Your Directors present the 94th Annual Report together with Audited Financial Statements of the Company for thefinancial year ended 31st March, 2024.
The highlights of the financial results of the Company for the year ended 31st March, 2024 are as under :
(Amount in ' thousands)
PARTICULARS
31.03.2024
31.03.2023
Revenue from Operations
-
Other Income
11400.56
Total Income
Profit /(Loss) before Depreciation, Finance Cost & Tax
10323.97
(1328.53)
Depreciation
328.08
413.77
Finance Cost
5004.21
4770.33
Profit /(Loss) before Tax
4991.68
(6512.63)
Tax Expense
Profit /(Loss) after Tax
Other Comprehensive Income (Net of Tax)
Total Comprehensive Income
In view of accumulated losses, the Board of Directors regret their inability to propose any dividend for the year ended31st March, 2024.
The Company has not transferred any amount to the General Reserve during the financial year ended 31st March,2024.
The Rubberwood Factory has not been in operation for nearly 26 years pursuant to notice received from the DeputyConservator of Forests (Protection), Trivandrum. The Networth of the Company has been fully eroded. During theyear, the Company has forayed into new business of assiting clients in developing their business in respect of whichcommission income of Rs. 114.01 lakhs has been received. The Company is developing its land assets in Goa based onwhich the going concern status of the Company is maintained.
The issued, subscribed and paid-up share capital of the Company as on 31st March, 2024 stood at ? 17,719,080 dividedinto 17,71,908 Equity Shares of ? 10 each fully paid-up. The Company has not issued shares with differential votingrights or sweat equity shares, nor has it granted any stock options. As on 31st March, 2024, none of the Directors ofthe Company hold instruments convertible into equity shares of the Company.
During the year under review, there has been no change in the capital structure of the Company.
The Equity Shares of the Company are listed and traded on BSE Ltd, Scrip Code : 508571 and listing fees for theFinancial Year 2024-2025 of BSE Ltd has been paid.
The Company has not accepted any public deposits within the meaning of Section 73 of the Act and the Companies(Acceptance of Deposit) Rules, 2014 and as such, no amount on account of principal or interest on public deposits wasoutstanding as on the date of the Balance Sheet.
The Company has not granted loans or given guarantees or made investments during the year under review.RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
All related party transactions are entered on arm's length basis and are in compliance with the applicable provisionsof the Companies Act, 2013. There are no materially related party transactions made by the Company with promoters,directors or key managerial personnel etc. during the year which might have potential conflict with the interest of theCompany at large. A statement of all related party transactions is placed before the Audit Committee for approval. Theparticulars of related party transactions in accordance with IND AS-24 have been disclosed in the financial statementsof the Company.
None of the transactions entered into with Related Parties fall under the scope of Section 188(1) of the Act. Accordingly,no transactions are being reported in Form AOC-2 in terms of section 134(3)(h) of the Act read with Rule 8(2) of theCompanies (Accounts) Rules, 2014.
The Company does not have any subsidiary, joint venture or associate company.
Pursuant to Section 134(3)(a) and Section 92(3) of the Act read with Rule 12(1) of the Companies (Management andAdministration) Rules, 2014, the Annual Return of the Company is uploaded on the website of the Company and canbe accessed at https://www.cochinmalabar.in/downloads/Annual_Return_2024.pdfAUDITORS & AUDITORS' REPORTStatutory Auditors
M/s. J K V S & Co., Chartered Accountants (Firm Registration No.318086E), Auditors of the Company, have submittedtheir Independent Auditors Report on the Standalone Financial Statements for the Financial Year ended 31st March,2024 and they have made no qualification, reservation or adverse remark or disclaimer in their Report. The Auditorshave confirmed that they comply with all the requirements and criteria and are otherwise qualified to continue to actas Auditors of the Company.
The term of the Statutory Auditors of the Company, M/s. J K V S & Co. Chartered Accountants, expires at the ensuingAnnual General Meeting in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.
The Board has appointed M/s. Singhi & Co, Chartered Accountants (Firm Registration No. 302049E) as the StatutoryAuditors of the Company to hold the office from the conclusion of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting till theconclusion of the 99th Annual General Meeting for the Financial Year 2028-29 for a period of 5 consecutive years.
The Company has received a letter from M/s. Singhi & Co., Chartered Accountants to the effect that their appointment,if made, would be within the prescribed limits under Section 139 of the Act and that they are not disqualified forappointment.
The Board of Directors of the Company had appointed Mrs. Sweety Kapoor, Practicing Company Secretary to carryout secretarial audit for the financial year 2023-24 in terms of the provisions of Section 204(1) of the Companies Act,2013 and Rules made thereunder.
The Secretarial Audit Report for the Financial Year ended March 31, 2024 in the prescribed Form MR-3 is provided inAnnexure - 1 forming part of this report.
There is no qualification, reservation or adverse remark made by the Secretarial Auditors in their Secretarial AuditReport for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 2024.
The Company is not required to maintain Cost Records as per Companies (Cost Records and Audit) AmendmentsRules, 2014 for Financial Year 2023-2024.
There were no instances of fraud during the year under review, which required the Auditors to report to the AuditCommittee and/or the Board under Section 143(12) of the Companies Act, 2013 and the rules made thereunder.
In accordance with the provisions of the Articles of Association of the Company read with Section 152 of theCompanies Act, 2013, Shri Hemant Bangur, Director (DIN : 00040903), retires by rotation at the forthcoming AnnualGeneral Meeting and being eligible, offers himself for re-appointment. The Board recommends his re-appointment tothe members of the Company in the ensuing Annual General Meeting.
Shri J.K. Surana (DIN : 00582653) was appointed as Independent Director of the Company for five consecutive years fora term upto 16th June, 2024. On the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the Board inits meeting held on 21st May, 2024 has recommended his reappointment as Independent Director for a second term offive consecutive years w.e.f. 17th June, 2024 who shall not be liable to retire by rotation. The Board is of the opinion thathis association would be of immense benefit to the Company and it is desirable to avail his service as IndependentDirector. As he is seeking re-appointment, the resume and other information as required by Regulation 36 of the SEBI(LODR) Regulations, 2015 have been given in the notice convening the ensuing Annual General Meeting.
All Independent Directors have submitted their disclosures to the Board that they meet the criteria as stipulated inSection 149(6) of the Companies Act, 2013 and in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(b) of the SEBI (LODR) Regulations,2015 which has been duly assessed by the Board as part of performance evaluation of Independent Directors. TheIndependent Directors are not liable to retire by rotation. In the opinion of the Board, the Independent Directors arepersons of integrity, possesses the requisite expertise and experience and are independent of management. Therehas been no change in the circumstances affecting their status as Independent Directors of the Company. All theIndependent Directors on the Board of the Company are registered with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs,Manesar, Gurgaon as notified by the Central Government under Section 150(1) of the Companies Act, 2013. TheIndependent Directors have complied with the Code for Independent Directors prescribed in Schedule IV to the Actand also Code of Conduct for Directors and senior management personnel.
As stipulated by the Code of Independent Directors under the Companies Act, 2013, a separate meeting of theIndependent Directors of the Company was held on 31st January, 2024 to review the performance of Non-IndependentDirectors and the Board as whole. The Independent Directors also reviewed the quality, content and timeliness of theflow of information between the Management and the Board and its Committees which is necessary to effectivelyand reasonably perform and discharge their duties.
None of the Directors of the Company are disqualified pursuant to the provisions of Section 164 of the CompaniesAct, 2013 or debarred or disqualified from being re-appointed or continuing as Directors of the Company by SEBI orMCA or any other statutory authorities.
Independent Directors have been familiarized with the nature of operations and business module of the Company.
Pursuant to Section 203 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Key Managerial Personnel of the Company are Shri C.P.Sharma, Wholetime Director, Shri A.K. Ruia, Chief Financial Officer and Shri M. Kandoi, Company Secretary.
During the financial year ended 31st March, 2024, four Board Meetings were held on 12th May, 2023, 10th August, 2023,3rd November, 2023 & 2nd February, 2024. The maximum time gap between two consecutive meetings was less than120 days as stipulated under Section 173(1) of the Act, Regulation 17(2) of the Listing Regulations and SecretarialStandards issued by Institute of Company Secretaries of India. The details of attendance of the Directors at the BoardMeetings held during the financial year 2023-2024 is as under :
Name of the Director
No. of meetings entitled to attend
No. of meetings attended
Shri Hemant Bangur
4
Shri J.K. Surana
Smt. Tara Purohit
Shri C.P. Sharma
The Board of Directors of the Company has constituted an Audit Committee of the Board in terms of the requirementsof Section 177 of the Companies Act, 2013 and Rules framed thereunder. The Audit Committee comprises of twoIndependent Non-Executive Director and one Wholetime Director namely Shri J.K. Surana, Smt. Tara Purohit & ShriC.P. Sharma.
The Committee met 4 (four) times during the year on 12th May, 2023, 10th August, 2023, 3rd November, 2023 & 2ndFebruary, 2024 respectively. The time gap between two meetings was within the time prescribed under CompaniesAct, 2013. The attendance of the Members at the Audit Committee Meetings is as under :
Status
No. of meetings entitled toattend
Chairman
Member
The Board of Directors of the Company has constituted a Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the Board interms of the requirements of Section 178 of the Companies Act, 2013 and Rules framed thereunder. The Nomination &Remuneration Committee comprises of two Independent Non-Executive Directors and one Promoter Director namelyShri J.K. Surana, Smt. Tara Purohit & Shri Hemant Bangur.
During the year under review, the Committee met twice on 12th May, 2023 and 2nd February, 2024. The attendance ofthe Members at the Nomination & Remuneration Committee Meetings is as under :
2
The Board of Directors of the Company has constituted a Stakeholders Relationship Committee of the Board in termsof the requirements of Section 178 of the Companies Act, 2013 and Rules framed thereunder. The StakeholdersRelationship Committee comprises of one Wholetime Director and two Independent Non-Executive Director namely,Shri C.P. Sharma, Shri J.K. Surana & Smt. Tara Purohit.
During the year under review, the Committee met once on 28th March, 2024. The attendance of the Members at theStakeholders Relationship Committee Meetings is as under:
1
Pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, and SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015 the Board of Directors havecarried out the annual performance evaluation of its own performance, Committees of the Board, individual Directorsof the Company for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 2024. The performance of the Board was evaluated by theBoard based on the criteria such as the Board composition and structure, effectiveness of Board process, informationand functioning etc. The performance of the Committees was evaluated by the Board based on the criteria such ascomposition of the Committees, effectiveness of the Committee Meetings etc.
The Board of Directors expressed their satisfaction with the evaluation process. Performance Evaluation of IndependentDirectors were done by the entire Board excluding the Independent Director being evaluated.
The Board has on the recommendation of the Nomination & Remuneration Policy adopted the RemunerationPolicy which inter-alia includes policy for selection and appointment of Directors, Key Managerial Personnel, SeniorManagement personnel and their remuneration.
The Board has an appropriate mix of knowledge, wisdom and varied industry experience to guide the Company inachieving its objectives in a sustainable manner.
As on 31st March, 2024, the Board consists of 4 members, of which, three are Non-Executive Directors (NED) and oneWholetime Director (WTD). The Board has two Independent Directors including one Woman Director, One PromoterNon-Executive Director and One Executive Director. The need for change in its composition and size are evaluatedperiodically. The Company pays remuneration to non-executive directors by way of sitting fees. The remunerationpaid to the Directors and KMP is as per the terms laid out in the Nomination and Remuneration Policy of the Companywhich is available at the website of the Company i.e. https://www.cochinmalabar.in/nr_policy.pdf
Category
Name of Directors
Promoter Director
Non-Executive Director
Independent Non-Executive Woman Director
Independent Non-Executive Director
Executive Director
Wholetime Director
In terms of provisions of Section 134(3)(c) of the Companies Act, 2013 your Directors confirm that:
i) in the preparation of the annual accounts, the applicable Accounting Standards have been followed andthere has been no material departures;
ii) the selected Accounting Policies were applied consistently and the Directors made judgments and estimatesthat are reasonable and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at31st March, 2024 and of the profits of the Company for the year ended on that date;
iii) proper and sufficient care has been taken for the maintenance of adequate accounting records inaccordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 for safeguarding the assets of the Company andfor preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities;
iv) the annual accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis;
v) the internal financial controls have been laid down and such internal financial controls are adequate and areoperating effectively; and
vi) the Company has adequate internal systems to ensure compliance with the provisions of all applicable lawsand that such systems are adequate and operating effectively.
The Company has adopted a Whistle Blower Policy and has established the necessary mechanism to report concernsabout unethical behavior or suspected fraud in violation of Company's Code of Conduct or any other point of concern.The policy has been disclosed on the website of the Company and the weblink for the same is http://cochinmalabar.in/whistle_blower.pdf
The Board of Directors of the Company has laid down a policy on prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace.Your Company provides a safe and healthy work environment.
During the financial year 2023-24, the Company has not received any complaints on sexual harassment and nocomplaints are remaining pending as on March 31, 2024.
The Board periodically reviews the risks and suggests steps to be taken to control and mitigate the same through aproperly defined frame work.
For ensuring methodical and efficient conduct of its business, the Board has adopted policies and procedures. Thus, itensures safeguarding of assets and resources of the Company, prevention and detention of frauds and errors, accuracyand completeness of the accounting records and timely preparation of financial disclosures.
Your Board is of the opinion that the Internal Financial Control affecting the financial statement of your Company areadequate and operating efficiently.
The Internal Audit of the Company is conducted by a Practicing Company Secretary. The findings of the Internal Auditand the Action Taken Report on the Internal Audit are placed before the Audit Committee which reviews the auditfindings, steps taken and the adequacy of Internal Control System.
The Company does not fall under the criteria of section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013. read with Companies(Corporate Social Responsibility) Rules, 2014.
During the year under review, the Company has duly complied with the applicable provisions of the SecretarialStandards issued by The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
The Company was not required to transfer any amounts to IEPF, as there are no unclaimed or unpaid dividends.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS REPORT for the year under review in terms of Regulation 34(2)(e)read with Schedule V of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 with the StockExchange in India :-
Economic Review, Industry Structure & Development
Global economic growth in 2024 is expected to remain subdued with Central Banks continuing to take a cautiousstance on policy rates, withdrawal of fiscal support especially in advanced economies, resulting in stronger focus onbudget deficits in a high interest rate environment and low underlying productivity growth.
Opportunities, Threats and Outlook
The Indian economy is estimated to grow by 6.7% in FY 2024 driven by sustained domestic demand with privateinvestment and government consumption. Manufacturing and construction has delivered robust growth withincreased infrastructure spending, regional supply chain diversification and government incentives to boost activity
with Production Linked Incentive schemes and national infrastructure program amongst others.
One of the key risks to the outlook is escalation of geopolitical conflicts leading to increase in energy prices, disruptingsupply demand balance and impacting overall global activity. 2024 is also an election year for several countriesincluding US, UK, and India - and policy uncertainty could lead to short term weakness in economic environment.Other risks include elevated interest rates leading to debt distress, slower growth in China and trade fragmentation.
During the year, the Company has ventured into new business of assisting clients in developing their business. Further,the Company is developing its land assets in Goa.
A separate paragraph on Internal Control System and their adequacy, risk management and discussion of financialperformance has been provided in this report.
Sl.
No.
Key Financial Ratios
Change(%)
Remarks
Interest Service Coverage Ratio
2.06
(0.28)
-835.71%
Due to profit during currentyear
Current Ratio
0.19
0.03
533.33%
Increase in Current Assetsduring the year
• Since the Company has no revenue from operations during the year ended 31st March, 2024 and 31st March,2023, Debtors'Turnover, Inventory Turnover, Operating Profit Margin and Net Profit Margin is not calculated.
• Since the Networth of the Company is negative, Debt Equity Ratio and Return on Networth is not calculated.CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Company is having a Paid-up equity share capital not exceeding ? 10 crore and Networth not exceeding ?25 croreand hence as per SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015, corporate governance requirements provided under Regulations17 to 27 and clauses (b) to (i) of sub-regulation (2) of Regulation 46 and Para C, D and E of Schedule V of the ListingRegulations are not applicable to your Company.
None of the employees of the Company fall within the purview of the information required under Section 197 readwith Rule 5(2) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 during theFinancial Year.
(i) The ratio of the remuneration of each Director to the median remuneration of the employees of theCompany for the financial year alongwith the percentage increase in remuneration of each Director and KeyManagerial Personnel (KMP) during the financial year:
Name of Directorand KMP
Designation
Ratio of remuneration of eachDirector/KMP to the medianremuneration of employees
% increasein remunerationin the Financial Year 2023-24
1.
1.00
50%
2.
Shri A.K. Ruia
Chief FinancialOfficer
0.33
3.
Shri M. Kandoi
Company Secretary
2.50
The Independent Directors & Non-Executive Directors of the Company are entitled to sitting fee as perstatutory provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, details of which has been provided in the Board Report.The ratio of remuneration and percentage increase for the same is, therefore, not considered for the purposeabove.
(ii) The percentage increase in the median remuneration of employees in the Financial year 2023-24 : 9.52%.
(iii) Number of permanent employees on the roll of the Company as on 31st March, 2024 : 3.
(iv) Average percentile increase already made in the salaries of employees other than the managerial personnelin the last financial year and its comparison with the percentile increase in the managerial remuneration andjustification thereof and part out if there are any exceptional circumstances for increase in the managerialremuneration : NIL.
(v) Affirmation that remuneration is as per remuneration policy of the Company : Yes.
Your Company did not have any manufacturing activity during the Financial Year ended 31st March, 2024 and as such
information in accordance with the provisions of clause (m) of Sub-section (3) of Section 134 of the Companies Act,
2013, read with Rule 8(3) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 are not attached.
The Company does not have any Foreign Exchange inflow & outgo during the year.
i) There were no material changes and commitments affecting the financial position of the Company occurringbetween 31st March, 2024 and the date of this Report.
ii) During the year, the Company has forayed into new business of assisting clients in developing their businessin respect of which the Company receives commission income.
iii) There were no significant and material orders passed by regulator or courts or tribunals impacting the goingconcern status and Company's operation in future.
iv) There were no instances of one time settlement with any Bank or Financial Institution.
v) There is no proceeding pending under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and as on date of thisreport, there was no application made and proceedings initiated / under the Insolvency and BankruptcyCode, 2016.
vi) There are no agreements entered into by the shareholders, promoters, promoter group entities, relatedparties, directors, key managerial personnel, employees of the Company among themselves or with theCompany or with a third party, solely or jointly, which, either directly or indirectly or potentially or whosepurpose and effect is to, impact the management or control of the Company or impose any restriction orcreate any liability upon the Company.
Your Directors take this opportunity to express their appreciation for assistance and cooperation received from the
commercial banks and other authorities.
On behalf of the Board
Place: Kolkata (C.P. Sharma) (Hemant Bangur)
Date: 21st May, 2024 Wholetime Director Director