Dear Members,
The Directors are pleased to present their Twenty Seventh Annual Report
together with Audited Accounts for the financial year ended 31st March
2011, which was the 25th year since the Company commenced its
commercial operations.
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
The improvement in the commercial vehicles market witnessed in the
second half of the previous year continued and the Company was able to
achieve the highest ever volume of sales at 12870 vehicles (10133). Net
Revenue at Rs. 893.0 crores (Rs. 722.2 crores), Operating Profit of Rs.
69.5 crores (Rs. 58.0 crores) and Profit before Tax at Rs. 51.4 crores
(Rs. 30.4 crores) also set new records.
Although sale of new products saw some improvement, these remained
below targets set. Consequently, capital expenditure for the expansion
project was restricted for the time being.
Receivables remained at satisfactory level having brought these to set
standards in the previous year, and cash flow was well controlled.
It is in the above background that the Directors report the following
summary of results for the year 2010-11
(Rupees in Crores)
Year Ended Year ended
31st March, 2011 31st March, 2010
Sales Volume (Nos.) 12870 10133
Net Operating Revenue 893.00 722.23
Operating Profit 69.46 57.93
Profit Before Tax 51.38 30.43
Tax Expense 14.82 8.97
Profit After Tax 36.56 21.46
Balance of Profit from Prior Years 29.82 17.28
Surplus available for Appropriation: 66.38 38.74
Appropriations:
Transfer to General Reserve 3.66 2.15
Proposed Dividend 11.58 5.79
Tax on Dividend 1.92 0.98
Amount carried to Balance Sheet 49.22 29.82
CHANGE OF COMPANY NAME
Members may recall that they had approved the change of Company''s name
from Swaraj Mazda Limited to SML Isuzu Limited through postal ballot
process in November, 2010. Consequently, upon receipt of fresh
Certificate of Incorporation dated 3rd January, 2011 from the Registrar
of Companies, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, the new name of
the Company has become effective.
DIVIDEND
Having regard to the improvement in financial results, the Directors
have recommended payment of dividend for Financial Year 2010-11 @ 65%
i.e. Rs 6.50 per share. In addition the Directors recommend a special
dividend of 15% i.e. Rs 1.50 per share on completion of 25 years of
commercial operations, making aggregate of 80% i.e. Rs 8.00 per share.
Previous year''s dividend was 40%.
EXPANSION PROJECT
Members may recall that Company had embarked upon its Expansion Project
in fiscal 2006-07 by setting up facilities with a view to expand its
product portfolio aimed to capitalize on the emerging business
opportunities in the Indian Commercial Vehicles sector and to enable it
to foray into the manufacture of air-conditioned luxury buses and
coaches targeted at the tourism industry and long distance inter-city
travel.
In the terms of the Rights Issue, ii had been projected that the net
proceeds of Rs.1800 lacs, earmarked for Expansion Project, would be
utilized by March, 2011. However, as stated in the last fiscal''s
Directors Report, demand for luxury buses did not rise to expected
levels. Accordingly, capital spending has been restricted to bare
minimum and only a sum of Rs. 321.70 lacs utilized out of the aforesaid
Rs. 1800 lacs. Shareholders'' approval is being sought in the
forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the Company for the deferment the
date of completion of expenditure up to March, 2013.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
A Management Discussions and Analysis Report is annexed to this report.
A report on Corporate Governance together with the Auditors''
Certificate confirming compliance of Corporate Governance norms also
forms part of this Annual Report.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Directors report with satisfaction that after a gap of 4-years a fresh
Wage Agreement was concluded with the representatives of the workmen in
cordial atmosphere.
PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES
The Company had 5 employees who were in receipt of remuneration of not
less than Rs. 60,00,000 during the year ended 31st March, 2011 or not
less than Rs. 5,00,000 per month during any part of the said year.
A statement of particulars pursuant to Section 217(2A) of the Companies
Act, 1956 read with Companies (Particulars of Employees) Rules, 1975,
forms part of this report. As per the provisions of Section
219(1)(b)(iv) of the Companies Act, 1956, the Report, together with
Accounts, is being sent to the Shareholders of the Company, excluding
the statement of particulars of employees under Section 217(2A) of the
Act. Members desiring to have a copy of the same, may write to the
Company Secretary at the Registered Office of the Company.
SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
The Company continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to safety,
health and environment. These aspects have been adopted as core
organizational value of the Company.
Employees are continuously made aware of hazards / risks associated
with their job and necessary training is imparted to them to update
their knowledge and skill to meet any emergency situation.
The Company carries out statutory safety assurance and audits its
facilities as per legal requirements. Regular medical and occupational
check-up of employees are concluded and eco-friendly activities are
promoted.
The Company has installed incinerator plant to safely dispose of
hazardous waste. A sewage treatment plant has also been installed to
ensure eco-friendly disposal.
ENERGY CONSERVATION, TECHNOLOGY ABSORPTION, ETC.
A report required under the Companies (Disclosure of particulars in the
Report of Directors) Rules 1988 is annexed to this Report.
CURRENT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
There are concerns that the estimated 8.5% economic growth in fiscal
2010-11 may not be sustained on account of various factors - both
domestic & external, most importantly the effects of rising inflation,
and the continuing uncertainties in most lead economies in the world.
It is appropriate, therefore, to assume that the CV industry may not
sustain the growth recently witnessed. The first two months of the
current fiscal year has seen growth of CV volumes of 15% at half the
rate of the comparable months last year;and the SML Isuzu segment''s
growth is only 1% (17500 against 17300).Company''s sales for the
first two months stayed flat (1672 against 1699). Margins, too,
will be under pressure with prices of metals and petroleum products
showing no signs of coming down.
Despite the foregoing, the Directors look at the current year with
cautious optimism because of the initiatives taken to maintain growth
in traditional products at recent levels and enhancement in the
performance of new products.
DIRECTORS
Mr Yash Mahajan decided to demit office of the Managing Director upon
completion of his tenure of 5 years on 31st May, 2011. The Directors
respected his decision and placed on record their deep sense of
appreciation of his strong and inspirational leadership as Managing
Director of the Company since its establishment in 1983, his dedication
and outstanding contribution to nurturing it to its present position.
They wished Mr. Mahajan a happy and healthy life ahead.
The Directors appointed Mr. Yutaka Watanabe, presently Whole-time
Director of the Company, as Managing Director and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company for a period of 5 years with effect from 1st
June, 2011 on his existing remuneration subject to requisite approval
of Shareholders of the Company in the General Meeting and of the
Central Government, if required.
Mr. P.K.Nanda, Mr. Pankaj Bajaj and Mr. Steven Enderby are the
Directors retiring by rotation at the forthcoming Annual General
Meeting.
DIRECTORS'' RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
In terms of provision of Section 217(2AA) of the Companies Act, 1956,
it is hereby confirmed that :
i) In the preparation of annual accounts, the applicable Accounting
Standards have been followed along with proper explanations relating to
material departures;
ii) 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 at the end of the financial year and of the profit of
the Company for the year under review;
iii) The Directors have taken proper and sufficient care for the
maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the
provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 for safe guarding the assets of
the Company and preventing and detecting fraud and other
irregularities;
iv) The Directors have prepared annual accounts on a ''going concern''
basis.
COST AUDIT
On the stipulation of the Central Government, Cost Audit of the Company
for financial year 2010-11 was conducted by Messers Avtar Singh &
Company, Cost Auditors. The Cost Auditors have given a clean report.
AUDITORS
Observations made by the Auditors, when read with the relevant notes
under schedule ''N'' to the Accounts, are self-explanatory. As such, in
the opinion of the Directors, they do not call for a specific reply.
Messers Price Waterhouse (PW), the Company''s Statutory Auditors
informed the Company vide letter dated 15th May, 2011 that they would
not be able to continue as a Statutory Auditors of the Company after
the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
Taking note of PW''s decision, Directors placed on record their
appreciation of the services rendered by Messers Price Waterhouse,
Chartered Accountants, as Statutory Auditors during the last 28 years
of their association with the Company.
Consequently, in the Board Meeting held on 30th June, 2011, the
Directors, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Board,
appointed Messers B.S.R. & Company, Chartered Accountants as the
Statutory Auditors of the Company to hold office from the forthcoming
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company to subsequent AGM subject
to the approval of shareholders.
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
S K TUTEJA Y. WATANABE
Dated: 30th June, 2011 Chairman Managing Director
& CEO
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