Mar 31, 2023
Report on the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements Opinion
We have audited the Standalone Financial Statements of Axis Bank Limited (''the Bank''), which comprises the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2023, the Profit and Loss Account and the Cash Flow Statement for the year then ended, and notes to the Standalone Financial Statements including a summary of the significant accounting policies and other explanatory information (hereinafter referred to as ''Standalone Financial Statements'').
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 Section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as well as the Companies Act, 2013 (''the Act'') and circulars and guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India, in the manner so required for banking companies and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards prescribed under Section 133 of the Act, read with rules made thereunder, of the state of affairs of the Bank as at March 31, 2023, and its profit, 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 Auditors'' Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Bank 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 for the current year. 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. We have determined the matters prescribed below to be the key audit matters:
Sr. No. Key Audit Matters |
How the Matter was addressed in our report |
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1 Acquisition of Citibank''s India Consumer Business |
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Refer Note No. 1 of Schedule 18 relating to acquisition of the |
Our |
approach included understanding the structure of the |
consumer business of Citibank N.A. (CBNA) and Citicorp Finance |
acquisition, determining the nature, timing and extent of audit |
|
(India) Ltd (CFIL) as going concerns without assigning values to individual assets and liabilities with effect from beginning of |
procedures, and conducting the same. |
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March 01, 2023 (Legal Day One/LD1) by the Bank. |
We have performed following audit procedures for verification of |
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The Assets and Liabilities are recognized in the books of the |
the accounting of acquisition of Citibankâs India Consumer Business: |
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Bank on LD1. The initial purchase consideration was determined and recognized based on the position of business assets and business liabilities acquired as at end of day January 31, 2023. Subsequently, on best estimate of the position of business assets and business liabilities acquired as at beginning of day |
⢠|
Review of the Business Transfer Agreements, Transitional Services Agreement, regulatory approvals and other related documents to obtain an understanding of the structure and |
1 March, 2023 the purchase consideration was trued up to |
terms of the acquisition. |
|
record a further payable to CBNA at March 31, 2023. These amounts are subject to review of the final closing statement in |
⢠|
Verification of the preliminary closing statement prepared |
FY 2023-24, which will also be verified by an independent |
by Citibank India for transfer of assets and liabilities based |
|
practitioner. |
on the position of January 31, 2023 on LD1, best estimates |
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Based on the report of an independent valuer, the estimated adjusted purchase price of Rs 11,949.08 crores is attributed to various intangible business and commercial rights such |
position as on March 1, 2023 as prepared by the Bankâs Management and subsequent integration post LD1. |
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as Customer Relationship (including contracts), Co-branding |
⢠|
Verification of the integration of Citibankâs India Consumer |
arrangements, Business processes/ information, Non-compete |
Business accounting records into the financial reporting |
|
rights (collectively âIntangiblesâ) and goodwill. The purchase price allocation between various intangible assets and goodwill |
system of the Bank including verification of the general |
|
involves a significant amount of judgement by the valuer and the |
ledgers mapping between Citibankâs India Consumer |
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Management. The Bank has continued use of the intangible assets |
Business and Axis Bank trial balances, and the process of |
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for the business purposes. The Bank, as a prudent measure and to protect its ability to pay dividends, has fully amortised these intangible assets and goodwill in the Profit and Loss account for the year. |
opening new control accounts. |
Sr. No. Key Audit Matters |
How the Matter was addressed in our report |
|
The value of the purchase consideration, other intangible assets, goodwill and the amounts payable to CBNA are subject to changes based on the final closing statement which is subject to verification by a jointly appointed independent practitioner and independent review by the Bank and CBNA. Though the Bank has continued use of the intangible assets for business purposes, as a prudent measure, the depreciation on such intangibles fully amortized through the Profit & Loss Account is not considered for tax purpose in the books. As per the Business Transfer Agreements executed with CBNA and CFIL, till final migration, the Bank will rely on the Information Technology systems of CBNA/CFIL and data residing therein. The accounting of the acquisition has been determined as key audit matter due to the following: ⢠Materiality and complexities of the said transaction including the estimations involved in recognising the assets and liabilities acquired. ⢠Assumptions, estimates and judgements used by the Bank and the independent valuer for the purchase price allocation at the time of initial recognition and true-up based on estimated position as on March 01, 2023. ⢠Changes expected, if any, based on the verification of final closing statement by the Bank, CBNA and independent practitioner. ⢠Reliance placed by the Bank on IT system and internal controls at CBNA/CFIL during the transition period. |
⢠⢠⢠⢠|
Evaluation of the fair value of the assets acquired along with the valuation methodology and key assumptions applied. We also evaluated the reasonableness of key assumptions and estimates used in the valuation based on our knowledge of the business and industry. Verification of the accounting treatment for other intangible assets and goodwill and tax impact arising out of the allocation of the purchase consideration based on the valuation report accepted by the Management of the Bank. Understanding and testing the process of resulting accounting effect on various areas such as alignment of accounting estimates and policies, NPA identification, classification and provisioning, employee benefits, operating expenses, taxation and related disclosures. Assessment of the internal controls in relation to financial reporting for the accounting and reporting on the said acquired consumer business and reviewing the Bankâs disclosures on the same. Evaluation of testing carried out by the Management on existence and operating efficiency of internal control at Citibank India Consumer Business. Evaluation of Managementâs assessment on treatment of amortisation of intangible assets and goodwill for taxation purposes. |
2 Information Technology (IT) Systems and controls over financial reporting |
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The Bankâs financial accounting and reporting systems ⢠|
We have planned, designed and carried out the desired audit |
|
are highly dependent on the effective working of the Core |
procedures and sample checks, taking into consideration |
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Banking Solution (CBS) and other IT systems linked to the |
the IT systems of the Bank. For this purpose, we obtained an |
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CBS or working independently. Considering the extensive volume, diverse nature and complexity of transactions that |
understanding of the Bankâs IT environment. As part of our IT |
|
are processed daily, there is a risk that automated accounting |
controls testing, we have tested IT General Controls (ITGC) as |
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procedures and related internal controls may not be accurately |
well as IT Automated Controls (ITAC) for select applications. |
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designed and operating effectively. There exists a risk that gaps in the IT control environment could result in the financial |
The procedures adopted by us are, in our opinion, adequate to |
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accounting and reporting records being materially misstated. |
provide reasonable assurance on the adequacy of IT controls |
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Appropriate IT controls are required to ensure that the IT |
in place. Critical areas for improvement, if any, as and when |
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applications perform as planned and the changes made are |
noticed are communicated to the Bankâs Management and |
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properly authorized, tested and controlled. Such controls |
the adequacy of action taken by the Bank where necessary, is |
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contribute to risk mitigation of erroneous output data. The audit outcome is heavily dependent on the robustness of IT |
reviewed by us periodically as part of our audit procedures. |
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systems and controls. ⢠We have identified IT Controls Framework as a Key Audit Matter as the Bankâs business is highly dependent on technology. The IT environment of the Bank is complex and the design and operating effectiveness of IT controls have a direct impact on its financial reporting process. Review of these controls allows us to provide assurance on the integrity and completeness of data processed through various IT applications which are used for the preparation and presentation of financial reports. |
IT audit specialists are an integral part of our engagement team. |
Sr. No. |
Key Audit Matters |
How the Matter was addressed in our report |
|
2 |
Information Technology (IT) Systems and controls over financial reporting |
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In addition, we have also relied on IS audit conducted by Internal Audit department, and also the audit of Internal Financial Control over Financial Reporting conducted by Operations Health and Control Team of the Bank. |
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⢠|
We also tested key automated and manual business cycle controls and logic for system generated reports relevant to the audit; including testing of compensating controls or performed alternate procedures to assess whether there were any unaddressed IT risks that would materially impact the Standalone Financial Statements. |
||
⢠|
We have also carried out independent alternative audit procedures like substantive testing, analytical procedures etc. to verify the accuracy of the data generated from the IT system. |
||
3 |
Income Recognition, Asset Classification (IRAC) and provisioning |
on Loans & Advances and Investments as per the regulatory |
|
requirements |
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Please refer to Note no. 3.4 (a) of Schedule 18 relating to Asset |
Our |
audit approach included testing the design, operating |
|
Quality in respect of movement of Non-Performing Assets |
effectiveness of internal controls and substantive audit procedures |
||
(NPAs) and related provisions and disclosures with regard to |
in respect of income recognition, asset classification and provisioning |
||
Non Performing Investments (NPI) respectively as also Note |
pertaining to advances and investments. In particular: |
||
no. 2 of Schedule 18 regarding the provisions made due to the potential impact of Covid-19 pandemic. |
⢠|
We have evaluated and understood the Bankâs internal control system in adhering to the relevant RBI guidelines regarding |
|
The Management of the Bank relies on its automated IT |
income recognition, asset classification and provisioning |
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systems to determine asset classification, income recognition, |
pertaining to advances and investments; |
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provisioning for standard and non-performing advances/ investments and for compliance of applicable regulatory guidelines issued by the RBI. The Management supplements its assessment by availing services of experts (like independent valuers, lawyers, legal experts and other professionals) to determine the valuation and enforceability of security of such advances/investments. |
⢠|
We have tested key IT systems/ applications used and their design and implementation as well as operational effectiveness of relevant controls, including involvement of manual process and manual controls in relation to income recognition, asset classification, provisioning pertaining to advances and investments and compliances of other regulatory guidelines issued by the RBI; |
|
The Bank makes provisions for the performing and nonperforming advances/investments, as per its governing framework which includes Managementâs assessment of the degree of impairment subject to and guided by minimum provisioning levels prescribed under RBI guidelines. |
⢠|
We have test checked advances to examine the validity of the recorded amounts, loan documentation, examined the statement of accounts, indicators of impairment, impairment provision for non-performing assets, and compliance with income recognition, asset classification and provisioning |
|
Compliance of relevant prudential norms issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in respect of income recognition, asset classification and provisioning pertaining to advances as well as those pertaining to investments is a key audit matter due to materiality, complexity and uncertainty involved and the current processes at the Bank which requires certain |
⢠|
pertaining to advances in terms of applicable RBI guidelines; We have evaluated the past trends of Management judgement, governance process and review controls over impairment provision calculations and discussed the provisions made with the top and senior management of the Bank. |
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manual interventions, Management estimates and judgement. |
⢠|
We have also relied on work done by external experts like valuers, lawyers, concurrent auditors etc. on specific areas. |
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Critical areas for improvement, if any, as and when noticed are communicated to the Bankâs Management and the adequacy of action taken by the Bank where necessary, is reviewed by us periodically as part of our audit procedures. |
Information other than the Standalone Financial Statements and Auditorsâ Report thereon
The Bank''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 Standalone Financial Statements, consolidated financial statements and our auditors'' report thereon and the Pillar III Disclosures under Basel III Capital Regulation, Leverage Ratio, Liquidity Coverage Ratio and Net Stable Funding Ratio. The other information is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditors'' report.
Our opinion on the Standalone Financial Statements does not cover the other information and we do 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 Other Information, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance.
Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Standalone Financial Statements
The Bank''s Board of Directors and Management 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 and cash flows of the Bank in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act, provisions of Section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and the circulars and guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India (''RBI'') from time to time. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act, for safeguarding of the assets of the Bank 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 Bank''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 Management and Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the Bank or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Bank''s financial reporting process.
Auditorsâ 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 auditors'' 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:
⢠Identify 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 Bank 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 in the Standalone Financial Statements 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 and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Bank''s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditors'' 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 auditors'' report. However, future events or conditions may cause a Bank 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 auditors'' 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
The standalone balance sheet and the standalone profit and loss account have been drawn up in accordance with the provisions of Section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and Section 133 of the Act.
A. As required by sub-section (3) of Section 30 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, we report that:
(a) we have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the best of our knowledge and belief, were necessary for the purpose of our audit and have found them to be satisfactory;
(b) the transactions of the Bank, which have come to our notice, have been within the powers of the Bank; and
(c) since the key operations of the Bank are automated with the key applications integrated to the core banking systems, the audit is carried out centrally as all the necessary records and data required for the purposes of our audit are available therein. However, during the course of our audit we have visited 95 branches (including credit units) to examine the records maintained at such branches for the purpose of our audit.
B. Further, 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 of the Standalone Financial Statements;
(b) in our opinion, proper books of account as required by law relating to preparation of the aforesaid Standalone Financial Statements have been kept by the Bank so far as it appears from our examination of those books;
(c) the standalone balance sheet, the standalone profit and loss account, and the standalone cash flow statement dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the relevant books of accounts maintained for the purpose of preparation of the Standalone Financial Statements;
(d) in our opinion, the aforesaid Standalone Financial Statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act read with relevant rules issued thereunder, to the extent they are not inconsistent with the accounting policies prescribed by RBI;
(e) on the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31, 2023 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors are disqualified as on March 31, 2023 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164 (2) of the Act; and
(f) with respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements of the Bank and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in ''Annexure A''.
C. With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditors'' 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:
i. the Bank has disclosed the impact of pending litigations as at March 31, 2023 on its financial position in its Standalone Financial Statements - Refer Schedule 12 - Contingent Liabilities to the Standalone Financial Statements;
ii. the Bank has made provision, as required under the applicable law or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, if any, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts - Refer Schedule 5 read with Note No. 4.14 of Schedule 18 to the Standalone Financial Statements in respect of such items as it relates to the Bank;
iii. there has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Bank;
iv. a. the Management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, other than as disclosed in
the Note No. 4.13 of Schedule 18 to the Standalone Financial Statements, no funds (which are material either individually or in the aggregate) have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Bank to or in any other person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Intermediaries"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall, whether, directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Bank ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
b. further, the Management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, other than as disclosed in the Note No. 4.13 of Schedule 18 to the Standalone Financial Statements, no funds (which are material either individually or in the aggregate) have been received by the Bank from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Funding Parties"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Bank shall, whether, directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
c. based on such audit procedures that were 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 (a) and (b) above contain any material misstatement.
v. a. the final dividend paid by the Bank during the year in respect of the same declared for the previous year is
in accordance with Section 123 of the Companies Act 2013 to the extent it applies to payment of dividend.
b. as stated in Note no 4.3 of Schedule 18 to the Standalone Financial Statements, the Board of Directors of the Bank has proposed final dividend for the financial year 2022-2023 which is subject to the approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. The amount of dividend proposed is in accordance with Section 123 of the Companies Act.
vi. as proviso to Rule 3(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 is applicable for the Bank with effect from April 1, 2023, reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules 2014 on using accounting software which has a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility is not applicable.
D. With respect to the matter to be included in the Auditors'' Report under Section 197(16) of the Act:
The Bank is a banking company as defined under Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Accordingly, the requirements
prescribed under Section 197 of the Companies Act, 2013 do not apply by virtue of Section 35B(2A) of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949.
For M. P. Chitale & Co. For CNK & Associates LLP
Chartered Accountants Chartered Accountants
ICAI FRN 101851W ICAI FRN 101961W/W100036
Ashutosh Pednekar Manish Sampat
Partner Partner
ICAI M. No. 041037 ICAI M. No. 101684
UDIN: 23041037BGPVNO4178 UDIN: 23101684BGWNCD8422
Place: Mumbai Place: Mumbai
Date: April 27, 2023 Date: April 27, 2023
Mar 31, 2022
Opinion
We have audited the Standalone Financial Statements of Axis Bank Limited (the âBank''), which comprises the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2022, the Profit and Loss Account and the Cash Flow Statement for the year then ended, and notes to the Standalone Financial Statements including a summary of the significant 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 Section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as well as the Companies Act, 2013 (the âAct'') and circulars and guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India, in the manner so required for banking companies and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards prescribed under Section 133 of the Act, read with rules made thereunder, of the state of affairs of the Bank as at March 31, 2022, and its profit, and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Basis of opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (âSAs'') specified under Section 143 (10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those SAs are further described in the Auditors'' Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements Section of our report. We are independent of the Bank 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 are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the Standalone Financial Statements of the current year. 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. We have determined the matters prescribed below to be the key audit matters:
Sr. No. Key Audit Matters |
How the Matter was addressed in our report |
|
1. Information Technology (IT) Systems and controls over |
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financial reporting The Bank''s financial accounting and reporting systems are |
⢠|
We have planned, designed and carried out the desired audit |
highly dependent on the effective working of the Core |
procedures and sample checks, taking into consideration the |
|
Banking Solution (CBS) and other IT systems linked to the |
IT systems of the Bank. The procedures adopted by us are, in |
|
CBS or working independently. Extensive volume, variety |
our opinion, adequate to provide reasonable assurance on the |
|
and complexity of transactions are processed daily and |
adequacy of IT controls in place. Towards this end, we obtained |
|
there is a risk that automated accounting procedures and |
an understanding of Bank''s IT environment. |
|
related internal controls may not be accurately designed and operating effectively. There exists a risk that gaps in the IT |
⢠|
IT audit specialists are an integral part of our engagement team. |
control environment could result in the financial accounting |
⢠|
In addition, we have also relied on IS audit conducted by Internal |
and reporting records being materially misstated. Appropriate |
Audit department, and also the audit of Internal Financial |
|
IT controls are required to ensure that the IT applications |
Control over Financial Reporting conducted by Control and |
|
perform as planned and the changes madeâare properly authorized, tested and controlled. Such controls contribute to |
Governance Assurance team of the Bank. |
|
risk mitigation of erroneous output data. The audit outcome is heavily dependent on the extent of IT systems and controls. |
⢠|
We also tested key automated and manual business cycle controls and logic for system generated reports relevant to the audit;including testing of compensating controls or |
We have identified IT Controls Framework as a Key Audit |
performed alternate procedures to assess whether there were |
|
Matter as the Bank''s business is highly dependent on |
any unaddressed IT risks that would materially impact the |
|
technology, the IT environment is complex and the design and operating effectiveness of IT controls have a direct impact on |
Standalone Financial Statements. |
|
its financial reporting process. Review of these controls allows |
⢠|
We have also carried out independent alternative audit |
us to provide assurance on the integrity and completeness of |
procedures like substantive testing, analytical procedures etc. |
|
data processed through various IT applications which are used for the preparation and presentation of financial reports. |
to verify the accuracy of the data generated from the IT system. |
Sr. No. Key Audit Matters |
How the Matter was addressed in our report |
|
2. Income Recognition, Asset Classification (IRAC) and |
||
provisioning on Loans & Advances and Investments as per the regulatory requirements |
||
Please refer to Note no. 4.4 (a) of Schedule 18 relating to Asset |
Our audit approach included testing the design, operating effectiveness |
|
Quality in respect of movement of Non-Performing Assets |
of internal controls and substantive audit procedures in respect of |
|
(NPAs) and related provisions and disclosures with regard to |
income recognition, asset classification and provisioning pertaining to |
|
Non Performing Investments (NPI) respectively as also Note |
advances and investments. In particular: |
|
no. 2 of Schedule 18 regarding the provisions made due to the potential impact of Covid-19 pandemic. |
⢠|
We have evaluated and understood the Bank''s internal control system in adhering to the relevant RBI guidelines regarding |
The Bank, as per its governing framework, undertakes the |
income recognition, asset classification and provisioning |
|
performing and non-performing advances/investments |
pertaining to advances and investments; |
|
provisions based on Management''s assessment of the degree of impairment of the advances subject to and guided by minimum provisioning levels prescribed under RBI guidelines. |
⢠|
We have tested key IT systems/ applications used and their design and implementation as well as operational effectiveness of relevant controls, including involvement of manual process |
The management of the Bank relies on its automated IT |
and manual controls in relation to income recognition, |
|
systems to determine asset classification, income recognition, |
asset classification, provisioning pertaining to advances and |
|
provisioning for standard and non-performing advances/ |
investments and compliances of other regulatory guidelines |
|
investments and for compliance of applicable regulatory |
issued by the RBI; |
|
guidelines issued by the RBI. The management supplements its assessment by availing services of experts (like independent valuers, lawyers, legal experts and other professionals) to determine the valuation and enforceability of security of such advances/investments. |
⢠|
We have test checked advances to examine the validity of the recorded amounts, loan documentation, examined the statement of accounts, indicators of impairment, impairment provision for non-performing assets, and compliance with income recognition, asset classification and provisioning |
Compliance of relevant prudential norms issued by the |
pertaining to advances in terms of applicable RBI guidelines; |
|
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in respect of income recognition, asset classification and provisioning pertaining to advances as well as those pertaining to investments is a key audit matter due to materiality, complexity and uncertainty involved and the current processes at the Bank which requires certain |
⢠|
We have evaluated the past trends of management judgement, governance process and review controls over impairment provision calculations and discussed the provisions made with the top and senior management of the Bank; |
manual interventions, management estimates and judgement. |
⢠|
We have also relied on work done by external experts like valuers, lawyers, concurrent auditors etc. on specific areas. |
Information other than the Standalone Financial Statements and Auditorsâ Report thereon
The Bank''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 Standalone Financial Statements, Consolidated Financial Statements and our auditors'' report thereon and the Pillar III Disclosures under Basel III Capital Regulation, Leverage Ratio, Liquidity Coverage Ratio and Net Stable Funding Ratio. The other information is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditors'' report.
Our opinion on the Standalone Financial Statements does not cover the other information and we do 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 other information, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance.
Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Standalone Financial Statements
The Bank''s Board of Directors and Management 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 and cash flows of the Bank in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act, provisions of Section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and the circulars and guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India (âRBI'') from time to time. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act, for safeguarding of the assets of the Bank 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 Bank''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 Management and Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the Bank or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Bank''s financial reporting process.
Auditorsâ 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 auditors'' 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:
⢠Identify 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 Bank 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 in the Standalone Financial Statements 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 and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Bank''s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditors'' 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 auditors'' report. However, future events or conditions may cause a Bank 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 auditors'' 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.
The Standalone Financial Statements of the Bank for the previous year ended March 31, 2021 were audited by the predecessor auditors. The auditors have expressed unmodified opinion vide their report dated April 27, 2021 on such financial statements. Accordingly, we do not express any opinion on the same.
Our opinion on the Standalone Financial Statements is not modified in respect of above matter.
Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
The standalone balance sheet and the standalone profit and loss account have been drawn up in accordance with the provisions
of Section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and Section 133 of the Act.
A. As required by sub-section (3) of Section 30 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, we report that:
(a) we have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the best of our knowledge and belief, were necessary for the purpose of our audit and have found them to be satisfactory;
(b) the transactions of the Bank, which have come to our notice, have been within the powers of the Bank; and
since the key operations of the Bank are automated with the key applications integrated to the core banking systems, the audit is carried out centrally as all the necessary records and data required for the purposes of our audit are available therein. However, during the course of our audit we have visited 82 branches (including credit units) to examine the records maintained at such branches for the purpose of our audit.
B. Further, 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 Bank so far as it appears from our examination of those books;
(c) the standalone balance sheet, the standalone profit and loss account, and the standalone cash flow statement dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account;
(d) in our opinion, the aforesaid Standalone Financial Statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act, to the extent they are not inconsistent with the accounting policies prescribed by RBI;
(e) on the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31, 2022 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2022 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164 (2) of the Act; and
(f) with respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements of the Bank and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in âAnnexure A''.
C. With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditors'' 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:
i. the Bank has disclosed the impact of pending litigations as at March 31, 2022 on its financial position in its Standalone Financial Statements - Refer Schedule 12 - Contingent Liabilities to the Standalone Financial Statements;
ii. the Bank has made provision, as required under the applicable law or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, if any, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts - Refer Schedule 5 read with note 5.15 of Schedule 18 to the Standalone Financial Statements in respect of such items as it relates to the Bank;
iii. there has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Bank;
iv. a. The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, other than as disclosed
in the note 5.13 of Schedule 18 to the Standalone Financial Statements, no funds (which are material either individually or in the aggregate) have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Bank to or in any other person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities (âIntermediariesâ), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall, whether, directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Bank (âUltimate Beneficiariesâ) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
b. Further, the management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, other than as disclosed
in the note 5.13 of Schedule 18 to the Standalone Financial Statements, no funds (which are material either individually or in the aggregate) have been received by the Bank from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities (âFunding Partiesâ), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Bank shall, whether, directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any
manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party (âUltimate Beneficiariesâ) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries. Based on such audit procedures that were 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 (a) and (b) above contain any material misstatement.
v. As stated in note 5.3 of Schedule 18 to the Standalone Financial Statements, the Board of Directors of the Bank has proposed final dividend for the financial year 2021-2022 which is subject to the approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. The amount of dividend proposed is in accordance with Section 123 of the Companies Act.
D. With respect to the matter to be included in the Auditors'' Report under Section 197(16) of the Act:
The Bank is a banking company as defined under Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Accordingly, the requirements prescribed under Section 197 of the Companies Act, 2013 do not apply by virtue of Section 35B(2A) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
For M P Chitale & Co. For CNK & Associates LLP
Chartered Accountants Chartered Accountants
(ICAI FRN 101851W) (ICAI FRN 101961W/W100036)
Ashutosh Pednekar Manish Sampat
Partner Partner
(ICAI M. No. 041037) (ICAI M. No. 101684)
UDIN: 22041037AIAAWV7885 UDIN: 22101684AIAAPL4546
Place: Mumbai Place: Mumbai
Date: April 28, 2022 Date: April 28, 2022
Mar 31, 2019
Report on the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
Opinion
We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of Axis Bank Limited ("the Bank"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2019, the Profit and Loss Account and the Cash Flow Statement for the year then ended and notes to the standalone financial statements including a summary of significant 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 Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as well as the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Act") in the manner so required for banking companies and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Bank as at March 31, 2019, its profit and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those Standards 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 Bank in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ("ICAI") together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the standalone financial statements under the provisions of the Act and 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.
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. We have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report.
Key Audit Matter |
Procedure performed |
IT Controls Framework |
|
Axis Bank has a complex IT architecture to support its day to day |
IT audit specialists are an integral part of our engagement team. Our |
business operations. The volume of transactions processed and |
approach of testing IT General Controls (ITGC) and IT Application |
recorded is huge. Moreover, a transaction may be required to be |
Controls (ITAC) is risk based and business centric. |
recorded across multiple applications depending upon the process. |
As a part of our IT controls testing, we have tested ITGC as well as ITAC. |
Each application has different rules incorporated in it and a different set |
The focus of testing of ITGCs was based on the various parameters such |
of user access and authority matrix. These applications are interlinked |
as Completeness, Validity, Identification, Authentication Authorization, |
using different technologies. Data transfer happens in real time or at a |
Integrity and Accountability. On the other hand, focus of testing |
particular time of the day; in batches or at a transaction level and in an |
automated controls from applications was whether the controls prevent |
automated manner or manually. The Core Banking Solution (CBS) itself |
or detect unauthorized transactions and support financial objectives |
has many interfaces. All these data streams directly affect financial |
including completeness, accuracy, authorization and validity of |
reporting. |
transactions. We gathered a comprehensive understanding of IT applications landscape implemented at the Bank. It was followed by process understanding, mapping of applications to the same and understanding financial risks posed by people-process and technology. |
Key Audit Matter |
Procedure performed |
The Bank has a process for identifying the applications where the |
In ITGC testing we reviewed, on sample basis, control areas such as |
controls are embedded. It also has a process to ensure that systems, |
User Management, Change Management, Systems Security, Incident |
processes and controls remain relevant. The Bank''s IT control framework |
Management, Physical & Environmental Security, Backup and Restoration, |
includes automated, semi-automated and manual controls designed to |
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, Service Level Agreement. |
address identified risks. IT controls are stated in Entity Level Controls |
For ITAC, we carried out on sample basis, compliance tests of system |
(ELC), IT General Controls (ITGC) and IT Application Controls (ITAC). |
functionality in order to assess the accuracy of system calculations. |
We regard this area as a Key Audit Matter as the Bank''s business is |
We also carried out procedures such as validations and limit checks |
highly dependent on technology, the IT environment is complex and |
on data entered into applications, approvals, process dependencies |
the design and operating effectiveness of IT controls have a direct |
and restriction on time period in which transactions may be recorded. |
impact on a financial reporting process. Review of these controls |
We tested the control environment using various techniques such as |
allows us to provide assurance on the integrity and completeness of |
inquiry, review of documentation/record/reports, observation and |
data processed through various IT applications which are used for the |
re-performance. We also tested few controls using negative testing |
preparation of financial reports. |
technique. We had taken adequate samples of instances for our tests. Wherever deviations were noted either the same were explained to our satisfaction or we suitably modified our testing procedures to draw comfort. |
Provisions and Write off of Advances
The Bank''s portfolio of advances to customers amounts to Rs.4,94,79,797 Lacs as at March 31, 2019 comprising of Rs.2,37,22,782 Lacs towards its Corporate Customers ("Wholesale Banking" customers) and Rs.2,57,57,015 Lacs towards its Retail Customers ("Retail Banking" customers). As required under Income Recognition, Asset Classification and provisioning norms (IRAC norms) and other circulars, notifications and directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Bank classifies advances into performing and non-performing advances which consists of Standard, Sub-standard, Doubtful and Loss and makes appropriate provisions.
The Bank, on case to case basis, as per it''s governing framework, identifies standard advances which require higher provision based on its evaluation of risk and internal ratings. The Bank also identifies sectors wherein the Bank perceives stress and makes higher provisions. Additionally, the Bank also identifies accounts which are to be technical written off based on the framework approved by the Bank''s Board of Directors.
The provisions for such advances and technical write off is a Key Audit Matter as the Bank has significant credit risk exposure to a large number of borrowers across a wide range of borrowers, products, industries and geographies and there is a high degree of complexity and judgement involved in recoverability of advances, estimating the provisions thereon and identification of accounts to be written off.
The same resulted in significant audit effort to address the risks around loan recoverability and the determination of related provisions and write off.
Provisions for Corporate advances against specific individual loans (Wholesale Banking)
1. Testing the key controls over borrower risk grading for wholesale loans (larger customer exposures that are monitored individually) for classification of such loans as performing or non-performing advances.
- We tested on sample basis, the approval of new lending facilities against the Bank''s credit policies, the performance of annual loan assessments, and controls over the monitoring of credit quality.
- We have assessed the process for classification by the management including identification of non-performing assets.
- We tested on sample basis loans to form our own assessment as to whether impairment events had occurred and to assess whether impairments had been identified in a timely manner.
- For the selected non-performing loans, we assessed management''s forecast and inputs of recoverable cash flows, valuation of underlying security and collaterals, estimates of recoverable amounts on default and other sources of repayment.
This included testing controls over the identification of exposures showing signs of stress, either due to internal factors specific to the borrower or external macroeconomic factors, and testing the timeliness of and the accuracy of risk assessments and risk grading against the requirements of the Bank''s lending policies and RBI IRAC norms.
2. Performing credit assessments of a sample of corporate loans managed by a specialised group assessed as high risk or impaired, focusing on larger exposures assessed by the Bank as showing signs of deterioration, or in areas of emerging risk (assessed against external market conditions). We challenged the Bank''s risk grading of the loan, their assessment of loan recoverability and the impact on the credit provision. To do this, we used the information on the Borrowers loan file, discussed the case with the concerned officials and senior management, and performed our own assessment of recoverability.
Key Audit Matter |
Procedure performed |
Provisions for Retail advances against specific individual loans (Retail |
|
Banking) |
|
For retail loans (smaller customer exposures not monitored individually), |
|
testing controls over the systems which record lending arrears, group |
|
exposures into delinquency buckets based on the number of days loans |
|
are overdue, and calculate individual provisions. We tested automated |
|
calculation and change management controls and evaluated the Bank''s |
|
oversight of the portfolios, with a focus on controls over delinquency |
|
statistics monitoring. We tested on sample basis the level of provisions |
|
held against different loan products based on the delinquency profile |
|
and challenged assumptions made in respect of expected recoveries, |
|
primarily from collateral held. We also carried out extensive data |
|
analytics procedures to identify exceptions and outliers. |
|
Provisions estimated across loan portfolios (collective provision) |
|
1. Testing the Bank''s processes for making collective provision |
|
2. Review of the Policy for higher provision for weak standard |
|
advances and stressed sectors adopted by the Bank |
|
3. Validating the parameters used to calculate collective provisions |
|
with reference to IRAC norms and internal policy on higher |
|
provisions on weak standard advances; |
|
4. Testing the completeness and accuracy of data transferred |
|
from underlying source systems used for computing collective |
|
provision; |
|
5. Re-performing, for a sample of retail and wholesale portfolios, |
|
the calculation of collective provisions, to determine the accuracy |
|
of the same. |
|
Technical write off across loan portfolios |
|
The Bank has adopted a framework for technical write off. We |
|
reviewed the framework and understood the process for identification |
|
of loan portfolios to be technically written off. We tested on sample |
|
basis, the accounts identified during the year to be written off for |
|
compliance with the aforesaid framework. |
Other Information
The Bank''s Board of Directors is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Directors'' Report forming part of the Annual Report, but does not include the standalone financial statements, consolidated financial statements and our auditor''s report thereon and the Pillar III Disclosures under the New Capital Adequacy Framework (Basel III disclosures). The Director''s Report is expected to be made available to us after the date of this report.
Our opinion on the standalone financial statements does not cover the other information and the Basel III disclosures and accordingly, we do 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 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 Director''s Report, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance.
Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Standalone Financial Statements
The Bank''s Board of Directors is 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 financial position, financial performance and cash flows of the Bank in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards specified under section 133 of the Act, read with relevant rules issued thereunder, provision of section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and the circulars, guidelines and directions issued by Reserve Bank of India ("RBI") from time to time. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Bank 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, management is responsible for assessing the Bank''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 management either intends to liquidate the Bank or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
The Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the Bank''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 this 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:
- Identify 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 Bank has adequate internal financial controls with reference to standalone 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 management.
- Conclude on the appropriateness of management''s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Bank''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 Bank 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.
Other Matter
The standalone financial statements of the Bank for the previous year ended March 31, 2018, were audited by another firm of Chartered Accountants who have expressed an unmodified opinion on those statements vide their report dated April 26, 2018.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
(1) The Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account have been drawn up in accordance with the provisions of section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 read with Section 133 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with relevant rules issued thereunder.
(2) As required under section 143 (3) of the Act and Section 30(3) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, 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 purpose of our audit and have found them to be satisfactory;
b. In our opinion, the transactions of the Bank, which have come to our notice, have been within the powers of the Bank;
c. The financial accounting systems of the Bank are centralized and therefore, accounting returns for the purpose of preparing financial statements are not required to be submitted by the branches; we have visited 120 branches for the purpose of our audit;
d. In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Bank so far as it appears from our examination of those books;
e. The Balance Sheet, the Profit and Loss Account, and the Cash Flow Statement dealt with by this report are in agreement with the books of account;
f. In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under section 133 of the Act read with relevant rules issued thereunder to the extent they are not inconsistent with the accounting policies prescribed by RBI;
g. On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on March 31, 2019, and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on March 31, 2019 from being appointed as a director in terms of section 164(2) of the Act;
h. With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to financial statements of the Bank and the operating effectiveness of such controls, we give our separate report in "Annexure";
i. With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor''s Report in accordance with the requirements of section 197(16) of the Act, as amended;
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, requirements prescribed under section 197 of the Act is not applicable by virtue of section 35B (2A) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
j. 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:
i. The Bank has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its standalone financial statements - Refer Schedule 12 - Contingent Liabilities to the standalone financial statements;
ii. The Bank has made provision, as required under the applicable law or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, if any, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts;
iii. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Bank.
Annexure to the Independent Auditor''s Report
[Referred to in paragraph 3 (h) under ''Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements'' in the Independent Auditor''s Report of even date to the members of Axis Bank Limited on the standalone Financial Statements for the year ended March 31, 2019]
Report on the Internal Financial Controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements under clause (i) of subsection 3 of section 143 of the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Act")
We have audited the internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements of Axis Bank Limited ("the Bank") as of March 31, 2019 in conjunction with our audit of the standalone Financial Statements of the Bank for the year ended on that date.
Management''s Responsibility for Internal Financial Controls
The Bank''s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal financial controls based on the internal control with reference to Standalone Financial Statements criteria established by the Bank considering the essential components of internal control stated in the Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting (the "Guidance Note") issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ("ICAI"). These responsibilities include the design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls that were operating effectively for ensuring the orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to Bank''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, as required under the Act.
Auditors'' Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Bank''s internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Guidance Note and the Standards on Auditing specified under section 143(10) of the Act to the extent applicable to an audit of internal financial controls, both issued by the ICAI. Those Standards and the Guidance Note require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether adequate internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements was established and maintained and if such controls operated effectively in all material respects.
Our audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements and their operating effectiveness.
Our audit of internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements included obtaining an understanding of internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls based on the assessed risk. The procedures selected depend on the auditor''s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the Standalone Financial Statements, whether due to fraud or error.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the Bank''s internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements.
Meaning of Internal Financial Controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements
A Bank''s internal financial control with reference to Standalone Financial Statements is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of Standalone Financial Statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A Bank''s internal financial control with reference to Standalone Financial Statements includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Bank; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of Standalone Financial Statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Bank are being made only in accordance with authorisations of management and directors of the Bank; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorised acquisition, use, or disposition of the Bank''s assets that could have a material effect on the Standalone Financial Statements.
Inherent Limitations of Internal Financial Controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements
Because of the inherent limitations of internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, projections of any evaluation of the internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements to future periods are subject to the risk that the internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Opinion
In our opinion, the Bank has, in all material respects, an adequate internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements and such internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements were operating effectively as at March 31, 2019, based on the internal control with reference to Standalone Financial Statements criteria established by the Bank considering the essential components of internal controls stated in the Guidance Note issued by the ICAI.
For Haribhakti & Co. LLP
Chartered Accountants
Firm Registration No.103523W/W100048
Purushottam Nyati
Partner
Membership No. 118970
Place: Mumbai
Date: April 25, 2019
Mar 31, 2017
To the Members of Axis Bank Limited
Report on the Standalone Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of Axis Bank Limited (the "Bank"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at 31 March, 2017, the Profit and Loss Account and Cash Flow Statement for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and notes to the financial statements.
Management''s Responsibility for the Financial Statements
The Bank''s Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Companies Act, 2013 (the "Act") with respect to the preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance and cash flows of the Bank in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards specified under section 133 of the Act, read with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 and the Companies (Accounting Standards) Amendment Rules, 2016, provision of section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and the circulars, guidelines and directions issued by Reserve Bank of India ("RBI") from time to time. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Bank 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 the design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial control that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor''s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these standalone financial statements based on our audit. We have taken into account the provisions of the Act, the accounting and auditing standards and matters which are required to be included in the audit report under the provisions of the Act and the Rules made there under. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, as specified under Section 143(10) of the Act. Those Standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor''s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal financial control relevant to the Bank''s preparation of the financial statements that give a true and fair view in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of the accounting estimates made by the Bank''s Directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the standalone financial statements.
Opinion
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financial statements together with the notes give the information required by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as well as the Act, in the manner so required for banking companies and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India of the state of affairs of the Bank as at 31 March, 2017, its profit, and its profit and cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. The Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account have been drawn up in accordance with the provisions of Section 29 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 read with Section 133 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 and the Companies (Accounting Standards) Amendment Rules, 2016.
2. As required sub section (3) of section 30 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, we report that:
(a) We have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the best of our knowledge and belief, were necessary for the purpose of our audit and have found them to be satisfactory;
(b) The transactions of the Bank, which have come to our notice, have been within the powers of the Bank; and
(c) The financial accounting systems of the Bank are centralized and therefore, accounting returns for the purpose of preparing financial statements are not required to be submitted by the branches; we have visited 220 branches for the purpose of our audit.
3. Further, as required by section 143 (3) of the Companies Act, 2013, we further 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 purpose of our audit;
(b) In our opinion proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Bank so far as it appears from our examination of those books;
(c) The Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account and Cash Flow Statement dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account;
(d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under section 133 of the Act, read with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 and the Companies (Accounting Standards) Amendment Rules, 2016;
(e) On the basis of written representations received from the directors as on 31 March, 2017, and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on 31 March, 2017, from being appointed as a director in terms of section 164 (2) of the Act;
(f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls over financial reporting of the Bank and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure 1" to this report;
(g) 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 as amended, in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
i. The Bank has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its standalone financial statements
- Refer Schedule 12.I and 18.1.2.15 (a) to the standalone financial statements;
ii. The Bank has made provision, as required under the applicable law or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, if any, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts - Refer Note 18.1.2.15 (b) to the standalone financial statements;
iii. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Bank;
iv. As per books of accounts of the Bank and represented by the management, the disclosure requirement as envisaged in Notification G.S.R 308(E) dated 30 March, 2017 is not applicable to the Bank - Refer Note 18.1.2.16 to the standalone financial statements.
Report on the Internal Financial Controls under Clause (i) of Sub-section 3 of Section 143 of the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Act")
To the Members of Axis Bank Limited
We have audited the internal financial controls over financial reporting of Axis Bank Limited ("the Bank") as of 31 March, 2017 in conjunction with our audit of the standalone financial statements of the Bank for the year ended on that date.
Management''s Responsibility for Internal Financial Controls
The Bank''s Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal financial controls based on the internal control over financial reporting criteria established by the Bank considering the essential components of internal control stated in the Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (the "Guidance Note"). These responsibilities include the design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls that were operating effectively for ensuring the orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to the Bank''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, as required under the Companies Act, 2013; in so far as they apply to the Bank and the Guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India.
Auditor''s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Bank''s internal financial controls over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Guidance Note and the Standards on Auditing as specified under section 143(10) of the Companies Act, 2013, to the extent applicable to an audit of internal financial controls, both applicable to an audit of Internal Financial Controls and, both issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Those Standards and the Guidance Note require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether adequate internal financial controls over financial reporting was established and maintained and if such controls operated effectively in all material respects.
Our audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the adequacy of the internal financial controls system over financial reporting and their operating effectiveness. Our audit of internal financial controls over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal financial controls over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. The procedures selected depend on the auditor''s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the internal financial controls system over financial reporting.
Meaning of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting
A Bank''s internal financial control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A Bank''s internal financial control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Bank; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Bank are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Bank; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Bank''s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Inherent Limitations of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting
Because of the inherent limitations of internal financial controls over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, projections of any evaluation of the internal financial controls over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the internal financial control over financial reporting may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Opinion
In our opinion, the Bank has, in all material respects, an adequate internal financial controls system over financial reporting and such internal financial controls over financial reporting were operating effectively as at 31 March, 2017, based on the internal control over financial reporting criteria established by the Bank considering the essential components of internal control stated in the Guidance Note on Audit of Internal Financial Controls Over Financial Reporting issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
For S.R. Batliboi & CO. LLP
Chartered Accountants
ICAI Firm Registration Number: 301003E/E300005
per Viren H. Mehta
Partner
Membership Number: 048749
Mar 31, 2015
Report on the Standalone Financial Statements
1. We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of
Axis Bank Limited (hereinafter referred to as "the Bank"), which
comprise the Balance Sheet as at 31 March, 2015 and the Profit and Loss
Account and the Cash Flow statement for the year then ended and
significant accounting policies and notes forming part of the accounts.
Management''s Responsibility for the Standalone Financial Statements
2. The Bank''s Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated
in section 134(5) of the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Act") with respect
to preparation of these standalone financial statements that give a
true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance and
cash flows of the Bank in accordance with the provisions of Section 29
of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the accounting principles
generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards
specified under section 133 of the Act read with Rule 7 of the
Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, in so far as they apply to the Bank
and the Guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India. This responsibility
also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance
with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the
Bank 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 internal financial controls, that
were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness
of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation of the financial
statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor''s Responsibility
3. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these standalone
financial statements based on our audit. We have taken into account the
provisions of the Act, the accounting and auditing standards, in so far
as they apply to the Bank and matters which are required to be included
in the audit report under the provisions of the Act and the Rules made
thereunder. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on
Auditing specified under section 143(10) of the Act. Those Standards
require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free from material misstatement.
4. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence
about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The
procedures selected depend on the auditor''s judgement, including the
assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk
assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the
Bank''s preparation of the financial statements that give a true and
fair view in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in
the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on
whether the Bank has in place an adequate internal controls system over
financial reporting and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting
policies used and the reasonableness of the accounting estimates made
by the Bank''s Directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation
of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have
obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit
opinion.
Opinion
5. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to
the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone financial
statements together with the notes thereon give the information
required by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as well as the Companies
Act, 2013, in the manner so required for the banking companies and give
a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Bank as at 31
March, 2015, and its profit and its cash flows for the year then ended.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Matters
6. The Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account have been drawn
up in accordance with the provisions of Section 29 of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949 read with Section 133 of the Companies Act, 2013
and read with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014.
7. As required sub section (3) of section 30 of the Banking Regulation
Act, 1949 and our appointment letter dated 2 July, 2014, we report
that:
(a) We have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the
best of our knowledge and belief, were necessary for the purpose of our
audit and have found them to be satisfactory;
(b) The transactions of the Bank, which have come to our notice, have
been within the powers of the Bank; and
(c) The financial accounting systems of the Bank are centralised and
therefore, accounting returns for the purpose of preparing financial
statements are not required to be submitted by the branches; we have
visited 161 branches for the purpose of our audit.
8. Further, as required by section 143(3) of the Companies Act, 2013,
we further report that:
(a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanation
which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the
purpose of our audit;
(b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have
been kept by the Bank so far as appears from our examination of those
books;
(c) The Balance Sheet, the Profit and Loss Account and the Cash Flow
Statement dealt with by us in the Report are in agreement with the
books of account;
(d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone financial statements
comply with the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the
Act, read with Rule 7 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 and
(e) On the basis of the written representations received from the
directors as on 31 March, 2015 taken on record by the Board of
Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on 31 March, 2015
from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164 (2) of the
Act.
Other Matters
9. 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 Bank has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its
financial position in its standalone financial statements - Refer
Schedule 12.1 and Note 18.2.2.15 (a) to the standalone financial
statements;
(b) The Bank has made provision, as required under the applicable law
or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses on long-term
contracts including derivative contracts - Refer Note 18.2.2.15 to the
standalone financial statements and
(c) There were no amounts which were required to be transferred to the
Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Bank.
10. The financial statements for the year ended 31 March, 2014 were
audited by another auditor who expressed an unmodified opinion on these
financial statements on 25 April, 2014.
For S. R. Batliboi & Co LLP.
Chartered Accountants
ICAI Firm Registration Number: 301003E
Viren H. Mehta
Partner
Membership Number: 048749
Mumbai, 29 April 2015
Mar 31, 2013
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of AXIS BANK
LIMITED ("the Bank"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at 31 March,
2013, the Profit and Loss Account and the Cash Flow Statement of the
Bank for the year then ended and a summary of the significant
accounting policies and other explanatory information.
Management''s Responsibility for the Financial Statements
The Bank''s Management is responsible for the preparation of these
financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial
position, financial performance and cash flows of the Bank in
accordance with the provisions of Section 29 of the Banking Regulation
Act, 1949, Accounting Standards referred to in Section 211 (3C) of the
Companies Act, 1956 in so far as they apply to the banks and the
Guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India. This responsibility
includes the design, implementation and maintenance of internal control
relevant to the preparation and presentation of the financial
statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditors'' Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance
with the Standards on Auditing issued by the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India. Those Standards require that we comply with the
ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about
the amounts and the disclosures in the financial statements. The
procedures selected depend on the auditor''s judgement, including the
assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk
assessments, the auditor considers the internal control relevant to the
Bank''s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in
order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the
circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the
effectiveness of the Bank''s internal control. An audit also includes
evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the
reasonableness of the accounting estimates made by the Management, as
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial
statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and
appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Opinion
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the
explanations given to us, the aforesaid financial statements give the
information required by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949; the Companies
Act, 1956 in the manner so required for banking companies and the
Guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India from time to time and give a
true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles
generally accepted in India:
(a) in the case of the Balance Sheet, of the state of affairs of the
Bank as at 31 March, 2013;
(b) in the case of the Profit and Loss Account, of the profit of the
Bank for the year ended on that date; and
(c) in the case of the Cash Flow Statement, of the cash flows of the
Bank for the year ended on that date.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by Section 227(3) of the Companies Act, 1956 and
Section 30 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, we report that:
(a) We have obtained all the information and explanations which to the
best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our
audit and found them to be satisfactory.
(b) In our opinion, the transactions of the Bank which have come to our
notice have been within the powers of the Bank.
(c) The financial accounting systems of the Bank are centralised and,
therefore, accounting returns are not required to be submitted by the
Branches.
(d) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have
been kept by the Bank so far as it appears from our examination of
those books.
(e) The Balance Sheet, the Profit and Loss Account and the Cash Flow
Statement dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of
account.
(f) In our opinion, the Balance Sheet, the Profit and Loss Account and
the Cash Flow Statement comply with the Accounting Standards referred
to in Section 211 (3C) of the Companies Act, 1956 in so far as they
apply to banks.
2. On the basis of the written representations received from the
Directors as on 31 March, 2013 taken on record by the Board of
Directors, we report that none of the Directors is disqualified as on
31 March, 2013 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section
274(1)(g) of the Companies Act, 1956.
3. We report that during the course of our audit we have visited 98
Branches. Since the key operations of the Bank are completely automated
with the key applications integrated to the core banking systems, the
audit is carried out centrally at the Head Office as all the necessary
records and data required for the purposes of our audit are available
therein and the Branches are not required to submit any financial
returns.
For DELOITTE HASKINS & SELLS
Chartered Accountants
(Registration No. 117365W)
Z. F. Billimoria
Partner
(Membership No. 42791)
Date : 24th April, 2013
Place : Mumbai
Mar 31, 2012
1. We have audited the attached Balance Sheet of AXIS BANK LIMITED
("the Bank") as at 31 March, 2012, the Profit and Loss Account and the
Cash Flow Statement of the Bank for the year ended on that date, both
annexed thereto. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Bank's Management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audit.
2. We conducted our audit in accordance with the auditing standards
generally accepted in India. Those Standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatements. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and the disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and the significant estimates
made by the Management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides reasonable
basis for our opinion.
3. The Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account are drawn up in
conformity with Forms A and B (revised) of the Third Schedule to the
Banking Regulation Act, 1949, read with Section 211 of the Companies
Act, 1956.
4. Without qualifying our report, we invite attention to Note 1(a) of
Schedule 18 regarding the Scheme of Arrangement for the demerger of
Enam Securities Private Ltd. with the Bank's subsidiary. For the
reasons stated therein, no effect to the proposed Scheme has been given
in the accounts.
5. We further report as follows :
(a) we have obtained all the information and explanations which to the
best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our
audit and have found them to be satisfactory;
(b) in our opinion, the transactions of the Bank which have come to our
notice have been within its powers;
(c) in our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have
been kept by the Bank so far as it appears from our examination of
those books;
(d) the financial accounting systems of the Bank are centralised and,
therefore, accounting returns are not required to be submitted by the
Branches;
(e) the Balance Sheet, the Profit and Loss Account and the Cash Flow
Statement dealt with by this report are in agreement with the books of
account;
(f) in our opinion, the Balance Sheet, the Profit and Loss Account and
the Cash Flow Statement dealt with by this report comply with the
Accounting Standards referred to in Section 211 (3C) of the Companies
Act, 1956, insofar as they apply to banks;
(g) in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to
the explanations given to us, the said accounts give the information
required by the Companies Act, 1956 in the manner so required for
banking companies and the Guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of
India from time to time and give a true and fair view in conformity
with the accounting principles generally accepted in India :
(i) in the case of the Balance Sheet, of the state of the affairs of
the Bank as at 31 March, 2012;
(ii) in the case of the Profit and Loss Account, of the profit of the
Bank for the year ended on that date and
(iii) in the case of Cash Flow Statement, of the cash flows of the Bank
for the year ended on that date.
6. On the basis of the written representations received from the
Directors as on 31st March, 2012 and as per the information and
representation provided to us by the Bank, taken on record by the Board
of Directors, we report that none of the Directors is disqualified as
on 31st March, 2012 from being appointed as a director in terms of
Section 274(1)(g) of the Companies Act, 1956.
7. We report that during the course of our audit we have visited 56
Branches. Since the key operations of the Bank are completely automated
with the key applications integrated to the core banking systems, the
audit is carried out centrally at the Head Office as all the necessary
records and data required for the purposes of our audit are available
therein and the Branches are not required to submit any financial
returns.
For DELOITTE HASKINS & SELLS
Chartered Accountants
(Registration No: 117365W)
Z. F. Billimoria
Partner
(Membership No. 42791)
Place : Mumbai,
Date : 27th April, 2012
Mar 31, 2011
1. We have audited the attached Balance Sheet of AXIS BANK LIMITED
("the Bank") as at 31 March, 2011, the Profit and Loss Account and the
Cash Flow Statement of the Bank for the year ended on that date, both
annexed thereto. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Banks Management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audit.
2. We conducted our audit in accordance with the auditing standards
generally accepted in India. Those Standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatements. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and the disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and the significant estimates
made by the Management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides reasonable
basis for our opinion.
3. The Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account are drawn up in
conformity with Forms A and B (revised) of the Third Schedule to the
Banking Regulation Act, 1949, read with Section 211 of the Companies
Act, 1956.
4. Without qualifying our report, we invite attention to Note 1 of
Schedule 18 regarding the Scheme of Arrangement for the demerger of
Enam Securities Private Ltd. with the Banks subsidiary. For the
reasons stated therein, no effect to the proposed Scheme has been given
in the accounts.
5. We further report as follows:
(a) we have obtained all the information and explanations which to the
best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our
audit and have found them to be satisfactory;
(b) in our opinion, the transactions of the Bank which have come to our
notice have been within its powers;
(c) in our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have
been kept by the Bank so far as it appears from our examination of
those books;
(d) the financial accounting systems of the Bank are centralised and,
therefore, accounting returns are not required to be submitted by the
Branches;
(e) the Balance Sheet, the Profit and Loss Account and the Cash Flow
Statement dealt with by this report are in agreement with the books of
account;
(f) in our opinion, the Balance Sheet, the Profit and Loss Account and
the Cash Flow Statement dealt with by this report comply with the
Accounting Standards referred to in Section 211 (3C) of the Companies
Act, 1956, insofar as they apply to banks;
(g) in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to
the explanations given to us, the said accounts give the information
required by the Companies Act, 1956 in the manner so required for
banking companies and the Guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of
India from time to time and give a true and fair view in conformity
with the accounting principles generally accepted in India :
(i) in the case of the Balance Sheet, of the state of the affairs of
the Bank as at 31 March, 2011;
(ii) in the case of the Profit and Loss Account, of the-profit of the
Bank for the year ended on that date and
(iii) in the case of Cash Flow Statement, of the cash flows of the Bank
for the year ended on that date.
6. On the basis of the written representations received from the
Directors as on 31 March, 2011 taken on record by the Board of
Directors, we report that none of the Directors is disqualified from
being appointed as a director in terms of Section 274(1 )(g) of the
Companies Act, 1956.
For DELOITTE HASKINS & SELLS
Chartered Accountants
(Registration No: 117365W)
Nalin M. Shah
Partner
(Membership No. 15860)
Place : Mumbai
Date : 22nd April, 2011
Mar 31, 2010
1. We have audited the attached balance sheet of Axis Bank Limited
(the Bank) as at 31 March 2010 and also the profit and loss account
and cash flow statement for the year ended on that date, annexed
thereto. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Banks management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audit.
2. We conducted our audit in accordance with accounting standards
generally accepted in India. Those Standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for
our opinion.
3. The balance sheet and profit and loss account are drawn up in
conformity with Forms A and B (revised) of the Third Schedule to the
Banking Regulation Act, 1949, read with Section 211 of the Companies
Act, 1956.
4. We report that:
a) We have obtained all the information and explanations, which to the
best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our
audit and have found them to be satisfactory;
b) In our opinion, the transactions of the Bank which have come to our
notice have been within its powers;
c) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been
kept by the Bank so far as appears from our examination of those books
and proper returns adequate for the purposes of our audit have been
received from the Banks branches;
d) The balance sheet, profit and loss account and cash flow statement
dealt with by this report are in agreement with the books of account;
e) In our opinion, the balance sheet, profit and loss account and cash
flow statement dealt with by this report comply with the accounting
standards referred to in sub-section (3C) of Section 211 of the
Companies Act 1956, insofar as they apply to banks;
f) On the basis of written representations received from the directors,
as on 31 March 2010, and taken on record by the Board of Directors, we
report that none of the directors is disqualified from being appointed
as a director in terms of clause (g) of sub-section (1) of Section 274
of the Companies Act, 1956;
g) In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to
the explanations given to us, the said accounts give the information
required by the Companies Act, 1956 in the manner so required for
banking companies, and give a true and fair view in conformity with the
accounting principles generally accepted in India;
i. in case of the balance sheet, of the state of the affairs of the
Bank as at 31 March 2010;
ii. in case of the profit and loss account, of the profit for the year
ended on that date; and
iii. in case of cash flow statement, of the cash flows for the year
ended on that date.
For S.R. Batliboi & Co.
Firm Registration No.: 301003E
Chartered Accountants
per Viren H. Mehta
Partner
Membership No.: 048749
Place: Mumbai
Date: 20 April 2010
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