Vodafone 1999 Annual Report Download - page 48

P31b Report of the Auditors
Report of the Auditors
Auditors’ report to the members of Vodafone Group Plc
We have audited the financial statements, which have been prepared under the historical cost convention and the
accounting policies, and the detailed information disclosed in respect of any directors’ remuneration and share options set
out in the Remuneration Report of the Board. We have also audited the financial information prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and the selected proportionate data.
Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
As described in the statement of directors’ responsibilities, the Company’s directors are responsible for the preparation of
the financial statements. Our responsibilities, as independent auditors, are established by statute, the Auditing Practices
Board, the Listing Rules of the London Stock Exchange, and by our profession’s ethical guidance.
We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view and are properly prepared in
accordance with the Companies Act 1985. We also report to you if, in our opinion, the Directors’ Report is not consistent
with the financial statements, if the Company has not kept proper accounting records, if we have not received all the
information and explanations we require for our audit, or if information specified by law or the Listing Rules regarding
directors’ remuneration and transactions with the Company and other members of the Group is not disclosed.
We review whether the Corporate Governance statement reflects compliance with those provisions of the Combined Code
specified for our review by the Stock Exchange, and we report if it does not. We are not required to form an opinion on the
effectiveness of the governance procedures or the Group’s internal controls.
We read the other information contained in the Annual Report, including the directors’ report on Corporate Governance,
and consider whether it is consistent with the audited financial statements. We consider the implications for our report if
we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial statements.
Basis of audit opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Auditing Standards issued by the Auditing Practices Board in the United
Kingdom. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the directors in
the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the circumstances of
the Company and the Group, consistently applied and adequately disclosed.
We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary
in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from
material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the
overall presentation of information in the financial statements.
Opinion
In our opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and the Group as at
31 March 1999 and of the profit of the Group for the year then ended and have been properly prepared in accordance with
the Companies Act 1985.
In our opinion the financial information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States, and the selected proportionate data, have been properly prepared on the bases set out in the notes here.
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