Unilever 1999 Annual Report Download - page 6

Report of the auditors
Report of the auditors to the shareholders
of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC
We have audited the accounts set out on pages 2 and 3,
7 to 31, 41 to 45 and 47 and 48.
Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
As described on page 4, the directors are responsible for
preparing the Annual Report and Accounts. This includes
responsibility for preparing the accounts in accordance with
applicable accounting standards in the Netherlands and the
United Kingdom. Our responsibilities, as independent
auditors, are established by Netherlands and United
Kingdom law, relevant Stock Exchange rules and by our
professional guidance.
We report to you our opinion as to whether the accounts
give a true and fair view and are properly prepared in
accordance with Book 2 of the Civil Code in the Netherlands
and the United Kingdom Companies Act 1985. We would
also report to you if, in our opinion, the directors’ report
was not consistent with the accounts, if proper accounting
records had not been kept, if we had not received all the
information and explanations we require for our audit, or if
information required regarding directors’ remuneration and
transactions was not disclosed.
We read the other information contained in the Annual
Report and consider the implications for our audit report if
we become aware of any material misstatements or
inconsistencies with the accounts.
As auditors of Unilever PLC we review whether the
statement on page 5 reflects the company’s compliance
with the seven provisions of the Combined Code specified
for our review by the London Stock Exchange and we report
if it does not. We are not required to consider whether the
directors’ statements on internal control cover all risks and
controls or to form an opinion on the effectiveness of the
Group’s corporate governance procedures or its risk and
control procedures.
Basis of audit opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing
standards generally accepted in the Netherlands and the
United Kingdom. An audit includes examination, on a test
basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures
in the accounts. It also includes an assessment of the most
important estimates and judgements made by the directors
in the preparation of the accounts, and of whether the
accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s
circumstances, 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 accounts are free from
material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other
irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also
evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of
information in the accounts.
Opinion
In our opinion the accounts give a true and fair view of the
state of affairs of the Unilever Group, Unilever N.V. and
Unilever PLC at 31 December 1999 and of the profit, total
recognised gains and cash flows of the Group for the year
then ended. In our opinion the accounts of the Unilever
Group, and of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC respectively,
have been properly prepared in accordance with Book 2 of
the Civil Code in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom
Companies Act 1985.
PricewaterhouseCoopers N.V.
Registeraccountants
Rotterdam
As auditors of Unilever N.V.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors
London
As auditors of Unilever PLC
7 March 2000
6Unilever Annual Accounts 1999