We have audited the accompanying standalone financialstatements of FSN E-Commerce Ventures Limited ("theCompany”) which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31,2025, the Statement of Profit and Loss, including the statementof Other Comprehensive Income, the Cash Flow Statement andthe Statement of Changes in Equity for the year then ended andnotes to the standalone financial statements, including a summaryof material accounting policies and other explanatory information.
In our opinion and to the best of our information and accordingto the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financialstatements give the information required by the CompaniesAct, 2013, as amended ("the Act”) in the manner so requiredand give a true and fair view in conformity with the accountingprinciples generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs ofthe Company as at March 31, 2025, its profit including othercomprehensive loss, its cash flows and the changes in equityfor the year ended on that date.
We conducted our audit of the standalone financial statementsin accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs), as specifiedunder Section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under thoseStandards are further described in the 'Auditor's Responsibilitiesfor the Audit of the standalone financial statements' section of
our report. We are independent of the Company in accordancewith the 'Code of Ethics' issued by the Institute of CharteredAccountants of India together with the ethical requirementsthat are relevant to our audit of the financial statements underthe provisions of the Act and the Rules thereunder and we havefulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance withthese requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that theaudit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriateto provide a basis for our audit opinion on the standalonefinancial statements.
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professionaljudgment, were of most significance in our audit of the standalonefinancial statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2025.These matters were addressed in the context of our audit ofthe standalone financial statements as a whole and in formingour opinion thereon and we do not provide a separate opinionon these matters. For each matter below, our description ofhow our audit addressed the matter is provided in that context.
We have determined the matters described below to be the keyaudit matter to be communicated in our report. We have fulfilledthe responsibilities described in the Auditor's responsibilitiesfor the audit of the standalone financial statements sectionof our report, including in relation to this matter. Accordingly,our audit included the performance of procedures designed torespond to our assessment of the risks of material misstatementof the standalone financial statements. The results of our auditprocedures, including the procedures performed to address thematter below, provide the basis for our audit opinion on theaccompanying standalone financial statements.
Key audit matters
How our audit addressed the key audit matter
Impairment of investments in subsidiaries, and loans to subsidiaries (refer Note 9, Note 10 and Note 18 in the standalone financialstatements)
The Company has investment of C935.07 crores in certain
Our audit procedures included the following:
subsidiaries and has outstanding loans receivable of C545.20
• Obtained the audited financial statements of subsidiaries as on
crores from subsidiaries as at March 31, 2025 (as described in
March 31, 2025 from the management and assessed impairment
Note 9, Note 10 and Note 18 of standalone financial statements).
indicators in accordance with Ind AS 36.
As per requirement of Ind AS 36 "Impairment of assets”, the
• Assessed the Company's valuation methodology applied in
management reviews at each reporting period whether there areany indicators of impairment of the investments in subsidiaries
determining the recoverable amount.
and where impairment indicators exist, such investments are
• Assessed the assumptions used in determining cash flow
tested for impairment using discounted cash-flow models by
forecasts, discount rates, expected growth rates and terminal
which recoverable value of each investment is compared to thecarrying value as at balance sheet date. A deficit between the
growth rates used.
recoverable value / value in use and the carrying value would result
• Where the Company used the work of an external specialist,
in impairment.
we assessed competence, professional qualification, objectivityand independence of such specialist. We obtained and read the
The value in use of the underlying businesses is determined based
report of external specialist to understand the work performed
on the discounted cash flow projections. Discounted cash flow
on testing of key assumptions and estimates and their outcome
model has significant judgment and estimation in respect of cashflow forecasts and discount rate. Changes in certain methodologies
of testing.
and assumptions can lead to significant changes in the assessment
• Involved our internal valuation specialist to evaluate the adequacy
of the recoverable value.
of the assumptions used in impairment analysis.
For certain subsidiaries, the Company has undertaken an
• Assessed the recoverable value headroom by
performing
impairment assessment by evaluating the subsidiaries' net
sensitivity testing of key assumptions used.
worth as of year-end in relation to the carrying amount of theinvestment and other receivables. This evaluation incorporatesfuture projections and a review of relevant qualitative factors such
• Discussed the budgeted and actual performance for the yearto evaluate the inputs and assumptions used in the cash
as strategic business plans, market conditions, and operational
flow forecasts.
performance and other external economic indicators.
• Tested the arithmetical accuracy of the computation of
Due to the level of judgements involved in the assumptions
recoverable amount.
used for computation of recoverable amount / value in use, theimpairment assessment of the Company's interest in subsidiariesincluding loans given and associate, is determined to be a key auditmatter in our audit of the standalone financial statements.
• Assessed the disclosures provided by the Company in relationto its annual impairment test in notes to the standalonefinancial statements.
Information Other than the Financial Statementsand Auditor's Report Thereon
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the otherinformation. The other information comprises the informationincluded in Annual report ('Other Information') but does notinclude the standalone financial statements and our auditor'sreport thereon. The other information is expected to be madeavailable to us after the date of this auditor's report.
Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does notcover the other information and we do not express any form ofassurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the standalone financial statements,our responsibility is to read the other information identified abovewhen it becomes available and, in doing so, consider whether suchother information is materially inconsistent with the standalonefinancial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit orotherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the other information, if we conclude that there isa material misstatement therein, we are required to communicatethe matter to those charged with governance and determine theactions under the applicable laws and regulations.
Responsibilities of Management for thestandalone financial statements
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the mattersstated in Section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparationof these standalone financial statements that give a true and fairview of the financial position, financial performance includingother comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in equityof the Company in accordance with the accounting principlesgenerally accepted in India, including the Indian AccountingStandards (Ind AS) specified under Section 133 of the Act readwith the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015,as amended. This responsibility also includes maintenance ofadequate accounting records in accordance with the provisionsof the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company andfor preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities;selection and application of appropriate accounting policies;making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;and the design, implementation and maintenance of adequateinternal financial controls, that were operating effectively forensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accountingrecords, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the
standalone financial statements that give a true and fair viewand are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraudor error.
In preparing the standalone financial statements, managementis responsible for assessing the Company's ability to continueas a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related togoing concern and using the going concern basis of accountingunless management either intends to liquidate the Company orto cease operations or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Those Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing theCompany's financial reporting process.
Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of thestandalone financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whetherthe standalone financial statements as a whole are free frommaterial misstatement, whether due to fraud or error and toissue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonableassurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee thatan audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect amaterial misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arisefrom fraud or error and are considered material if, individually orin the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influencethe economic decisions of users taken on the basis of thesestandalone financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professionaljudgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout theaudit. We also:
• I dentify and assess the risks of material misstatement ofthe standalone financial statements, whether due to fraudor error, design and perform audit procedures responsive tothose risks and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient andappropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of notdetecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud ishigher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involvecollusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations,or the override of internal control.
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to theaudit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriatein the circumstances. Under Section 143(3)(i) of the Act, weare also responsible for expressing our opinion on whetherthe Company has adequate internal financial controls with
reference to financial statements in place and the operatingeffectiveness of such controls.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies usedand the reasonableness of accounting estimates and relateddisclosures made by management.
• Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use ofthe going concern basis of accounting and based on the auditevidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty existsrelated to events or conditions that may cast significantdoubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we arerequired to draw attention in our auditor's report to the relateddisclosures in the financial statements or if such disclosuresare inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions arebased on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of ourauditor's report. However, future events or conditions maycause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content ofthe standalone financial statements, including the disclosuresand whether the standalone financial statements representthe underlying transactions and events in a manner thatachieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding,among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the auditand significant audit findings, including any significant deficienciesin internal control that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statementthat we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regardingindependence and to communicate with them all relationshipsand other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear onour independence and where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged withgovernance, we determine those matters that were of mostsignificance in the audit of the standalone financial statementsfor the financial year ended March 31, 2025 and are thereforethe key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor'sreport unless law or regulation precludes public disclosureabout the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, wedetermine that a matter should not be communicated in ourreport because the adverse consequences of doing so wouldreasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefitsof such communication.
Report on Other Legal and RegulatoryRequirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020("the Order”), issued by the Central Government of India interms of sub-section (11) of Section 143 of the Act, we givein the "Annexure 1” a statement on the matters specifiedin paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order.
2. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, we report, to theextent applicable, that:
(a) We have sought and obtained all the information andexplanations which to the best of our knowledge andbelief were necessary for the purposes of our audit;
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account as requiredby law have been kept by the Company so far as itappears from our examination of those books exceptfor the matters stated in the paragraph (i)(vi) belowon reporting under Rule 11(g);
(c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Lossincluding the statement of Other ComprehensiveIncome, the Cash Flow Statement and Statementof Changes in Equity dealt with by this Report are inagreement with the books of account;
(d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financialstatements comply with the Accounting Standardsspecified under Section 133 of the Act, read withCompanies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015,as amended;
(e) On the basis of the written representations receivedfrom the directors as on March 31, 2025 takenon record by the Board of Directors, none of thedirectors is disqualified as on March 31, 2025 frombeing appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act;
(f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financialcontrols with reference to these standalone financialstatements and the operating effectiveness of suchcontrols, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure 2”to this report;
(g) In our opinion, the managerial remuneration for theyear ended March 31, 2025 has been paid/ providedby the Company to its directors in accordance withthe provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule Vto the Act;
(h) The modification relating to the maintenance ofaccounts and other matters connected therewithare as stated in the paragraph (b) above on reportingunder Section 143(3)(b) and paragraph (i)(vi) below onreporting under Rule 11(g);
(i) With respect to the other matters to be includedin the Auditor's Report in accordance with Rule 11of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014,as amended in our opinion and to the best of ourinformation and according to the explanations givento us:
(i) The Company has disclosed the impact of pendinglitigations on its financial position in the financialstatements - Refer Note 46B to the standalonefinancial statements;
(ii) The Company did not have any long-termcontracts including derivative contracts forwhich there were any material foreseeable losses;
(iii) There were no amounts which were required tobe transferred to the Investor Education andProtection Fund by the Company;
(iv) (a) The Management has represented that, to the
best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed
in the note 54 (v) to the standalone financialstatements, no funds have been advancedor loaned or invested (either from borrowedfunds or share premium or any other sourcesor kind of funds) by the Company to orin any other person or entity, includingforeign entities ("Intermediaries”), with theunderstanding, whether recorded in writingor otherwise, that the Intermediary shall,whether, directly or indirectly lend or investin other persons or entities identified inany manner whatsoever by or on behalf ofthe Company ("Ultimate Beneficiaries”) orprovide any guarantee, security or the likeon behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries;
(iv) (b) The Management has represented that,to the best of its knowledge and belief,as disclosed in the note 54 (vi) to thestandalone financial statements, no fundshave been received by the Company fromany person or entity, including foreignentities ("Funding Parties”), with theunderstanding, whether recorded in writingor otherwise, that the Company shall,whether, directly or indirectly, lend or investin other persons or entities identified in anymanner whatsoever by or on behalf of theFunding Party ("Ultimate Beneficiaries”) orprovide any guarantee, security or the likeon behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries; and
(iv) (c) Based on such audit procedures that were
considered reasonable and appropriate inthe circumstances, nothing has come to ournotice that has caused us to believe thatthe representations under sub-clause (a)and (b) contain any material misstatement.
(v) No dividend has been declared or paid during theyear by the Company.
(vi) Based on our examination which included testchecks, the Company has used various accountingsoftwares for maintaining its books of accountwhich have a feature of recording audit trail (edit
log) facility and the same has operated throughoutthe year for all relevant transactions recorded inthe respective software. Except as follows (Refernote 47(ii) to the financial statements):
a) Audit trail feature is not enabled at the -
• database level and for modificationsto master data fields in respect theaccounting software and
• in respect of supporting softwares,audit trail feature is not enabled for allthe relevant transactions recorded inthe software.
b) With respect to third-party operatedsoftware applications, in the absence ofService Organisation Controls report onaudit trail, as described in Note 47(ii) tothe financial statements, we are unable tocomment on whether the audit trail featurewith respect to third-party operatedsoftware applications was enabled andoperated throughout the year for all relevanttransactions recorded in these softwareapplications or whether there were anyinstances of the audit trail feature beingtampered with.
Additionally, the audit trail of prior year has beenpreserved by the Company as per the statutoryrequirements for record retention to the extent itwas enabled and recorded in the respective years.
For S.R. Batliboi & Associates LLP
Chartered Accountants
ICAI Firm Registration Number:
101049W/E300004
per Govind Ahuja
Partner
Membership Number: 048966
UDIN: 25048966BMNXHQ6166
Place of Signature: Mumbai
Date: May 30, 2025