311 |
61,978 |
Tax expenses |
|
|
Current tax |
28,252 |
8,472 |
Deferred tax |
2,020 |
9,741 |
Tax in respect of earlier years |
(631) |
(689) |
Profit (loss) after tax |
94,670 |
44454 |
Operations/ State of Company's Affairs:
During the year under review (FY 2023-24), the sales value showed an
increase of 18% (from 9,601.38 lacs in 2022-23 to Rs 11,344.14 lacs in 2023-24). The PBDIT
increased by 60% (from 954.58 lacs in 2022-23 to Rs 1,524.80 lacs in 2023-24) and company
net profit almost doubled (from Rs 444.54 lacs to 946.70 lacs).
The total exports sales increased, in terms of value, export sales grew
by 73% (from 1,343 lacs in 2022-23 to 2,318 lacs in 2023-24. In terms of volumes, export
sales grew by 47% (from 562 MT in 2022-23 to 828 MT in 2023-24).
The increase in sales and profit was a due to various steps taken by
the management, namely
> Exiting lamination business which helped the company to use the
existing resources more effectively.
> Concentrated efforts on increasing sales of specialty products,
adhesive films and surface protection films in the domestic market.
> Focus on increasing our export sales of surface protection films,
> Streamlining supply chain activities resulting in to reduced
inventory
> Focus on reducing raw material costs by reviewing technical and
concentrated buying efforts
The above two also drastically helped in streamlining our working
capital, thereby reducing finance costs
> Focus on developing products for new applications of surface
protection films
> Converting increased volumes by outsourcing to overcome capacity
constraints
No material changes have occurred from the end of the financial year
till the date of this report affecting the Company's financial position.
No significant and material orders have been passed by the regulators
or Courts or Tribunals impacting the going concern status and the company's operations in
the future during the year under review.
There has been no change in the nature of the Business of the Company
during the year.
Safety measures against Covid continued as a precautionary step.
DIVIDEND:
The Board of Directors have recommended a dividend of Rs. 3 [30%] per
equity share of the face value of Rs. 10 (Rupees ten only) for the financial year 2023-24
(previous year Rs. 1.5 [15%] per equity share) for the approval at the Annual General
Meeting. The Dividend if approved, will result in a cash outflow of Rs. 90 lacs (previous
year Rs. 45 lacs)
TRANSFER OF AMOUNTS TO RESERVES:
The Company was not required to transfer any amount to any reserve
during the financial year.
BOARD MEETINGS:
The Board of Directors met six times during the financial year 2023-24.
The dates of the Board meetings have been mentioned in the Corporate Governance Report
which forms part of this report.
DIRECTORS AND KEY MANANGERIAL PERSONNEL:
During the year, the tenure of Mr. Atul Baijal (DIN: 09046341) as the
Whole Time Director of the Company expired on February 10, 2024. The Board of Directors
approved the re-appointment of Mr. Atul Baijal, as Whole Time Director for a further
period of three years with effect from February 11, 2024. The said reappointment was
approved by the Members of the Company through Postal Ballot which was held on January 8,
2024.
Mr. Atul Baijal (DIN: 09046341), Director of the Company would retire
by rotation, at the ensuing Annual General Meeting and being eligible offers himself for
reappointment.
Mr. Vaibhav Kumar Totla resigned as Chief Financial Officer ('CFO') and
Key Managerial Personnel ('KMP') of the Company w.e.f. November 3, 2023 and the Board
appreciates his association and service to the company during his tenure.
Mr. Setu Rushi Parikh, was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the
Company w.e.f. November 4, 2024.
DECLARATION FROM INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS:
The Company has received necessary declarations from each of the
Independent Director of the Company under Section 149(7) of the Companies Act, 2013 and
SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations 2015 that they meet the
criteria of Independence laid down in Section 149(6) of the Act and SEBI Regulations and
there has been no change in the circumstances which may affect their status as Independent
Director during the year. In the opinion of the Board, the Independent Directors possess
appropriate balance of skills, experience and knowledge, as required.
FAMILIARIZATION PROGRAMME FOR THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS:
In compliance with the requirements of SEBI (Listing Obligations and
Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, the Company has put in place a familiarization
program for the Independent Directors to familiarize them with their role, rights and
responsibilities as Directors, the working of the Company, nature of the industry in which
the Company operates, business model etc. The details of the familiarization programme are
explained in the Corporate Governance Report. The same is also available on the website of
the company at www.ecoplastindia.com.
AUDIT COMMITTEE:
The Audit Committee of the Board has been constituted in terms of SEBI
(Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 and Section 177 of the
Act. The constitution and other relevant details of the Audit Committee are given in the
Corporate Governance Report. All the recommendations made by the Audit Committee were
accepted by the Board of Directors.
policy on directors' appointment and remuneration and
CRITERIA FOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS:
The Remuneration Policy for directors and senior management and the
Criteria for selection of candidates for appointment as directors, independent directors
and senior management are placed on the website of the Company at www.ecoplastindia.com
There has been no change in the said policies since the last fiscal
year.
We affirm that the remuneration paid to the directors is as per the
terms laid out in the remuneration policy of the Company.
VIGIL MECHANISM:
The Company is committed to adhere to the highest standards of ethical,
moral and legal conduct of business operations. To maintain these standards, the Company
encourages its employees who have concerns about suspected misconduct to come forward and
express these concerns without fear of punishment or unfair treatment. A Vigil (Whistle
Blower) mechanism formulated by the Company provides a channel to the employees and
Directors to report to the management concerns about unethical behaviour, actual or
suspected fraud or violation of the Codes of conduct or policy. The mechanism provides for
adequate safeguards against victimization of employees and Directors to avail of the
mechanism and also provide for direct access to the Managing Director/ Chairman of the
Audit Committee in exceptional cases. The said Whistle Blower Policy has been disseminated
on the Company's website at www.ecoplastindia.com
director's responsibility statement:
In pursuance of section 134 (5) of the Companies Act, 2013, the
Directors hereby confirm that:
(a) in the preparation of the annual accounts, the applicable
accounting standards had been followed along with proper explanation relating to material
departures;
(b) the directors have selected such accounting policies and applied
them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent so as
to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company at the end of the
financial year and of the profit of the company for that period;
(c) the directors have taken proper and sufficient care for the
maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of this Act
for safeguarding the assets of the company and for preventing and detecting fraud and
other irregularities;
(d) the directors have prepared the annual accounts on a going concern
basis; and
(e) the directors, have laid down internal financial controls to be
followed by the company in consultation with the experts and that such internal financial
controls are adequate and were operating effectively.
(f) the directors have devised proper systems in consultation with the
experts to ensure compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws and that such
systems were adequate and operating effectively.
DETAILS OF ADEQUACY OF INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS:
The Company has a proper and adequate system of internal financial
controls commensurate with its nature and size of business and meets the following
objectives:
Providing assurance regarding the effectiveness and efficiency
of operations;
Efficient use and safeguarding of resources;
Compliance with policies, procedures and applicable laws and
regulations; and
Transactions being accurately recorded and reported timely.
The Company has a budgetary control system to monitor
expenditures and operations against budgets on an ongoing basis.
The Internal Auditor also regularly reviews the adequacy of
internal financial control system.
SUBSIDIARY COMPANY:
A Statement Containing the Salient features of the Financial Statements
of the subsidiary Company is annexed as Annexure- I as a part of this Report.
During the year under review, no Company has become or ceased to be
Company's subsidiary, joint venture or associate company.
Further, pursuant to the provisions of Section 136 of the Act, the
financial statements of the Company along with relevant documents and separate audited
financial statements in respect of the subsidiary are available on the website of the
Company at www.ecoplastindia.com.
ANNUAL RETURN:
As per the requirements of Section 92(3) of the Act and Rules framed
there under, the Annual Return for the financial year 2023-24 is uploaded on the website
of the Company. The same is available on www.ecoplastindia.com
AUDITORS:
As per the provisions of Section 139 of the Act read with the Companies
(Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, M/s. Y.B. Desai & Associates, Chartered Accountants,
Surat, (ICAI Registration No. 102368W) were re-appointed as Statutory Auditors of the
Company at the 40th Annual General Meeting of the Company for a second term of
five years from the conclusion of 40th Annual General
Meeting till the 45th Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in the
year 2027.
PARTICULARS OF FRAUDS, IF ANY REPORTED UNDER SUB-SECTION (12) OF
SECTION 143 OTHER THAN THOSE WHICH ARE REPORTABLE TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT:
No frauds have been reported by the Auditors under sub-section (12) of
Section 143 of the Companies Act, 2013.
SECRETARIAL AUDIT:
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 and other applicable
provisions, if any, of the Companies Act, 2013, Parikh & Associates, Practising
Company Secretaries were appointed as the Secretarial Auditors for auditing the
secretarial records of the Company for the financial year 2023-24.
Secretarial audit report of the Company as provided by Parikh &
Associates, Practising Company Secretaries is annexed to this Report as Annexure- II.
auditors' report and secretarial auditors' report:
The Statutory Auditors' Report and Secretarial Auditor's Report do not
contain any qualifications, reservations or adverse remarks.
COST AUDITORS:
The provisions of section 148 (2) for appointment of Cost Auditors were
not applicable to the Company. The Company has maintained the cost records as specified by
the Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 148 of the Companies Act, 2013.
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY ABSORPTION, FOREIGN EXCHANGE
EARNINGS AND OUTGO:
Information in accordance with Clause (m) of Sub-section (3) of Section
134 of the Companies Act, 2013, read with the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 is annexed
to this Report as Annexure -III.
DEPOSITS:
The Company has not accepted any deposits during the year under report.
PARTICULARS OF LOANS, GUARANTEES OR INVESTMENTS:
As on 31st March 2024 the Company has made the following
loans and Investments under section 186 of the Companies Act, 2013.
Investments Rs. 0.93 lacs for 11,95,360 Equity Shares of Rs. 10 each
fully paid up in Synergy Films Private Limited (Wholly Owned Subsidiary).
Loan Rs. 15 lacs given to Synergy Films Private Limited (Wholly Owned
Subsidiary). RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY:
The Company has adopted a Risk Management Policy which is implemented
throughout the Organisation; Special Emphasis on Risk Management is given during the
Annual Budgeting Process and Periodical Monthly Meetings.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY POLICY:
The Provisions of Corporate Social Responsibility under section 135 of
the Companies Act, 2013 are not applicable to the company.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:
Particulars of Contracts or Arrangements with Related parties referred
to in Section 188(1) in Form AOC- 2 are annexed as Annexure- IV to this Report.
FORMAL ANNUAL EVALUATION:
An annual evaluation of the Board's own performance, Board committees
and individual directors was carried out pursuant to the provisions of the Act in the
following manner:
Sr. No. Performance evaluation of |
Performance evaluation performed by |
Criteria |
1. Each Individual director |
Nomination and Remuneration Committee |
Attendance, Contribution to the Board and committee meetings
like preparedness on the issues to be discussed, meaningful and constructive contribution
and guidance provided, key performance aspects in case of executive directors etc. |
2. Independent directors; |
Entire Board of Directors excluding the director who is being
evaluated |
Attendance, Contribution to the Board and committee meetings
like preparedness on the issues to be discussed, meaningful and constructive contribution,
and guidance provided etc. |
3. Board, and its committees |
All directors |
Board composition and structure; effectiveness of Board
processes, information and functioning, fulfilment of key responsibilities, performance of
specific |
|
|
duties and obligations, timely flow of information etc. The
assessment of committees based on the terms of reference of the committees and
effectiveness of the meetings. |
PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES:
Pursuant to Section 197 of the Act read with Rule 5(1) of the Companies
(Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 the particulars of
employees are annexed as Annexure -V to this Report.
DISCLOSURE AS PER SEXUAL HARRASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE (PREVENTION,
PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT, 2013:
The company has in place an Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy in line with
the requirements of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition
and Redressal) Act, 2013 and rules made there under. All employees (permanent,
contractual, temporary, trainees) are covered under this policy.
The Company has complied with provisions relating to the constitution
of Internal Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
(Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and has not received any complaint of
sexual harassment during the financial year 2023-24.
LISTING WITH STOCK EXCHANGE:
The Company confirms that it has paid the Annual Listing Fees for the
year 2023-24 to BSE Limited where the Company's Shares are listed.
INSIDER TRADING REGULATIONS AND CODE OF DISCLOSURE:
The Board of Directors has adopted the Code of Practices and Procedures
for Fair Disclosure of Unpublished Price Sensitive Information and Code of Internal
Procedures and Conduct for Regulating, Monitoring and Reporting of Trading by Insiders in
accordance with the requirements of the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulation,
2015 and is available on our website www.ecoplastindia.com
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:
As per SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements)
Regulations, 2015, a separate section on Corporate Governance forms part of this report. A
Certificate from Parikh & Associates, Practicing Company Secretary confirming
compliance of Corporate Governance forms part of this Report.
Certificate of the CEO & CFO, confirming the correctness of the
financial statements, compliance with the Company's Code of Conduct and the Audit
Committee in
terms of Regulation 17 of the Listing Regulations is attached in the
Corporate Governance report and forms part of this report.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION ANALYSIS:
In terms of the provisions of Regulation 34 of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations,
2015, the Management's discussion and analysis is set out in this Annual Report.
SECRETARIAL STANDARDS:
The Directors have devised proper systems to ensure compliance with the
provisions of all applicable Secretarial Standards issued by the Institute of Company
Secretaries of India and that such systems are adequate and operating effectively.
DETAILS OF APPLICATION MADE OR ANY PROCEEDING PENDING UNDER THE
INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE:
During the financial year no application was made or any proceeding
pending against the company under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
DETAILS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMOUNT OF THE VALUATION DONE AT THE TIME
OF ONE TIME SETTLEMENT AND THE VALUATION DONE WHILE TAKING LOAN FROM THE BANKS OR
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ALONG WITH THE REASONS THEREOF:
Not Applicable during the financial year.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
The Directors wish to convey their appreciation to Customers,
Suppliers, Bankers, other Stakeholders and specially the employees for their co-operation.
The Directors also appreciate the confidence reposed in the Management of the Company by
its shareholders.