UTI Asset Management Company Limited
REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF THE STANDALONE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Opinion
We have audited the standalone financial statements of UTI Asset Management Company Limited (the "Company") which comprise the standalone balance sheet as at 31st March, 2024, and the standalone statement of profit and loss (including other comprehensive income), standalone statement of changes in equity and standalone statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the standalone financial statements, including material accounting policies and other explanatory information.
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 ("Act") in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at 31st March, 2024, and its profit and other comprehensive income, changes in equity and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under Section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those SAs are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the standalone financial statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion on the standalone financial statements.
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the standalone financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Revenue Recognition: Investment Management Fee
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Key audit matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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Refer to the Material Accounting Policy 2.6 -Revenue Recognition and Note 26(iv) to the standalone financial statements - Revenue from Operations
The Company's most significant revenue stream is investment management fees from the schemes of UTI Mutual Fund representing 67.99% of the total revenue from operations of the Company.
We have identified revenue from investment management fees as a key audit matter since -
• t here are inherent risks in computation of investment management fees due to manual input of key contractual terms and computation of applicable assets under management ("AUM"), which could result in errors.
• multiple schemes of UTI Mutual Fund require effective monitoring over key financial terms and conditions being captured and applied accurately. Any discrepancy in such computations could result in misstatement of investment management fees recognized in the standalone financial statements.
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In view of the significance of the matter, we applied the following audit
procedures in this area, among others to obtain sufficient appropriate
audit evidence:
Testing of design and operating effectiveness of controls:
• Testing on a sample basis, authorization controls relating to input and subsequent modification of investment management fees rate in the system through specific team members ("STM") with expertise in Information Technology ("IT").
• Testing general information technology controls of the systems used for computation and recording of investment management fees through STM with expertise in IT.
• Testing system logic of computation through STM with expertise in IT.
• Examining the monthly concurrent auditor reports on daily net assets value computation of the schemes of UTI Mutual Fund.
• Testing on a sample basis, maker and checker control for recording of investment management fees in financial accounting and reporting system.
• Testing maker checker control for agreeing investment management fees recorded in financial accounting and reporting system with report generated from system used for computation of investment management fees.
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Key audit matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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Substantive tests:
• Testing investment management fees rates approval by authorised personnel.
• Testing key inputs into the IT system in relation to investment management fees accounting with source documents, and re-performed calculations involving manual processes, on a sample basis.
• Testing the investment management fees invoices with the underlying documentation and agreeing it with the accounting records.
• Testing the receipts of investment management fees in the bank statements.
• Examining the monthly concurrent auditor reports on daily net assets value computation of the schemes of UTI Mutual Fund and assessing impact of observations, if any, on investment management fees.
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Information Technology ('IT') systems and controls
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Key audit matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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The Company's key financial accounting and reporting processes are dependent on the automated controls in the information systems.
There exists a risk in the IT control environment which could result in the financial accounting and reporting records being misstated.
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In view of the significance of the matter, we applied the following audit
procedures in this area, among others to obtain sufficient appropriate
audit evidence for the scoped in application:
• Evaluating the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of the significant accounts related IT automated controls which are relevant to the accuracy of system computation, and the consistency of data transmission.
• Testing a sample of key controls operating over the information technology in relation to financial accounting and reporting systems, including system access and system change management, program development and computer operations.
• Testing the design and operating effectiveness of a sample of key controls over user access management. Access management includes granting access rights, new user creation, removal of user rights and preventative controls designed to enforce segregation of duties.
• Testing change management control for information technology application / General IT controls which were changed during the year.
• Testing the audit trail (edit log) facility for accounting software used for maintaining its books of account and its operating effectiveness.
• Assessing other areas including password policies, system configurations, controls over changes to applications, privileged access to applications and operating system or databases is restricted to authorized personnel.
• Performing alternate procedures by testing compensatory controls for areas where IT controls were not relied upon.
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Other Information
The Company's Management and Board of Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, but does not include the financial statements and auditor's report thereon. The annual report is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor's report.
Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and we will not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the standalone financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information identified above when it becomes available and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent
with the standalone financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the annual report, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance and take necessary actions, as applicable under the relevant laws and regulations.
Management's and Board of Directors' Responsibilities for the Standalone Financial Statements
The Company's Management and Board of Directors are responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs, profit/ loss and other comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) specified under Section 133 of the Act. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the standalone financial statements, the Management and Board of Directors are responsible for assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process.
Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these standalone financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
• I dentify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the standalone financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under Section 143(3)
(i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the Management and Board of Directors.
• Conclude on the appropriateness of the Management and Board of Directors use of the going concern basis of accounting in preparation of standalone financial statements and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the standalone financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the standalone financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the standalone financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the standalone financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor's report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020 ("the Order") issued by the Central Government of India in terms of Section 143(11) of the Act, we give in the "Annexure A" a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
2. A. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, we report
that:
a. We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b. In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books except for the matters stated in the paragraph [2B(f)] below on reporting under Rule 11 (g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014.
c. The standalone balance sheet, the standalone statement of profit and loss (including other comprehensive income), the standalone statement of changes in equity and the standalone statement of cash flows dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account.
d. I n our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with the Ind AS specified under Section 133 of the Act.
e. On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on 1st April, 2024 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on 31st March, 2024 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act.
f. the reservation relating to the maintenance of accounts and other matters connected therewith are as stated in the paragraph [2A(b)] above on reporting under Section 143(3)(b) and paragraph [2B(f)] below on reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014.
g. With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure B".
B. With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
a. The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations as at 31st March, 2024 on its financial position in its standalone financial statements - Refer Note 32 to the standalone financial statements.
b. The Company did not have any long-term contracts including derivative contracts for which there were any material foreseeable losses.
c. There were no amounts which were required to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company.
d. (i) The management has represented that, to the
best of its knowledge and belief, that no funds have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any other sources or kinds of funds) by the Company to or in any other persons or entities, including foreign entities ("Intermediaries"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall:
• directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Company ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or
• provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(ii) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that no funds have been received by the Company from any other persons or entities, including foreign entities ("Funding Parties), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall:
• directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner
whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Parties ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or • provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(iii) Based on the audit procedures performed that have been considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under sub-clause (i) and (ii) of Rule 11(e), as provided under (i) and (ii) above, contain any material misstatement.
e. The final dividend paid by the Company during the year, in respect of the same declared for the previous year, is in accordance with Section 123 of the Act to the extent it applies to payment of dividend.
As stated in Note 45 to the standalone financial statements, the Board of Directors of the Company has proposed final dividend for the year which is subject to the approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. The dividend declared is in accordance with Section 123 of the Act to the extent it applies to declaration of dividend.
f. Based on our examination which included test checks, except for the instances mentioned below, the Company has used an accounting software for maintaining its books of account which, along with access management tools, as applicable, have a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the respective software:
• The feature for recording audit trail (edit log) facility was not enabled at application layer for accounting software used for maintaining books of account relating to revenue process, property, plant and equipment and certain other areas for the period from
1st May, 2023 to 15th January, 2024 for data changes performed by users having priviledged access.
• Based on SOC 1 Type 2 report in relation to controls at service organization for accounting software used for maintaining books of account relating to employee leave management, which is operated by a third-party software service provider, we are unable to comment whether audit trail (edit log) facility of the said software was enabled and operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the software.
Further for the periods where audit trail (edit log) feature was enabled and operated for the respective accounting software, we did not come across any instance of the audit trail feature being tampered with.
C. With respect to the matter to be included in the Auditor's Report under Section 197(16) of the Act:
In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, the remuneration paid / payable by the Company to its directors during the current year is in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 97 of the Act. The remuneration paid / payable to any director is not in excess of the limit laid down under Section 197 of the Act. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has not prescribed other details under Section 197(16) of the Act which are required to be commented upon by us.
For B S R & Co. LLP
Chartered Accountants Firm's Registration No.:101248W/W-100022
Sameer Mota
Partner
Place: Jaipur Membership No.: 109928
Date: 25th April, 2024 ICAI UDIN:24109928BKDBDR7476
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