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To
The Members,
Ladderup Finance Limited
Your Directors are pleased to present the Thirty-Second Annual Report
on the affairs of your Company along with the audited financial statements, (both
Standalone and Consolidated) for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 2025.
FINANCIAL RESULTS
During the year under review, the performance of your company was as
under: (' in Lakh)
| Particulars |
2024-25 |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
2023-24 |
|
Consolidated |
Standalone |
| Operational & Other Income |
1782.44 |
1261.70 |
124.87 |
83.98 |
| Less: Total Expenses |
1519.59 |
1064.62 |
543.06 |
195.65 |
| Profit / (loss) before Share of Associate and
Tax |
262.85 |
197.08 |
(418.19) |
(111.66) |
| Share of Profit / (Loss) of Associate |
358.53 |
17.57 |
- |
- |
| Profit before Tax |
621.38 |
214.64 |
(418.19) |
(111.66) |
| Less: Tax expenses (includes provision for
deferred tax asset/liability) |
200.56 |
607.4 |
85.93 |
521.20 |
| Profit after Tax |
420.82 |
(392.76) |
(504.12) |
(632.85) |
| Other Comprehensive Income |
538.04 |
1263.06 |
541.19 |
1264.52 |
| Total Comprehensive Income for the period |
958.86 |
870.30 |
37.07 |
631.66 |
The Consolidated Statements provide the results of Ladderup Finance
Limited together with its Subsidiary, Joint Venture and Associate Companies.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS AND STATE OF COMPANY AFFAIRS
Consolidated Performance
The Company recorded consolidated revenue of ' 1,782.44 lakhs in FY
2024-25, compared to ' 1,261.70 lakhs in FY 2023-24. The Consolidated Total Comprehensive
Income stood at ' 958.86 lakhs in FY 2024-25, as against ' 870.30 lakhs in the previous
year. The variation is primarily due to changes in the fair value of FVTOCI investments
(net of deferred tax).
Standalone Performance
The Company earned total revenue of ' 124.87 lakhs in FY 2024-25, up
from ' 83.99 lakhs in FY 2023-24. However, Total Comprehensive Income declined to ' 37.07
lakhs in FY 2024-25 from ' 631.66 lakhs in the previous year, largely due to changes in
fair value of FVTOCI investments (net of deferred tax).
The Company continues to invest in asset-based transactions with strong
growth potential. There has been no change in the nature of business of the Company during
the financial year ended 31st March 2025.
AMOUNT TRANSFERRED TO RESERVE
Due to loss in the Financial Year 2024-25 the Company has not
transferred any amount to reserve account.
Statutory Reserve represents the Reserve Fund created under Section 45
IC of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
DIVIDEND
The Board of Directors of your company, after considering holistically
the relevant circumstances, has decided that it would be prudent not to recommend any
Dividend for the financial year 2024-25.
ANNUAL RETURN
In accordance with the provisions of section 92 read with section
134(3) (a) of the Companies Act, 2013, the Annual Return for financial year 2024-25 is
available at https://www.ladderup.com
SHARE CAPITAL
During the year under review, the Company completed a buyback of
22,50,123 equity shares at ' 44 per share. Following the buyback, the issued, subscribed,
and paid-up share capital was reduced to ' 10,60,24,770, comprising 1,06,02,477 equity
shares of face value ' 10 each.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
During the financial year 2024-25, 4 (four) meetings of the Board were
held by the company on 23rd May, 2024, 24th July, 2024, 08th November, 2024, and 07th
February, 2025. For further details of meetings of the Board or its committees, please
refer to the Corporate Governance Report, which is a part of Annual Report.
DIRECTORS AND KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL
During the year under review, the following changes were made in the
composition of the Board of Directors and Key Managerial Personnel of the Company:
a) Mr. T.V. Rao ((DIN: 05273533), Independent Director of the Company
had completed his second term on 10th August, 2024 and was subsequently ceased to be the
Independent Director of the Company on the same date.
b) Mr. Mayank Mehta (DIN: 03554733) was appointed as Independent
Director of the Company at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 13th
September, 2024.
c) In accordance with the provisions of Section 152 of the Companies
Act 2013, and that of Articles of Association of the Company, Mr. Manoj Singrodia,
Director of the Company retires by rotation at ensuing Annual General Meeting of the
Company and being eligible, has offered himself for re-appointment.
SEPARATE MEETING OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
Pursuant to Schedule IV of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Rules made
thereunder and Regulation 25(3) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure
Requirements) Regulations, 2015, all the Independent Directors of the Company met on 11th
March 2025, without the attendance of Non-Independent Directors and Members of the
Management.
The Independent Directors reviewed performance of Non-Independent
Directors, Chairman of the Company and the performance of the Board as a whole. The
Independent Directors also discussed the quality, quantity and timeliness of flow of
information between the Company management and the Board that is necessary for the Board
to effectively and reasonably perform their duties. The feedback of the Meeting was shared
with the Chairman of the Company.
BOARD EVALUATION
Pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and provisions of
SEBI (Listing Obligation and Disclosure Requirement) Regulations, 2015, a separate
exercise was carried out to evaluate the performance of individual Directors including the
Chairman of the Board who were evaluated on parameters such as level of engagement and
contribution and independence of judgment thereby safeguarding the interest of the
Company. The performance evaluation of the Independent Directors was carried out by the
entire Board, except the director being evaluated, the performance evaluation of the
Chairman and the Non-Independent Directors was carried out by the Independent Directors.
The Board also carried out annual performance evaluation of the working of its Audit,
Nomination and Remuneration as well as stakeholder relationship committee. The Directors
expressed their satisfaction with the evaluation process.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
The Company has received declarations from all the Independent
Directors confirming that they meet with the criteria of independence as laid down under
Section 149 (6) of the Companies Act, 2013 and Regulation 16(1)(b) of SEBI (Listing
Obligations & Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Your Company has formulated a code of conduct for Board of Directors
and Senior Managerial Personnel. The Declaration duly signed by the Chairman and Managing
Director is given under Corporate Governance Report as a separate section in this Annual
Report.
DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to the requirement under Section 134(3)(c) and 134(5) of the
Act, with respect to Directors Responsibility Statement, your Directors confirm that:
a. In the preparation of the annual accounts, 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 are 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 and 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 this Act
for safeguarding the assets of the company and for preventing and detecting fraud and
other irregularities.
d. The directors had prepared the annual accounts on a going concern
basis; and
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.
Explanation. ·
For the purposes of this clause, the term internal financial
controls" means the policies and procedures adopted by the company for ensuring the
orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to company's policies,
the safeguarding of its assets, the prevention and detection of frauds and errors, the
accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, and the timely preparation of
reliable financial information.
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.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The brief outline of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy
of the Company as adopted by the Board and the initiatives undertaken by the Company on
CSR activities during the year under review are set out in Annexure I" of this
report in the format prescribed in the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy)
Rules, 2014.
For other details regarding the CSR Committee, please refer to the
Corporate Governance Report, which is a part of this report. The CSR policy is available
on website www.ladderup.com.
STATUTORY AUDITOR & STATUTORY AUDITOR'S REPORT
M/s. Shah Gupta & Co., Chartered Accountants, Mumbai (Firm
Registration No. 109574W), was re-appointed as statutory auditor of the company for their
second term of five years from the conclusion of 29th Annual General Meeting till the
conclusion of 34th Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in F.Y. 2027-28.
Further, the Auditors have issued Audit Report for the Financial Year
2024-25 pursuant to provisions of Section 141(2) of the Companies Act, 2013, read with
Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014.
The Notes on Accounts referred to in the Auditors' Report are
self-explanatory and do not call for any further comments. The Auditors' Report does not
contain any qualification, reservation, or adverse remark.
During the Financial year under review no fraud has been reported by
the Auditors to the Audit Committee or the Board. INTERNAL AUDIT & INTERNAL AUDITOR'S
REPORT
The Company has in place an adequate internal audit framework to
monitor the efficacy of internal controls with the objective of providing to the Audit
Committee and the Board of Directors, an independent, objective and reasonable assurance
on the adequacy and effectiveness of the organization's risk management, control and
governance processes. The Company has appointed M/s. CAS & Co., Chartered Accountants,
as Internal Auditors of the Company for financial year 2024-25. Findings of the Internal
Auditor were placed before Audit Committee, which were reviewed and discussed with the
Management.
SECRETARIAL AUDITOR & SECRETARIAL AUDITOR'S REPORT
M/s. Jajodia and Associate, Practicing Company Secretaries, (CP No.
19900) was appointed as secretarial auditor of the Company for the Financial Year 2024-25.
Pursuant to Regulation 24A(1)(b) of SEBI (Listing Obligations and
Disclosure Requirements), 2015 the listed entity can appoint a Secretarial Audit firm for
two terms of five consecutive years. Hence, the Board of Directors of the Company has
recommended the Shareholders to appoint Jajodia and Associate, Practicing Company
Secretaries, (CP No. 19900) as Secretarial Auditor of the Company and Ladderup Asset
Managers Private Limited (formerly Ladderup Wealth Management Private Limited), the
subsidiary of the Company for a term of five consecutive years commencing from the
Financial Year 2025-26.
The Secretarial Audit Reports for both, the Company and its subsidiary
have been issued in Form MR-3, as required by Section 204 of the Companies Act, 2013, and
the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014. These
reports are attached as Annexure II-A" and Annexure II-B,"
respectively, and are part of this Report.
The Secretarial Auditors' Report does not contain any qualification,
reservation, or adverse remark.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
M/s. Jajodia & Associates, Practicing Company Secretary, have
examined the compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance by the Company, for the
Financial Year ended on 31st March, 2025, as stipulated in regulations 17 to 27 and
clauses (b) to (i) of regulation 46(2) and para C and D of Schedule V of the SEBI (Listing
Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (the Listing Regulations) and
issued a certificate which has been included Annual Report.
PARTICULARS OF LOANS, GUARANTEES OR INVESTMENTS BY THE COMPANY UNDER
SECTION 186 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2013
The details of Loan, Guarantees and Investments made by the Company
under the provisions of Section 186 of the Companies Act,
2013 are provided in the notes to the Financial Statements.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the year under review, all contracts/arrangements/transactions
entered by the Company during the financial year 2024-25 with related parties were in
compliance with the provisions of the Act, and SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure
Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (Listing Regulations").
The Company had obtained prior approval of the Audit Committee for all
the related party transactions entered during the Financial Year 2024-25, as envisaged in
Regulation 23(2) of the Listing Regulations. Further, the Audit Committee had given prior
omnibus approval under Section 177 of the Act, read with Rule 6(A) of The Companies
(Meetings of Board and its Powers) Rules, 2014 read with Regulation 23(3) of the Listing
Regulations, for related party transactions that are foreseen and of repetitive nature
during the period under review and the required disclosures are made to the Audit
Committee and Board on quarterly basis.
All related party transactions that were entered during the financial
year ended March 31, 2025 were on an arm's length basis and were in the ordinary course of
business. Therefore, the provisions of Section 188 of the Act, were not attracted.
Accordingly, the disclosure of Related Party Transactions as required under Section 134(3)
of the Act in Form AOC-2 is not applicable.
The Policy on materiality of related party transactions and dealing
with related party transactions as approved by the Board may be accessed on the Company's
website at the link
https://www.ladderup.com/docs/CG/11-related-party-transaction-policy.pdf
The details of the transactions with related parties are provided in
the accompanying financial statements.
DETAILS OF SUBSIDIARIES, JOINT VENTURE & ASSOCIATE COMPANIES
The Company has one subsidiary company i.e. Ladderup Asset Managers
Private Limited (formerly Ladderup Wealth Management Private Limited), one Joint Venture
Company i.e. Waterproof Corporation Private Limited. During the year, the Board of
Directors of your company has reviewed the affairs of the subsidiary and joint venture
Companies in accordance with Section 129(3) of the Companies Act, 2013, the Company has
prepared consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary and
Associates Companies, which form part of the Annual Report. Further, the statement
containing the salient features of the financial statements of its subsidiaries and
associate companies and Joint ventures in the prescribed format Form (AOC-1), is given in
notes to financial statements. The statement also provides the details of performance and
financial position of the subsidiaries and associate companies and Joint ventures.
In accordance with Section 136 of the Companies Act, 2013, the audited
financial statements, including the consolidated financial statements and related
information of the Company and audited accounts of its subsidiaries, are available on
website of www.ladderup.com. These documents will also be available for inspection during
the business hours at the registered office of the Company.
The Company's policy on material subsidiaries as approved by the Board
is uploaded on the Company's website at Investor Relations" section.
Amalgamation of Water Proof Corporation Pvt Ltd. (Transferee Company)
and Annapurna Pet Private Limited (Transferor Company)
During the year under review, pursuant to the Order dated 27th August,
2024, National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai Bench approved the Scheme of
Amalgamation of Annapurna Pet Private Limited (Transferor Company) and Water Proof
Corporation Private Limited (Transferee Company), Joint Venture Company of Ladderup
Finance Limited with effect from 1st April 2022. Accordingly, Annapurna Pet Private
Limited was dissolved on the filing of the aforesaid Order with Registrar of Companies on
20th September, 2024.
DETAILS OF MATERIAL CHANGES FROM THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR
Incorporation of a Step-down Subsidiary in Gujarat International
Finance Tec-City (GIFT City)
Ladderup Asset Managers Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Company,
has incorporated a new subsidiary named Ladderup Fund Management IFSC Private Limited in
GIFT City, Ahmedabad. Pursuant to its incorporation on May 28, 2025, Ladderup Fund
Management IFSC Private Limited has become a step-down subsidiary of the Company
ENERGY CONSERVATION, TECHNOLOGY ABSORPTION AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE
EARNINGS AND OUTGO
There was no technological absorption and no foreign exchange earnings
or outgo, during the year under review. Hence, the information as required under Section
134(3)(m) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 8 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules,
2014 is to be regarded as Nil.
The Company has not entered into any technology transfer agreement.
RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY
The Company has laid down the procedures to inform the Board about the
risk assessment and minimization procedures and the Board shall be responsible for
framing, implementing, and monitoring the risk management plan and policy for the Company.
The main objective of this policy is to ensure sustainable business
growth with stability and to promote a pro-active approach in reporting, evaluating and
resolving risks associated with the business. In order to achieve the key objective, the
policy establishes a structured and disciplined approach to Risk Management, in order to
guide decisions on risk related issues.
POLICY ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE
The Company has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment at the
workplace and towards this end, it has adopted a policy in line with the provisions of
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
and the Rules thereunder.
All employees of the company (permanent, contractual, temporary,
trainees) are covered under the said policy.
An Internal Complaints Committee has also been set up to redress
complaints received on sexual harassment.
During the financial year under review, the Company has not received
any complaints from any of the employees of the Company.
NON-DEPOSIT TAKING NON-BANKING FINANCIAL COMPANY
Your Company is categorized as a non-deposit taking Non-Banking
Financial Company.
Accordingly in compliance with RBI Master Directions-Non-Banking
Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016 the
Company has not accepted any deposits from the public during the year under review.
RBI DIRECTIONS AND GUIDANCE
Your Company complies with the direction(s), circular(s),
notification(s) and guideline(s) issued by the Reserve Bank of India as applicable to your
Company as a non-deposit taking non-systemically important non-banking financial company.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The Company currently has Eight Mandatory Board Committees, as follows:
1) Audit Committee
2) Stakeholders' Relationship Committee
3) Nomination & Remuneration Committee
4) Investment Committee
5) Risk Management Committee
6) Corporate Social Responsibility Committee
7) Credit Committee
8) Prevention of Sexual Harassment Committee
Details of all the Committees along with their charters, composition
and meetings held during the year, are provided in the Corporate Governance Report. The
composition and applicable policy, if any of all the above committee is available on
website www.ladderup.com.
PARTICULARS OF REMUNERATION OF EMPLOYEES
The information required pursuant to Section 197 read with rule 5 of
the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 in
respect of employees of the Company, will be provided upon request. In terms of Section
136 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Report and Accounts are being sent to the Members and
others entitled thereto, excluding the information on employees' particulars of which is
available for inspection by the Members at the Registered Office of the Company during
business hours on working days of the Company up to the date of the ensuing Annual General
Meeting. If any Member is interested in obtaining a copy thereof, such Member may write to
the Company Secretary in this regard.
The further details regarding the total Remuneration paid to Executive
Director & Non-Executive Director of the Company are stated in the Corporate
Governance Report.
PREVENTION OF INSIDER TRADING
As per the provisions of SEBI (Prohibition of insider trading)
Regulations, 2015, the Company has adopted a code of conduct for prevention of insider
trading with a view to regulate trading in securities by the Directors and designated
employees of the Company. The Code requires pre-clearance for dealing in the Company's
shares and prohibits the purchase or sale of Company shares by the Directors and the
designated employees while in possession of unpublished price sensitive information in
relation to
the Company and during the period when the Trading Window is closed.
The Board is responsible for implementation of the Code. All Directors and the designated
employees have confirmed compliance with the Code.
SIGNIFICANT AND MATERIAL ORDERS PASSED BY THE REGULATORS OR COURTS
During the year under review there have been no significant and
material orders passed by the regulators or courts or tribunals impacting the going
concern status and company's operations in future.
INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM AND THEIR ADEQUACY
The Company's internal control system is designed to ensure orderly and
efficient conduct of its business, compliance with law and regulations including adherence
to the Company's policies, safeguarding of its assets, prevention and detection of frauds
and errors, accuracy and completeness of the accounting record, and the timely preparation
of reliable financial information Internal Control system is supported by an Internal
Audit Process. The Internal Audit Plans and Scope are well laid-out to ensure compliance
with various applicable laws and internal policies. The Internal Auditors review the
systems and procedures and advise on further improvements wherever required. The reports
of the Internal Auditors are reviewed by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors of
the Company.
All the transactions are properly authorized, recorded and reported to
the Management. The Company is following all the applicable Accounting Standards for
properly maintaining the books of accounts and reporting financial statements.
VIGIL MECHANISM / WHISTLE BLOWER POLICY
In order to ensure that the activities of the Company and its employees
are conducted in a fair and transparent manner by adoption of highest standards of
professionalism, honesty, integrity and ethical behavior, the company has adopted a vigil
mechanism policy. This Policy can be viewed on the Company's website viz. www.ladderup.com
in the Investor Relations" Section.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECRETARIAL STANDARDS ISSUED BY ICSI
In accordance with the provisions of clause 9 of SS-1, The Company has
complied with applicable Secretarial Standards - 1 and Secretarial Standards -2 issued by
Institute of Company Secretary of India, during the year under review.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Your Directors take this opportunity to express their sincere
appreciation for the continued support and cooperation received from all clients,
financial institutions, bankers, business associates, government authorities, and other
regulatory bodies. The Board also extends its gratitude to all stakeholders for their
sustained encouragement and trust, which has been instrumental in the effective operations
of the Company. Your Directors further place on record their heartfelt thanks to all
employees for their dedication, commitment, and continued support during the year.
| Date : 05th August, 2025 |
For and on behalf of the Board |
| Place : Mumbai |
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sd/- |
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Sunil Goyal |
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Chairman and Managing Director |
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DIN: 00503570 |
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