To,
The Members of
Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited (the "Company")
The Directors present their 25th Annual Report (3rd
Integrated Annual Report) on the performance of the Company along with the Audited
Financial Statements for the financial year ended March 31,2024.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
t? in rr> c~ )
Particulars |
Standalone |
Consolidated |
|
FY 2023-24 FY 2022-23 |
FY 2023-24 FY 2022-23 |
Income |
|
|
|
|
Revenue from operations |
8,939.23 |
8,581.52 |
10,732.89 |
10,586.17 |
Other income |
119.97 |
97.79 |
33.49 |
13.21 |
Total Income |
9,059.20 |
8,679.31 |
10,766.38 |
10,599.38 |
Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation &
Amortisation |
1,219.64 |
917.29 |
1,657.20 |
1,223.59 |
Total Expenses |
8,851.30 |
8,811.54 |
10,560.45 |
10,838.82 |
Profit / (Loss) before exceptional item and tax |
207.90 |
(132.23) |
205.93 |
(239.44) |
Exceptional item |
- |
238.22 |
- |
405.80 |
Profit/(Loss) before tax |
207.90 |
(370.45) |
205.93 |
(645.24) |
Tax expenses |
54.87 |
(460.62) |
58.56 |
(661.10) |
Profit after tax |
153.03 |
90.17 |
147.37 |
15.86 |
Other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
Items that will not be reclassified to Profit or Loss: |
|
|
|
|
Re-measurements gains/ (losses) of defined benefit plans |
(3.37) |
0.82 |
(4.50) |
2.17 |
Income tax related to above |
1.18 |
(0.29) |
1.57 |
(0.29) |
Total(A) |
(2.19) |
0.53 |
(2.93) |
1.88 |
Items that will be reclassified to Profit or Loss: |
|
|
|
|
Net change in fair value of derivatives designated as cash
flow hedges |
0.12 |
0.05 |
0.12 |
0.05 |
Income tax related to above |
(0.04) |
(0.02) |
(0.04) |
(0.02) |
Total(B) |
0.08 |
0.03 |
0.08 |
0.03 |
Other comprehensive income for the year (A+B) |
(2.11) |
0.56 |
(2.85) |
1.91 |
Total comprehensive income for the year |
150.92 |
90.73 |
144.52 |
17.77 |
INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT
The Company has voluntarily published 3rd Integrated Annual
Report for FY 2023-24 demonstrating its focus on Corporate Governance, compliances and
transparent reporting practices.
DIVIDEND
The Company has not declared dividend for FY 2023-24. DIVIDEND
DISTRIBUTION POLICY
In accordance with Regulation 43A of SEBI (Listing Obligations and
Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (the "Listing Regulations"), the
Board of Directors of the Company have adopted a Dividend Distribution Policy. The same is
available on the Company's website at www.nuvoco.com/Policies/ DividendDistribution-Policy
TRANSFER TO RESERVES
The Board of Directors have decided to retain the entire amount of the
total comprehensive income of '150.92 crores for FY 2023-24 in the Retained Earnings.
PERFORMANCE REVIEW Consolidated
The revenue from operations for FY 2023-24 increased to '10,732.89
crores from '10,586.17 crores in the previous year. The Earnings before Interest, Tax,
Depreciation and Amortisation ("EBITDA") stood at '1,657.20 crores; an increase
of 35.44% as compared to '1,223.59 crores earned in the previous year. This increase was
mainly on account of lower fuel cost (coal and pet coke) and cost reduction measures taken
by the Company as compared to previous year. The total comprehensive income for the year
was '144.52 crores as compared to '17.77 crores in the previous year.
Cement of 18,841 KT was produced in FY 2023-24 as against 18,782 KT in
the previous year. Clinker production increased to 10,477 KT as against 10,397 KT in the
previous year. Cement sales volume was 18,773 KT as against 18,803 KT in the previous
year.
Standalone
The revenue from operations for FY 2023-24 increased to '8,939.23
crores from '8,581.52 crores in the previous year. EBIDTA stood at '1,219.64 crores; an
increase of 32.96% as
Marketing Initiatives
In FY 2023-24, the Company launched several strategic initiatives to
broaden its market presence and enhance customer service. These efforts included impactful
marketing campaigns such as "Seedhi Baat Hai, Duragurad Khaas Hai,"
"Concreto - Naam hi Kaafi Hai" and "Sabse Khaas Sarpanch." Moreover,
the debut of "Duraguard F2F" in Jharkhand highlighted Nuvoco's dedication to
innovation and superior service. Additionally, there was a significant overhaul in the
branding framework, with all product packaging now prominently featuring Mother Brand
Nuvoco in the front, symbolising unified commitment to excellence. Concreto - Naam hi
Kaafi Hai Campaign
The Company announced its collaboration with the legendary superstar,
Prosenjit Chatterjee, for his cinematic marvel, "Dawshom Awbotaar". This unique
partnership of Concreto Cement's Naam Tai Joteshto campaign with Prosenjit Chatterjee
highlights the similarities between the two. Just as the actor's name is synonymous with
brilliance in the entertainment world, Concreto's name is synonymous with excellence in
the cement industry. The film made a significant impact on Bengali cinema, reflecting the
superior quality and premium standards that Concreto Cement brings to the construction
sector.
Seedhi Baat Hai, Duragurad Khaas Hai Campaign
The latest Brand Campaign - "Seedhi Baat Hai, Duraguard Khaas
Hai" has been exclusively designed to promote the entire range of Duraguard Cement.
The campaign has already taken off in the key markets of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Chhattisgarh. The Company has strategically
amplified its presence through diverse content across print, radio, TV, social media,
blogs and more.
Sabse Khaas Sarpanch - Brand Activation Campaign The Company launched
an interactive brand activation called "Sabse Khaas Sarpanch" under the
Duraguard brand campaign "Seedhi Baat Hai, Duragurad Khaas Hai". This unique
activation is a celebration and acknowledgment of the efforts of the most exceptional
Sarpanch (Village Head) in West Madhya Pradesh. The platform allows the Sarpanch to share
impactful stories of their contributions to village development, highlighting their
remarkable initiatives. The Company believes that this campaign will help strengthen its
position in the market and elevate its brand. This campaign involved 360? promotion
across digital, radio and personal outreach to create awareness and encourage Sarpanches
to submit entries showcasing their village improvement work. The campaign involves
extensive event amplification across print and digital media.
Ready-Mix Concrete ("RMX")
With 58 (fifty eight) plants across India as on March 31, 2024, the
Company is one of the leading industry players in the RMX industry. As a preferred
partner, it provides concrete solutions to developers, small contractors, builders,
architects and individual home builders at large.
The Company's product portfolio includes Concreto (Performance
concrete), Artiste (Decorative concrete), InstaMix (Ready-to-use Bagged Concrete), X-Con
(M20 to M60 grade), and Ecodure (Special green concrete).
The Company launched 7 (seven) RMX plants in FY 2023-24, bringing the
total number of RMX plants in the network to 58 (fifty eight). The new plants commissioned
in FY 2023-24 are at Kandivali (Mumbai), Nerul (Mumbai), Pune, Patna, Vizag, Medchal
(Hyderabad) and Coimbatore.
Some of the notable landmark projects concluded in FY 2023-24 were New
Cricket stadium at Nadhwara (Udaipur), Presidential
House Extension (New Delhi), CAPFIMS (AIIMS) Hospital (New Delhi),
Flooring solution-Patna Planetarium (Taramandal), Vizag Airport, Chennai Metro, HPCL
Refinery Vizag and Oncology Chamber of Wockhardt Hospitals (Rajkot).
The Company launched 2 (two) new products under RMX category - Artiste
Flooring Solution and Instamix Superior Column Concrete.
Artiste Flooring Solution
The Company launched Artiste Industrial Craft Flooring Concrete
Solution that redefines the conventional approach to flooring. It's applications ranges
from Manufacturing Facilities to Warehouses & Distribution Centers, Parking and Podium
areas to Cold Storage units, and even Exhibition & Convention Centers, Data Centers,
and Office Spaces.
InstaMix Superior Column Concrete - A Revolutionary Solution for
Effortless Column Construction
The Company introduced the revolutionary product, InstaMix Superior
Column Concrete. This specialised concrete solution is meticulously designed for column
construction, aiming to address the persistent challenges faced by developers and
contractors. The product's unique formula provides an extended workability duration of up
to four hours, effectively clearing the challenges faced during column construction.
InstaMix Superior Column Concrete provides a remarkable advantage of early deshuttering of
cast columns. Unlike OPC concrete with standard mix design, which often demands 7 to 14
days for de-shuttering of cast columns, InstaMix paves the way for early de-shuttering
within just 12 to 16 hours, attaining a strength of up to 6 MPa, depending on weather
conditions. This ensures ease of pouring and sets a new standard for efficiency during
construction. Modern Building Materials ("MBM")
The Company's MBM business serves as a pivotal distinguishing factor
for the Company. Under the Brand name Zero M the Company markets and sells varied range of
products namely Construction Chemicals, Multipurpose Bonding and Waterproofing Agents,
Wall Putty, Tile Adhesive, Ready-Mix Dry Plaster and Cover Blocks for different
construction application.
Zero M provides a complete portfolio for tiling solutions comprising of
Tile Adhesive, Tile Grout and Tile Cleaner. It represents a ONE-STOP-SHOP proposition for
all tile and stone fixing projects, exceeding industry standards and ensuring precise and
efficient applications.
The Company is continuously innovating formulations at its own research
centre to deliver best-in-class quality that meets customer requirements. It's versatile
product range offers a seamless user experience, superior quality, and excellent customer
service. The Company's products are recently approved by CPWD-Raipur, Chhattisgarh for
usage in construction activities.
The Company is confident that Zero M Franchisee will revolutionise the
tile and stone fixing experience, elevating standards and instilling confidence in all of
its endeavours. Unifying Brand Identity
The strategic decision to standardise the Company's packaging was
driven by a vision to harmonise the diverse brand identities within Cement, RMX, and MBM
businesses under a Mother Brand. The Company proudly introduced the unifying element
"NUVOCO" prominently displayed on the packaging of all its brands. This
initiative serves to firmly align the Company brand with its sub-brands, fortifying the
prominence of NUVOCO Mother Brand and ensuring enduring brand resonance for years to come.
MATERIAL CHANGES AND COMMITMENTS AFFECTING FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE
COMPANY
There are no material changes and commitments affecting the financial
position of the Company, subsequent to close of FY 2023-24 till the date of this Board's
Report.
SIGNIFICANT AND MATERIAL ORDERS PASSED BY THE REGULATORS OR COURTS OR
TRIBUNALS
During the year under review, no significant and material orders were
passed by the Regulators or Courts or Tribunals impacting the going concern status of the
Company and its future operations.
Ongoing Cement Cartelisation Case
In August 2016, the Competition Commission of India ("CCI")
passed an Order levying a penalty of '490 crores on the Company in connection with a
complaint filed by the Builders Association of India against leading cement companies
(including the Company) for alleged violation of certain provisions of the Competition
Act, 2002. The Company had filed an appeal against the Order before the Competition
Appellate Tribunal ("COMPAT"). The COMPAT had passed an interim order directing
the Company to pre-deposit 10% of the penalty amount and granted stay on the remaining 90%
of the penalty amount subject to the condition that in case appeal is finally decided
against the Company, then Company shall be liable to pay interest of 12% p.a. on the said
90% penalty amount stayed pursuant to the interim order.
The pre-deposit of 10% of the penalty amount was accordingly made
pursuant to the Orders of COMPAT. The COMPAT was replaced by the National Company Law
Appellate Tribunal ("NCLAT") effective May 26, 2017, and NCLAT vide its judgment
dated July 25, 2018, dismissed the Company's appeal and upheld the CCI's order. Against
the above judgment of NCLAT, the Company appealed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, and
vide its order dated October 05, 2018, the Hon'ble Supreme Court admitted the appeal of
the Company and directed continuation of the interim order as originally passed by the
COMPAT.
The Company under the Share Purchase Agreement ("SPA") is
indemnified by erstwhile promoter group for loss arising from claims/ demands in case
penalty is upheld by Hon'ble Supreme Court. However, the erstwhile promoter has disputed
their obligation towards indemnification of any amount including interest beyond the cap
of '490 crores. Hon'ble Delhi High Court vide its order dated December 06, 2021, preserved
the liberty of the Company to invoke appropriate legal recourse in case such a need arises
in future in the event of a dispute in relation to SPA to claim any consequential interest
demand beyond the cap, subsequent to disposal of the pending appeal against CCI penalty
demand before Hon'ble Supreme Court.
FINANCE
Consolidated
The cash flows from operations were positive '1,592.54 crores in FY
2023-24 (FY 2022-23 '1,711.40 crores). Spend on capex was '581.38 crores in FY 2023-24 (FY
2022-23 '486.33 crores). The borrowing of the Company as at March 31, 2024 stood at
'4,137.03 crores (as at March 31, 2023 '4,617.70 crores). Cash and bank balances stood at
'106.98 crores (as at March 31,2023 '203.15 crores). The Net Debt to Equity stood at 0.45
times (as at March 31,2023 0.50 times).
Standalone
The cash flows from operations were positive '1,048.28 crores in FY
2023-24 (FY 2022-23 '1,022.96 crores). Spend on capex was '416.28 crores in FY 2023-24 (FY
2022-23 '352.69 crores).
The borrowing of the Company as at March 31, 2024 stood at '2,915.13
crores (as at March 31, 2023 '3,199.54 crores). Cash and bank balances stood at '85.37
crores (as at March 31,2023 '180.25 crores). The Net Debt to Equity stood at 0.31 times
(as at March 31,2023 0.34 times).
CREDIT RATING
The Company has obtained ratings from CRISIL Ratings Limited
("CRISIL") and India Ratings and Research Private Limited ("Ind-Ra")
and there has been no revision in credit ratings, during the year under review.
The Company's credit rating denotes a high degree of safety regarding
timely servicing of financial obligations. The Company has received the following credit
ratings for its long term and short term credit Bank Loan facilities, Commercial Papers
and Non-Convertible Debentures from CRISIL and Ind-Ra:
Rating Agency |
Instrument/Facility |
Rating |
CRISIL Ratings |
Bank Loan Facilities (Long Term) |
CRISIL AA/Stable |
Limited |
Bank Loan Facilities (Short Term) |
CRISIL A1 + |
|
Non-Convertible Debentures |
CRISIL AA/ Stable |
|
Non-Convertible Debentures (Perpetual) |
CRISIL AA-/ Stable |
|
Commercial Papers |
CRISILA1 + |
India Ratings and Research |
Bank Loan Facilities (Long Term/Short Term) |
IND AA/Positive/ IND A1 + |
Private Limited |
Non-Convertible Debentures (Perpetual) |
IND AA-/ Positive |
|
Commercial Papers |
INDA1 + |
SHARE CAPITAL
During the year under review, there was no change in the Authorised,
Issued, Subscribed and Paid-up Share Capital of the Company.
As at March 31, 2024, the Authorised Share Capital of the Company was
'88,01,11,00,000/- divided into 7,80,11,10,000 equity shares having face value of '10/-
each and 1,00,00,00,000 preference shares having face value of '10/- each and the Issued,
Subscribed and Paid-up Share Capital of the Company was '3,57,15,61,530/- divided into
35,71,56,153 equity shares having face value of '10/- each.
DEBENTURES
During the year under review, the Company had redeemed Secured, Listed,
Redeemable and Rated Non-Convertible Debentures aggregating '500 crores on September 25,
2023.
As on March 31, 2024, Secured, Listed, Redeemable and Rated
Non-Convertible Debentures aggregating '350 crores and Unsecured, Listed, Redeemable and
Rated Non-Convertible Debentures aggregating '600 crores were outstanding.
All the NCDs aggregating '950 crores are listed on the Wholesale Debt
Market segment of The National Stock Exchange of India Limited.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT
The Company is committed to maintain the highest standards of Corporate
Governance and adhere to the Corporate Governance requirements and transparency in all its
dealings and places high emphasis on business ethics.
As per Regulation 34 read with Schedule V of the Listing Regulations, a
separate report on Corporate Governance together with a certificate from M/s. Parikh &
Associates, Company Secretaries, Secretarial Auditors of the Company regarding compliance
of conditions of Corporate Governance as stipulated under the Listing Regulations, forms
part of this Integrated Annual Report.
EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW Re-appointment of
Independent Director
Mr. Achal Bakeri (DIN: 00397573) completed his first term of 3 (three)
consecutive years as an Independent Director of the Company on April 07, 2024.
Based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration
Committee and the Board of Directors and after taking into account the performance
evaluation of Mr. Achal Bakeri during his first term and considering his knowledge,
acumen, expertise, experience in his field, his substantial contribution and requisite
skills sets & expertise possessed by him, the Members of the Company on April 01,2024,
by way of a Special Resolution passed through Postal Ballot, approved the re-appointment
of Mr. Achal Bakeri as an Independent Director of the Company, for a second term of 5
(five) consecutive years commencing from April 07, 2024 upto April 06, 2029, not liable to
retire by rotation.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Retirement by Rotation
In accordance with the provisions of Section 152 of the Act and the
Articles of Association of the Company, Mr. Hiren Patel (DIN: 00145149), Non-Executive
Director (Chairman) of the Company, retires by rotation and being eligible, has offered
himself for re-appointment.
The Resolution seeking Member's approval for his re-appointment along
with the disclosures required pursuant to Regulation 36 of the Listing Regulations and the
Secretarial Standards-2 on General Meetings forms part of the Notice of the ensuing 25th
Annual General Meeting (the "AGM"). Re-appointment of Managing Director
At the 24th AGM of the Company held on July 26, 2023, the
Members of the Company had approved appointment of Mr. Jayakumar Krishnaswamy (DIN:
02099219) for a further period of 5 (five) years commencing from September 17, 2023 till
September 16, 2028.
Appointment of Independent Director
Based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration
Committee, the Board of Directors of the Company had appointed Mr. Shishir Desai (DIN:
01453410) as an Additional Non-Executive Independent Director with effect from August 16,
2023, subject to approval of the Members of the Company.
The Members of the Company on October 17, 2023, by way of a Special
Resolution passed through Postal Ballot, approved appointment of Mr. Shishir Desai as a
Non-Executive Independent Director for a term upto 5 (five) consecutive years i.e. from
August 16, 2023 upto August 15, 2028, not liable to retire by rotation.
Resignation of Independent Director
Mr. Berjis Desai (DIN: 00153675) had resigned from the position of the
Non-Executive, Independent Director of the Company w.e.f. August 17, 2023, and he
confirmed that there were no material reasons for his resignation. The Board placed on
record its sincere appreciation for the valuable contribution and guidance rendered by
him.
Declaration by Independent Directors
All Independent Directors of the Company have given declarations under
Section 149(7) of the Act, that they meet the criteria of independence as laid down under
Section 149(6) of the Act and Regulation 16(1)(b) of the Listing Regulations. In terms of
Regulation 25(8) of the Listing Regulations, the Independent Directors have confirmed that
they are not aware of any circumstance or situation, which exists or may be reasonably
anticipated, that could impair or impact their ability to discharge their duties with an
objective independent judgement and without any external influence. The Board of Directors
of the Company have taken on record the declaration and confirmation submitted by the
Independent Directors after undertaking due assessment of the veracity of the same. The
Independent Directors have also confirmed that they have complied with Schedule IV of the
Act and the Company's Code of Conduct. There has been no change in the circumstances
affecting their status as Independent Directors of the Company.
The Board of Directors of the Company are of the opinion that the
Independent Directors of the Company are leading professionals with high level of
expertise and rich experience across a wide spectrum of functional areas such as
leadership/ operational, business & industry and strategy planning, financial &
risk management expertise, corporate governance, research & development, innovation
and sustainability, human resource development. They hold high standards of integrity and
are independent of the management.
The Company has received confirmation from the Independent Directors of
the Company regarding the registration of their names in the databank maintained by the
Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs in terms of Rule 6 of the Companies (Appointment and
Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014. Familiarisation Programme for Independent
Directors
Details of Familiarisation Programme for the Independent Directors of
the Company are provided separately in the Corporate Governance Report, which forms part
of this Integrated Annual Report.
Board Committees
As on March 31, 2024, the Board has following Committees according to
their respective roles and defined scope:
Audit Committee;
Nomination and Remuneration Committee;
Corporate Social Responsibility Committee;
Stakeholders Relationship Committee; and
Risk Management Committee.
During the year under review, there were no instances of nonacceptance
of any recommendation of the Committees of the Company by the Board of Directors.
The Audit Committee, Nomination and Remuneration Committee and
Corporate Social Responsibility Committee were re-constituted during the year under
review. The details of composition of the Board and its Committees, number of meetings
held, attendance of Board and Committees Members at such meetings, including Committees
terms of reference are provided in the Corporate Governance Report, which forms part of
this Integrated Annual Report.
The composition and terms of reference of all the Committees of the
Company are in line with the provisions of the Act and the Listing Regulations.
Number of Board Meetings
During the year under review, 6 (six) Board Meetings were convened and
held, the details of which are provided in
the Corporate Governance Report, which forms part of this Integrated
Annual Report. The maximum interval between any two meetings did not exceed 120 days, as
prescribed by the Act and the Listing Regulations.
BOARD EVALUATION
The Company has devised a framework for performance evaluation of the
Board, its Committees and individual Directors in compliance with the provisions of
Sections 134 and 178 of the Act, Regulation 17(10) of the Listing Regulations and the
Nomination and Remuneration Policy of the Company.
The Board carried out evaluation of its own performance and that of its
Committees and individual Directors. The performance evaluation of Non-Independent
Directors and the Board as a whole was carried out by the Independent Directors. The
performance of the Chairman of the Board was also reviewed, taking into account the views
of the Executive, Non-Executive and Independent Directors.
The criteria for performance evaluation of the Board included aspects
such as Board composition and structure, effectiveness of Board processes, contribution in
the corporate strategy etc. The individual evaluation is based on criteria which inter
alia includes, competency, knowledge of the industry, attendance and preparedness for the
meetings, contribution at meetings and role in the Committees.
Structured questionnaires were circulated to the Directors for
providing feedback on functioning of the Board, Committees and the Chairman of the Board
and the areas of improvement for enhancing the effectiveness. Based on the inputs
received, action plans are drawn up in consultation with the Directors.
In a separate meeting, the Independent Directors evaluated the
performance of Non-Independent Directors and performance of the Board as a whole including
the Chairman of the Board taking into account the views of Executive Director and
Non-Executive Directors and assessed the quality, quantity and timelines of flow of
information between the management of the Company and the Board that is necessary for the
Board to effectively and reasonably perform its duties.
The Independent Directors of the Company were satisfied with the
overall functioning of the Board and its various Committees, which displayed a high level
of commitment and engagement and appreciated the high standards of corporate governance,
timely reporting and complete transparency of information of the Company.
KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL ("KMP")
As at March 31, 2024, in terms of the provisions of Section 2(51) and
Section 203 of the Act, following are the KMP of the Company:
- Mr. Jayakumar Krishnaswamy, Managing Director;
- Mr. Maneesh Agrawal, Chief Financial Officer;
- Ms. Madhumita Basu, Sales and Business Development, Cement (North)
and Marketing; and
- Ms. Shruta Sanghavi, Company Secretary. REMUNERATION POLICY
The Company has in place a Policy on the appointment and remuneration
for Directors and Senior Management Personnel, including criteria for determining
qualifications, independence of a Director and other related matters, in accordance with
the provisions of Section 178 of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder and Regulation 19
of the Listing Regulations. The said Policy is available on the Company's website at
www.nuvoco.com/Policies/Remuneration-Policy-for-Directors-
KMP-and-other-Employees.
The salient features of the said Policy are set out in the Corporate
Governance Report, which forms part of this Integrated Annual Report.
BOARD DIVERSITY
The Company recognises and embraces the importance of a diverse Board
in its success. The Company believes that a truly diverse Board will leverage differences
in thought, perspective, knowledge, skill, regional and industry experience, cultural and
geographical backgrounds, age, ethnicity, race and gender which will help the Company
retain competitive advantage. The Policy on the Diversity of the Board of Directors
adopted by the Board sets out its approach to diversity.
WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY AND VIGIL MECHANISM
The Company has adopted a Vigil Mechanism and Whistleblower Policy (the
"Policy") and established the necessary vigil mechanism, which is in line with
the provisions of Section 177 of the Act and Regulation 22(1) of the Listing Regulations.
Pursuant to the Policy, the Whistleblower can raise concerns relating to Reportable
Matters (as defined in the Policy) such as general malpractice/unethical and improper
practices and events, which have taken place/ reasonable apprehension involving: (a) Abuse
of authority; (b) Breach of contract; (c) Negligence causing substantial and specific
danger to public health and safety; (d) Manipulation of the Company's data/records; (e)
Financial irregularities, including fraud or suspected fraud or deficiencies in internal
control and check, or deliberate error in preparations of financial statements, or
misrepresentation of financial reports; (f) Any unlawful act; whether criminal/ civil; (g)
Pilferage of confidential/ propriety information; (h) Deliberate violation of
law/regulation; (i) Bribery or corruption; (j) Harassment; (k) Retaliation; (l) Breach of
IT security and data privacy; (m) Social media misuse; (n) Wastage/misappropriation of
Company's funds/ assets; (o) Taking kickbacks/seeking bribes, forgery, misuse of the
Company's resources, etc; (p) Breach of Company's policies or failure to implement or
comply with any existing policies of the Company, as notified from time to time, by or
against the Directors and employees, etc.
Further, the mechanism adopted by the Company encourages the
Whistleblower to disclose the Reportable Matters to the Whistle Officer who in turn
reports the matter to the Ethics and Compliance Committee for further action. The Policy
sets out a detailed mechanism of investigation and also provides for adequate safeguards
against retaliation and victimisation of the Whistleblower, who avails of such mechanism
and also provides for direct access to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, in appropriate
or exceptional cases. The Audit Committee supervises the development and implementation of
the Policy, including the work of the Ethics and Compliance Committee. Co-ordination of
the investigation of any serious Protected Disclosures concerning the alleged violation of
laws or regulations is the responsibility of the Audit Committee. During the year under
review, the Company had received 6 (six) complaints under the Policy, which were resolved
expeditiously. There were no pending complaints at the end of the year.
It is affirmed that no personnel of the Company has been denied access
to the Ethics and Compliance Committee and Audit Committee.
The Policy is available on the Company's website at www.nuvoco.
com/Policies/Vigil Mechanism and Whistle Blower Policy.
RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company has a Business Risk Management framework in place to
identify, evaluate business risks and opportunities. This framework focuses to assess
risks to the achievement of business objectives and to deploy mitigation measures.
The framework has been established across the organisation and is
designed to identify, assess and frame a response to threats including fraud risk that
affect the achievement of its objectives. The Company's management systems, organisational
structures, processes, standards, code of conduct and behaviours together govern how the
Company conducts its business and manages associated risks.
INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS AND THEIR ADEQUACY
Internal financial control systems of the Company are commensurate with
its size and the nature of its operations. The Company's internal control systems include
policies and procedures, IT systems, delegation of authority, segregation of duties,
internal audit, and review framework, etc. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities have
been institutionalised and systems and procedures are periodically reviewed to keep pace
with the growing size and complexity of the Company's operations. Controls were tested
during the year under review and no reportable material weakness in the operations or in
the design were observed. These controls are periodically reviewed to ensure that they
remain updated to the change in environment.
The internal financial controls have been laid down and the management
believes that the same are commensurate with the nature and size of its business. Based on
the framework of internal financial controls, work performed by the internal, statutory
and external consultants, including audit of internal financial controls over financial
reporting by the Statutory Auditors and the reviews performed by the Management and the
Audit Committee, the Board is of the opinion that the Company's internal financial
controls were adequate and effective during FY 2023-24 for ensuring the orderly and
efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to the Company's policies, the
safeguarding of its assets, the prevention and detection of frauds and errors, the
accuracy, optimal utilisation of resources and completeness of accounting records and
timely preparation of reliable financial disclosures.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The Management Discussion and Analysis for the year under review, as
stipulated under the Listing Regulations, forms part of this Integrated Annual Report.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVES
The Company has always been committed to sustainable development;
pursuing a Corporate Social Responsibility ("CSR") strategy that combines
industrial know-how with performance, value creation, respect for communities & local
cultures, and environmental protection, as well as conservation of natural resources and
energy and involving partnership with nearby communities to bring about a meaningful
change to improve their quality of life and thus creating shared values both for nearby
communities and the Company. Through the 5 (five) pillars of the CSR Policy, namely
Sangrahit Bharat (Natural Resource Management), Swasth Bharat (Health), Shikshit Bharat
(Education), Saksham Bharat (Livelihood and Skill Development) and Sanrachit Bharat (Rural
Infrastructure Development), the Company continues to foster a safe and responsible
environment for sustained development.
The Annual Report on CSR activities for FY 2023-24 is annexed as
Annexure 1 to this Board's Report. For other details regarding the CSR Committee, please
refer to the Corporate Governance Report, which forms part of this Integrated Annual
Report.
The CSR policy is available on the Company's website at
www.nuvoco.com/Policies/CSR-Policy.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for FY 2023-24 are
prepared in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Act and as stipulated under
Regulation 33 of the Listing Regulations as well as in accordance with the Indian
Accounting Standards notified under the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules,
2015, as amended. The Audited Consolidated Financial Statements together with the
Auditor's Report thereon, forms part of this Integrated Annual Report.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 136 of the Act, the Audited
Standalone and Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company along with relevant
documents and the Financial Statements of NVL are available on the Company's website at
www.nuvoco.com/performance-highlights.
Any Member desirous of obtaining copies of the Financial Statements of
NVL may write an e-mail to investor.relations@nuvoco.com upto the date of the ensuing AGM.
HOLDING, SUBSIDIARY AND JOINT VENTURE
As on March 31, 2024, Niyogi Enterprise Private Limited is the Holding
Company. The Company has 1 (one) unlisted material wholly owned subsidiary, viz. NU Vista
Limited, 1 (one) joint venture, viz. Wardha Vaalley Coal Field Private Limited.
A statement containing the salient features of the Financial
Statements, including the performance and financial position of the Joint Venture and NVL
as per the provisions of the Act, is provided in the prescribed Form AOC-1, which is
annexed as Annexure 2 to this Board's Report.
The Company has in place a Policy for determining Material Subsidiary.
The Policy is available on the Company's website at www.nuvoco.com/Policies/Policy for
Determination of Material Subsidiary.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
All Related Party Transactions ("RPTs") entered into by the
Company during the year under review were on an arm's length basis and in the ordinary
course of business. All RPTs were reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee. An omnibus
approval was obtained for the RPTs which were repetitive in nature and not foreseen. All
RPTs entered pursuant to the omnibus approval so granted were placed before the Audit
Committee on a quarterly basis for its review.
During FY 2023-24, the Company had not entered into any contract /
arrangement / transaction with related parties which could be considered material in
accordance with the Policy on Materiality of Related Party Transactions and on dealing
with Related Party Transactions of the Company.
The Company's major RPTs were generally with its unlisted material
wholly owned subsidiary, NVL.
There were no material significant RPTs which could have a potential
conflict with the interest of the Company at large. Also, there were no RPTs under the
scope of Section 188(1) of the Act. Accordingly, the disclosure of RPTs as required under
the provisions of Section 134(3)(h) of the Act in Form AOC-2 is not applicable to the
Company for FY 2023-24 and hence does not form part of this Board's Report.
The Policy is available on the Company's website at www.nuvoco.
com/Policies/Policy On Materiality of RPT & Dealing With RPTs.
In terms of Regulation 23 of the Listing Regulations, the Company
submits the details of RPTs to the Stock Exchanges on a half-yearly basis.
The details of RPTs that were entered into during FY 2023-24 are given
in the Notes forming part of the Standalone Financial Statements, which forms part of this
Integrated Annual Report.
PARTICULARS OF LOANS, GUARANTEES, SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS
Details of Loans, Securities and Investments covered under the
provisions of Section 186 of the Act read with the Rules framed thereunder are given in
the Notes forming part of the Standalone Financial Statements, which forms part of this
Integrated Annual Report.
AUDITORS AND THEIR REPORT Statutory Auditors
At the 23rd AGM held on August 05, 2022, M/s. M S K A &
Associates, Chartered Accountants (Firm Registration Number 105047W) ("M S K A")
were re-appointed as Statutory Auditors of the Company for a second term of 5 (five)
consecutive years to hold office from conclusion of 23rd AGM until the
conclusion of 28th AGM to be held in the year 2027.
Pursuant to Sections 139 and 141 of the Act and Rules framed
thereunder, M S K A have confirmed that they are not disqualified from continuing as
Statutory Auditors of the Company and have furnished a valid certificate issued by the
Peer Review Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India as required under
Regulation 33 of the Listing Regulations.
The Notes on Financial Statements referred to in the Auditors' Reports
are self-explanatory and do not call for any further comments. The Auditors' Reports do
not contain any qualifications, reservations, adverse remarks or disclaimers.
Cost Auditors
As per Section 148 of the Act read with the Companies (Cost Records and
Audit) Rules, 2014, the Company is required to prepare, maintain as well as have the audit
of its cost records conducted by a Cost Accountant and accordingly, it has made and
maintained such cost accounts and records.
M/s. D. C. Dave & Co. Cost Accountants, Mumbai (Firm Registration
Number 000611) ("D. C. Dave & Co.") have conducted the audit of cost records
maintained by the Company for FY 2023-24. The Board at its meeting held on April 30, 2024,
based on the recommendation of the Audit Committee have appointed D. C. Dave & Co. as
the Cost Auditors of the Company for FY 2024-25 under Section 148 and other applicable
provisions of the Act.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 148(3) of the Act read
with the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 and Companies (Cost Records and Audit)
Rules, 2014, a resolution seeking ratification of the remuneration payable to D. C. Dave
& Co., for FY 2024-25 has been incorporated in the Notice of the ensuing AGM for
approval by the Members.
Secretarial Auditors
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Act and the Rules
framed thereunder, the Board had appointed M/s. Parikh & Associates, Practising
Company Secretaries (Firm Registration Number P1988MH009800) ("Parikh &
Associates"), to conduct Secretarial Audit of the Company for FY 2023-24. The Report
of the Secretarial Auditors in Form MR-3 for FY 2023-24 is annexed as Annexure 3 to this
Board's Report.
Further, pursuant to Regulation 24A of the Listing Regulations, the
Secretarial Audit Report of NVL, an unlisted material wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company in terms of Regulation 16(1 )(c) of the Listing Regulations, submitted by Parikh
& Associates is also annexed as Annexure 3A to this Board's Report.
In terms of Regulation 24A of the Listing Regulations, the Company has
obtained Secretarial Compliance Report for FY 2023-24 from Parikh & Associates.
The Secretarial Audit Reports and Secretarial Compliance Report do not
contain any qualification, reservation, adverse remark or disclaimer.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Act and Rules framed
thereunder, Parikh & Associates, have been appointed as Secretarial Auditors of the
Company to conduct the Secretarial Audit for FY 2024-25.
Reporting of Fraud
During the year under review, the Statutory, Cost and Secretarial
Auditors have not reported any instances of frauds committed in the Company by its
officers or employees, to the Audit Committee under Section 143(12) of the Act.
PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES
Disclosures pertaining to remuneration and other details as required
pursuant to the provisions of Section 197(12) of the Act read with Rule 5(1) of the
Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 are annexed
as Annexure 4 to this Board's Report.
In terms of provisions of Section 197(12) of the Act read with Rule
5(2) and (3) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel)
Rules, 2014, a statement containing particulars of employees, forms part of this Board's
Report. In accordance with the provisions of Section 136 of the Act, this Integrated
Annual Report and the Audited Financial Statements are being sent to the Members and
others entitled thereto, excluding the aforesaid statement. The said statement is
available for inspection electronically by the Members of the Company. Any Member
interested in obtaining a copy thereof may write an e-mail to the Company Secretary at
investor.relations@nuvoco.com.
HEALTH AND SAFETY ("H&S")
At Nuvoco, safety is non-negotiable tenant. The Company prioritises the
well-being of its employees, contractors and neighbouring communities. The Company's
manufacturing plants and mines have received 25+ prestigious awards for steadfast
dedication to safety excellence in FY 2023-24. These accolades, bestowed by esteemed
organisations such as the Confederation of Indian Industry ("CII"), Indian
Chambers of Commerce ("ICC"), OHSSAI Foundation, and Directorate General of
Mines Safety ("DGMS"), highlight the Company's relentless efforts in fostering a
safety culture, pioneering innovative safety initiatives, and achieving commendable
advancements in safety standards.
The Company maintains its commitment to ensuring a safe and healthy
working environment for all its employees. This is monitored through Lost Time Injury
frequency rate ("LTIFR"), which is measured as the number of lost-time injuries
per million hours worked during a single financial year. The LTIFR was under control in FY
2023-24. The focus areas in FY 2023-24 were:
a. Training and Awareness;
b. Focus on Safety Performance Indicators;
c. Project Safety Measures; and
d. Safety Campaign
a. Training and Awareness
Safety policy, rules and guidelines are the guiding principles for
ensuring the safety and well-being of the employees, workers and all stakeholders. The
Company is committed to adhering to these standards through various training and awareness
programmes for maintaining a safe workplace. The Company conducts regular training
sessions for its employees on various safety topics like Work at Heights
("WAH"), Lifting and Rigging, Confined Space Entry ("CSE"), Defensive
Driving Training ("DDT"), Electrical safety, etc. In FY 2023-24, the Company
dedicated approximately 226,000 man-hours to safety training. Additionally, safety
awareness campaigns are conducted throughout the year to promote a culture of safety among
workforces.
b. Focus on safety Performance Indicators
Safety leading indicators like unsafe act, unsafe condition, near-miss
etc. reported in in-house developed STARS (SHE Tracking Analysis and Reporting System)
were thoroughly investigated, and appropriate corrective and preventive actions were
implemented to prevent recurrences. In FY 2023-24, leading indicator reporting increased
by 14% with respect to FY 2022-23.
In FY 2023- 24, analysis of incidents recorded revealed that most
injuries occurred due to low-risk routine activities and road-related incidents,
highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures in these areas. The Company have
planned appropriate actions to prevent recurrence in FY 2024-25.
c. Project Safety Measures
To enhance the focus on safe project execution amid multiple ongoing
projects, a Safety Observation and Resolution Procedure ("SORP") was introduced
as a supplement to the existing safety management systems. SORP ensures that any high-risk
observations made are promptly addressed and resolved on the same day of their recording.
The Company have well established process of Design Safety Review ("DSR") &
Pre-Startup Safety Review ("PSSR"), which has reduced chances of hiccups during
commissioning and initial start-up. The Company has commissioned Haryana Cement Plant -
Grinding Unit expansion project & 7 (seven) RMX project plants without any Loss Time
Injury ("LTI").
d. Safety Campaign
The Company conducts monthly safety drives focused on various themes,
identified through safety leading & lagging incident analysis. These theme-based
monthly safety programs were centrally planned and communicated across all manufacturing
plants and offices to ensure a unified system and process to achieve excellence in H&S
performance.
In FY 2023-24, the following events were organised in line with
national level safety events:
1. Fire Safety month from April 01,2023 to April 30, 2023;
2. Road Safety month from January 01,2024 to January 31,2024;
3. HSE month from February 15, 2024 to March 15, 2024; and
4. National Safety week from March 04, 2024 to March 10, 2024.
The Safety month theme for FY 2023-24 was "PRACTICE SAFETY,
KNOWING IS NOT ENOUGH". During this period, the Company emphasised on instilling
safety norms not only within worksites but also on roads and at home, aiming to embed
safety practices as a habitual part across the organisation.
Additionally, the Company actively collaborated with stakeholders,
spanning local communities, regulatory authorities, and industry associations, to enhance
safety awareness and foster a shared dedication to safety.
Key achievement in FY 2023-24:
Leading Indicators reporting increased by 4.5 times in
nonmanufacturing compared to FY 2022-23;
Safety Leadership Development Programme ("SLDP")
training for all levels of the employees;
Fire & AFR guideline rollout;
Journey Route Management ("JRM") has been implemented
in entire sales and business development;
Cross Function Safety audit conducted in RMX plants;
Tracking of Vehicle Tracking System ("VTS")/ Global
Positioning System ("GPS") including engagement with transporter & driver
has resulted in 47% reduction in the Transit Mixer ("TM") violation;
Reduced rework during execution through Design Safety Reviews at
Nimbol Cement Plant project, Haryana Cement Plant project and 7 (seven) RMX projects;
Pre-startup safety review helped in safe and smooth
commissioning of Nimbol Cement Plant project, Haryana Cement Plant project & 7 (seven)
RMX projects.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Nuvoco prioritises employee connection, engagement and development to
foster a safe, engaging and productive workplace. Recognising people as the greatest
asset, various initiatives are implemented to elevate the employee experience, such as
digital expense management solutions, AI-driven assessment tools for entry-level
recruitment, seamless onboarding, world-class learning platforms, and comprehensive
wellness programs.
The Company is committed to developing young talent, hiring fresh
graduates and embracing diversity to build a sustainable organisation. The talent
assessment system, the Organisation and Human Resource (Talent Review)
("O&HR") process, is established to identify employee potential and serves
as the cornerstone for talent development, succession planning and career growth. The
Company's dedication to capacity building and learning is evident from the substantial
increase in learning hours. Nearly 96% of employees have participated in Nuvoco's diverse
learning programs, averaging over 30 hours of selfdevelopment per employee.
Health and Safety: Safety is a non-negotiable tenet of Nuvoco's vision,
and care is one of the core values. Ensuring the well-being of employees is a priority and
a commitment from Management. The Compa ny has introduced a comprehensive wellness program
focusing on both physical and mental health, developed in partnership with health experts.
Furthermore, the 'ZERO HARM' philosophy underscores the Company's commitment to health,
safety and the environment. Stringent safety protocols are integrated into operations with
on-site resident doctors providing regular check-ups and tailored care. In FY 2023-24, the
Company extended extensive medical insurance coverage
for employees and their families, supported by annual health
assessments and discounted rates for extended family members.
Employee Engagement: The Company ensures the satisfaction and
engagement of its diverse workforce, which is paramount to its success. The Company
launched the dynamic spot recognition program, Nu Smiles, that promotes peer-to-peer
recognition through the digital HR platform, the Nuvoco Employee Self-Service Tool
("NEST"). Additionally, initiatives like Rewards and Recognitions, including the
Nuvoco Edge Awards, celebrate the outstanding contributions of employees and foster a
culture of excellence within the organisation. In FY 2023-24, the launch of Nuvoco's
Travel Expense Portal ("NuTEP"), the digital expense management solution, aimed
to enhance the employee experience by offering real-time tracking, faster approvals, and
seamless reimbursements. Additionally, the Company conducts the NuView - Employee
Engagement Survey biennially, with the assistance of an external partner. This survey has
yielded notable enhancements, culminating in an overall Employee Engagement score of 81%.
Learning and Development: To democratise learning, create a
future-ready workforce, and foster a culture of continuous learning, the Company invests
in its employees' professional development through on-the-job and specialised training
opportunities. Introductions of digital learning platforms like the Nuvoco University and
the Manufacturing and Sales Academy cater to the diverse workforce's learning needs.
Collaborations with esteemed institutions such as IIT Madras and LinkedIn Learning ensure
that employees stay abreast of industry trends. The Company is enhancing its capabilities
to gamify virtual learning activities to further enrich the employee learning experience.
Integration of digital learning platforms with virtual and classroom trainings underscores
the Company's commitment to making learning a USP at Nuvoco.
Employee Lifecycle and Growth: The Company's commitment to the
identification and cultivation of the talent has remained resolute. In FY 2023-24, the
Company introduced the Employee Value Proposition ("EVP") - "Enabling You
to be Future-Ready," initiative. This program aims to boost employee engagement,
foster a supportive environment conducive to personal and professional
growth, mitigate attrition rates, and propel organisational success.
Industrial Relations: The industrial relations situation remained
positive, with continuous support from unions and employees in achieving optimum
production and promoting a safety culture. The plant HR teams have fostered a strong sense
of community, ensuring cordial relationships between white and blue-collar workers.
These initiatives are dedicated to the welfare of the employees,
nurturing a culture of ongoing learning and advancement, and presenting avenues for career
development and growth, all while upholding the unwavering commitment to fostering
inclusivity and fairness within the organisation.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Nuvoco has made a significant progress in its Digital Transformation
journey through its Accelerator program called DEN II (Digitally Enabled Nuvoco).
In FY 2023-24, four major Projects were kicked off under DEN II: (i)
Master Data Harmonisation across Nuvoco;
(ii) Unification of two independent SAP instances to have single SAP
instance with common processes, harmonised data and common interfaces; (iii) Technical
upgrade of SAP S/4HANA to the latest version 2023; and (iv) A major initiative of
implementation of Customer and Vendor portals, aimed at providing stakeholders with
relevant information anytime & anywhere, assuring a secure data access.
During the year under review, the Company has been proactive in
implementing impactful IT initiatives. These efforts were aimed towards enhancing
efficiency, automating processes, and delivering exceptional customer service. The key
highlights are as under:
Unification of SAP Instances: The Company has successfully merged two
separate SAP instances of NVCL and NVL into a single cohesive system & processes,
resulting in several benefits. Unified SAP instances also have enhanced functionalities of
production planning, cross sourcing and product costing. Master data management is now
more efficient and consistent, reporting formats are standardised across the Company, and
users enjoy a seamless experience with single sign-on access to multiple applications.
Reverse Bidding Engine: During the year under review, the Company has
introduced a reverse bidding engine specifically for freight management at Nimbol Cement
Plant resulting in cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. Encouraged by this
success, the Company has also replicated the model at Chittor Cement Plant.
Travel and Expense Management Portal: To make the travel and expense
management more user friendly NuTEP based on 'HAPPAY' solution was launched. This new
system facilitates easy workfiow-based bill submission using OCR via mobile and ensures
faster expense reimbursements. Furthermore, it streamlines the accounting and
administrative processes related to travel, enabling more control with smart audit,
efficient management and facilitating data-driven decisions for improved operational
efficiency.
A successful disaster recovery drill for the SAP application was
conducted to safeguard business continuity in the event of any disaster. The primary data
centre is hosted at Tier 4 data centre near Mumbai and secondary data centre hosted at
Amravati in different seismic zone ensuring high availability. Enterprise information
landscape is secured with multilayer security and
continuous monitoring mechanism while keeping performance intact.
The Company had rolled out the Nuvo Connect (Intranet portal) fostering
a connected workplace by providing easy access to Company news, collaborative tools that
enhance teamwork, productivity, and overall employee experience. Additionally, it also
provides a central repository for all internal circulars and policies, all on a single
platform. The Information Security team places a strong emphasis on safeguarding the
organisation's intellectual property and data, prioritising their protection. Artificial
Intelligence and Machine Learning Ecosystem: The Company's focus on Artificial
Intelligence ("AI") and Machine Learning ("ML") aims to create an
ecosystem for process automation across all the plants. The pilot projects undertaken
includes:
Development of a dashboard optimising WHRS and kiln operations
for maximum output.
Launch of AI project that determines best fuel combinations
based on factors like moisture content, cost and other essential parameters.
Customer Service and IT Service Management: The Company's commitment to
customer service is demonstrated through the deployment of the IT Service Management tool
NuvoDesk. This tool enables the users to easily log tickets, track progress, and ensure
adherence to Service Level Agreements ("SLAs"). Additionally, the Company has
prioritised security by undertaking the implementation of secure SD WAN for providing
secure connectivity to all plant and major office location. The integration of IP 21 as a
Distributed Control System ("DCS") provides real-time visibility and process
optimisation, enhancing overall plant reliability. The Company has also introduced a
workfiow-based system for project approvals, simplifying new project development and
ensuring efficient decision-making.
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY ABSORPTION AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE
EARNINGS AND OUTGO
The particulars relating to Conservation of Energy, Technology
Absorption, Foreign Exchange Earnings and Outgo as stipulated under Section 134(3)(m) of
the Act and Rules framed thereunder, is annexed as Annexure 5 to this Board's Report.
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is not just a commitment, it is a cornerstone of
Nuvoco's operations, deeply ingrained in its core values and guiding principles. As the
Company strives to build a Safer, Smarter, and Sustainable World, its relentless pursuit
of sustainability underscores every facet of its business.
The journey towards sustainability at Nuvoco has crafted and presented
a steadfast commitment to its Protect Our Planet ("POP") agenda. Overseen
rigorously by the Executive Committee members and the Managing Director, the program
recognises the environment's impact and promotes initiatives that can make positive
contributions from the building materials industry to reduce the carbon footprint. Through
a comprehensive Materiality Assessment for sustainability conducted in the previous
financial year, the following key focus areas had been identified that drives the
sustainability agenda:
1. Decarbonisation;
2. Water Management;
3. Circular Economy; and
4. Biodiversity
Progress Highlights:
Under the umbrella of POP program, Nuvoco has initiated several
cross-functional projects, each with well-defined timelines and
targets, aimed at addressing the critical sustainability themes.
The overview of progress is as under:
1. Decarbonisation:
In the relentless pursuit of decarbonisation, Nuvoco has set ambitious
targets to reduce its carbon emissions intensity year-on-year. Through strategic
investments in green and alternate energy sources, including WHRS, Alternate fuels and
Solar Power Plants, Nuvoco has significantly decreased its carbon footprint. Moreover, the
Company has maximised operational efficiency by harnessing waste heat generated by the
facilities as an alternative energy source, reintegrating this energy into processes
resulting in decreased dependency on grid power, thus reducing scope 2 emissions. The
emission intensity has dropped from 462 kg CO2 to 457 kg CO2 per
tonne of cementitious material. Additionally, the emission intensity for Concrete has
decreased to 2.64 kg CO2 per cubic meter from 2.89 kg CO2 per cubic
meter.
Sustainable Product Mix:
While the focus remains on maintaining a sustainable product mix,
market dynamics have led to adjustments in Cement-to-Clinker ("C/K") ratio.
Despite a slight decrease, Nuvoco continues to promote eco-friendly cement options and
explore avenues for continuous improvement. Notably, 10 (ten) additional RMX plants have
received GreenPro certification in the financial year, bringing the total to 16 (sixteen).
Meanwhile, the C/K ratio for FY 2023-24 stood at 1.76.
2. Water Management:
Nuvoco's commitment to responsible water management is evident in its
efforts to reduce processed water intensity and optimise overall water use. By conducting
internal water audits, implementing water budgeting strategies, and enhancing rainwater
harvesting capacity, the Company has made significant strides towards sustainable water
practices. The processed water intensity in the cement and clinker manufacturing process
has reduced by ~11%, from 58 litres per tonne to 52 litres per tonne of cementitious
material (tcm), which was achieved through a comprehensive Plan Do Check Act
("PDCA") cycle and internal water audits, while freshwater consumption reduced
from 0.25 KL/cum to 0.24 KL/cum i.e. by 4% for RMX. Nuvoco has also successfully started
Nu Aqua Zero Debris Recycling plants at 2 (two) RMX plants in Goa for water reduction with
a plan in place for gradual installation in the rest.
3. Circular Economy:
In line with circular economy initiatives, Nuvoco has surpassed
Extended Producer Responsibility ("EPR") obligations, processing significant
quantities of Refuse- Derived Fuel ("RDF") and plastic waste. This commitment is
further evidenced by increased utilisation of alternative raw materials and construction
and demolition waste in the Company's products, highlighting dedication to resource
efficiency. Specifically, the Company processed 59 KT of RDF and 1.2 KT of plastic.
Additionally, the utilisation of alternative raw materials in RMX plants has expanded from
5 (five) plants to 16 (sixteen) plants. With a cumulative use of 47 KT of alternate raw
materials, including construction and demolition waste, as a replacement for fine sand.
The Company has embraced the co-processing of AFR in all its integrated
cement plants. Additionally, the Company promotes the use of recycled plastic packaging,
as evidenced by the production of 79.4 lakhs bags made from recycled polypropylene in FY
2023-24.
4. Biodiversity:
Nuvoco's efforts to preserve biodiversity include comprehensive carbon
sequestration studies and extensive afforestation endeavours, as witnessed by planting
over ~1,19,000 trees in and around the facilities, contributing to the conservation of
native fiora and fauna.
Recognition:
Nuvoco's dedication to sustainability has garnered recognition through
various awards and accolades, which serve as a testament to the team's collective efforts
and strive for even greater heights. Notable recognitions include: a 5-star rating from
the Indian Bureau of Mines for Sonadih Cement Plant for implementing sustainable
development practices, Environment Excellence Award (Gold Category) 1 each from CII &
ICC for the Risda Cement plant, and a National Award for Excellence in Energy Management
from CII at Panagarh Cement Plant. The RMX business has been recognised for excellence in
sustainability from QCFI, Hyderabad & Harit Bharat Award from Realty+ media group,
further solidifying its commitment to environmental stewardship.
PREVENTION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORKPLACE
The Company has adopted zero tolerance for sexual harassment at
workplace and 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 ("POSH Act"). As per the requirements of POSH Act and Rules framed
thereunder, the Company has formed Internal Complaints Committee ("ICC") to
redress and resolve any complaint pertaining to sexual harassment at the workplace. During
the year under review, the ICC received 1 (one) complaint, which was dealt in line with
the POSH Policy and disposed off. The Company has submitted its annual report on the cases
of sexual harassment at workplace pursuant to Section 21 of the POSH Act and Rules framed
thereunder.
26 (twenty six) Training/Awareness programmes were conducted for
educating and creating awareness about the sensitivity for ensuring safe and secured
workplace.
ANNUAL RETURN
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 92(3) read with Section 134(3)(a)
of the Act and Rules framed thereunder, the Annual Return as on March 31,2024 is available
on the Company's website at www.nuvoco.com/annual-reports.
DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 134(3)(c) and 134(5) of the Act,
the Board, to the best of their knowledge and ability, confirm that -
a) in the preparation of the annual accounts for the financial year
ended March 31, 2024, the applicable accounting standards have been followed and that
there are no material departures from the same;
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 as at March 31,2024
and of the profit for the financial year ended March 31,2024;
c) proper and sufficient care has been taken for the maintenance of
adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding
the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities;
d) the annual accounts have been prepared on a "going
concern" basis;
e) proper internal financial controls to be followed by the Company
have been laid down and that such internal financial controls are adequate and operating
effectively; and
f) proper systems to ensure compliance with the provisions of all
applicable laws are in place and that such systems are adequate and operating effectively.
BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Pursuant to Regulation 34(2)(f) of the Listing Regulations, the
Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report disclosing initiatives taken by the
Company from an environmental, social and governance perspective, forms part of this
Integrated Annual Report.
COMPLIANCE OF SECRETARIAL STANDARDS
The Company is in compliance with applicable Secretarial Standards i.e.
SS-1 and SS-2 relating to "Meeting of the Board of Directors" and "General
Meetings" respectively issued by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
OTHER DISCLOSURES
There has been no change in the nature of business of the
Company which impacted the financial position during the year under review;
The Managing Director has not received any remuneration or
commission from NVL;
There was no revision in the Financial Statements;
The requirement to disclose the details of difference between
amount of the valuation done at the time of onetime settlement and the valuation done
while taking loan from the Banks or Financial Institutions along with the reasons thereof,
is not applicable;
The Company has not accepted any deposits from the public
falling within the meaning of the provisions of Sections 73 and 76 of the Act and the
Rules framed thereunder;
The Company has not issued equity shares with differential
rights as to dividend, voting or otherwise;
The Company has not issued any sweat equity shares to its
Directors or employees;
There are no shares lying in the demat suspense account or
unclaimed suspense account;
No application has been made or any proceeding pending against
the Company under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016), as amended from
time to time.
The Company was identified as a Large Corporate pursuant to
Chapter XII of SEBI Master Circular for issue and listing of Non-convertible Securities,
Securitized Debt Instruments, Security Receipts, Municipal Debt Securities and Commercial
Paper ("Master Circular"). Pursuant to the provisions of the said Master
Circular, the Company was required to raise 25% of its incremental borrowings made during
the financial year by way of issuance of debt securities over a contiguous block of three
years.
The Company had availed term loan facility from banks aggregating '750
crores in H1 FY 2023-24, out of which '600 crores were drawn as per the requirement till
March, 2024. Pursuant to the Master Circular, the Company had next two years (i.e. FY
2024-25 and FY 2025-26) for ensuring compliance (i.e. raising fund through issuance of
debt securities to the extent of 25% of incremental borrowing during FY 2023-24). However,
SEBI vide circular SEBI/HO/ DDHS/DDHS-RACPOD1/P/CIR/2023/172 dated October 19, 2023
("New Circular"), amended the framework of Large Corporates and provided that
the Large Corporates shall endeavour to comply with the requirement of raising 25% of
their incremental borrowings done during FY 2023-24 by way of issuance of debt securities
till March 31, 2024. However, there was no requirement of further borrowing over and above
'750 crores as mentioned above in H2 FY 2023-24.
The above disclosure is being made pursuant to paragraph 7.3 of the New
Circular.
APPRECIATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Directors appreciate the hard work, dedication, and commitment of
all its employees of the Company. The Directors extend their sincere gratitude to the
shareholders, government and regulatory authorities, banks, financial institutions, rating
agencies, stock exchanges, depositories, auditors, legal counsels, consultants, debenture
holders, debenture trustee, customers, vendors, business partners, suppliers,
distributors, communities in the neighbourhood of the Company's operations and other
stakeholders for their continuous support and the confidence they have placed in the
Management.
ANNUAL REPORT ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ("CSR")
ACTIVITIES
[Pursuant to the provisions of Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013
(the "Act") read with the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility) Rules,
2014, as amended]
1. Brief outline on CSR Policy of the Company:
The Company is committed towards sustainable development, pursuing a
strategy that combines industrial know-how wi performance, value creation, respect for
community and local cultures, environmental protection and the conservation of natu
resources and energy and involving partnership with nearby communities to bring about a
meaningful change to improve th quality of life and thus creating shared value both for
nearby communities and the Company. The Company's CSR objectives a aligned to United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The themes of CSR activities and programs are:
a. Sangrahit Bharat - Natural Resource Management
b. Shikshit Bharat - Education
c. Swasth Bharat - Health
d. Saksham Bharat - Livelihood and Skill Development
e. Sanrachit Bharat - Rural Infrastructure Development
2. Composition of CSR Committee:
Sr. No. |
Name of Director |
Designation/ Nature of Directorship |
Number of meetings of CSR Committee held
during the year |
Number of meetings of CSR Committee
attended during the year |
1 |
Mr. Berjis Desai - Chairman* |
Independent Director |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Mrs. Bhavna Doshi - Chairperson** |
Independent Director |
2 |
1 |
3 |
Mr. Kaushikbhai Patel - Member |
Non-Executive Director |
2 |
2 |
4 |
Mr. Jayakumar Krishnaswamy - Member |
Managing Director |
2 |
2 |
3. Provide the web-link where composition of CSR Committee, CSR Policy
and CSR Projects approved by the Board are disclosed on the website of the Company:
Composition of CSR Committee: www.nuvoco.com/committee/CSR Committee
CSR Policy: www.nuvoco.com/Policies/CSR- Policy CSR Programs: www.nuvoco.com/social
4. Provide the executive summary along with web-link(s) of Impact
Assessment of CSR Projects carried out in pursuance of sub-rule(3) of Rule 8, if
applicable:
Not Applicable. However, on voluntary basis the Company has carried out
Impact Assessment for 3 (three) of its programs viz. Samriddhi, TARA and Nuvo Mason. The
report is available on the website of the Company at - www.nuvoco.com/social
5. (a) Average net profit of the Company as per Section 135(5): 750.52
crores
(b) Two percent of average net profit of the Company as per Section
135(5): 71.01 crores
(c) Surplus arising out of the CSR projects or programs or activities
of the previous Financial Years: Nil
(d) Amount required to be set off for the Financial Year, if any: 70.68
crores
(e) Total CSR obligation for the Financial Year (b+c-d): 70.33 crores
6. (a) Amount spent on CSR Projects (both Ongoing Project and other
than Ongoing Project): 73.57 crores
(b) Amount spent in Administrative Overheads: 70.13 crores
(c) Amount spent on Impact Assessment, if applicable: 70.08 crores
(d) Total amount spent for the Financial Year (a+b+c): 73.78 crores
(e) CSR amount spent or unspent for the Financial Year:
Total Amount spent for the Financial Year (in 7) |
Amount Unspent (in 7) |
|
|
|
|
Total Amount transferred to Unspent CSR Account as per
Section 135(6) |
Amount transferred to any fund specified under Schedule VII
as per second proviso to Section 135(5) |
|
|
|
Amount |
Date of transfer |
Name of the Fund |
Amount |
Date of transfer |
|
|
|
|
3.78 crores |
Not Applicable |
|
|
|
(f) Excess amount for set off, if any: (Please refer the foot note
below the table)
Sr. No. Particular |
Amount (? in crores) |
(i) Two percent of average net profit of the Company as per
Section 135(5) |
1.01 |
(ii) Total amount spent for the Financial Year |
3.78 |
(iii) Excess amount spent for the Financial Year [(ii)-(i)] |
3.45 |
(iv) Surplus arising out of the CSR projects or programs or
activities of the previous Financial Years, if any |
Nil |
(v) Amount available for set off in succeeding Financial
Years [(iii)-(iv)] |
3.45 |
Note: Two percent of average net profit of the Company as per Section
135(5) was '1.01 crores for FY 2023-24, however, excess CSR expenditure of '0.68 crores of
FY 2022-23 was set off in FY 2023-24. Accordingly, the obligation under Section 135(5) for
FY 2023-24, after setting off the excess CSR expenditure of FY 2022-23 was '0.33 crores,
as specified in point 5(e) above. Against the said obligation of '0.33 crores the actual
amount spent under CSR expenditure in FY 2023-24 was '3.78 crores, resulting in an excess
spent of '3.45 crores.
7. Details of Unspent CSR amount for the preceding three Financial
Years:
Sr. No. |
Preceding Financial Year(s) |
Amount transferred to Unspent CSR Account under |
Balance Amount in Unspent CSR Account under |
Amount spent in the Financial Year (in ?) |
Amount transferred to a fund specified under Schedule VII as
per second proviso to Section 135(5), if any |
Amount remaining to be spent in succeeding Financial |
Deficiency, if any |
|
|
|
Section 135 (6)(in ?) |
Section 135 (6)(in ?) |
|
Amount (in ?) |
Date of transfer |
Years (in ?) |
|
Not Applicable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8. Whether any capital assets have been created or acquired through CSR
amount spent in the Financial Year: No
If Yes, enter the number of capital assets created/ acquired: Not
Applicable
Furnish the details relating to such asset(s) so created or acquired
through CSR amount spent in the Financial Year:
Sr. No. |
Short particulars of the property or
asset(s) [including complete address and location of the property] |
Pincode of the property or asset(s) |
Date of creation |
Amount of CSR amount spent |
Details of entity/authority/beneficiary of
the registered owner |
|
|
|
CSR Registration Number, if
applicable |
Name |
Registered Address |
|
|
|
|
Not Applicable |
|
|
|
|
|
9. Specify the reason(s), if the Company has failed to spend two
percent of the average net profit as per Section 135(5):
Not Applicable.
FORM AOC-1
[Pursuant to first proviso to sub-section (3) of Section 129 of the
Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 5 of Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014]
Statement containing salient features of the financial statement of
Subsidiaries/Associate Companies/Joint Ventures
Part "A": Subsidiaries
(Information in respect of each subsidiary to be presented with the
amounts for the Financial Year ended March 31,2024)
Sr. No. Particulars |
Details |
1. Name of the subsidiary |
NU Vista Limited |
2. The date since when subsidiary was acquired |
July 14, 2020 |
3. Reporting period for the subsidiary concerned, if
different from the holding company's reporting period |
- |
4. Reporting currency and Exchange rate as on the last date
of the relevant Financial year in the case of foreign subsidiaries |
- |
5. Share capital |
329.90 |
6. Reserves & surplus |
1,279.17 |
7. Total Assets |
4,111.19 |
8. Total Liabilities |
4,111.19 |
9. Investments |
0.78 |
10. Turnover |
4,000.82 |
11. Profit before tax |
72.45 |
12. Tax expenses |
(27.34) |
13. Profit after tax |
45.11 |
14. Proposed Dividend |
- |
15. % of shareholding |
100.00 |
Notes: 1. Names of subsidiaries which are yet to commence operations:
None
2. Names of subsidiaries which have been liquidated or sold during the
year: None
Part "B": Associates and Joint Ventures
Statement pursuant to Section 129(3) of the Companies Act, 2013 related
to Associate Companies and Joint Ventures
Na me of Associates/Joint Ventures |
Wardha Vaalley Coal Field Private Limited |
1. Latest audited Balance Sheet date |
March 31,2024 |
2. Date on which the Associate or Joint Venture was
associated or acquired |
March 20, 2009 |
3. Shares of Associate/Joint Ventures held by the Company on
the year end |
|
Number of shares |
8,61,300 |
Amount of Investment in Associates/Joint Venture |
0.86 |
Extent of Holding % |
19.14 |
4. Description of how there is significant influence |
No significant influence, it is a joint
control |
5. Reason why the Associate/Joint Venture is not consolidated |
Not Applicable |
6. Net worth attributable to shareholding as per latest
audited Balance Sheet |
Nil (Refer Note:1 below) |
7. Profit/(Loss) for the year |
|
i. Considered in Consolidation |
- |
ii. Not Considered in Consolidation |
Loss of 0.04 (Refer Note: 1 below) |
Note 1: The share of loss amounting to Rs.0.04 crores in Joint Venture
is not considered in consolidation, as the group's interest in Joint Venture has been
reduced to zero and the group does not have any legal or constructive obligations to fund
losses beyond its investment in Joint Venture.
1. Names of Associates or Joint Venture which are yet to commence
operations: None
2. Names of Associates or Joint Venture which have been liquidated or
sold during the year: None
FORM MR-3
|