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Canopy Growth Corporation
Annual Report 2016

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FY2016 Annual Report · Canopy Growth Corporation
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Costa Group 
Holdings Limited

Annual Report 2016

Investing in Growth

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contents

02  Chairman’s Report 

05  Managing Director’s Review

06  Company Profile

10  Harvest Calendar

12  Sustainability Report 

19  Directors’ Report 

44  Auditor’s Independence Declaration

45  Consolidated Statement of Profit and Loss and Other Comprehensive Income

46  Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

47  Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

48  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

49  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Report

91  Directors’ Declaration 

92 

Independent Auditor’s Report 

94  Shareholder Information 

96  Corporate Directory

Corporate Governance Statement
Costa Group’s 2016 Corporate Governance Statement is located at 
http://investors.costagroup.com.au/investor-centre/?page=corporate-governance

Costa Group Holdings Limited ABN 68 151 363 129

Costa Group Holdings Limited | Annual Report 2016 | 01

Chairman’s Report

The Company has continued to deliver on its growth projects, with 
the completion of a further 76 hectares in new berry plantings across 
our Australian farms, the commencement of production at our new 
10-hectare tomato glasshouse in northern New South Wales, the 
further expansion of our African Blue operations in Morocco and 
the development of our berry farms in China.

Overview
The 2016 financial year has seen Costa 
Group exceed our prospectus forecast with 
a pro forma (NPAT) of $49.3 million net 
profit after tax. Continued growth in our 
berry, citrus and mushroom categories 
and increasing revenue in the second 
half of the year from our international 
operations offset the under performance 
of our tomato category. 

Our diversified portfolio of high yield quality 
produce sets us apart from other agricultural 
businesses and provides us with the capacity 
to absorb and evenly spread risk, without 
impacting our overall performance and results. 
Our FY2016 performance is also evidence of 
our successfully transition from a private to 
a public company, while delivering positive 
returns to shareholders.

The Company has continued to deliver on 
its growth projects, with the completion 
of a further 76 hectares in new berry 
plantings across our Australian farms, the 
commencement of production at our new 
10-hectare tomato glasshouse in northern 
New South Wales, the further expansion of 
our African Blue operations in Morocco and 
the development of our berry farms in China.

In recognition of the strong potential for 
continued berry category growth, during 
the year the Board also approved a further 
berry growth program involving an estimated 
$80 million worth of capital projects to be 
undertaken in Australia over four years from 
FY2017. This investment in expanding our 
production capability leverages our superior 
plant genetics, agronomic skills, established 
cold chain infrastructure and scale of 
operations. We are the only grower which 
can supply fresh blueberries and raspberries 
to the Australian market year round.

With our farming footprint continuing to grow, 
we recognise the importance of ensuring our 
existing and new operations are sustainable 

02  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

and that we engage in responsible 
environmental stewardship. To this end 
the Company continues to be committed 
to investing in farming operations that 
are innovative and promote sustainable 
horticultural practices. During the year we 
targeted investment in technology to enable 
the recycling and reuse of water. As a result, 
our main mushroom farm located at Mernda 
in Victoria is now capturing and reusing waste 
water resulting in up to a 40% reduction in 
water use. Our new 10-hectare glasshouse 
facility at Guyra in northern New South Wales 
has also been designed for full water self-
sufficiency.

At the community level we continue 
to support and work with a variety of 
organisations. A particular focus over the 
past year has been on developing educational 
opportunities for young people in regional 
and rural areas to study and pursue a career in 
agriculture. Our citrus category is collaborating 
with local training organisations, TAFE and 
high schools in the South Australian Riverland 
to host field days, which provide on-site and 
practical demonstrations of how our business 
operates and the job opportunities that are 
available. The Company also commenced 
funding one undergraduate and one 
postgraduate scholarship per year over the 
next four years for local students from the 
north-west of Tasmania to study Agricultural 
Science at the University of Tasmania.

Results
Pro forma full year revenue of $809 million 
saw an 11.8% increase on our full year 
FY2015 result.

Pro forma EBITDA before SGARA was up 
27.6% on full year FY2015 to $91.1 million, 
while pro forma NPAT was $49.3 million 
and statutory NPAT $25.3 million. For the 
first time ever, the Company’s annual 
transacted sales exceeded $1 billion.

Dividends
The Board declared a fully franked final 
dividend of 6.0 cents per share, resulting 
in a fully franked dividend total of 9.0 cents 
per share in respect of FY2016.

Our People
I would like to acknowledge the valuable 
contribution of my Board colleagues, the 
management team and all of our people 
throughout the organisation for their 
commitment to ensuring the Company 
delivered not only its prospectus forecasts, 
but also continued to establish a strong 
foundation for growth and sustainable 
value creation.

Outlook
FY2017 will see continued execution of 
our announced domestic and international 
growth initiatives, while our strong balance 
sheet supports continued organic growth 
and a disciplined M&A program.

With projected NPAT (pre-SGARA) growth 
at approximately 10% for FY2017, seasonality 
and increased contribution from our 
international operations will see the 
Company’s performance more heavily 
weighted towards the second half. 

FY2017 dividends will be balanced against 
the Company’s need to fund growth 
objectives, but indicatively will be in the 
range of 50-70% of NPAT (pre-SGARA).

Neil Chatfield
Chairman

Costa Group Holdings Limited | Annual Report 2016 | 03

The first blueberry and raspberry farm has 
been established in Yunnan province, with 
the initial raspberry harvest completed in 
February and the first blueberry harvest 
expected from December this year. 

04 | Costa Group Holdings Limited | Annual Report 2016

Managing Director’s Review

Once again our people have ably met all challenges 
through their dedicated performance and commitment 
to the Company’s ongoing success. 

Delivering Growth From 
a Strong Business Model
This year has seen Costa Group complete 
our first full financial year as a publicly 
listed company, and it has been a period 
in which the Company has demonstrated 
on more than one occasion the resilience 
of our business model.

Strong and consistent performances from 
our core categories of mushrooms, citrus and 
berries highlighted the benefits of having a 
diversified portfolio structure enabling our 
capacity to absorb any individual category 
volatility in both our on-farm production and 
markets. The way in which we were able to 
deal with the impact of several hailstorms 
on our New South Wales berry farms and 
the downturn in the tomato market has 
been testament to this. 

Over the year we also made significant 
progress in delivering on our growth program. 
The second year of our first Australian berry 
growth program saw a further 76 hectares in 
new plantings. Our new 10-hectare tomato 
glasshouse, which produces cocktail and 
snacking varieties, was commissioned in 
October 2015 and has exceeded expectations 
on production volumes to date.

With respect to our international segment, we 
now have 208 hectares of blueberries planted 
across five farms in Morocco under our African 
Blue business.

The Company also signed a joint venture 
agreement with Driscoll’s, which formalised 
an agreement for berry farming operations 
in China to service the expanding Asian 
appetite for high-quality berries. Costa will 
have 70% ownership of the joint venture, 
with Driscoll’s having the remaining 30%.

The first blueberry and raspberry farm has 
been established in Yunnan province with the 
initial raspberry harvest completed in February 
and the first blueberry harvest expected from 
December this year. A second farming location 
has been selected, with land preparation and 
planting currently under way.

This investment is a long-term proposition 
requiring effort and patience to establish 
our footprint in China and the wider Asian 
marketplace. However, it is clearly also one 
with very large potential.

The new, second Australian berry growth 
plan approved by the Board in FY2016 will 
be undertaken over a four-year period. This 
investment will further consolidate and build 
on our ability to supply the Australian market 
with berries 52 weeks of the year. It will also 
see for the first time the Company undertaking 
significant investment in our nascent 
blackberry category.

The Company also continued to pursue 
strategic opportunities through acquisitions 
that deliver immediate value to our earnings. 
To this end, Costa acquired the Pike Creek 
citrus orchard located in the South Australian 
Riverland, adding up to 120 hectares of quality 
citrus plantings to our existing citrus farms. 

Our Australia-wide production footprint and 
the size and scale of our operations mean 
that we rely on a dedicated and highly skilled 
workforce. Once again our people have ably 
met all challenges through their dedicated 
performance and commitment to the 
Company’s ongoing success. We will continue 
to put our people first through our core 
Company values of passion, respect, sincerity, 
determination and accountability.

We look forward to 2017 and beyond as 
we continue to build the business both 
domestically and internationally and 
deliver on our growth plans.

Harry Debney
Managing Director and CEO

”Over the year we also made significant progress in delivering on our growth program. The second year of our 
first Australian berry growth program saw a further 76 hectares in new plantings. Our new 10-hectare tomato 
glasshouse, which produces cocktail and snacking varieties, was commissioned in October 2015 and has 
exceeded expectations on production volumes to date.”

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  05

Company Profile

Operations

About Us
Costa is Australia’s leading horticulture 
company and is the largest fresh produce 
supplier to the major Australian food 
retailers, with revenues of $809.0 million 
in FY2016.

Figure 1: Costa’s Operational Structure

Business Model
Costa has a business model built on the 
optimisation of a portfolio of integrated farming, 
packing and marketing activities. Costa’s 
portfolio aims to be broad enough to mitigate 
agricultural and market risks while maintaining 
a strategic focus on high-growth and high-value 
fresh produce categories. Costa practises 
proactive risk management through 
diversification of categories and geographies, 
growing in protected cropping environments, 
using technology, targeting produce categories 
with 52-week production windows, and 
maintaining strong hygiene and post-harvest 
protocols. 

Costa’s operations include approximately 
3,200 planted hectares of farmland, 30 hectares 
of glasshouse facilities and seven mushroom 
growing facilities across Australia, in addition 
to its international interests.

Operational Structure
Costa consists of three reportable segments:

•  Produce – operates principally in four 
core categories – berries, mushrooms, 
glasshouse-grown tomatoes and citrus.

•  International – comprises licensing 

of proprietary blueberry varieties and 
expansion of berry farming in attractive 
international markets, such as Morocco 
and China.

•  Costa Farms and Logistics (CF&L) 
– incorporates interrelated logistics, 
wholesale, avocado marketing and 
banana farming and banana marketing 
operations. 

Produce

International

Costa Farms and 
Logistics (CF&L)

Berries

Mushrooms

Tomatoes

Citrus

Genetics
Licensing 

China & 
Morocco

Costa 
Farms

Logistics

Avocados

Bananas

06 | Costa Group Holdings Limited | Annual Report 2016

Figure 2: Costa’s Pro Forma Business Performance by Segment for FY2016

Transacted Sales1

EBITDA before SGARA1

23%

2%

12%

12%

Produce

International

CF&L

Produce

International

CF&L

75%

76%

1.  Transacted sales and EBITDA before SGARA are non-IFRS financial measures. See Table 12 on page 31 for details. Costa’s products are predominantly grown and sourced from Costa’s expansive 

footprint of farms and supplemented through a diverse network of third party growers.

Morocco

China

Where we operate

  Western Australia

 Gingin Berry Farm 
Gingin

  Mushroom Farm 

Casuarina

Jandakot DC 
Jandakot

 Mandurah Compost Facility 
Mandurah

  Queensland

 Glen Aplin Mushroom Farm 
Glen Aplin

 North Maclean Mushroom Farm 
North Maclean

Tolga Berry Farm 
Tolga

Atherton Berry Farm 
Atherton

 Walkamin Banana Farm 
Walkamin

 Tully Banana Farm 
Tully

 Mundubbera Grape Farm 
Mundubbera

 Brisbane Market 
Rocklea

New South Wales

 Corindi Berry Farm 
Corindi

 Guyra Tomato Glasshouse 
Guyra

 Eastern Creek DC 
Eastern Creek

 Euston DC Grapes 
Euston

 Tumbarumba Berry Farms 
Tumbarumba

Victoria

  Mushroom Farm 
  Mernda 

 Nagambie Compost Facility 
Nagambie

 Melbourne Market 
Epping

 Derrimut DC 
Derrimut

 Business Support Centre 
Ravenhall

South Australia

 Monarto Mushroom Farm 
South Monarto

 Yandilla Citrus Farm and Packhouse 
Renmark

 Solora Citrus Farm 
Loxton

 Pike Creek Farm 
Lyrup

 Amaroo Citrus Farm 
Murtho

Kangara Citrus Farm and Packhouse 

  Murtho

 Adelaide Market 
Pooraka

Tasmania

 Sulphur Creek Berry Farm 
Sulphur Creek

 Wesley Vale Berry Farm 
Wesley Vale

 East Devonport Berry Farm 
East Devonport

 Dunorlan Berry Farm 
Dunorlan

 Berry Farm 
North Launceston

 Devonport DC 
Quoiba

 Devonport Berry DC and Packhouse 
Devonport

 Spreyton Mushroom Farm 
Spreyton

 Dulverton Compost Facility 
La Trobe

Costa Group Holdings Limited | Annual Report 2016 | 07

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Profile continued

Summary of Financial Performance – FY2013 to FY2016

Figure 3: Summary of Pro Forma Financial Performance FY2013 to FY2016

Transacted Sales ($m)

Pro Forma Revenue ($m)

Pro Forma EBITDA Before SGARA ($m)

CAGR 13.0%

.

0
2
2
9

.

9
7
4
8

.

8
2
2
7

.

5
2
4
0
1

,

CAGR 12.2%

CAGR 17.3%

.

0
9
0
8

.

5
3
2
7

.

3
2
6
6

.

3
3
7
5

.

1
1
9

.

4
1
7

.

2
0
7

.

4
6
5

FY2013

FY2014

FY2015

FY16

FY2013

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

FY2013

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

Figure 4: Summary of Statutory Financial Performance FY2013 to FY2016

Statutory Revenue ($m)

Statutory EBITDA Before SGARA ($m)

Statutory Net Profit After Tax ($m)

.

0
9
0
8

.

1
9
9
6

.

0
7
2
7

.

7
2
9
5

.

2
7
6

.

3
0
6

.

5
4
6

.

7
8
3

.

3
5
2

3
4

.

)
9
1
(

.

.

)
3
0
4
(

FY2013

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

FY2013

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

FY2013

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

08  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Growth and Future Prospects

Costa aims to generate growth by investing in its core categories and strategically growing its offshore exposure in highly attractive 
international markets. During the year Costa continued to deliver on its growth projects, with the completion of a further 76 hectares 
in new berry plantings across its Australian farms, the commencement of production at the new 10-hectare tomato glasshouse in northern 
New South Wales, the further expansion of African blueberry operations in Morocco and the development of its berry farms in China. 

FY2017 will see continued execution of the domestic and international growth initiatives.

Australian Berry 
Expansion

Australian Citrus 
Expansion

International – 
Morocco

International – 
China

•  76 hectares of new plantings 
across four regions in FY2016.

•  New Pike Creek farm acquired 

•  Further 70 hectares planned 

in 2016.

to be planted in 2017.

•  Year-round production 

achieved for blueberries.

•  Second growth plan 

announced during the year.

•  Further development of existing 
orchards with 170 hectares of 
new plantings and a further 
129 hectares of topworking and 
replanting to be undertaken 
over the next three years.

•  New packing facility expected 
to be operational for FY2017 
harvest.

•  Joint venture agreement 
with Driscoll’s executed in 
January 2016.

•  First farm established with 

second farm being established.

The Board has declared a final dividend of 6.0 cents per share to be paid on 26 October 2016 (record date 28 September 2016), taking the 2016 full 
year dividend to 9.0 cents per share. The dividend will be fully franked.

Costa Group Holdings Limited | Annual Report 2016 | 09

Harvest Calendar

Blueberries Blueberries Blueberries Blueberries

Blueberries

Raspberries

Raspberries  Raspberries

Strawberries 

Blackberries

Mushrooms

Mushrooms

Tomatoes 

Tomatoes

Tomatoes

Bananas

Bananas

Corindi

FNQ

WA

Tumbarumba

TAS

Corindi

Gin Gin

TAS

TAS

TAS

Browns

Whites

Truss

Cocktail

Sweet Snacking

Cavendish

Lady Fingers

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Oranges

Oranges

Oranges

Mandarins Mandarins Mandarins Mandarins Mandarins Mandarins

Mandarins

Mandarins

Lemons

Limes

Grapefruit

Grapefruit

Persimmons

Tangelos

Avocados

Grapes

Valencia

Navels

Blood Orange

Satsuma

Clementines

Daisy

Imperial

Afourer

Ellendale

Honey Murcott Ortanique

Marsh

Ruby Red

10  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
Blueberries Blueberries Blueberries Blueberries

Blueberries

Raspberries

Raspberries  Raspberries

Strawberries 

Blackberries

Mushrooms

Mushrooms

Tomatoes 

Tomatoes

Tomatoes

Bananas

Bananas

Corindi

FNQ

WA

Tumbarumba

TAS

Corindi

Gin Gin

TAS

TAS

TAS

Browns

Whites

Truss

Cocktail

Sweet Snacking

Cavendish

Lady Fingers

Oranges

Oranges

Oranges

Mandarins Mandarins Mandarins Mandarins Mandarins Mandarins

Mandarins

Mandarins

Lemons

Limes

Grapefruit

Grapefruit

Persimmons

Tangelos

Avocados

Grapes

Valencia

Navels

Blood Orange

Satsuma

Clementines

Daisy

Imperial

Afourer

Ellendale

Honey Murcott Ortanique

Marsh

Ruby Red

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  11

 
Sustainability Report

Community
We are actively involved in supporting the 
social fabric of the many regional communities 
in which we operate. Our footprint requires us 
to not only act and behave as a responsible 
corporate citizen, but to also work closely 
with communities so they can benefit 
in ways both economic and social. 

Half and full year performance appraisals are 
also undertaken for all salaried employees. The 
Company has recently established an online 
portal for the completion of performance 
reviews and the provision of employee 
feedback and satisfaction surveys. The 
Corporate Office is the first to utilise this tool 
beginning FY2017, with an objective to extend 
its reach to the business units in the future.

Costa Sustainability Loop

Human Capital Development
The seasonal nature of the Costa business 
necessitates that our direct and indirect 
employee numbers will vary during the 
course of the year, and in FY2016 our 
workforce comprised 3,273 full-time 
equivalent employees.

Recruitment and Talent Retention

The Company has in place an active 
recruitment and talent retention program 
overseen by the Group Human Resources 
Manager. 

The CEO, in consultation with business unit 
General Managers and the Group Human 
Resources Manager, undertakes half and 
full year Capability Development Reviews, 
which cover critical roles and organisational 
structures in the Company. This forms the basis 
for identifying any talent and capability gaps 
within the Company’s key management roles 
and, where necessary, the need to recruit for 
those positions.

People First Program

The Company’s core values of passion, respect, 
sincerity, determination and accountability are 
the linchpin of our People First program. The 
program consists of bi-monthly presentations 
across all sites highlighting our core values 
and recognising individuals for demonstrating 
these values in their everyday work. The 
presentations share news of what is 
happening across the entire Company, and are 
divided into three main parts – values, safety 
and community. The presentations are also 
designed to act as a mechanism for employees 
to provide direct feedback on any issues, with 
a particular focus on values including how 
they are being practised within the Company.

Education and Training

The Company runs a number of education 
and training programs for our employees, 
including the Costa Manager Program, 
Costa Supervisor Program and Costa 
Finance Program.

The Costa Manager Program is an experiential 
learning program designed to provide 
knowledge and skills for day-to-day 
leadership, supervision and management 
of staff through examples and applied 
learning that participants can adapt 
back to their own workplace. 

Participants gain skills in areas of team 
leadership, self-awareness, emotional 
intelligence, giving and receiving feedback, 
effective listening, problem solving and 
decision making in a team and managing 
conflict. More importantly, it is an opportunity 
for our managers across the country to come 
together and share experiences and ideas 
around the challenges they face at their sites.

104 employees have completed the 
program since its introduction in 2011, 
with 30 employees participating in the 
program during FY2016.

As a Company engaged in intensive 
horticulture across a number of regional 
and rural communities, Costa recognises 
an obligation to conduct our business 
in a sustainable manner, both in an 
environmental and social context.

We take great pride in knowing we are 
contributing to a healthier community and 
population, with the fresh produce that we 
grow and sell being recognised for its health 
and nutritional benefits.

As a listed public company, we also recognise 
that our investors and broader stakeholders 
want to be kept informed and up to date on 
how the Company is tracking with respect to 
our environmental and social performance, 
including the publication of relevant data 
and progress reports. 

Our aim is to build on this reporting over 
the next two years through providing material 
via our Annual Report, with the ultimate 
goal being the production of an annual 
standalone Sustainability Report.

This Sustainability Report, and those to 
be compiled in the future, will report on 
our performance as it relates to our people, 
environmental performance and interaction 
with stakeholders and the communities 
we operate in.

People
We put our people first through our 
core values of passion, respect, sincerity, 
determination and accountability. We 
recognise that they deserve a workplace 
which is safe and healthy, provides them with 
every opportunity to succeed, and rewards 
effort for their contribution to our success.

Environmental
We are committed to investing in farming 
practices that are innovative and promote 
sustainable horticulture and focusing on 
the need for responsible environmental 
stewardship with respect to our use of 
natural resources.

12  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  13

Sustainability Report continued

Our Safety Performance
The Group’s total recordable injury frequency 
rate (TRIFR) fell by 12% during FY2016. There 
were no fatalities recorded at our operated 
sites, reflecting our continued commitment 
to the health and safety of our employees, 
contractors and visitors as well as aligning 
with initiatives implemented through the 
Company WHS Strategic Plan.

The severity rate fell by 35% during FY2016. 
The principal contributing factor in this 
reduction was a focus on being more 
proactive with respect to early intervention 
of injury management. 

The Company’s New Claims Frequency Rate 
(NCFR) correlates with an improvement in 
safety performance and was a contributing 
factor in significantly reducing workers 
compensation premiums by 22%.

Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate
(12-month Rolling Average)1

Severity Rate
(12-month Rolling Average)1

2
9
8
3

.

2
7
0
3

.

.

6
0
9
2

4
4
5
2

.

4
1
2

7
7
1

9
7
1

0
4
1

FY2013

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

FY2013

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

1. Per million hours worked.

1. Per million hours worked.

Workers Compensation New Claims Frequency Rate (NCFR)
(12-month Rolling Average)1

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

FY15

Jul 15 Aug 15 Sep 15 Oct 15 Nov 15 Dec 15 Jan 16 Feb 16 Mar 16 Apr 16 May 16 Jun 16

1. Per million hours worked.

Workplace Health and Safety
Our Approach
The Costa ‘3 Pillars of Safety’ provides the 
Company with an effective WHS vision which 
supports our strategy to work towards a zero 
injury workplace.

•  To protect

•  To improve culture

•  To be the best

Our Focus
During FY2016, the following WHS initiatives 
were implemented or commenced:

•  Development of the ‘Costa Safety 

Leadership Program’. This program is 
designed to focus behaviours, challenge 
our beliefs and values about safety, and 
set a benchmark to improve our culture. 
The aim is to ensure this program is 
conducted with consistency across 
all of our sites, with over 600 employees 
participating in its first year.

•  The Company’s WHS Strategic Plan (year 
two of a three-year plan) was completed 
successfully with a number of key initiatives 
implemented to support the ‘3 Pillars of 
Safety’. Some key action outcomes for 
FY2016 were to regularly review our systems 
for compliance, review performance to 
measure and improve accountability, 
and to provide tools to effectively 
manage a safe workplace.

•  A review was completed to ensure that 

all contractors comply with the Company’s 
safety requirements, including the 
completion of site-specific inductions. 
Contractors are required to provide 
evidence of current insurances, inductions 
and training and legal compliance. This 
information is uploaded onto Skytrust, 
our fully integrated health and safety 
web-based IT solution and allows access 
for both the Company and contractors 
to actively manage safety compliance.

14  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
Environmental
The Company is actively seeking to improve 
the collection of environmental data and 
our reporting by way of making such data 
publicly available through a future 
Sustainability Report.

FY2016 has seen a particular focus on 
identifying and implementing water-saving 
strategies. This has included building 
on existing activity and the introduction 
of new technology.

Irrigation 
Innovation
The Company’s 
citrus farms in 
the Riverland 
of South Australia 
utilise cutting-edge 
drip irrigation 
technology to 
precisely determine 
water usage. Enviro 
scan probes have 

been installed to monitor moisture in different 
patches of soil, with approximately 270 probes 
currently in use across our farms. 

Each probe has soil moisture sensors mounted 
on the probe rod. The sensor uses ‘capacitance’ 
technology, which measures the electrical 
resistance in the soil (dry soil = more resistance, 
wet soil = less resistance). The depth of the 
sensors is determined by a soil/irrigation 
agronomist, and are fixed in place on the 
probe. Sensors are normally placed at 10, 
30, 50, 80 and 120cm below the soil surface, 
depending on the citrus variety, soil type 
and irrigation system.

The sensors take a reading every hour of 
every day, and transmit the data back to 
the irrigation computer at each farm. The 
data is displayed in a graphical format on 
the computer for easy interpretation, and 
whilst data is available at each farm, it is 
also transmitted to the main office so the 
Horticultural Manager and Agronomist 
can view it remotely.

This enables the Farm Manager, Irrigation 
Manager and Farm Agronomist to monitor 
depth and calculate the total amount of 
moisture in the soil and root zone at any time.

The technology is used to determine 
if there is under irrigating (causing stress) 
or over irrigating (wasting water) of the trees, 
enabling informed decisions to apply precisely 
what water the trees require based on their 
current water use and climatic conditions 
via drip irrigation.

Recycling Efficiency
During FY2016 the Company installed a water 
recycling plant at its largest mushroom farm 
located in Mernda, Victoria. The farm uses 
up to two mega litres of water per week, with 
40% of this total being used for plant and 
equipment wash down. Although some of this 
water was being captured, it was not being 
recycled. Management recognised the need 
to make better use of this waste water and the 
opportunity to utilise innovative technology 
to enable sustainable use of water resources.

The solution was the installation of a waste 
water treatment plant, which now captures 
approximately one mega litre of waste water 
per week and allows for this water to be 
recycled and reused. Most importantly this 
has reduced the site’s usage of mains water 
by up to 40%.

Food Safety

National Quality Assurance System
To guarantee safe, high quality produce, Costa 
operates a National Quality Management 
System (NQMS) across the group which meets 
the requirements of GFSI (Global Food Safety 
Initiative) benchmarked certification standard.

The NQMS reflects the Company’s 
commitment to the provision of safe quality 
food to our customers and the end consumer. 
The Board and management have committed 
to ensuring sufficient resources are dedicated 
to maintaining the NQMS. 

Underpinning the NQMS is a suite of policies 
and procedures, including a Safe Food and 
Quality Policy, Personal Hygiene Policy and 

Allergen Management Policy. Management 
remains committed to ensuring all Costa 
personnel receive the necessary training to 
perform their duties safely and effectively. 

Food Quality
To manage food quality Costa has adopted 
the Muddy Boots Greenlight QC system 
across multiple product categories; the 
Greenlight mobile technology software 
captures and processes information on 
product quality at the point of input, 
enabling the Costa businesses to quickly 
identify problem areas and collaborate 
with production units as well as external 
suppliers to deliver consistent improvements 
up and down the supply chain.

Compliance and System Review
Management is also committed to ensuring 
quality through a regular compliance and 
systems review. The NQMS is reviewed 
bi-annually by trained internal auditors 
and externally by BSI Group Australia 
and New Zealand Pty Ltd. 

In September 2015 BSI were engaged 
as the external compliance body responsible 
for auditing all Costa facilities nationally. 
The collaborative approach, strategic 
alignment and structured delivery of the 
auditing service provided by BSI has enabled 
Costa to provide guidelines for the review 
of the NQMS and facilitate the continuous 
improvement of the Company to ensure that 
food products produced and sold by Costa 
meet food safety regulatory requirements, 
and the quality expectations of our customers.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  15

Sustainability Report continued

Product Recall/Withdrawal
Costa has implemented the GS1 Recallnet 
system, a secure online portal which ensures 
communication of any product recall and 
withdrawals to all trading partners and 
regulators. GS1 Recallnet has been specifically 
designed to support the food and grocery 
industries.

The GS1 Recallnet system ensures the right 
information is delivered to the right people 
at the right time. The system also significantly 
streamlines and improves the product recall 
and withdrawal process that enables fast 
and effective removal of unsafe or unsuitable 
products from the supply chain, retailers and 
the wider marketplace.

Contaminated Product Insurance
Costa has in place a Contaminated Products 
Insurance policy, providing coverage for a 
number of insured events, including accidental 
contamination, malicious product tampering, 
product extortion and government recall.

The policy also enables access to our insurer’s 
crisis hotline, where specialists provide 
professional guidance and assistance in 
notifying customers and suppliers up and 
down the supply chain, communications 
with state and federal authorities and 
strategies on the best approach to effectively 
deal with a recall and help identify possible 
sources of the contaminants.

Costa employees also undertake training 
funded by our insurer where internal 
workshops are conducted to focus on specific 
areas of food safety that are of concern to 
our customers. In FY2016, 96 personnel were 
involved in training sessions dealing with 
foreign object control and the principles 
and application of HACCP.

Community
The Company operates across more than 
30 regional and rural communities and 
continues to support a wide array of 
organisations, including charities, not-for-
profits, sporting clubs and educational/
training providers. In FY2016 Costa focused 
on ways in which it could provide young 
people with support to enable them to 
pursue education and career opportunities 
in the agricultural sector.

16  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Support for Education and Training

Academic Scholarships
As a significant economic presence in the 
north-west of Tasmania and in recognition of 
the historically limited opportunities for young 
people to undertake tertiary education from 
this region, Costa commenced a program of 
awarding undergraduate and postgraduate 
scholarships to students from the north-west 
to study agricultural science at the University 
of Tasmania in Hobart.

Commencing from the academic year 2016, 
over the next four years Costa will award one 
scholarship per year to the value of $10,000 
per annum for a local student from the 
north-west Coast to undertake a four-year 
agricultural science degree. Successful 
applicants are entitled to $40,000 in total 
over the life of the degree. One postgraduate 
scholarship per year over the next four years 
will also be awarded. The scholarships are 
administered by the University of Tasmania 
Foundation, and are used at the discretion of 
the recipient to cover study and living costs.

Transitional Education
During FY2016 our berry category worked 
with the Life Skills program for transitional 
education students at Don College in 
Tasmania. The program is for students 
with learning disabilities and focuses on 
teaching life skills and independence.

The students visited the Company’s berry 
farms and met with managers and workers. 
They learnt about how berries are grown, the 
types of jobs people do on the farm and the 
basic safety and quality requirements of the 
work. They also experienced what it is like 
to be a harvest worker. The program also 
provides many links for numeracy and 
literacy activities.

Our citrus category supported the GrowSmart 
program, where industry leaders unite to 
encourage children to become involved 
in horticultural science at a young age.

Collaborating with local registered training 
organisations, TAFE, high schools and other 
relevant institutions, our citrus category has 
facilitated local field days that provide on-site 
and practical demonstrations of how our 
business operates and the job opportunities 
that are available for young people to pursue 
a career in agriculture.

Management is also involved in the South 
Australian Riverland Industry Leaders Group, 
whose main role is to assist government in 
policy development and planning of training 
activities to ensure real job outcomes are 
achieved in the region.

Contributing to Better 
Communities
The Company has many dedicated employees 
who live and work in their local communities. 
We seek to support and encourage their 
efforts to undertake fundraising activities 
that not only sustain their local community, 
but also contribute to making them a better 
place to live.

One such employee is Carmen White, who is 
the Harvest Manager at our mushroom farm in 
Monarto, South Australia. Carmen volunteers 
her time and effort to support and organise 
local fundraising activities, encouraging her 
workmates to also be actively involved.

Below are just some of the fundraising 
activities Carmen and her workmates 
were involved in over the past year:

•  World’s Greatest Shave – a number of 
senior managers shaved their heads 
in support of raising money for the 
Leukaemia Foundation.

•  Biggest Morning Tea – held on-site to raise 
funds for the Murraylands Cancer Council. 

•  2016 Murray River Trail Running Festival 
– Silver Sponsorship with all funds raised 
going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research 
Foundation. 

•  Relay for Life – 91 employees joined the 
‘Mighty Mushroom Mites’ team to Raise 
funds for Murraylands Cancer Council.

•  Annual Golf Day in support of Community 
Lifestyles Murray Bridge – major sponsor.

•  Annual New Year’s Day fundraising cricket 
match – held at Murray Bridge cricket 
ground to raise funds for the Murraylands 
Cancer Council. More than 100 people 
were involved.

Across all fundraising activities over the 
last year, Carmen and her workmates at 
the Monarto mushroom farm have helped 
to raise over $10,000.

Carmen’s tireless efforts were recognised 
with her being awarded a well-deserved 
Chairman’s Award at the Costa Awards 
ceremony in October 2015.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  17

18  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Directors’ Report

The Directors of Costa Group Holdings Ltd and its controlled entities (‘the Group’) present their report together with the financial report of the 
Group for the financial year ended 26 June 2016.

1. Directors
The Directors of the Company at any time during or since the end of the financial year are:

Neil Chatfield M.Bus, FCPA, FAICD
Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director

Director since 7 October 2011 and Chairman since 24 June 2015. Member of the Audit and Risk Committee, Remuneration Committee and 
Nomination Committee.

Neil is an established executive and Non-Executive Director with extensive experience across all facets of company management, and with 
specific expertise in financial management, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and risk management. 

Neil is currently the Chair and Non-Executive Director of Seek Limited. Neil is also a Non-Executive Director of Transurban Ltd, Iron Mountain Inc 
and Launch Housing, a not for profit organisation. He was previously a Non-Executive Director of Recall Holdings Ltd (to May 2016), Chair and 
Non-Executive Director of Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd (to May 2015) and Non-Executive Director of Grange Resources Ltd (to April 2014).

Neil previously served as an executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Toll Holdings Ltd (from 1997 to 2008). 

Frank Costa AO OAM
Non-Executive Director 

Director since 8 June 2011. Member of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee.

Frank has been at the forefront of developing and building the Costa Group into a major horticultural and logistics company for more than 50 years. 
He has previously served as President of the Geelong Football Club (1998 – 2010) and tirelessly promotes the development of the City of Geelong 
and surrounding community. Frank has been honoured with an Order of Australia Medal for his services to youth and the community.

During the past three years, Frank has not served as a Director of any other listed company. 

Harry Debney BAppSc (Hons)
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Director since 5 January 2012 and Managing Director since 24 July 2015.

Since his appointment as CEO in 2010, Harry has overseen the transition of the business from a privately owned company to its listing on the 
Australian Securities Exchange. Prior to joining Costa, Harry spent 24 years at Visy Industries, including eight years as Chief Executive Officer. During 
this time, he substantially grew the Visy business, both organically and through acquisitions. 

During the reporting period and the previous two years, Harry has not served as a Director of any other listed company. Harry was appointed 
as a Non-Executive Director of Kogan.com Ltd in May 2016, prior to its listing on the ASX in July 2016.

Kevin Schwartz BSc (Accountancy)
Non-Executive Director

Director since 7 October 2011. Member of the Nomination Committee.

Kevin is the President of Paine & Partners LLC which he cofounded in 2006. He was a Managing Director at the predecessor firm, Fox Paine & 
Company, which he joined in 2002. 

Kevin serves as a Director of AgBiTech Pty Ltd, Verdesian Life Sciences and Suba Seeds Company. He is also a member of the Rush Associates Board 
of the Rush University Medical Center. Kevin has previously served as a Director of Advanta, Seminis, Inc., Sunrise Holdings (Delaware), Inc. and on the 
Board of United American Energy Corp.

During the past three years, Kevin has not served as a Director of any other listed company. 

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  19

Directors’ Report continued

Peter Margin BSc (Hons), MBA
Independent Non-Executive Director 

Director since 24 June 2015. Chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Audit and Risk Committee and Nomination Committee.

Peter has many years of leadership experience in major Australian and international food companies, including Chief Executive of Goodman Fielder 
Ltd and before that Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of National Foods Ltd. Peter has also held senior executive roles in Simplot Australia 
Pty Ltd, Pacific Brands Ltd, East Asiatic Company and HJ Heinz Company Australia Ltd and is currently Executive Chairman of Asahi Beverages ANZ.

Peter currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of PACT Group Holdings Ltd, Nufarm Ltd and Bega Cheese Ltd. He has recently announced his 
resignation from his position as Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Huon Aquaculture Ltd (effective 30 August 2016) and his position as 
Non-Executive Director of PMP Ltd (effective 29 August 2016). Peter was previously a Non-Executive Director of the NSX listed company Ricegrowers 
Ltd (to August 2015).

Tiffany Fuller B.Com, GAICD, ACA
Independent Non-Executive Director 

Director since 1 October 2015. Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and member of the Nomination Committee.

Tiffany has held various accounting, corporate finance, financial advisory and management consulting positions with Arthur Anderson in Australia, 
the United States and in England and subsequently held roles in investment banking and private equity with Rothschild Australia. As a Director in 
the Rothschild private equity group she focused on the management of Microcap Investments and early stage technology venture capital in 
Australia and New Zealand.

Tiffany currently serves as Non-Executive Director of Computershare Ltd and Smart Parking Ltd and is the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee 
of both companies.

2. Company Secretary
David Thomas LLB, BSc (Hons)
Mr Thomas joined the Company as General Counsel in July 2012 and was appointed to the position of Company Secretary in October 2012. In 
addition to being the Company Secretary, Mr. Thomas oversees the Group’s legal department and advises the Group on legal, risk and compliance 
matters. Prior to joining the Company, Mr Thomas was a Partner of Middletons (now K&L Gates), practising in corporate and commercial law. He has 
over 23 years’ experience in legal practice.

3. Officers who were previously Partners of the Audit Firm
There are no officers of the Company during the financial year that were previously partners of the current audit firm, KPMG, at a time when KPMG 
undertook an audit of the Group.

20  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

4. Directors’ Meetings
The number of Directors’ meetings (including meetings of committees of Directors) and number of meetings attended by each of the Directors 
of the Company during the financial year are:

Director
Neil Chatfield 
Frank Costa
Harry Debney
Kevin Schwartz
Peter Margin
Tiffany Fuller

Board Meetings

Held
9
9
9
9
9
5

Attended
9
8
9
9
9
4

Audit and Risk 
Committee Meetings
Held
3
-
-
-
3
3

Attended
3
-
-
-
3
3

Remuneration 
Committee Meetings
Held
1
1
-
-
1
-

Attended
1
1
-
-
1
-

Nomination 
Committee Meetings
Held
2
2
-
2
2
2

Attended
2
2
-
1
2
1

5. Principal Activities
Costa Group is Australia’s largest horticulture group and is the largest fresh produce supplier to the major Australian food retailers. The Group’s 
principal activities during the year were:

•  the growing of mushrooms, blueberries, raspberries, glasshouse grown tomatoes, citrus and other selected fruits within Australia;

•  the packing, marketing and distribution of fruit and vegetables within Australia and to export markets; 

•  provision of chilled logistics warehousing and services within Australia; and

• 

licensing of proprietary blueberry varieties and berry farming in international markets.

No significant change in the nature of these activities occurred during the year. 

6. Significant Changes in State of Affairs During the Year
On 24 July 2015, the Group undertook an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Australian Securities Exchange. The purpose of the IPO was to:

•  provide Costa with access to capital markets to pursue further growth opportunities;

•  pay down the Group’s existing debt; and

•  allow existing shareholders to realise part of their investment.

As a result of the IPO, the Group:

• 

Issued new shares for $173.3 million;

•  Repaid the existing debt facility of $238.0 million and drew down $142.0 million under a new banking facility;

•  Disposed of existing options issued to management and Directors under the legacy LTI plan, which resulted in a cash payment of $11.9 million 

and acceleration of share-based payments expense $0.7 million;

•  Paid a dividend of $9.4 million in relation to the Redeemable Preference Shares (RPS). The RPS were subsequently converted to ordinary shares; and

•  Write-off of capitalised borrowing costs of $7.9 million.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  21

Directors’ Report continued

7. Review of Operations

Results for the Financial Year Ended 26 June 2016

Pro Forma Results
Pro forma results are provided for the financial year ended 26 June 2016 to allow shareholders to make a meaningful comparison with the pro forma 
Prospectus forecast. Pro forma adjustments have been made on a consistent basis with those made in the Prospectus. A reconciliation of the pro 
forma results to the statutory results is provided in Tables 7 and 8 below.

Pro Forma
Revenue
EBITDA before SGARA
Net profit after tax

vs FY2016 
Prospectus
+9.6%
+0.8%
+3.6%

vs FY2015 
Actual
+11.8%
+27.6%
+29.7%

•  Pro forma revenue, EBITDA before SGARA and NPAT have exceeded Prospectus forecast.

•  Favourable performance within the portfolio has offset challenging market conditions 

in the tomato category

•  Continued earnings growth contribution from the International segment from both 

African Blue and royalty income

Table 1: Pro Forma Results for FY2016 Actual Compared to Prospectus Forecast1 and Prior Year

Consolidated Income Statement
A$m
Transacted Sales2

Revenue
Other revenue 
Total revenue
Raw materials, consumables and third party purchases
Employee benefits expense
Other operating expense
Share of associates profit
EBITDA before SGARA
Fair value movements in biological assets
EBITDA
Depreciation and amortisation
Profit/(loss) on sale of assets
Impairment losses
EBIT
Net interest expense 
Net profit/(loss) before tax
Income tax expense
NPAT

1.  FY2016 forecast as per Costa’s Prospectus dated 25 June 2015.

Pro Forma FY2016

Actual
1,042.5

Prospectus
Forecast
978.8

Change
63.7

Pro Forma
FY2015
Restated3
Actual
922.0

Change
120.5

809.0
12.7
821.7
(309.8)
(276.4)
(159.0)
14.4
91.1
4.3
95.4
(22.5)
(1.0)
-
71.9
(5.2)
66.7
(17.4)
49.3

738.0
7.9
745.9
(246.0)
(262.7)
(158.3)
11.5
90.4
2.3
92.8
(21.8)
-
-
70.9
(6.4)
64.5
(17.0)
47.6

71.0
4.8
75.8
(63.7)
(13.6)
(0.7)
2.9
0.7
2.0
2.6
(0.7)
(1.0)
-
1.0
1.1
2.1
(0.4)
1.7

723.5
9.0
732.4
(279.2)
(243.8)
(147.6)
9.5
71.4
3.4
74.7
(19.0)
0.5
(1.6)
54.6
(5.6)
49.0
(11.0)
38.0

85.5
3.7
89.3
(30.5)
(32.6)
(11.4)
4.9
19.7
1.0
20.7
(3.5)
(1.5)
1.6
17.4
0.3
17.7
(6.4)
11.3

2.  Transacted Sales is a non-IFRS operating measure. See Table 2 for a reconciliation of Transacted Sales to statutory and pro forma revenue. Further details on Transacted Sales are provided in 

Table 12.

3.  FY2015 results have been restated as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 141 Agriculture in 

relation to bearer plants.

22  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
Pro Forma Results vs FY2015 Actual
Pro forma revenue increased by $85.5 million from the prior year due to stronger results in the Produce segment with solid revenue growth achieved 
across all core categories. This was slightly offset by the CF&L segment due to depressed banana prices caused by industry oversupply.

Pro forma EBITDA before SGARA increased by $19.7 million from prior year with all three segments recording an increase in underlying earnings. 
The Produce and International segments, in particular, reported strong earnings growth of 24% and 78%, respectively, from prior year. 

Pro Forma Results vs FY2016 Prospectus Forecast
Pro forma revenue was $71.0 million above Prospectus forecast with uplift across all Produce categories except tomatoes which was impacted by 
weaker pricing. 

Pro forma EBITDA before SGARA was $0.7 million above Prospectus forecast, with solid performance throughout the Group, offset by negative 
pricing impact for tomatoes in the Produce segment.

Table 2: Reconciliation of Transacted Sales to Pro Forma and Statutory Revenue

Reconciliation of Transacted Sales 
A$m
Transacted Sales
Agency revenue adjustments
Joint venture adjustments
Driscoll’s Australia Partnership consolidation adjustments
Royalty income
Statutory and pro forma revenue

Note

1
2
3
4

FY2016
Actual
1,042.5
(31.9)
(27.6)
(169.7)
(4.2)
809.0

1.  Under AAS, the invoiced value of agency sales is excluded from revenue with only the commission associated with the agency sales recognised. 

2.  Costa’s proportionate share of joint venture sales relating to the African Blue and Polar Fresh joint ventures, of 49% and 50% respectively. Under AAS, joint ventures are accounted for under 

the equity method, with only Costa’s share of joint venture NPAT recognised in profit or loss.

3.  Costa owns 50% of the equity of Driscoll’s JV. Transacted Sales includes 100% of Driscoll’s JV sales, after eliminating Costa produce sales to the Driscoll’s JV.

4.  Costa earns royalty income on the licensing of Costa blueberry varieties in Australia, the Americas and Africa. Royalty income is classified as other income in the statement of profit or loss.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  23

 
 
Directors’ Report continued

Statutory Results
Highlights of full year statutory results:

Pro Forma
Revenue
EBITDA before SGARA
Net profit after tax

vs FY2016 Prospectus
+9.3%
+5.8%
+14.0%

vs FY2015 Actual
+11.3%
+11.4%
+488.4%

•  Strong earnings growth reported across the Group despite the negative impact of IPO costs of $21.8 million and start-up costs for Costa Asia of 

$2.0 million recognised during the year.

Table 3: Statutory Results for FY2016 Actual Compared to Prospectus Forecast and Prior Year

Consolidated Income Statement
A$m
Revenue
Other revenue 
Total revenue
Raw materials, consumables and third party purchases
Employee benefits expense
Other operating expense
Share of associates profit
EBITDA before SGARA
Fair value movements in biological assets
EBITDA
Depreciation and amortisation
Profit/(loss) on sale of assets
Impairment losses
EBIT
Net interest expense 
Net profit/(loss) before tax
Income tax expense
Net profit after tax
Non-controlling interest
NPAT attributable to shareholders

1. See note 3 in Table 1. 

Statutory FY2016 

Actual
809.0
12.7
821.7
(311.8)
(276.4)
(180.8)
14.4
67.2
4.3
71.6
(22.5)
1.4
-
50.5
(14.8)
35.7
(10.4)
25.3
0.0
25.3

Prospectus
Forecast
740.2
7.9
748.1
(251.3)
(262.7)
(182.1)
11.5
63.5
2.3
65.9
(21.8)
-
-
44.0
(14.5)
29.5
(7.4)
22.2
0.9
23.1

Statutory
FY2015
Restated1 
Actual
727.0
9.0
736.0
(283.7)
(243.8)
(157.7)
9.5
60.3
3.4
63.7
(19.6)
0.5
(18.9)
25.6
(20.7)
5.0
(0.6)
4.3
-
4.3

Change
68.8
4.8
73.6
(60.4)
(13.6)
1.3
2.9
3.7
2.0
5.7
(0.7)
1.4
-
6.5
(0.3)
6.2
(3.1)
3.1
(0.9)
2.2

Change
82.0
3.7
85.7
(28.0)
(32.6)
(23.1)
4.9
6.9
1.0
7.9
(3.0)
0.9
18.9
24.8
5.9
30.7
(9.8)
21.0
0.0
21.0

Statutory Results vs FY2015 Actual
Statutory revenue increased by $82.0 million from the prior year, driven by the Produce segment as outlined above in the pro forma results. 
Additionally, the FY2015 statutory results include revenues of $3.7 million from the Menindee and St. George grape farms which were closed 
in January 2015.

Statutory EBITDA before SGARA increased by $6.9 million compared to prior year. The statutory results were impacted significantly by $21.8 million 
of transaction costs incurred associated with the Initial Public Offering (2015: $5.2 million).

Fair value movements in biological assets increased by $1.0 million, predominantly due to stronger pricing in the citrus category.

Depreciation and amortisation increased by $3.0 million in line with increased capital expenditure on the berry growth projects as well as the 
commencement of depreciation on the new tomato glasshouse. Profit on sale of assets includes $2.4 million gain on the sale of the St. George grape farm.

The FY2015 result also includes significant impairment costs resulting from the downsizing of the grape category and closure of two sites during the year.

Net interest expense includes all-in net cost of debt (including guarantee fees and amortisation of facility establishment fees). The Group refinanced 
its debt facility upon completion of the IPO in July 2015 which resulted in write-off of $7.9 million of borrowing costs on the pre-existing facility. 
Despite this, net finance costs were $5.9 million lower than prior year due to a combination of lower prevailing interest rates and lower average debt 
throughout the year.

Income tax expense increased to $10.4 million in line with a higher PBT compared to prior year. The prior year also benefited from an overprovision 
of $1.8 million as a result of R&D credits received. FY2016 income tax expense also includes $1.7 million of deferred tax asset not recognised on 
capital losses associated with site closures during the year. As a result, the effective tax rate increased to 29%. 

24  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
Segment Information

Produce
Highlights of pro forma results:

Pro Forma
Transacted Sales
Revenue
EBITDA before SGARA

vs FY2016 
Prospectus
+5.6%
+12.5%
-6.1%

vs FY2015 
Actual
+16.1%
+18.7%
+24.2%

•  Transacted Sales and revenue growth on FY2015 achieved across 

all four categories.

•  Revenue growth led by citrus, berry and mushroom volume growth.

•  EBITDA before SGARA growth of 24.2% against FY2015, but below 

prospectus forecast due to tomato pricing impact.

Figure 1: Pro Forma Revenue, Transacted Sales and EBITDA before SGARA Results From FY2014 to FY2016

50.9m

55.7m

69.1m

EBITDA
before
SGARA

Revenue

Transacted
Sales

482.9m

531.7m

631.1m

635.5m

695.9m

808.2m

FY2014 Actual

FY2015 Actual

FY2016 Actual

Table 4: Selected Pro Forma Financial Information for the Produce Segment

Produce
A$m
Transacted sales
Revenue
EBITDA before SGARA
EBITDA before SGARA margin

Pro Forma FY2016 

Actual
808.2
631.1
69.1
10.9%

Prospectus 
Forecast
765.0
560.8
73.6
13.1%

Change
43.2
70.3
(4.5)
 (220 bps) 

 Pro Forma
FY2015
Actual
695.9
531.7
55.7
10.5%

Change
112.3
99.4
13.4
 50 bps 

Produce pro forma revenue increased by $99.4 million on FY2015. The drivers for the increase include:

•  continued expansion of the berry category with 76 hectares of new plantings during the year;

•  solid year in mushroom driven by production yield improvement;

•  exceptional year in citrus due to a combination of strong yields, good quality, favourable 

exchange rates and contribution from the new Amaroo citrus farm; and

•  revenue growth from additional production of sweet snacking tomatoes from the new 

glasshouse. 

•  However this was offset by price deflation across the tomato category which experienced 
cyclical lows due to high levels of supply combined with sluggish supermarket sales over 
the summer period.

Pro forma EBITDA before SGARA increased by $13.4 million against FY2015. This was 
predominantly driven by the revenue growth in the citrus, berry and mushroom categories, 
partially offset by weaker tomato pricing.

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Figure 2: Produce Pro Forma Revenue
Growth Percentage on FY15

Mushroom

Berry

Tomato

Citrus

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  25

 
 
Directors’ Report continued

Costa Farms and Logistics
Highlights of pro forma results:

Pro Forma
Transacted sales
Revenue
EBITDA before SGARA

vs FY2016 
Prospectus
+3.4%
-1.3%
+16.7%

vs FY2015 
Actual
-1.6%
-5.9%
+12.9%

•  Revenue down on FY2015 primarily due to lower banana pricing.

•  EBITDA before SGARA growth of $1.5 million on FY2015 due to improved 

logistics earnings through cost control and service volumes.

Figure 3: Pro Forma Revenue, Transacted Sales and EBITDA Before SGARA Results from FY2014 to FY2016

14.4m

9.3m

10.5m

EBITDA
before
SGARA

Revenue

Transacted
Sales

227.1m

231.5m

217.8m

250.3m

250.6m

246.7m

FY2014 Actual

FY2015 Actual

FY2016 Actual

Table 5: Selected Pro Forma Financial Information for the CF&L Segment

Costa Farms and Logistics
A$m
Transacted sales
Revenue
EBITDA before SGARA
EBITDA before SGARA margin

Pro Forma FY2016 

Actual
246.7
217.8
10.5
4.8%

Prospectus 
Forecast
238.7
220.7
9.0
4.1%

Change
8.0
(2.9)
1.5
 80 bps 

Pro Forma
FY2015
Actual
250.6
231.5
9.3
4.0%

Change
(3.9)
(13.7)
1.2
 80 bps 

Pro forma revenue decreased by $13.7 million against FY2015. This was mainly driven by price 
deflation on bananas caused by industry oversupply and a higher proportion of marketed 
produce being undertaken on an agency basis. 

Figure 4: CF&L Pro Forma Revenue
Growth Percentage on FY15

Pro forma EBITDA before SGARA increased by $1.2 million against FY2015 driven by:

• 

improved earnings from the distribution centres through increased throughput and 
strong cost management; and

•  strong performance from the Polar Fresh joint venture through enhanced gain 

share outcomes.

This was partially offset by the negative impact from banana price deflation.

)

%
6
(

)

%
6
(

Costa Farms

Logistics

26  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
International
Highlights of pro forma results:

Pro Forma
Transacted sales
EBITDA before SGARA

vs FY2016 
Prospectus
+46.5%
+46.2%

vs FY2015 
Actual
+79.1%
+78.1%

•  Strong Transacted Sales growth on both FY2015 and Prospectus 
forecast with increase in both African Blue and royalty income.

•  EBITDA $5.0 million above FY2015, and $3.6 million above 

Prospectus forecast.

Figure 5: Pro Forma Revenue, Transacted Sales and EBITDA Before SGARA Results from FY2014 to FY2016

4.9m

6.4m

EBITDA
before
SGARA

Transacted
Sales

11.4m

10.3m

15.3m

FY2014 Actual

FY2015 Actual

FY2016 Actual

27.4m

Table 6: Selected Pro Forma Financial Information for the International Segment

International
A$m
Transacted sales
Revenue
EBITDA before SGARA
EBITDA before SGARA margin

Pro Forma FY2016

Actual
27.4
-
11.4
nm

Prospectus 
Forecast
18.7
-
7.8
nm

Change
8.7
-
3.6
nm

Pro Forma
FY2015
Actual
15.3
-
6.4
nm

Change
12.1
-
5.0
nm

Pro forma International segment results are comprised of the African Blue JV and royalty income from the licensing of Costa’s blueberry genetics. 
African Blue is accounted for as an associate and therefore no revenue is recognised. Royalty income is recognised as other income in profit or loss, 
as opposed to revenue. 

Transacted sales increased by $12.1 million, or 79.1%, on FY2015. This was primarily driven by:

•  African Blue FY2016 season exceeding expectations with favourable growing conditions 

enabling a longer growing season. Consistent high quality has continued to position African 
Blue as a premium brand attracting strong pricing in target markets of UK and Europe, even 
in the most competitive parts of the season; and

•  Royalty income through increased fruit based sales with farm expansion in existing regions 

as well as from plantings in newer regions.

Pro forma EBITDA before SGARA growth was $5.0 million, or 78.1%, against FY2015.

Figure 6: International Transacted
Sales Growth Percentage on FY15

%
4
4
9

.

%
6
6
7

.

African
Blue

Royalities

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  27

 
 
Directors’ Report continued

Reconciliation of Pro Forma Results to Statutory Results
The pro forma financial information has been derived from the statutory financial information adjusted for certain items as detailed below. Pro forma 
results are provided to allow shareholders to make a meaningful comparison with the pro forma Prospectus forecast and to make an assessment of 
the Group’s performance as a listed company. 

The table below shows the reconciliation of Costa’s pro forma financial information to the statutory financial information as presented in the 
Financial Statements. 

Table 7: Reconciliation of Pro forma EBITDA Before SGARA to Statutory EBITDA Before SGARA

FY2016 

Consolidated EBITDA before SGARA A$m
Statutory EBITDA before SGARA
Site closures/exits
Historical transaction costs
IPO transaction costs
Historical governance structure costs
Listed company costs
Costa Asia
Pro forma EBITDA before SGARA

Refer Table 8 below for notes.

Note

1
2
3
4
5
6

Actual
67.2
-
-
21.8
-
-
2.0
91.1

Table 8: Reconciliation of Pro Forma Net Profit After Tax to Statutory Net Profit After Tax

Prospectus 
Forecast
63.5
-
-
23.8
-
-
3.1
90.4

FY2016

FY2015

Actual
60.3
3.7
0.3
5.2
2.6
(2.0)
1.3
71.4

Consolidated net profit after tax A$m
Statutory net profit after tax
Site closures/exits
IPO transaction costs
Costa Asia
Interest expense adjustment
Pro forma NPAT

Note

1
3
6
7

Actual
25.3
0.1
15.3
2.0
6.7
49.3

Prospectus Forecast
22.2
-
16.7
3.1
5.6
47.6

1.  These adjustments represent the removal of results and impairment losses from closed sites and divested businesses, including:  Menindee and St. George grape farms which were closed in 
FY2015 as part of the downsizing of the grape category. The closures of these sites and divestment of businesses have not impacted the financial performance of the remaining Costa operations.

2.  Removal of historical transaction costs paid in relation to previous acquisitions.

3.  An adjustment has been made to remove the costs associated with the IPO process, including adviser fees, break costs associated with the Existing Banking Facilities and share-based 

payment expense relating to the exercise of share options held by Costa Directors and management.

4.  An adjustment has been made in FY2015 to remove Board related costs and management share-based payments under the pre-IPO governance structure. 

5.  An adjustment has been made in FY2015 for estimated costs associated with being a listed public company. Costs include estimated Board costs, management share-based payments 

and incremental compliance related costs.

6.  An adjustment has been made to remove the forecast results from the China operation. Due to the expected start-up of this operation in FY2015 and FY2016, the China operation is forecast 

to report an operating loss in these years.

7.  Pro forma interest expense has been adjusted to reflect the terms of the New Banking Facility post completion of the IPO.

28  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet
Table 9: Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 26 June 2016

Selected Balance Sheet
A$m
Current assets
Non-current assets
Total assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Net assets

2016
137.5
431.1
568.5
101.0
107.9
208.9
359.6

2015
130.5
397.1
527.6
94.4
235.8
330.2
197.4

Change
6.9
34.0
40.9
6.6
(127.8)
(121.3)
162.2

Net Assets
Net assets increased by $162.2 million. This increase was primarily driven by:

•  reduction in borrowings of $129.1 million as the Group refinanced its finance facility post completion of the IPO;

•  a net increase in property, plant and equipment of $29.3 million in line with the berry and tomato capital expenditure; and

•  an increase of $5.8 million in biological assets due to strong yields and pricing from the citrus category and berry footprint expansion.

Net Debt
Table 10: Consolidated Net Debt as at 26 June 2016
Net Debt
A$m
Bank loans
Capitalised loan establishment fees included in borrowings
Gross debt
Less: cash and cash equivalents
Net debt

2016
104.5
(0.7)
103.8
(4.0)
99.8

2015
241.0
(8.1)
232.9
(9.5)
223.4

Net debt as at 26 June 2016 was $99.8m and consisted of $4.0 million in cash and $103.8 million of borrowings. Net debt decreased by $123.6 million 
during the year as the Group refinanced its finance facility upon completion of the IPO.

Under the new banking facilities in place at 26 June 2016, the Group was required to meet set covenant compliance ratios which included total 
leverage ratio (TLR) and interest coverage ratio (ICR). Both said covenants were comfortably met during the year.

Cash Flow
Table 11: Pro Forma Cash Flow Before Financing, Tax and Dividends

Consolidated cash flow A$m
EBITDA before SGARA
Less: Share of profit of JVs
Dividends from JVs
Non-cash items in EBITDAS
Change in working capital
Net cash flow from operating activities before interest and tax
Maintenance capital expenditure
Free cash flow
Productivity and growth capital expenditure
Payments for business acquisitions
Repayment of loans from investments
Proceeds from sale of investments
Disposal of property, plant and equipment
Net cash flow before financing, tax and dividends
Cash conversion ratio1

1.  Defined as free cash flow divided by EBITDA before SGARA.

Pro Forma FY2016

Actual
91.1
(14.4)
8.1
0.7
(5.3)
80.1
(12.1)
68.0
(36.6)
(5.3)
1.9
-
0.3
28.3
75%

Prospectus 
Forecast
90.4
(11.5)
7.8
-
(2.9)
83.8
(12.2)
71.6
(27.1)
-
-
-
-
44.5
79%

Change
0.6
(2.9)
0.3
0.7
(2.5)
(3.7)
0.1
(3.6)
(9.5)
(5.3)
1.9
-
0.3
(16.1)

Pro Forma
FY2015
Actual
71.4
(9.5)
6.1
-
(5.9)
62.1
(9.8)
52.3
(73.6)
-
-
-
0.3
(21.0)
73%

Change
19.7
(4.9)
2.0
0.7
0.5
18.0
(2.3)
15.7
37.0
(5.3)
1.9
-
0.0
49.3

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Report continued

Dividends From Joint Venture
Dividends from JVs increased by $2.0 million on FY2015 resulting from strong financial performance by all three joint ventures.

Working Capital
Working capital increased by $5.3 million in FY2016 primarily as a result of additional exports due to a strong start to the citrus export season. 

Capital Expenditure
Operating capital expenditure increased by $2.3 million against FY2015 to $12.1 million in line with Prospectus forecast. This was mainly due to the 
relocation of Costa Farms Melbourne to Epping and an upgrade to the packing line at the banana farm at Tully. 

Growth capital expenditure includes tomato glasshouse (completed) and berries expansion. This expenditure was higher than prospectus forecast 
due to some expenditure planned for FY2015 being spent in FY2016, and initial expenditure on the second Berry expansion program. 

Productivity and growth capital expenditure was higher than prospectus forecast due to some timing into Q1 FY2016 on the tomato glasshouse project.

Strategy and Growth
Costa’s current position, operating platform and world class practices provide it with multiple growth drivers in the Australian domestic market 
and in highly attractive international markets.

Costa’s corporate strategy involves a number of initiatives aimed at sustaining long-term growth, which include:

•  Continuing to build Costa’s market position and expansion of farming footprints;

•  Expanding global licensing of Costa’s blueberry varieties;

•  Continuing to invest in and expand research and development (R&D) capabilities; and

•  Developing new channels to market through product innovation, new customer development and expansion of export markets.

Costa maintains a prudent and disciplined approach to capital deployment and continues to invest in growth opportunities in the medium 
to long-term that generate shareholder value.

Material Business Risks
The material business risks faced by the Company that are likely to have an effect on the financial prospects of the Company are:

•  Production risks: Changes in weather, climate or water availability can cause price and yield volatility for Costa. Prices can also be negatively 

impacted by excess supply. Costa partially mitigates against weather risk by investing in weather protective growing environments and 
equipment. Approximately 75% of Costa’s produce related EBITDA before SGARA is derived from crops currently grown under cover indoors 
or under permanent tunnels. While protected cropping reduces the risk of disease, this risk is still apparent. If Costa’s existing water rights are 
reduced by regulatory changes or if Costa is unable to secure sufficient water for the implementation of its growth projects, this could negatively 
impact on Costa’s operational and financial performance.

•  Brand risk: Quality issues, product recall, contamination, public health issues, disputes or adverse media coverage could damage Costa’s brands 

or their image which could adversely impact Costa’s financial performance. 

•  Customer risk: Costa’s top three customers comprised approximately 70% of FY2016 produce sales. Most customer arrangements are 

uncontracted and supplied at market prices which are subject to fluctuation. Any contractual agreements have supply periods typically for one 
season or one to two years. 

•  Regulatory changes: Costa is a significant beneficiary of the import restrictions in place for fresh fruits and vegetables including mushrooms, 
bananas, tomatoes and berries. Any changes to these import restrictions could have an adverse impact on margins and volumes. However the 
perishable nature of certain produce also acts as a natural barrier against imports. As Costa operates in the food sector, it is also required to comply 
with a wide range of other laws and regulations which include food standards, labelling and packaging, fair trading and consumer protection, 
environment, quarantine rules, customs, etc. Any change to the rules could adversely impact Costa’s operations in the form of higher costs and 
lower margins for the business. 

•  Competition from new market entrants: While Costa’s operations currently benefit from scale and access to superior genetics, this competitive 

landscape may change over time. If one or more competitors or new market entrants obtained access to favourable genetic varieties which 
compete in the same categories as those of Costa, or if they achieve greater scale, this could have a material adverse impact on the financial 
performance and prospects of Costa.

•  Foreign exchange risk: Costa is exposed to foreign exchange risk from a number of sources, namely from the export of produce to various 

countries including Japan and the United States, and through the earnings it generates from its international operations, including the African 
Blue and Costa Asia joint ventures. Unfavourable movements in the foreign exchange rates between the Australian dollar and other currencies 
such as the US dollar, Japanese yen and Moroccan dirham can have a material adverse impact on the overall financial performance of Costa. 

•  Sovereign risk associated with foreign operations: Costa has a significant interest in the African Blue joint venture in Morocco and is in the 
process of finalising a joint venture with Driscoll’s Strawberry Associates Inc. in China. A change in the laws, regulations, policies, government 
or political and legal system in Morocco or China could materially and adversely impact Costa’s net assets or profitability. 

30  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Non-IFRS Measures
Throughout this report, Costa has included certain non-IFRS financial information, including EBITDA before SGARA and Transacted Sales. Costa 
believes that these non-IFRS measures provide useful information to recipients for measuring the underlying operating performance of Costa’s 
business. Non-IFRS measures have not been subject to audit.

The table below provides details of the operating and financial Non-IFRS measures used in this report. 

Table 12: Non-IFRS Measures

EBIT
EBITDA
EBITDA before SGARA

Non-IFRS Operating Measures 
Transacted Sales

Earnings before interest and tax.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation.
EBITDA adjusted for fair value movements in biological assets. For 
horticultural companies, EBITDA is typically adjusted for fair value 
movements in biological assets due to the growing and harvesting 
cycles for fruit and vegetables, and the accounting treatment of live 
produce and picked produce. The fair value movement in self-generating 
or regenerating assets (SGARA) is non-cash; therefore, EBITDA before 
SGARA is used in preference to EBITDA for Costa.

Transacted Sales are used by management as a key measure to assess 
Costa’s sales and marketing performance and market share. Transacted 
Sales represent the aggregate volume of sales in which Costa is involved 
in various capacities (including sales of third party-grown produce 
marketed by Costa under agency arrangements), as well as royalty 
income. Transacted Sales are not considered by Costa to be a revenue 
measure. There are material differences between the calculation of 
Transacted Sales and the way in which revenue is determined under AAS.

Transacted Sales comprise:

•  statutory revenue;

•  gross invoiced value of agency sales of third party produce;

•  Costa’s proportionate share of joint venture sales relating to the 

African Blue and Polar Fresh joint ventures;

•  royalty income from the licensing of Costa blueberry varieties in 

Australia, the Americas and Africa; and

•  100% of Driscoll’s JV sales after eliminating Costa produce sales to the 
Driscoll’s JV. Prior to the formation of Driscoll’s JV in 2010, all of Costa’s 
domestic sales and marketing activities for the berry category were 
managed by Costa.

8. Dividends
Costa Group Holdings Ltd declared and paid an interim dividend of $0.03 per share during the year ended 26 June 2016.

The Board has approved a final dividend of 6.0 cents per share with record date of 28 September 2016 and payment date of 26 October 2016. 
This dividend will be fully franked. As this dividend was approved after year end, it has not been accrued as at 26 June 2016.

This brings the total dividend payment for FY2016 to 9.0 cents per share, in line with Prospectus forecast of approximately 60% of pro forma NPAT.

FY2017 dividends will be balanced against the Company’s need to fund growth objectives, but indicatively will be in the range of 50-70% of NPAT 
(pre-SGARA).

9. Likely Developments
The Group will continue to explore opportunities that meet the Group’s long-term growth and development goals. The goal is to provide a superior 
sustainable increase in profits. 

Further information about likely developments in the operations of the Group and the expected results of those operations in future financial years 
has not been included in this report because disclosure of the information would be likely to result in unreasonable prejudice to the Group.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  31

Directors’ Report continued

10. Environmental Regulation
The Group is committed to conducting business activities and having due respect for the environment while continuing to meet expectations 
of shareholders, employees, customers and suppliers. 

The Group is subject to environmental regulations under various federal, state and local laws relating predominately to air, noise and water 
emission levels.

The Group is committed to achieving a level of environmental performance that meets or exceeds Federal, State and local requirements, and 
improves its use of natural resources and minimises waste.

11. Directors’ Interests
The relevant interest of each Director in the shares and options issued by Costa Group Holdings Ltd, as notified by the Directors to the ASX in 
accordance with S205G(1) of the Corporations Act 2001, at the date of this report is as follows:

Neil Chatfield 
Frank Costa1
Harry Debney
Kevin Schwartz 2
Peter Margin
Tiffany Fuller

Ordinary Shares
 22,222
 10,432,099
 1,032,078
29,242
 14,350
10,000

Options Over Ordinary Shares
 400,000
-
 1,891,944
-
-
-

1.  Frank Costa’s interests represent an indirect interest in approximately 31.67% of the ordinary shares held by Costa AFR Pty Ltd as trustee for the Costa AFR Unit Trust as a result of his 

shareholding in a series of other entities.

2.  Kevin Schwartz’s interests represent an indirect interest in approximately 0.1% of the ordinary shares held by P&P COS Holdings B.V. as a result of his shareholding in a series of other entities. 

12. Share Options

Unissued Ordinary Shares Under Options
Unissued ordinary shares of Costa Group Holdings Ltd under option at the date of this report are as follows:

Number of Unissued Ordinary Shares Under Option
400,000
50,000
1,621,428¹
1,891,944

Issue Price of Shares
$1.45
$1.45
$2.25
$2.81

Expiry Date of the Options
October 2019
October 2024
June 2020
August 2019

1.  These options represent options granted to management under the FY2016 LTI plan, including 282,738 options issued to Linda Kow and 407,738 options issued to George Haggar, as KMP 

of the Company, and 61,905 options issued to David Thomas, the Company secretary of the Company.

All unissued shares are ordinary shares in the Company, or will be converted into ordinary shares immediately after exercise of the relevant option.

No option holder has any right under the options to participate in any other share issue of the Group.

Shares Issued on Exercise of Options
During the financial year, the Company did not issue any ordinary shares as a result of the exercise of options. The Company issued 2,263,649 fully paid 
ordinary shares in consideration for the disposal of 6,366,531 options, as described in section 6.3.3.2 of the Company’s prospectus dated 25 June 2015.

32  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

13. Indemnification and Insurance of Directors and Officers
Pursuant to its constitution, the Company may indemnify Directors and officers, past and present, against liabilities that arise from their position 
as a Director or officer allowed under law. The Company has entered into deeds of indemnity, insurance and access with its existing and past 
Directors, its company secretary and the Directors of the Company’s subsidiaries. Under the deeds of indemnity, insurance and access, the Company 
indemnifies each Director or officer against all liabilities to another person that may arise from their position as a Director or officer of the Company 
or its subsidiaries, to the extent permitted by law. The deeds stipulate that the Company will meet the full amount of any such liabilities, including 
reasonable legal costs and expenses.

During the financial year, the Group paid premiums to insure all Directors and officers against certain liabilities as contemplated under the 
Company’s constitution. Disclosure of the total amount of the premiums paid under this insurance policy is not permitted under the provisions 
of the insurance contract.

Further disclosure required under section 300(9) of the Corporations Act 2001 is prohibited under the terms of the contract.

14. Indemnification and Insurance of Auditors
No indemnities have been given or insurance premiums paid, during or since the end of the year, for any person who is or has been an auditor 
of the Group.

15. Non-audit Services
During the year KPMG, the Group’s auditors, has performed certain other services in addition to the audit and review of the financial statements.

The Board has considered the non-audit services provided during the year by the auditor and is satisfied that the provision of those non-audit 
services during the year by the auditor is compatible with, and did not compromise, the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 
2001 for the following reasons:

•  all non-audit services were subject to the corporate governance procedures adopted by the Group and have been reviewed by the Audit and Risk 

Committee to ensure they do not impact the integrity and objectivity of the auditor; and

•  the non-audit services provided do not undermine the general principles relating to auditor independence as set out in APES 110 Code of Ethics 
for Professional Accountants, as they did not involve reviewing or auditing the auditor’s own work, acting in a management or decision making 
capacity for the Group, acting as an advocate for the Group or jointly sharing risks and rewards.

Details of the amounts paid to the auditor of the Group, KPMG, and its network firms for audit and non-audit services provided during the year are 
set out below.

Other services provided by KPMG 
Taxation compliance and other taxation advisory services (including R&D)
Other assurance services (including IPO services)
Other services (including IPO services)

 2016

2015

2014

175,000
- 
21,000 
196,000 

277,030 
785,000 
575,230 
1,637,260 

109,160 
60,000 
14,500 
183,660 

16. Rounding Off
The financial report is presented in Australian dollars with all values rounded to the nearest thousand unless otherwise stated, in accordance with 
ASIC Corporations Instrument 2016/191.

17. Lead Auditor’s Independence Declaration
The Lead auditor’s independence declaration is set out on page 44 and forms part of the Directors’ report for the financial year ended 26 June 2016.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  33

 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration report (audited)
1. Introduction
The Directors are pleased to present the FY2016 Remuneration Report, outlining the Board’s approach to the remuneration for key management 
personnel (KMP). 

KMP are individuals who have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Group, directly or indirectly, 
and comprise the Directors and the senior executives of the Group, as listed below. 

Name
Directors
Neil Chatfield 
Frank Costa
Kevin Schwartz
Peter Margin 
Tiffany Fuller
Harry Debney

Executives
Linda Kow
George Haggar

Position Held

Chairman Non-Executive Director 
Non-Executive Director 
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director (Appointed 1 October 2015)
Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director

Chief Financial Officer
Chief Operating Officer

The information in this report has been audited as required by section 308(3C) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). 

2. Corporate Governance

2.1 Remuneration Committee
The Group has established a Remuneration Committee that is comprised of Non-Executive Directors, the majority of whom are independent 
in accordance with the Remuneration Committee Charter.

The Remuneration Committee is responsible for assisting and advising the Board on: 

•  Remuneration policies and practices for executives, and employees of the Group;

• 

Incentive schemes and equity-based remuneration plans; and 

•  Shareholder and other stakeholder engagement in relation to the Group’s remuneration policies and practices.

A full charter outlining the Remuneration Committee’s responsibilities is available at: http://investors.costagroup.com.au/investor-
centre/?page=corporate-governance.

2.2 Use of Remuneration Consultants
The Remuneration Committee can engage remuneration consultants to provide it with information on current market practice, and other matters 
to assist the Committee in the performance of its duties. The Board did not use any remuneration consultants for the purposes of remuneration for 
FY2016. The Remuneration Committee has engaged Ernst and Young to undertake a review of the Long Term Incentive Plan (‘LTIP’) for FY2017. The 
objectives in the review include benchmark material and market positioning of the LTIP to align participant performance with the long-term growth 
and business strategy delivering shareholder value.

2.3 Associated Policies
The Group has established a number of policies to support a strong governance framework, including a Diversity Policy, Disclosure Policy and 
Securities Trading Policy. These policies and procedures have been implemented to uphold ethical behaviour and responsible decision making. 
Further information on the Group’s policies is available at: http://investors.costagroup.com.au/investor-centre/?page=corporate-governance.

34  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Remuneration report (audited) continued
3. Executive Remuneration 

3.1 Remuneration Framework
The remuneration framework adopted by the Board is designed to attract and retain key talent, reward the achievement of strategic objectives and 
align reward with the creation of shareholder wealth. The key principles supporting the Group’s remuneration framework are: 

Principle
Competitive Remuneration

Objective
Reward employees fairly and competitively for their 
contributions to the Group’s success.

Application
•  Total remuneration is set having regard to 

the individual’s capabilities and experience. 

Performance Driven

Executives are rewarded for achieving strategic goals 
that create sustainable growth in shareholder wealth.

•  Remuneration is set with regard to an appropriate 

comparator group of companies within the 
consumer discretionary and consumer staples 
sectors of the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index.

•  The Board obtains independent advice on the 

appropriateness of total remuneration package.

•  Significant ‘at risk’ reward ensures executive’s 
interests remain aligned with creation of 
shareholder value. Equity is used as a key 
element of the variable remuneration to 
align executives and shareholders. 

•  At risk rewards are driven by the Group’s 

short and long-term performance incentives. 
Performance measures are designed to ensure 
a focus on long-term sustainable growth.

•  Equity is used as a key element of the variable 

remuneration to align executives and shareholders.

3.1.1 Remuneration overview for FY2016 

The FY2016 remuneration for the CEO, CFO and COO (‘Executive KMP’) includes a combination of fixed remuneration, short-term incentives and 
long-term incentives in the form of options over shares. 

3.1.2 Remuneration mix for FY2016

Total remuneration for the Executive KMP includes both fixed and ‘at risk’ reward components. ‘At risk’ reward includes short and long-term 
incentives, which are based on individual and group performance outcomes. In FY2016, the Executive KMP received fixed remuneration, together 
with the following ‘at risk’ components: 

•  short-term incentives, as outlined in section 3.2.2; and 

• 

long-term incentives, as outlined in sections 3.3 and 3.4,

as outlined in Section 7 – Directors’ and Executive Officers’ Remuneration.

The mix of fixed versus variable ‘at risk’1 remuneration payable for FY2016 for the Executive KMP was as follows: 

CEO

CFO

COO

59%

68%

68%

Fixed

At risk

41%

32%

32%

1. Includes cash and deferred equity component of FY2016 STI plan (section 3.2.2) and share-based payments associated with the FY2016 LTI arrangements (sections 3.3 and 3.4).

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  35

Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration report (audited) continued
3.2 Remuneration Components

3.2.1 Fixed Remuneration

Total fixed remuneration (‘TFR’) is comprised of cash salary, superannuation contributions, and other non-monetary benefits such as car leasing 
arrangements and additional superannuation contributions. TFR is reviewed annually by the Remuneration Committee with regard to individual 
and Group performance. The Committee’s review of TFR has consideration for the Executive KMP’s total remuneration package. 

3.2.2 Short Term Incentive (STI) Plan 

FY2016 STI Plan Overview

The STI Plan enables Executive KMP and other members of senior management to receive an incentive payment calculated as a percentage of total 
fixed remuneration (TFR) conditional on achieving EBIT hurdles as set out below. Solely for the purposes of this section 3.2.2 all references to EBIT 
mean management EBIT-S:

• 

If the Group achieves less than 90% of budget EBIT for the year, no STI will be paid. 

•  Target STI is paid to a participant on the Group achieving 100% of budget EBIT and the participant satisfying their other STI performance 

measures, with pro rata payments if EBIT is between 90% and 100% of budget EBIT. 

•  Stretch STI is payable if the Group achieves over 100% of budget EBIT, with the maximum STI being payable at 110% of budget EBIT (and 
the participant satisfying their other STI performance measures). The stretch STI component is measured solely on EBIT and is calculated 
on a straight line basis between 100% and 110% of budget EBIT. 

The EBIT hurdle was selected on the basis that it has a direct correlation to the financial performance of the Group.

2016 Short Term Incentive Plan features

The table below outlines the key features of the FY2016 STI Plan, as it applied to the Executive KMP and other members of senior management:

Objective
Participants
Performance Period
Opportunity

To reward participants for achieving goals directly linked with the Group’s business strategy
All executives and selected senior management 
Financial year ending 26 June 2016
•  CEO – Target STI is 40% of TFR, with a maximum opportunity of 60% TFR for exceeding stretch 

targets. 

•  CFO, COO – Target STI is 30% of TFR, with a maximum opportunity of 50% TFR for exceeding 

stretch targets.

Performance Measures

STI will be assessed against both financial and non-financial measures, and will be weighted as 
follows: 

Payment Method

Measure
EBIT
Cash Flow
Individual Performance

Weighting
50%
30%
20%

Individual Performance will be measured against KPIs appropriate for the executive’s role and 
will include key business measures such as market share, innovation, safety, quality and people.
•  Cash – Two thirds will be paid in cash following the end of the performance year; and

•  Deferred – One third will be deferred for 12 months and settled in equity, if the participant 
remains employed by the Group at that time (or has ceased employment in circumstances 
where they are regarded as a ‘good leaver’).

36  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Remuneration report (audited) continued
The performance against the key targets identified under the STI Plan resulted in each KMP receiving an incentive as follows: 

KMP
CEO
CFO
COO

Target STI
$380,000
$142,500
$205,500

% of Target STI Achieved in the Year
123%
131%
131%

3.3 LTIP – Legacy arrangements for CEO implemented prior to Listing
In July 2015, the CEO was granted 1,891,944 options as part of his LTIP. The Options included an exercise price that was set at a 25% premium 
to the Listing Price. The key terms of this grant are outlined below.

Term
Consideration for grant
Instrument
Number of options granted
Exercise price

Description
Nil
Option to acquire ordinary shares in Costa Group Holdings Ltd
1,891,944
$2.81

Performance and vesting period

This is a 25% premium to the share price on Listing.
July 2015 to August 2017

Vesting condition

Entitlements
Service conditions

Options will vest following the announcement of the Group’s FY2017 results. Fifty percent (50%) of the 
Options (or shares acquired by exercising the Options) will remain in escrow until the announcement 
of the Group’s FY2018 results.
Successful Listing of the Group’s shares on the ASX within a specified time period and the CEO’s continued 
employment at the date of vesting.
Options will not carry rights to dividends or voting rights prior to vesting.
The options will be subject to tenure conditions and will be forfeited where the CEO resigns or is dismissed 
prior to the vesting date, except that the options will not be forfeited where the CEO is deemed a ‘good 
leaver’, unless otherwise determined by the Board.

The CEO did not participate in the FY2016 LTIP disclosed in section 3.4. The CEO will participate in future LTIPs beyond FY2016.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  37

Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration report (audited) continued
3.4 LTIP for FY2016
The Board introduced an LTIP in FY2016 for the executive KMP (other than the CEO) and other senior executives. 

Term
Eligibility

Description
CFO, COO and selected members of the senior management team.

Consideration for grant
Instrument
Number of options granted

Exercise price

Performance period

Performance measure 

Performance assessment

The CEO will not be entitled to participate in the LTIP due to the options that were issued to the CEO 
in FY2016 prior to the Company’s Listing (as described in section 3.3 above).
Nil
Options to acquire ordinary shares in Costa Group Holdings Limited.
The number of options was determined based on a set percentage of the participant’s TFR (‘LTI Incentive 
Amount’). The options were valued by an independent external valuer, using a Monte Carlo simulation 
model. The number of options issued to each participant was determined by dividing that participant’s 
LTI Incentive Amount by the value per Option as determined by the independent valuer. 
$2.25 per share 

This was the market value of Costa Group Holdings shares at date of Listing.
The FY2016 LTI performance period will be from the date of Listing to June 2017. Fifty percent (50%) 
of options (or shares acquired by exercising options) will be subject to an additional sale restriction 
until August 2018 (following release of the FY2018 results). For all future grants, it is intended that the 
performance period will be three years. 
50% – Earnings Per Share (EPS) (basic) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the performance period.

50% – Relative total shareholder return (TSR).
The LTI will be tested at the end of the vesting period, and will vest in line with the below schedule:
50% EPS

Less than 15% CAGR 
15% CAGR 
Between 15% and 18% CAGR
Above 18% CAGR 

50% Relative TSR

% of options that vest
Nil
50%
50% – 100% on a straight line sliding scale
100%

% of options that vest
Nil
50%
50% – 100% on a straight line sliding scale
100%

Less than 50th percentile
50th percentile
Between 50th percentile and 75th percentile
75th percentile and above
The comparator group for relative TSR is comprised of companies in the consumer discretionary and 
consumer staples sectors of the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index. Each company’s (and Costa’s) share price 
will be measured using the average closing price over 60 days up to (but excluding) the first day of the 
performance period, and the average closing price over 60 days up to and including the last day of the 
performance period.
Options will not carry rights to dividends or voting rights prior to vesting. 
Participants must not sell, transfer, encumber, hedge or otherwise deal with their options granted under 
the LTIP.

Participants will be free to deal with the Shares allocated on exercise of the options, following payment of 
the exercise price, subject to the requirements of the Company’s securities trading policy and the escrow 
on the FY2016 options until August 2018 (as outlined above).
Any unvested options granted under the LTIP will be forfeited where the participant is dismissed during the 
performance period, or resigns in circumstances where they are not considered to be a ‘good leaver’. Where 
the participant is considered a ‘good leaver’ (which includes death, disability or redundancy), the unvested 
options and/or performance rights will remain on foot subject to Board discretion.

Entitlements 
Restrictions on dealing

Service conditions 

38  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Remuneration report (audited) continued

4. Executive Remuneration Disclosure 

4.1 Executives’ Contract Terms
A summary of the key terms of employment for executives as at 30 June 2016 is presented in the below table:

Executive
Harry Debney
Linda Kow
George Haggar

Role
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer 
Chief Operating Officer

Notice by the Group
6 Months
3 Months
3 Months

Notice on Resignation
6 Months
3 Months
3 Months

5. Non-Executive Directors 
The details of fees paid to Non-Executive Directors in FY2016 are included in Section 7 of this report. Non-Executive Directors’ fees were fixed and 
they did not receive any performance based remuneration.

The table below outlines the fee structure for Non-Executive Directors in FY2016. The annual aggregate fee pool for Non-Executive Directors is 
$1,200,000. Board and committee fees, which are inclusive of statutory superannuation contributions, are included in this aggregate fee pool. 

Table 5.1

Board/Committee
Board base fee
Audit and Risk Committee
Remuneration Committee
Nomination Committee

Chairman Fee ($)
230,000 (inclusive of Committee fees)
20,000
15,000
-

Member Fee ($)
100,000 
10,000
7,500
-

6. Relationship Between Remuneration Policy and Group Performance 

Key Performance Indicator
‘000
Revenue
EBITDA before SGARA
EBIT
Dividend paid for the year (cents per ordinary share)

Notes in relation to KMP transactions:

1.  The pro forma information presented above is unaudited.

FY2016
Actual
809,027
67,248
50,477
3.00

FY2016
Pro forma1 
809,027
91,059
71,915
3.00

FY2015
Restated2
Actual
727,029
60,226
25,551
nil

FY2015
Restated2
Pro forma1
723,500
71,000
54,900
nil

FY2014 
Actual
699,075
64,536
31,142
nil

FY2014
Pro forma1
662,300
70,200
59,700
nil

2.   FY2015 has been restated as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 141 Agriculture in relation 

to bearer plants.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  39

Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration report (audited) continued
7. Directors’ and Executive Officers’ Remuneration
Details of the nature and amount of each major element of remuneration of each Director of the Company, and other KMP of the consolidated entity are:

Short-Term

Post-Employment

Long-Term Benefits

Termination

Share-Based Payments

Total

Non-Executive Directors4,5

Neil Chatfield3

Frank Costa1

Kevin Schwartz2

Peter Margin 

Tiffany Fuller

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

Managing Director and Executive Officers

Harry Debney

Linda Kow

George Haggar

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

Salary and Fees
$

STI (Cash)
$

210,321

104,423 

98,173

- 

100,000

- 

108,947

7,403

82,192 

-

 931,217 

 931,217 

 455,692 

 406,217 

665,692 

 616,217 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

 312,770 

 399,691 

 124,718 

 143,047 

 179,857 

 212,047 

Non-Monetary 
Benefits
$

- 

- 

167

201,063

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

-

 7,592 

-

- 

-

- 

Sub-Total
$

210,231

104,423

98,340

201,063

100,000

- 

108,947

7,403

82,192 

-

 1,243,987 

 1,338,500 

 580,410 

 549,264 

845,549

 828,264 

Notes in relation to the table of Directors’ and executive officers’ remuneration: 

1.  In FY2015, the aggregate Directors’ fees paid to Frank Costa and Robert Costa was $500,000. By agreement between those Directors, this amount was paid to State Logistics Pty Ltd (2016: nil) 

and then distributed between the two Directors. The Group is unable to confirm the individual amounts paid to Frank Costa.

2.  In FY2015, the aggregate Directors’ fees paid to Kevin Schwartz, Bruno Ferrari Garcia de Alba, Greg Hunt and Angelos Dassios were $400,000 (2016: nil). By agreement between those Directors, 

this amount was paid to Paine & Partners LLC, and then distributed between the three Directors. The Group is unable to confirm the individual amounts paid to these Directors.

3.  In FY2015, $100,000 of the Directors’ fees paid to Neil Chatfield were paid through State Logistics Pty Ltd. In FY2016, the amounts were paid directly to Neil Chatfield.

4.  Bruno Ferrari Garcia De Alba, Robert Costa, Greg Hunt and Angelos Dassios were Non-Executive Directors in the prior year but resigned as Non-Executive Directors effective 24 June 2015.

5.  Reasonable travel, accommodation and other costs incurred by Directors in the course of their duties are reimbursed to Directors, in addition to the remuneration noted above.

Superannuation 

Benefits

Long Service Leave

Termination 

Benefits

$

$

19,679

9,327

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

11,053

7,808 

 19,308 

 18,783 

 19,308 

 18,783 

 19,308 

 18,783 

$

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

 15,547 

 24,939 

 11,295 

 8,154 

 15,990 

 13,044 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

-

- 

-

- 

-

- 

68,800

$

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

 272,275 

 357,194 

 75,071 

 134,759 

 108,260 

 173,060 

$

230,000

173,223

107,667

201,063

100,000

120,000

7,403

90,000 

- 

-

 1,551,117 

 1,739,416 

 686,084 

 710,960 

989,107

 1,033,151 

40  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report (audited) continued

7. Directors’ and Executive Officers’ Remuneration

Details of the nature and amount of each major element of remuneration of each Director of the Company, and other KMP of the consolidated entity are:

Remuneration report (audited) continued

Salary and Fees

STI (Cash)

Short-Term

Non-Monetary 

Benefits

Post-Employment
Superannuation 
Benefits
$

Long-Term Benefits

Long Service Leave
$

Termination
Termination 
Benefits
$

19,679

- 

9,327

- 

- 

- 

11,053

- 

7,808 

-

 19,308 

 18,783 

 19,308 

 18,783 

 19,308 

 18,783 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

 15,547 

 24,939 

 11,295 

 8,154 

 15,990 

 13,044 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

-

- 

-

- 

-

- 

Non-Executive Directors4,5

Neil Chatfield3

Frank Costa1

Kevin Schwartz2

Peter Margin 

Tiffany Fuller

Harry Debney

Linda Kow

George Haggar

Managing Director and Executive Officers

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

$

210,321

104,423 

98,173

100,000

108,947

7,403

82,192 

- 

- 

-

 931,217 

 931,217 

 455,692 

 406,217 

665,692 

 616,217 

$

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

 312,770 

 399,691 

 124,718 

 143,047 

 179,857 

 212,047 

167

201,063

 7,592 

$

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

-

-

- 

-

- 

Sub-Total

$

210,231

104,423

98,340

201,063

100,000

108,947

7,403

82,192 

- 

-

 1,243,987 

 1,338,500 

 580,410 

 549,264 

845,549

 828,264 

Notes in relation to the table of Directors’ and executive officers’ remuneration: 

1.  In FY2015, the aggregate Directors’ fees paid to Frank Costa and Robert Costa was $500,000. By agreement between those Directors, this amount was paid to State Logistics Pty Ltd (2016: nil) 

and then distributed between the two Directors. The Group is unable to confirm the individual amounts paid to Frank Costa.

2.  In FY2015, the aggregate Directors’ fees paid to Kevin Schwartz, Bruno Ferrari Garcia de Alba, Greg Hunt and Angelos Dassios were $400,000 (2016: nil). By agreement between those Directors, 

this amount was paid to Paine & Partners LLC, and then distributed between the three Directors. The Group is unable to confirm the individual amounts paid to these Directors.

3.  In FY2015, $100,000 of the Directors’ fees paid to Neil Chatfield were paid through State Logistics Pty Ltd. In FY2016, the amounts were paid directly to Neil Chatfield.

4.  Bruno Ferrari Garcia De Alba, Robert Costa, Greg Hunt and Angelos Dassios were Non-Executive Directors in the prior year but resigned as Non-Executive Directors effective 24 June 2015.

5.  Reasonable travel, accommodation and other costs incurred by Directors in the course of their duties are reimbursed to Directors, in addition to the remuneration noted above.

Share-Based Payments

Total

$

- 

68,800

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

 272,275 

 357,194 

 75,071 

 134,759 

 108,260 

 173,060 

$

230,000

173,223

107,667

201,063

100,000

- 

120,000

7,403

90,000 

-

 1,551,117 

 1,739,416 

 686,084 

 710,960 

989,107

 1,033,151 

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration report (audited) continued
8. Equity Instruments

8.1 Movements in Shares
The movement during the reporting period in the number of ordinary shares in Costa Group Holdings Ltd held, directly, indirectly or beneficially, by 
each key management person, together with shares held by their close family members, is set out below:

Neil Chatfield (directly and indirectly held)
Neil Chatfield (close family members) 
Peter Margin (indirectly held)
Tiffany Fuller (directly held)
Frank Costa1, 2
Kevin Schwartz 3, 4
Harry Debney (directly and indirectly held)
Linda Kow (directly held)
George Haggar (directly held)

Notes in relation to Table 8.1 (Movement in shares)

Other Shares 
Converted to 
Ordinary
Shares
-
-
-
-
10,432,099
38,990
-
-
-

Held at
28 June 2015
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Shares
Acquired
22,222
29,222
14,350
10,000
-
-
23,041
-
-

Shares
Sold
-
15,222
-
-
-
9,748
-
-
-

Other
Changes5
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,009,037
213,404
327,336

Held at 26
June 2016
22,222
14,000
14,350
10,000
10,432,099
29,242
1,032,078
213,404
327,336

1.  At 28 June 2015 (prior to the Company’s Listing on the ASX), Frank Costa held an indirect interest in Class B shares and redeemable preference shares in the Company. 

2.  Frank Costa‘s interests represent an indirect interest in approximately 31.67% of the ordinary shares held by Costa AFR Pty Ltd as trustee for the Costa AFR Unit Trust as a result of his 

shareholding in a series of other entities.

3.  At 28 June 2015 (prior to the Company’s Listing on the ASX), Kevin Schwartz held an indirect interest in Class A shares and redeemable preference shares in the Company. 

4.  Kevin Schwartz’s interests represent an indirect interest in approximately 0.1% of the ordinary shares held by P&P COS Holdings B.V. as a result of his shareholding in a series of other entities.

5.  Other changes represent shares that were issued in consideration for disposal of legacy LTI options, as described in section 6.3.3.2 of the Company’s prospectus dated 25 June 2015.

8.2 Options Over Equity Instruments Granted as Compensation 
The movement during the reporting period, in the number of options over ordinary shares granted as compensation to KMP, is as follows:

Number of Options 
Granted During 2016
1,891,944
282,738
407,738

Grant Date
15 July 2015
26 October 2015
26 October 2015

Fair Value Per 
Option $
0.230
0.390
0.390

Exercise Price 
Per Option $
2.81
2.25
2.25

Expiry Date
31 August 2019
30 June 2020
30 June 2020

Number of Options 
Vested During 2016
-
-
-

Harry Debney
Linda Kow
George Haggar

8.3 Details of Equity Incentives Affecting Current and Future Remuneration
The table below outlines each KMP’s unvested options at the end of the reporting period. Details of vesting profiles of the options held by each KMP 
are detailed below:

Harry Debney
Linda Kow
George Haggar

Instrument
Options
Options
Options

Number
1,891,944
282,738
407,738

Grant Date % Vested in Year % Forfeited in Year
-
15 July 2015
-
26 October 2015
-
26 October 2015

-
-
-

Financial Year in 
Which Grant Vests
2018
2018
2018

42  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Remuneration report (audited) continued
8.4 LTI Grants and Movement During the Year
The movement during the reporting period, of options over ordinary shares held, directly, indirectly or beneficially, by each KMP, including their 
related parties, is as follows:

Held at

Granted as
26 June 2015 Compensation
-
1,891,944
282,738
407,738

400,000
9,459,722
2,000,677
3,068,778

Neil Chatfield
Harry Debney
Linda Kow
George Haggar

Exercised
-
-
-
-

Other
Changes1
-
(9,459,722)
(2,000,677)
(3,068,778)

Held at Vested During
the Year
400,000
9,459,722
2,000,677
3,068,778

26 June 2016
400,000
1,891,944
282,738
407,738

Vested and 
Exercised or 
Disposed of at
26 June 2016
-
9,459,722
2,000,677
3,068,778

Vested and 
Exercisable
26 June 2016
400,000
-
-
-

1.  Other changes represent options that were disposed of in July 2015 in consideration for a cash payment (30%) and shares (70%), as described in section 6.3.3.2 of the Company’s prospectus 

dated 25 June 2015.

8.5 Key Management Personnel Transactions
Mr Frank Costa (Director)

•  Payment of rent by Costa’s Pty Ltd to Frank Costa for the lease of 1111 Aviation Road, Werribee of AUD $1 (2015: AUD $1). 

•  Costa Asset Management Pty Ltd as trustee for Costa Asset Management Unit Trust provided advisory services to the Group in relation to the 

Company’s ASX Listing, for which an advisory fee was paid totalling $5,374,474 GST inclusive (2015: Nil). Although Costa Asset Management Unit 
Trust is not a related party of Frank Costa, it is understood that Costa Asset Management Unit Trust subsequently paid part of that advisory fee to 
entities associated with Frank Costa. The Group is unable to determine how much was paid to Frank Costa.

Mr Kevin Schwartz (Director)

•  An employee of Paine and Partners, LLC, an entity associated with P&P COS Holdings B.V. P&P COS Holdings B.V. is a 9.16% shareholder in Costa 

Group Holdings Ltd. Paine and Partners, LLC provided advisory services to the Group in relation to the Company’s ASX Listing, for which advisory 
fees of AUD $6,433,312 (2015: AUD $nil) were paid. 

This Directors’ Report is made in accordance with a resolution of the Directors.

Neil Chatfield
Chairman

Dated at Melbourne 24 August 2016

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  43

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

44  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Consolidated Statement of Profit and Loss 
and Other Comprehensive Income
For the Year Ended 26 June 2016

Revenue 
Sales revenue
Other revenue

Less: expenses 
Raw materials, consumables and third party purchases
Depreciation and amortisation expenses
Employee benefits expenses
Occupancy expenses
Finance costs
Profit on sale of assets
Impairment losses
Leasing expenses
Freight and cartage
Gain on fair value adjustments – biological assets
Gain/(loss) on fair value of derivatives
Other expenses

Share of net profits of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method 
Profit before income tax
Income tax expense
Profit for the year

Total comprehensive income for the year

Profit attributable to owners of Costa Group Holdings Ltd

Total comprehensive income attributable to owners of Costa Group Holdings Ltd

Earnings per share for profit attributable to ordinary equity holders:
Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 

2016
$‘000

809,027
12,834
821,861

(311,761)
(22,507)
(276,376)
(52,716)
(14,283)
1,387
- 
(9,117)
(49,346)
4,349
(870)
(69,382)
(800,622)
14,442
35,681
(10,423)
25,258

25,258

25,258

25,258

2016
Cents

8.04
7.96

2015
Restated1
$‘000

727,029
9,202
736,231

(283,728)
(19,554)
(243,755)
(49,852)
(20,895)
470
(18,941)
(8,095)
(44,731)
3,350
58
(55,120)
(740,793)
9,515
4,953
(640)
4,313

4,313

4,313

4,313

2015
Cents

0.11
0.11

Notes

A2
A2

A2

A2

A2

A2

D1

E2

A3
A3

1.  Refer to note E3 for details regarding the restatements as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 

141 Agriculture in relation to bearer plants.

The above Consolidated Statement of Profit and Loss and Other Comprehensive Income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
As at 26 June 2016

ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables
Inventories
Biological assets
Other assets
Assets classified as held for sale
Total current assets

Non-current assets
Receivables
Other financial assets
Equity accounted investments
Intangible assets
Deferred tax assets
Property, plant and equipment
Total non-current assets
Total assets

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Payables
Borrowings
Provisions
Derivative financial liabilities
Current tax liabilities
Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Redeemable preference shares
Provisions
Derivative financial liabilities
Total non-current liabilities 
Total liabilities

NET ASSETS

EQUITY
Share capital
Profit reserve
Share based payment reserve
Accumulated losses
TOTAL EQUITY

Notes

B1
B2
B3
B6
B5
E5

B2
E6
D1(b)
B8
E2
B7

B4
C1
B9
C8
E2

C1
C2
B9
C8

C3
C4
E1

2016
$‘000

2015
Restated1
$‘000

4,002
72,807
17,904
37,408
5,333
-
137,454

- 
327
33,665
142,782
4,957
249,324
431,055
568,509

81,638
-
13,217
242
5,879
100,976

103,766
-
4,172
-
107,938
208,914

9,504
62,551
16,124
31,571
6,517
4,242
130,509

125
2,036
27,587
141,865
5,504
219,987
397,104
527,613

74,495
4,885
13,483
 - 
1,563
94,426

228,004
1,119
3,290
3,337
235,750
330,176

359,595

197,437

395,688
20,005
523
(56,621)
359,595

238,564
4,313
1,759
(47,199)
197,437

1.  Refer to note E3 for details regarding the restatements as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 

141 Agriculture in relation to bearer plants.

The above Consolidated Statement of Financial Position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

46  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
As at 26 June 2016

Consolidated

Balance as at 30 June 2014
Profit for the year 
Transfer to profit reserve
Total comprehensive income for the year1

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners: 

Options granted/vested during the year 
Balance restated as at 28 June 20151

Balance as at 29 June 2015
Profit for year
Transfer to profit reserve
Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners: 

Options granted/vested during the year 
Conversion of redeemable preference shares
Issue of ordinary shares net of transaction costs
Dividend paid on redeemable preference shares
Dividend paid on ordinary shares 
Disposal of share options
Settlement of share based payment 
Balance as at 26 June 2016

Share 
Capital
$‘000

238,564
-
-
-

-
238,564

238,564
-

-

-
1,126
166,200
-
-
(11,884)
1,682
395,688

Share Based 
Payment 
Reserve
$‘000

Accumulated 
Losses
$‘000

Profit 
Reserve
$‘000

-
-
4,313
4,313

Total 
Equity
$‘000

191,814
4,313
-
4,313

(47,199)
4,313
(4,313)
-

449
-
-
-

1,310
1,759

1,759
-

-

-
(47,199)

-
4,313

1,310
197,437

(47,199)
25,258
(25,258)
-

4,313
-
25,258
25,258

197,437
25,258
-
25,258

446
-
-
-
-
-
(1,682)
523

-
-
-
(9,422)
-
-
-
(56,621)

-
-
-
-
(9,566)
-
-
20,005

446
1,126
166,200
(9,422)
(9,566)
(11,884)
-
359,595

1.  Refer to note E3 for details regarding the restatements as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 

141 Agriculture in relation to bearer plants.

The above Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended 26 June 2016

Cash flow from operating activities 

Receipts from customers 
Payments to suppliers and employees 
Interest received 
Interest paid
Dividends received
Income taxes paid
Net cash provided by operating activities 

Cash flow from investing activities 

Payments for property, plant and equipment 
Proceeds from sale of investments
Dividends from equity accounted investments
Acquisition of investments
Payment for intangible assets 
Acquisition of business (net of cash acquired)
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 
Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flow from financing activities 

Settlement of derivatives
Proceeds from share issue, net of transaction costs
Acquisition of shares
Dividend payments on ordinary shares
Dividend payments on redeemable preference shares
Redemption of options
Proceeds from loans from related party associates
Repayment of borrowings
Proceeds from borrowings
Net cash provided by/used in financing activities 

Reconciliation of cash 
Cash at beginning of the financial year 
Net decrease in cash held 
Cash at end of financial year 

Notes

2016
$‘000

2015
$‘000

B1(a)

815,709
(743,863)
115
(6,774)
113
(2,523)
62,777

(48,433)
150
8,109
-
(249)
(5,272)
3,772
2,725
(39,198)

(3,957)
518,730
(377,370)
(9,566)
(9,422)
(11,884)
1,884
(676,502)
539,006
(29,081)

746,337
(698,330)
209
(18,218)
42
(2,064)
27,976

(80,762)
4,034
6,099
(4)
(2,217)
 -
4,855
298
(67,697)

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
22,994
22,994

9,504
(5,502)
4,002

26,231
(16,727)
9,504

B1

The above Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

48  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Index to Notes

Overview
Reporting Entity 
Basis of Preparation of the Financial Report 
Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements 
New Standards Adopted by the Group 

Note Index
A.  Group Performance 
A1.  Segment Performance 
A2.  Revenue and Expenses  
A3.  Earnings Per Share 
A4.  Subsequent Events  

B.  Operating Assets And Liabilities 
B1.  Cash and Cash Equivalents 
B2.  Receivables 
B3. 
Inventories 
B4.  Payables 
B5.  Other Assets  
B6.  Biological Assets 
B7.  Property, Plant and Equipment 
B8. 
B9.  Provisions 
B10.  Contingent Liabilities 

Intangible Assets 

50
50
52
52

52
52
54
56
56

57
57
58
58
59
59
59
61
63
66
67

C.  Capital Structure and Financing 
C1.  Borrowings 
C2.  Redeemable Preference Shares 
C3.  Share Capital 
C4.  Reserves 
C5.  Dividends 
C6.  Capital and Risk Management 
C7.  Capital and Leasing Commitments 
C8.  Derivative Financial Instruments  

D.  Group Structure 
D1.  Joint Ventures and Associates 
D2.  List of Subsidiaries 
D3.  Related Party Disclosures 
D4.  Parent Entity Disclosures 
D5.  Deed of Cross Guarantee 

E.  Other 
E1.  Share-based Payments 
E2.  Taxation 
E3.  New Accounting Standards 
E4.  Auditor’s Remuneration 
E5.  Assets Classified as Held for Sale 
E6.  Other Financial Assets 
E7.  Other Accounting Policies 

67
67
68
69
70
70
70
76
76

77
77
78
79
80
80

82
82
84
86
88
88
89
90

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  49

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

Overview

Reporting Entity
The financial report is for Costa Group Holdings Ltd and its controlled entities (the ‘Group’). Costa Group Holdings Ltd (the ‘Company’) is a company 
limited by shares, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. Costa Group Holdings Ltd is a for profit entity for the purpose of preparing the financial 
statements.

The Group’s registered office is Unit 1, 275 Robinsons Road, Ravenhall, VIC, Australia, 3023.

The financial report is a general purpose financial report which has been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (AASBs) 
adopted by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and the Corporations Act 2001. The financial report complies with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

The financial report was authorised for issue by the Directors as at 24 August 2016.

Basis of Preparation of the Financial Report
The notes to the financial report include additional information required to understand the Group’s financial statements that is material and relevant 
to its operations, financial position and performance. Information is considered material and relevant if, the amount in question is significant because 
of its size or nature or it helps to explain the impact of significant changes in the business, for example, acquisitions and asset write-downs.

The notes are organised into the following sections:

Group Performance: focuses on the Group’s financial results and performance. It provides disclosures relating to income, expenses, segment 
information, material items and earnings per share.

Operating assets and liabilities: provides information regarding the physical assets and non-physical assets used by the Group to generate revenues 
and profits. This section also explains the accounting policies applied and specific judgements and estimates made by management in arriving at the 
value of these assets and liabilities.

Capital structure and financing: provides information about capital management practices. Particularly, how much capital is raised from shareholders 
(equity) and how much is borrowed from financial institutions (debt) in order to finance our activities both now and in the future.

Group structure: explains aspects of the Group’s structure.

Other: provides information on other items relevant to the Financial Report.

Historical Cost Convention
The financial report has been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for revaluations to fair value for certain classes of assets and 
liabilities as described in the accounting policies.

Rounding
The financial report is presented in Australian dollars with all values rounded to the nearest thousand unless otherwise stated, in accordance with 
ASIC Corporations Instrument 2016/191. 

Going Concern
The financial report has been prepared on a going concern basis.

50  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Revenues, expenses, liabilities and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST, except where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable 
from the Tax Office. In these circumstances the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of an item of the expense. 
Receivables and payables in the statement of financial position are shown inclusive of GST. 

Cash flows are presented in the Statement of Cash Flows on a gross basis.

Basis of Consolidation

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to variable returns from its 
involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. The financial statements of subsidiaries 
are included in the financial report from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.

Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (Equity Accounted Investments)

Associates are those entities in which the Group has significant influence, but not control or joint control, over the financial and operating policies. 
Significant influence is presumed to exist when the Group holds between 20 and 50 per cent of the voting power of another entity. Joint ventures are 
those entities over whose activities the Group has joint control established by contractual agreement and requiring unanimous consent for strategic, 
financial and operating activities.

Investments in associates and joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method and are initially recognised at cost. The cost of the 
investment includes transaction costs. The financial report includes the Group’s share of the profit or loss and other comprehensive income 
of equity accounted investments after adjustments to align the accounting policies with those of the Group, from the date that significant 
influence commences until the date that significant influence ceases.

Transactions Eliminated on Consolidation

Intercompany balances and transactions, and any unrealised income and expenses arising from intercompany transactions, are eliminated in 
preparing the financial report. Unrealised gains arising from transactions with equity accounted investments are eliminated against the investment 
to the extent of the Group’s interest in the investments. Unrealised losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealised gains, but only to the extent 
that there is no evidence of impairment.

Foreign Currency Translations and Balances

Functional and Presentation Currency

The financial statements of each entity within the Group are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which that entity 
operates (the functional currency). The financial report is presented in Australian dollars which is the Group’s functional and presentation currency.

Transactions and Balances

Transactions in foreign currencies of entities within the consolidated Group are translated into functional currency at the applicable exchange rate 
at the date of the transaction.

Foreign currency monetary items that are outstanding at the reporting date (other than monetary items arising under foreign currency contracts 
where the exchange rate for that monetary item is fixed in the contract) are translated using the spot rate at the end of the reporting period.

All resulting exchange differences arising on settlement or restatement are recognised as revenues and expenses for the reporting period.

Entities that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated as follows:

•  Assets and liabilities are translated at reporting period end exchange rates prevailing at that reporting date; 

• 

Income and expenses are translated at actual exchange rates or average exchange rates for the reporting period, where appropriate; and

•  All resulting exchange differences are recognised as a separate component of equity. 

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  51

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements
The preparation of the financial report requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application 
of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period 
in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.

Information about assumptions and estimation uncertainties that have a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment within the next 
financial year can be found in the following notes:

Accounting Estimates and Judgements
Revenue recognition (agency commission) 
Valuation of biological assets
Recoverability of goodwill
Recoverability of non-financial assets other than goodwill
Fair value measurement
Income tax

Note
A2. Revenue and expenses
B6. Biological assets
B8. Intangible assets 
C6. Capital and risk management
C6. Capital and risk management
E2. Taxation

Page
54
60
66
75
75
85

New Accounting Standards Adopted by the Group
The Group has elected to early adopt the amendments made to AASB 116 Property, Plant and Equipment and AASB 141 Agriculture in relation 
to bearer plants. The resulting changes to the accounting policies and retrospective adjustments made to the financial statements are explained 
in Note E3.

A. Group Performance

A1. Segment Performance 
Segment information is reported in a manner consistent with internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating 
decision maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

(a) Basis for Segmentation

The reportable segments are based on the aggregation of operating segments determined by the similarity of the nature of products, the 
production process, types of customers and the method used to distribute the products.

The Group has three reportable segments, as described below, based on the internal reports that are reviewed and used by the CEO in assessing 
performance and in determining the allocation of resources. The following summary describes the operations in each of the Group’s reportable 
segments:

Produce

The Produce segment operates in four core categories: berries, mushrooms, glasshouse grown tomatoes and citrus. These operations are vertically 
integrated in terms of farming, packing and marketing, with the primary domestic sales channel being the major Australian food retailers.

Costa Farms and Logistics (‘CF&L’)

The CF&L segment incorporates interrelated logistics, wholesale avocado marketing and banana farming and marketing operations within Australia. 
These categories share common infrastructure, such as warehousing and ripening facilities, and are predominantly trading and services focused.

International

The International segment comprises royalty income from licensing of Costa’s blueberry varietals in Australia, the Americas and Africa, and 
international berry farming operations in Morocco and China.

52  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

(b) Information About Reportable Segments

Performance is measured based on segment EBITDA before SGARA, as included in the internal management reports that are reviewed by the CEO. 
Group financing costs and income taxes are managed at the Group level and are not allocated to operating segments. The information presented to 
the CEO does not report on segment assets and liabilities and as such is not presented in this report. It is the Group’s policy that business support 
costs that are not directly attributable to a specific segment are allocated to the Produce segment, which is the Group’s largest reportable segment, 
on the basis that it utilises the majority of these resources. Inter-segment revenue is eliminated on consolidation, however, is shown within the 
segment revenue to reflect segment level performance. Inter-segment transactions are on commercial terms. Information regarding the results 
of each reportable segment is included below.

2016
Revenue
External customers
Inter-segment
Total revenue

Produce

CF&L

International

Adjustments and 
Eliminations

Total

593,215 
37,842
631,057

215,812 
1,975
217,787

- 
- 
- 

- 
(39,817)
(39,817)

809,027 
- 
809,027

EBITDA before SGARA

69,103 

10,547 

9,401

- 

89,051 

2015 Restated1
Revenue
External customers
Inter-segment
Total revenue

Produce
Restated1

CF&L
Restated1

International

Adjustments and
Eliminations

498,155 
37,129
535,284

228,874 
2,651
231,525

- 
- 
- 

- 
(39,780)
(39,780)

Total

727,029 
- 
727,029

EBITDA before SGARA

51,268 

9,345 

5,060

- 

65,673 

The Group principally supplies fresh produce to the major supermarkets in Australia, including Coles, Woolworths and ALDI, which collectively 
comprise approximately 70% of the Group’s Australian based produce sales in the 2016 financial year (2015: 70%).

(c) Reconciliation of Segment EBITDA Before SGARA to Profit Before Tax

EBITDA before SGARA for reportable segments
IPO and other transaction costs
FV movements in biological assets
Depreciation and amortisation
Impairment losses
Profit on sale of assets
Interest income
Finance costs
Gain/(loss) on fair value of derivatives
Income tax expense
Profit after tax

(i)  IPO and other transaction costs have not been allocated to reportable segments.

(ii) Fair value movements on derivatives relating to the pre-IPO finance facility.

Notes

(i)

(ii)

2016
$‘000
89,051
(21,803)
4,349
(22,507)
- 
1,387
115
(14,283)
(628)
(10,423)
25,258

2015
Restated1
$‘000
65,673
(5,447)
3,350
(19,554)
(18,941)
470
239
(20,895)
58
(640)
4,313

1.  Refer to note E3 for details regarding the restatements as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 

141 Agriculture in relation to bearer plants.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

A2. Revenue and Expenses

Revenue

Sales revenue
Sale of goods and commissions received
Rebates and discounts provided 
Rendering of services 
Total sales revenue

Total other revenue

Total revenue

Recognition and Measurement 

Sale of Goods

2016
$‘000

781,477
(13,308)
40,858
809,027

2015
$‘000

701,677
(12,379)
37,731
727,029

12,834

9,202

821,861

736,231

Revenue from sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer and the costs 
incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably. Revenue is usually recognised when goods are despatched or at the 
time of delivery of the goods to the customer when the title is transferred.

Rendering of Services

Revenue from the rendering of services is recognised upon the delivery of the service to the customers. 

Dividends

Dividend income is recognised when the right to receive a dividend has been established. Dividends received from associates and joint ventures 
are accounted for in accordance with the equity method of accounting.

Interest Income

Interest income is recognised when it becomes receivable on a proportional basis taking into account the interest rates applicable to the financial 
assets.

Rental Income

Rental income is recognised on a straight line basis over the rental term.

Royalty Income

Royalty income is recognised on an accrual basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreements. Royalty income is recognised in 
relation to rights provided to entities external to the Group to sell plants and produce that arise from the Group’s operations.

Commission Income

Commission income is recognised by the Group for sale of goods undertaken by the Group in its capacity as an agent of the transaction. In respect 
of commissions, management considers that the following factor indicates that the Group acts as an agent:

•  the Group neither takes title to nor is exposed to inventory risk related to the goods, and has no significant responsibility in respect of the goods sold.

All revenue is stated net of the amount of GST.

Critical Accounting Estimate and Judgement

Revenue Recognition (Agency Commission) 

Certain sales undertaken by the Group are performed in their capacity as an agent, and not merchant relationship. The Group identifies these 
agency relationships when the Group pays the grower any proceeds that are received for the sale of the produce, after deduction of the commission 
and expenses applicable to the produce sold (and, if elected by the Group, after deducting any amounts owing by the grower under any other 
agreement.) The Group acknowledges that the deduction of commission or expenses constitutes payment of these amounts by the grower.

54  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenses

Finance costs 
Bank charges 
Interest expense on borrowings
Amortisation/write off of borrowing costs1
Interest expense on redeemable preference shares

Impairment losses2
Property, plant and equipment
Goodwill 

2016
$‘000

92
5,642
8,542
7
14,283

-
-
-

2015
$‘000

89
18,275
2,448
83
20,895

11,992
6,949
18,941

1.  The Group refinanced its borrowings during the year under a new banking facility and wrote off its loan establishment costs in relation to the previous facility. Refer to note C1 for further detail.

2.  The impairment losses for FY2015 were attributed to the produce segment and relates to the downsizing of the grape category.

Borrowing Costs

Borrowing costs can include interest, amortisation of discounts or premiums relating to borrowings, ancillary costs incurred in connection with 
arrangement of borrowings and foreign exchange losses net of hedged amounts on borrowings.

Borrowing costs are expensed as incurred, except for borrowing costs incurred as part of the cost of the construction of a qualifying asset which are 
capitalised until the asset is ready for its intended use or sale.

Loan establishment costs have been capitalised and amortised over the life of the loan facility. Establishment costs relating to loans extinguished 
during the reporting period have been expensed. 

Employee expenses 
Salaries, contractors and wages (including on costs) 
Superannuation costs 
Leave entitlements
Share-based payments expense
Other employee expenses 

Other expenses
Repair and maintenance expenses 
Legal and consulting expenditure1
Insurance
Other2

1.  In FY2016, legal and consulting expenditure includes $19.6m of costs associated with the IPO (2015: $3.8 million).

2.  Other expenses includes telecommunications, marketing, information technology and general administration expenditure.

2016
$ ‘000

250,086
14,455
7,998
446
3,391
276,376

15,225
24,271
6,787
23,099
69,382

2015
$ ‘000

218,305
12,399
7,569
1,310
4,172
243,755

13,656
9,797
6,330
25,337
55,120

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

A3. Earnings Per Share

Basic EPS
Basic EPS (cents) based on net profit attributable to members of Costa Group Holdings Limited

Diluted EPS
Diluted EPS (cents) based on net profit attributable to members of Costa Group Holdings Limited

Weighted average number of shares (in thousands)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares on issue used in the calculation of basic EPS

Effect of potentially dilutive securities
Redeemable preference shares
Equity-settled share options
Weighted average number of ordinary shares on issue used in the calculation of diluted EPS 

Earnings reconciliation
Basic EPS
Net profit attributable to owners of Costa Group Holdings Limited
Dividends on redeemable preference shares
Adjusted profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders of Costa

Diluted EPS
Earnings used in calculating basic EPS
Interest expense on Redeemable preference shares (net of tax)
Net profit attributable to owners of Costa Group Holdings Limited (diluted)

2016 
Cents Per 
Share

20151
Restated
Cents Per 
Share

8.04

0.11

7.96

0.11

2016
Number

2015
Number

310,345

194,600

3,091
200
313,636

45,000
- 
239,600

2016 
$‘000

20151
Restated 
$‘000

25,258
(294)
24,964

24,964
7
24,971

4,313
(4,098)
215

215
58
273

1.  Refer to note E3 for details regarding the restatements as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 

141 Agriculture in relation to bearer plants.

Calculation of Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share is the amount of post-tax profit attributable to each share. Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted average 
number of shares outstanding during the period. 

Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period plus the dilutive effect 
of redeemable preference shares and share options outstanding during the period. 

A4. Subsequent Events
There have been no matters or circumstances other than those referred to in the financial statements or notes thereto, that have arisen since the 
end of the financial year, that have significantly affected, or may significantly affect, the operations of the Group, the results of those operations, 
or the state of affairs of the Group in subsequent financial years.

56  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B. Operating Assets and Liabilities 

B1. Cash and cash Equivalents 

Cash on hand 
Cash at bank 
Cash on deposit 

(a) Reconciliation of Profit After Tax to Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Profit for the year
Non-cash adjustments to reconcile profit before tax to net cash flows:
Depreciation and amortisation
(Profit)/loss on sale of assets
Borrowing costs written-off/amortised
Impairment losses
(Gain)/loss on fair value adjustments – biological assets
(Gain)/loss on fair value of derivatives
Share-based payments expense
(Gain)/loss on fair value of assets
Transaction costs on issuance of shares
Share of profit of equity-accounted investees, net of tax

Change in working capital and tax balances:
(Increase)/decrease in inventories
(Increase)/decrease in receivables
(Increase)/decrease in biological assets
(Increase)/decrease in other assets
Increase/(decrease) in interest payable
Increase/(decrease) in payables
Increase/(decrease) in provisions
(Increase)/decrease in deferred taxes
Increase/(decrease) in current tax payables
Net cash generated from operating activities

2016
$‘000
25
3,927
50
4,002

2016
$‘000
25,258

22,507
(1,387)
8,373
- 
(4,349)
870
446
-
21,803
(14,442)
59,079

(1,762)
(10,256)
(804)
1,184
(873)
7,693
616
3,584
4,316
62,777

2015
$‘000
26
9,435
43
9,504

2015
$‘000
4,313

19,554
(470)
- 
18,941
(3,350)
(58)
1,310
2
- 
(9,515)
30,727

(1,430)
4,687
- 
(3,620)
83
61
(1,108)
(886)
(538)
27,976

Recognition and Measurement
Cash comprises cash on hand and demand deposits. Cash equivalents comprise short-term and highly liquid cash deposits that are readily 
convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value. For the purposes of the Statement 
of Cash Flows, cash includes cash on hand, demand deposits and cash equivalents. All cash on deposit has maturing terms of less than 90 days.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  57

 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

B2. Receivables

CURRENT 
Trade debtors 
Less: Allowance for impairment losses on trade receivables

Other receivables1

NON CURRENT 
Other receivables

1.  Other receivables comprise GST receivable and accrued income.

2016
$ ‘000

65,939
(419)
65,520

7,287
72,807

2015
$ ‘000

51,248
(1,009)
50,239

12,312
62,551

- 
- 

125
125

Recognition and Measurement
Trade receivables are recognised initially at invoice value (fair value) and subsequently measured at amortised cost, less allowance for doubtful debts.

Credit terms are generally between 15-60 days depending on the nature of the transaction. An allowance for doubtful debt is raised to reduce the 
carrying amount of trade receivables based on a review of outstanding amounts at reporting date where there is credit risk.

B3. Inventories

CURRENT 
At cost 
Raw materials 
Finished goods 

2016
$‘000

2015
$‘000

12,003
5,901
17,904

10,706
5,418
16,124

Recognition and Measurement
Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Costs incurred in bringing each product to its present location and condition are accounted for as follows:

•  Raw materials and consumables: purchase cost on a first in, first out basis and weighted average; and

•  Finished goods and work in progress: cost of direct material and labour and a proportion of manufacturing overheads based on normal 

operating capacity.

Raw materials and consumables include packaging, supplies and other materials not consumed in the production or growing processes. 
Finished goods include purchased agricultural produce and own farm fruit held for sale and other stock held for sale.

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less estimated costs of production and the estimated costs 
necessary to complete the sale.

58  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B4. Payables

CURRENT
Unsecured liabilities 
Trade creditors 
Sundry creditors and accruals 

2016
$‘000

2015
$‘000

37,237
44,401
81,638

29,909
44,586
74,495

Recognition and Measurement
Trade and other payables including accruals are recorded as future payments required to be made as a result of purchases of goods or services. Trade 
and other payables are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation (if applicable). 

B5. Other Assets

CURRENT 
Prepayments 

B6. Biological Assets

CURRENT 
Produce – at fair value 
Produce – at cost 
Total biological assets

Reconciliation of Changes in Carrying Amount of Biological Assets
Opening balance 
Gain arising from changes in fair value 
Increases due to purchases 
Decreases due to harvest 
Increase resulting from acquisition of business
Closing balance 

2016
$‘000

5,333
5,333

2016
$ ‘000 

31,650
5,758
37,408

2015
$‘000

6,517
6,517

2015
$ ‘000

25,512
6,059
31,571

31,571
4,349
155,834
(155,030)
684
37,408

28,054
3,350
144,254
(144,087)
- 
31,571

Recognition and Measurement
Biological assets are measured at their fair value less costs to sell at each reporting date. The fair value is determined as the net present value of cash 
flows expected to be generated by these crops (including a risk adjustment factor). Where fair value cannot be measured reliably, biological assets 
are measured at cost. 

Net increments and decrements in the fair value of the growing assets are recognised as income or expense in the statement of profit/loss and other 
comprehensive income, determined as:

•  The difference between the total fair value of the biological assets recognised at the beginning of the reporting period and the total fair value 

of the biological assets recognised at reporting date.

•  Costs incurred in maintaining or enhancing the biological assets recognised at the beginning of the reporting period and the total fair value 

of the biological assets recognised at the reporting date. 

•  The market value of the produce picked during the reporting period is measured at their fair value less estimated costs to be incurred up until 

the time of picking. Market price is determined based on underlying market prices of the product.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

Measurement of Fair Values

Fair Value Hierarchy

The fair value measurements for the Group’s hanging crop have been categorised as Level 3 fair values based on the inputs to the valuation 
techniques used, which are not based on observable market data.

Valuation Techniques and Significant Unobservable Inputs

The following table provides a description of the various biological asset types, shows the valuation techniques used in measuring Level 3 fair values, 
as well as the significant unobservable inputs used. Refer to note C6 for further detail on Level 3 fair value measurement. 

Type
Hanging crop 
(citrus, grapes, 
avocados, tomatoes, 
blueberries, 
raspberries 
and bananas).

Description
These are crops 
from trees and 
bushes that 
have an annual 
crop production 
cycle and a 
reasonably stable 
development 
cycle.

Valuation Technique
Discounted cash flows:

Significant Unobservable Inputs
Inclusive of:

•  Estimated future crop prices.

•  Estimated cash inflows 

based on forecasted sales.

•  Estimated yields per hectare.

•  Estimated remaining 
farming, harvest and 
transportation costs.

•  Risk adjustment factor.

The valuation model 
considers the present 
value of the net cash 
flows expected to 
be generated by the 
plantation. The cash 
flow projections include 
specific estimates for 
one year. The expected 
net cash flows are 
discounted using a 
risk-adjustment factor 
to factor in volatility for 
weather, production 
and pricing and future 
farming costs.

Inter-Relationship Between 
Key Unobservable Inputs and 
Fair Value Measurement
The estimated fair value would 
increase (decrease) if:

•  the estimated fruit prices 

were higher (lower);

•  the estimated yields per 

hectare were higher (lower);

•  the estimated harvest and 
transportation costs were 
lower (higher); or

•  the risk-adjusted discount 
rates were lower (higher).

Measurement of Biological Assets at Cost
Short lived crops (mushrooms) are measured at cost. These crops typically have a short term development cycle of less than three months. The 
calculation of market value for these crops is based on total cost due to the inherent difficulty in accurately determining the biological advancement 
percentage of the crop. As such, the cost approach takes into account actual costs for preparation and cultivation.

Risk Management Strategy Related to Biological Activities

Regulatory and Environmental Risks

The Group is subject to laws and regulations in the various locations in which it operates. The Group has established environmental policies and 
procedures aimed at compliance with local environmental and other laws.

Supply and Demand Risk

The Group is exposed to risks arising from fluctuations in the price and sales volume of all its fruit and vegetables. Management performs regular 
industry trend analysis to project harvest volumes and pricing. Where possible, the Group manages this risk by aligning its harvest volume to market 
supply and demand. 

Climate and Other Risks

The Group’s biological assets are exposed to the risk of damage from climatic changes, diseases and other natural forces. The Group has extensive 
processes in place aimed at monitoring and mitigating these risks, including protected cropping techniques across most crops, and geographical 
diversification. 

Critical Accounting Estimate and Judgement

Valuation of Biological Assets

The valuation takes into account expected sales prices, yields, growth profile, picked fruit quality and expected direct costs related to the production 
and sale of the assets and management must make a judgement as to the trend in these factors. 

60  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

B7. Property, plant and equipment

Land and buildings at cost 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment

Assets under construction at cost 

Plant and equipment at cost 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment

Leased plant and equipment at cost 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment

Improvements at cost 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment

Bearer plants at cost 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment

2016
$ ‘000
149,114
(42,501)
106,613

20151
Restated
$ ‘000
113,791
(42,043)
71,748

13,996

58,959

202,015
(95,166)
106,849

166,164
(90,072)
76,092

1,728
(1,728)
- 

20,133
(5,047)
15,086

11,346
(4,566)
6,780

1,728
(1,714)
14

13,394
(4,148)
9,246

8,240
(4,312)
3,928

Total property, plant and equipment 

249,324

219,987

1.  Refer to note E3 for details regarding the restatements as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 

141 Agriculture in relation to bearer plants.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

(a) Reconciliations
Reconciliation of the carrying amounts of property, plant and equipment at the beginning and end of the current financial year.

Land and buildings 
Opening carrying amount 
Additions 
Disposals 
Depreciation expense 
Impairment 
Transfers, reclassifications and adjustments
Closing carrying amount 

Assets under construction
Opening carrying amount 
Additions 
Disposals 
Transfers, reclassifications and adjustments
Closing carrying amount 

Plant and equipment 
Opening carrying amount 
Additions 
Disposals 
Depreciation expense 
Impairment 
Transfers, reclassifications and adjustments
Closing carrying amount 

Leased plant and equipment 
Opening carrying amount 
Depreciation expense 
Closing carrying amount 

Leasehold improvements 
Opening carrying amount 
Additions 
Disposals 
Depreciation expense 
Transfers, reclassifications and adjustments
Closing carrying amount 

Bearer plants
Opening carrying amount 
Additions 
Depreciation expense 
Impairment
Closing carrying amount 

Total property, plant and equipment 
Opening carrying amount 
Additions 
Disposals 
Depreciation expense 
Impairment 
Transfers, reclassifications and adjustments
Closing carrying amount 

2016
$‘000

71,748
1,936
-
(4,863)
-
37,792
106,613

58,959
38,474
(276)
(83,161)
13,996

76,092
4,875
(598)
(13,684)
-
40,164
106,849

14
(14)
-

9,246
1,515
(199)
(882)
5,406
15,086

3,928
4,660
(1,808)
 - 
6,780

219,987
51,460
(1,073)
(21,251)
 - 
201
249,324

20151
Restated
$‘000

83,100
922
(16)
(4,835)
(5,800)
(1,623)
71,748

13,008
60,893
-
(14,942)
58,959

63,607
17,827
(518)
(12,296)
(2,954)
10,426
76,092

137
(123)
14

5,350
1,121
(3)
(346)
3,124
9,246

6,009
2,230
(1,073)
(3,238)
3,928

171,211
82,993
(537)
(18,673)
(11,992)
(3,015)
219,987

1.  Refer to note E3 for details regarding the restatements as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 

141 Agriculture in relation to bearer plants.

62  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognition and Measurement 
Each class of property, plant and equipment is carried at cost less, where applicable, any accumulated depreciation and any accumulated 
impairment losses.

Depreciation

The depreciable amount of all fixed assets is depreciated over their estimated useful lives commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use. 
Land owned by the Group is freehold land and accordingly is not depreciated.

Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of either the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the 
improvements.

Class of Fixed Asset 
Land and buildings at cost 
Plant and equipment at cost 
Leased plant and equipment at cost 
Bearer plants at cost

Depreciation Rates 
3% – 10%
5% – 33%
10% – 20%
4% – 25%

Depreciation Basis 
Straight line
Straight line
Straight line
Straight line

Assets under construction are measured at cost and not depreciated until the assets are ready for use.

Capital Commitments

As at 26 June 2016, the Group has capital commitments amounting to $673,306 (2015: $16,636,525) in relation to the purchase of property, plant and 
equipment, which are contracted for but not provided for.

B8. Intangible assets

Goodwill at cost 

Capitalised software costs 
Accumulated amortisation and impairment 

Brand names at cost 

Lease premiums at cost 
Accumulated amortisation and impairment 

Water rights at cost 

Total intangible assets 

2016
$‘000 
131,495

8,697
(2,883)
5,814

2015
$‘000 
131,285

8,457
(1,636)
6,821

1,730

1,730

1,665
(643)
1,022

1,665
(643)
1,022

2,721

1,007

142,782

141,865

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

Reconciliations
Reconciliation of the carrying amounts of intangible assets at the beginning and end of the current financial year.

Goodwill
Opening balance 
Additions from acquisitions
Impairment 
Transfers, reclassifications and adjustments
Closing balance 

Capitalised software costs 
Opening balance 
Additions 
Amortisation expense 
Transfers, reclassifications and adjustments
Closing balance 

Brand names 
Opening balance/closing balance

Lease premiums 
Opening balance/closing balance 

Water rights 
Opening balance 
Additions 
Transfers, reclassifications and adjustments
Closing balance 

2016
$‘000

131,285
210
- 
- 
131,495

6,821
249
(1,255)
(1)
5,814

2015
$‘000

138,258
 - 
(6,949)
(24)
131,285

5,623
2,071
(881)
8
6,821

1,730

1,730

1,022

1,022

1,007
1,714
-
 2,721 

3,176
146
(2,315)
1,007

Amortisation expense in relation to intangible assets is included within depreciation and amortisation expenses in the statement of profit or loss and 
other comprehensive income. Impairment losses in relation to intangible assets are included within impairment losses in the statement of profit or 
loss and other comprehensive income.

Recognition and Measurement 

Goodwill

Goodwill is recognised initially as the excess over the aggregate of the consideration transferred, the fair value of the non-controlling interest, and 
the acquisition date fair value of the acquirer’s previously held equity interest (in case of step acquisition), less the fair value of the identifiable assets 
acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill is not amortised, but is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be 
impaired, and is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses.

Brand names

Brand names are measured initially at their cost of acquisition. Brand names are an indefinite useful life intangible asset as there is no expiry date 
associated with the underlying assets in terms of its generation of future economic benefits to the Group, and are therefore tested for impairment 
annually. The carrying amount of brand names is supported by a value in use calculation. 

Lease Premiums

The value of market lease premiums is recorded in the financial report at cost. Market lease premiums are an indefinite life intangible asset as there is 
no expiry date associated with the underlying assets in terms of its generation of future economic benefits to the Group, and are therefore tested for 
impairment annually. The carrying amount of market lease premiums is supported by a value in use calculation.

64  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Water Rights

Water rights are measured initially at their cost of acquisition. Water rights are an indefinite life intangible asset as there is no expiry date associated 
with the underlying assets in terms of its generation of future economic benefits to the Group, and are therefore tested for impairment annually. The 
carrying amount of water rights is supported by a value in use calculation. 

Software

Software is measured initially at the cost of acquisition and amortised over the useful life of the software. Expenditure on software development 
activities is capitalised only when it is expected that future benefits will exceed the deferred costs, and these benefits can be reliably measured. 
Capitalised development expenditure is stated at cost less accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is calculated using the straight line method 
to allocate the cost of the intangible asset over its estimated useful life (not exceeding seven years) commencing when the intangible asset is 
available for use. Other development expenditure is recognised as an expense when incurred.

Acquisitions

Intangible assets acquired separately are capitalised at cost. Intangible assets acquired through a business combination are capitalised at fair 
value as at the date of acquisition. Following initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation and any 
accumulated impairment losses. 

Internally generated intangible assets are capitalised when the Group is certain that there are future economic benefits that will arise from these 
assets. Other internally generated intangible assets that do not fit this recognition criteria are charged against the statement of comprehensive 
income in the reporting period in which the expenditure is incurred.

The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed to be either finite or indefinite. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortised over the useful 
life and assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. The amortisation period and the 
amortisation method for an intangible asset with a finite useful life are reviewed at least at each financial year end. Changes in the expected useful 
life or the expected pattern of consumption of future economic benefits embodied in the asset are accounted for by changing the amortisation 
period or method, as appropriate, which is a change in accounting estimate. The amortisation expense on intangible assets with finite lives is 
recognised in the statement of comprehensive income in the expense category consistent with the nature of the intangible asset.

Allocation of Goodwill

The allocation of goodwill across the Group’s reportable segments is provided below:

Goodwill
Carrying amount at start of year
Additions for the year 
Carrying amount at end of year

Goodwill
Carrying amount at start of year
Impairment losses for the year
Reclassification
Carrying amount at end of year

Impairment Testing 

Produce 
2016 
$‘000

127,444
210
127,654

Produce
2015
$‘000

134,417
(6,949)
(24)
127,444

CF&L
2016
$‘000

3,841
- 
3,841

CF&L
2015
$‘000

3,841
- 
- 
3,841

International
2016
$‘000

- 
- 
- 

International
2015
$‘000

- 
- 
- 
- 

Total
2016
$‘000

131,285
210
131,495

Total
2015
$‘000

138,258
(6,949)
(24)
131,285

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment annually either individually or at the cash generating unit (CGU) level. Such 
intangibles are not amortised. The useful life of an intangible asset with an indefinite life is reviewed each reporting period to determine whether 
indefinite life assessment continues to be supportable. If not, the change in useful life assessment from indefinite to finite is accounted for as a 
change in an accounting estimate and is thus accounted for on a prospective basis. 

In FY2016, the recoverable amount of our CGUs exceeds their carrying values and as a result no impairment loss has been recognised 
(2015: $6,949,027). 

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

Critical Accounting Estimate and Judgement

Projected Cash Flows

Goodwill is allocated to CGUs according to applicable business operations. The recoverable amount of a CGU is based on value in use calculations 
that are based on the Board approved budget covering a one year period together with management prepared cash flow through to FY2019. For 
FY2020 onwards, the Group assumes a long-term growth rate to allow for organic growth on the existing asset base. Management’s determination 
of cash flow projections and gross margins are based on past performance and its expectation for the future. 

Long-term Growth Rate

An average growth rate of 2.5% to 3.0% (2015: 2.5%) has been used for cash flows for FY2020 onwards with a terminal value growth rate of 2.5% 
to 3.0% (2015: 3.0%). 

Discount Rate

A post-tax discount rate to post-tax cash flows has been applied as the valuation calculated using this method closely approximates applying pre-tax 
discount rates to pre-tax cash flows. The Group used a pre-tax discount rate of 13.0% to 14.0% for financial year 2016 which was revised for post IPO 
capital structure (2015: 12.8% to 13.4%).

Sensitivity Analysis

Other than as discussed below, the Group believes that for all other CGUs, any reasonable possible change in the key assumptions would not cause 
the carrying value of the CGUs to exceed their recoverable amount.

For the tomato CGU included within the Produce segment, a reasonable possible change in the underlying assumptions could result in the carrying 
value of the CGU exceeding its recoverable amount. The tomato category experienced a challenging year in FY2016 with price deflation impacting 
the earnings from that category. The cash flow projections used in the valuation of recoverable amount assumes that prices will progressively recover 
towards a more longer-term average. Should prices not recover as anticipated, absent any changes in other assumptions the carrying value of the 
CGU could exceed its recoverable amount.

B9. Provisions

CURRENT 
Employee benefits 
Onerous leases
Restructuring and other

NON-CURRENT 
Employee benefits
Provision for make good costs

(a) Aggregate employee benefits liability
These consist of provisions for annual leave and long service leave.

(b) Reconciliations
Reconciliation of the carrying amounts of provisions at the beginning and end of the current financial year:

Employee benefits
Opening balance 
Amounts used 
Additional amounts recognised 
Closing balance 

Restructuring and other
Opening balance 
Amounts used 
Additional amounts recognised 
Closing balance 

Onerous leases
Opening balance 
Amounts used 
Additional amounts recognised 
Closing balance 

66  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

(a)
(c)
(d)

(a)

2016
$‘000

13,217
- 
- 
13,217

4,042
130
4,172

2015
$‘000 

12,452
908
123
13,483

3,290
- 
3,290

17,259

15,742

15,742
(5,313)
6,830
17,259

123
(172)
49
- 

908
(908)
- 
- 

15,804
(7,299)
7,237
15,742

2,077
(1,968)
14
123

- 
- 
908
908

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(c) Onerous Leases

As part of the Group’s decision to downsize its growing exposure in the grape category, Costa ceased farming operations on a leased property 
adjacent to its Mundubbera grape farm in January 2015. The expected payout costs associated with the lease have now been settled. 

(d) Restructuring

Estimated restructuring costs mainly included employee termination benefits.

Recognition and Measurement
Provisions are recognised if, as a result of a past event, the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation that can be estimated reliably, and 
it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. Provisions are determined by discounting the expected 
future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. When 
discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.

Where the Group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, for example under an insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognised 
as a separate asset but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to any provision is presented in the statement of 
comprehensive income net of any reimbursement.

Short-term Employee Benefit Obligations

Liabilities arising in respect of wages and salaries, annual leave, long service leave and any other employee benefits expected to be settled within 
12 months of the reporting date are measured at their nominal amounts based on remuneration rates which are expected to be paid when the 
liability is settled. The expected cost of short-term employee benefits in the form of compensated absences such as annual leave is recognised 
in the provision for employee benefits. All other short-term employee benefit obligations are presented as payables.

Long-term Employee Benefit Obligations

Liabilities arising in respect of long service leave and annual leave which is not expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date are 
measured at the present value of the estimated future cash outflow to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date.

Termination Benefits

Termination benefits are payable when employment of an employee or group of employees is terminated before the normal retirement date, or 
when the Group provides termination benefits as a result of an offer made and accepted in order to encourage voluntary redundancy. The Group 
recognises a provision for termination benefits when the entity can no longer withdraw the offer of those benefits, or if earlier, when the termination 
benefits are included in a formal restructuring plan that has been announced to those affected by it.

B10. Contingent Liabilities 
From time to time, the Group is party to claims from customers and suppliers arising from operations in the ordinary course of business. At the 
date of this report there are no claims or contingent liabilities that are expected to materially impact, either individually or in aggregate, the Group’s 
financial position or results from operations.

C. Capital Structure and Financing

C1. Borrowings

CURRENT 
Unsecured liabilities 
Bank loans 
Hire purchase liability

NON-CURRENT 
Unsecured liabilities 
Bank loans 

2016
$ ‘000

2015
$ ‘000

-
-
- 

4,884
1
4,885

103,766
103,766

228,004
228,004

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

Terms and Conditions Relating to the Above Financial Instruments
The Group refinanced its borrowings during the year under a new banking facility. 

Details of the key terms and conditions of the banking facility available at year end are as follows:

•  Facility A – $125 million facility that can be drawn upon as required. This facility matures three years from July 2015. $104.5 million was drawn 

down at the end of the 2016 financial year.

•  Facility B – $125 million facility that can be drawn upon as required. This facility matures four years from July 2015 with nil balance drawn at the 

end of the 2016 financial year.

•  The nominal rate for each facility consists of a floating cash rate plus a margin dependant on the amount of leverage.

•  Lending covenants for both facilities include Interest Cover Ratio and Total Gearing Ratio. The Group met all its lending covenants during the 2016 

financial year.

• 

It is noted that the banking facility is unsecured. 

The Group has financial guarantees to other persons of $12.2 million that could be called up at any time in the event of a breach of our financial 
obligations. We do not expect any payments will eventuate under these financial guarantees as we expect to meet our respective obligations to the 
beneficiaries of these guarantees. The financial guarantees are applied against the available drawdown limit for Facility A and B as detailed above.

Recognition and Measurement
Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value of the consideration received, net of directly attributable costs. 

After initial recognition, borrowings are measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method. Amortised cost is calculated by taking 
into account any issue costs, and any discount or premium on issuance. Gains and losses are recognised in the statement of profit or loss and other 
comprehensive income if borrowings are derecognised. The fair value approximates carrying value as borrowings are fully variable.

Borrowings are presented net of capitalised loan establishment costs.

C2. Redeemable Preference Shares

Redeemable preference shares (RPS)

2016
$‘000 
- 

2015
$‘000 
1,119

All RPS on issue at the end of 2015 were converted to ordinary shares in July 2015 prior to the completion of the initial public offering (IPO).

68  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

C3. Share Capital

Issued and paid up capital 
Ordinary shares
Transaction costs for issued share capital (net of tax)
Settlement of share based payment 
Redeemable preference shares

(a) Ordinary shares
Opening balance 
Ordinary shares issued on 24 July 2015
Conversion of redeemable preference shares to ordinary shares
Settlement of share based payment
Disposal of share options
Issue of new shares on disposal of options
Transaction costs incurred in respect of initial public offering (net of tax)
Closing balance 

(b) Redeemable preference shares
Opening balance 
Redeemable preference shares liability converted to equity
Conversion of redeemable preference shares to ordinary shares
Closing balance 

2016
$‘000

401,093
(7,087)
1,682
-
395,688

2016

2015

Number 
 ‘000

194,600
77,017
45,000
-
-
2,263
-
318,880

45,000 
- 
(45,000)
- 

$ ‘000

194,600
173,287
45,090
1,682
(11,884)
-
(7,087)
395,688

43,964 
1,126 
(45,090)
- 

Number 
‘000

194,600
-
-
-
-
-
-
194,600

45,000 
- 
- 
45,000

2015
$‘000

194,600
-
-
43,964
238,564

$‘000

194,600
-
-
-
-
-
-
194,600

43,964 
- 
- 
43,964

Total share capital

318,880

395,688

239,600

238,564

Ordinary Shares 
Ordinary shares participate in dividends and the proceeds on winding up of the parent entity in proportion to the number of shares held. At 
shareholders meetings, each ordinary share is entitled to one vote when a poll is called; otherwise each shareholder has one vote on a show of hands.

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of ordinary shares are recognised as a deduction from 
equity, net of any tax effects.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

C4. Reserves
The profit reserve comprises the transfer of net profit for the year and characterises profits available for distribution as dividends in future years. 
The profit reserve balance as at balance sheet date (in thousands) is $20,005 (2015: $4,313).

C5. Dividends
Dividends declared and paid during the year:

Dividends on redeemable preference shares (equity component):
Dividend paid upon completion of the IPO on 24 July 2015 

Dividends on ordinary shares:
Interim franked dividend for 2016

2016
$‘000

9,422

9,566

2015
$‘000

-

-

The Board has approved a final dividend of 6.0 cents per share with record date of 28 September 2016 and payment date of 26 October 2016. This 
dividend will be fully franked. As this dividend was approved after year end, it has not been accrued as at 26 June 2016. 

C6. Capital and Risk Management
The following table shows the carrying amounts and fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities, including their levels in the fair value 
hierarchy. It does not include fair value information for financial assets and liabilities not measured at fair value if the carrying amount is a reasonable 
approximation of fair value. 

Financial assets
Loans and receivables
Current receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Loans to related party associates

Available for sale
Shares in unlisted corporations

Designated at fair value
Interest rate swap-option

Financial liabilities
Designated at fair value
Interest rate swaps
Forward exchange contracts

Other financial liabilities not measured at fair value
Payables
Bank loans
Hire purchase liabilities
Redeemable preference shares (liability component)

70  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Fair Value 
Hierarchy 

2016
$‘000

2015
$‘000

-
-
-

72,807
4,002
80
76,889

Level 3

Level 2

Level 2
Level 2

-
Level 2
Level 2
Level 2

247
247

-
-

-
242
242

81,638
103,766
-
-
185,404

62,551
9,504
1,631
73,686

397
397

8
8

3,337
 - 
3,337

74,495
232,888
1
1,119
308,503

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Classification

The Group classifies its financial assets into the following categories: financial assets at fair value through profit and loss, loans and receivables and 
available for sale financial assets. The classification depends on the purpose for which the instruments were acquired. Management determines the 
classification of its financial instruments at initial recognition.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivatives are recognised initially at fair value; any directly attributable transaction costs are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income 
as they are incurred. Subsequent to initial recognition, derivatives are measured at fair value, and changes therein are generally recognised in the 
statement of comprehensive income.

Foreign Exchange Contracts

The Group enters into foreign exchange contracts to hedge its exposure against foreign currency risk in line with the Group’s risk management strategy.

Non-derivative Financial Instruments

Non-derivative financial instruments consist of investments in equity securities, trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, borrowings, 
and trade and other payables.

Non-derivative financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value, plus directly attributable transaction costs (if any). After initial recognition, 
non-derivative financial instruments are measured as described below.

Loans and Receivables

Loans and receivables are measured at fair value at inception and subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Loan and 
receivables include trade receivables.

Available-for-sale

Available-for-sale financial assets include any financial assets not included in the above categories and are measured at fair value. Unrealised gains 
and losses arising from changes in fair value, other than impairment losses, are recognised in other comprehensive income and presented in equity. 
The cumulative gain or loss is held in equity until the financial asset is disposed of, at which time the cumulative gain or loss held in equity is 
recognised in profit and loss.

Financial Liabilities

Financial liabilities include trade payables, other creditors and loans from third parties and loans from or other amounts due to related entities.

Non-derivative financial liabilities are recognised at amortised cost, comprising original debt less principal payments and amortisation.

Financial liabilities are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 
12 months after the reporting period.

Impairment

Non-derivative Financial Assets

Financial Assets Measured at Amortised Cost

The Group considers evidence of impairment for financial assets measured at amortised cost (loans and receivables) at both a specific asset 
and collective level. All individually significant assets are assessed for specific impairment. Those found not to be specifically impaired are then 
collectively assessed for any impairment that has been incurred but not yet identified. Assets that are not individually significant are collectively 
assessed for impairment by grouping together assets with similar risk characteristics.

In assessing collective impairment, the Group uses historical trends of the probability of default, timing of recoveries and the amount of loss incurred, 
adjusted for management’s judgement as to whether current economic and credit conditions are such that the actual losses are likely to be greater 
or lesser than suggested by historical trends.

An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured at amortised cost is calculated as the difference between its carrying amount and 
the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. Losses are recognised in the statement 
of comprehensive income and reflected in an allowance account against loans and receivables. Interest on the impaired asset continues to be 
recognised. When an event occurring after the impairment was recognised causing the amount of the impairment loss to decrease, the decrease 
in impairment loss is reversed through the statement of comprehensive income.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  71

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

Non-financial Assets

The carrying amounts of the Group’s non-financial assets, other than biological assets, equity accounted investments, inventories and deferred tax 
assets, are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, then the asset’s 
recoverable amount is estimated. Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets are tested annually for impairment. An impairment loss is recognised 
if the carrying amount of an asset or cash-generating unit (CGU) exceeds its recoverable amount.

The recoverable amount of an asset or CGU is the greater of its value in use and its fair value less costs to sell. In assessing value in use, the estimated 
future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of 
money and the risks specific to the asset or CGU. For impairment testing, assets are grouped together into the smallest group of assets that generates 
cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows or other assets or CGUs. Subject to an operating segment ceiling 
test, CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated are aggregated so that the level at which impairment testing is performed reflects the lowest level 
at which goodwill is monitored for internal reporting purposes.

Impairment losses are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income. Impairment losses recognised in respect of CGUs are allocated first to 
reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the CGU (group of CGUs), and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets in 
the CGU (group of CGUs) on a pro rata basis.

An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. For other assets, an impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying 
amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss has been 
recognised.

The Group’s financial risk management objective is to minimise the potential adverse effects of financial performance arising from changes in 
financial risk. Financial risks are managed centrally by the Group’s finance team under the direction of the Directors and the Board’s Risk and 
Audit Committee. Management regularly monitors the Group’s exposure to any of these financial risks and reports to the Board.

The Group’s activities expose it to a number of financial risks, including market risk (interest rate risk and foreign currency risk), liquidity risk and 
credit risk.

The Group does not enter into or trade financial instruments, including derivative financial instruments, for speculative purposes.

(a) Market Risk
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and equity prices will affect the Group’s income 
or the value of its holdings of financial instruments.

Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial asset or financial liability will change as a result of changes in market 
interest rates. The Group’s exposure to market interest rate risk relates primarily to its borrowings. The Group has historically managed its cash flow 
interest rate risk by using floating to fixed interest rate swaps for a portion of variable rate borrowings. Such interest rate swaps have the economic 
effect of converting borrowings from floating rates to fixed rates. 

As at reporting date, the Group had the following financial assets and liabilities exposed to variable interest rate risk:

Variable rate instruments
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Derivative financial assets

Liabilities
Bank loans
Derivative financial liabilities 

2016
$‘000

4,002
- 
4,002

104,500
- 
104,500

2015
$‘000

9,504
8
9,512

54,500
3,337
57,837

Net financial liabilities

100,498

48,325

72  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sensitivity Analysis for Variable Rate Instruments

At 26 June 2016, if interest rates had changed by -/+ 100 basis points from the year end rates with all other variables held constant, profit or loss 
would have increased/(decreased) by:

Increase of 100 basis points in interest rate
Decrease of 100 basis points in interest rate

2016
$‘000 
(1,005)
1,005

2015
$‘000 
(483)
483

Foreign Currency Risk
The Group’s exposure to the risk of changes in foreign exchanges rates relates to the Group’s operating activities and investments in foreign joint 
ventures. The Group imports and exports produce and is exposed to foreign exchange risk, primarily movements in exchange rates of US dollar and 
Japanese Yen. In addition, it is also exposed to exchange rate movements in Moroccan Dirhams (‘MAD’) through its investment in the African Blue 
joint venture. The Group also makes purchases and capital expenditure that expose it to movements in exchange rates of US dollar and Euro. The 
Group enters into forward contracts to hedge some of its exposure against foreign currency risk.

The Group’s exposure to foreign exchange risk at the end of the reporting period, expressed in Australian dollars, was as follows:

2016
Cash
Trade and other receivables
Trade and other payables
Derivative financial liabilities
Net exposure

2015
Cash
Trade and other receivables
Trade and other payables
Net exposure

Sensitivity Analysis 

USD
$‘000
1,130
4,610
(3)
13
5,750

USD
$‘000
1,720
3,417
(4)
5,133

JPY
$‘000
298
4,231
- 
(255)
4,274

JPY
$‘000
7
322
- 
329

EUR
$‘000
- 
- 
(7)
- 
(7)

EUR
$‘000
- 
- 
(100)
(100)

At 26 June 2016, had the Australian dollar weakened/strengthened by 10% against the MAD, the US dollar, the Euro and Japanese Yen, with all other 
variables held constant, the impact to profit or loss and equity would be an increase/(decrease) of:

Australian dollar weakened by 10%
Australian dollar strengthened by 10%

MAD
$‘000
672
(672)

USD
$‘000
575
(575)

JPY
$‘000
427
(427)

EUR
$‘000
(1)
1

(b) Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities that are settled by 
delivering cash or another financial asset. The Group’s approach to managing liquidity risk is to ensure it always has sufficient liquidity to meet its 
liabilities when due without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Group’s reputation. 

The Group manages its liquidity risk using a recurring planning tool, and maintaining, at all times, an appropriate minimum level of liquidity, 
comprising committed, unused bank facilities and cash resources, to meet the Group’s financial obligations as and when they fall due. 

The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining sufficient cash reserves, banking facilities and standby borrowing facilities and by monitoring 
forecast and actual cash flows. As at reporting date, unused credit facilities net of bank guarantees of the Group were $133.3 million. In addition, 
the Group maintains an overdraft facility of $3.0 million.

The Group is in compliance with all undertakings under its various financial arrangements.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  73

 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

The following are the remaining contractual maturities at the end of the reporting period of financial liabilities, including estimated interest 
payments and excluding the impact of netting agreements. 

2016 
Non-derivative financial liabilities
Bank loans1
Finance lease liabilities
Trade payables

Derivative financial liabilities
Forward exchange contracts

Less Than 6 Months

6 – 12 Months

1 – 5 Years Over 5 Years

Total

104,500
1 
81,638
186,139

242
242

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

104,500
1
81,638
186,139

242
242

1.  Bank loans consist of commercial bills. The Group expects to and has the discretion to refinance or rollover the bank loans for at least 12 months after the end of the reporting period under 

the existing banking facility. Refer to note C1 for details of terms and conditions on bank loans. 

2015
Non-derivative financial liabilities
Bank loans
Redeemable convertible preference shares (CPS50)
Finance lease liabilities
Trade payables

Derivative financial liabilities
Interest rate swaps

Less Than 6 Months

6 – 12 Months

1 – 5 Years Over 5 Years

Total

9,931
- 
1
74,495
84,427

- 
- 

10,464
- 
- 
- 
10,464

- 
- 

266,660
- 
- 
- 
266,660

3,337 
3,337 

- 
45,000 
- 
- 
45,000

287,055
45,000
1
74,495
406,551

- 
- 

3,337 
3,337 

(c) Credit Risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations, resulting in financial loss to the Group.

The Group is exposed to counterparty credit risk arising from its operating activities, primarily from trade receivables. Trade receivable balances 
are monitored on a weekly basis. The finance function assesses the credit quality of the customer, taking into account its financial position, past 
experience and other factors. Individual risk limits are set based on internal or external ratings and regularly monitored by management.

The maximum exposure to credit risk is as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables

2016
$‘000
4,002
72,807
76,809

2015
$‘000
9,504
62,676
72,180

The ageing analysis of trade receivables is set out in the table below. The credit quality of financial assets that are neither past due nor impaired is 
assessed based on the application of the credit risk policies described above.

Neither past due nor impaired
Past due 1 – 30 days
Past due 31 – 60 days
Past due over 60 days

2016
$‘000
54,427
9,829
939
744
65,939

2015
$‘000
39,784
11,045
269
150
51,248

Management believes that the unimpaired amounts that are past due by more than 30 days are still collectible in full, based on historical payment 
behaviour and extensive analysis of customer credit risk, including underlying customers’ credit ratings if they are available. Major Australian 
supermarkets, including Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA comprise approximately 47% of the Group’s trade debtors at 26 June 2016.

74  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impairment Losses on Trade Receivables
Trade receivables are non-interest bearing with credit terms generally between 15 and 60 day terms. An impairment loss is recognised when there is 
objective evidence that an individual trade receivable is impaired. The impairment losses have been included within other expenses in the statement 
of profit or loss and other comprehensive income. All trade receivables that are not impaired are expected to be received within credit terms.

Movements in the accumulated impairment losses were:

Opening balance at 29 June 2015
Impairment loss (recognised)/reversed
Amounts written off 
Closing balance at 26 June 2016

2016
$‘000

2015
$‘000

(1,009)
518
72
(419)

(1,083)
(665)
739
(1,009)

(d) Capital Management
The primary objective of the Group’s capital management is to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and a strong credit rating and 
healthy capital ratios to support its business and maximise shareholder value. Capital includes equity attributable to the equity holders of the parent.

The Group manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions. To maintain or adjust the capital 
structure, the Group may adjust the dividend payment to shareholders, return capital to shareholders or issue new shares.

Various financial ratios and internal targets are assessed and reported to the Board on a regular basis by management to monitor and support the 
key objectives as set out above. These ratios and targets include: 

•  an earnings to net interest expense ratio;

•  a total net indebtedness to earnings ratio; and

•  adjusted earnings to interest expense ratio.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements

Recoverability of Non-financial Assets Other than Goodwill

All assets are assessed for impairment at each reporting date by evaluating whether indicators of impairment exist in relation to the continued use 
of the asset by the consolidated entity. Impairment triggers include declining product or manufacturing performance, technology changes, adverse 
changes in the economic or political environment or future product expectations. If an indicator of impairment exists the recoverable amount of the 
asset is determined.

Fair Value Measurement

The Group measures certain financial instruments, including derivatives, and certain biological assets, at fair value at each balance sheet date.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in 
its principal or most advantageous market at the measurement date. It is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when 
pricing the asset of liability, assuming that market participants act in their economic best interest. A fair value measurement of a non-financial item 
assumes it is put to its highest and best use.

The Group utilises valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data is available to measure fair value, 
maximising the use of relevant observable inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs.

Accounting standards prescribe a fair value hierarchy, described as follows, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value 
measurement as a whole:

•  Level 1: Quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets of liabilities.

•  Level 2:  Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly (i.e. as prices) 

or indirectly (i.e. derived by prices) observable.

•  Level 3: Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  75

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

C7. Capital and Leasing Commitments 

(a) Operating Lease Commitments
Non cancellable operating leases contracted for but not capitalised in the financial statements:

Payable
– not later than one year 
– later than one year and not later than five years 
– later than five years 

2016
$‘000

31,006
110,995
101,807
243,808

2015
 ‘000

29,343
107,233
116,016
252,592

Operating lease commitments are in relation to property rentals and various rentals of plant and equipment.

(b) Bank Guarantees
The Group maintains bank guarantees of $12,171,871 (2015: $8,481,174).

In addition to the above, bank guarantees of $2.5 million are committed in relation to an overdraft facility for the Driscoll’s Australia joint venture. 

Leases
Leases are classified at their inception as either operating or finance leases based on the economic substance of the agreement so as to reflect the 
risks and benefits incidental to ownership.

Finance Leases

Leases of fixed assets, where substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to the ownership of the asset, but not the legal ownership, are 
transferred to the Group are classified as finance leases. Finance leases are capitalised, recording an asset and a liability equal to the present value 
of the minimum lease payments, including any guaranteed residual values. The interest expense is calculated using the interest rate implicit in 
the lease and is included in finance costs in the statement of profit and loss and other comprehensive income. Leased assets are depreciated 
on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives where it is likely that the Group will obtain ownership of the asset, or over the term 
of the lease. Lease payments are allocated between the reduction of the lease liability and the lease interest expense for the period.

Operating Leases

Lease payments for operating leases, where substantially all the risks and benefits remain with the lessor, are recognised as an expense on a straight 
line basis over the term of the lease.

Lease incentives received under operating leases are recognised as a liability and amortised on a straight line basis over the life of the lease term.

C8. Derivative Financial instruments

CURRENT
Forward foreign currency contracts 

NON-CURRENT 
Interest rate swaps

2016
$ ‘000

242
242

2015
$ ‘000

-
- 

-
- 

3,337
3,337

Measurement of fair values
The fair value of the financial assets and financial liabilities is the amount at which the asset could be sold or the liability transferred in a current 
transaction between market participants, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. The financial liabilities above disclosed in Note E6 are the only 
financials assets and liabilities of the Group that are measured at fair value. The carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities not 
measured at fair value are a reasonable approximation of fair value.

Fair Value Hierarchy

When measuring the fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities, the Group uses market observable data for identical assets or liabilities, 
which are Level 2 with reference to the AASB 13 Fair Value Hierarchy. The fair values of the derivative financial instruments are based on mark-to-
market valuations.

76  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
D. Group Structure

D1. Joint Ventures and Associates
(a) Details of Associates and Joint Ventures

Equity 
Instrument

Ownership 
Interest
2016 %

Ownership 
Interest
2015 %

Measurement 
Basis 

Principal Place of Business 
and Country of Incorporation 

Associates
African Blue SARL

Ordinary shares

Polar Fresh Partnership

Ordinary shares

Joint ventures
Driscolls Australia Partnership

Ordinary shares

49

50

50

(b) Summarised Financial Information for Associates and Joint Ventures

Reconciliation of carrying amount in joint ventures and associates:
Opening balance at 29 June 2015
Total share of profit
Reclassification
Other (FX movement against loan)
Dividends paid
Closing balance at 26 June 2016

(a) African Blue SARL

49 Equity Accounted

Moulay-Bousselham, Morocco

50 Equity Accounted

Victoria, Australia

50 Equity Accounted

Victoria, Australia

African 
Blue SARL
$‘000

Polar Fresh 
Partnership
$‘000

Driscoll’s 
Australia 
Partnership
$‘000

12,244
7,204
(333)
78 
(1,649)
17,544

8,534
3,398
- 
- 
(3,460)
8,472

6,809
3,840
-
-
(3,000)
7,649

Total
$‘000

27,587
14,442
(333)
78
(8,109)
33,665

In 2007, the Group entered into a joint venture to establish African Blue, a Moroccan-based grower and marketer of blueberries. The African Blue joint 
venture holds an exclusive licence to grow Costa blueberry varieties in Morocco for sale worldwide (excluding Americas). In financial year 2016, sales 
revenue for African Blue was $47,339,352 (2015: $26,813,125), and net assets were $30,137,457 (2015: $19,375,918).

(b) Polar Fresh Partnership

The Polar Fresh Partnership is a provider of cold storage, warehousing and distribution solutions. Polar Fresh Partnership operates three cold storage 
sites throughout Australia. In financial year 2016, sales revenue for the Polar Fresh Partnership was $8,714,674 (2015: $7,175,041), and net assets were 
$2,145,569 (2015: $2,270,072).

(c) Driscoll’s Australia Partnership 

In 2010, the Group entered into a partnership with Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. to form Driscoll’s Australia Partnership, which is an Australian 
berry marketing business. The majority of the Groups’ berries grown are marketed in Australia through the Driscoll’s brand. In financial year 2016, 
sales revenue for the Driscoll’s Australia Partnership was $78,160,839 (2015: $80,416,042), and net assets were $15,640,287 (2015: $13,850,964).

Recognition and Measurement

Investments in Joint Ventures

Investments in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

Investments in Associates

Investments in entities over which the Group has the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using equity method 
of accounting. The investment in associates is carried at cost plus post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share of the associates’ net assets, less any 
impairment in value.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  77

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

D2. List of Subsidiaries
The following are the Group’s significant subsidiaries:

Subsidiaries of Costa Group Holdings Ltd

Country of Incorporation

Ownership Interest 
Held by the Group

2016
%

2015
%

Costa Group Holdings (Finance) Pty Ltd

Costa’s Pty Ltd

ACN 151 702 251 Pty Ltd

Costa Exchange Holdings Pty Ltd

Costa Asia Pty Ltd (formerly ACN 125 158 741 Pty Ltd)

Grape Exchange Management Euston Pty Ltd

North Fresh Pty Ltd

Vinefresh Pty Ltd

Southern Cross Overseas Pty Ltd

CostaExchange Pty Ltd (formerly CostaExchange Ltd)

Costa Berry Holdings Pty Ltd

Costa Berry Pty Ltd

Blueberry Investments Morocco Pty Ltd

Raspberry Fresh Pty Ltd

CBSP Pty Ltd

FruitExpress Pty Ltd

ACN 057 689 246 Pty Ltd

Exchange Innisfail Pty Ltd

Freshexchange Pty Ltd

Yandilla Park Pty Ltd

East Africa Coffee Plantations Pty Ltd

AgriExchange Pty Ltd

Vitor Marketing Pty Ltd

AgriExchange Farm Management Pty Ltd

Mushroom Holdings Exchange Pty Ltd

Mushroom Exchange Pty Ltd

Costa Fresh Logistics Pty Ltd

Tomato Exchange Pty Ltd

Grape Exchange Farming Pty Ltd

Grape Exchange Pty Ltd

Grape Exchange Farming Mundubbera Pty Ltd

Costa Group Finance Pty Ltd

Costa Farms Pty Ltd

Costa Logistics Pty Ltd

AgriExchange Murtho Pty Ltd

Hillston Investments Pty Ltd

Banana Exchange Pty Ltd

Innisfail Holdings Pty Ltd

Exchange Brisbane Pty Ltd

Costa Asia Ltd

Costa China (Hong Kong) Ltd

78  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

 
 
D3. Related Party Disclosures
(a) Transactions with Associates and Joint Ventures

The group transacted with jointly controlled entities during the 2016 financial period as follows:

•  African Blue SARL – Accrual of royalty income on blueberry sales of $1,247,250 (2015: $764,000).

•  African Blue SARL – Dividends received amounting to $1,648,773 (2015: $1,353,810).

•  African Blue SARL – Other costs charged of $173,705 (2015: $130,986).

•  Polar Fresh Partnership – Dividends received amounting to $3,460,029 (2015: $2,745,143) and $125,000 (2015: $125,000) for transactional and 

management services provided.

•  Polar Fresh Partnership – Receivable of $19,097 (2015: $3,819) for management fees.

•  Driscoll’s Australia Partnership – Commission paid on sale of berries $17,903,083 (2015: $13,820,539).

•  Driscoll’s Australia Partnership – Sales of produce $136,592,526 (2015: $109,126,476).

•  Driscoll’s Australia Partnership – Receivable of $6,376,880 (2015: $4,471,199) for sale of produce.

•  Driscoll’s Australia Partnership – Dividends received amounting to $3,000,000 (2015: $2,000,000). 

The Group has a loan to African Blue (Joint Venture). This is to fund working capital and was incurred in prior years. The balance as at 26 June 2016 
is AUD $80,230 (2015: AUD $1,630,585). 

(b) Transactions with Key Management Personnel of the Entity or its Parent and their Personally Related Entities

Mr Kevin Schwartz (Director)

•  An employee of Paine and Partners, LLC, an entity associated with a 9.16% shareholder in Costa Group Holdings Ltd. Paine and Partners, LLC provided 
advisory services to the Group in relation to the Company’s ASX Listing, for which advisory fees of AUD $6,433,312 (2015: AUD $Nil) were paid. 

Mr Frank Costa (Director)

•  Payment of rent by Costa’s Pty Ltd to Frank Costa for the lease of 1111 Aviation Road, Werribee of AUD $1 (2015: AUD $1).

•  Costa Asset Management Pty Ltd as trustee for Costa Asset Management Unit Trust provided advisory services to the Group in relation to the 
Company’s ASX Listing, for which an advisory fee was paid totalling $5,374,474 GST Inclusive (2015: Nil). Although Costa Asset Management 
Unit Trust is not a related party of Frank Costa, it is understood that Costa Asset Management Unit Trust subsequently paid part of that advisory 
fee to entities associated with Frank Costa. The Group is unable to determine how much was paid to Frank Costa.

Compensation received by key management personnel of the Group:
– Short-term employee benefits
– Post-employment benefits
– Long-term employee benefits
– Share-based payment benefits

2016
$’000

3,591
106
43
301
4,041

2015
$’000

3,341
65
46
742
4,194

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  79

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

D4. Parent Entity Disclosures
(a) Summarised Presentation of the Parent Entity, Costa Group Holdings Ltd

Assets 

Current assets
Non current assets
Total assets 

Liabilities 

Current liabilities 
Non current liabilities
Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Equity 

Share capital
Profit reserve 
Share based payment reserve
Accumulated losses 
Total equity 

(b) Summarised Statement of Comprehensive Income
Loss for the year
Total comprehensive loss for the year 

(c) Parent Entity Guarantees in Respect of Debts of its Subsidiaries

2016
$‘000

2015
$‘000

28
414,649
414,677

211
264,944
265,155

5,879
43,879 
49,758

2,017
39,803
41,820

364,919

223,335

395,688
20,005 
523 
(51,297)
364,919

238,564
4,313 
1,759 
(21,301)
223,335

(4,882)
(4,882)

(2,152)
(2,152)

The parent entity has entered into a Deed of Cross Guarantee with the effect that the Company guarantees debts in respect of certain subsidiaries. 
Further details of the Deed of Cross Guarantee and the subsidiaries subject to the Deed are disclosed in Note D5.

D5. Deed of Cross Guarantee
The wholly owned subsidiaries listed in Note D2 (excluding Hillston Investments Pty Ltd and Innisfail Holdings Pty Ltd) are parties to a deed of cross 
guarantee under which each company guarantees the debts of the others. These parties to the deed of cross guarantee consist of only the Australian 
wholly owned subsidiaries.

Pursuant to ASIC Class Order 98/1418 (as amended), these wholly owned subsidiaries listed in Note D2 (excluding Hillston Investments Pty Ltd and 
Innisfail Holdings Pty Ltd) are relieved from the Corporations Act requirements to prepare a financial report and Director’s report.

A consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income and a consolidated statement of financial position for the year ended 
26 June 2016, comprising the above listed parties to the deed which represent the ‘closed group’, are set out below:

(a) Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income of the Closed Group

Revenue 
Less: Expense 
Profit/(loss) before income tax expense 

Income tax expense

Total loss/total comprehensive loss for the year

80  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

2016
$‘000
821,861
(800,622)
21,239

2015
$‘000 
736,231
(740,763)
(4,532)

(10,423)

(640)

10,816

(5,172)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(b) Consolidated Statement of Financial Position of the Closed Group

ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables
Inventories
Biological assets
Other assets
Assets classified as held for sale
Total current assets

Non-current assets
Receivables
Other financial assets
Equity accounted investments
Intangible assets
Deferred tax assets
Property, plant and equipment
Total non-current assets
Total assets

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Payables
Borrowings
Provisions
Derivative financial liabilities
Current tax liabilities
Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Redeemable preference shares 
Provisions
Derivative financial liabilities
Total non-current liabilities 
Total liabilities

NET ASSETS

EQUITY
Contributed equity
Share based payment reserve
Profit reserve
Accumulated losses
Total equity

2016 
$‘000

2015
Restated1
$‘000

4,002
72,458
17,904
37,408
5,333
- 
137,105

- 
327
33,665
142,782
4,957
249,324
431,055
568,160

81,638
- 
13,217
242
5,879
100,976

103,766
-
4,172
- 
107,938
208,914

9,504
62,201
16,124
31,571
6,517
4,242
130,159

125
2,036
27,587
141,865
5,504
219,987
397,104
527,263

74,495
4,885
13,483
- 
1,563
94,426

228,004
1,119
3,290
3,337
235,750
330,176

359,246

197,087

384,098
523
20,005
(45,380)
359,246

226,975
1,759
4,313
(35,960)
197,087

1.  Refer to note E3 for details regarding the restatements as a result of the early adoption of the amendments made to Accounting Standards AASB 116 Property, plant and equipment and AASB 

141 Agriculture in relation to bearer plants.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  81

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

E. Other

E1. Share-based Payments

Share-based payments reserve 

2016
$‘000
523

2015
$‘000
1,759

The share-based payments reserve is used to record the fair value of shares or equity-settled share-based payment options issued to employees. 

Share-Based Payment Plan – Employee Share Option Plan

The Group continued to offer equity-settled share-based payments via employee participation in long-term incentive schemes as part of the 
remuneration packages for the key management personnel and executives of the Company. 

During the financial year 2016, 3,513,372 (2015: 2,455,000) options have been granted to key management personnel and the executive team 
under new option plans.

Recognition and Measurement
The Group provides benefits to its employees and Directors in the form of share-based payment transactions, whereby services are rendered 
in exchange for shares or options (‘equity-settled transactions’).

The fair value of options and performance rights is recognised as an expense with the corresponding increase in equity (share-based payments 
reserve). The fair value is measured at grant date and recognised over the period during which the holder becomes unconditionally entitled to 
the options.

Measurement of Fair Values

The fair value of the options issued under this Option Plan was measured on using a Black-Scholes pricing model. The inputs used in the 
measurement of the fair values at grant date of the options were as follows: 

Employee Share Option Programs

Number issued
Fair value at grant date
Share price at grant date
Exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected dividend yield
Risk-free rate

CEO
1,891,944 
 $0.23 
 $2.16 
 $2.81 
27.00%
3.75%
1.98%

2016
KMP and Executives
1,621,428 
 $0.39 
 $2.30 
 $2.25 
27.00%
3.75%
1.81%

2015

KMP and Executives
2,005,000 
 $0.19 
 $1.29 
 $1.45 
28.43%
0.00%
2.67%

Non-Executive Directors
450,000 
 $0.17 
 $1.29 
 $1.45 
28.43%
0.00%
2.58%

The expected volatility has been based on an evaluation of the historical volatility using comparable companies to the Group. The Group has 
accounted for the options as equity settled share based payments.

Reconciliation of Outstanding Share Options

The number and weighted average exercise prices of options under the employee share option program are as follows:

Opening balance
Disposed for cash or settled for shares during the year 
Granted during the year
Closing balance
Exercisable at year end

Number of 
Options 2016
21,671,752 
(21,221,752)
3,513,372 
3,963,372 
450,000 

Weighted Average 
Exercise Price 2016 
1.45
1.45
2.51
2.39
1.45 

Number of 
Options 2015
19,216,752 
- 
2,455,000 
21,671,752 
- 

Weighted Average 
Exercise Price 2015
1.45
1.45
1.45
1.45
- 

The options outstanding as at 26 June 2016, which have not been vested, have an exercise price of $2.51 (2015: $1.45). All outstanding options in 
2015 vested as part of the IPO undertaken on 24 July 2015. 

82  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
E2. Taxation

(a) Components of Tax Expense
Current tax 

Deferred tax 

Over provision in prior years 

(b) Prima Facie Tax Payable
The prima facie tax payable on profit before income tax is reconciled to the income tax expense as follows: 

Profit before income tax

Prima facie income tax expense on profit before income tax at 30.0%

Add tax effect of: 

– non-deductible entertainment 

– deferred tax asset not recognised on capital losses 

– goodwill impairment loss

– share-based payments expense

– other assessable items

– other non-deductible items

Less tax effect of: 

– research and development tax credits

– non-assessable, non-exempt income

– over provision in prior years

Income tax expense attributable to profit

(c) Current Tax
Current tax relates to the following: 

Current tax liabilities/(assets) 

Opening balance 

Current year tax expense

Tax refunds/(payments)

Foreign withholding tax credits received

Under/(over) provisions

Closing balance

2016
$‘000

7,387

3,101

(65)

10,423

2015
$‘000

3,296

(886)

(1,770)

640

35,681

4,953

10,704

1,486

146

1,726

 - 

134

44

28

35

 - 

2,085

394

 - 

25

2,078

2,539

750

1,544

65 

2,359

750

865

1,770 

3,385

10,423

640

1,563

7,387

(2,389)

(207)

(475)

5,879

2,101

3,296

(2,064)

- 

(1,770)

1,563

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  83

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

E2. Taxation continued

(d) Deferred Tax
Deferred tax relates to the following: 

Deferred tax assets 

The balance comprises: 

Property, plant and equipment 

Provisions 

Trade and other payables 

Capital (black hole) deductions (section 40-880) 

Borrowings

Other 

Derivative financial liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities 

The balance comprises: 

Property, plant and equipment 

Trade and other receivables

Biological assets 

Intangible assets 

Derivative financial assets

Net deferred tax assets 

(e) Deferred Tax Expense Included in Income Tax Comprises
Decrease/(increase) in deferred tax assets 

Increase/(decrease) in deferred tax liabilities 

(f ) Deferred Tax Movement 
Opening balance – net deferred tax asset

Other

(Decrease)/increase in DTA recognised in P&L

(Decrease)/increase in DTA recognised in equity

Closing balance – net deferred tax asset

The Group’s franking account balance as at 26 June 2016 is $11,284,609 (2015: $17,310,771).

2016
$‘000

2015
$‘000

- 

5,343 

2,973 

8,534 

- 

760 

73 

17,683

1,362

260

9,495

1,609

- 

12,726

4,957

(650)

3,751

3,101

5,504

(483)

(3,101)

3,037

4,957

1,550

5,357 

3,167 

2,574 

725 

60 

1,043 

14,476

- 

68

6,554

2,306

44 

8,972

5,504

(2,188)

1,302

(886)

4,618

- 

886

- 

5,504

84  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognition and Measurement
Current income tax expense or benefit is the tax payable or receivable on the current period’s taxable income based on the applicable income tax 
rate adjusted by changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised for temporary differences at the applicable tax rates when the assets are expected to be recovered 
or liabilities are settled. No deferred tax asset or liability is recognised in relation to temporary differences if they arose in a transaction, other than a 
business combination, that at the time of the transaction did not affect either accounting profit or taxable profit or loss.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary differences and unused tax losses only if it is probable that future taxable amounts will 
be available to utilise those temporary differences and losses.

Current and deferred tax balances attributable to amounts recognised directly in equity are also recognised directly in equity.

Tax Consolidation

The parent entity Costa Group Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries have implemented the tax consolidation legislation and have formed a tax 
consolidated Group. The parent entity and subsidiaries in the tax consolidated Group have entered into a tax funding agreement such that 
each entity in the tax consolidated Group recognises the assets, liabilities, expenses and revenues in relation to its own transactions, events 
and balances only. This means that:

•  the parent entity recognises all current and deferred tax amounts relating to its own transactions, events and balances only;

•  the subsidiaries recognise current or deferred tax amounts arising in respect of their own transactions, events and balances; and

•  current tax liabilities and deferred tax assets arising in respect of tax losses are transferred from the subsidiary to the head entity as inter-company 

payables or receivables.

The tax consolidated Group also has a tax sharing agreement in place to limit the liability of subsidiaries in the tax consolidated Group arising 
under the joint and several liability requirements of the tax consolidation system, in the event of default by the parent entity to meet its payment 
obligations.

Critical accounting Estimate and Judgement

Income Tax

Income tax benefits are based on the assumption that no adverse change will occur in the income tax legislation and the anticipation that the Group 
will derive sufficient future assessable income to enable the benefit to be realised and comply with the conditions of deductibility imposed by the law.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary differences as management considers that it is probable that future taxable profits will 
be available to utilise those temporary differences.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  85

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

E3. New Accounting Standards
Amendments to AASB 116 Property, Plant and Equipment and AASB 141 Agriculture distinguish bearer plants from other biological assets. 
Bearer plants are solely used to grow produce over their productive lives and are seen to be similar to an item of machinery. They will therefore 
now be accounted for under AASB 116 Property, Plant and Equipment, and will be measured using the cost less accumulated depreciation method. 
Agricultural produce growing on bearer plants will remain within the scope of AASB 141 Agriculture and continue to be measured at fair value less 
costs to sell. 

As required under the standards, these changes have been applied retrospectively to the earliest period presented in the financial statements 
(FY2015). As permitted under the transitional rules, the fair value of the bearer plants at 29 June 2014 will be the deemed opening cost value at 
the start of FY2015. They will then be depreciated over their remaining useful life using the straight line method. Furthermore, costs associated 
with re-planting will now be capitalised instead of expensed as they are incurred. 

The table below summarises the impact of these changes on the Group’s financial statements.

Consolidated statement of profit and loss and other comprehensive income (extract)
Other expenses
Gain on fair value adjustments – biological assets 
Depreciation and amortisation expense
Impairment losses
Profit before income tax
Income tax benefit/(expense)
NPAT attributable to shareholders

Basic earnings per share (cents per share)
Diluted earnings per share (cents per share)

Consolidated statement of financial position (extract)
Biological assets (non-current)
Property, plant and equipment 
Deferred tax assets
Total assets

2015 
Previously 
Stated
$‘000

Increase/ 
(Decrease)
$‘000

2015 
Restated
$‘000

(55,452)
(252)
(18,481)
(15,703)
5,330
(753)
4,577

0.25 
0.22 

4,305
216,059
5,391
527,876

332
3,602
(1,073)
(3,238)
(377)
113
(264)

(0.14)
(0.11)

(4,305)
3,928
113
(264)

(55,120)
3,350
(19,554)
(18,941)
4,953
(640)
4,313

0.11
 0.11 

 - 
219,987
5,504
527,612

Net assets

197,701

(264)

197,437

Statement of changes in equity (extract)
Profit reserve
Total equity

4,577
197,701

(264)
(264)

4,313
197,437

86  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Accounting Standards and Interpretations
Since 29 June 2015, the Group has adopted the following new and revised Accounting Standards issued by the Australian Accounting Standards 
Board (AASB) that are relevant to the Group’s operations:

•  AASB 2014-6 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Agriculture: Bearer Plants 

•  AASB 2015-3 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from the Withdrawal of AASB 1031 Materiality

•  AASB 2015-4 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Financial Reporting Requirements for Australian Groups with a Foreign Parent

The adoption of these standards did not have a significant impact on the Group’s financial position or performance.

Recently Issued or Amended Accounting Standards
The following relevant Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations have been issued or amended but are not yet effective and the Group 
has not yet adopted them:

•  AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

•  AASB 9 Financial Instruments

•  AASB 16 Leases 

•  AASB 2014-10 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture 

•  AASB 2016-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets or Unrealised Losses

•  AASB 2016-2 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Disclosure Initiative: Amendments to AASB 107 

•  AASB 1057 Application of Australian Accounting Standards

•  AASB 2015-5 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Investment Entities: Applying the Consolidation Exception 

•  AASB 2015-2 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Disclosure Initiative: Amendments to AASB 101

•  AASB 2015-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Annual Improvements to Australian Accounting Standards 2012-2014 Cycle

•  AASB 2014-9 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Equity method in Separate Financial Statements 

•  AASB 2014-4 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation 

•  AASB 2014-3 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in Joint Operations

The Group is currently assessing the impact of these standards to its financial position and performance. 

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  87

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

E4. Auditor’s Remuneration

Audit and review services provided by KPMG
Audit and review of financial reports

Other services provided by KPMG 
Taxation compliance and other taxation advisory services (including R&D)
Other assurance services (including IPO services)
Other services (including IPO services)

Total remuneration of KPMG Australia

E5. Assets Classified as Held for Sale

Water licences
Property, plant and equipment

2016 

2015 

340,700

245,700

175,000
- 
21,000
196,000

277,030
785,000
575,230
1,637,260

536,700

1,882,960

(a)
(b)

2016
$‘000
- 
- 
- 

2015
$‘000
2,315
1,927
4,242

(a) In 2015, the Group held Water access licenses (water rights) across various locations in Australia, in which the following two were classified as assets held for sale:

– St George (Western Queensland)

– Darling River, Menindee (New South Wales)

During 2016, these rights have been sold to external parties in accordance with the closure of these farms. 

(b) In 2015, the Group also had property, plant and equipment held for sale from the Mushroom sites which were no longer operational. One of the two sites was sold in 2016. 

88  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets Held for Sale
Non-current assets, or disposal groups comprising assets and liabilities, are classified as held-for-sale or held-for-distribution if it is highly probable 
that they will be recovered primarily through sale rather than through continuing use. This condition is regarded as met when the sale is highly 
probable and the asset or disposal group is available for immediate sale in its present condition. Management must be committed to the sale, 
which should be expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year from date of classification.

Immediately before classification as held-for-sale, the assets, or components of a disposal group, are remeasured in accordance with the Group’s 
accounting policies. Thereafter, the assets, or disposal group, are measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. 
Impairment losses on initial classification as held-for-sale and subsequent gains or losses on re-measurement are recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income. Gains are not recognised in excess of any cumulative impairment loss.

Once classified as held-for-sale or held-for-distribution, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment are no longer amortised or depreciated, 
and any equity accounted investments are no longer equity accounted.

Critical Accounting Estimate and Judgement

Valuation of Assets Held-for-sale

Assets held-for-sale are valued at the lower of cost and fair value less costs to sell upon classification. There are no indicators that assets held-for-sale 
are impaired. Based on recent market transactions entered into by the Group, the sales price of these assets are higher than the carrying value

E6. Other Financial Assets

NON-CURRENT 
Loans to related party associates
Interest rate swap-option1

Available-for-sale financial assets 
Shares in unlisted corporations 

1.  Refer to Note C8 for disclosure on fair valuation technique of this asset.

2016
$‘000

80
-

247
327

2015
$‘000

1,631
8

397
2,036

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  89

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continued

E7. Other Accounting Policies

Research and Development Expenditure
Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense when incurred.

Expenditure on development activities is capitalised only when technical feasibility studies demonstrate that the project will deliver future 
economic benefits and these benefits can be measured reliably. Capitalised development expenditure is stated at cost less accumulated 
amortisation. Amortisation is calculated using the straight line method to allocate the cost of its estimated useful life commencing when 
the intangible asset is available for use.

Other development expenditure is recognised as an expense when incurred.

Bonus Plan
The Group recognises a provision when a bonus is payable in accordance with the employee’s contract of employment, and the amount can be 
reliably measured.

Government Grants
Government grants are initially recognised as deferred income at fair value when there is recoverable assurance that they will be received and that 
the Group will comply with the conditions associated with the grant. Subsequently, they are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income 
to offset the applicable expenses incurred by the Group as stated in the provisions of the government grants. 

90  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Directors’ Declaration

1.  In the opinion of the Directors of Costa Group Holdings Ltd (‘the Company’):

(a)   the consolidated financial report and notes A1 to E6 and the Remuneration Report in the Directors’ Report, are in accordance with the 

Corporations Act 2001, including:

(i)   giving a true and fair view of the Group’s financial position as at 26 June 2016 and of its performance, for the financial year ended on that 

date; and

(ii) complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001; and

(b)   there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.

2. 

 There are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company and the Group entities identified in Note D5 will be able to meet any obligations or 
liabilities to which they are or may become subject to by virtue of the Deed of Cross Guarantee between the Company and the Group entities 
pursuant to ASIC Class Order 98/1418.

3. 

 The Directors have been given the declarations required by Section 295A of the Corporations Act 2001 from the Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer for the financial year ended 26 June 2016.

4. 

 The Directors draw attention to the ‘Overview’ section of the consolidated financial report, which includes a statement of compliance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Directors:

Dated at Melbourne 24th day of August 2016.

Harry Debney
Managing Director and CEO

Neil Chatfield
Chairman

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  91

 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report

This is the original version of the audit report over the financial statements signed by the Directors on 24 August 2016. Page 
references should be read as follows to reflect the correct references now that the financial statements have been presented 
in the context of the annual report in its entirety:
– the Overview is now set out on pages 50 to 52 as opposed to pages 39 to 41 below; and
– the Remuneration Report is now set out on pages 34 to 43 as opposed to pages 22 to 32 below.

92  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  93

Shareholder Information

Twenty Largest Registered Shareholders (as at 30 August 2016)

Rank Name of Shareholder

Number of Shares

% of Issued Capital

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited 

J P Morgan Nominees Australia Limited 

Costa AFR Pty Ltd as trustee for the Costa AFR unit trust

National Nominees Limited 

J P Morgan Nominees Australia Limited 

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited 

BNP Paribas Noms Pty Ltd 

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited 

UBS Nominees Pty Ltd 

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited 

National Nominees Limited 

Mr Harry Debney 

UBS Nominees Pty Ltd 

Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund 

Mirrabooka Investments Limited 

Mr John Paterson 

BNP Paribas Nominees Pty Ltd 

National Nominees Limited 

AMP Life Limited 

Mr George Haggar 

72,944,250

53,547,978

32,940,002

32,902,282

29,205,002

18,440,646

6,309,386

2,796,241

2,472,762

2,322,220

1,094,784

1,009,037

950,000

614,578

600,000

550,000

548,238

391,103

372,322

327,336

22.88

16.79

10.33

10.32

9.16

5.78

1.98

0.88

0.78

0.73

0.34

0.32

0.30

0.19

0.19

0.17

0.17

0.12

0.12

0.10

94  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

Distribution of Holdings (as at 30 August 2016)

Range
100,001 and over
10,001 to 100,000
5,001 to 10,000
1,001 to 5,000
1 to 1,000
Total

Number of Holders
62
1,367
1,208
2,846
903
6,386

Number of Shares
267,626,966
33,175,331
9,139,347
8,350,388
588,405
318,880,437

% of Issued Capital
83.93
10.40
2.87
2.62
0.18
100.00

The number of shareholders holding less than a marketable parcel of shares (as at 30 August 2016) is 66 and they hold 1,998 shares. 

Substantial Shareholders (as Disclosed in Substantial Holder Notices Given to the Company at 30 August 2016)

Shareholder
Mondrian Investment Partners Limited (as fund manager)
Costa AFR Pty Ltd as trustee for the Costa AFR Unit Trust
P&P COS Holdings B.V.
Challenger Limited and associated entities1
Alphinity Investment Management Pty Ltd1

1. Interest of Challenger Limited includes the relevant interest of Alphinity Investment Management Pty Ltd.

Escrow Shares
As at 30 August 2016, the shares subject to voluntary escrow arrangements are:

Number of Shares
36,486,039
32,940,002
29,205,002
23,089,747
16,340,782

% of Issued Capital
11.44%
10.33%
9.16%
7.24%
5.12%

Number of Shares
504,519

Escrow End Date
4.15pm on the date on which the Company’s financial results 
for the year ending 25 June 2017 are announced to ASX

Early Release Date and Conditions (if Applicable)
Nil

Unquoted Securities
As at 30 August 2016, there were 3,963,372 options over unissued shares of Costa Group Holdings Ltd, as described in item 12 of the Directors’ Report. 
These options are held by 11 members of management, directors and former Directors of the Company. All of the unissued shares which are the 
subject of these options are ordinary shares in the Company, or will be converted into ordinary shares immediately after exercise of the relevant option.

Shares and Voting Rights
All issued shares in the Company are ordinary shares. Voting rights for ordinary shares are:

•  on a show of hands, one vote for each shareholder; and

•  on a poll, one vote for each fully paid ordinary share.

There is no current on-market buy-back.

Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016  |  95

Corporate Directory

Directors
Neil Chatfield (Chairman)
Harry Debney (CEO and Managing Director)
Frank Costa
Kevin Schwartz
Peter Margin
Tiffany Fuller

Auditor
KPMG
147 Collins Street
Melbourne 
Victoria 3000 
Australia

Stock Exchange
Costa Group Holdings Limited shares are 
quoted on the Australian Securities Exchange 
(ASX code: CGC)

Company Secretary
David Thomas

Registered Office
Unit 1, 275 Robinsons Road Ravenhall 
Victoria 3023 
Australia

T  +613 8363 9000
E  investors@costagroup.com.au

Share Registry
Link Market Services Limited
Level 12, 680 George Street Sydney 
NSW 2000

Locked Bag A14, Sydney South 
NSW 1235

T  +61 1300 554 474 (toll free within Australia)
F  +61 2 9287 0303
F  +61 2 9287 0309 (for proxy voting)
E  registrars@linkmarketservices.com.au

www.linkmarketservices.com.au

96  |  Costa Group Holdings Limited  |  Annual Report 2016

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