To the Members of Pfizer Limited
Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Pfizer Limited (the "Company") which comprise the balance sheet as at 31 March 2025, and the statement of profit and loss (including other comprehensive income), statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including material accounting policies and other explanatory information.
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid financial statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 ("Act") in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at 31 March 2025, and its profit and other comprehensive income, changes in equity and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under Section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those SAs are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the 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 financial statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion on the financial statements.
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
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Revenue Recognition
See Note 3(a) and 22 to financial statements
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The key audit matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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Revenue from the sale of products is recognized
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In view of the significance of the matter we applied the following
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at a point in time when control over goods is
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audit procedures in this area, among others to obtain sufficient
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transferred to a customer. The actual point
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appropriate audit evidence:
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in time when revenue is recognised varies depending on the specific terms and conditions of the sales contracts entered into with customers. There is a risk of revenue being
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• Assessed the appropriateness of the policies in respect of revenue recognition by comparing with applicable accounting standards;
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overstated as management, to achieve its performance targets, may recognize revenue on sale of products though control may not have transferred to the customer.
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• Tested the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of the Company's key internal controls including general IT controls and IT application controls over recognition of revenue;
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Accordingly, we identified risk of overstatement
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of revenue as a key audit matter.
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• On selected statistical samples of revenue transactions
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recorded for the year as well as period end cut-off, tested the underlying documents, which include testing contractual terms of sale contracts/ invoices, shipping documents and lead time/ proof of delivery to test evidence for transfer of control;
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Revenue Recognition
See Note 3(a) and 22 to financial statements
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The key audit matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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• Assessed the reasonability of lead time determined by management to recognise revenue transactions near the year end;
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• Assessed journal entries posted to revenue to identify unusual items.
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Litigations with sales tax authorities and under Drug (Prices Controls) Orders ('DPCO') See Note 3(i), 38(a) and 38(b) to financial statements
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The key audit matter
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How the matter was addressed in our audit
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As at 31 March 2025, the Company has pending litigation with sales tax authorities for several financial years which are at various stages and pending at different forums.
These litigations are pertaining to nonsubmission of documentary evidence at the time of assessment, litigations involving question of law and certain disallowance made by authorities in assessment orders.
Also, the Company is engaged in manufacturing, marketing, trading and export of pharmaceutical products. DPCO has issued various orders/ notification for fixing the price of various pharma products. With respect to the sales of the pharmaceutical products covered by the aforementioned DPCO orders, in earlier years, the Company has received demand notices for overcharging price. The Company has challenged these demands from DPCOs and the cases are pending at various courts in India.
The amounts involved are significant and the application of accounting principles of Ind AS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets, to determine whether a recognition of provision or a disclosure of contingent liability is required, is inherently subjective, and needs careful evaluation/ judgement by the Company.
Considering the degree of judgement, significance of the amounts involved, this matter has been identified as a key audit matter.
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In view of the significance of the matter we applied the following
audit procedures in this area, among others to obtain sufficient
appropriate audit evidence :
• Understood the process followed by the Company for assessment and determination of the amount of provisions and contingent liabilities;
• Evaluated the design and implementation and testing operating effectiveness of key internal controls (including review controls) around the recognition and measurement of provisions and re-assessment of contingent liabilities;
• Inquired the status in respect of significant provisions and contingent liabilities with the Company's inhouse team;
• Read the correspondence between the Company and the various tax /legal authorities and legal opinions, where applicable for significant matters and rolled out confirmations to external legal counsel;
• Challenged the Company's estimate of the possible outcome of the disputed cases based on applicable indirect tax laws by involving our specialists; and
• Assessed the adequacy of the Company's disclosures in respect of contingent liabilities and provision for indirect tax and legal matters.
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In preparing the financial statements, the Management and Board of Directors are responsible for assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process.
Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the 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 financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under Section 143(3)(i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to financial statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
Other Information
The Company's Management and Board of Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, but does not include the financial statements and auditor's reports thereon. The annual report is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor's report.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we will not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the 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 financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the annual report, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance and take necessary actions, as applicable under the relevant laws and regulations.
Management's and Board of Directors' Responsibilities for the Financial Statements
The Company's Management and Board of Directors are responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation of these financial statements that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs, profit/ loss and other comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) specified under Section 133 of the Act. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the financial statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the Management and Board of Directors.
• Conclude on the appropriateness of the
Management and Board of Directors use of the going concern basis of accounting in preparation of financial statements and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the 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.
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 financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor's report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020 ("the Order") issued by the Central Government of India in terms of Section 143(11) of the Act, we give in the "Annexure A" a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
2 A. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, we
report that:
a. We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b. In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books, except for the matter stated in the paragraph 2(B) (f) below on reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 and that the back-up of the payroll software, which forms part of the 'books of account and other relevant books and papers in electronic mode' has not been kept on servers physically located in India.
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 financial statements comply with the Ind AS specified under Section 133 of the Act.
e. On the basis of the written representations received from the directors on 1 April 2025 and 4 April 2025 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors are disqualified as on 31 March 2025 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act.
f. The modifications relating to the maintenance of accounts and other matters connected therewith are as
any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Company ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(ii) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in the Note 42(xi) to the financial statements, 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 Parties ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(iii) Based on the audit procedures that have been considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under sub-clause (i) and (ii) of Rule 11(e), as provided under (i) and (ii) above, contain any material misstatement.
e. The final dividend paid by the Company during the year, in respect of the same declared for the previous year, is in accordance with Section 123 of the Act to the extent it applies to payment of dividend.
As stated in Note 40 to the financial statements, the Board of Directors of the Company has proposed final dividend for the year which is subject to the approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. The dividend declared is in accordance with Section 123 of the Act to the extent it applies to declaration of dividend.
f. Based on our examination which included test checks, except for the instances
stated in the paragraph 2A(b) above on reporting under Section 143(3)(b) of the Act and paragraph 2B(f) below on reporting under Rule 11(g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014.
g. With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure B".
B. With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
a. The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations as at 31 March 2025 on its financial position in its financial statements - Refer Note 38 to the financial statements.
b. The Company did not have any long-term contracts including derivative contracts for which there were any material foreseeable losses.
c. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company.
d (i) The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in the Note 42(vi) to the financial statements, 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 entities ("Intermediaries"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in
mentioned below, the Company has used accounting softwares for maintaining its books of account, which have a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the respective softwares:
a. The feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility was not enabled at the application level for certain fields for the accounting software used for maintaining general ledger.
b. In the absence of an independent auditor's report in relation to controls at a service organization for payroll software, which is operated by a third party software service provider, we are unable to comment whether audit trail feature for the said software was enabled and operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the software.
Further, where audit trail (edit log) facility was enabled and operated throughout the year, we did not come across any instance of the audit trail feature being tampered with. Additionally, except where audit trail (edit log) facility was not enabled
in the previous year and payroll software referred in (b) above, the audit trail has been preserved by the Company as per the statutory requirements for record retention.
C. With respect to the matter to be included in the Auditor's Report under Section 197(16) of the Act:
In our opinion and according to the information and explanations given to us, the remuneration paid by the Company to its directors during the current year is in accordance with the provisions of Section 197 of the Act. The remuneration paid to any director is not in excess of the limit laid down under Section 197 of the Act. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has not prescribed other details under Section 197(16) of the Act which are required to be commented upon by us.
ForBSR& Co. LLP
Chartered Accountants Firm's Registration No.:101248W/W-100022
Sadashiv Shetty
Partner
Membership No.: 048648 ICAI UDIN:25048648BMNYHX6923
Place: Mumbai Date: 19 May 2025
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