Dear Members,
Your Board of Directors ("Board") is pleased to present the
Twenty Second (22nd) Annual Report of Sula Vineyards Limited ("the Company")
together with the Audited Financial Statements of the Company for the Financial Year ended
31st March 2025
1. Key Financial Highlights (Standalone and
Consolidated)
The Company's financial performance, for the year ended 31st March 2025
is summarized below:
(INR crores)
Particulars |
Consolidated |
Standalone |
|
2024-25 |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
2023-24 |
Total Income |
623.31 |
616.37 |
533.72 |
598.93 |
Profit Before Interest and Depreciation
(EBITDA) |
153.00 |
183.57 |
102.39 |
177.56 |
Finance Charges |
29.67 |
26.16 |
25.57 |
23.59 |
Provision for Depreciation |
34.99 |
31.63 |
28.92 |
26.81 |
Profit before tax |
88.34 |
125.78 |
47.90 |
127.16 |
Provision for Tax |
18.14 |
32.47 |
14.50 |
32.47 |
Profit after tax |
70.20 |
93.31 |
33.40 |
94.69 |
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) |
0.10 |
(0.66) |
0.17 |
(0.64) |
Total Comprehensive Income/(Loss) |
70.30 |
92.65 |
33.57 |
94.05 |
Balance of Profit brought forward |
207.03 |
192.40 |
232.30 |
216.26 |
Balance available for appropriation |
277.34 |
285.05 |
265.87 |
310.31 |
Dividend paid on Equity Shares |
(37.98) |
(78.01) |
(37.98) |
(78.01) |
Surplus carried to Balance Sheet |
239.35 |
207.04 |
227.89 |
232.30 |
2. Business Performance & State of Company
Affairs Financial Overview
FY25 was a challenging year for the Indian Wine Industry as after 3
good years of very healthy growth, the industry witnessed a temporary pause in FY25 with
urban consumption slowdown adversely impacting wine demand more so than other alcobev
categories given the urban markets account for lion's share of the industry demand.
Despite the challenging market scenario, Sula registered its highest
ever Revenue from Operations. Our Revenue from Operations was up 1.8% YoY to INR 619.4 Cr
in FY25 vis-a-vis INR 608.7 Cr in FY24.
A subdued sales performance had a disproportionate impact on our
operating profitability as Operating EBITDA declined by 15.2% YoY to INR 149.1 Cr in FY25.
Operating EBITDA margin contracted by 482 bps to 24.1% vs. 28.9% in
FY24. Similarly, Profit after Tax (PAT) declined by 24.8% YoY to INR 70.2 Cr in FY25 with
PAT margin contracting by 388 bps to 11.3% vs. 15.1% in FY24.
Our Balance Sheet continues to remain strong with Net Debt / EBITDA
continuing to be below our internal benchmark of 2 times. Our Credit Rating also continued
to be maintained at A+ by ICRA. The strength of our balance sheet and healthy
profitability margins (Operating EBITDA Margins of ~24%), continues to enable our company
to maintain fine rates on our borrowings.
Own Brands Performance
As mentioned in the earlier paragraph, FY25 was a tough year for the
Indian Wine Market and Sula. After witnessing strong growth in recent years (post Covid),
FY25 was a year of reset, as the industry growth saw a temporary pause given impact from
the urban consumption slowdown and the temporary market disruptions we saw through the
year in the form of the national elections, multiple state elections especially in our
largest state of Maharashtra in Q3, and other short-term regulatory / policy disruptions
in some states such as Karnataka, Delhi, and UP which also hurt industry demand albeit
temporarily in FY25.
Given this market backdrop, our sales growth was subdued for FY25.
Having said that, Sula continued its north ward journey and clocking highest ever Own
Brand sales. Own Brands sales grew 2.2% YoY to INR 546.2 Cr in FY25 as compared to INR
534.2 Cr in FY24. Our Elite & Premium portfolio continued to outperform in FY25
registering 4.8% YoY growth to reach sales of INR 420.9 Cr with the salience of Elite
& Premium improving further to 77.1% in FY25 vis-a-vis 75.2% in FY24. Traction in our
Elite & Premium brands was powered by the robust double-digit growth in The
Source' and the RASA' range, our key Elite brands.
Further, our commercial strategy of increasing wine adoption and width
of distribution outside our top 2 markets paid off as revenue excluding Maharashtra and
Karnataka recorded high-single digit growth despite the tough macro environment given the
slowdown in urban consumption. We also successfully tapped price increase opportunities
across some of our markets and brands.
Wine Tourism Performance
Wine Tourism segment continued to perform robustly recording another
year of double-digit growth. Wine Tourism revenue for FY25 was up 10.2% to INR 60.3 Cr.
The healthy growth in our Wine Tourism driven by strong performance of
our resorts which recorded improved occupancy, higher revenue per guest and a very
successful SulaFest'25, the 14th edition of the iconic music festival after 5 years.
Resort occupancy jumped 400 bps from 74% in FY24 to 78% in FY25 while revenue per guest at
our key Wine Tourism facilities increased by 7% YoY
The wine tourism holds a pivotal position in fostering awareness and
boosting wine consumption in India. We continue to be among the most visited vineyards
globally as we welcomed >3.3 lakh visitors in FY25. Further, we also carried out 1.55+
lakh tastings in FY25.
Production and Harvest Update
The recently concluded Harvest 2025 was excellent in both quantity and
quality - marking the fifth consecutive year of strong vintages for Sula. We crushed
~9,500 tons of wine grapes in Harvest'25.
Our total installed capacity grew by 1.5 million liters in FY25 from
16.7 Mn liters to 18.2 Mn liters, an increase of 9% YoY. The capacity expansion was
carried at our Domaine Dindori unit, here we commissioned the 1.5 million liters low-cost
cellar at 33% lower capex. This newly commissioned cellar will be used for Economy &
Popular brands.
More importantly, we augmented our bottling capacity at two of our
units in Maharashtra - the Nashik Winery at The Source and the ND Wines facility. Further,
in Q4 FY25, we also received regulatory approval for our Nashik Winery (at the Source) to
be eligible for the WIPS benefit. So, overall, we now have 4 units in Maharashtra that are
eligible for maximum WIPS benefit and with that we are well placed to capture ~100% of the
potential WIPS in FY25 vis-a-vis ~85% in FY24.
On the product development front, we launched the Sula Merlot, a new
rich velvety red wine. Merlot being one of the most cherished red varieties globally, the
Merlot is an excellent addition to our portfolio and marks the first addition to the core
Sula series in nearly a decade.
A healthy harvest 2025 along with the enhanced storage capacity,
ensures ample supply of wine positioning the company for a strong year ahead.
Marketing Update
In FY25, our marketing efforts focused on deepening consumer engagement
and enhancing brand visibility across key touchpoints. We surpassed our digital benchmarks
once again, growing our community to over 163K wine lovers. SulaFest made a grand comeback
after a five-year hiatus, drawing 10,000+ attendees with its vibrant celebration of wine,
music, and food. Our partnership with IndiGo took Sula cans to new heightsbringing
wine to the skies. The flagship RASA Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 was awarded a prestigious
Gold Medal at the Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2024, marking the first-ever gold for
an Indian wine at the Global Masters Awards in any category.
In FY25, we conducted 77,887 tastings across 51 cities, significantly
expanding our reach through events like Viva La Vino (Goa, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi,
Bangalore), Vinexpo, Art Mumbai, and the recordbreaking Monsoon Tasting with 117
participants - nearly double previous editions. We also made a strong showing at
UpperCrust, boosting visibility among key consumer segments.
Venturing into fashion, we hosted an exclusive wine event with Saher
Agiary House - a high-profile show combining style and purpose, supporting charitable
causes, and connecting the brand with influential audiences. We created memorable
experiences at cultural platforms such as the KNMA Spring Concert and the Alliance
Franpaise Paris Olympic Launch, while also expanding our presence in tier 2 and emerging
cities such as Darjeeling, Sikkim, Guwahati, Jammu, Coonoor, Ooty, Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar
- introducing many to their first taste of Sula.
New listings were secured at premium properties like Hyatt Regency
Delhi, Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur, and The Astor Goa. We also partnered with standout
restaurants including Otoki and Sixteen 33 in Mumbai, and Amiel Gourmet and Fireside in
Bangalore.
Strategic collaborations with KA Hospitality, 3 Stories, and Holiday
Inn further expanded our on-trade footprint and brand recall in competitive markets.
Sustainability Update
In FY25, we continued to make our operations more sustainable and
environmentally friendly. We reduced our water consumption per liter of wine produced by
5% YoY, increased our solar power share as % of consumption to 66% vs. 59% LY and boosted
our battery energy storage system (BESS) to ~1 MW visa-vis 0.5 MW LY E-vehicle fleet %
also increased 45% in FY25 as compared to 35% last year.
Additionally, in FY26, we plan to expand BESS (Battery Energy Storage
System) capacity to 2 MW to efficiently store solar energy and make it available for use
during peak load times resulting in cost savings. On the whole, we remain unwavering in
our commitment to spearhead sustainability initiatives
3. Reserves
During the year under review, no amount was transferred to any of the
reserves by the Company.
4. Dividend
The Board of Directors at their meeting held on 8th May 2025, has
recommended payment of Rs. 3.60 per equity share of face value of Rs. 2/- each fully paid-
up as final dividend for the financial year 2024-25. The record date for payment of final
dividend is 23rd May 2025. The final dividend, subject to the approval of the shareholders
at the ensuing Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of the Company, will be paid
within the statutory timelines.
The total dividend for the financial year 2024-25, amounts to Rs. 3.60
per equity share of face value of Rs. 2/- each and would involve a total outflow of Rs.
30,38,74,664.40 (Rupees Thirty Crores Thirty-Eight Lakhs Seventy-Four Thousand Six-Hundred
Sixty-Four and Forty Paise Only).
In view of the applicable provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961, dividend
paid or distributed by the Company shall be taxable in the hands of the shareholders, if
the amount exceeds the threshold limit. Your Company shall, accordingly, make the payment
of the final dividend after deduction of tax at source.
5. Management Discussion and Analysis
The Management Discussion and Analysis for the year under review, as
stipulated under the SEBI Listing Regulations is annexed to this Report. (Annexure - V)
6. Material changes and commitments if any, affecting the financial
position of the Company which have occurred between the end of the financial year of the
company to which the financial statements relate and the date of the report
Other than stated elsewhere in this report, there are no material
changes and commitments affecting the financial position of the Company between the end of
the financial year and the date of this report.
7. Extract of Annual Return
The Annual Return (Form MGT-7) of the Company as on 31st
March, 2025 in accordance with Section 92(3) and Section 134 (3) (a) of the Companies Act,
2013 (the Act) and Rule 12 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014 is
available on the Company's website at https://www.sulavinevards.com/
investor-relations.php
8. Details of changes in Directors and Key Managerial Personnel
Appointments and resignations of Directors:
(a) Appointments
During the year under review, based on the recommendation of the
Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC) and the Board, the shareholders have approved
the following appointments:
(i) Appointment of Mr. Deepak Shahdadpuri (DIN: 00444270) as a
Non-Executive Director with effect from 4th April 2024.
(ii) Appointment of Mr. Anant S. Iyer (DIN: 00610131) as an Independent
Director of the Company for a term of three years, effective from 12th November
2024 to 11th November 2027.
(iii) Re-appointment of Mr. Alok Vajpeyi (DIN: 00019098) as an
Independent Director of the Company for second term of three years, effective from 15th
December 2024 to 14th December 2027#.
(iv) Re-appointment of Mr. Chetan Desai (DIN: 03595319) as an
Independent Director of the Company for second term of three years, effective from 15th
December 2024 to 14th December 2027
(v) Re-appointment of Ms. Sangeeta Tanwani (DIN: 03321646) as an
Independent Director of the Company for second term of three years, effective from 15th
December 2024 to 14th December 2027.
#Mr. Chetan Desai has stepped down as Chairperson of the Board and Mr.
Alok Vajpeyi was elevated to Chairperson of the Board w.e.f. 15th December
2024, as a part of succession planning.
(b) Resignations
During the year under review, Mr. Arjun Anand (DIN: 07639288) resigned
as a Non-Executive Nominee Director, effective close of business hours on April 4, 2024.
Mr. Riyaaz Amlani (DIN: 00261209) resigned as a NonExecutive
Independent Director, effective close of business hours on April 4, 2024.
(c) Retirement by rotation and subsequent
reappointment
In accordance with the provisions of Section 152 of the Companies Act
read with provisions contained in the Articles of Association of the Company, Mr. Deepak
Shahdadpuri is liable to retire by rotation at the ensuing Annual General Meeting of the
Company and being eligible has offered his candidature for reappointment. The notice
convening the AGM includes the proposal for re-appointment of Directors.
Brief resume, nature of expertise, disclosure of relationship between
directors inter-se, details of directorships and committee membership held in other
companies of the Directors proposed to be appointed/re-appointed, along with their
shareholding in the Company, as stipulated under Secretarial Standard-2 and Regulation 36
of the Listing Regulations, is appended as an Annexure to the Notice of the ensuing Annual
General Meeting.
(d) Appointments and resignations of Key
Managerial Personnel:
Appointments
(i) Ms. Shalaka Koparkar (Membership No. A25314) was appointed as
Company Secretary and Compliance Officer of the Company with effect from November 12,
2024.
Resignations
(i) Ms. Ruchi Sathe stepped down from her role as Company Secretary and
Compliance Officer of the Company, with effect from the close of business hours on October
1, 2024.
(ii) Mr. Karan Vasani stepped down from his role as Chief Operating
Officer of the Company, with effect from the close of business hours on December 20, 2024*.
*Mr. Gorakh Gaikwad was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of the
Company with effect from December 21, 2024, under the category of Senior Management
Personnel ('SMP').
(e) Key Managerial Personnel
In accordance with the provisions of Sections 2(51) and 203 of the
Companies Act, 2013 read with the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial
Personnel) Rules, 2014 the following are
the Key Managerial Personnel of the Company:
(i) Mr. Rajeev Samant, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
(ii) Mr. Abhishek Kapoor, Chief Financial Officer
(iii) Ms. Shalaka Koparkar, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer
9. Disclosures, Declarations and Annual
Affirmations
i. Based on the declarations and confirmations received from the
Directors, none of the Directors of the Company are disqualified from being appointed/
continuing as Directors of the Company.
ii. Affirmation of all members of the board of directors and Senior
Management Personnel have been received on the code of conduct for board of directors and
senior management.
iii. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 149 of the Act, the
Independent Directors have submitted declarations that each of them meets the criteria of
independence as provided in Section 149(6) of the Act along with Rules framed thereunder
and Regulation 16(1)(b), 25(8) of the SEBI Listing Regulations. There has been no change
in the circumstances affecting their status as Independent Directors of the Company.
iv. The Company has also received from Independent Directors,
declaration of compliance of Rule 6 (1) & (2) of the Companies (Appointment and
Qualifications of Directors) Rules, 2014, regarding online registration with the
"Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs" at Manesar, for inclusion of name in the
data bank of Independent Directors.
v. The Board has taken on record the declarations and confirmations
submitted by the Independent Directors after undertaking due assessment of the veracity of
the same.
10. Board of Directors:
The Board comprises of seven directors with a balanced composition of
executive, non-executive and one Independent Woman Director, ensuring strong corporate
governance and safeguarding stakeholder interests. Their collective expertise and
integrity drive strategic decision-making and enhance long-term value creation. The Board
of Directors met 6 (six) times during the year under review. Further details of
composition of board of directors including remuneration, number of meetings and
attendance thereof, forms part of report on corporate governance which is appended as
Annexure II to this Board Report.
In the opinion of Board, all Independent Directors are persons of
integrity and fulfils requisite conditions as per applicable laws and are independent of
the management of the Company.
During the year under review, the non-executive directors of the
Company had no pecuniary relationship or transactions with the Company, other than sitting
fees, commission and reimbursement of expenses, if any.
Committees of the Board of Directors
(i) Audit Committee:
The Company has constituted an Audit Committee in terms of the
requirements of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the rules made thereunder and Regulation
18 of the SEBI Listing Regulations. The details relating to the same are given in Annexure
II - Report on Corporate Governance forming part of this Board Report.
(ii) Nomination and Remuneration Committee:
The Company has constituted Nomination and Remuneration Committee in
terms of the requirements of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the rules made thereunder
and Regulation 19 of the SEBI Listing Regulations. The details relating to the same are
given in Annexure II - Report on Corporate Governance forming part of this Board Report.
(iii) Stakeholders Relationship Committee:
The Company has constituted Stakeholders Relationship Committee in
terms of the requirements of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the rules made thereunder
and Regulation 20 of the SEBI Listing Regulations. The details relating to the same are
given in Annexure II - Report on Corporate Governance forming part of this Board Report.
(iv) Risk Management Committee:
The Company has constituted Risk Management Committee in terms of the
requirements of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the rules made thereunder and Regulation
21 of the SEBI Listing Regulations. The details relating to the same are given in Annexure
II - Report on Corporate Governance forming part of this Board Report.
(v) Corporate Social Responsibility Committee:
The Company has constituted Corporate Social Responsibility Committee
in terms Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the rules made thereunder. The
details relating to the same are given in Annexure II - Report on Corporate Governance
forming part of this Board Report.
12. Familiarization Programme for Independent
Directors
The Company implements a comprehensive induction program for all
Directors, including Independent Directors, upon their appointment. This program,
complemented by ongoing updates throughout the year, ensures thorough familiarization with
the Company's operations, business model, values, culture and industry landscape. A
detailed note on the familiarization programme adopted by the Company for orientation and
training of the Directors is provided in the Report on Corporate Governance which forms
part of this Integrated Report.
Details of Familiarization programs are updated on company's website at
https://sulavinevards.com/ files/0425/Familiarisation%20Programme%20
for%20Independent%20Directors.pdf
13. Board Evaluation
In terms of the requirements of the Act and the SEBI Listing
Regulations, an annual performance evaluation of the Board is undertaken where the Board
formally assesses its own performance with the aim of improving the effectiveness of the
Board and its Committees.
The Company has a structured assessment process, wherein the Nomination
and Remuneration Committee (NRC') has laid down the manner of performance evaluation
of the Board, its Committees, Non - Executive and Independent Directors, Managing Director
and the Chairperson. The evaluations are carried out in a confidential manner and the
Directors provide their feedback by rating based on various metrics. The performance
evaluation activity is conducted under the guidance of the Chairperson of NRC.
In a separate meeting of Independent Directors, performance of
Non-Independent Directors including the MD & CEO, the Board as a whole were discussed
and evaluated. Performance evaluation of Independent Directors was done by the entire
Board, excluding the Independent Director being evaluated.
Board Evaluation process was conducted through structured
questionnaires which cover various aspects of the Board's functioning such as adequate
composition of the Board and its Committees, Member's strengths and contribution,
execution and performance of specific duties, obligations and governance.
The survey results and feedback from directors were discussed in
meetings of the Independent Directors, NRC and the Board to identify areas for improvement
in director performance and board processes, ultimately enhancing overall board
effectiveness.
14. Share Capital
Authorized Share Capital
The Authorized Share Capital of the Company as on 31st March
2025 is INR 20,20,60,000 (Rupees Twenty Crores Twenty Lakhs Sixty Thousand Only) divided
into 10,10,30,000 (Ten Crores Ten Lakhs Thirty Thousand only) equity shares having face
value of INR 2/- (Rupees Two) each.
Paid up and Subscribed Share Capital
The paid up and subscribed share capital of the Company as on 31st
March 2025 is INR 16,88,19,258/- (Rupees Sixteen Crore Eighty-Eight Lakhs Nineteen
Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty - Eight Only) comprising of 8,44,09,629 (Eight Crore Forty
- Four Lakhs Nine Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty-Nine) equity shares having face value of
INR 2/- (Rupees Two) each.
15. Remuneration of Directors and Employees
Disclosure comprising particulars with respect to the remuneration of
directors and employees, as required to be disclosed in terms of the provisions of Section
197(12) of the Act and Rule 5(1) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of
Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014, is annexed as Annexure - I to this Report.
The information in respect of employees of the Company pursuant to
Rules 5(2) and 5(3) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial
Personnel) Rules, 2014 is provided in Annexure - I forming part of this report. In terms
of section 136(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 and the rules made thereunder, the Report and
Accounts are being sent to the shareholders excluding the aforesaid Annexure. Any member
interested in obtaining a copy of the same may write to the Company Secretary at the
Registered Office of the Company.
16. Statutory Auditors
Walker Chandiok & Co. LLP, Chartered Accountants, (Firm
Registration No. 001076N/ N500013), have been appointed as Statutory Auditors of the
Company at the 19th Annual General Meeting held on May 27, 2022, for a period of 5 years
from conclusion of 19th Annual General Meeting till the conclusion of the 24th Annual
General Meeting of the Company to be held in the year 2027 at such remuneration as may be
decided by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Auditors have confirmed that they
have subjected themselves to the peer review process of Institute of Chartered Accountants
of India (ICAI) and hold valid certificate issued by the Peer Review Board of the ICAI.
The Audit Committee reviews the independence and objectivity of the
Auditors and the effectiveness of the Audit process.
The Statutory Audit Report for the year 2024-25 does not contain any
qualification, reservation or adverse remark or disclaimer. During the year under review,
the Auditors have not reported any fraud under Section 143(12) of the Act.
During FY 2024-25, the total fees for all services paid by the Company
and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, to Walker Chandiok & Co. LLP, Chartered
Accountants, Statutory Auditor is Rs. 94 lakhs plus taxes. These fees are paid towards
Statutory & Tax Audit and Limited Review.
17. Secretarial Auditor
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Companies Act, 2013,
and the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014, the
Company had appointed Sunil Agarwal & Co., Practising Company Secretary, to undertake
the secretarial Audit of the Company for Financial Year 2024-25. The Report of the
Secretarial Audit is annexed herewith as Annexure- III. The Report does not contain any
observation or qualification requiring explanation or comments from the Board under
Section 134(3) of the Companies Act, 2013.
In terms of the provisions of SEBI Listing Regulations read with the
circulars issued by SEBI dated 12th December 2024 and 31st December
2024, the Board, at its meeting held on 8th May 2025, has appointed Sunil Agarwal &
Co., Practising Company Secretary, as Secretarial Auditor, subject to the approval of
shareholders in ensuing Annual General Meeting, for conducting Secretarial Audit of the
Company for a term of 5 consecutive years w.e.f. 1st April 2025 till 31st March
2030, at a fee of Rs. 1,55,000 for FY 2025-26 (plus taxes as applicable) and remuneration
for the subsequent years as may be decided by the Board of Directors in consultation with
the Secretarial Auditor of the Company. The Secretarial Auditors have confirmed that they
have subjected themselves to the peer review process of Institute of Company Secretaries
of India (ICSI) and hold valid certificate issued by the Peer Review Board of the ICSI.
For FY 2024-25, the total fees paid for issuance of Secretarial Audit
Report and Statutory Certificate by the Company and its material subsidiary, on a
consolidated basis, to Sunil Agarwal & Co., Practising Company Secretary, Secretarial
Auditor is INR 3 Lakhs plus applicable taxes.
18. Reporting of Fraud
There were no frauds committed against the Company during FY 2024-25 by
its officers or employees which are required to be disclosed as per Section 143(12) of the
Companies Act, 2013.
19. Details of the adequacy of internal financial
controls
The Board of Directors and management of the Company are responsible
for establishing and maintaining adequate internal financial controls to ensure the
reliability and integrity of financial reporting. These controls have been designed in
accordance with the applicable regulatory framework to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the accuracy of financial statements and compliance with statutory obligations.
The management team has assessed the effectiveness of the Company's
internal control over financial reporting as at March 31, 2025 and believe that these
systems provide reasonable assurance that our internal financial controls are designed
effectively and are operating as intended.
The Company has established a robust system of internal controls
commensurate with the size and operations to ensure that assets are safeguarded, and
transactions are appropriately authorised, recorded and reported. The controls have been
documented, digitized, and embedded in the business process.
Segregation of Duties: Clearly defined roles and
responsibilities to prevent unauthorized transactions.
Authorization and Approval Processes: Stringent approval
mechanisms for financial transactions and capital expenditures.
Periodic Monitoring and Audits: Regular internal audits and
management reviews to assess the effectiveness of controls.
IT and System Controls: Implementation of advanced financial
reporting systems and cybersecurity measures to safeguard financial data.
Assurance on the effectiveness is obtained through management reviews,
controls self-assessment and periodic reporting of the in-house team that evaluates and
provides assurance of its adequacy and effectiveness. The controls are also tested by the
internal and statutory auditors during their audits. The Statutory Auditors of the Company
have audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report and issued their
report on internal control over financial reporting (as defined under section 143 of the
Companies Act, 2013).
20. Directors' Responsibility Statement
Pursuant to Section 134 (3) (c) and 134 (5) of the Companies Act, 2013,
Directors of your Company confirm that:
a) in the preparation of the annual accounts, the applicable accounting
standards have been followed along with proper explanation relating to material
departures;
b) the Directors had selected appropriate 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 out of the profit and 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 had prepared the annual accounts on a going concern
basis;
e) the Directors had laid down proper internal financial controls to be
followed by the company and that such internal financial controls are adequate and are
operating effectively; and
f) the Directors had devised proper systems to ensure compliance with
the provisions of all applicable laws and that such systems are adequate and are operating
effectively.
The aforesaid statement has also been reviewed and confirmed by the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
21. Business Responsibility and Sustainability
Report
As per Regulation 34 of the SEBI Listing Regulations, a separate
section on Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) forms a part of
this Integrated Annual Report BRSR is attached as Annexure - VI.
22. Subsidiaries/ Joint Venture/ Associate
Companies:
The Company has 2 (two) wholly owned subsidiaries as on 31st
March 2025. There are no associate companies or joint venture companies within the meaning
of section 2(6) of the Companies Act, 2013 ("Act").
A statement in Form AOC-1 as required under Section 129(3) of the
Companies Act, 2013 containing salient features of the financial statements of the
subsidiary companies is forming part of this Annual Report in Annexure - VII.
23. Issue of employee stock options
In terms of the provisions of Securities and Exchange Board of India
(Share Based Employee Benefits and Sweat Equity) Regulations, 2021 ("SBEB
Regulations") and pursuant to the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration
Committee ("NRC"), approval of the Board and the members of the Company,
following schemes were duly implemented:
a) Sula Vineyards Employees Stock Option Scheme 2021 (ESOP 2021')
b) Sula Vineyards Employees Stock Option Scheme 2023 (ESOP 2023')
The disclosure relating to ESOPs required to be made under the
provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 along with the rules made thereunder and the SBEB
Regulations is provided on the website of the Company:
https://sulavinevards.com/investor-relations.php
A certificate from the Secretarial Auditor of the Company, confirming
that the aforesaid schemes have been implemented in accordance with the SBEB Regulations,
will be open for inspection at the 22nd Annual General Meeting which is also available on
the website of the Company: https://sulavinevards.com/ investor-relations.php
24. Vigil Mechanism
The Company has established Vigil Mechanism (Whistleblower policy) in
accordance with the provisions of Section 177(9) & (10) of the Companies Act, 2013 to
report instances of unethical behaviour, actual or suspected fraud or violation of the
code of conduct or any policy of the Company. The Vigil Mechanism Policy has been uploaded
on the website of the Company at below link: https://sulavineyards.
com/files/1123/Vigil%20Mechanism%20and%20 Whi.stleblower%20Policy.pdf
Further details with respect to the Vigil Mechanism, forms part of
report on corporate governance which is appended as Annexure II to this Board Report.
25. Risk Management
At Sula Vineyards, we recognize that effective risk management is
essential to achieving our strategic objectives and ensuring long-term sustainability. Our
focus is to identify and embed mitigation actions for material risks that could impact our
current or future performance, and/or our reputation. Our approach is holistic and
integrated, bringing together risk management, internal controls, and business integrity,
ensuring that our activities across this agenda focus on the risks that could have the
greatest impact.
The nature of business is such that it is subject to certain risks at
different points of time. Some of these include escalation in the cost of raw materials
and other inputs, increasing competitive intensity from other players, changes in
regulation from central and state governments, cyber security, data management and
migration risks, data privacy risk, environmental and climate risk. Sula Vineyards has
always had a proactive approach when it comes to risk management where it periodically
reviews the risks and strives to develop appropriate risk mitigation measures for the
same.
To enhance this focus, the Board of Directors has constituted a
Committee of the Board called the Risk Management Committee to frame, implement and
monitor risk management plan.
Our approach:
Risk Identification: Management identifies areas that may
positively or negatively affect the Company's ability to implement its strategy and
achieve its objectives and performance goals.
All aspects of internal risk such as Strategic Risk, Business
Risk, Finance Risk, Environment Risk, Personnel Risk, Operational Risk, Reputation Risk,
Regulatory Risk, Technology Risk and Information and Cyber Security
Risk and external risk such as Sectoral Risk, Sustainability Risk and Political Risk are
covered as part of the Risk Management Committee meeting.
Root Cause Analysis: Root cause analysis enables tracing the
reasons / drivers for existence of a risk element and helps developing appropriate
mitigation action.
Risk Scoring: An analysis of all internal processes and support
functions is done to determine the likelihood and impact of risk elements.
Risk Categorisation: The identified risks are further grouped
into (a) Controlled; (b)Serious; (c) Disruptive; (d)Severe and (e)Critical.
Risk Mitigation: Management is developing appropriate responsive
action on review of various alternatives, costs and benefits, with a view to manage
identified risks and limit the impact to tolerance level. Risk mitigation plan drives
policy development as regards risk ownership, control environment timelines, standard
operating procedure, etc.
Risk Monitoring & Reporting: It is designed to assess on an
ongoing basis, the functioning of risk management components and the quality of
performance over time.
26. Nomination and Remuneration Policy
This Nomination and Remuneration Policy (the "Policy") has
been formulated by the Company in compliance with Section 178 of the Companies Act, 2013.
In accordance with the Nomination and Remuneration Policy, the NRC
formulates the criteria for appointment as a Director, Key Managerial Personnel and Senior
Management, identifies persons who are qualified to be Directors and nominates candidates
for Directorships subject to the approval of Board, evaluates the performance of the
individual directors, recommends to the Board, remuneration to Managing Director / Whole-
time Directors, ensures that the remuneration to Key Managerial Personnel, Senior
Management and other employees is based on Company's overall philosophy and guidelines and
is based on industry standards, linked to performance of the self and the Company and is a
balance of fixed pay and variable pay and recommends to the Board, sitting fees/
commission to the Non-Executive Directors.
The Company's Nomination and Remuneration Policy for Directors, Key
Managerial Personnel and senior management is available on the website of the Company at
below link:
https://sulavinevards.com/files/0423/Nomination%20and%20Remuneration%20Policy.pdf
The NRC has also formulated a separate policy on the Diversity of the
Board of Directors which is available on the website of the Company at below link:
https://sulavineyards.com/files/0423/Diversity%20
of%20the%20Board%20of%20Directors%20Policy.pdf
27. Particulars of Deposits
During the year under review, the Company has not accepted any deposits
falling within the ambit of section 73 of the Companies Act, 2013 and the rules framed
thereunder. The Company does not have any unclaimed deposits as of date.
28. Loans, Guarantees and Investments
Pursuant to Section 186 of the Companies Act, 2013 disclosure on
particulars relating to Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Investments are provided as a part
of the financial statements.
29. Maintenance of Cost Records
The provisions pertaining to maintenance of Cost Records as specified
by the Central Government under subsection (1) of section 148 of the Companies Act, 2013,
are not applicable to the Company.
30. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
The initiatives with respect to CSR, the CSR policy framework and
Annual Action Plan of CSR activities undertaken during the year are available on the
website of the Company: https://sulavineyards.com/ investor-relations.php. The disclosures
required to be given under section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 8(1) of
the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014 are given in Annexure -
IV forming part of this Board Report.
31. Related Party Transactions
In line with the requirements of the Act and the SEBI Listing
Regulations, the Company has formulated a Policy on Related Party Transactions. The Policy
can be accessed on the Company's website at below link:
https://sulavinevards.com/files/0823/Policv%20on%20 Related%20Party%20Transactions.pdf
During the year under review, all related party transactions entered
into by the Company, were approved by the Audit Committee and were at arm's length and in
the ordinary course of business. Prior omnibus approval is obtained for related party
transactions, which are repetitive in nature and entered in the ordinary course of
business and on an arm's length basis. During the year under review, there were no
material related party contracts entered into by the Company requiring shareholders'
approval.
Accordingly, the disclosure of related party transactions as required
under Section 134 (3) (h) of the Act in Form AOC-2 is not applicable to the Company for
FY25 and hence does not form part of this report. Details of related party transactions
entered into by the Company, in terms of Ind AS-24 have been disclosed in the notes to the
standalone/ consolidated financial statements forming part of this Integrated Report &
Annual Accounts 2024-25.
Dematerialization of Shares
The Company's shares are compulsorily tradable in electronic form. As
on the date of this report, 100% of the Company's total paid up capital are in
dematerialized form. Pursuant to amendments in SEBI Listing Regulations, requests for
effecting transfer of securities in physical form, shall not be processed by the Company
and all requests for transmission, transposition, issue of duplicate share certificate,
renewal/exchange of securities certificate and endorsement need to be processed only in
dematerialized form.
33. Details of significant and material orders
passed by the regulators or courts
There were no significant and material orders passed by the regulators
or courts or tribunals impacting the going concern status and the Company's operations in
future.
34. Disclosure as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
(Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
The Company has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment at the
workplace. The Company has adopted a policy on prevention, prohibition and redressal of
sexual harassment at workplace in line with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of
Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act') and
the Rules made thereunder.
The Company has complied with the provisions relating to the
constitution of the Internal Complaints Committee as per the POSH Act.
During the year under review, the Company did not receive any sexual
harassment complaints.
35. Dividend Distribution Policy
In terms of Regulation 43A of SEBI Listing Regulations, your Company
has formulated a Dividend Distribution Policy, with an objective to provide the dividend
distribution framework to the Stakeholders of the Company. The policy sets out various
internal and external factors, which shall be considered by the Board in determining the
dividend payout.
The policy is available on the website of the Company at below link:
https://sulavinevards.com/files/0823/Dividend%20
Distribution%20Policv.pdf
36. Other Disclosures
a. Unclaimed Dividend:
The Company after listing have declared three dividends including two
final dividends and one interim dividend. Shareholders can claim their unclaimed/ unpaid
dividends by sending a written request to the Company at cs@sulawines.com or to the
Company's RTA at einward.ris@kfintech.com.
b. MSME:
The Company has registered itself on Trade Receivables Discounting
System platform (TReDS) through the service providers TReDS Limited. The Company complies
with the requirement of submitting a half yearly return to the Ministry of Corporate
Affairs within the prescribed timelines.
c. Statutory Compliance:
The Company has adequate systems and processes in place to comply with
all applicable laws and regulations, pay applicable taxes on time, and ensures statutory
CSR spend.
d. Consolidated Financial Statements:
Your Directors are pleased to attach the Consolidated Financial
Statements pursuant to section 129(3) of the Companies Act, 2013 and Regulation 34 of the
SEBI Listing Regulations, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act,
2013 and the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS).
e. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
No proceedings are made or pending under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Code, 2016 and there is no instance of one-time settlement with any Bank or Financial
Institution;
37. Secretarial Standards
The Company has complied with Secretarial Standards on Board Meetings
and General Meetings issued by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
38. Conservation of energy, technology absorption
and foreign exchange earnings and outgo
The details of conservation of energy, technology absorption, foreign
exchange earnings and outgo are as follows:
a) Conservation of energy
0) the steps taken or impact on
conservation of energy |
* The solar energy accounts 66% of energy
requirements of Sule
? The co m pa ny i s a i m i ng to i ncrease its total electric
vehicle fleet from 45% to 55% in FY26, which will gets charged on solar energy
* Installation of Burkert system has helped us to reduce power
consumption at our DD (cellar 45 by 37%
? Installation of an additiona 1 Battery Energy
Storage System allows u$ to store energy for use during peak hours
* Byinstallingamethanegascapturesystemrfor power generation |
00 the steps taken by the company for
utilizing alternate sources of energy |
*- Solar Roof Top PV system
* Bu rkprt Ten k tem perature control system
* Electrical Veh ide
? Battery Energy storage system
* Meth ane Gas ce ptu re system ? Solar water pumping system ? Solar
water heating system
? Biogas plant
* Rainwater harvesting |
(ill) the capital investment on energy
conservation eouioment's |
- 15.29 Cr |
b) Technology absorption
the efforts made towards technology
absorption |
* Installation of additional 521 Kwh BESS
system
* I n stallatio n of Bu rkert system
* MethaneGascapture system |
the benefits derived like product
improvement, cost reduction, product development or import substitution in case of
imported technology (imported during the last three years reckoned from the beginning of
the financial year)- |
* With the use of the Burkert system we
saved 37% power consumption at cellar operations
* Installation of methane gas capture system helps to generate power
units with the help of Methane gas |
(a) the details of technology imported |
- |
(b) the year of import; |
- |
l whether the technology been fully
absorbed |
- |
(d) if not fully absorbed, areas where
absorption has not taken place, and the reasons thereof |
- |
the expenditure Incurred on Research and
Development |
- |
c) Foreign exchange earnings and Outgo
Foreign exchange |
Year ended 31st March 2025 (INR
in crores) |
Year ended 31st March 2024 (I NR
in crores) |
(i) Earnings |
5.66 |
7.33 |
(ii)Outgo |
10.24 |
14.70 |
39. Acknowledgements
Your directors would like to express their sincere appreciation for the
assistance and co-operation received from the banks, Government authorities, customers,
vendors, and members during the year under review.
Your Directors take this opportunity to place on record their deep
sense of appreciation for the committed services by the Company's executives, staff and
workers. The Directors would also like to thank the shareholders for their support and
contribution. We look forward to their continued support in future.
|
For and on behalf of the Board |
|
|
Rajeev Samant |
Alok Vajpeyi |
Place: Mumbai |
Managing Director and CEO |
Chairperson & Independent Director |
Date: 8th May 2025 |
DIN:00020675 |
DIN:00019098 |
|