Your Directors are pleased to present the 93rd Annual Report covering the operational and financial performance of your Company along with the Audited Financial Statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2026.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS & PERFORMANCE
|
Particulars
|
Financial Year ended on March 31, 2026
|
Financial Year ended on March 31, 2025
|
|
(Audited)
|
(Audited)
|
|
Revenue from operations
|
35,154.84
|
34,880.26
|
|
Other Income
|
785.56
|
670.00
|
|
Total Income
|
35,940.40
|
35,550.26
|
|
Profit before exceptional item
|
2,302.05
|
3,005.73
|
|
Exceptional Item
|
490.32
|
(1,231.68)
|
|
Profit before Taxation
|
1,811.73
|
4,237.41
|
|
Provision for Taxation
|
476.14
|
952.92
|
|
Net Profit
|
1,335.59
|
3,284.49
|
|
Other Comprehensive Income (net of tax)
|
21.07
|
1.75
|
|
Total Comprehensive Income
|
1,356.66
|
3,286.24
|
Your Company has prepared the Financial Statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, in terms of Sections 129, 133 and other applicable provisions, if any, of the Companies Act, 2013 (as amended) (the “Act”) and Schedule III thereto read with the Rules framed thereunder.
During the financial year ended March 31, 2026, your Company achieved a turnover of Rs. 35,154.84 Million as compared to the turnover of Rs. 34,880.26 Million recorded during the previous financial year ended March 31, 2025, registering an increment of 0.79%. The Operating Profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2026 stood at Rs. 2,862.58 Million vs Rs. 3,620.12 Million for the previous financial year.
During the year under review, your Company also accounted for non-cash forex loss of Rs. 223.74 Million due to sharp currency devaluation.
Exceptional items include Rs. 423.66 Million towards Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), introduced at certain manufacturing units, during the financial year ended March 31, 2026 and Rs. 107.84 Million towards VRS for the financial year ended March 31, 2025.
Further, under the new Labour Codes, your Company has assessed the financial implications of the changes in obligations which has resulted in increase
in gratuity liability and leave liability arising out of past service cost by Rs. 66.66 Million, disclosed as an exceptional item.
Your Company posted a Net Profit of Rs. 1,335.59 Million for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, as against the Net Profit of Rs. 3,284.49 Million for the financial year ended March 31, 2025. Net Profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2025 was higher due to one-time gain (net of related expenses) of Rs. 1,339.52 Million on account of sale of a closed manufacturing unit. Further, Net Profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, was lower due to exceptional items and one-off costs totaling to Rs. 714.06 Million.
Significant investments behind Brand and technology made during the year under review, for future readiness, impacted net margins.
On a consolidated basis, your Company reports a turnover of Rs. 35,154.95 Million during the financial year ended March 31, 2026 and a consolidated Net Profit of Rs. 1,342.04 Million for the said financial year.
OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS & PERFORMANCE
Your Company continued to be India's favorite footwear brand and largest footwear retailer. Your Company retails through a network of COCO,
Franchise and SIS Stores, its own website & app, major marketplaces and Quick Commerce platforms. The year under review marks crossing the milestone of 700 Franchise stores with total footprint progressing close to 2,000 Stores nationwide. Your Company has a robust E-commerce network that delivers across the country. During the year under review, your Company added new partner for Quick Commerce. Distribution channel was scaled up to 1,650 towns.
Your Company witnessed prolonged sluggishness in discretionary spending that started towards the end of March 2023, further accentuated due to inflationary pressures, currency devaluation and geopolitical uncertainties, leading to flattening of growth in real wages, however, consumer sentiments saw steady improvement post introduction of major structural tax reforms by the Indian Government in September 2025 (known as GST 2.0), leading to growth across channels. Amidst these headwinds and demand trends, your Company through strong resilience and disciplined execution of the key strategic levers, managed to protect EBITDA (excluding exceptional items) margin. With the roll out of GST 2.0, premium brands like Floatz, Power, Hush Puppies saw healthy revival in demand, during the festive, wedding and winter seasons, backed by growth in E-commerce sales.
These initiatives reflect in the revenue momentum improvement in the second half versus the first half of FY 2025-26 backed by accelerated marketing investments. Your Company achieved a volume-led topline growth during the last quarter, supported by sequential improvement in momentum, with March'26 performance stronger than January'26.
Your Company maintained significant thrust on elevating store experience, inventory management and portfolio newness. Your Company continued to expand “Zero Base Merchandising" (ZBM) to enhance customer experience by reducing complexity across categories, improve availability and reduce retrieval time. On account of these initiatives, your Company witnessed volume and turnover growth in ZBM stores.
Network expansion through Franchise stores serves as a strong pillar to the strategy of retail expansion, combining the strength of both partners. Due to strong Brand recall, your Company has been witnessing increasing interest for opening of
Franchise stores. This allowed your Company to expand its presence with speed and discipline, primarily in markets beyond metros where demand for branded footwear is rising steadily. Combined with Omni-channel network, multi-brand outlets, D2C platform and marketplaces, your Company is tapping into new growth opportunities with a broader ambition to serve customers across regions, categories and price points.
During the year under review, your Company continued to strengthen its positioning through focused marketing initiatives across key categories, combining trend-led product storytelling with a digital-first approach to customer engagement. Details of marketing campaigns are covered separately in this Report.
With focus on improving quality and faster product development, your Company reimagined the product creation funnel, with clear outcomes in sight, e.g., sourcing partner consolidation, focusing on quality and standardization of kits. This would enable your Company to bring newness and freshness to its stores in line with the industry.
Your Company has one of the largest Omni-network in India with 70% stores enabled with hyperlocal delivery arrangement. The Omni-channel of your Company recorded a handsome share of the total sales.
As digital adoption continues to rise, your Company is witnessing steady growth in E-commerce business. For the year under review, E-commerce sales grew by over 7%. Both bata.com and marketplace channels sales grew by ~40% and ~11% respectively over last year. In addition, Home Delivery Services have been extended to all Franchise stores.
Your Company has also launched Bata app that now contributes significantly to the D2C business.
The Distribution business and B2B business remained subdued till the first quarter of the year under review due to supply chain congestion caused by lower secondary sales that continued from the previous year. The business showed steady recovery during the last three quarters of the year under review. B2B business has been steady on major marketplaces with sharp focus on growth opportunities across categories & brands and continues to be amongst the top footwear brands on major marketplaces. During the year under review, your Company
witnessed growth in categories like Men's open, school and ladies VAC.
Your Company stepped-up its infrastructure to enhance productivity and efficiencies across the value chain. Your Company continues to implement its strategies of Local to Local (L2L) sourcing, import substitution, etc., to support Speed-to-Market and margin improvement across Retail and I&D businesses.
Through several projects like ZBM and Customer First - your Company focused on “customer - in” with efficiency, reliability and sharper execution. Your Company simplified ways of working, improved supply-chain effectiveness, strengthened retail productivity and embraced data-led decisions. Our inventory resultantly was at multi-year low at the end of the year under review.
For the year under review, margins remained healthy across all business channels of EBOs, MBOs and E- commerce, despite softness in discretionary demand.
With continued marketing investments and thrust on strategic levers - product, channels and inventory, backed by digital transformation, your Company is enthusiastic for the future, against the backdrop of GST 2.0.
Your Company remains focused on enhancing Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) through disciplined capital allocation and improving operational efficiency. During the year under review, your Company has successfully implemented VRS in the manufacturing units, designed to right-size manpower, reduce long-term fixed overheads and improve overall productivity.
On the other side of the spectrum, your Company has persisted with various initiatives (including ZBM and Customer First) for overall improvement of inventory, stock turns, growth in revenue per square foot, freshness, etc.
These combined initiatives are instrumental in strengthening the balance sheet and driving sustainable value for the shareholders.
As a responsible corporate citizen and a trusted Brand, your Company is committed towards its social responsibilities through various initiatives, details of which are covered subsequently in this Report.
SHARE CAPITAL
During the year under review, there was no change in Share Capital of your Company.
DIVIDEND
Your Board, at its meeting held on February 9, 2026, reviewed and amended the Dividend Distribution Policy to include a provision that subject to the general considerations and other parameters / conditions as mentioned in the Policy, your Board shall endeavour to pay / recommend a dividend having pay-out of upto 100% of the net sale proceeds of any immovable property.
Further, your Board, at its meeting held on May 27, 2026, reviewed and amended the Dividend Distribution Policy to include a provision that subject to the general considerations and other parameters / conditions as mentioned in the Policy, your Board shall endeavour to pay / recommend a dividend having pay-out of 40% or above of Profit After Tax for that year. The Policy also includes a provision that subject to the general considerations and other parameters / conditions as mentioned in the Policy, with aim to improve Return on Capital employed, your Board may at its discretion pay / recommend a dividend depending upon the financial performance or surplus cash.
The above provisions are effective for dividend for the financial year 2025-26 and onwards.
The amended Dividend Distribution Policy has been uploaded on the website of the Company at www.bata.in under the tab “Investor Relations > Company Policies” at https:/^www.bata.in/company- policies.html and is available at the link https:// www.bata.com/on/demandware.static/7Sites-bata-in-Library/ default/vf4f53bbe8c9efc25d22785104dd53e860e4ab8c4/pdf/ Dividend%5FDistribution%5FPolicy%2DBIL%2DR evised%5FFinal%20%2D%202026%2D27.pdf
In line with the amended Dividend Distribution Policy of your Company, your Board recommends a Dividend of Rs. 9/- (180%) per equity share of Rs. 5/- each, fully paid-up of your Company, for the financial year ended March 31, 2026. The Dividend, if declared, by the Members at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be paid to the eligible Members of the Company from Thursday, August 27, 2026 onwards.
Pursuant to the Income-tax Act, 2025, the dividend paid or distributed by a company shall be taxable in the hands of the shareholders. Accordingly, in compliance with the said provisions, your Company shall make the payment of dividend after necessary deduction of tax at source at the prescribed rates. For the prescribed rates for various categories, the shareholders are requested to refer to the Income- tax Act, 2025.
GENERAL RESERVE
Your Company has not transferred any amount to the General Reserve during the financial year ended March 31, 2026.
DEPOSITS
Your Company has no unclaimed / unpaid matured deposit or interest due thereon since December 31, 2013. Your Company has not accepted any deposits covered under 'Chapter V - Acceptance of Deposits by Companies' under the Act during the financial year ended March 31, 2026.
PARTICULARS OF LOANS, GUARANTEES AND INVESTMENTS
In terms of Section 186 of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder, details of the Loans given and Investments made by your Company have been disclosed in Note No. 5 of the Notes to the Financial Statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, which forms part of this Annual Report. Your Company has not given any guarantee or provided any security during the year under review. Accordingly, disclosure as per Rule 8(5)(xii) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, as amended, is not applicable.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the financial year ended March 31, 2026, all transactions with the Related Parties as defined under the Act read with the Rules framed thereunder, were in the ordinary course of business and at arm's length basis. Your Company does not have a 'Material Subsidiary' as defined under Regulation 16(1)(c) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (as amended) (the “Listing Regulations”).
During the year under review, your Company did not enter into any Related Party Transaction which requires prior approval of the Members of your
Company. All Related Party Transactions entered into by your Company had prior approval of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors, as required under the Listing Regulations. Subsequently, the Audit Committee and the Board have also reviewed the Related Party Transactions on a quarterly basis. During the year under review, there have been no Material Related Party Transactions having potential conflict with the interest of your Company.
Since all Related Party Transactions entered into by your Company were in the ordinary course of business and also on an arm's length basis, therefore, details required to be provided in the prescribed Form AOC - 2 are not applicable to your Company. Necessary disclosures required under the Ind AS 24 have been made in Note No. 33 of the Notes to Financial Statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2026.
INVESTOR EDUCATION AND PROTECTION FUND (IEPF)
In compliance with Sections 124 and 125 of the Act read with the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016 (“IEPF Rules”) as amended from time to time, a sum of Rs. 18,70,676/- has been deposited into the specified bank account of the IEPF, Government of India, towards unclaimed / unpaid dividend amount for the financial year ended March 31, 2018.
As per the IEPF Rules, the corresponding equity shares in respect of which Dividend remains unclaimed / unpaid for seven consecutive years or more, are required to be transferred to the Demat Account of the IEPF Authority. During the year under review, your Company has transferred 31,457 underlying Equity Shares to the Demat Account of the IEPF Authority, in compliance with the aforesaid Rules.
MATERIAL CHANGES AND COMMITMENTS AFFECTING FINANCIAL POSITION BETWEEN END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR AND THE DATE OF THIS REPORT
Except those disclosed in this Annual Report, there are no material changes and commitments affecting the financial position of your Company between the end of the financial year i.e., March 31, 2026 and the date of this Board's Report.
SUBSIDIARIES
During the year under review, no company became or ceased to be a subsidiary, joint venture or associate of your Company. As on the date of this Report, your Company has two wholly owned subsidiaries viz., Bata Properties Limited and Way Finders Brands Limited (WFBL). The Board of Directors of WFBL are evaluating business opportunities in footwear and non-footwear products.
The Annual Reports of these Subsidiaries will be made available for inspection by any Member of the Company at the Registered Office of your Company at 27B, Camac Street, 1st Floor, Kolkata - 700016, West Bengal, between 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. on any working day upto the date of ensuing AGM. The Annual Reports of the aforesaid Subsidiaries for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, shall be provided to any Member of your Company upon receipt of written request. Members may also send an advance request at the e-mail id - share.dept@bata.com for an electronic inspection of the aforesaid documents.
The Annual Reports along with the Audited Financial Statements of each of the Subsidiaries of your Company are also available on the website of your Company at www.bata.in
Pursuant to Section 129(3) of the Act read with Rule 5 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 (as amended), a statement containing the salient features of Financial Statements of the aforesaid Subsidiaries (including highlights of their performance and contributions to the overall performance of the Company) has been provided in Form AOC - 1 which forms part of this Annual Report.
The Audited Consolidated Financial Statements (CFS) of your Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, prepared in compliance with Ind AS issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and notified by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India also form part of this Annual Report.
Details of the Subsidiaries are given in the Annual Return in Form No. MGT - 7 as on March 31, 2026.
ANNUAL RETURN
The Annual Return referred to in Section 92(3) of the Act is available on the website of your Company
at www.bata.in under the tab “Investor Relations > Annual Reports” under the link https://www.bata.in/ annual-reports.html
AUDIT AND AUDITORSStatutory Auditors
In terms of Section 139 of the Act, read with the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended), M/s. Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP (“PwCA”) (ICAI Firm Registration No. 012754N/N500016), Chartered Accountants was appointed as the Auditors of your Company for a consecutive period of 5 (five) years from the conclusion of the 89th AGM held in the year 2022 until conclusion of the 94th AGM of your Company.
PwCA has not informed the Company regarding any condition rendering them ineligible to continue as the Auditors of the Company in terms of the provisions of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder. A copy of the certificate issued by the Peer Review Board (ICAI) as required under Regulation 33 of the Listing Regulations has been submitted by PwCA to the Company.
The reports given by the Auditors on the Standalone and Consolidated Financial Statements of your Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, form part of this Annual Report and there is no qualification, reservation, adverse remark or disclaimer given by the Auditors in their Reports. The disclosures made in the said reports are self¬ explanatory and do not call for any further comments.
In accordance with the National Financial Reporting Authority Circular dated January 7, 2026, the Board has adopted a framework to ensure effective two way communication between Those Charged with Governance and PwCA.
Secretarial Auditors
In terms of Section 204 of the Act, read with Rule 9 of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 (as amended) and the Listing Regulations, M/s. Chandrasekaran Associates (“CACS”), (FRN: P1988DE002500), Company Secretaries, was appointed to conduct the Secretarial Audit for a term of 5 (five) consecutive years commencing from April 1, 2025.
The Secretarial Audit Report for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, as received from CACS in the
prescribed Form No. MR - 3 is annexed to this Board's Report and marked as Annexure - I and does not contain any qualification, reservation, adverse remark or disclaimer.
Other Information
During the year under review, the Statutory Auditors and the Secretarial Auditors of your Company have not reported any instances of frauds in terms of the second proviso to Section 143(12) of the Act.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT
In compliance with Regulation 34 of the Listing Regulations read with Schedule V thereto, the Corporate Governance Report of your Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2026 is annexed as Annexure - II and forms part of this Annual Report. The details of Credit Rating are given in the said report.
Other disclosures required to be made under the Listing Regulations, the Act and the Rules made thereunder, have been included in the Corporate Governance Report and / or the Financial Statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2026 to avoid repetition in this Board's Report.
SIGNIFICANT AND MATERIAL LITIGATIONS / ORDERS
During the year under review, there were no significant material orders passed by any regulator / court and no litigation was outstanding as on March 31, 2026, which would impact the going concern status and future operations of your Company. The details of litigation on tax matters are disclosed in the Auditor's Report and Financial Statements which form part of this Annual Report. During the year under review, no Corporate Insolvency Resolution application was made or proceeding was initiated, by / against Bata India Limited under the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (as amended) (the “IB Code”). Further, no application / proceeding by / against Bata India Limited under the IB Code is pending as on March 31, 2026.
MANUFACTURING AND SOURCING
Your Company has established a robust, system- driven compliance framework to ensure adherence to applicable standards and ethical practices across its operations and value chain. This framework includes a comprehensive pre-review and approval
process for on-boarding new manufacturing partners, whether through in-sourcing arrangements or associate manufacturing for own factories. The process involves detailed documentation review and completion of a comprehensive compliance audit prior to final approval.
In line with our commitment to Social and Environmental Responsibility (SER), your Company conducted audits of its value-chain sourcing partners during the year under review. Factory operations were audited by independent third-party auditors, while vendor facilities underwent audits conducted by the internal audit teams to assess compliance level and adherence to established standards.
Your Company has also maintained recognized certifications for its own manufacturing facilities, including ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental Management Systems and ISO 45001:2018 for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, reflecting its strong commitment to operational excellence, environmental stewardship and employee safety.
Your Company holds various Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) licences, covering a wide range of footwear products, such as General Purpose Shoes, Sandals and Slippers, Sports Shoes, Hawai Chappals, Safety Boots, Canvas Shoes with Rubber Sole, etc.
Your Company has sharpened its supplier base through strategic consolidation, enabling stronger, more effective long-term partnerships and improved control over suppliers and processes. This rationalisation generated meaningful benefits through reduced overheads. Enhanced collaboration with key suppliers strengthened domestic capability and capacity while improving operational governance. These initiatives improved Speed-to- Market and supported margins.
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY ABSORPTION, FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNINGS AND OUTGO
In compliance with Section 134(3)(m) of the Act read with Rule 8 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 (as amended), a statement containing information on conservation of energy, technology absorption, foreign exchange earnings and outgo of your Company, in the prescribed format, is annexed to this Board's Report and marked as Annexure - III.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND ENERGY CONSERVATION
Research and Development activities during the year under review were focused on fostering a pollution- free, safe and sustainable work environment. Key emphasis was placed on technological advancements in product and material development, along with the introduction of new footwear moulds and process improvements to enhance product quality, manufacturing efficiency and overall productivity.
An expenditure of Rs. 59.80 Million was incurred on Research and Development (including product development initiatives) during the year under review, as against Rs. 65.54 Million during the financial year 2024-25.
Key developments and further information on R & D activities during the year and conservation of energy are annexed to this Report and marked as Annexure
- III.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
Your Company operates on the belief that an organisation should exist to serve a social purpose and enhance the lives of people connected through its business. Your Company has a CSR Policy in place which aims to ensure that it continues to operate its business in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner, while recognising the interests of all its stakeholders.
Details of composition of CSR Committee and other relevant details have been provided in the Corporate Governance Report.
A sum of Rs. 6,88,52,083.88 was spent on various CSR initiatives (covered hereinafter in this Board's Report) for the financial year ended March 31, 2026. The unspent amount of Rs. 36,79,421 is towards certain ongoing projects and has been transferred to Unspent CSR Account as per Section 135(6) of the Act. The Annual Report on CSR activities, containing details of CSR expenditure, details of excess amount spent, etc., is appended as Annexure
- IV to this Board's Report.
The salient features of the CSR Policy of your Company are appended as Annexure - V to this Board's Report and the complete policy has been uploaded on the website of your Company at www.bata.in under the tab “Investor Relations > Company Policies” at
https://www.bata.com/on/demandware.static/-7
Sites-bata-in-Library/default/
vca1a6dc6c6c9dd1e1b2bd451ba8726ee06c054d7/
Staticpagesimages/Company%20Policies/CSR-
Policy-Bata-India-Ltd-2021.pdf
There has been no change in the CSR Policy during the year under review.
Your Company continued to demonstrate social commitment to the communities in and around which it operates. During the financial year 2025¬ 26, CSR initiatives of your Company, reflected our commitment to societal well-being and sustainable business practices. Aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), your Company primarily focused on quality education, W.A.S.H. (water sanitation and hygiene), environmental conservation and gender equality.
Promoting EducationBata Children’s Program
Through the Bata Children’s Program (BCP), your Company continued to focus on creating safe, inclusive and enabling school environments, positively impacting over 9,200 children. The programme runs on a holistic approach to child development, going beyond basic education to address mental well-being, gender sensitisation, digital literacy, sports-based learning and STEM education, supporting balanced cognitive, emotional and physical growth.
Through W.A.S.H. initiatives, your Company improved access to clean sanitation and safe drinking water, supported by rainwater harvesting and water- management models. Targeted interventions under the Inclusive Education Programme further ensured support for children with visual impairments and special needs through education and retention assistance, reinforcing your Company's commitment to making schools safe, dignified and inclusive spaces.
Environment Sustainability Projects
Environmental sustainability initiatives during the year under review, comprised of urban landscaping and plantation activities, with the maintenance of three green cover patches across identified landscaping sites and plantation undertaken through seed-pellet methods over designated stretches.
Girl Child Support
Your Company continued its initiatives focused on girl child empowerment, with an emphasis on skill development, employability and long-term economic independence. During the year under review, your Company implemented the Bata Wings Scholarship Programme - Phase 1 and launched Phase 2, providing support through vocational training and employment-linked opportunities. These initiatives were complemented by menstrual health management programmes for school-going girls, aimed at promoting awareness, hygiene and overall well-being.
Bata Heroes - Employee Volunteering
Employee volunteering continued to play a significant role, with over 7000 hours dedicated to community service. These volunteering efforts complemented the CSR initiatives across education and community development, health and well-being and environmental sustainability, W.A.S.H. workshops, online volunteering for the visually impaired and environmental initiatives such as tree plantation and seed-pellet making. It is a core objective to make employee volunteering a self¬ driven culture of your Company.
Your Company made significant strides to harness all its resources towards the successful execution of CSR projects across all locations.
SUPPORT FROM BATA SHOE ORGANIZATION
Your Company continues to receive support from the Holding Company - Bata (BN) B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands and also from Bata Shoe Organization (BSO). Your Company also enjoys the benefits of technical research through Global Footwear Services Pte. Ltd., Singapore (GFS). Your Company has renewed the Technical Collaboration
Agreement with GFS with effect from January 1, 2021 for a period of ten years. In terms of the said Agreement, your Company receives guidance, training of personnel and services from GFS in connection with research & development, marketing, brand development, footwear technology, testing & quality control, store location, layout & design, environment, health & safety, risk & insurance management, etc. Your Company continues to obtain expertise and experience from the personnel of GFS and other BSO group companies to improve its product range and operational processes throughout the year. In terms of the said Agreement, your Company has paid technical services fee of Rs. 736.38 Million to GFS for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, which is around 2.10% of the turnover of your Company.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BOARD MEETINGS AND KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNELComposition
Your Company's Board is duly constituted and is in compliance with the requirements of the Act, the Listing Regulations and provisions of the Articles of Association of your Company. Your Board has been constituted with requisite diversity, wisdom, expertise and experience commensurate to the scale of operations of your Company.
Meetings
During the year under review, a total of 4 (four) Meetings of the Board of Directors of your Company were held, i.e., on May 28, 2025, August 11, 2025, October 27, 2025 and February 9, 2026. Details of Board composition and Board Meetings held during the financial year 2025-26 have been provided in the Corporate Governance Report which forms part of this Annual Report.
Changes in Board Composition
Details of change(s) in the Board Composition during the year under review are as under:
|
Sl.
No.
|
Name of the Directors
|
Designation & Category
|
Reasons and date of appointment / re-appointment / resignation / retirement
|
|
1.
|
Mr. Ravindra Dhariwal (DIN: 00003922)
|
Non-Executive Director
|
Completed tenure as a Non-Executive Non-Independent Director on May 26, 2025.
|
|
2.
|
Mr. Shaibal Sinha (DIN: 00082504)
|
Non-Executive Director
|
Retired by rotation and re-appointed pursuant to Section 152(6) of the Act at the 92nd AGM held on August 12, 2025.
|
The Board places on record its sincere appreciation for the services rendered by Mr. Ravindra Dhariwal during his tenure.
Ms. Radha Rajappa (DIN: 08530439) who was appointed as a Non-Executive Independent Director, for a term of 5 (five) consecutive years with effect from June 9, 2021 upto June 8, 2026, was re¬ appointed for a second term of 3 (three) consecutive years with effect from June 9, 2026, through Postal Ballot Process, results of which were declared on May 23, 2026.
Other Information
Other details pertaining to the Directors, their appointment / cessation during the year under review and their remuneration are given in the Corporate Governance Report annexed hereto and forming part of this Board's Report.
Director seeking appointment / re-appointment
Mr. Gerd Graehsler (DIN: 10337180), Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of your Company, is liable to retire by rotation at the ensuing AGM and being eligible, has offered himself for re-appointment. Your Board recommends his re-appointment.
Further details along with necessary disclosure(s) in respect of Mr. Gerd Graehsler are being given in the Notice convening the 93rd AGM of your Company.
Key Managerial Personnel
As on the date of this Report, following are the Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) of your Company:
1. Mr. Gunjan Shah (DIN: 08525366), Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
2. Mr. Amit Aggarwal (DIN: 10825970), Director Finance and Chief Financial Officer.
3. Mr. Nitin Bagaria (ACS-20228), Company Secretary & Compliance Officer.
There were no changes in the KMPs during the year under review.
Declaration by Independent Directors
The Independent Directors of your Company have submitted requisite declarations that they continue to meet the criteria of Independence as laid down in Section 149(6) of the Act and Regulations 16(1)(b) and 25(8) of the Listing Regulations and there is no change in the status of their Independence and have confirmed that they are not aware of any
circumstance or situation which exists or may be reasonably anticipated that could impair or impact their ability to discharge their duties.
The Independent Directors of your Company are in compliance with the requirements under Rule 6 of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014 (as amended).
The Board of Directors further confirms that the Independent Directors also meet the criteria of expertise, experience, integrity and proficiency in terms of Rule 8 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 (as amended).
Committees of the Board
Pursuant to various requirements under the Act and the Listing Regulations, the Board of Directors has constituted various committees, such as, Audit Committee, Nomination and Remuneration Committee, Stakeholders Relationship Committee, Risk & Compliance Management Committee and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee. The details of composition, terms of reference, etc., pertaining to these committees are mentioned in the Corporate Governance Report which forms part of this Annual Report.
The Board has constituted a committee, namely, Business Operations Committee to primarily look into day-to-day matters relating to retail stores, banking, etc. The Board has also constituted dedicated committees, namely, Real Estate Committee and Technology Committee.
The Real Estate Committee is primarily responsible to review, recommend and assist the Board on all matters and transactions relating to the Real Estate of your Company.
The Technology Committee primarily acts as a counsel and assists on technology strategies to the Board. It also conducts periodic appraisal of technology projects of your Company.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECRETARIAL STANDARDS
During the year under review, your Company has duly complied with the applicable provisions of the Revised Secretarial Standards on Meetings of the Board of Directors (SS-1) and General Meetings (SS- 2) issued by the ICSI.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Board of Directors of your Company has duly constituted an Audit Committee in compliance with the provisions of Section 177 of the Act, the Rules framed thereunder read with Regulation 18 of the Listing Regulations. The recommendations made by the Audit Committee were accepted by your Board.
Name of the Audit Committee members, number of meetings held during the year under review, terms of reference and other requisite details have been provided in the Corporate Governance Report which forms part of this Annual Report.
NOMINATION AND REMUNERATION POLICY
Your Board has adopted a Remuneration Policy for identification, selection and appointment of Directors, Key Managerial Personnel (KMPs) and Senior Management Personnel (SMPs) of your Company. The Policy provides criteria for fixing remuneration of the Directors, KMPs, SMPs as well as other employees of your Company. The Policy enumerates the powers, roles and responsibilities of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. There has been no change in the said Policy during the year under review.
Your Board, on the recommendations of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, appoints Director(s) of your Company based on his / her eligibility, experience and qualifications and such appointment is approved by the Members of the Company at General Meetings. The Policy also provides for Board Diversity criteria.
The Policy is appended as Annexure - VI and has been uploaded on the website of your Company at www.bata.in under the tab “Investor Relations > Company Policies” at https://www.bata.in/company- policies.html and is available at the link https:// www.bata.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-bata- in-Library/default/v4630e105168980f045e3 5a4a408a4a6d759e76c0/pdf/250423-Bata- Nomination-and-Remuneration-Policy%202023.pdf
Your Company conducts a Board Evaluation process for the Board of Directors as a whole, Board Committees and also for the Directors individually through self-assessment and peer assessment. The details of Board Evaluation process for the financial
year 2025-26 have been provided in the Corporate Governance Report which forms part of this Annual Report.
DISCLOSURES ON REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE COMPANY
Details as required under Section 197(12) of the Act read with Rules 5(1), 5(2) and 5(3) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 (as amended), are annexed to this Board's Report and marked as Annexures - VII and VIII. Further, the Non-Executive Non¬ Independent Directors of your Company (who are a part of BSO / Bata Group in any executive capacity) do not accept any sitting fees / commission.
DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to Section 134 of the Act, the Directors, to the best of their knowledge and belief, hereby confirm that:
(a) in the preparation of the annual accounts, the applicable accounting standards had been followed;
(b) they have selected such accounting policies and applied them consistently and made judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2026 and of the profit of the Company for that period;
(c) they have taken proper and sufficient care for the maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities;
(d) they have prepared the annual accounts on a going concern basis;
(e) they have laid down internal financial controls to be followed by the Company and that such internal financial controls are adequate and are operating effectively; and
(f) they have devised proper systems to ensure compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws and such systems are adequate and operating effectively.
WHISTLE BLOWER POLICY / VIGIL MECHANISM
In terms of Section 177 of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder read with Regulation 22 of the Listing Regulations, your Company has a Whistle Blower Policy / Vigil Mechanism in place for the Directors and Employees of your Company through which genuine concerns regarding various issues relating to inappropriate functioning of the organisation can be raised. A Vigil Mechanism Committee under the Chairmanship of the Audit Committee Chairman is also in place. Any concern relating to impact on human rights or issues caused by the business shall also be addressed by the said committee. The Whistle Blower Policy has been uploaded on the website of your Company at www.bata.in under the tab “Investor Relations > Company Policies” at https://www.bata.in/company- policies.html and is available at the link https:// www.bata.com/on/demandware.staticA/Sites-bata- in-Library/default/v3661a96a986106c65932f28 cfae4ab126b41b608/pdf/WhistleBlowerPolicy.pdf
The Policy provides access to the Head - Legal of your Company and to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. No person has been denied an opportunity to have access to the Vigil Mechanism Committee and the Audit Committee Chairman.
CONFIRMATION OF COMPLIANCE ON PREVENTION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE
Your Company is committed to provide a safe and secure environment to its women employees across its functions and other women stakeholders, as they are considered as integral and important part of the organisation.
In terms of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (as amended) (POSH) and the Rules framed thereunder, your Company has duly adopted a Policy and has also complied with the provisions relating to the constitution of Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). A summary of the complaints dealt during the financial year ended March 31, 2026, in terms of the said Act and the Rules framed thereunder has been provided in the Corporate Governance Report which forms part of this Annual Report.
Your Company has been conducting POSH awareness campaign across all its manufacturing units, warehouses, retail stores and office premises to encourage its employees to be more responsible and alert while discharging their duties.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND ADEQUACY OF INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS
Your Company's internal financial controls ensure that all assets of your Company are properly safeguarded and protected, proper prevention and detection of frauds and errors and all transactions are authorised, recorded and reported appropriately. Your Company operates through definitive Chart of Authorities (COAs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in respect of its operations including financial transactions. Such COAs and SOPs are regularly monitored and if required, modified from time to time depending on business requirements.
Your Company has an adequate system of internal financial controls commensurate with its size and scale of operations, procedures and policies, ensuring orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to the Company's policies, safeguarding of its assets, prevention and detection of frauds and errors, accuracy and completeness of accounting records and timely preparation of reliable financial information.
Such practice provides reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of Financial Statements in accordance with the applicable legislations and that the same are well within the COAs and SOPs, without exception. Your Company also monitors, through its Internal Audit Team, the requirements of processes in order to prevent or timely detect unauthorised acquisition, use or disposition of the Company's Assets which could have a material effect on the Financial Statements of the Company. The Internal Audit function is responsible to assist the Audit Committee and Risk & Compliance Management Committee (RCM Committee) on an independent basis with a complete review of the risk assessments and associated management action plans.
Your Company believes that risk resilience is a key to achieve higher growth. Your Company has a well- defined Risk Management framework in place to
identify, assess, monitor and mitigate various risks to key business objectives. This framework ensures that your Company's operations are conducted in a manner that proactively addresses uncertainties and risks that may impact business performance or continuity. The Risk Management Policy, approved by the Board, is aligned with the strategic objectives of your Company and is reviewed periodically to reflect changing risk dynamics. Key business risks including operational, financial, strategic, regulatory, cyber and reputational risks are monitored regularly by the RCM Committee. An assessment of cyber security has also been carried out in compliance with the Listing Regulations. The Committee ensures that appropriate mitigation strategies are in place and that emerging risks are promptly addressed.
The Internal Audit Report and Risk Inventory Report are reviewed periodically by the Audit Committee and the RCM Committee respectively. The Chief Internal Auditor is a permanent invitee to the Audit Committee Meetings and a member of the RCM Committee. The Audit Committee advises on various risk mitigation exercises on a regular basis. Your Company has been maintaining a separate Internal Audit Team headed by the Chief Internal Auditor appointed by the Audit Committee.
Further details pertaining to the RCM Committee and Meetings held during the year under review are given in the Corporate Governance Report. Your Board is of the opinion that the Internal Financial Controls, affecting the Financial Statements of your Company are adequate and are operating effectively.
NON-APPLICABILITY OF MAINTENANCE OF COST RECORDS
The Central Government has not prescribed the maintenance of cost records under Section 148(1) of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder with respect to the Company's nature of business. There has been no change in the nature of business of your Company.
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS REPORTIndustry Structure and Developments
The global footwear market, valued over USD 484 billion, is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~7% by 2032, on account of rising demand for sports and athleisure footwear, with growing number of
individuals wearing different footwear for different occasions. In addition, there is a rise in demand for fashionable footwear that helps in reflecting the individuality of a customer.
The global footwear market is segmented into men, women and kids. Increasing fashion consciousness among male customers and rising participation in sports activity, triggers men's footwear sales. The women segment holds the second largest market share, driven by the increase in women workforce across countries.
India continues to be the world's second-largest producer and consumer of footwear. The leather industry of India is also a significant contributor to the global supply chains. India's footwear market is driven by various factors like income level, purchasing power, aspiration for branded products, gender ratio, organised retail, digital adoption, penetration of mobile phones, etc. Increasing disposable incomes are aiding customers to prefer better quality and branded footwear, while rapid development and changing lifestyles are pushing the demand for fashionable and diverse footwear. Increasing awareness of health & fitness is also boosting athletic and sports footwear sales in India.
Driven by strong consumer demand and largely untapped middle-class population, the Retail Industry in India is estimated to cross USD 1,600 billion by 2030. Branded goods across categories such as apparel, cosmetics, footwear, watches and jewellery are increasingly becoming part of everyday lifestyle. Technology innovations, global partnerships and strategic investments are further reshaping the retail landscape.
The sector's growth is further reinforced by expanding retail infrastructure. According to an estimate, India's seven largest cities are expected to add over 16 million sq. ft. of new shopping mall space by the end of 2026.
However, the Indian retail sector continues to resolve supply chain limitations, outdated technology, real estate challenges and sluggish discretionary spending.
India's e-commerce is projected to reach ~USD 550 billion by 2035, supported by changing consumer mindset, rising internet penetration and growing trust in digital transactions. While the connectivity
space is improving, the regulatory e-commerce policies will eventually shape the growth strategies for the sector, with significant boost in footwear sales.
Opportunities and Threats
India's footwear sector is undergoing a transition in the customer perception. From a pure utility product, footwear is now an expression of identity. Once a very large informal sector, the Indian footwear market has seen substantial organisation in recent years. The sector is shifting towards branded players and increasing digital penetration. However, the average per capita footwear consumption in India is still well below 2 pairs per annum as against the global average of ~3 pairs per annum.
The Indian footwear market is projected to cross USD 90 billion by 2030, on the back of factors like:
a) Consistent rise in income and purchasing power.
b) Aspiration for branded products.
c) Increase in non-occasion wear purchases.
d) Continuous increase in working population ratio.
e) Increase in digital payments and online shopping.
However, macroeconomic factors like inflation, unemployment rate, distribution of income, social constraints, etc., may regulate discretionary spending. High real estate costs and supply chain limitations are other key constraints for footwear retailers.
Your Company continues to be the largest footwear retailer in India with an extensive store network, nationwide delivery and distribution network. Your Company is working aggressively on increasing its presence in Tier 3 - 5 cities through opening of Franchise stores and distribution network. Your Company continues to strengthen its distribution network, through MBOs and KROs.
Your Company continues to offer a diverse portfolio of quality products straddled across various price points and categories.
Your Company continues to work on multiple initiatives - Zero Base Merchandising, Driving Value Proposition, Accelerating Expansion via Franchise & Distribution, Marketing Investments, Exploding Digital Footprint, Agile & Efficient Supply Chain,
Inventory Management and Staying nimble on structured costs.
Apart from the above, premiumisation of product portfolio and expansion in the market share of premium category, portfolio freshness, scaling up digital channels and productivity enhancement will continue to be the priorities for your Company along with investments in brands and stores.
Your Company will act as a regional hub for design and development, conceptualising and curating collections, working closely with Bata Global design team, focusing on the needs of India and similar retail markets.
Key Focus Areas
Bata India's mission is to make global trends and premium fashion accessible to all customers through its extensive retail network and digital channels. It is redefining the intersection of fashion and comfort through its brands and offerings for entire family.
Marketing and Campaigns
Your Company continues to strengthen its positioning through focused marketing initiatives across key categories, combining trend-led product storytelling with a digital-first approach to customer engagement. During the year under review, your Company built meaningful aspiration around the growing sneakerisation trend, with Hush Puppies Office Sneakers and the Power Energy and Easy Slide series at the centre of this effort. The Floatz Monsoon Campaign further energised the portfolio, tapping into the season's energy to drive relevance and visibility for the brand among younger audiences. Collaborations with leading digital creators deepened the connect with younger customers at scale. Strengthened media investments across print, connected TV and digital platforms, underpinned by contextual campaigns, hyperlocal targeting and proximity-led activations, drove strong results across both store footfalls and online conversions.
Building on this momentum, during the year under review, your Company shifted its strategic focus on reviving and repositioning one of its most enduring icons — Victoria ballerinas. The campaign celebrated the timeless versatility of ballerinas and reaffirmed their place as an everyday essential for the modern, style-conscious woman. The campaign was brought to life through an on-ground event, influencer-led
engagement, social media, etc., ensuring strong visibility and brand salience across platforms.
Your Company's marketing initiatives, during the year under review, were recognised across leading industry platforms, including Quora Innovation Awards for Most Impactful Campaign; Impact Digital Influencer Awards for Best Celebrity Led Campaign and Most Creative Influencer Marketing Campaign; and Afaq's! Digies for Best Brand Awareness Campaign and Best Influencer-Brand Collaboration. These recognitions reflect your Company's continued focus on impactful, insight-led marketing and creative excellence.
Affordability
To foster ease of choices for customers, your Company is driving affordability in core brands and reducing complexity across categories. With price point consolidation across core brands, your Company initiated simplification of offerings and line reduction to bring value proposition in top selling articles.
Collections and Campaigns
During the period under review, your Company introduced a refined Hush Puppies portfolio spanning contemporary casual sneakers, elevated loafers and an expanded women's range, developed using premium materials and high-quality leathers to align with evolving customer preferences.
Building on its legacy of global collaborations, the brand launched the limited-edition “Hush Puppies Smiley” collection, bringing together two iconic brands. The collection drew on retro-inspired aesthetics, reimagined for contemporary customers and created positive buzz.
Your Company continues to advance its portfolio casualisation strategy, which delivered strong results during the year under review. The Sneaker category was led by Power.
Your Company drove strong customer awareness for its high performing Power Easy Slide collection, designed to meet the growing demand for convenience, accessibility and innovation. The collection features an intelligent hands-free design.
In addition, the Move range demonstrated strong performance during the year under review. This range offers stylish sneakers incorporating
technology-led features such as enhanced insole comfort, lightweight EVA phylon soles and TPR outsoles that provide superior grip and traction.
Floatz surpassed Rs. 1500 Million in sales during the year under review. With lightweight, washable designs and dual-density comfort, the brand saw extreme popularity with customers.
Digital Multi-Channel Business
Your Company has laid down clear strategy to scale online channels into a larger growth engine, targeting significant jump in digital contribution.
During the year under review, Omni-channel recorded a handsome share of the total sales.
E-commerce business continued its steady growth path during the year under review. Both bata.com and marketplace channels grew significantly over last year. Your Company also added new partner for Quick Commerce channel and expects it as a growth opportunity in coming years.
In addition, online order fulfilment from stores was significantly expanded to reach almost 700 stores participating in this initiative leading to large product assortment offering to customers on bata.com and marketplaces. Digital channel contributed over 5.4 million pairs of sales in a year.
Investment in technology integrations continue to improve customer experience on Bata.com. Efficient Returns and Refunds handling also led to significant reduction in customer complaints.
Your Company has also launched Bata app that now contributes double digit to the D2C business.
Non-Retail Business
Your Company's non-retail business division comprises of Multi-Brand Outlets, Key Accounts, industrial and institutional business divisions and exports. Your Company continues to focus on select categories including School, Value Added Men's and Ladies open, Men's closed and Safety footwear where we have competitive advantages. Your Company also continues to focus on growth of Sneakers/Sports category.
During the year under review, your Company gained market share in select categories despite overall sluggish market conditions. Your Company has strategically consolidated its network of distributors
to drive business and to focus on larger distributors cohort.
Bata is available through MBOs in 1550 towns and 750 enterprises provide Bata shoes to their Employee/Customers through our B2B Division. Your Company has also doubled its reach in KROs during the year under review.
Inventory Management
Inventory tightening both in terms of quantity and quality was a key focus area and your Company will continue to work towards improving stock turns and forecast accuracy to achieve an optimal level of inventory and reduce clutter at stores.
Customer Experience
During the year under review, your Company achieved a major milestone in its digital transformation journey by successfully integrating Al-enabled technology across key customer touchpoints, including WhatsApp, Website Live Chat and an AI Voice Bot. These enhancements have fundamentally reshaped the service delivery, empowering customers with a seamless, 24/7 self¬ service ecosystem.
These initiatives resulted in a significant reduction in overall complaints and escalations through faster, first-contact resolutions. Your Company plans to further upgrade its Customer Service CRM with advanced AI capabilities.
Segment wise or product wise performance
Your Company operates in Footwear & Accessories Segment only. Operational highlights & performances of major business categories, channels and key brands of your Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2026 are covered previously in this Board's Report.
Outlook
The Indian footwear industry is an essential part of the economy. Over the years, the Indian footwear market has evolved with changes in fashion, technology and consumer preferences, making it one of the largest footwear markets globally. Additionally, India's population is expected to reach ~1.5 billion
by 2030, further boosting demand for footwear. Additionally, changing preferences among millennials and Gen Z, such as focus on casual, comfortable and fashionable footwear, have opened up new opportunities in the industry. However, the population owning multiple pairs of shoes still remains low.
Customer aspirations are evolving and people in smaller towns are gradually expecting the same experiences as in the metros.
India's retail sector is at a crucial juncture as brick- and-mortar stores and e-commerce channel (including quick commerce) are competing for market share. Further, the consumption landscape in India is experiencing a prolonged slowdown in discretionary spending. Inflation trends, income stability and employment conditions will continue to shape discretionary spending.
The implementation of GST 2.0 has stimulated a consumption boom, however, the same has moderated over time. Despite this, India's retail sector has entered 2026 on a firmer footing than it did a year ago. Retail sales growth indicate renewed consumer confidence, particularly in discretionary consumption. However, this growth is shaped by value awareness, selective spending and intensifying competition.
With an aim to reach a USD 50 billion leather and footwear turnover by 2030, the Government of India has launched the Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme. The effective implementation of this programme is likely to provide stimulus to the sector.
Accordingly, your Company is expanding its physical footprint, majorly through Franchise route in Tier 3 - 5 cities and its digital footprint through its own mobile application, website and marketplaces in footwear and accessories category.
Your Company continues to focus on driving growth with expansion and investment in marketing efforts while remaining cost competitive with focus on productivity across all operations including its manufacturing facilities, agile inventory management and upgradation of technology to embrace future wins.
Your Company is steadily strengthening its position as a Global sourcing and export hub for the Bata Group, supported by a competitive manufacturing ecosystem, improving infrastructure and favourable government initiatives. These structural advantages are expected to bring higher export volumes and reinforce the role of your Company in the Global Supply chain in future.
Risks & Concerns and Contingent Liabilities
Your Company acknowledges the footwear industry is undergoing transformation. Customer needs, purchasing channels and buying habits are evolving. New expectations around fashion, affordability, shopping experience, etc., are influencing business growth drivers and key initiatives. Your Company is cognisant of the fact that competition from both domestic and international players is increasing.
Your Company acknowledges that continuous evolution of the product portfolio mix is required to maintain relevance of Bata Brand amongst Millennials and Gen Z. Your Company also realises that modernisation of I.T. systems alongwith having suitable protection from risk of loss / theft of data / other vulnerabilities is a key requirement for business continuity. Your Company continuously adapts to comply with relevant changes in the Government laws and policies to minimise any adverse impact on sales, cost and operations. Your Company also monitors external factors such as raw material prices, inflation and other geo-political factors to assess and mitigate any adverse effect on business and results of operations.
Your Company monitors its major risks and concerns at regular intervals. Appropriate steps are taken in consultation with all concerned including the RCM Committee and the Audit Committee to identify and mitigate such risks.
During the normal course of its business operations, your Company has been subjected to litigations in connection with or incidental thereto. These litigations include civil cases, GST and customs related cases, etc., filed by and against the Company. These cases are being pursued with due importance and in consultation with legal experts in respective
areas. Your Board believes that the outcome of these cases is unlikely to cause a materially adverse effect on the Company's profitability or business performance. Your Company has a Contingent Liability of Rs. 190.07 Million as on March 31, 2026 as compared to Rs. 237.93 Million as on March 31, 2025. Attention is drawn to the explanations mentioned in Note No. 29 of the Notes to Financial Statements for the financial year ended March 31, 2026. In view of the present status and based on legal advice obtained from time to time, your Board is of the opinion that no provision is required to be made against these Contingent Liabilities.
Internal control systems and their adequacy
A separate paragraph on internal control systems and their adequacy has been provided elsewhere in this Board's Report.
Discussion on financial performance
The Earnings per Share (EPS) - Basic and Diluted of your Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2026 was Rs. 10.39 as compared to the EPS (Basic and Diluted) for the previous financial year ended March 31, 2025 was Rs. 25.55. Your Company recorded an EBITDA margin of 20.09% during the financial year under review as compared to 21.02% during the financial year 2024-25.
Your Company does not have any Bank Borrowings and the entire capital expenditure has been funded through internal sources.
The Capital Expenditure incurred during the year under review amounted to Rs. 553.65 Million as compared to Rs. 3,375.66 Million in the previous year.
Further discussion on financial performance has been covered previously in this Board's Report.
Details of significant changes in key financial ratios alongwith explanation
In compliance with the requirement of the Listing Regulations, the key financial ratios of the Company alongwith explanation for significant changes (i.e., for change of 25% or more as compared to the immediately previous financial year), has been provided hereunder:
|
Sl. No.
|
Particulars
|
2025-26
|
2024-25
|
|
(i)
|
Debtors to Sales (in days)
|
15.35
|
10.03
|
|
(ii)
|
Inventory to Turnover Ratio (in times)
|
2.06
|
1.73
|
|
(iii)
|
Interest Coverage Ratio*
|
2.71
|
3.34
|
|
(iv)
|
Current ratio
|
1.71
|
1.82
|
|
(v)
|
Debt Equity Ratio**
|
0.87
|
0.92
|
|
(vi)
|
Operating Profit Margin (%)
|
8.14
|
10.38
|
|
(vii)
|
Net Profit Margin (%)
|
3.80
|
9.42
|
|
(viii)
|
Return on Net worth (%)
|
8.42
|
20.98
|
*There is no borrowing in the Company. However, Finance cost includes interest expenses accounted for various deposits in accordance with Ind AS 109, Financial Instruments and interest expense accounted on various lease contracts in accordance with Ind AS 116.
**Leases have been considered as debts.
The significant change in Debtors to Sales (in days) is due to the change in timing of revenue recognition for specific category of sales. Also, the significant changes in the Net Profit Margin (%) and Return on Net worth (%) are due to difference in exceptional items during the year under review and the previous year.
Other than the above, there have been no significant changes over previous year. For further explanation, please refer to Note no. 42 of the Notes to Standalone Financial Statements for the year ended March 31, 2026.
Figures of previous periods have been regrouped / reclassified wherever necessary to conform to the current period classification.
The other financial ratios of the Company relating to previous 10 years have been provided in other part of this Annual Report.
Material developments in the human resources / industrial relations front, including number of people employed
Your Company continues to strengthen its people capabilities as a core enabler of business success, with a strong focus on building a future-ready, inclusive and high-performing organisation. During the year under review, several strategic initiatives were undertaken to enhance employee experience, leadership development, diversity and digital transformation across the employee lifecycle.
Some key initiatives taken during the year under review are summarised below:
Industrial Relations
Your Company maintained harmonious and peaceful industrial relations across all manufacturing units, establishing a stable foundation for manufacturing excellence. Active employee participation in the collective bargaining process fostered a collaborative work environment, enabling management and workmen to align on shared objectives and improved operational efficiency, enhanced workforce morale and sustained productivity across plants.
Long-Term Agreement (LTA): Successfully concluded the sign-off negotiations for a LTA with the workers' union at the Bataganj manufacturing unit in Bihar.
Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS): VRS was successfully implemented at the Batashatak manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu and at the Batanagar manufacturing unit in West Bengal. These initiatives supported effective manpower rationalisation and helped build a culture of optimal workforce utilisation, which in turn contributed to cost control and operational efficiency.
Employee Development and Leadership Building
Your Company continued to invest in building leadership capability and strengthening internal talent pipelines.
During the year, LeadHERship, a structured six- month mentorship programme designed to accelerate the growth of women leaders, was launched. The programme combines leadership assessments, senior leadership mentoring and goal-
driven development journeys to enable participants to unlock their full potential.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B)
Your Company made significant progress in advancing its DEI&B agenda through focused interventions and scalable programmes.
Project Bharti, a flagship initiative, continued to strengthen gender diversity across the retail workforce by focusing on hiring, developing and retaining women store leaders.
Your Company's commitment to DEI was recognised externally, including recognition as a DE&I Champion at the Ekam Summit.
Digital Transformation in Talent Acquisition and Employee Experience
Your Company continued its digital transformation journey by enhancing hiring and employee experience platforms.
The launch of BigStep, a digital recruitment platform, has significantly improved the hiring experience for both-candidates and hiring managers by enabling faster, more efficient and data-driven recruitment processes.
Further, your Company introduced “Bata Bravo - Celebrating Excellence,” a revamped, digital-first Rewards & Recognition platform. This initiative enables real-time recognition, fosters a culture of appreciation and aligns employee contributions with organisational goals.
Employee Wellness & Engagement
Wellness-led engagements, awareness sessions and learning interventions were conducted for the well¬ being of the employees, reinforcing a culture where employees feel supported, valued and empowered.
Through focused investments in leadership development, diversity, digital transformation and employee engagement, your Company continues to provide a workplace where talent thrives and contributes meaningfully to sustained business success.
As on March 31, 2026, there were 3602 permanent employees / workers on the rolls of your Company.BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT(BRSR)
In compliance with Regulation 34(2)(f) of the Listing Regulations, your Company is pleased to publish its 4th Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) for the financial year 2025-26, in a fair and transparent manner, covering the essential indicators that are required to be reported on a mandatory basis in the prescribed format. The Report along with the Report on Reasonable Assurance undertaken on BRSR Core is annexed to the Board's Report and marked as Annexure - IX. The BRSR also contains further information on conservation of energy, technology absorption, R & D and energy conservation activities of the Company.
The BRSR has been uploaded on the website of the Company at www.bata.in and is available at the link https://www.bata.com/in/investor-relations.html
Annexures forming part of this Report
The Annexures referred to in this Report and other information which are required to be disclosed are annexed herewith and form part of this Report:
|
Annexure
|
Particulars
|
|
I
|
Secretarial Audit Report
|
|
II
|
Corporate Governance Report
|
|
III
|
Particulars of Conservation of Energy, Technology Absorption and Foreign Exchange Earnings and Outgo
|
|
IV & V
|
Annual Report on CSR activities and CSR Policy (Salient features)
|
|
VI
|
Nomination and Remuneration Policy
|
|
VII & VIII
|
Disclosures on remuneration of directors and employees of the Company
|
|
IX
|
Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report along with the Report on Reasonable Assurance undertaken on BRSR Core
|
Considering the provisions of Section 136 of the Act, this Annual Report, excluding the information on remuneration of employees in terms of Rules 5(2) and 5(3) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 (as amended), is being sent to the members of the Company and others entitled thereto. The said information would be available for inspection, by members, at the Registered Office of the Company or through electronic mode, during business hours on working days upto the date of the 93rd AGM of the Company. Any member interested in obtaining a copy thereof may write in this regard to the Company Secretary of the Company.
OTHER DISCLOSURES
Your Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. A summary of the employees / workers covered in terms of the said Act has been provided in the BRSR which forms part of this Annual Report.
During the year under review, no transaction or event took place in relation to other items which are not applicable to your Company and accordingly, they have not been separately commented upon.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
There are certain statements which have been made in the Management Discussion and Analysis Report and the BRSR describing the estimates, expectations or predictions, may be read as 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable laws and regulations. The actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. The important factors that would make a difference to your Company's operations include demand-supply
conditions, raw material prices, changes in Government Policies, Governing Laws, Tax regimes, Economic Developments and other factors such as litigation and labour negotiations.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION
Your Board extends its heartfelt gratitude to the valued customers for their unfaltering loyalty and remains steadfast in its mission to enhance their daily lives by delivering superior products.
Your Board acknowledges the collaboration with all business partners, suppliers, vendors, associates and dealers as well as the vital support received from the hance their daily lives by delivering superior products.
Your Board acknowledges the collaboration with all business partners, suppliers, vendors, associates and dealers as well as the vital support received from the regulatory authorities of the Central and State Governments in India. Your Board looks forward to their continued support in the years ahead.
Your Board is deeply appreciative of the unwavering confidence and faith demonstrated by the investors and shareholders. Furthermore, your Board remains indebted to Bata Shoe Organization (BSO) for the strategic guidance throughout the year.
Your Board also recognises the trust of the communities where your Company operates. The ownership and responsiveness exhibited by all our stakeholders truly embody the enduring spirit of this great organisation.
Your Board wishes to celebrate the dedication and collective resilience of employees, workmen and staff, including the Management team, led by the Executive Directors, for their collaborative efforts. Your Board places on record its profound appreciation for the Independent and Non-Executive Directors who have been instrumental in steering your Company toward its long-term business goals.
For and on behalf of the Board of Directors
Gunjan Dineshkumar Shah Amit Aggarwal
Place : Gurugra
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