As on: Jun 02, 2023 08:58 PM
To The Members,
Your Directors have pleasure in presenting the Thirty Second Annual Report of SKP Securities Limited (SKP) for the Financial Year ended March 31,2022.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Rs in Lacs)
performance highlights
While the economy, businesses and financial markets were in the midst of a V-shaped recovery, post Covid-19 First Wave and the resultant lock down, we entered the Financial Year 2021-2022 amidst a devastating Second Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic in India. The unfolding human tragedy has not been witnessed by any living Indian. However, with the rapid vaccination program, the scenario stabilized to a large extent. With massive reduction in interest rates and liquidity infusion by central bankers across the world and in India and tail wind provided by changes in the economic, business and financial policies, particularly highlighted by the Union Budget 2021, the economy, businesses and financial markets performed better than the previous year. Equity markets scaled new peaks. However, the war in Eastern Europe at the fag end of the year, which still continues, was a huge disruptive spoiler.
In this backdrop, your company witnessed an improvement across all its revenue streams. Its income from Broking Services across all customer segments with research-led value add, witnessed a smart growth. Income from Distribution Services across all client segments grew well. Investment/Merchant Banking services also took off. Proprietary investments of your company also performed well.
Your Directors express satisfaction that the Company has come out of the crisis stronger, as mentioned in the previous years' Report.
dividend and reserves
After having returned substantial capital back to the shareholders by way of two Share Buy Backs made during FY18 and FY20, your Directors are of the view that the company conserve its financial resources for enhanced growth and working capital requirements commensurating with growing business volumes. Hence your Directors do not recommend any dividend for the Financial Year 20212022. It recommends to transfer '1 Cr to General Reserve.
bonus shares
With a view to reward the Shareholders of the Company and enhance market liquidity of its equity shares, the Board of Directors, after considering the available reserves, subject to the consent of the
Shareholders of the Company through postal ballot and all other requisite approvals and permissions, recommended to capitalize to the extent of ' 3,40,44,000/- (Rupees Three Crores Forty Lacs and Forty Four Thousand Only) or such other amount from and out of the Capital Redemption Reserve and/or General Reserve as per the Audited Financial Statements of the Company for the financial year ended 31st March 2022, for issue and allotment of bonus shares of ' 10/- (Rupees Ten Only) each fully paid up for every 1 (one) existing equity shares of ' 10/- (Rupees One Only) each of the Company.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
The ongoing war in Europe has resulted in heightened uncertainty in economic and business scenario, corporate performance and financial markets. However, with the medium to long term outlook of Indian Economy being quite promising, we can expect financial markets to be doing reasonably well. However, competitive and regulatory challenges are likely to continue to cause disruptions. With a diversified portfolio of services on offer, enhanced efforts for growth and strong financials, your Directors remain optimistic about the future performance of the company.
STATE OF THE COMPANY'S AFFAIRS
Detailed information on the operations of the Company, business environment and future expectations are provided in the Management Discussion and Analysis Report, in compliance with Regulations 34(2)(e) of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirement) Regulations, 2015, ("Listing Regulations") which is annexed and marked as Annexure A to this report.
SUBSIDIARIES, JOINT VENTURES AND ASSOCIATES COMPANIES
Your Company does not have any Subsidiary, Joint Venture or Associate Company.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Your Company has complied with the Corporate Governance requirements under the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Act") and as stipulated under the provisions of Listing Regulations.
A Detailed Report on Corporate Governance together with a Certificate from the Auditors of the Company regarding compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance as stipulated under Listing Regulations, forms an integral part of this Report which is annexed and marked as Annexure B. DIRECTORS
Mr. Naresh Pachisia was re-appointed as a Managing Director of the Company for a period of three years with effect from 1st April 2021 till 31st March 2024 in the Annual General Meeting held on 28th August 2021, which was recommended by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and approved by the Board of Directors in their respective meetings.
KEY Managerial Personnel
During the year there were no changes in Key Managerial Personnel.
NOMINATION AND REMUNERATION POLICY
Your Company has a well-defined policy for appointment of Directors, Key Managerial Personnel, Senior Management Personnel and other employees of the Company including their remuneration. The policy can be accessed at www.skpsecurities.com.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS' DECLARATION
The Company has received necessary declarations from all Independent Directors, in accordance with the provisions of Section 149(7) of the Act stating that they meet the criteria of Independence as laid down in Section 149(6) of the Act and Regulation 25 of Listing Regulations. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, none of the Non-Executive Independent Directors are liable to retire by rotation.
Pursuant to Rule 5 of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014 as amended, all Independent Directors of the Company have registered themselves in the Independent Directors databank maintained with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (I1CA).
ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BOARD, ITS COMMITTEES AND INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS
In terms of the provisions of the Act and Listing Regulations, the Board of Directors has carried out an evaluation process of its own performance, the performance of its various committees and individual Directors. A structured questionnaire is prepared for assessment based on various aspects, which, among other parameters, include Composition of the Board and its Committees, conducting of Meetings, Effectiveness of Governance Practices etc. The detailed criteria applied in the evaluation process are explained in the Corporate Governance Report.
Further, Independent Directors, at their meeting held on 30th March 2022 reviewed the performance of the Board and the Non-Independent Directors.
BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS
During the year under review, the Board met four times on 8th May 2021, 31st July 2021, 30th October 2021 and 29th January 2022. The intervening gap between the meetings was within the period prescribed under the Act.
At present, the Board of Directors has the following four committees:
i) Audit Committee
ii) Nomination and Remuneration Committee
iii) Stakeholders Relationship Committee
iv) Corporate Social Responsibility Committee
The details of composition of the Board, its various Committees, brief terms of reference, meetings held and attendance of the Directors are provided in the Corporate Governance Report.
auditors' and audit report
Statutory Auditor
The Auditors' Report for the Financial Year ended 31st March 2022, does not contain any qualification, reservation or adverse remark. Further, M/s G. P. Agrawal & Co., Chartered Accountants, Statutory Auditors of the Company have not reported any fraud as specified under Section 143(12) of the Act. The Auditors' Report is enclosed with financial statements in this Report.
The second term and final term of 5 (five) consecutive years of M/s G. P. Agrawal & Co., Chartered Accountants, (Firm Registration No. 302082E) as Statutory Auditors of the Company shall come to an end on the conclusion of the ensuing 32nd Annual General Meeting of the Company and as per section 139 of the Companies Act, 2013, are not eligible to be reappointed as the statutory auditors of the Company.
The Board of Directors of the Company places on record their sincere appreciation for the services rendered by M/s G. P. Agrawal & Co., as Statutory Auditors of the Company.
The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors have recommended M/s S K Agrawal and Co, Chartered Accountants LLP (Firm Registration No. 306033E/E300272) to be appointed and M/s S K Agrawal and Co, Chartered Accountants LLP expressed their willingness and given their consent to be appointed as Statutory Auditors of the Company, if confirmed, at the ensuing 32nd Annual General Meeting of the Company for a period of 5(five) consecutive years and they have also confirmed that their appointment would be in compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and applicable Rules and that they are not disqualified under any Act from being appointed as Statutory Auditors of the Company.
Brief profile of M/s S K Agrawal and Co, Chartered Accountants LLP, their terms and rationale has been provided in the explanatory statement to the Resolution set out in the Notice convening the 32nd AGM of the Company. The Board of Directors recommends their appointment as Statutory Auditors of the Company.
Secretarial Auditor
Mr. Anil Murarka, Practicing Company Secretary (FCS:3150, CP No: 1857) Proprietor of M/s. A. Murarka & Co., Kolkata, was appointed to conduct the Secretarial Audit of the Company for the Financial Year 2021-2022, pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Act, the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 and the Listing Regulations. The Secretarial Audit Report is annexed and marked as Annexure C. The said report does not contain any observation or qualification or adverse remark requiring explanation.
ANNUAL RETURN
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 134(3)(a) and Section 92(3) of the Act read with Rule 12 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014, the Annual Return of the Company for Financial Year 2021-2022 is uploaded on website of the Company and can be accessed at www.skpsecurities.com.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The Company has a Policy on Corporate Social Responsibility which is available on the website of the Company i.e. www.skpsecurities.com. The provisions of the section 135 of the Companies Act 2013 is not applicable to the Company for the financial year 2021-22 and the Company is not required to undertake any CSR activity. The brief outline of the Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of the Company, activities and other details as required is set out in Annexure D of this Report in the format prescribed in the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules 2014.
PARTICULAR OF CONTRACTS OR ARRANGEMENT WITH RELATED PARTIES
All transactions entered by the Company during the financial year with related parties were in the ordinary course of business and on arm's length basis and are in compliance with applicable provisions of the Act and Listing Regulations, details of which are provided in notes to financial statements which forms an integral part of this Report.
All new related party transactions are first placed before the Audit Committee and thereafter placed before the Board for their consideration and approval. A prior omnibus approval of the Audit Committee is obtained on an annual basis for the transactions which are of foreseen and repetitive nature. There have been no materially significant related party transactions that may have potential conflict with the interests of listed entity at large. The policy on materiality of Related Party Transaction and dealing with Related Party Transaction as approved by the Board can be accessed on Company's website www.skpsecurities.com
Particulars of contracts or arrangements with related parties referred to in Section 188(1) of the Act read with Rule 15 of the Companies (Meetings of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014 in Form AOC-2 is not applicable to the Company for the Financial Year 2021-2022.
PARTICULARS OF LOANS, GUARANTEES OR INVESTMENTS
Your Company did not provide any Loans or Guarantees in terms of provisions of Section 186 of the Act. The details of Investments made are provided in Notes to the Financial Statements which forms an integral part of this Annual Report.
PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES AND RELATED DISCLOSURES
Information sought under Section 197(12) of the Act read with Rule 5(1) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 is annexed and marked as Annexure E to this Report.
Further, a statement showing the names and other particulars of employees drawing remuneration in excess of the limits as set out in the Rule 5(2) and 5(3) of the aforesaid Rules, forms part of this report. However, in terms of first proviso to Section 136(1) of the Act, the Annual Report and Accounts are being sent to the Members and others entitled thereto, excluding the aforesaid information. The said information is available for inspection by the Members. Any Member interested in obtaining a copy thereof, may write to the Company Secretary at cs@skpsecurities.com.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Risks are an integral part of business and your Company is committed to manage risks in a proactive and efficient manner. Your Company has implemented an integrated Risk Management framework through which it reviews and assesses significant risks on a regular basis to help ensure that there is a robust system of risk controls and mitigation in place. Senior management periodically reviews this risk management framework to keep updated and address emerging challenges. In the opinion of the Board, at present there are no risks which threaten the existence of the Company.
VIGIL MECHANISM / WHISTLE BLOWER POLICY
Your Company has a well-established Whistle Blower Policy as part of vigil mechanism for Directors and Employees to raise their concerns about unethical behavior, actual or suspected fraud or violation of Company's Code of Conduct etc.in compliance with provisions of Section 177(10) of the Act and Regulation 22 of Listing Regulations. This mechanism also provides for adequate safeguards against victimization of Directors, Employees who avail of the mechanism and also provides for direct access to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
During the year under review, none of the Directors/Employees were denied access to the Chairman of the Audit Committee and that no complaints were received during the year. The web link of the said Policy is http://www.skpsecurities.com/index.php/investor/policies.
DISCLOSURE AS PER THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT, 2013
Your Company has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment at workplace. All women who are associated with the Company either as permanent, temporary or contractual employees or trainees etc. are covered under the above policy. During the year under review, there were no cases filed pursuant to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
TRANSFER OF UNPAID/UNCLAIMED AMOUNTS TO INVESTOR EDUCATION & PROTECTION FUND AUTHORITY (IEPF)
In terms of the provisions of Section 124 of the Act read with IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016 and other applicable provisions, all unpaid or unclaimed dividends have been transferred by the Company to IEPF after completion of seven years. Further, shares on which dividend had remained unpaid or unclaimed by Members for seven consecutive years or more are also transferred to the demat account of IEPF Authority.
INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS
The Company has an Internal Control System, commensurate with size, scale and complexity of its operations to ensure proper recording of financial and operational information and compliances of various internal controls and other regulatory and statutory compliances. During the year under review, no material or serious observation has been received from the Internal Auditor of the Company for inefficiency or inadequacy of such controls.
Audit Committee in consultation with the Internal Auditor formulates the scope, functioning, periodicity and methodology for conducting the Internal Audit. Based on the Internal Audit Report corrective actions in the respective area are undertaken and controls are strengthened.
energy conservation, technology absorption and foreign exchange
EARNINGS AND OUTGO
Information sought under the provisions of Section 134(3)(m) of the Act read with Rule 8 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 is annexed and marked as Annexure F to this Report.
POLICIES
The details of the policies approved and adopted by the Board are annexed and marked as Annexure G to this report.
DIRECTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 134(3)(c) read with Section 134(5) of the Act, the Board of Directors, to the best of its knowledge and ability, confirm that:
a) in the preparation of the Annual Accounts for the Financial Year ended 31st March 2022, the applicable accounting standards have been followed along with proper explanation relating to material departures;
b) the Directors have selected such accounting policies and applied them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at 31st March 2022, and of the profit/loss of the Company for that period;
c) the Directors have taken proper and sufficient care for the maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of this Act for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities;
d) the Directors ensured the annual accounts are prepared on a going concern basis;
e) the Directors have laid down internal financial controls to be followed by the Company and that such internal financial controls are adequate and were operating effectively;
f) the Directors have devised proper systems to ensure compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws and that such systems were adequate and operating effectively.
GENERAL DISCLOSURES
Your Company complies with all the applicable Secretarial Standards issued by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
Your Directors state that no disclosure or reporting is required in respect of the following items as there were no transactions on these items during the year under review:
1. Issue of equity shares with differential rights as to dividend, voting or otherwise.
2. Issue of shares (sweat equity shares) to employees of the Company under ESOS.
3. Deposits covered under Chapter V of the Act.
4. No significant or material orders were passed by any regulatory authority or courts or tribunals, impacting the going concern status and Company's operation in future.
5. No other material changes and commitments have occurred after the close of Financial Year till date of this Report which affects the financial position of the Company.
GRATITUDE &ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Your Directors express their deep gratitude to clients, business associates, principals, bankers, regulators, exchanges, depositories, and shareholders for their valuable contribution towards the progress of the Company. Your Directors particularly wish to place on record their sincere appreciation of the best efforts put in by the employees at all levels, but for which, the Company could not have achieved what it did during the year under review.