As on: May 06, 2024 06:18 AM
To the Members,
Your Directors have pleasure in presenting their Annual Report together with the Audited Accounts of the Company for the financial year ended 31st March, 2021.
COMPANY PERFORMANCE
DIVIDEND
In view of the losses incurred by the Company, your Directors have not recommended any dividend for the year under review.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The Country's economy was impacted since March 2020 due to the lockdown announced by the Government of India on account of COVID-19 outbreak. The Board of your Company monitors the situation and makes assessment of the likely impact of the pandemic on overall economic environment and its operations. In the prevailing circumstances, the Company does not anticipate any challenge in meeting its future obligations and as such does not expect any impact of COVID 19 outbreak on its ability to continue as a going concern.
SCHEME OF AMALGAMTION
The proposed Scheme of Amalgamation in terms of Section 230-232 of the Companies Act, 2013 involving (a) Neptune Exports Limited, (b) Northern Projects Limited, (c) Tea Time Limited and (d) Orient International Limited with Hindusthan Udyog Limited has received NOC from the Stock Exchanges during the year ended 31st March, 2021. The Company is in the process of obtaining other necessary approvals/consents including that of the Shareholders and the National Company Law Tribunal, Kolkata Bench.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS REPORT
Management Discussion and Analysis Report for the year under review is appended below:
A. BUSINESS
Your Company was engaged in the business of exporting tea. However, the said business is presently under suspension.
B. REVIEW OF OPERATIONS & FUTURE PROSPECTS
The Board of your Company is exploring alternatives for improving its operations and reduction of losses.
C. OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS, RISKS AND CONCERNS
Your Company's objective is to effect improvement in its operations. The Company is exposed to threats and risks, as faced by other organizations in general and those engaged in similar business, like adverse changes in the general economic and market conditions, changes in Government policies and regulations etc.
D. INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM
The Company has Internal control procedures commensurate with the nature of its business and size of its operations. The objectives of these procedures are to ensure efficient use and protection of Company's resources, accuracy in financial reports and due compliance of applicable statutes and Company's norms, policies and procedures.
E. HUMAN RESOURCES
There was no loss of work or any human resource related problem during the year. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The principles of good Corporate Governance through professionalism, accountability, transparency, trusteeship and control have always been followed by your Company and it has complied with all the applicable provisions of Corporate Governance as per the Listing Regulations. A separate Report on Corporate Governance forms part of the Annual Report 2020-21 along with the Auditors' Certificate on its compliance in Annexure A.
DIRECTORS & KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL
Mrs. Premlata Agarwal (DIN 00752110) Director, retires by rotation at the ensuing Annual General Meeting (AGM) and being eligible offers herself for re-appointment.
Mr. S.K. Roychowdhury (DIN 09116850) was appointed an Additional Director (in capacity of an Independent Director) on the Company's Board with effect from 2nd April, 2021 in terms of Section 161 of the Companies Act, 2013 and is liable to hold office till the ensuing AGM of the Company. Necessary resolution for appointing him as an Independent Director for a period of five years forms part of the Notice of the ensuing AGM.
Mr. K.K. Ganeriwala resigned from the Board with effect from the close of 2nd April, 2021. The Board Members are grateful to him for the services rendered by him during his association with the Company.
Ms. Ankita Agarwal resigned as the Company Secretary and Compliance Officer of the Company with effect from the close of 31st March, 2021.
The Brief Resume of the Directors seeking appointment/re-appointment at the ensuing AGM is attached to the Notice of the said Meeting.
NUMBER OF BOARD MEETINGS HELD
During the Financial Year 2020-21, Six (6) Board Meetings were held on 22nd June, 2020,18th August, 2020, 9th September, 2020, 13th November, 2020, 28th January, 2021 and 31st March, 2021.
DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
In accordance with Section 134(5) of the Companies Act, 2013 your Board of Directors confirms that:-
(a) in the preparation of the Annual Accounts for the financial year ended 31st March, 2021, the applicable accounting standards had been followed along with proper explanation relating to material departures;
(b) the directors had selected such accounting policies and applied them consistently and made judgments and estimates that were reasonable and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company at the end of the financial year and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period;
(c) the Directors had taken proper and sufficient care for the maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities;
(d) the annual accounts of the Company have been prepared on a "going concern" basis;
(e) the directors had laid down internal financial controls to be followed by the Company and that such internal financial controls are adequate and were operating effectively; and
(f) the directors had devised proper systems to ensure compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws and that such systems were adequate and operating effectively.
POLICY FOR DIRECTORS APPOINTMENT
The Company believes that in order to ensure that the Board of Directors can discharge their duties and responsibilities effectively; it aims to have a Board with optimum combination of experience and commitment with the presence of Independent Directors. Such Roard can provide a long term plan for the Company's growth, improve the quality of governance and increase the confidence of its shareholders.
The Company has a policy in terms of Section 178(3) of the Companies Act, 2013 on directors' appointment and remuneration including the criteria for determining their qualifications, positive attributes and independence.
BOARD EVALUATION
The Board has evaluated the effectiveness of its functioning and that of the Committees and of individual Directors by seeking inputs on various aspects of Board/Committee Governance and considered and discussed in details the inputs received from the Directors.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS DECLARATION
The Independent Directors meet the criteria of being Independent (as prescribed in the Companies Act, 2013 and the Listing Regulations) and an Independency Certificate from them have been obtained.
ANNUAL RETURN
As provided under Section 92(3) read with Section 134(3)(a) of the Companies Act, 2013, the Annual Return as on 31st March, 2021 in Form MGT-7 is available on the Website of the Company at: www.teatimeltd.co.in/investor.php.
STATUTORY AUDITORS
M/s S. Ghose & Co. LLP, Chartered Accountants (Firm Registration No. 302184E) continue to act as the Statutory Auditors of the Company as they were appointed for a term of 5 years commencing from the Financial Year 2017-18.
SECRETARIAL AUDITOR
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Rules there under and Regulation 24A of the SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company has appointed a Practicing Company Secretary to conduct the Secretarial Audit of the Company for the Financial Year 2020-21. The Secretarial Audit Report for the financial year ended 31st March, 2021 is annexed herewith as Annexure B.
COST AUDIT
The Company is not required to maintain cost records in terms of Section 148(1) of the Companies Act, 2013
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
All contracts/arrangements/transactions entered by the Company with its Related Parties during the financial year were on arm's length basis and in the ordinary course of business. Hence the provisions of Section 188 of the Companies Act, 2013 and disclosure in Form AOC-2 are not applicable. The transactions with Related Parties are disclosed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
PARTICULARS OF LOANS, INVESTMENTS AND GUARANTEES
Details of Loans, Investments and Guarantees, if any, given/made by the Company are disclosed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
VIGIL MECHANISM
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 177(9) & (10) of the Companies Act, 2013 and Regulation 22 of the SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015, a Vigil Mechanism for Directors and Employees has been established, details of which are given in the Corporate Governance Report.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk Management is the process of identification, assessment and prioritization of risks to minimize/mitigate/monitor the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events. Risk Management Policy enables the Company to manage such uncertainties and changes in the internal and external environment to reduce their negative impact. The Board of Directors of the Company, as and when needed, develops such policies for assessing and managing the risks in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act, 2013.
PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES
Disclosures in terms of Section 197(12) of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Rules made there under in respect of Directors' Remuneration, were not applicable to the Company during the year ended 31st March, 2021 as no remuneration is being paid to Directors other than sitting fees for attending the Board Meetings.
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY ABSORPTION, FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNINGS AND OUTGO
Particulars relating to Conservation of Energy, Technology Absorption, Foreign Exchange Earnings and Outgo, as required under Section 134(3)(m) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 were not applicable to the Company during the year ended 31st March, 2021.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Your Company has formulated a Code of Conduct which applies to Board Members and Senior Management Personnel of the Company. Confirmations towards adherence to the Code during the Financial Year 2020-21 have been obtained from all the Board Members and Senior Management Personnel in terms of the Listing Regulations and a declaration relating to compliance of this code during the year by all Board Members and Senior Management Personnel has been given by the Director of the Company which accompanies this report.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Your Directors would like to thank shareholders, bankers and all other business associates for the continuous support given by them to the Company.
PLACE: KOLKATA
DATE: 28th JUNE, 2021