We have audited the accompanying financial statements of M/s ESSEX MARINELIMITED (“the Company”) which comprises the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2026, theStatement of Profit and Loss, and statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notesto the financial statements, including a summary of Significant accounting policies andother explanatory information.
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given tous, the aforesaid financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act,2013 (The Act) in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity withthe accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Companyas at March 31, 2026, and its Profit and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
BASIS FOR OPINION
We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified undersection 143(10) of the Companies Act, 2013. Our responsibilities under those Standards arefurther described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statementssection of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code ofEthics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India together with the ethicalrequirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements under the provisionsof the Companies Act, 2013 and the Rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethicalresponsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to providea basis for our opinion on the financial statements.
KEY AUDIT MATTERS
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of mostsignificance in our audit of the financial statements for the financial year ended 31 March2026. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statementsas a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinionon these matters. For each matter below, our description of how our audit addressed thematter is provided in that context:
Key Audit Matters
Valuation of Inventories
Risk Description
Our Response
Refer to note 13 to the financial statements.
The Company is having Inventory of ? 1,990.85lakhs as on 31 March 2026. As described in theaccounting policies Note No 3.12 to the financialstatements, inventories are carried at the lower of costand net realisable value. The management appliesjudgment in determining the appropriate provisionsagainst inventories of Store, Raw Material, Finishedgoods and Inventory forms a significant part of theCompany’s assets, given the operational complexity,volume of transactions, and reliance on both physicalrecords and inventory management systems, this arearequired particular audit attention to ensure accuracyand completeness of reporting.
Our audit procedures included:
• We have obtained assurance over theappropriateness of the management’sassumptions applied in calculating the value ofthe inventories and related provisions andmanagement assertion regarding existence andownership by:-
• Completed a walkthrough of the inventoryvaluation process and assessed the design andimplementation of the key controls addressingthe risk.
• Verify that the adequate cut off procedure hasbeen applied to ensure that purchased inventoryand sold inventory are correctly accounted.
• Reviewing the document and other record relatedto physical verification of inventories done by themanagement during the year.
• Verifying for a sample of individual products thatcosts have been correctly recorded.
• We also analysed the level of slow-movinginventory and the associated provision.
• We have reviewed the historical accuracy ofinventory provisioning and the level of inventorywrite-offs during the financial year.
• Comparing the net realisable value to the costprice of inventories to check for completeness ofthe associated provision.
• Performing substantive analytical procedures totest the correctness of inventory existence andvaluation.
• The procedures performed gave us sufficientevidence to conclude about the inventoryexistence and valuation.
Revenue Recognition
Refer to note 24 to the financial statements.
Revenue is one of the key profit drivers and istherefore susceptible to misstatement. Cut-off is thekey assertion in so far as revenue recognition isconcerned, since an inappropriate cut-off can resultin material misstatement of results for the year.Revenue is recognized when the control of theunderlying products has been transferred to customeralong with the satisfaction of the Company’sperformance obligation under a contract withcustomer. Terms of sales arrangements, including thetiming of transfer of control, delivery specificationsincluding Incoterms, timing of recognition of salesrequire significant judgment in determiningrevenues. The risk is, therefore, that revenue may notget recognised in the correct period.
• We assessed the appropriateness of the revenuerecognition accounting policies by comparingwith applicable accounting standards.
• We evaluated the design, tested theimplementation and operating effectiveness ofkey internal controls over recognition of revenue.
• We performed substantive testing by selectingsamples of revenue transactions recorded duringthe year by testing the underlying documentswhich included invoices, good dispatch notes andcustomer acceptances (as applicable).
• We carried out analytical procedures on revenuerecognized during the year to identify unusualvariances.
• We tested, on a sample basis, specific revenuetransactions recorded before and after thefinancial year-end date to determine whether therevenue had been recognised in the appropriatefinancial period.
• We tested manual journal entries posted torevenue to identify unusual items.
INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ANDAUDITOR’S REPORT THEREON
The Company’s Management and Board of Directors are responsible for the otherinformation. The other information comprises the information included in the Company’sAnnual Report including Management Discussion and Analysis, Board’s Report includingAnnexures to Board’s Report, Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report, CorporateGovernance and Shareholder’s Information but does not include the financial statementsand our auditor’s report thereon. The Company’s annual report is expected to be madeavailable to us after the date of this auditor’s report.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we willnot express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read theother information identified above when it becomes available and, in doing so, considerwhether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or ourknowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the Company’s annual report, if we conclude that there is a materialmisstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged withgovernance and take necessary actions, as applicable under the relevant laws andregulations.
RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company’s Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in section 134(5) ofthe Companies Act, 2013 (“the Act”) with respect to the preparation of these financialstatements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance,and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generallyaccepted in India, including the accounting Standards specified under section 133 of theAct. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records inaccordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Companyand for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application ofappropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable andprudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financialcontrols, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of theaccounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the financial statementthat give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraudor error.
In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for assessing theCompany’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters relatedto going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either
intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative butto do so.
Those Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the company’s financialreporting process.
AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIALSTATEMENTS
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements asa whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue anauditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance,but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect amaterial misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and areconsidered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expectedto influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintainprofessional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
1. Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements,whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to thoserisks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis forour opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud ishigher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery,intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
2. Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design auditprocedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under section 143(3)(i) of theCompanies Act, 2013, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whetherthe company has adequate internal financial controls system in place and the operatingeffectiveness of such controls.
3. Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness ofaccounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
4. Conclude on the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern basis ofaccounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertaintyexists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company’sability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists,we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in thefinancial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Ourconclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’sreport. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease tocontinue as a going concern.
5. Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements,including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlyingtransactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
Materiality is the magnitude of misstatements in the financial statements that, individuallyor in aggregate, makes it probable that the economic decisions of a reasonablyknowledgeable user of the financial statements may be influenced. We consider quantitativemateriality and qualitative factors in (i) planning the scope of our audit work and inevaluating the results of our work; and (ii) to evaluate the effect of any identifiedmisstatements in the financial statements.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, theplanned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including anysignificant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have compliedwith relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with themall relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on ourindependence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine thosematters that were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the currentperiod and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’sreport unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, inextremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated inour report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected tooutweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
REPORT ON OTHER LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2020 (“the Order”) issued bythe Central Government of India in terms of sub-section (11) of section 143 of the Act,we give in the Annexure ‘A’ a statement on the matters specified in the paragraph 3 and4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
2. As required by Section 143 (3) of the Act, we report that:
a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to thebest of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b) In our opinion proper books of account as required by law have been kept by theCompany so far as it appears from our examination of those books.
c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss and the Cash Flow Statementdealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account;
d) In our opinion, the aforesaid financial statements comply with the AccountingStandards specified under section 133 of the Act, read with Rule 7 of theCompanies (Accounts) Rules, 2014;
e) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on 31stMarch 2026 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors isdisqualified as on 31st March 2026 from being appointed as a director in terms ofSection 164 (2) of the Act;
f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to thefinancial statement of the Company and the operating effectiveness of suchcontrols, refer to our separate report in Annexure ‘B’.
g) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor’s Report underSection 197(16) of the Act, in our opinion and to the best of our information andaccording to the explanations given to us, the remuneration paid/provided by theCompany to its directors during the year is in accordance with the provisions ofsection 197 of the Act. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has not prescribed otherdetails under Section 197(16) of the Act which are required to be commented uponby us.
h) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor’s Report inaccordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (asamended) in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to theexplanations given to us:
I. The Company has disclosed pending litigations which would impact itsfinancial position in its Financial Statements. (Refer Note No. 33)
II. The Company did not have any long-term contracts including derivativecontracts for which there were any material foreseeable losses.
III. There were no amounts which were required to be transferred to the InvestorEducation and Protection Fund by the company.
IV. a) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge andbelief, no funds (which are material either individually or in the aggregate)have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds orshare premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to orin any other persons or entity(ies), including foreign entities(“Intermediaries”) with the understanding, whether recorded in writing orotherwise, that the Intermediary shall, whether, directly or indirectly lend orinvest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by oron behalf of the Company (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provide anyguarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
b) The management has represented, that, to the best of its knowledge andbelief, no funds (which are material either individually or in the aggregate)have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies),including foreign entities (“Funding Parties”), with the understanding,whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall, whether,directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified inany manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party (“UltimateBeneficiaries”) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of theultimate Beneficiaries; and
c) Based on such audit procedures as considered reasonable and appropriatein the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us tobelieve that the representations under sub-clause (i) and (ii) of Rule 11(e), asprovided under (IV) (a) and (IV) (b) above contain any material mis¬statement.
V. The Company did not declare or pay dividend during the year and thereforethe compliance under section 123 of Companies Act is not applicable to thecompany.
VI. Based on our examination, which included test checks, the company hasused accounting software for maintaining its books of accounts for thefinancial year ended 31 March 2026 which does not have a feature ofrecording audit trial (edit log) facility enabled for all transactions recordedthroughout the year.
For BAID AGARWAL SINGHI & CO.
Chartered Accountants
Firm Registration No. 328671E
CA RUCHI RUNGTA
(Partner)
Membership No: 303186
Place: Kolkata
Dated: 15th Day of May, 2026
UDIN: 26303186YSQJUV1699