HDB FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED
Report on the Audit of the Standalone Ind-AS Financial Statements
OPINION
We have audited the accompanying standalone Ind-AS financial statements of HDB FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED
("the Company"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2025, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Changes in Equity, the Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended and the Notes to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements, including a summary of material accounting policies and other explanatory information (hereinafter referred to as "standalone Ind-AS financial statements").
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid standalone Ind-AS financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013, (the Act) in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the Indian Accounting Standards prescribed under
section 133 of the Act read with the Companies (India Accounting Standard) Rules, 2015, as amended, (Ind-AS) and with other accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2025, the profit, total comprehensive income, changes in equity and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
BASIS FOR OPINION
We conducted our audit of the standalone Ind-AS financial statements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under section 143(10) of the Companies Act, 2013. Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Ind-AS Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the standalone Ind-AS financial statements under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 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.
KEY AUDIT MATTERS
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the standalone Ind-AS financial statements of the current year. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the standalone Ind-AS 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.
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Key Audit Matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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Assessment of impairment loss provision on loans based on Expected Credit Loss model (ECL) under IND AS 109.
Refer to the accounting policies in 'Note 3(B) to the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements: Expected Credit Loss',
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Under Ind AS 109, "Financial Instruments", allowance for loan losses are determined using expected credit loss ('ECL') estimation model. The estimation of ECL on financial instruments involves significant judgement and estimates. The key areas where we identified greater levels of management judgement and therefore increased levels of audit focus are:
• Data inputs - The application of ECL model requires several data inputs. This increases the risk of completeness and accuracy of the data that has been used to create assumptions in the model.
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Our audit procedures were focussed on assessing the appropriateness of management's judgement and estimates used in the impairment analysis that included, but were not limited to, the following:
• Reviewed the Board approved ECL Policy and ECL approach note that articulate the objectives of managing each portfolio.
• Obtained an understanding of the ECL model adopted by the Company including the key inputs and assumptions.
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Key Audit Matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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• Model estimations - Inherently judgmental models are used to estimate ECL which involves determining Probabilities of Default ("PD"), Loss Given Default ("LGD") and Exposures at Default ("EAD"). The PD and the LGD are the key drivers of estimation complexity in the ECL and as a result are considered the most significant judgmental aspect of the Company's modelling approach.
• Economic scenarios - Ind AS 109 requires the Company to measure ECLs on an unbiased forward - looking basis reflecting a range of future economic conditions. Significant management judgement is applied in determining the economic scenarios used and the probability weights applied to them.
The effect of these matters is that, as part of our risk assessment, we determined that the impairment of loans and advances to customers, has a high degree of estimation uncertainty, with a potential range of reasonable outcomes greater than our materiality for the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements as a whole and hence we have identified the same as a Key Audit Matter.
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• Tested controls placed over key inputs, data and assumptions impacting ECL calculations to assess the completeness, accuracy and relevance of data and reasonableness of economic forecasts, weights and model assumptions applied.
• Performed the following procedures:
Ý tested appropriateness of staging of borrowers based on DPD and other loss indicators.
Ý evaluated the methodology used to determine management overlays and adjustments to the output of the ECL model
Ý the mathematical accuracy of the ECL computation by using the same input data as used by the Company.
Ý verified the completeness and adequacy of the disclosures made in the financial statements and ensured compliance with Ind AS provisions.
Obtained written representations from management on whether they believe significant assumptions used in calculation of expected credit losses are reasonable including the report on review of ECL model of the Company for the year, as performed by an independent expert, whose report is placed before the Board of Directors of the Company.
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Information Technology system used for the financial reporting process
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IT systems and controls
The Company's key financial accounting and reporting processes are highly dependent on information technology considering the significant number of transactions that are processed daily across multiple and distinct Information Technology ('IT') systems. The Financial accounting system of the Company is interfaced with several other IT systems including Loan Management & Originating systems as well as several other systemic workflows.
IT general and application controls are critical to ensure that IT systems are able to process the data, completely, accurately and consistently for reliable financial reporting, changes to applications and underlying data are made in an appropriate manner. Adequate controls contribute to mitigating the risk of potential fraud or errors as a result of changes to the applications and data.
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During the course of audit, we deployed our internal experts to carry out the review of IT general controls. Our key audit processes were as under:
• Review of the IT applications and IT infrastructure of the Company in order to identify the IT applications and the infrastructure which has a significant impact on the financial reporting process, as "Key IT systems/ applications"
• Obtaining an understanding of Company's Key IT applications, databases and operating systems.
• Review of reports of information security audits conducted by the Company either internally or through external experts.
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Key Audit Matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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These includes implementation of preventive and detective controls across critical applications and infrastructure.
Due to the pervasive nature of role of information technology systems in financial reporting, we planned our audit by assessing the risk of a material misstatement arising from the technology as significant for the audit, hence the Key Audit Matter.
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• testing design and operating effectiveness of IT controls such as IT governance and policy framework, access controls, change management controls, program development & system implementation, IT operations & backup controls, data integrity and protection controls, business continuity and disaster recovery, incident management, batch processing & monitoring etc.
• testing the accuracy of the information produced by the Company's key IT systems/applications.
• testing of compensating controls and performing alternate procedures, whenever necessary.
• t esting of compliance with the requirements relating to 'Audit Trail' and it's data backup under 'the Companies Act, 2013'.
We employed various techniques such as inquiry, review of documentation/ record/ reports, observation and re-performance for the purpose of IT review.
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INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE STANDALONE IND-AS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND AUDITOR'S REPORT THEREON
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the Director's Report and Report on Corporate Governance but does not include the standalone Ind-AS financial statements and our auditor's report thereon which we obtained prior to the date of this auditor's report. The Board of Directors' report is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor's report.
Our opinion on the standalone Ind-AS 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 Ind-AS 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 Ind-AS Financial Statements, or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
When we read the Annual Report, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we will communicate the matter to those charged with governance and take appropriate action as applicable under the relevant laws and regulations.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANAGEMENT AND THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE FOR THE STANDALONE IND-AS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company'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 Ind-AS financial statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance, changes in equity and the cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Accounting Standards specified under section 133 of the Act. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls,
that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the standalone Ind-AS 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 Ind-AS financial statements, the Board of Directors is responsible for assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Those Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process.
AUDITOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE STANDALONE IND-AS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the standalone Ind-AS financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these standalone Ind-AS financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
• I dentify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 Companies Act, 2013, we are also responsible
for expressing our opinion on whether the company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by 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 Company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
Materiality is the magnitude of misstatements in the financial statements that, individually or in aggregate, makes it probable that the economic decisions of the users of the financial statements may be influenced. We consider quantitative materiality and qualitative factors in (i) planning the scope of our audit work and in evaluating the results of our work; and (ii) to evaluate the effect of any identified misstatements in the standalone Ind-AS financial statements.
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 Ind-AS 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 annual financial statements of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2024, were audited by erstwhile joint auditors whose audit report dated April 16, 2024, expressed an unmodified opinion on those annual financial statements.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
REPORT ON OTHER LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
1) As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020 ("the Order"), issued by the Central Government of India in terms of sub-section (11) of section 143 of the Companies Act, 2013, we give in the "Annexure A" a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
2) As required by section 143(3) of the Act, we report that:
a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books.
c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account.
d) In our opinion, the aforesaid standalone Ind-AS financial statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under Section 133 of the Act, read with relevant rules issued thereunder.
e) On the basis of the written representations received from the Directors of the Company as on March 31, 2025, taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the Directors of the Company is disqualified as on March 31, 2025, 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 with reference to financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure B".
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 ("the Rules"), in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
i) The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its standalone Ind-AS financial statements - Refer Note 39.1 to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements.
ii) The Company 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 39.3 to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements.
iii) There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company.
iv) The Management has represented that:
a) to the best of their knowledge and belief, no funds have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to or in any other person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entity(ies) ("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 Company ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries;
b) to the best of their knowledge and belief, no funds have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities ("Funding Parties"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries;
Based on such audit procedures performed by us that have been considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under sub-clause (i) and (ii) of Rule 11 (e) of the Rules as provided under (a) and (b) above contain any material misstatement.
v) As per information and explanation given by Management and based on the records of the Company, the final dividend proposed for the previous year, declared and paid by the
Company during the year is in accordance with Section 123 of the Act, as applicable.
The Board of Directors of the Company have proposed final dividend for the current year 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 Act, as applicable.
The interim dividend declared and paid by the Company during the year and until the date of this audit report is in compliance with Section 123 of the Act.
vi) Based on our examination which included test checks, the Company has used an accounting software for maintaining its books of account which has a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the software. Further, during the course of our audit we did not come across any instance of audit trail feature being tampered with. Additionally, the audit trail has been preserved by the Company as per the statutory requirements for record retention.
3) According to information and explanations given to us and based on our examination of the records of the Company, the Company has paid/provided managerial remuneration in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by the provisions of Section 197 of the Act.
For G D Apte & Co For Kalyaniwalla & Mistry LLP
Chartered Accountants Chartered Accountants
Firm Registration No: 100515W Firm Registration No: 104607W/W100166
Saurabh S. Peshwe Roshni R. Marfatia
Partner Partner
Membership Number: 121546 Membership Number: 106548
UDIN: 25121546BMLILG9824 UDIN: 25106548BMKSNY7719
Place: Mumbai Place: Mumbai
Date: April 16, 2025 Date: April 16, 2025
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