Heidelberg Cement has announced that its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) rating has been revised upward by SES ESG Research Private Limited for FY 2024-25. The cement manufacturer informed stock exchanges about this development through an official communication dated January 5, 2026.

ESG Rating Improvement

The company's ESG rating has shown improvement over the previous fiscal year, as detailed in the following comparison:

Voluntary Assessment Process

HeidelbergCement India clarified that the company did not directly engage SES ESG Research Private Limited for this ESG rating assessment. The SEBI-registered ESG rating provider voluntarily assigned the rating to the company based on data available in the public domain. This approach demonstrates the increasing focus on ESG evaluation across Indian corporations, even without direct company engagement.

Company Background

HeidelbergCement India Limited operates with its registered office located at DLF Cyber Greens, Gurugram, Haryana. The company maintains its corporate website at www.mycemco.com and trades on both major Indian stock exchanges - BSE (Scrip Code: 500292) and NSE (Trading Symbol: HEIDELBERG).

ESG Rating Significance

The upward revision in ESG rating reflects improved performance across environmental, social, and governance parameters. ESG ratings have become increasingly important for investors and stakeholders in evaluating corporate sustainability practices and long-term value creation potential. The improvement from 67.1 to 68 indicates enhanced sustainability performance and corporate governance practices.

The company has formally notified both BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited about this ESG rating revision, ensuring compliance with disclosure requirements. This communication was signed by Ravi Arora, Vice President-Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary, maintaining transparency with market participants and regulatory authorities.

HeidelbergCement India Limited has received two significant orders from GST authorities demanding recovery of ₹32.77 crores for alleged tax violations spanning multiple financial years. The company disclosed these developments to stock exchanges on December 29, under regulatory compliance requirements.

GST Authority Orders Details

The Additional Commissioner, CGST and Central Excise, Jabalpur issued two separate orders targeting different financial years and violations:

Breakdown of Alleged Violations

The first order addresses two specific issues from FY 2021-22:

1. Recovery of ₹1.90 crores for excess Input Tax Credit (ITC) availed and utilized, with a penalty of ₹19.05 lakhs and applicable interest.
2. Recovery of ₹13.01 crores for alleged non-payment of GST, with a penalty of ₹1.30 crores and interest charges.

The second order focuses on FY 2018-19, demanding recovery of ₹17.83 crores for excess ITC claims, matched by an equal penalty of ₹17.83 crores, along with applicable interest charges.

Company Response

HeidelbergCement India has stated that these orders will not materially impact the company's financial position or operational activities. The company is reviewing both orders and considering available legal options to contest the demands.

Disclosure Timeline

• Both orders were uploaded to the GST portal on December 28.
• The company downloaded the orders on the same day at approximately 6:30 PM.
• The disclosure was made in compliance with SEBI regulations governing listed entities' obligations to inform stakeholders about significant regulatory actions.

Regulatory Compliance

The company filed this disclosure under Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015. The announcement was signed by Ravi Arora, Vice President-Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary, and has been published on the company's official website under the corporate announcements section.