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Freelancer Limited

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Employees 201-500
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FY2014 Annual Report · Freelancer Limited
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ACN 141 959 042

2 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTcontents

Chairman’s Letter

Review of Operations

Directors’ Report

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

Corporate Governance Statement

Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and 

Other Comprehensive Income

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Notes to the Financial Statements

Directors’ Declaration

Independent Auditor’s Report

Additional ASX Information

Corporate Directory

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3 3 

 
Freelancer is the world’s largest 

freelancing and crowdsourcing 

marketplace by total number of users 

and number of projects posted. 

We help small businesses,  

startups and entrepreneurs turn that  

spark of an idea into reality. 

We are changing lives in the  

developing world by providing 

opportunity and income.

4 4 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTCHAIRMAN’S LETTER

Dear Shareholder

In 2014, the Company delivered record financial 
results with a 39% increase in net revenue on 
the prior year to $26.1 million. Gross Payment 
Volume in FY14 was $103.7 million (+23% on 
the prior year). As at 31 December 2014, the 
Company held cash and equivalents of $20.2 
million.

Freelancer is a high growth Internet company 
and reflects this consistently with high growth 
in net revenues each year (FY10 +129%, 
FY11 +37%, FY12 +64%, FY13 +77% and FY14 
+39%), reflecting growth in marketplace 
volume, increased efficiency and quality of the 
marketplace and increased sales of value added 
services. 

Over the 2014 financial year, the Company 
experienced significant growth in users, projects 
and contests posted, bringing the total number 
of registered users to 14.3 million, and the total 
number of projects and contests posted to 6.9 
million, representing a total budget of over $2.5 
billion. This further affirmed our leading global 
position as the world’s largest freelancing and 
crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of 
users and number of projects posted.

In 2014, our focus was growth in project & 
contest volume, international growth in both 
countries and languages, growth in mobile 
usage and building out the Freelancer product 
set and features as well as user experience. We 
built better tools to communicate & collaborate, 
improved our internal algorithms including 
matchmaking. We improved the customer 
experience in multiple dimensions. We acquired 
Warrior Forum, the world’s largest Internet 
marketing forum & marketplace now boasting 
over 900,000 users, as well as Zlecenia.przez.
net (“Work through the Net”), which was Poland’s 
leading marketplace dedicated to a range of 
online categories of work.

Freelancer is a very rare and exceptional 
company. What we do actually makes a 
difference. We change lives. We help lift people 
out of poverty. We help people feed their 
families. We help entrepreneurs build businesses. 
We help people build products and services that 
change the world. 

Freelancer makes a real difference in the world 
and changes lives. 

Our long term mission is to beneficially change 
one billion people’s lives on this planet by 
providing them with a job sourced through 
our platform. We are still in the very early days 
of this journey, but we’ve made a start. Today, 
over 7 million projects have been posted on 
Freelancer. It’s a small step towards our goal, but 
a significant one.

Freelancer is not just driving a global revolution 
in the way we do work; it is also at the nexus 
of a series of global macroeconomic trends. 
60% of the world’s population- 4 billion 
people- are yet to connect to the Internet. 
More and more industries will be eaten by 
software, and more and more jobs will be 
performed with a computer and will head into 
the cloud. The world is becoming more and 
more flat as everything increasingly becomes 
hyperconnected. Finally, the structural 
imbalances and skills crunch between the aging 
western world workforce and once in a lifetime 
boom of people entering the workforce in the 
developing world.

Freelancer is the platform that aims to connect 
all of this together. 

The Board and myself personally wish to thank 
and acknowledge the support of all of our staff, 
shareholders and our 14 million users around the 
world. None of this would have been possible 
without your encouragement and contribution.

Performance Highlights

2014

2013

2012

Net revenue

$26.1 million

$18.8 million

$10.6 million

Gross Payment Volume (GPV)

$103.7 million

$84.4 million

$50.8 million

Year end cash and equivalents

$20.2 million

$24.4 million

$9.7 million

Total number of registered users

14.3 million

9.7 million

6.9 million

Total number of projects & contests posted

6.9 million

5.3 million

4.1 million

Matt Barrie 
Chairman 
Freelancer Limited

5 5 

14.3

MILLION USERS

14

13

12

11

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

-

FY00

FY01

FY02

FY03

FY04

FY05

FY06

FY07

FY08

FY09

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

Registered Users1 (millions)

Notes

1.  User data includes all users from acquired marketplaces. Prior to May 2009, all data is from acquired marketplaces. 

6 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT6.9

MILLION PROJECTS  

& CONTESTS

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

-

FY00

FY01

FY02

FY03

FY04

FY05

FY06

FY07

FY08

FY09

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

Number of Posted Projects & Contests1 (millions)

Notes

1.  Project and contest data includes all projects from acquired marketplaces. Prior to May 2009, all data is from acquired marketplaces.

7 

8 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTREVIEW OF OPERATIONS

Key performance highlights

Year ended 31 December

Audited financial metrics

Net Revenue

Gross Profit

    Gross margin (%)

Operating EBITDA1

Operating EBIT1

Operating NPAT1

Operational metrics (unaudited)

New Registered Users (total)2 (millions)

Number of Projects & Contests Posted2 (millions)

Gross Payment Volume3

    Take rate4 (%)

FY14 
$m

26.1

22.8

87.1%

(2.1)

(2.4)

(1.5)

4.6

1.6

103.7

25.1%

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

FY13  
$m

18.8

16.4

87.6%

1.2

1.0

1.1

2.9

1.2

84.4

22.2%

%  Change

39%

38%

(0.6)%

-

-

-

60%

31%

23%

13%

The Company experienced excellent growth within its online 
marketplace in the 12 months ended 31 December 2014 (FY14), 
resulting in a revenue increase of 39% year on year. 

After its successful capital raising via IPO in November 2013, 
the Company accelerated its investment in product, staffing 
and infrastructure globally. As a result of the continued focus 
on reinvesting for top line growth, the Company delivered an 
operating EBITDA of $(2.1) million and break even operating 
cash flow of $(0.1) million in FY14.

Marketplace Growth

The Company’s revenue is primarily generated from new and 
existing users posting and fulfilling projects and crowdsourcing 
contests on Freelancer.com and its various regional websites. 

Freelancer’s registered user base (including both employers 
and freelancers) grew exceptionally well, increasing by 47% (4.6 
million new users) to 14.3 million in total in FY14 (including 0.9 
million from acquisitions). This represents a large increase of 
60% over the number of new users that registered in the prior 
year (FY13 grew by 2.9 million new users to 9.7 million in total). 

Users are acquired from a variety of sources including search 
engine optimisation (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), 
media and public relations work, events, user referrals, 
competitions, traditional advertising, email marketing and 
business combinations. 

The Company’s main user acquisition focus is on attracting 
new employers, being those users who post projects 
and contests, and, therefore create demand in the online 
marketplace. However, the Company also seeks to ensure 
that there is a sufficient supply of freelancers across regional, 
language and skill specific segments of the marketplace in 
order to maximise marketplace liquidity and network effects.

Employers accomplish work by posting projects (outsourcing), 
however work can also be performed through posting contests 
(crowdsourcing) and direct hires via the Company’s freelancer 
directory. The total number of projects and contests posted 
on Freelancer.com increased by 32% to 6.9 million in FY14 (1.6 
million new projects and contests in the year). This compares 
to FY13 which saw 1.2 million new projects and contests in the 
year, growing to 5.3 million total posted. 

Notes
1.  Exclusive of expensed IPO costs of $394k ($275k net of tax) and non-cash share based payments expense of $33k in FY13 and $388k in FY14.
2.  User and project/contest data includes all users and projects/contests from acquired marketplaces.  
3.  Gross Payment Volume (GPV) is calculated as the total payments to Freelancer users for products and services transacted through the Freelancer 

website plus total Freelancer revenue.

4.  Take rate is calculated as Net Revenue divided by Gross Payment Volume.

9 

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

26.1

103.7

26.1

103.7

Net revenue

Gross margin

18.8

GPV

Take rate

84.4

25.1%

Net revenue

Gross margin

18.8

GPV

Take rate

84.4

25.1%

86.7%

87.4%

87.6%

87.1%

82.6%

22.2%

20.9%

18.1%

16.8%

50.8

86.7%

87.4%

87.6%

87.1%

82.6%

10.6

10.6

6.5

4.7

35.6

28.0

6.5

4.7

22.2%

20.9%

18.1%

16.8%

50.8

35.6

28.0

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

Gross Payment Volume1 ($ million) and Take Rate2 (%)

Net Revenue ($ million) and Gross Margin (%)

Revenue & gross margin performance

The Company achieved Net Revenue of $26.1 million in FY14 
(on Gross Payment Volume of $103.7 million), representing 
39% growth on the previous corresponding period. 

Contributing factors to the growth in Net Revenue for FY14 
included both overall growth in marketplace volumes, 
increased efficiency and quality of the marketplace and 
increased sales of value added services (non-commission 
based revenues). 

The Company’s gross margin of 87.1% in FY14 remained in 
line with the previous corresponding period (FY13: 87.6%). The 
Company’s cost of sales predominantly consist of transaction 
costs that are incurred from the various gateways relied upon 
to process user payments, as well as various provisions taken 
for credit card chargebacks and fraud risks.

Operating performance

Expansion of International Offices and Staffing

In line with its strategy of reinvesting for topline growth, the 
Company expanded its international footprint and increased its 
investment in talent in FY14.

As part of this in FY14 the Company grew the size of its offices 
and staff in Sydney and Manila and opened new offices in 
London and Vancouver. 

The Sydney headquarters relocated from two occupancies at 
Jones Bay Wharf totalling 750m2 to new premises of 1800m2 
in World Square. The Manila regional office moved from Makati 
Sky Plaza with 761m2 to two floors in Bonifacio Global City 
totalling 2600m2. A London office opened in Angel to better 
service the European market, and an office in downtown 
Vancouver opened to better service the North American 
market.

NPAT and EBITDA

As a result of the accelerated investment for future growth, 
the Company reported an operating net loss after tax of $1.5 
million (FY13 Operating NPAT: $1.1 million) and operating loss 
before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of $2.1 
million (FY13 Operating EBITDA: $1.2 million).3

Reported Net Loss After Tax of $1.9 million in FY14 included a 
tax benefit of $1.0 million (FY13 NPAT: $0.8 million).

Notes
1.  Gross Payment Volume (GPV) is calculated as the total payments to Freelancer users for products and services transacted through the Freelancer 

website plus total Freelancer Revenue. Based on Freelancer’s unaudited management accounts which have not been subject to an auditors review.

2.  Take rate is calculated as Net Revenue divided by Gross Payment Volume.
3.  Exclusive of expensed IPO costs of $394k ($275k net of tax) and non-cash share based payments expense of $33k in FY13 and $388k in FY14. 

10 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTFull time equivalent staff, 31-Dec

Sydney

Manila

Vancouver

London

Total

2014

100

280

7

3

390

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

2013

80

217

-

-

297

Growth Y/Y

25%

29%

-

-

31%

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Strength

Better Tools To Communicate & Collaborate

Despite the increased investment in staff and its international 
expansion to support future growth, the Company again broke 
even with operating cash ($0.1 million outflow) in FY14 (FY13: 
$0.2 million inflow). This result is in line with the Company’s 
aim to maximise re-investment in product development and 
top-line growth.

Capital expenditure on tangible assets was $0.9 million in FY14, 
representing a step up on the previous year due to the opening 
of new offices in London and Vancouver, and the significant 
expansions of the Company’s Manila support office and Sydney 
headquarters (FY13: $0.3 million). 

The Company acquired several complementary assets during 
FY14 for a total consideration of approximately $3.8 million, 
including:

• 

• 

the world’s largest Internet marketing marketplace & 
community, Warrior Forum;

the leading pure-play online services marketplace in 
Poland, Zlecenia.przez.net;

•  a virtual content marketplace, fantero.com; and
•  a technology startup conference & community, SydStart.

As at 31 December 2014, the Company held cash and 
equivalents of $20.2 million, providing the Company with 
sufficient flexibility to pursue growth via organic channels.

Key Product & Operational Highlights

In FY14 we embarked on a number of initiatives with the 
product:

International Growth in Countries and Languages

In FY14 Freelancer expanded to be available in 32 languages 
and 246 countries, regions and territories. In addition, the 
International Team grew projects by 100% year on year in 
FY14 in languages other than English. We also developed a 
new translation workflow, which streamlines the translation 
processes.

Growth in Mobile Usage

Mobile is eating the world. Online work is no exception; we 
have seen increased visits to our marketplace from mobile 
devices. To offer mobile users a better experience, during 
the year we launched a suite of mobile products across all 
major platforms; an optimised website for mobile, and native 
applications on Android and iOS. Freelancer for Android 
shipped its first version in April 2014 and iOS was launched 
in November 2014. These initiatives drove a 250% increase in 
Monthly Active Users (MAU) of mobile over the second half of 
the year. Our apps also maintain a rating of over 4 out of 5 in 
the Google and Apple App stores and are seeing spectacular 
growth.

Collaboration tools like messaging and time-tracking are key 
to delivering a successful project. In addition to providing time-
tracking desktop clients for Windows 7, the company released 
Windows 8.1, Linux and Mac versions. The marketplace’s 
messaging service was also revamped with a new design and 
additional features such as milestone payments.

Better Freelancer Onboarding & Profile Quality

In FY14 the Company improved the marketplace’s onboarding 
flow to help activate, retain and to award work to even more 
freelancers. There are now more freelancers filling out their 
profiles, to a higher standard, which is contributing to the 
increased quality of labour supply in the marketplace. This 
focus on freelancer onboarding has resulted in increased 
bidding activity and award rates for first time freelancers.

Freelancer Contests

Freelancer Contests give employers the ability to crowdsource 
work across any of our almost 750 categories. We made a 
large number of product improvements to contests that saw 
spectacular growth in FY14 with over 82,000 new contests 
posted (representing 100% growth on the prior year). This 
resulted in US$4.3 million of contest earnings being awarded to 
our freelancers. 

Improvements to Memberships

In FY14 we introduced a new “Intro” membership plan to allow 
even more users to take up paid membership. More features 
were added to the marketplace’s membership offering and 
further optimisation in paid membership conversions resulted 
in an explosive year of growth for membership revenues. 

Launch of Freelancer Community

Providing people with opportunities is part of the core mission 
of Freelancer.com, and one of the best ways to do this is 
to offer its users greater knowledge and education. In late 
FY14 the Company launched Freelancer Community (www.
freelancer.com/community), a platform where users can share 
their knowledge and expertise with each other and the world. 
Community provides a leg up for some of Freelancer’s newer 
users, who can now learn new skills and demonstrate their 
expertise to potential employers.

Improvement in Agile Development 
Methodologies

During the year we standardised our software development 
practices to align with SCRUM/KANBAN methodologies. 
These reforms improved visibility into progress of our software 
projects. Also, the changes have resulted in a dramatic increase 
in the frequency and quality of software releases to our website 
and our mobile apps.

11 

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

Customer Experience

Other Acquisitions

In March 2014, the Company acquired Poland’s largest 
freelance marketplace dedicated to online work, Zlecenia.
przez.net (“Work through the Net”). Founded in 2004, Zlecenia.
przez.net was Poland’s leading marketplace dedicated to a 
range of online categories of work. The Company successfully 
integrated the marketplace’s 85,000 users and 115,000 
projects into the Freelancer.com marketplace, now operating 
via a customised regional website, www.freelancer.pl, which 
supports the Polish Zloty currency. 

In April 2014, the Company acquired Fantero (www.fantero.
com), a leading virtual content marketplace within the design 
and freelance communities. Populated with a collection of 
almost 1 million unique items of digital content from over 
100,000 users, the marketplace specializes in stock photos, 
web templates, audio, music, flash and video files as well as 3D 
models, plugins and scripts. This diverse range of content is 
expected to be a valuable resource for Freelancer’s user base.

In November 2014, the Company acquired SydStart  
(www.sydstart.com), Australia’s largest technology startup 
conference, expo and professional community including 
around 5,000 technology startup professionals, investors 
and ecosystem participants. Freelancer has been a significant 
sponsor of SydStart since 2011 and will continue to host the 
community to further develop Australia’s technology market.

Our Customer Experience team respond to questions or 
queries from freelancers or employers for assistance. It’s 
important for repeat business to maintain a strong Customer 
Experience team but also to reduce the volume of support 
tickets and chat sessions from product improvements that 
make the user experience better.

In FY14 the Customer Experience team only required 
headcount growth of 15% representing half the growth rate of 
projects (31%). During this time, we also maintained the time 
targets in which we respond to customers. In addition, we 
improved our Net Promoter Score by 8% through a focus on 
training and quality control of interactions. We will continue 
to improve our user experience through 2015 to improve 
our customer experience and satisfaction while driving down 
marginal support costs.

Launch of the Recruiter Program

The Recruiter Program, launched this year, offers an optional 
upgrade that allows employers to use the services of a recruiter 
to find the most suitable freelancers for their projects. Our 
recruiting agents now cover all time zones and speak in 15 
different languages. 

Warrior Forum

In April 2014, Freelancer.com acquired the world’s largest 
Internet marketing community and marketplace, Warrior 
Forum. Within three months, we released Warrior Payments, 
an all-in-one payment, affiliate and distribution platform for 
digital products and services. Since launch, we’ve introduced 
in demand features including sales funnels, joint ventures and 
integrated with the world’s top email marketing platforms. 
Warrior Payments has quickly become the preferred platform 
for selling on Warrior Forum, attracting top tier product 
creators who have used the platform to sell, distribute and 
recruit affiliates for their digital products and services. 

In May 2014 we introduced Warrior Ask Me Anything (WAMA) 
events via Warrior TV, which are live Q&A sessions with some 
of the finest Internet marketers and entrepreneurs in the 
world. We’ve featured some of the biggest names in Internet 
Marketing including Matt Bacak, Noah Kagan and Rand Fishkin, 
who have enriched the community with their exceptional 
online business and marketing expertise.

As of February 2015, Warrior Forum community consists of 
over 900,000 passionate online marketers, including Vice 
Presidents, Chief Marketing and Chief Growth Officers from 
some of the top Internet companies in the world.

Launch of Freemarket.com

In September 2014, the launch of Freemarket.com split an 
active domain & website marketplace in Warrior Forum out to 
a dedicated site. Freelancer.com already builds a substantial 
portion of the Internet, with almost 4 million website projects 
to date having been posted on the site. Our long term mission 
is to allow this substantial portion of the Internet to be 
bought and sold via Freemarket.com. It is early days, however 
Freemarket.com already has over 8,500 websites and domains 
listed. Key features released to date include bulk listings 
(to help large website and domain name holders list their 
inventory), new search filters and payment verification.

12 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTS Y D N E Y                                   M A N I L A                                   L O N D O N                                   V A N C O U V E R 

13 

We’re defining 
the future of 
online work

  T H E   F R E E L A N C E R   E X P E R I E N C E

Freelancer.com is at the vanguard of  

revolutionising the way the world works. 

We empower small business, startups and  

entrepreneurs to turn their spark of an idea  

into reality with a global always-on  

digital workforce. 

We provide a world of opportunity for millions  

of freelancers from all over the world  

by giving them access to a global client base. 

14 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 
W I N N E R   O F   

4   W E B B Y   AWA R D S

W I N N E R   O F   

1 0   S T E V I E   AWA R D S

4.8 million

7.1 million+

64 million 

C O N T E S T   E N T R I E S

P R O J E C T S   &   C O N T E S T S   P O S T E D

B I D S   O N   P R O J E C T S

15 

16 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT17 

Stay in touch with your contacts, 
manage projects and more.  
It’s Freelancer... anywhere you go.

250%

M A U   G R O W T H

I N   2 H - 1 4

18 

3 million 

4

M E S S A G E S   V I A   M O B I L E

O U T   O F   5   S T A R   R A T I N G   I N 

T H E   A P P   S T O R E S

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT  
900,000+ of the world’s top  
Internet marketers to help  
grow your online business.

900k+ 

U S E R S

8.3 million

50k+

P O S T S

M A R K E T P L A C E   O F F E R S

19 

Over 82,000 contests posted in 2014. 
An amazing 100% year on year growth!

154k+ 

4.8 million

$10.5 million

C O N T E S T S   L A U N C H E D

C O N T E S T   E N T R I E S

D I S T R I B U T E D   T O   F R E E L A N C E R S

20 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTHelping millions of entrepreneurs  
like you to buy and sell websites.

4.2 million

W E B S I T E   P R O J E C T S

P O S T E D   O N   F R E E L A N C E R

8.7k+

$1 million

C U R R E N T   L I S T I N G S

H I G H E S T   C U R R E N T   L I S T I N G

21 

Freelancer.com is a great place for Internet 

professionals. I am able to do work anywhere, anytime. 

Thanks to the Freelancer.com team!

Moshiur R.
Internet Marketering       
Dhaka, Bangladesh         

5.0 / 5.0 rating, 72 reviews

22 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTAfter two years I’ve been doing really well on 

Freelancer.com. The earnings are very good and now 

I have a lot of respect among my friends and family 

members. Thanks Freelancer for everything!

Shahzaib S.
Graphic Designer   
Karachi, Pakistan               

4.9 / 5.0 rating, 67 reviews

23 

OUR  ONLINE  ECONOMY 

24 

24 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT

The above diagram illustrates the Freelancer online economy. The pink lines indicate 
where projects are being posted by employers, and the blue lines indicate where the 
projects are being performed by freelancers. Thicker lines indicate a higher dollar 
volume of work. White dots indicate the location of Freelancer’s users. Edges are 
sampled data from awarded projects in 2014.

25 

25 

ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2014

The diagram below illustrates the Freelancer online economy. The pink lines indicate 
where projects are being posted by employers, and the blue lines indicate where the 
projects are being performed by freelancers. Thicker lines indicate a higher dollar volume 
of work. White dots indicate the location of Freelancer’s users. Edges are sampled data 
from awarded projects in the periods indicated.

2013

26 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT

ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2014

2014

27 

DIRECTORS’ 
REPORT

Your Directors submit the 
financial report of Freelancer 
Limited (the Company) for 
the year ended 31 December 
2014. In order to comply 
with the provisions of the 
Corporations Act 2001, the 
Directors report as follows.

The names and particulars 
of the directors of the 
Company during or since 
the end of the financial year 
(Directors) are:

28 

Matt Barrie

Executive Chairman (appointed 10 April 2010)

BE (Hons I) BSc (Hons I)  
GDipAppFin MAppFin MSEE (Stanford)  
GAICD SEP FIEAust

Founder and Executive Chairman of the Company

•  Serial entrepreneur with extensive experience and 
knowledge in the technology sector. Previously co-
founded and was CEO of Sensory Networks Inc., a vendor 
of high performance network security processors, which 
was acquired by Intel Corporation Inc. in 2013.
•  Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of 

Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of 
Sydney. Co-author of over 20 US patent applications.
•  Qualifications include first class honours degrees in 

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the 
University of Sydney, Masters in Applied Finance from 
Macquarie University, Masters in Electrical Engineering 
from Stanford, California, Graduate of the Stanford 
Executive Program at the Graduate School of Business, 
Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia and 
Councillor of the Electrical and Information Engineering 
Foundation at the University of Sydney.

•  Relevant interest in 206,408,704 fully paid ordinary 

shares, including a relevant interest in 5,873,817 fully paid 
ordinary shares by virtue of having a voting power of over 
20% in the Company, which has a relevant interest as a 
result of trading restrictions over shares issued under the 
Employee Share Plan. 

•  Beneficial interest in 200,534,887 fully paid ordinary 

shares (representing 46.0% of issued capital). Member of 
the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the 
Audit Committee.

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTDirectors’ Report
Directors’ Report

Darren Williams

Simon Clausen

Executive Director (appointed 10 April 2010)

Non-Executive Director (appointed 10 April 2010)

BSc (Hons I) PhD (Computer Science) 

Chief Technology Officer and Executive Director of the 
Company

Founding investor and Non-Executive Director of the 
Company

•  Extensive experience in computer security, protocols, 

networking and software. Previously co-founded and was 
CTO (and subsequently CEO) of Sensory Networks Inc., a 
vendor of high performance network security processors, 
which was acquired by Intel Corporation Inc. in 2013.
•  Previously lectured Computer Science at the University of 
Sydney. Author of numerous articles, patents and papers 
relating to security technology, software and networking. 

•  Qualifications include first class honours degree in 

Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Computer Science 
specialising in computer networking from the University 
of Sydney. 

•  Beneficial and relevant interest in 12,627,165 fully paid 
ordinary shares (representing 2.9% of issued capital).  

•  Member of the Nomination and Remuneration 

Committee and the Audit Committee. 

•  Extensive experience in operating and investing in high 
growth technology businesses in both Australia and 
the United States. Previously founded and was CEO 
of WinGuides, which later became PC Tools and was 
acquired by Symantec Corporation in October 2008.

•  Currently the sole director of Startive Ventures, a 
specialised technology venture fund that actively 
maintains investments in a number of companies globally. 
Other directorships include LatAm Autos Limited since 
2014.

•  Relevant interest in 177,696,230 fully paid ordinary 

shares, including a relevant interest in 6,273,817 fully paid 
ordinary shares by virtue of having a voting power of over 
20% in the Company, which has a relevant interest as a 
result of trading restrictions over shares issued under the 
Employee Share Plan. 

•  Beneficial interest in 171,422,413 fully paid ordinary shares 

(representing 39.3% of issued capital).

•  Member of the Nomination and Remuneration 

Committee and the Audit Committee. 

29 

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Company Secretary

Environmental regulations

Mr Neil Katz held the position of Company Secretary during 
and at the end of the financial year (appointed 9 March 2012). 
He has been with the Group since 2009 and is also the Chief 
Financial Officer. 

The operations of the Group do not involve any activities 
that have a marked influence on the environment. As such, 
the Directors are not aware of any material issues affecting 
the Group or its compliance with the relevant environment 
agencies or regulatory authorities.

Principal activities

The principal activity of the consolidated entity (the Group) 
during the financial year was the provision of an online 
outsourcing marketplace. There were no significant changes in 
the nature of the principal activities during the financial year.

Refer also to the Chairman’s letter and commentary in the 
Review of Operations on pages 9 to 12 which forms part of 
the Directors’ Report for the financial year ended 31 December 
2014.

Review of operations

The Group’s loss attributable to equity holders of the Company, 
after providing for income tax, amounted to $1,847,000 (2013 
profit: $753,000).

Refer also to the commentary in the Review of Operations on 
pages 9 to 12 which forms part of the Directors’ Report for the 
financial year ended 31 December 2014.

Dividends paid or recommended

There have been no dividends paid or provided for the financial 
year ended 31 December 2014 (2013: nil).

The Company has established a Dividend Reinvestment Plan 
(DRP). The full terms and conditions of the DRP are available 
on the Company’s website, www.freelancer.com.

Significant changes in state of affairs

Indemnification of officers and auditors

During the financial year, the Group paid premiums based 
on normal commercial terms and conditions to insure all 
directors, officers and employees of the Group against the 
costs and expenses in defending claims brought against 
the individual while performing services for the Group. The 
premium paid has not been disclosed as it is subject to 
the confidentiality provisions of the insurance policy. The 
Company has not otherwise, during or since the financial year, 
except to the extent permitted by law, indemnified or agreed 
to indemnify an officer or auditor of the Company or of any 
related body corporate against a liability incurred as such an 
officer or auditor.

The Company has previously entered into a Deed of Indemnity, 
Insurance and Access with each of its current Directors: R.M. 
Barrie, S.A. Clausen and D.N.J. Williams. The purpose of the 
Deed is to:

•  confirm and supplement, to the extent permitted by 

section 199A of the Corporations Act 2001, the indemnity 
provided by the Company in favour of Directors under 
the Company’s Constitution;

• 

include an obligation, to the extent permitted by section 
199B of the Corporations Act 2001, upon the Company 
to maintain adequate directors and officers liability 
insurance; and

•  confirm and supplement the right of access to certain 

documents under the Corporations Act.

There have been no significant changes in the state of affairs 
for the current financial year.

Rounding off of amounts

Subsequent events

As at the date of this report, the Directors are not aware of 
any circumstance that has arisen since 31 December 2014 
that has significantly affected, or may significantly affect the 
Group’s operations in future financial years, the results of those 
operations in future financial years, or the Group’s state of 
affairs in future financial years.

Future developments

In future financial years, the Group expects to further its 
growth through expansions to other territories organically and 
by acquisition, and forming strategic alliances and partnerships.

The Company is an entity to which ASIC Class Order 98/100 
applies. Accordingly amounts in the financial report have been 
rounded off to the nearest thousand dollars, unless otherwise 
stated. 

Meetings of Directors

During the financial year five meetings of Directors were held. 
Other matters arising during the year were resolved by circular 
resolutions.

The following persons acted as Directors of the Company 
during the financial year, with attendances to meetings of 
Directors as follows:

Director meetings

Audit Committee meetings

Nomination and Remuneration 
meetings

Eligible to 
attend

Attended

Eligible to 
attend

Attended

Eligible to 
attend

Attended

R.M. Barrie

S.A. Clausen

D.N.J. Williams

5

5

5

5

5

5

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

30 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTNon-audit services

•  N.L. Katz – Chief Financial Officer and Company 

Secretary

Details of amounts paid or payable to the auditor for non-audit 
services provided during the year by the auditor and its related 
parties amounted to $38,000.

Remuneration policy

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors are satisfied that the provision of non-audit 
services in the form of tax compliance services during 
the year by the auditor (or another person or firm on the 
auditors’ behalf) is compatible with the general standard of 
independence for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act.

The Directors are of the opinion that the services as disclosed 
in Note 19 to the financial statements do not compromise the 
external auditor’s independence, based on advice received 
from the Audit Committee, for the following reasons:

•  all non-audit services have been reviewed and approved 
to ensure that they do not impact the integrity and 
objectivity of the auditor; and

•  none of the services undermine the general principles 
relating to auditor independence as set out in Code 
of Conduct APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional 
Accountants issued by the Accounting Professional & 
Ethical Standards Board, including reviewing or auditing 
the auditors own work, acting in a management or 
decision making capacity for the Company, acting as 
advocate for the Company or jointly sharing economic 
risks and rewards.

Officers of the Company who are former 
audit partners of the auditor

There are no officers of the Company who are former audit 
partners of Hall Chadwick.

Auditor’s independence declaration

The auditor’s independence declaration is included on page 36 
and forms part of the Directors’ Report for the year ended 31 
December 2014.

Shares issued under Employee Share Plan 
(ESP)

No ESP shares have been granted to Directors during the 
financial year. No ESP shares have been granted to Directors 
since the end of the financial year.

Proceedings on behalf of Company

No person has applied for leave of Court to bring proceedings 
on behalf of the Group or intervene in any proceedings 
to which the Group is a party for the purpose of taking 
responsibility on behalf of the Group for all or any part of 
those proceedings. The Group was not a party to any such 
proceedings during the year.

Remuneration Report - audited

This audited Remuneration Report for the Group and which 
forms part of the Directors’ Report for the financial year 
ended 31 December 2014, details the nature and amount of 
remuneration for each Director and the Executives.

Key management personnel comprise:
•  R.M. Barrie – Executive Chairman
•  S.A. Clausen – Non-Executive Director
•  D.N.J. Williams – Executive Director

The performance of the Group depends upon the quality of 
its directors and executives. The Group recognises the need 
to attract, motivate and retain highly skilled directors and 
executives.

The Board of Directors, through its Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee, accepts responsibility for 
determining and reviewing remuneration arrangements for the 
Directors and Executives. The Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee assesses the appropriateness of the nature and 
amount of remuneration of Directors and Executives on a 
periodic basis by reference to relevant employment market 
conditions, giving due consideration to the overall profitability 
and financial resources of the Group, with the objective of 
ensuring maximum stakeholder benefit from the retention of a 
high quality Board and executive team.

Non-Executive Director remuneration

Fees and payments to Non-Executive Directors reflect the 
demands which are made of the Directors in fulfilling their 
responsibilities. Non-Executive Director fees are reviewed 
annually by the Board. The Constitution of the Company 
provides that the Non-Executive Directors of the Company are 
entitled to such remuneration, as determined by the Board, 
which must not exceed in aggregate the maximum amount 
determined by the Company in general meeting. The most 
recent determination was at a General Meeting held on 9 
October 2013 where the shareholders approved an aggregate 
remuneration of $300,000. Annual Non-Executive Directors’ 
fees currently agreed to be paid by the Company are $25,000 
to S.A. Clausen inclusive of superannuation.

Executive and Executive Director remuneration

Fixed remuneration consists of base remuneration (which is 
calculated on a total cost basis and includes any fringe benefits 
tax charges related to employee benefits including motor 
vehicles), as well as employer contributions to superannuation 
funds.

Executive and Executive Director remuneration levels are 
reviewed annually by the Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee through a process that considers the overall 
performance of the Group. The Executive Directors are not 
paid any director fees in addition to their fixed remuneration as 
Executives.

Performance based remuneration

Performance based remuneration is at the discretion of the 
Nomination and Remuneration Committee. These can take 
the form of cash bonuses or invitations to participate in the 
Company’s Employee Share Plan (ESP).

31 

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Remuneration of Directors and Executives

Remuneration shown below relates to the period in which the Director or Executive was a member of key management personnel. 
Amounts below have either been paid out or accrued in the period. 

Short-term benefits

Post 
employment 
benefits

Share 
based 
payments

Directors’ 
fees 
$

Consulting 
fees 
$

Cash 
salary and 
fees 
$

Bonus
$

Other
$

Super-
annuation 
$

Shares
$

Total

$

Non-Executive Directors:

S.A. Clausen

2014

2013

22,619

3,125

Executive Directors:

R.M. Barrie

2014

2013

D.N.J. Williams

2014

2013

 -   

 -   

 -   

-

-

-

 -   

 -   

-

111,666

-

-

368,593

 275,072 

274,600

45,767

Other Key Management Personnel:

N.L. Katz

2014

2013

-

-

-

151,000

262,225

109,260

-

-

-

 -   

-

-  

-

-

-

-

2,410  

 -   

-

-

25,029

3,125

32,376

17,583

11,136

 -   

26,859

26,493

25,744

4,233

16,038

3,341

20,047

4,177

443,866

322,490

331,527

165,843

11,136

-

18,095

7,406

19,459

1,800

310,915

269,467

D.N.J. Williams and N.L. Katz were subject to consulting agreements until October 2013 and July 2013 respectively, after which they 
each entered into employment agreements. 

The remuneration of key management personnel in the years ended 31 December 2013 and 2014 were 100% fixed, and there is no 
link between remuneration and the market price of the Company’s shares. 

ESP shares

Details of ESP shares in the Company held directly, indirectly or beneficially, by key management personnel (KMP), including their 
related parties, is as follows:

Balance 
at the start 
of the year

Granted / 
issued

Released 
from 
restrictions

Forfeited / 
cancelled

Balance at 
the end of 
the year

Balance of 
unvested ESP 
shares

Balance of 
vested ESP 
shares

400,000

500,000

-

-

359,461

1,259,461

200,000

200,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

400,000

500,000

283,334

354,167

(100,000)

(100,000)

459,461

1,359,461

362,107

999,608

-

-

-

-

400,000

500,000

359,461

1,259,461

-

-

-

-

400,000

500,000

359,461

1,259,461

-

-

-

-

116,666

145,833

97,354

359,853

-

-

-

-

2014

Directors:

R.M. Barrie

D.N.J. Williams

Other KMP:

N.L. Katz

Total

2013

Directors:

R.M. Barrie

D.N.J. Williams

Other KMP:

N.L. Katz

Total

32 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORT

Ordinary shares

Details of ordinary shares in the Company held directly, indirectly or beneficially, by key management personnel (KMP), including 
their related parties, is as follows:

Balance 
at the start 
of the year

Received 
as part of 
remuneration

Purchase of 
shares

Sale of 
shares

Conversion 
of Series A 
preference 
shares

Share split

Balance at
the end 
of the year

2014

Directors:

R.M. Barrie1

S.A. Clausen

D.N.J. Williams2

Other KMP:

N.L. Katz3

Total

2013

Directors:

R.M. Barrie1

S.A. Clausen

D.N.J. Williams

Other KMP:

N.L. Katz

Total

201,330,078

169,939,739

12,233,660

440,000

383,943,477

7,630,001

-

460,000

-

8,090,001

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

84,309

1,482,674

21,505

-

1,588,488

534,000

2,000,000

128,000

440,000

3,102,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

201,414,387

171,422,413

12,255,165

440.000

385,531,965

193,166,077

201,330,078

6,381,501

161,558,238

169,939,739

-

-

11,645,660

12,233,660

-

440,000

6,381,501

366,369,975

383,943,477

Series A preference share capital

Details of Series A preference shares in the Company held directly, indirectly or beneficially, by key management personnel (KMP), 
including their related parties, is as follows:

Balance 
at the start 
of the year

Received as part of 
remuneration

Purchase of 
preference shares

Sale of 
preference 
shares

Conversion to 
ordinary shares

Balance at
the end 
of the year

2014

Directors:

S.A. Clausen

Total

2013

Directors:

S.A. Clausen

Total

-

-

6,381,501

6,381,501

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(6,381,501)

(6,381,501)

Notes
1.    1,279,500 shares as at 31 December 2014 (2013: 1,279,500) are held directly or indirectly by related parties.
2.    128,000 shares as at 31 December 2014 (2013: 128,000) are held directly or indirectly by related parties.
3.    290,000 shares as at 31 December 2014 (2013: 290,000) are held directly or indirectly by related parties.

-

-

-

-

33 

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Loans to directors and key management personnel

The following loan balances are outstanding at the reporting date in relation to remuneration arrangements with Executive Directors 
and key management personnel in respect of shares issued under the Employee Share Plan (ESP). 

As the ESP is considered in substance a share option, the ESP shares issued and corresponding loan receivable are not recognised 
by the Group in its financial statements. The loan receivable does not satisfy the “probable future benefits following to the entity” 
criteria of SAC 2 Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements on the basis that the loan is non-recourse. 
The ESP shares will not be considered issued to participants until the corresponding loan has been repaid, at which time there will 
be an increase in the issued capital and increase in cash. Further information relating to the ESP is set out in the Note 22 to the 
financial statements.

Directors:

R.M. Barrie

S.A. Clausen

D.N.J. Williams

Other KMP:

N.L. Katz

Total loans to Directors and KMP

Executive service agreements

Consolidated

2014 
$000

200

-

250

180

630

 2013 
$000

200

-

250

180

630

The employment terms and conditions  of Group Executives and KMP are formalised in service agreements.

Chief Executive 
Officer

Chief Technology 
Officer

Other Executives

• 
• 
• 

• 

• 

• 
• 
• 

• 

• 

Term: unspecified.

Base remuneration: Reviewed annually by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

Bonus entitlements: Determined annually by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
(capped at 50% of the base remuneration).

Termination notice period: 6 months notice or alternatively in Freelancer’s case, payment in lieu of 
notice.

Restraint of trade period: 12 months.

Term: unspecified.

Base remuneration: Reviewed annually by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

Bonus entitlements: Determined annually by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
(capped at 50% of the base remuneration).

Termination notice period: 3 months notice or alternatively in Freelancer’s case, payment in lieu of 
notice.

Restraint of trade period: 12 months.

total compensation;

Other Executives are employed under individual executive services agreements. These establish, 
amongst other things:
• 
• 
• 

variable notice and termination provisions of up to 3 months, or by the Group without notice in the 
event of serious misconduct; and

eligibility to participate in the ESP; 

• 

restraint and confidentiality provisions.

Other transactions with KMP or their related parties

There were no other transactions conducted between the Group and KMP or their related parties, other than those disclosed above 
relating to equity, compensation and loans, that were conducted other than in accordance with normal employee, customer or 
supplier relationships on terms no more favourable than those reasonably expected under arm’s length dealings with unrelated 
persons, apart from related party transactions disclosed in Note 23 to the financial statements.

34 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT  
DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Additional information

The following table shows the net revenue, profits and dividends for the last six years of the Company, as well as the share prices at 
the end of the respective financial years.

Revenue ($000s)

Net profit / (loss) ($000s)

Share price at year end ($)

Dividends paid (cents per share)

This concludes the Remuneration Report.

2009

1,983

(529)

n/a

Nil

2010

4,702

555

n/a

Nil

2011

6,460

(476)

n/a

Nil

2012

10,627

728

n/a

Nil

2013

18,761

753

$1.38

Nil

2014

26,087

(1,847)

$0.65

Nil

The Directors’ Report, incorporating the Remuneration Report, is signed in accordance with a resolution of the directors made 
pursuant to s298(2) of the Corporations Act 2001.

On behalf of the Directors

Matt Barrie

Chairman

16 February 2015

35 

AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION

AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION

FREELANCER LIMITED
ABN 66 141 959 042
AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES

AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION
UNDER SECTION 307C OF THE CORPORATIONS ACT 2001 
TO THE DIRECTORS OF FREELANCER LIMITED

I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the year ended 31 December 
2014 there have been:

a.  no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the 

Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit, and

b.  no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

Hall Chadwick
Level 40, 2 Park Street
Sydney NSW 2000

GRAHAM WEBB
Partner
Dated: 16 February 2015

36 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTLiability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. SYDNEY   Level 40   2 Park Street   Sydney NSW 2000 AustraliaGPO Box 3555  Sydney NSW 2001 Ph: (612) 9263 2600 Fx:  (612) 9263 2800 A member of Hall Chadwick Association, an association of separate and independent accounting and consulting firms .www.hallchadwick.com.auChartered Accountants and Business AdvisersCORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

Freelancer Limited (the Company) is committed to 
implementing the highest possible standards of corporate 
governance and ensures, wherever possible, that its practices 
are consistent with the Second Edition of the Australian 
Securities Exchange (ASX) Corporate Governance Council’s 
Principles and Recommendations.

Each of the eight principles is listed in turn. In certain 
circumstances, due to the size and stage of development of 
the Company and its operations, it may not be practicable or 
necessary to implement the ASX Principles in their entirety. As 
such, the Company has identified the areas of divergence. The 
Policies and Charters referred to in this Corporate Governance 
Statement are available on the Company’s website,  
www.freelancer.com.

Principle 1 – Lay solid foundations for 
management and oversight 

The Board’s responsibilities are encompassed in a Charter 
which is available on the Company’s website,  
www.freelancer.com. The Board is responsible for, and 
has the authority to determine, all matters relating to the 
strategic direction, policies, practices, establishing goals for 
management and the operation of the Company. Without 
intending to limit this general role of the Board, the specific 
functions and responsibilities of the Board include:

1.  oversight of the Company, including its control and 

accountability systems;

2.  appointing and removing the Managing Director;

3.  appointing and removing the Company Secretary;

4.  Board and executive management development and 

succession planning; 

5. 

input into and final approval of corporate strategy;

6. 

input into and final approval of the annual operating 
budget (including the capital management budget);

7.  approving and monitoring the progress of major capital 
expenditure, capital management and acquisitions/
divestitures;

and objectives and monitoring executive management 
performance. 

Other matters are within the responsibility of management. 
The management function is conducted by, or under the 
supervision of, the Chief Executive Officer as directed by the 
Board (and by officers to whom the management function 
is properly delegated by the Chief Executive Officer). 
Management must supply the Board with information in a 
form, timeframe and quality that will enable the Board to 
discharge its duties effectively. Directors are entitled to request 
additional information at any time they consider it appropriate.

To assist in carrying out its responsibilities, the Board has 
established the following committees of its members. They 
are:

•  Audit Committee; and
•  Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

The Chief Executive Officer and Senior Executive management 
have service contracts and position descriptions, setting out 
their duties, responsibilities, and conditions of service and 
termination entitlements. Any new Directors appointed will 
receive formal letters of appointment setting out the key terms, 
conditions and expectations of their appointment. 

The Chief Executive Officer and Senior Executive management 
are subject to a formal performance review process on an 
annual basis. The Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
reviews the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and 
Senior Executive management against clear performance 
objectives. A performance review was undertaken in 2014.

Principle 2 – Structure the Board to add 
value

The Board determines the Board’s size and composition, 
subject to limits imposed by the Company’s Constitution. The 
Constitution provides for a minimum of three Directors and 
a maximum of ten. At this time the Board comprises of three 
Directors, two of whom are executive directors and one non-
executive and all are not independent directors, including the 
Chairman. 

8.  monitoring compliance with all relevant legal, tax and 

regulatory obligations;

A Director is deemed to be independent if he or she is a Non-
Executive Director and: 

9.  reviewing and monitoring systems of risk management 

and internal compliance and controls,

10.  codes of conduct, continuous disclosure, legal 

compliance and other significant corporate policies;

11.  at least annually, reviewing the effectiveness of the 
Company’s implementation of its risk management 
system and internal control framework;

12.  monitoring executive management’s performance 

and implementation of strategy and policies, including 
assessing whether appropriate resources are available;

13.  approving and monitoring financial and other reporting 
to the market, shareholders, employees and other 
stakeholders; and

14.  appointment, reappointment or replacement of the 

external auditor.

Key responsibilities of the Board include the overseeing of the 
strategic direction of the Company, determining its policies 

1. 

is not a substantial shareholder of the Company or 
an officer of, or otherwise associated directly with, a 
substantial shareholder of the Company;

2.  has not been employed in an executive capacity in 

the Company in the last three years, or has not been a 
director after ceasing to hold such employment;

3.  within the last three years has not been a partner or a 

senior management executive with audit responsibilities 
of a firm which has acted in the capacity of statutory 
auditor of the Company;

4.  has not acted as a material consultant, or an employee 

materially associated with the service provided, to the 
Company in the last three years;

5. 

is not a material supplier or customer of the Company, or 
an officer of or otherwise associated directly or indirectly 
with a material supplier or customer;  

37 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

6.  has no material contractual relationship with the 

Company other than as a Director; and

7. 

is free from any interest or business or other relationship 
which could materially interfere with his or her ability 
to act in the best interests of the Company and 
independently of management.

The test of independence for Directors is set out in detail 
under section 8 of the Board Charter, which is available on 
the Company’s website, www.freelancer.com. Materiality 
thresholds referred to above are assessed on a case-by-case 
basis.

The Board does not consist of a majority of independent 
Directors and the Chairman is not an Independent Director. 
The Board acknowledges the ASX Recommendation that a 
majority of the Board should be Independent Directors and 
that the Chairman should be an Independent Director. The 
Board believes that the Directors are able, and do make, 
quality and independent judgement in the best interests of the 
Company on all relevant issues before the Board. The Board 
considers that the Company is not currently of a size, nor 
are its affairs of such complexity, to justify the expense of the 
appointment of a majority of independent Directors. The Board 
also believes that each of the Directors brings objective and 
independent judgement to the Board’s deliberations and that 
each of the Directors makes invaluable contributions to the 
Company through their deep understanding of the Company’s 
business.

The Board aims to attract and maintain a Board which has an 
appropriate mix of skills, experience, expertise and diversity. 
For the names and particulars of the Directors of the Company 
during or since the end of the financial year, refer to the 
Directors’ Report.

In order to facilitate independent judgement in decision 
making, each Director may seek independent professional 
advice at the Company’s expense. If advice is sought by the 
Chairman, he must obtain Board approval if the fees for such 
advice exceed $50,000 (exclusive of GST), such approval is 
not to be unreasonably withheld. Where advice is sought by 
the other Directors, prior written approval by the Chairman is 
required but approval will not be unreasonably withheld. If the 
Chairman refuses to give approval, the matter must be referred 
to the Board. All Directors are made aware of the professional 
advice sought and obtained.

Matt Barrie exercises both the role of Chairman and Chief 
Executive Officer of the Company. The Board acknowledges 
the ASX Recommendation that these roles should not be 
exercised by the same individual. The Board believes that Matt 
Barrie is the most appropriate person to lead the Board as 
Executive Chairman and that he is able and does bring quality 
and independent judgement to all relevant issues falling within 
the scope of the role of Chairman and that the Company 
as a whole benefits from his long standing experience of its 
operations and business relationships.

The Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the 
Board comprises of two Executive Directors and one Non-
Executive Director, Messrs. R.M. Barrie, D.N.J. Williams and S.A. 
Clausen. None of the committee members are independent. 
Mr Williams, who is an Executive Director, is the Committee 
Chairman. The Committee Charter which is available on the 
Company’s website www.freelancer.com, details the process 
and timing for re-election of directors. The Board’s policy for 
nomination and appointment of Directors also forms part of 
the Charter.

The Company Constitution states that at each Annual General 
Meeting (AGM) one-third of the Directors for the time being, 
or if their number is not three or a multiple of three, then the 
nearest number greater than one-third, shall retire from office. 

38 

A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-election. No Director 
(other than a Managing Director) may hold office without 
re-election past the third annual general meeting following 
their appointment or three years, whichever is longer or, in the 
case of a Director appointed by the Directors as an additional 
Director or to fill a casual vacancy, past the next annual general 
meeting of the Company. Any Director appointed by the Board 
since the last AGM must stand for election at the next AGM.

The Nomination and Remuneration Committee is responsible 
for:

1.  assisting the Board with establishing a board of 

effective composition, size, diversity and commitment 
to adequately discharge its responsibilities and duties, 
and assist the Board with discharging its responsibilities 
to shareholders and other stakeholders to seek to 
ensure that the Company has policies to evaluate the 
performance of the Board, individual Directors and 
executives on (at least) an annual basis;

2.  ensuring that the Company’s remuneration policies, 
practices and structures are coherent, equitable and 
aligned with the long-term interests of the Company 
and its shareholders, having regard to relevant policies 
in attracting and retaining skilled executives that are 
challenging and will create value for shareholders;

3. 

the review and monitoring of the Group’s remuneration 
and incentive framework applying to Non-Executive 
Directors, Executive Directors and Senior Executives and 
the associated strategies, systems, policies and processes 
implemented, and reported on, by management;

4.  ensuring that the Group fairly and responsibly 

remunerates Directors and executives, having regard 
to the performance of the Company, the performance 
of the executives and the general remuneration 
environment;

5.  ensuring that the Group has policies and procedures 

to attract, motivate and retain appropriately skilled and 
diverse persons to meet the Group’s needs;

6.  approving the remuneration and incentive awards of 

Senior Executives based on the recommendations of the 
Managing Director; and

7.  approval of pools of annual grants of equity and any other 
individual equity offers to Senior Executives and other 
Executives.

8.  The Committee’s functions are to review and make 

recommendations to the Board on:

9. 

the review and monitoring and recommendation of 
changes to the remuneration and incentive framework 
(including the equity plan framework and any diversity 
considerations) for Non-Executive Directors, Executive 
Directors and Senior Executives;

10.  the remuneration of Non-Executive Directors;

11.  the fixed remuneration levels and incentive awards for the 
Managing Director and any other Executive Directors; and

12.  performance based measures (financial and non-

financial), targets and performance outcomes under 
incentive plans for the Executive Directors and Senior 
Executives.

The Board reviews its performance and composition on 
an annual basis to ensure that it has the appropriate mix 
of expertise and experience. The Board also reviews the 
performance and composition of its committees on an annual 
basis. 

The Nomination and Remuneration Committee meets as 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTfrequently as required and at least twice a year. The quorum 
for such meetings is two members. Details of the Committee 
members’ attendance at Committee meetings are set out in 
the Directors’ Report. 

Subject to normal privacy requirements, each Director has the 
right of access to all of the Company’s records, information 
and Senior Executives. They receive regular detailed reports on 
financial and operational aspects of the Company’s business 
and may request elaboration or explanation of these reports 
at any time. Directors and Executives are encouraged to 
broaden their knowledge of the Company’s business and to 
keep abreast of developments in business more generally by 
attendance at relevant courses, seminars, conferences, etc. 
The Company meets expenses involved in such activities.

Principle 3 – Promote ethical and 
responsible decision-making

The Board recognises the need to observe high standards of 
corporate practice and business conduct. Accordingly, the 
Board of Directors has adopted a formal Code of Conduct 
to be followed by all personnel and officers. The Code of 
Conduct also sets out the Company’s policies on various 
matters including ethical conduct, business conduct, 
compliance, privacy, security of information, bribery and 
corruption, and conflicts of interest.

The Code of Conduct is to be followed by all Directors, 
officers, employees, consultants of the Company and any 
entity related to or owned by the Company, and any other 
person when they represent the Company or any entity related 
to or owned by the Company. A copy of the Code is made 
available to Directors, officers, employees, consultants and 
relevant personnel and is available on our website,  
www.freelancer.com.

The Board has also implemented a range of procedures 
designed to oversee that the Company complies with the law 
and achieves high ethical standards in identifying and resolving 
or managing conflicts of interest. 

As a part of active promotion of high standards of corporate 
practice and business conduct, behaviour that does not 
comply with the Code is encouraged to be reported. 
Protection is afforded to those who report violations in good 
faith.

The Company’s Securities Trading Policy generally allows 
all Key Management Personnel and other employees of 
the Company or a related body corporate of the Company, 
consultants and advisers, and any other person designated by 
the Board to deal in the Company’s securities other than:

1.  during a Blackout Period (the period from the close of 
trading on the ASX at the end of each half year and full 
year until the close of trading on the day following the 
announcement to the ASX of the half year or full year 
results, or any other period that the Board specifies from 
time to time); or

2.  while in possession of inside information concerning the 

Company (whether or not it is a Blackout Period) either:
•  buy or sell the Company’s securities at any time;
•  procure another person to deal in the Company’s 

securities in any way; or

•  directly or indirectly, communicate the information, 
or cause the information to be communicated, 
to another person if the person knows, or ought 
reasonably to know, that the other person would, or 
would be likely to:

•  deal in the Company’s securities in any way;

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

•  procure a third person to deal in the 
Company’s securities in any way; or

•  pass that information onto another person.

All Key Management Personnel and other employees are 
prohibited from dealing in the securities of outside companies 
about which they acquire inside information through their 
position with the Company (whether or not it is a Blackout 
Period).

Diversity Policy

In accordance with the ASX Recommendations on diversity, 
the Board established a Diversity Policy in 2013 which includes 
consideration of:

• 

the establishment of measurable objectives for achieving 
diversity; and 

•  a requirement for the Board to assess objectives and the 

progress in achieving them. 

The Company recognises diversity to encompass ethnicity, 
gender, sexual orientation, age, physical abilities, family 
status, religious beliefs or other ideologies, and is committed 
to creating and maintaining an inclusive and collaborative 
workforce. The Company understands that encouraging 
diversity in our organisation is not just a socially responsible 
necessity, but that it is essential to our continued growth and 
vital to a successful future.

Given the size and nature of the current Board, the business 
and the industry in which it operates and therefore competes 
for talent, the Board determined not to establish measurable 
objectives for achieving diversity for the 2014 and 2015 
financial years.

As at 31 December 2014, the proportion of women employed 
by the Group was as follows:
•  Board of Directors: 0%
•  Senior Executive positions: 0% 
•  Total Company workforce: 34%

Workplace Gender Equality

The Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (WGE Act) puts 
a focus on promoting and improving gender equality and 
outcomes for both women and men in the workplace. All 
non-public sector employers with 100 or more employees are 
required to report annually under the WGE Act.

The Group was not required to report under the WGE Act for 
the 2013 calendar year, however will be required for the 2014 
calendar year. A copy of the Company’s 2014 report to the 
Workplace Gender Equality Agency will be made available 
on the Company’s website, www.freelancer.com following 
completion of the report.

Principle 4 – Safeguard integrity in 
financial reporting

The Board has established an Audit Committee comprising 
two Executive Directors and one Non-Executive Director, with 
appropriate experience.

Each Committee Member must be financially literate, have 
familiarity with financial management and an understanding 
of the industry in which the Company operates. At least one 
Committee Member should have financial expertise (that is, 
be a qualified accountant or other financial professional with 
financial and accounting experience).

39 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

Currently, the Committee comprises of Mr R.M. Barrie, Mr 
D.N.J. Williams (Chairman) and Mr S.A. Clausen. The members 
of the Committee are not independent Directors. The 
Chairman of the Committee is not Chairman of the Board.

The Board acknowledges the ASX Recommendations that 
the Audit Committee should consist only of non-executive 
Directors, have a majority of independent Directors and be 
chaired by an independent chair.

Due to the structure of the Board, the Company is not 
currently able to comply with this Recommendation. 
However, the Board believes that the experience and industry 
knowledge of the members of the Audit Committee will ensure 
objective and independent judgement in carrying out their 
responsibilities on this Committee. The Board will review the 
composition of the Audit Committee at an appropriate time in 
the future.

Appropriate management and representatives of the external 
auditor are to attend Committee meetings, at the invitation 
of the Committee Chairman, to provide reports and periodic 
presentations to the Committee.

The external auditors have a direct line of communication at 
any time to either the Chairman of the Audit Committee or the 
Chairman of the Board.

The Audit Committee is responsible for:

1.  overseeing the process of financial reporting, internal 
control, continuous disclosure, financial and non-
financial risk management and compliance and external 
audit;

2.  encouraging effective relationships with, and 

communication between, the Board, Management and 
the Company’s external auditor;

3.  evaluating the adequacy of processes and controls 

established to identify and manage areas of potential 
financial risk and to seek to safeguard the assets of the 
Company;

4.  overseeing that all proper remedial action is undertaken 

to redress areas of weakness;

5.  overseeing the Group’s compliance with prescribed 

policies; 

6.  reporting to the Board on any of the above 

responsibilities and functions;

7. 

recommending to the Board the appointment, 
reappointment or replacement of the external auditor;

8.  approving rotation of partners of the external auditor;

9.  reviewing and approving the audit plans and engagement 

letters of the external auditor, including payment of 
annual fees and variations to approved fees;

10.  reviewing the overall scope of the external audit, 

including identified risk areas and any additional agreed-
upon procedures;

11.  considering the overall effectiveness and independence 

of the external auditor; and

12.  resolving any disagreements between management and 

the external auditor regarding financial reporting.

The Committee has a formal Charter which is available on the 
Company’s website, www.freelancer.com. 

The Committee meets as frequently as required and will meet 
at least twice a year. The quorum for such meetings is two 
members.

Details of the Committee members’ attendance at Committee 

40 

meetings are set out in the Directors’ Report. The minutes 
of each Committee meeting are reviewed at the subsequent 
Board meeting and signed as an accurate record of 
proceedings. At the subsequent Board meeting, the Chairman 
of the Committee reports on the Committee’s conclusions and 
recommendations.

Principle 5 – Make timely and balanced 
disclosure

The Company has established a Continuous Disclosure Policy 
which applies to and is to be followed by all directors, officers, 
employees, consultants of the Company and any entity related 
to or owned by the Company, and any other person when they 
represent the Company or any entity related to or owned by 
the Company.

The Policy outlines the Company’s commitment to complying 
with the continuous disclosure obligations contained in the 
ASX Listing Rules (Listing Rules) and the Corporations Act 2001 
(Cth) (the Act).

The Policy is designed to provide a practical guide to the 
Company and its directors, officers, employees and consultants 
with practical guidance on the continuous disclosure 
obligations and to assess whether any particular information or 
event is required to be disclosed to the ASX.

The Board recognises the need to ensure that the management 
and dissemination of accurate market sensitive information is 
made in accordance with the requirements of the Listing Rules 
and the Act so that all shareholders and market participants 
have an equal opportunity to participate in a fair, orderly and 
transparent market in the securities of the Company.

Type of information that needs to be disclosed

The Company must immediately notify the ASX of any 
information that a reasonable person would expect to have 
a material effect on the price of value of the Company’s 
securities, unless that information is within the exceptions to 
the disclosure requirement as set out in the Listing Rules and 
the Act as set out above. Examples of such information include 
a change in financial forecasts, revenue, significant changes 
in asset values or significant transactions. All information 
disclosed to the ASX is provided to Directors as soon as 
possible after the ASX has confirmed receipt of same.

ASX Communications Officer

The Board has appointed the Company Secretary as the 
principle officer for communicating with the ASX in relation 
to all Listing Rule matters, overseeing the disclosure of 
information to the ASX and coordinating the review process 
for deciding whether any information or event is required to be 
disclosed monitoring the disclosure practices of the Company.

Principle 6 – Respect the rights of 
shareholders

The Board’s aim is to ensure that Shareholders are provided 
with sufficient information to assess the performance 
of the Company and that they are informed of all major 
developments affecting the state of affairs of the Company 
relevant to Shareholders in accordance with all applicable laws. 
Information will be communicated to Shareholders through 
the lodgement of all relevant financial and other information 
with ASX and publishing information on the Company’s 
website, www.freelancer.com.

In particular, the Company’s website will contain information 
about it, including media releases, key policies and the terms of 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTreference of its Board committees. 

oversight and management rests with the Board. 

The Company also communicates with shareholders through 
the: 

Due to the size and scale of operations of the Company, there 
is no separate internal audit function.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

1.  Annual Report which is available to all shareholders;

2. 

invitation to the annual general meeting and all 
accompanying papers;

3.  Company’s website, www.freelancer.com;

4.  reports to the ASX and the press;

5.  half year and full year profit announcements; and

6. 

information and presentations to analysts (which are 
released to the ASX).

The Annual General Meeting also provides an important 
opportunity for shareholders to express their views and 
respond to initiatives being proposed by the Board.

The Company also requests the external auditor attend 
the Annual General Meeting and be available to answer 
shareholder questions about the audit and the preparation and 
content of the audit reports. 

In accordance with Principle 6 of the ASX Principles, the 
Company has established a Communications Policy, 
incorporating matters disclosed above. The Policy is available 
on the Company’s website, www.freelancer.com. 

Principle 7 – Recognise and manage risk
Risk oversight and management policies

The identification and proper management of the Company’s 
risks are an important priority of the Board. The Company has 
adopted a Risk Management Policy appropriate for its business. 
The Policy highlights the risks relevant to the Company’s 
operations and the Company’s commitment to designing and 
implementing systems and methods appropriate to minimise 
and control its risks. The Board is responsible for overseeing and 
approving risk management strategy and policies. 

Management is responsible for identifying major risk areas 
and monitoring risk management to provide assurance that 
major business risks are identified, consistently assessed and 
appropriately addressed and must report on these matters to the 
Board.

The Company will regularly undertake reviews of its risk 
management procedures to ensure that it complies with its legal 
obligations, including assisting the Managing Director and Chief 
Financial Officer to provide the required declarations under 
section 295A of the Corporations Act. The Company has in 
place a system whereby management is required to report as to 
its adherence to policies and guidelines approved by the Board 
for the management of risks.

The key aspects of this Risk Management Policy are:

1.  Establishing the context;

2.  Risk identification;

3.  Risk analysis;

4.  Risk evaluation;

5.  Risk treatment;

6.  Communication & consultation; and

7.  Monitoring and review.

As required by the ASX Principles, Executive management has 
reported to the Board on the effectiveness of the management 
of its material business risks. The ultimate responsibility for risk 

Principle 8 – Remunerate fairly and 
responsibly

The Board has established a Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee to consider and report on, among other matters, 
remuneration policies and packages applicable to Board 
members and to Senior Executives of the Company. 

Currently, the Committee comprises of Mr R.M. Barrie, Mr S.A. 
Clausen and Mr D.N.J. Williams (Chairman). The members of 
the Committee are not independent Directors. The Chairman 
of the Committee is not Chairman of the Board.

The objectives of the Company’s Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee (Committee) are to assist the Board 
in fulfilling its corporate governance responsibilities in relation 
to:

1. 

remuneration matters, including:

• 

• 

• 

the remuneration framework for  
Non-Executive Directors;

the remuneration and incentive framework, 
including any proposed equity incentive awards, 
for the Managing Director, any other Executive 
Directors and all executives that report directly to 
the Managing Director (Senior Executives);

recommendations and decisions (as relevant) 
on remuneration and incentive awards for the 
Managing Director, any other Executive Directors 
and Senior Executives; and 

•  strategic human resources policies; and

2.  nomination matters, including:

•  Board appointments, re-elections and performance;
•  Directors’ induction programs and continuing 

development;

•  Committee membership;
•  endorsement of Senior Executive appointments; and
•  diversity obligations.

The Managing Director, appropriate management and 
representatives of any external adviser are to attend such 
portion of each meeting as requested by the Committee 
Chairman. An Executive is not to be present when the 
Committee discusses issues relating to that Executive.

The Committee will review and make recommendations to the 
Board on remuneration matters, including:

1. 

the review and monitoring and recommendation of 
changes to the remuneration and incentive framework 
(including the equity plan framework and any diversity 
considerations) for Non-Executive Directors, Executive 
Directors and Senior Executives;

2. 

the remuneration of Non-Executive Directors;

3. 

the fixed remuneration levels and incentive awards for the 
Managing Director and any other Executive Directors; and

4.  performance based measures (financial and non-

financial), targets and performance outcomes under 
incentive plans for the Executive Directors and Senior 
Executives.

41 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the year ended 31 December 2014

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Employee expenses

Administrative expenses

Occupancy costs

Foreign exchange losses

Initial public offering costs

Depreciation and amortisation expenses

Share based payments expense

Finance costs

(Loss) / profit before income tax

Income tax benefit
(Loss) / profit after tax

Other comprehensive income

Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss:

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Total comprehensive (loss) / income for the year

Earnings per share 

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Note

Consolidated

2014
$000

2013
$000

26,087

18,761 

(3,360)

        (2,319)

22,727         16,442 

(14,307)

       (9,669)

(8,201)

        (4,475)

(2,077)

           (756)

(241)

          (366)

-           (394)

(338)

          (186)

(388)

            (33)

(1)

               (5)

(2,826)

             558 

980             195 
             753

(1,847)

(83)

          (231)

(1,930)

            523 

Cents

(0.43)

(0.42)

Cents

 0.19 

 0.19 

6

7

7

7

7

22

7

8

29

29

The above statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

42 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 

As at 31 December 2014

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Other assets

Total current assets

Non-current assets

Trade and other receivables

Plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Other assets

Deferred tax assets
Total non-current assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Current tax liabilities

Provisions

Deferred revenue

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Contributed equity

Reserves

(Accumulated losses) / Retained earnings
Total equity

The above statement of financial position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Note

Consolidated

2014
$000

 2013 
$000

9

10

11

10

12

13

11

8

14

8

15

8

15

16

17

20,210       24,387 

2,750           2,163 

661              401 

23,621        26,950 

191

176

1,113              561 

12,953

488

1,822
16,567

8,886 

        - 

806 
10,429 

40,188

37,379 

21,759

18,319

4

1,120

388

169 

487 

-

23,271

18,975 

1

104

105

15 

-

15 

23,376

18,990 

16,812

18,389 

17,520

108

(816)
16,812

 17,556 

 (198) 

 1,031
 18,389 

43 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the year ended 31 December 2014

Note

Contributed 
equity

Share based 
payments

Balance at 1 January 2013

Profit for the year

Exchange differences on translation of 
foreign operations

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners in their capacity 
as owners:

Cancellation of Series A preference shares

Issue of ordinary shares upon cancellation 
of Series A preference shares

Issue of ordinary shares

Capitalised equity raising costs (net of tax)

Share based payments

Balance at 31 December 2013

17

16

16

16

17

$000

2,925 

-

-

-

(2,553)

2,553

15,000

(369)

-

17,556 

$000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

33

33

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve
$000

-

 - 

 (230)

(230) 

Retained 
earnings

$000

278

Total 
equity

$000

 3,202 

 753 

 753

-

753

 (230) 

523

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(2,553)

2,553

15,000

(369)

33

(230)

1,031

18,389

Balance at 1 January 2014

Note

Contributed 
equity

Share based 
payments

$000

17,556   

$000

33

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve
$000

Retained 
earnings /
(accumulated 
losses)
$000

Total 
equity

$000

(230)

1,031

 18,389

Loss for the year

Exchange differences on translation of 
foreign operations

17

Total comprehensive loss for the year

Transactions with owners in their capacity 
as owners:

Contributions of equity arising from 
repayment of ESP loans

Capitalised equity raising costs (net of tax) 
relating to prior year shares issued

Share based payments

Balance at 31 December 2014

16

16

22

- 

- 

-

14

(50)

-

17,520

-

-

-

-

-

388

421

-

(1,847)

(1,847)

(83)

(83)

-

(83)

(1,847)

(1,930)

-

-

-

-

-

-

14

(50)

388

(313)

(816)

16,812

The above statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

44 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

For the year ended 31 December 2014

Cash flows from operating activities

Receipts from customers (inclusive of GST and VAT)

Payments to suppliers and employees (inclusive of GST and VAT)

Interest received

Interest paid

Income taxes (paid) / refunded

Net cash (outflow) / inflow from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Payments for plant and equipment

Payments for intangible assets

Payments for other assets

Payments for acquisition of businesses

Net cash (outflow) from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from issue of share capital 

Contributions of equity arising from repayment of ESP loans

Capitalised IPO costs

Net cash (outflow) / inflow from financing activities

Note

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

26,105

18,824 

(26,210)

(18,735)

206

(1)

(195)

(94)

36 

(5)

125 

245 

(890)

(319)

(43)

(1,401)

(374)

(3,691)

- 

- 

(4,998)

(1,720)

-

14

(71)

(57)

15,000

-

(485)

14,515 

28

25

16

16

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents

(5,150)

13,039 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the financial year

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

24,387

974

9,660 

1,687 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

9

20,210

24,387 

The above statement of cash flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

45 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 December 2014

contents

to the notes to the consolidated financial statements

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Reporting entity

Basis of preparation 

Significant accounting policies

Financial risk management

Operating segments

Revenue

Expenses

Income tax

Cash and cash equivalents

10

Trade and other receivables

Other assets 

Plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Trade and other payables

Provisions

11

12

13

14

15

46 

47

47

47

54

56

56

57

57

59

59

59

60

61

62

62

16

17

18

19

Contributed equity

Equity – reserves

Key management personnel disclosures

Remuneration of auditors

20

Contingent liabilities

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

Commitments for expenditure

Share based payments

Related party transactions

Parent entity information

Business combinations

Interests in controlled entities 

Events occurring after the reporting date

28 

Reconciliation of profit after tax to net cash 
flow from operating activities

29

Earnings per share (EPS)

62

64

64

65

65

66

66

69

70

70

71

71

72

72

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 
1. Reporting entity

Freelancer Limited (the Company) is a company domiciled 
in Australia. The address of the Company’s registered office 
is Level 20, 680 George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000. The 
consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and 
for the year ended 31 December 2014 comprise the Company 
and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group and 
individually as Group entities). The Group is a for-profit entity 
and primarily is involved in operating an online marketplace 
for services. The separate financial statements of the parent 
entity, Freelancer Limited, have not been presented within this 
financial report as permitted by the Corporations Act 2001.

2. Basis of preparation

These general purpose financial statements have been 
prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards 
and Interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting 
Standards Board and the Corporations Act 2001.

(a) Compliance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards

The consolidated financial statements of the Group comply 
with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as 
issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

(b) Historical cost convention

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on 
the historical cost basis unless otherwise stated in the notes. 
Except for the cash flow information, the financial statements 
have been prepared on an accrual basis, modified, where 
applicable, by the measurement at fair value of selected non-
current assets, financial assets and financial liabilities.

(c) Functional and presentation currency

These consolidated financial statements are presented in 
Australian dollars, which is the Company’s functional currency.

(d) Critical accounting estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires the use 
of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires 
management to exercise its judgement in the process of 
applying the Group’s accounting policies. The areas involving 
a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where 
assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial 
statements are disclosed in Note 3(x).

3. Significant accounting policies

Material accounting policies adopted in the preparation of 
these financial statements are presented below and have been 
consistently applied unless stated otherwise.

(a) Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate all of the 
assets, liabilities and results of Freelancer Limited and all 
subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group 
has control. 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 to direct the activities of the entity. A list of the 
subsidiaries is provided in Note 26.

The assets, liabilities and results of all subsidiaries are fully 
consolidated into the financial statements of the Group from 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

the date on which control is obtained by the Group. The 
consolidation of a subsidiary is discontinued from the date 
that control ceases. Intercompany transactions, balances and 
unrealised gains or losses on transactions between group 
entities are fully eliminated on consolidation. Accounting 
policies of subsidiaries have been changed and adjustments 
made where necessary to ensure uniformity of the accounting 
policies adopted by the Group.

Equity interests in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or 
indirectly, to the Group are presented as “non-controlling 
interests”. The Group initially recognises non-controlling 
interests that are present ownership interests in subsidiaries 
and are entitled to a proportionate share of the subsidiary’s 
net assets on liquidation at either fair value or at the non-
controlling interests’ proportionate share of the subsidiary’s 
net assets. Subsequent to initial recognition, non-controlling 
interests are attributed their share of profit or loss and each 
component of other comprehensive income. Non-controlling 
interests are shown separately within the equity section 
of the statement of financial position and statement of 
comprehensive income.

(b) Business combinations

Business combinations occur where an acquirer obtains 
control over one or more businesses.

A business combination is accounted for by applying the 
acquisition method, unless it is a combination involving 
entities or businesses under common control. The business 
combination will be accounted for from the date that control 
is attained, whereby the fair value of the identifiable assets 
acquired and liabilities (including contingent liabilities) assumed 
is recognised (subject to certain limited exceptions).

When measuring the consideration transferred in the business 
combination, any asset or liability resulting from a contingent 
consideration arrangement is also included. Subsequent to 
initial recognition, contingent consideration classified as equity 
is not remeasured and its subsequent settlement is accounted 
for within equity. Contingent consideration classified as an 
asset or liability is remeasured each reporting period to fair 
value, recognising any change to fair value in profit or loss, 
unless the change in value can be identified as existing at 
acquisition date.

All transaction costs incurred in relation to the business 
combination are expensed to the statement of profit or loss 
and comprehensive income.

The acquisition of a business may result in the recognition of 
goodwill or a gain from a bargain purchase.

(c) Income Tax

The income tax expense or revenue for the period is the tax 
payable on the current period’s taxable income based on the 
applicable tax rate for each jurisdiction adjusted by changes 
in deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to temporary 
differences and to unused tax losses.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis 
of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the 
end of the reporting period in the countries where the 
Company’s subsidiaries operate and generate taxable income. 
Management periodically evaluates positions taken in tax 
returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax 
regulation is subject to interpretation. It establishes provisions 
where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be 
paid to the tax authorities.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of temporary differences 
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for 
financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation 

47 47 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

purposes. Deferred tax is not recognised for: 

• 

• 

• 

temporary differences on the initial recognition of 
assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business 
combination and that affects neither accounting nor 
taxable profit or loss

temporary differences related to investments in 
subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities to 
the extent that the Group is able to control the timing 
of the reversal of the temporary differences and it is 
probable that they will not reverse in the foreseeable 
future

taxable temporary differences arising on the initial 
recognition of goodwill.

The measurement of deferred tax reflects the tax 
consequences that would follow the manner in which the 
Group expects, at the end of the reporting period, to recover 
or settle the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities. 

Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to 
be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, using 
tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting 
date.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is a legally 
enforceable right to offset current tax liabilities and assets, and 
they relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority on the 
same taxable entity, or on different tax entities, but they intend 
to settle current tax liabilities and assets on a net basis or their 
tax assets and liabilities will be realised simultaneously.

A deferred tax asset is recognised for unused tax losses, tax 
credits and deductible temporary differences, to the extent that 
it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against 
which they can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at 
each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no 
longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.

In determining the amount of current and deferred tax the 
Group takes into account the impact of uncertain tax positions 
and whether additional taxes and interest may be due. This 
assessment relies on estimates and assumptions and may 
involve a series of judgements about future events. New 
information may become available that causes the Group to 
change its judgement regarding the adequacy of existing tax 
liabilities; such changes to tax liabilities will impact the tax 
expense in the period that such a determination is made.

The Company and its wholly-owned Australian resident entities 
are part of a tax consolidated group. As a consequence, all 
members of the tax-consolidated group are taxed as a single 
entity. The head entity within the tax-consolidated group is 
Freelancer Limited

(d) Plant and equipment 

Plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less 
depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses. Historical 
cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the 
acquisition of the items

The carrying amount of plant and equipment is reviewed 
annually by directors to ensure it is not in excess of the 
recoverable amount from these assets. The recoverable 
amount is assessed on the basis of the expected net cash 
flows that will be received from the asset’s employment and 
subsequent disposal. The expected net cash flows have not 
been discounted in determining recoverable amounts.

Depreciation of all fixed assets is calculated using the straight-
line method to allocate their cost, net of their residual values, 
over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

48 

•  Fixtures and fittings 

4 - 5 years
•  Motor vehicles 

4 years

•  Office and computer equipment   

4 - 5 years
•  Software 
3 years

•  Leasehold improvements 

shorter of either the unexpired period of the lease or the 
estimated useful lives of the improvements

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and 
adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.

An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its 
recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater 
than its estimated recoverable amount.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing 
proceeds with the carrying amount. These gains or losses are 
recognised in the profit and loss in the period in which they 
arise. When revalued assets are sold, amounts included in the 
revaluation surplus relating to that asset are transferred to 
retained earnings.

(e) Intangibles

Goodwill

Goodwill is initially recorded at the amount by which the 
purchase price for a business combination exceeds the 
fair value attributed to the interest in the net fair value of 
identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired 
at date of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortised. Instead 
goodwill 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.

Domain Names

Domain names are valued at cost of acquisition. Domain 
names are tested for impairment annually or more frequently 
if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might 
be impaired, either individually or at the cash generating unit 
level. Useful lives are also examined on an annual basis and 
adjustments, where applicable, are made on a prospective 
basis.

Trademarks

Trademarks are valued at cost of acquisition and are amortised 
on a straight line basis over the period in which the benefits are 
expected to be realised. Trademarks are tested for impairment 
where an indicator of impairment exists, either individually or 
at the cash generating unit level. Useful lives are also examined 
on an annual basis and adjustments, where applicable, are 
made on a prospective basis.

(f) Employee benefits

 Short-term obligations 
Employee benefits that are expected to be settled within 12 
months have been measured at the amounts expected to 
be paid when the liabilities are settled, plus related on-costs. 
The liability for annual leave is recognised in the provision for 
employee benefits. All other short-term employee benefit 
obligations are presented as payables.  

Other long–term employee benefit obligations  
Employee benefits payable later than 12 months have been 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
measured at the present value of the estimated future cash 
outflows to be made for those benefits. In determining the 
liability, consideration is given to employee wages increases 
and the probability that the employee may satisfy any vesting 
requirements. Those cash flows are discounted using market 
yields on national government bonds with terms to maturity 
that match the expected timing of cash flows attributable to 
employee benefits.

Share based payments

The Group operates an employee share plan. Information 
relating to this plan is set out in the Note 22. The fair value 
of the effective option over the shares granted under the 
Company’s Employee Share Plan (ESP) is recognised as an 
employee benefit expense with a corresponding increase in 
equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and recognised 
over the period during which the employees become 
unconditionally entitled to the ESP shares.

The fair value at grant date is independently determined using 
a Black-Scholes option pricing model that takes into account 
the exercise price, the term of the ESP shares, the vesting and 
performance criteria, the impact of dilution, the non-tradeable 
nature of the ESP share, the share price at grant date and 
expected price volatility of the underlying share, the expected 
dividend yield and the risk-free interest rate for the term of the 
ESP share.

The fair value of share grants issued outside of the ESP is 
independently determined based on the value of the shares at 
grant date less the present value of dividends expected to be 
distributed between the grant date and the vesting dates. 

Short term incentive plans

The Group recognises a liability and an expense for bonuses 
payable under short term incentive plans. Short term 
incentive plans are based on the achievement of targeted 
performance levels that may be set at the beginning of each 
financial year. The Group recognises a liability to pay out short 
term incentives when contractually obliged based on the 
achievement of the stated performance levels, or where there 
is a past practice that has created a constructive obligation.

(g) Borrowing costs

All borrowing costs are recognised in profit or loss in the 
period in which they are incurred.

(h) Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Company has a legal or 
constructive obligation, as a result of past events, for which it is 
probable that an outflow of economic benefits will result and 
that outflow can be reliably measured. Provisions recognised 
represent the best estimate of the amounts required to settle 
the obligation at reporting date.

A provision for onerous contracts is recognised when the 
expected benefits to be derived by the Group from a contract 
are lower than the unavoidable cost of meeting the obligations 
under the contract. The provision is stated at the present value 
of the future net cash outflows expected to be incurred in 
respect of the contract.

(i) Cash and cash equivalents

For cash flow statement presentation purposes, cash and cash 
equivalents includes cash on hand, deposits held at call with 
banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original 
maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible 
to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an 
insignificant risk of changes in value, and bank overdrafts. 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(j) Trade receivables

Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and 
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method, less provision for impairment. This provision 
includes amounts that are not considered to be recoverable 
from debtors and amounts that are expected to be credited 
to debtors. Trade receivables are generally due for settlement 
no more than 30 days from the date of recognition. They are 
presented as current assets unless collection is not expected 
for more than 12 months after the reporting date.

Collectability of trade receivables is reviewed on an ongoing 
basis. A provision for impairment of trade receivables is 
established when there is objective evidence that the Group 
will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the 
original terms of the receivables. Significant financial difficulties 
of the debtor, probability that the debtor will enter bankruptcy 
or financial reorganisation, and default or delinquency in 
payments are considered indicators that the trade receivable 
is impaired. In addition, the trade receivables balances are 
considered for credit notes that are expected to be raised 
against individual and collective balances.

(k) Trade and other payables

These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services 
provided to the Group and amounts outstanding to users of 
the Company’s website at the end of financial year which are 
unpaid. The amounts are unsecured and are payable as and 
when they are due. Trade and other payables are presented as 
current liabilities unless payment is not due within 12 months 
from the reporting date.

(l) Revenue recognition

The Company’s net revenues result from transaction and 
other fees generated in its online marketplace. Revenues are 
recognised when evidence of an arrangement exists, the fee is 
fixed and determinable, no significant obligation remains and 
collection of the receivable is reasonably assured. Amounts 
disclosed as revenue are net of refunds and amounts collected 
on behalf of third parties. Where services have not been 
provided but the Company is obligated to provide the services 
in the future, revenue recognition is deferred. Provision 
for doubtful accounts and transaction losses are made at 
the time of revenue recognition based on the Company’s 
historical experience. The provision for doubtful accounts and 
transaction losses are recorded as charges to cost of sales.

Revenue is recognised for the major business activities as 
follows:

Marketplace fees

Marketplace fees are recognised once the services have been 
completed and no significant obligation remains.

Advertising fees

A sale is recorded when a customer’s advertisement has been 
displayed or when a referral has been generated leading to an 
enforceable claim by the Group.

Interest income

Interest revenue is recognised using the effective interest rate 
method, which, for floating rate financial assets, is the rate 
inherent in the instrument. 

Government grants

Government grants are recognised at fair value where there 
is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and all 
grant conditions will be met. 

49 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

All revenue is stated net of the amount of goods and services 
tax (GST) and Valued Added Tax (VAT).

(m) Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Valued 
Added Tax (VAT)      

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the 
amount of associated GST and VAT, except where the amount 
of GST and VAT incurred is not recoverable from the relevant 
taxation authority. In these circumstances, the GST and VAT is 
recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as 
part of an item of the expense. Receivables and payables are 
stated inclusive of the amount of GST and VAT receivable or 
payable. The net amount of GST and VAT recoverable from, 
or payable to, the relevant taxation authority is included with 
other receivables or payables in the statement of financial 
position.

Cash flows are presented in the cash flow statement on a gross 
basis. The GST and VAT components of cash flows arising from 
investing or financing activities which are recoverable from, or 
payable to, the taxation authority are presented as operating 
cash flows included in receipts from customers or payments to 
suppliers.

Commitments and contingencies are disclosed net of the 
amount of GST and VAT recoverable from, or payable to, the 
relevant taxation authority.

(n) Research & development

Costs relating to research and development of new software 
products are expensed as incurred until technological 
feasibility in the form of a working model has been established. 
At such time costs may be capitalised, subject to recoverability. 
Software development costs incurred subsequent to the 
establishment of technological feasibility have not been 
significant, and the Group has not capitalised any software 
development costs to date.

(o) Foreign currency transactions and balances

Functional and presentation currency

The functional currency of each of the Group entities is 
measured using the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which that entity operates. The consolidated 
financial statements are presented in Australian dollars, which 
is the parent entity’s functional and presentation currency.

Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into functional 
currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the date of the 
transaction. Foreign currency monetary items are translated at 
the period-end exchange rate. Non-monetary items measured 
at historical cost continue to be carried at the exchange rate at 
the date of the transaction. Non-monetary items measured at 
fair value are reported at the exchange rate at the date when 
fair values were determined. 

Exchange differences arising on the translation of monetary 
items are recognised in the profit or loss, except where 
deferred in equity as a qualifying cash flow or net investment 
hedge.

Exchange differences arising on the translation of non-
monetary items are recognised directly in other comprehensive 
income to the extent that the underlying gain or loss is 
recognised in other comprehensive income; otherwise the 
exchange difference is recognised in profit or loss.

50 

Group companies

The financial results and position of foreign operations whose 
functional currency is different from the Group’s presentation 
currency is translated as follows:

•  Assets and liabilities are translated at period end exchange 

rates prevailing at that reporting date.

• 

Income and expenses are translated at average exchange 
rates for the period.

•  Retained earnings are translated at the exchange rates 

prevailing at the date of the transaction.

Exchange differences arising on translation of foreign 
operations with functional currencies other than Australian 
dollars are recognised in other comprehensive income and 
included in the foreign currency translation reserve in the 
statement of financial position. The cumulative amount of 
these differences is reclassified into profit or loss in the period 
in which the operation is disposed of.

(p) Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing:

• 

the profit attributable to owners of the Company, 
excluding any costs of servicing equity other than 
ordinary shares

•  by the weighted average number of ordinary shares 

outstanding during the financial year, adjusted for bonus 
elements in ordinary shares issued during the year and 
excluding treasury shares.

Diluted earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share adjusts the figures used in the 
determination of basic earnings per share to take into account:

• 

• 

the after income tax effect of interest and other financing 
costs associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares, 
and

the weighted average number of shares assumed to have 
been issued for no consideration in relation to dilutive 
potential ordinary shares.

(q) Financial instruments

Initial recognition and measurement

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when 
the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the 
instrument. For financial assets, this is equivalent to the date 
that the Group commits itself to either purchase or sell the 
asset (i.e. trade date accounting is adopted).

Financial instruments are initially measured at fair value plus 
transaction costs, except where the instrument is classified 
“at fair value through profit or loss”, in which case transaction 
costs are expensed to profit or loss immediately.

Classification and subsequent measurement

Financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, 
amortised cost using the effective interest method, or cost. 
Where available, quoted prices in an active market are used 
to determine fair value. In other circumstances, valuation 
techniques are adopted.

Amortised cost is calculated as the amount at which the 
financial asset or financial liability is measured at initial 
recognition less principal repayments and any reduction for 
impairment, and adjusted for any cumulative amortisation of 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

the difference between that initial amount and the maturity 
amount calculated using the effective interest method.

reorganisation; and changes in arrears or economic conditions 
that correlate with defaults.

The effective interest method is used to allocate interest 
income or interest expense over the relevant period and is 
equivalent to the rate that exactly discounts estimated future 
cash payments or receipts (including fees, transaction costs 
and other premiums or discounts) through the expected life (or 
when this cannot be reliably predicted, the contractual term) 
of the financial instrument to the net carrying amount of the 
financial asset or financial liability. Revisions to expected future 
net cash flows will necessitate an adjustment to the carrying 
amount with a consequential recognition of an income or 
expense item in profit or loss.

Fair value is determined based on current bid prices for all 
quoted investments. Valuation techniques are applied to 
determine the fair value for all unlisted securities, including 
recent arm’s length transactions, reference to similar 
instruments and option pricing models.

The Group does not designate any interests in subsidiaries, 
associates or joint venture entities as being subject to the 
requirements of Accounting Standards specifically applicable 
to financial instruments.

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with 
fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an 
active market and are subsequently measured at amortised 
cost. Gains or losses are recognised in profit or loss through 
the amortisation process and when the financial asset is 
derecognised.

For financial assets carried at amortised cost (including loans 
and receivables), a separate allowance account is used to 
reduce the carrying amount of financial assets impaired by 
credit losses. After having taken all possible measures of 
recovery, if management establishes that the carrying amount 
cannot be recovered by any means, at that point the written-
off amounts are charged to the allowance account, or the 
carrying amount of impaired financial assets is reduced directly 
if no impairment amount was previously recognised in the 
allowance account.

When the terms of financial assets that would otherwise 
have been past due or impaired have been renegotiated, 
the Company recognises the impairment for such financial 
assets by taking into account the original terms as if the terms 
have not been renegotiated so that the loss events that have 
occurred are duly considered.

Derecognition

Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights 
to receipt of cash flows expire or the asset is transferred to 
another party whereby the entity no longer has any significant 
continuing involvement in the risks and benefits associated 
with the asset. Financial liabilities are derecognised when the 
related obligations are discharged, cancelled or have expired. 
The difference between the carrying amount of the financial 
liability extinguished or transferred to another party and the fair 
value of consideration paid, including the transfer of non-cash 
assets or liabilities assumed, is recognised in the profit or loss.

Held-to-maturity investments

(r) Impairment of assets

Held-to-maturity investments are non-derivative financial 
assets that have fixed maturities and fixed or determinable 
payments, and it is the Company’s intention to hold these 
investments to maturity. They are subsequently measured at 
amortised cost. Gains or losses are recognised in profit or loss 
through the amortisation process and when the financial asset 
is derecognised.

Financial liabilities

Non-derivative financial liabilities other than financial 
guarantees are subsequently measured at amortised cost. 
Gains or losses are recognised in profit or loss through 
the amortisation process and when the financial liability is 
derecognised.

Impairment

At the end of each reporting period, the Group assesses 
whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset has 
been impaired. A financial asset (or a group of financial assets) 
is deemed to be impaired if, and only if, there is objective 
evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events (a 
“loss event”) having occurred, which has an impact on the 
estimated future cash flows of the financial asset(s).

In the case of available-for-sale financial assets, a significant 
or prolonged decline in the market value of the instrument 
is considered to constitute a loss event. Impairment losses 
are recognised in the profit or loss immediately. Also, any 
cumulative decline in fair value previously recognised in other 
comprehensive income is reclassified to the profit or loss at 
this point.

In the case of financial assets carried at amortised cost, loss 
events may include: indications that the debtors (or a group 
of debtors) are experiencing significant financial difficulty, 
default or delinquency in interest or principal payments; 
indications that they will enter bankruptcy or other financial 

At the end of each reporting date, the Group reviews 
the carrying values of its tangible and intangible assets 
to determine whether there is any indication that those 
assets have been impaired. If such an indication exists, the 
recoverable amount of the asset, being the higher of the asset’s 
fair value less costs to sell and value in use, is compared to the 
asset’s carrying value. Any excess of the asset’s carrying value 
over its recoverable amount is recognised immediately in the 
profit or loss.

Impairment testing is performed annually for goodwill and 
intangible assets with indefinite lives.

Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount 
of an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable 
amount of the cash generating unit to which the asset belongs.

(s) Leases 

Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards 
of ownership are not transferred to the Group as lessee are 
classified as operating leases. Leases are made up of operating 
leases of property. Payments made under operating leases (net 
of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the 
consolidated profit or loss statement on a straight-line basis 
over the period of the lease. Benefits that are provided to the 
Group as an incentive to enter into a lease arrangement are 
recognised as a liability and amortised on a straight-line basis 
over the life of the lease.

Where the Group acts as lessor in an operating lease 
arrangement, rental income from operating leases is 
accounted for on a straight-line basis over the period of the 
lease. Lease incentives provided are recognised over the lease 
term on a straight-line basis.

51 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(t) Comparative figures

When required by Accounting Standards, comparative figures 
have been adjusted to conform to changes in presentation for 
the current financial year. 

Where the Group has retrospectively applied an accounting 
policy, made a retrospective restatement or reclassified items 
in its financial statements, an additional statement of financial 
position as at the beginning of the earliest comparative period 
will be disclosed.

(u) Contributed equity

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs 
directly attributable to the issue of new shares are shown in 
equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. 

(v) Segment reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with 
the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision 
maker. These include items directly attributable to a segment 
as well as those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis. 
Unallocated items comprise mainly corporate assets (primarily 
the Company’s headquarters), head office expenses, and 
income tax assets and liabilities. The Board of Directors are 
identified as the chief operating decision makers.

(w) Rounding of amounts

The Company has applied the relief available to it under ASIC 
Class Order 98/100. Accordingly, amounts in the financial 
statements and Directors’ Report have been rounded off to the 
nearest $1,000.

(x) Critical accounting estimates and judgments

The directors evaluate estimates and judgements incorporated 
into the financial report based on historical knowledge 
and best available current information. Estimates assume a 
reasonable expectation of future events and are based on 
current trends and economic data, obtained both externally 
and within the Group. The resulting accounting estimates 
will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The 
estimates and judgements that have a significant risk of causing 
a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

Business Combinations

Following the guidance in AASB 3: Business Combinations, the 
Group has made assumptions and estimates to determine the 
purchase price of businesses acquired as well as its allocation 
to acquired assets and liabilities. To do so, the Group is 
required to determine at the acquisition date fair value of the 
identifiable net assets acquired, including intangible assets 
such as brand, customer relationships and liabilities assumed. 
Goodwill is measured as the excess of the fair value of the 
consideration transferred including the recognised amount of 
any non-controlling interest over the net recognised amount 
of the identifiable assets and liabilities.

The assumptions and estimates made by the Group have an 
impact on the asset and liability amounts recorded in the 
financial statements. In addition, the estimated useful lives of 
the acquired amortisable assets, the identification of intangible 
assets and the determination of the indefinite or finite useful 
lives of intangible assets acquired will have an impact on the 
Group’s future profit or loss.

Impairment of intangible assets

The Group assesses impairment at each reporting date by 

52 

evaluating conditions specific to the group that may lead to 
impairment of assets. Where an impairment trigger exists, the 
recoverable amount of the asset is determined. Value-in-use 
calculations performed in assessing recoverable amounts 
incorporate a number of key estimates. During the year ended 
31 December 2014, no impairment has been recognised in 
respect of intangible assets. The Group assessed recoverability 
of goodwill based on the present value of cash flow projections 
over a 6 year period. Should any of the intangible assets fail to 
perform, an impairment loss would be recognised up to the 
maximum carrying value of intangible assets at 31 December 
2014 of $12,953,000 (2013: $8,886,000).

Provisions for doubtful accounts and transaction losses

Provision is made in respect of the Group’s best estimate of 
doubtful accounts and transaction losses based on historical 
experience.

Share based payments

The Group measures the cost of equity settled transactions 
with employees by reference to the fair value of the equity 
instruments at the date at which they are granted. The fair 
value is determined with the assistance of an external valuation 
with the assumptions detailed in Note 22. The accounting 
estimates and assumptions relating to equity settled share 
based payments would have no impact on the carrying 
amounts of assets and liabilities within the next annual 
reporting period but may impact expenses and equity.

Income taxes

The Group is subject to income taxes in Australia and 
jurisdictions where it has foreign operations. Judgment is 
required in determining the worldwide provision for income 
taxes. There are transactions and calculations undertaken 
during the ordinary course of business for which the ultimate 
tax determination is uncertain. The Group estimates its tax 
liabilities based on the Group’s understanding of the tax law. 
Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from 
the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will 
impact the current and deferred tax provisions in the period in 
which such determination is made.

(y) Parent entity financial information

The financial information for the parent entity, Freelancer 
Limited, disclosed in Note 24 has been prepared on the same 
basis as the consolidated financial statements, except as set 
out below.

Investments in subsidiaries

Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for at cost in the 
financial statements of Freelancer Limited. Investments in 
subsidiaries are tested for impairment whenever changes in 
events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may 
not be recoverable.

Income tax consolidation legislation

Freelancer Limited and its wholly-owned Australian entities 
have elected to form an income tax consolidated group. 

Freelancer Limited (as the head entity) and its wholly-owned 
Australian entities (as members of the Freelancer income 
tax consolidated group) account for their own current and 
deferred tax amounts. These tax amounts are measured as if 
each entity in the income tax consolidated group continues to 
be a standalone taxpayer in its own right.

In addition to its own current and deferred tax amounts, 
Freelancer Limited also recognises the current tax liabilities (or 
assets) assumed from its wholly-owned entities in the income 
tax consolidated group.

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT(z) Changes in accounting policies

The accounting policies applied by the Group in this 
consolidated financial report are the same as those applied 
by the Group in its consolidated financial report for the year 
ended 31 December 2013.

(aa) New Accounting Standards for application in 
future periods

Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the 
AASB that are not yet mandatorily applicable to the Group, 
together with an assessment of the potential impact of such 
pronouncements on the Group when adopted in future 
periods, are discussed below:

- AASB 9: Financial Instruments and associated Amending 
Standards (applicable for annual reporting periods 
commencing on or after 1 January 2017).

The Standard will be applicable retrospectively (subject 
to the comment on hedge accounting below) and 
includes revised requirements for the classification 
and measurement of financial instruments, revised 
recognition and derecognition requirements for financial 
instruments and simplified requirements for hedge 
accounting.

The key changes made to the Standard that may 
affect the Group on initial application include certain 
simplifications to the classification of financial assets, 
simplifications to the accounting of embedded 
derivatives, and the irrevocable election to recognise 
gains and losses on investments in equity instruments 
that are not held for trading in other comprehensive 
income. AASB 9 also introduces a new model for hedge 
accounting that will allow greater flexibility in the ability 
to hedge risk, particularly with respect to hedges of 
non-financial items. Should the entity elect to change 
its hedge policies in line with the new hedge accounting 
requirements of AASB 9, the application of such 
accounting would be largely prospective.

Although the Directors anticipate that the adoption of 
AASB 9 may have an impact on the Group’s financial 
instruments, including hedging activity, it is impracticable 
at this stage to provide a reasonable estimate of such 
impact.

- AASB 15 Revenue from contracts with customers is the 
new comprehensive standard for revenue recognition, 
replacing AASB 111 Construction contracts, AASB 118 
Revenue and AASB 1004 Contributions.

It is operative from 1 January 2017 with early adoption 
permitted. The lengthy transition period reflects the 
fact that the standard’s new rules are likely to have a 
significant impact on a wide range of industries which 
will need to prepare for its implementation. A transition 
resource group has been formed jointly by the IASB and 
FASB to identify implementation issues for consideration 
by both boards. The core principle of the new standard 
requires entities to recognise revenue to depict the 
transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts 
that reflect the consideration (that is, payment) to which 
the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those 
goods or services.

The Directors have yet to assess the potential impact 
from the adoption of AASB 15.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

53 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4. Financial risk management

Financial risk management policies

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The 
Group’s overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential 
adverse effects on the financial performance of the Group. The Group uses different methods to measure different types of risk to 
which it is exposed. These methods include sensitivity analysis in the case of interest rate and other price risks and ageing analysis 
for credit risk.

Risk management is carried out by senior finance executives (Finance) under policies approved by the Board of Directors (Board). 
These policies include identification and analysis of the risk exposure of the Group and appropriate procedures, controls and risk 
limits. Finance identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks within the Group’s operating units.

The Group holds the following financial instruments:

Note

Consolidated

Financial Assets

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other receivables

Other financial assets
Total financial assets

Financial Liabilities

Trade and other payables 

Other financial liabilities
Total financial liabilities

9

10

11

14

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

20,210

2,941

627
23,779

24,387

2,339

191
26,917

21,759

-
21,759

18,319

-
18,319

The carrying value of the assets and liabilities disclosed in the table above closely approximates or equals their fair value. The 
carrying amounts of trade receivables and trade and other payables are assumed to approximate their fair values due to their short-
term nature.

(a) Market risk

Foreign currency risk

The Group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from various currencies.

Foreign exchange risk arises when future commercial transactions and recognised assets and liabilities are denominated in a 
currency that is not the entity’s functional currency. The risk is measured using sensitivity analysis and cash flow forecasting.

The Group has not entered into forward foreign exchange contracts to protect against exchange rate movements. The Directors 
are of the view that the cost of hedging the Group’s short-term foreign exchange exposure outweighs the risk of adverse currency 
movements. 

The Group’s exposure to foreign currency exchange risk at the reporting date, expressed in each currency, was as follows:

2014
Currency exposure:
Denominated in:

Cash
Trade receivables
Other financial assets
Payables
User obligations
Net exposure

2013
Currency exposure:
Denominated in:

Cash
Trade receivables
Other financial assets
Payables 
User obligations
Net exposure

54 

AUD
AUD 
000’s

2,182
352
79
(553)
(1,359)
700

AUD
AUD
000’s
10,192
301 
116
(419)
(1,178)
9,012

USD
USD
000’s

12,371
1,694
-
(882)
(12,750)
433

USD
USD
000’s
11,057
1,702 
-
(398)
(12,768)
(407)

NZD
NZD
000’s

181
15
-
-
(87)
110

NZD
NZD
000’s
73 
5 
-
- 
(69)
8 

GBP
GBP
000’s

401
60
6
(5)
(444)
17

GBP
GBP
000’s
175 
24 
-
- 
(273)
(75)

HKD
HKD
000’s

578
50
-
-
(238)
390

HKD
HKD
000’s
865 
- 
-
- 
(203)
662 

SGD
SGD
000’s

215
29
5
(6)
(142)
101

SGD
SGD
000’s
121 
23 
22
2 
(86)
83

PHP
PHP
000’s

7,739
2,992
19,145
(4,882)
(597)
24,397

PHP
PHP
000’s
5,589 
2,195 
2,195
(109)
(189)
9,682

EUR
EUR
000’s

498
114
-
-
(727)
(115)

EUR
EUR
000’s
206 
41 
-
(2)
(441)
(196)

CAD
CAD
000’s

308
42
9
-
(349)
10

CAD
CAD
000’s
305 
19 
-
(3)
(224)
97 

INR
INR
000’s

15,688
2,504
-
(401)
(16,166)
1,625

INR
INR
000’s
14,164 
- 
-
(109)
(6,946)
7,109 

Other
AUD
000’s

79
9
-
(6)
(127)
(45)

Other
AUD
000’s
20 
- 
-
(10)
(35)
(26)

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Group had net assets of $1,801,000 denominated in foreign currencies as at 31 December 2014 (comprising assets of 
$21,648,000 less liabilities of $19,847,000). The Group had net liabilities of $274,000 denominated in foreign currencies as at 31 
December 2013 (comprising assets $16,405,000 less liabilities of $16,679,000).

The analysis below reflects management’s view of possible movements in relevant foreign currencies against the Australian dollar 
in the short term subsequent to 31 December 2014. The table summarises the range of possible outcomes that would affect the 
Group’s net profit and equity as a result of foreign currency movements on year end foreign denominated assets and liabilities. 

The impact of potential movements in exchange rates on the profit or loss is as follows:

Profit or Loss

2014
$000

2013
$000

Low

28

6

2

3

5

59

(9)

-

2

97

High

23

-

7 

(4)

(4)

(9)

15 

(6)

(6)

15 

Low

(25)

- 

(7)

4 

4 

10 

(16)

6 

7 

(17)

High

(25)

(5)

(2)

(3)

(5)

(54)

8

-

(1)

(88)

AUD to USD 

(Range +5% to -5%)

(Range +5% to -5%)

(Range +5% to -5%)

(Range +5% to -5%)

(Range +5% to -5%)

(Range +5% to -5%)

(Range +5% to -5%)

(Range +5% to -5%)

(Range +5% to -5%)

AUD to NZD

AUD to GBP

AUD to HKD

AUD to SGD

AUD to PHP

AUD to EUR

AUD to CAD

AUD to INR

Net movement

Price risk

The Group is not exposed to significant equities price risk.

Interest rate risk

The Group is not exposed to any significant interest rate risk.

Cash balances

As at 31 December 2014 the Group had $20,210,000 (2013: $24,387,000) held in bank accounts and online digital wallets. The 
Group’s cash balances are predominantly held in interest bearing bank accounts. Funds that are excess to short term liquidity 
requirements are generally invested in short term deposits. 

(b) 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 
maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date to recognised financial assets is the carrying amount, net of any provisions for 
impairment of those assets, as disclosed in the statement of financial position and notes to the financial statements. The Group does 
not hold any collateral. 

Credit risk is managed by a risk assessment process for all customers, which takes into account past experience.

(c) Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk management requires the Group to maintain sufficient liquid assets (mainly cash and cash equivalents) to be able to 
pay debts as and when they become due and payable.

The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate cash reserves by continuously monitoring actual and forecast cash flows 
and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities.

Financing arrangements

The Group does not have any borrowing facilities in place at the reporting date.

Maturities of financial liabilities

The following table details the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its financial instrument liabilities. The table has been 
drawn up based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the financial liabilities 
are required to be paid. The tables include both interest and principal cash flows disclosed as remaining contractual maturities and 
therefore these totals may differ from their carrying amount in the statement of financial position.

55 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1 year or less 

Between 1 
and 2 years 

Between 2 
and 5 years 

Over 
5 years 

Note

$000

$000

$000

$000

Remaining 
contractual 
maturities 
$000

2014

Non-derivatives

Non-interest bearing

Trade and other payables

14

2013

Non-derivatives

Non-interest bearing

Trade and other payables

14

21,759

21,759

18,319

18,319

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Trade and other payables are payable as and when they are due. The cash flows in the maturity analysis above are not expected to 
occur significantly earlier than disclosed.

5. Operating segments

Identification of reportable operating segments

The Group is organised into one operating segment namely an online marketplace. This segment is based on the internal reports 
that are reviewed and used by the Board of Directors (who are identified as the Chief Operating Decision Makers (CODM) in 
assessing performance and in determining the allocation of resources (AASB 8 para. 5(b)). 

The Group operates predominantely in Australia, where substantially all online marketplace revenues and expenses are incurred. 
Although the Group has staff and operations in Philippines, United Kingdom and Canada in addition to Australia, these geographic 
operations are considered, based on internal management reporting and the allocation of resources by the Group’s CODM, as one 
geographic segment.

The CODM assess the performance of the operating segment based on a measure of revenue, EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, 
depreciation and amortisation) and profit before income tax. The accounting policies adopted for internal reporting to the CODM 
are consistent with those adopted in the financial statements.

The information reported to the CODM is at least on a monthly basis.

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

25,609

 18,257 

117

 248 

179

150

32

 72 

 148 

 36 

26,087

 18,761 

6. Revenue 

Sales revenue

Marketplace fees

Advertising fees

Other revenue

Interest income

Government grants

Other

Total revenue

56 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note

Consolidated

7. Expenses

Employee expense

Wages and salaries (including superannuation)

Other employment costs
Total employee expenses

Depreciation and amortisation 

Plant and equipment

Leasehold improvements
Total depreciation and amortisation expenses

Rental expense relating to operating leases

Minimum lease payments

Rent recovery from sub-lease agreement
Net rental expense relating to operating leases

Net foreign exchange losses

Finance costs

Interest expense

8. Income tax

(a) Income tax 
Current tax

Deferred tax

Under provision in prior years
Income tax (benefit)

21

21

Deferred income tax expense included in income tax benefit comprises:

(Increase) in deferred tax assets

(Decrease) in deferred tax liability
Total deferred income tax

(b) Numerical reconciliation of income tax benefit to prima facie income tax payable
(Loss) / Profit from ordinary activities before income tax expense

Tax at the Australian rate of 30%

Tax effect amounts which are not deductible / (taxable) in calculating taxable income:

R&D tax incentive

Difference in tax rate 

Share based payments

Over provision in prior years

Allowable deductions in equity

Future benefit of foreign losses 

Other non allowable items
Income tax (benefit)

(c) Amounts recognised directly in equity 
Deferred tax associated with the issue of IPO shares

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

12,418

1,966
14,384

8,710 

 959 
9,669 

234

104
338

2,120

(110)
2,010

 164 

 21 
 186 

 491 

-
491

241

 366

1

 5 

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

(637)

(337)

(6)
(980)

(323)

(14)
(337)

204

(399) 

-
(195) 

(360)

(39)
(399)

(2,826)

558 

(848)

168 

(250)

55

(360)

(152)

117               10 

(6)

-

(83)

36
(980)

-

(29)

-

169
(195)

104

117

57 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(d) Deferred tax assets
The balance comprises temporary differences attributable to:

Amounts recognised in profit or loss:

Employee benefits

Provision for user disputes & refunds

Legal fees

IPO costs

Foreign exchange losses

Intangible assets

Provision for impairment of receivables

Audit fees

Future benefit of tax losses

Future benefit of foreign tax losses

Other

Total amounts recognised in profit or loss

Amounts recognised directly in equity:

IPO costs

Total amounts recognised in equity

Net deferred tax assets

Movements:

Opening balance at beginning of year

Credited to the profit or loss statement

Credited to equity

Closing balance at end of year

(e) Deferred tax liabilities
The balance comprises temporary differences attributable to:

Fixed assets

Net deferred tax liabilities

Movements:

Opening balance at beginning of year

Credited to the profit or loss statement

Closing balance at end of year

(f) Current tax liabilities
Current tax liabilities

Franking credits

Franking credits available at the reporting date based on a tax rate of 30%

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

195

 130 

75

85

71

36

101

368

73

632

83

-

 33 

 24 

 94 

 98 

 77 

 210 

 14 

-

-

 9 

1,718

 689 

104

104

117

117

1,822

806

806

995

21

1,822

1

1

15

(14)

1

4

-

329

360

117

806

15

15

54

(39)

15

169

-

Freelancer Limited and its wholly-owned Australian entities elected to form an income tax consolidated group as of 12 April 2010. 
The accounting policy on implementation of the income tax consolidation legislation is set out in Note 3(c).

58 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT9. Cash and cash equivalents

Current

Cash at bank and on hand

Term deposits

Total cash and cash equivalents

10. Trade and other receivables

Current

Trade receivables

Less: provisions for impairment of trade receivables
Current trade receivables net of provisions for impairment

Payment gateway receivables

Other receivables
Total current trade and other receivables

Non-Current

Payment gateway receivables

Total trade and other receivables

(a) Provision for impaired trade receivables
Opening balance

Provisions for impairment recognised during the year

Exchange differences
Closing balance

(b) Ageing of trade receivables
1-30 days

31-60 days 

61-90 days

90+ days

Provision for impairment
Total trade receivables net of provision for impairment

(c) Other receivables

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

18,966
1,245
20,210

 16,362
 8,025 
 24,387 

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

1,456

(1,205)
251

2,489

10
2,750

 830 

 (701)
129

 1,998

36
 2,163 

191

176 

2,941

2,339

701

283

221
1,205

220

170

139

927

(1,205)
251

454

153

94
701

129

82

68

551

(701)
129

Other receivables as at 31 December 2014 and as at 31 December 2013 are predominantly attributable to accrued interest. 

11. Other assets

Current

Prepayments

Security deposits

Other
Total current other assets

Non-current
Security deposits
Total non-current other assets

Total other assets

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

513

73

75
661

488
488

209

191

-
401

-
-

1,149

 401 

59 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12. Plant and equipment

Non-current

Office and computer equipment – at cost

Accumulated depreciation
Carrying value of office and computer equipment

Fixtures and fittings – at cost

Accumulated depreciation
Carrying value of fixtures and fittings

Motor vehicles – at cost

Accumulated depreciation
Carrying value of motor vehicles

Software – at cost

Accumulated depreciation
Carrying value of software

Leasehold improvements – at cost

Accumulated amortisation
Carrying value of leasehold improvements

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

809

(245)
564

330

(108)
222

42

(42)
-

6

(6)
-

462

(135)
328

459

 (135)
324 

 263 

 (91)
 172 

 42 

 (35)
 8 

 6 

 (6)
 -

 129 

 (72)
57 

Total carrying value of plant and equipment

1,113

 561 

Reconciliations
Reconciliations of the carrying amount of plant and equipment and leasehold improvements at the beginning and end of the 
current financial year are set out below:

Consolidated

Balance at 1 January 2013

Additions
Depreciation and amortisation
Balance at 31 December 2013

Additions
Disposals
Depreciation and amortisation
Balance at 31 December 2014

Office and 
computer 
equipment
$000

 235 

 170 
 (82)
 324 

394
(2)
(152)
564

Fixtures and 
fittings

Motor 
Vehicles

Software

Leasehold 
improvements

$000

 130 

 90
 (48)
172

132
(9)
(74)
222

$000

$000

$000

 18 

 - 
 (11)
8 

-
-
(8)
-

 1 

 - 
(1)
-

-
-
-
-

 43

 59
(45)
 57 

393
(18)
(104)
328

Total

$000

 428 

 319 
 (186)
 561 

919
(28)
(339)
1,113

60 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 
 
13. Intangible assets

Non-current

Trademarks – at cost

Accumulated impairment

Accumulated amortisation
Carrying value of trademarks

Domain names – at cost

Accumulated impairment

Accumulated amortisation
Carrying value of domain names

Goodwill – at cost

Accumulated impairment

Accumulated amortisation
Carrying value of goodwill

Total carrying value of intangible assets

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

- 

-

-
 - 

- 

-

 - 
 - 

3,075

(28)

-
3,047

 2,852 

 (28)

-
 2,824 

9,906

 6,062 

- 

-
9,906

 - 

 - 
 6,062 

12,953

 8,886 

Reconciliations
Reconciliations of the carrying amount of intangible assets at the beginning and end of the current and previous financial year are 
set out below:

Consolidated

Balance at 1 January 2013

Additions

Impairment

Amortisation
Balance at 31 December 2013

Additions

Impairment

Amortisation
Balance at 31 December 2014

Trademarks

$000

 - 

 - 

-

-
 - 

-

-

-
-

Domain 
names
$000

 1,423 

1,401

-

-
 2,824 

223

-

-
3,047

Goodwill

$000

 6,062 

 - 

-

-
 6,062 

3,843

-

-
9,906

Total

$000

7,485 

1,401

-

-
 8,886 

4,067

-

-
12,953

The Directors have determined the useful life of domain names is indefinite and subject to an annual test for impairment of the fair 
value of the domain names. The Directors have assessed the recoverability of domain names and goodwill based on value in use 
calculations.

The recoverable amount of the Group’s intangible assets has been determined by a value-in-use calculation using a discounted 
cash flow model, based on a 12 month projection period for the Group approved by management and extrapolated for a further 5 
years with a discounted terminal value.

Key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow model in relation to the intangibles included a 30% pre-tax discount rate, 2.5% 
terminal growth rate and constant annual free cash flow growth rate over the FY15-FY20 forecast period of 39% (6% CAGR from 
FY16-FY20).

The discount rate of 30% pre-tax reflects management’s estimate of the time value of money and the Group’s weighted average 
cost of capital adjusted for the risk free rate and the volatility of the share price relative to market movements.

Based on the above, management is satisfied that there are no indicators of impairment to the current carrying value of intangible 
assets.

61 

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

1,383

412

19,965

21,759

 710 

 128 

17,481

 18,319

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

250

734

137
1,120

57

48

104

 110

377

-
487

-

-

-

1,225

487

Notes

16(b)

16(c)

2014
Number

2013
Number

2014
$000

 2013
$000

Consolidated

436,330,004

436,000,000

17,520

17,556

-

-

-

-

17,520

17,556

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

14. Trade and other payables

Current

Trade payables

Sundry payables and accrued expenses

User obligations

Total trade and other payables

15. Provisions

Current

Provision for user disputes and refunds

Employee benefits

Other
Total current provisions

Non-current

Make-good provisions

Employee benefits

Total non-current provisions

Total provisions

16. Contributed equity

(a) Share capital

Ordinary shares

Fully paid

Series A preference shares

Fully paid

Total share capital

62 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT(b) Movements in ordinary share capital

Reconciliation to 31 December 2013

Balance at 1 January 2013

Issue of ordinary shares:

Conversion of Series A preference shares

Share split
Issue of ESP shares 1
Issue of ordinary shares under IPO 2
Issue of ESP shares under IPO 1

Balance at 31 December 2013

Reconciliation to 31 December 2014

Balance at 31 December 2013

Capitalised equity raising costs (net of tax)

Issue / (cancellation) of ordinary shares:
Issue of ESP shares 1

Buy-back and cancellation of ESP shares

Contributed equity arising from repayment of ESP loans 

Balance at 31 December 2014

(c) Movements in Series A preference share capital

Reconciliation to 31 December 2013

Balance at 1 January 2013

Cancellation of Series A preference shares:

Conversion of Series A preference shares

Balance at 31 December 2013

Reconciliation to 31 December 2014

Balance at 31 December 2013

Balance at 31 December 2014

(d) Ordinary shares

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Number
of shares

Average
price

$000

8,818,001

-

372

6,381,501

384,800,498

900,000

30,000,000

5,100,000

436,000,000

436,000,000

-

2,675,000

(2,344,996)

-

436,330,004

$0.40

2,553

-

$0.50

$0.50

$0.50

-

$1.25

$1.03

-

-

-

14,631

-

17,556

17,556

(50)

-

-

14

17,520

Number
of shares

Average
price

$000

6,381,501

-

2,553

(6,381,501)

$0.40

(2,553)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ordinary shares have the right to receive dividends as declared, and, in the event of winding up the Company, to participate in the 
proceeds from the sale of all surplus assets in proportion to the number of and amounts paid up on shares held. Ordinary shares 
entitle their holder to one vote, either in person or by proxy, at a meeting of the Company.

(e) Series A preference shares 

The Series A preference shares were converted to ordinary shares on 14 October 2013. The Series A preference shares were not 
redeemable and a Series A preference shareholder had the same right as an ordinary shareholder at a shareholders’ meeting. A 
Series A preference shareholder had the right, at any time, to convert Series A preference shares into a number of fully paid ordinary 
shares calculated in accordance with the Constitution at the time. If a target realisation event occurred, all of the Series A preference 
shares would, just prior to the implementation of the target realisation event, be converted into a number of fully paid ordinary 
shares in accordance with the Constitution at the time. In the event of an issue of shares or other securities in the capital at a price 
less than the issue price for a Series A preference share or at a price less than any previously adjusted conversion price calculated in 
accordance with the Constitution at the time whether by way of new issue or exercise of options or other convertible securities, the 
conversion price for the Series A preference share would have been adjusted in accordance with the Constitution at the time.

Note
1.  As the ESP is considered in substance a share option, the ESP shares issued and corresponding loan receivables are not recognised by the Group 

in its financial statements. The loan receivable does not satisfy the “probable future benefits following to the entity” criteria of SAC 2 Framework for 
the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements on the basis that the loan is non-recourse. The ESP shares will not be considered issued to 
participants until the corresponding loan has been repaid, at which time there will be an increase in the issued capital and increase in cash.

2.  Net of transaction costs of $485,000 and associated tax benefit of $117,000.

63 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(f) Employee Share Plan (ESP)

Information relating to the Employee Share Plan, including details of shares issued under the plan, is set out in Note 22.

(g) Capital risk management

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can provide 
returns to shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimum capital structure to reduce the cost of 
capital.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return 
capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt. The Group would look to raise capital when an opportunity 
to invest in a business or company was seen as value adding relative to the current parent entity’s share price at the time of the 
investment. The Group actively pursues additional investments as part of its growth strategy.

The capital risk management policy remains unchanged from the 2013 Annual Report.

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

33

388

421

(230)

(83)

(313)

-

 33 

 33 

- 

 (230)

 (230)

17. Equity – reserves

Share based payment reserve movements

Balance at the beginning of the period

Share based payment expense

Balance at the end of the period

Foreign currency translation reserve movements

Balance at the beginning of the period

Currency translation differences arising during the period

Balance at the end of the period

18. Key management personnel disclosures

(a) Directors

The following persons were Directors of Freelancer Limited during the financial year

Mr Robert Matthew Barrie – Executive Chairman 

Mr Darren Nicholas John Williams – Executive Director 

Mr Simon Alvin Clausen – Non-Executive Director

(b) Other key management personnel

The following persons also had the authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the major activities of the 
Group, directly or indirectly, during the financial year:

Mr Neil Leonard Katz – Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

(c) Key management personnel compensation

Short-term employee benefits

Share based employee benefits

Other long term benefits

Total benefits

Consolidated

2014 
$000

982

56

73

1,111

 2013 
$000

713

9

38

760

Short-term employee benefits
These amount include fees and benefits paid to the Non-Executive Chair and Non-Executive Directors as well as all salary, paid 
leave benefits, fringe benefits and cash bonuses awarded to Executive Directors and other KMP.

Other long-term benefits

These amounts represent long service leave benefits accruing during the year, long-term disability benefits and deferred bonus 
payments.

64 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Share based payments

These amounts represent the expense related to the participation of KMP in equity-settled schemes as measured by the fair value of 
the options rights and shares granted on grant date.

Further information in relation to KMP remuneration can be found in the Director’s Report.

19. Remuneration of auditors

During the year the following fees were paid for services provided by the auditor of the parent entity, its related practices and non-
related audit firms:

(a) Hall Chadwick
Audit and other assurance services

Audit and review of financial reports

Due diligence services
Total remuneration for audit and other assurance services

Taxation services

Tax compliance services, including review of Company income tax returns

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

101

-
101

38

45

50
95

8

Total remuneration of Hall Chadwick

139

103

(b) Audit firms other than Hall Chadwick
Audit and other assurance services

Audit and review of financial reports

Taxation services

Tax compliance services, including review of subsidiary income tax returns

Total remuneration of audit firms other than Hall Chadwick

Total auditors remuneration

20. Contingent liabilities

29

11

39

178

6

4

10

113

Except for the items listed below, there are no other contingent liabilities as at 31 December 2014:

•  a collateral amount of USD100,000 (2013: USD100,000) is in place in one of the Group’s PayPal accounts in favour of PayPal 

Australia Pty Ltd; 

•  a term deposit of $20,000 (2013: $20,000) is secured for corporate credit card facilities in place;
•  a deposit of $376,000 (2013: $313,000) is held by Global Collect Services B.V, which is one of the Group’s credit card 

processing providers, as security for any contractual compensation arising under this agreement;  

•  a deposit of GBP100,000 (2013: GBP100,000) is held by WorldPay (UK) Limited, which is one of the Group’s credit card 

processing providers, as security for any contractual compensation arising under this agreement; and

• 

included in cash is an amount of $724,000 on term deposit, which is secured against a bank guarantee that has been provided 
to the lessor in respect of premises occupied by the Company at Level 20, 680 George Street Sydney.  

65 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

21. Commitments for expenditure

(a) Non-cancellable operating leases

The Group has entered into commercial leases for office property. As at 31 December 2014 these leases had remaining lives ranging 
from 1.5 months up to 64 months. Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the income statement on a straight line basis 
over the period of the lease. Future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating leases as at 31 December are as 
follows:

Less than one year

Between one and five years

More than five years

Total operating lease commitments

(b) Sub-lease arrangement

Consolidated

2014 
$000

2,338

6,998

372

9,709

 2013 
$000

 1,739 

 3,844 

 - 

 5,583

The Group has entered into a sub-lease arrangement with respect to the Group’s previous head office for which it is subject to a 
commercial lease expiring 16 February 2016. Rentals paid to the Group under this sub-lease are reflected as a reduction in rental 
expense in the profit or loss statement on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. Future minimum rentals receivable under 
the sub-lease arrangement as at 31 December 2014 are as follows:

Less than one year

Between one and five years

More than five years

Total sub-lease commitments

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

360

45

-

405

-

-

-

-

A provision for onerous contracts has been recognised for the difference in the unavoidable cost of meeting the obligations under 
this lease to the expected benefits to be derived by the Group from the sublease and is included in other provisions in Note 15.

(c) Other capital commitments

There were no capital commitments as at 31 December 2014.

22. Share based payments

During the year ended 31 December 2013, the Company established a share based payment plan, the Employee Share Plan (ESP) to 
assist the Company in retaining and attracting current and future employees by providing them with the opportunity to own shares 
in the Company.

The key terms of the ESP are as follows:

• 

• 

• 

the Board may invite a person who is employed or engaged by or holds an office with the Group (whether on a full or part-
time basis) and who is declared by the Board to be eligible to participate in the ESP from time to time (Eligible Employee) to 
apply for fully paid ordinary shares under the plan from time to time (ESP shares);

invitations to apply for ESP shares offered to Eligible Employees subsequent to the Company’s initial public offering are to be 
made on the basis of the market price per share defined as the volume weighted average price at which the Company’s shares 
have traded during the 30 days immediately preceding the date of the invitation;

invitations to apply for ESP shares under the ESP will be made on a basis determined by the Board (including as to the 
conditionality on the achievement of any key performance indicators) and notified to Eligible Employees in the invitation, or if 
no such determination is made by the Board, on the basis that ESP shares will be subject to a 4 year vesting period, with: 

-  25% of ESP shares applied for vesting on the date that is the first anniversary of the issue date of the ESP shares; and  

-  1/36th of the remaining number of ESP shares vesting on the last day of each calendar month commencing in the following 
calendar month.

•  Eligible Employees who accept an invitation (ESP Participants) may be offered an interest free loan from the Company to 

finance the whole of the purchase of the ESP shares they are invited to apply for (ESP Loan). ESP Loans will have a term of 4 
years and become repayable in full on the earlier of: 

-  the fourth anniversary of the issue date of the Employee Offer Shares; and 

66 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

-  if the ESP Participant ceases to be an Eligible Employee, either: 

  - the date 30 days after the date of cessation, if the Eligible Employee is a good leaver (as defined in the ESP); or 
  - that date of cessation, if the Eligible Employee is a bad leaver (as defined in the ESP).

• 

if the ESP Participant does not repay the outstanding ESP Loan, or it notifies the Company that it cannot, then such number 
of ESP shares that equal by value (using the price at which the ESP shares were issued) the outstanding amount of the ESP 
Loan will become the subject of a buy-back notice from the Company which the ESP Participant must accept. The buy-back 
of such number of ESP shares will be considered full and final satisfaction of the ESP Loan and the Company will not have any 
further recourse against the ESP Participant;

•  any dividends received by the ESP Participant whilst the whole or part of the ESP Loan remains outstanding must be applied to 

the repayment of the ESP Loan. In addition, an ESP Participant may make pre-payments at any time;

• 

• 

the maximum number of ESP shares for which invitations may be issued under the ESP together with the number of ESP 
shares still to be issued in respect of already accepted invitations and that have already been issued in response to invitations 
in the previous 5 years (but disregarding ESP shares that are or were issued following invitations to non-residents, that did 
not require a disclosure document under the Corporations Act, or that were issued under a disclosure document under 
the Corporations Act) must not exceed 5% of the total number of ordinary shares on issue in the Company at the time the 
invitations are made;

in the event of a corporate reconstruction, the Board will adjust, subject to the Listing Rules (if applicable), any one or more 
of the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the ESP (if applicable), the subscription price, the buy-back price 
and the number of ESP shares to be vested at any future vesting date (if applicable), as it deems appropriate so that the benefits 
conferred on ESP Participants after a corporate reconstruction are the same as the benefits enjoyed by the ESP Participants 
before the corporate reconstruction. On conferring the benefit of any corporate reconstruction, any fractional entitlements to 
shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole share;

•  ESP Participants will continue to have the right to participate in dividends paid by the Company despite some or all of their ESP 
shares not having vested yet or being subject to an ESP Loan. If an ESP Loan has been made to the ESP Participant, then any 
dividend due must first be applied to reducing any outstanding ESP Loan amount applicable to the ESP shares on which the 
dividend is paid;

•  ESP shares which have not vested and/or are subject to repayment of the ESP Loan will be restricted (escrowed) from trading;
• 

the Company may buy-back at the issue price any ESP shares which:

•  have not vested, or are incapable of vesting at any time (including as a result of the ESP Participant failing to meet any key  

performance indicators on which vesting of ESP shares is conditional); or

• 

remain in escrow and/or are the subject of an ESP Loan, on the occurrence of:

• 

• 

the ESP Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Employee (unless the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion 
determines otherwise, subject to any conditions that it may apply, including the repayment of any outstanding ESP 
Loan); or

the expiration of the term of the ESP Loan. 

•  any bonus securities issued in relation to ESP shares which remain unvested or are subject to an ESP Loan which becomes 

repayable in full will be the subject of a buy-back by the Company at the issue price for no consideration;

•  on the death or permanent disability of an ESP Participant, all ESP shares held by the ESP Participant or their estate will 

immediately vest subject to the repayment of any outstanding ESP Loan by the curator, executor or nominated beneficiary(ies) 
(as the case may be) within 30 days of their appointment (or such longer period as the Company in its discretion may allow). 
Failing such repayment, the Company will buy-back all ESP shares in respect of which there is an outstanding ESP Loan;

• 

• 

• 

the rules of the ESP and any amendment to the rules of the ESP must be in accordance with the Listing Rules and the 
Corporations Act;

if, while the Company’s shares are traded on the ASX or any other stock exchange, there is any inconsistency between the 
terms of the ESP and the Listing Rules, the Listing Rules will prevail; and

the ESP is governed by the laws of the State of New South Wales, Australia.

67 

 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The full terms of the ESP are available on the Company’s website, www.freelancer.com.

(a) ESP share grants

Set out below are summaries of ESP shares granted and issued under the plan:

Grant date

Issue price

Balance at 
the start of 
the year

Granted / 
issued 

Released 
from 
restrictions

Forfeited / 
cancelled

Balance at 
the end of 
the year

Balance of 
unvested 
ESP shares

Balance of 
vested ESP 
shares

2014

14 October 2013

$0.50

900,000

13 November 2013

$0.50

5,100,000

28 February 2014

22 May 2014

3 November 2014

$1.54

$1.14

$0.70

-

-

-

-

-

1,200,000

1,050,000

425,000

-

-

900,000

637,501

262,499

(28,687)

(1,144,996)

3,926,317

2,976,211

950,106

-

-

-

(1,200,000)

-

-

-

-

1,050,000

1,050,000

425,000

325,000

100,000

-

-

Total

2013

6,000,000

2,675,000

(28,687)

(2,344,996)

6,301,317

4,988,712

1,312,605

14 October 2013

13 November 2013

$0.50

$0.50

Total

-

-

-

900,000

5,100,000

6,000,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

900,000

900,000

5,100,000

5,100,000

6,000,000

6,000,000

-

-

-

All Eligible Employees who accepted an offer of ESP shares were given an interest free loan from the Company to finance the whole 
of the purchase of the ESP shares they were invited to apply for (ESP Loan). 

The ESP Loans are provided to participants on a non-recourse basis and upon vesting must be repaid in order to remove trading 
restrictions on vested ESP shares. The term of the ESP Loan is four years, however participants may forfeit their ESP shares if they 
do not repay the ESP Loan or leave the Company. As the ESP removes the risk to participants from decreases in the share price 
by limiting the maximum loan amount repayable to the value of the ESP shares disposed and waiving the ESP Loan should the 
participant forfeit their ESP shares, whilst still allowing participants the rewards of any increase in share price, the Company has 
effectively granted the participants an option to the ESP shares due to the ESP Loans being non-recourse. As such, this arrangement 
is accounted for under AASB 2.

The assessed weighted average fair value at grant date of the effective share options granted during the financial year is $0.24 per 
option (2013: $0.16). Options were priced using a Black-Scholes option pricing model that takes into account the exercise price, 
the term of the option, the impact of dilution, the share price at grant date and expected price volatility of the underlying share, 
the expected dividend yield and the risk free interest rate for the term of the option. The expected price volatility of the Company’s 
shares is based on the historical volatility of ASX listed companies considered to be comparable to Freelancer Limited.

The model inputs for the share option grants outstanding during the years ended 31 December 2013 and 31 December 2014 
include:

Grant date

Exercise price

Expiry dates

Share price at 
grant date

Expected price 
volatility

Expected divi-
dend yield

Risk-free 
interest rate

14 October 2013

13 November 2013

28 February 2014

22 May 2014

3 November 2014

$0.50

$0.50

$1.54

$1.14

$0.70

IPO price

Various based 
on the vesting 
terms of the ESP 
shares

Various based on 
the grant dates

33.9%

34.1%

34.5%

33.7%

32.6%

-

-

-

-

-

3.63%

3.54%

3.36%

3.23%

2.79%

68 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(b) Share grants

On 29 October 2014, the Company agreed to issue a maximum of 1,733,333 fully paid ordinary shares to certain employees. The 
agreement to issue shares was made outside of the ESP.

The issue of the incentive shares will occur in several tranches, with each tranche conditional only upon the respective personnel 
being in on-going employment on the respective issue dates. The issue of shares in each tranche will occur as follows:

•  325,000 shares to be issued on 1 July 2015;
•  433,333 shares to be issued on 1 July 2016;
•  433,333 shares to be issued on 1 July 2017;
•  433,333 shares to be issued on 1 July 2018; and
•  108,334 shares to be issued on 1 October 2018.

The new shares will rank equally with existing ordinary shares in the Company and the issue price of each tranche will be the 5 day 
volume weighted average price of the Company’s shares on the date of issue of the incentive shares.

The assessed weighted average fair value at grant date of the share grants issued during the financial year is $0.705 per share (2013: 
nil). The fair value of the share grants is determined based on the value of the shares at grant date less the present value of dividends 
expected to be distributed between the grant date and the issue dates. 

23. Related party transactions

(a) Parent entity

Freelancer Limited is the parent entity and ultimate controlling entity.

(b) Subsidiaries

Interests in subsidiaries are set out in Note 26.

(c) Transactions with key management personnel

Disclosures relating to key management personnel are set out in Note 18 and the Remuneration Report.

(d) Transactions with related parties

The following transactions occurred with related parties:

Licence fees paid to Startive Ventures, Inc a company associated with S.A. Clausen for the exclusive use of 
various domain names 

Purchase of various domain names from Startive Ventures, Inc a company associated with S.A. Clausen

Consolidated

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

-

-

7

1,348

Receivable from and payable to related parties

There were no receivables from or payable to related parties at reporting date in relation to transactions with related parties detailed 
above.

Loans to / from related parties

There were no loans to or from related parties at the reporting date.

Terms and conditions

All transactions were made on normal commercial terms and conditions and at market rates.

69 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

24. Parent entity information

Set out below is the supplementary information about the parent entity.

Statement of comprehensive income
(Loss) after tax

Total comprehensive loss

Statement of financial position
Current assets

Non-current assets
Total assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Total liabilities

Net assets

Contributed equity

Reserves

Accumulated losses
Total equity

Contingent liabilities

Parent

2014 
$000

 2013 
$000

(339)

(339)

(249)

(249)

1,045

16,312
17,357

3

-
3

9,727

7,821
17,548

208

-
208

17,354

17,340

17,520

17,556

421

(587)
17,354

33

(249)
17,340

The parent entity had no contingent liabilities at 31 December 2014 and 31 December 2013.

Capital commitments – plant and equipment

The parent entity had no capital commitments for plant and equipment as at 31 December 2014 and 31 December 2013.

Significant accounting policies

The accounting policies of the parent entity are consistent with those of the Group, as disclosed in Note 3, except for investments in 
subsidiaries which are accounted for at cost, less any impairment.

25. Business combinations
(a) Acquisition of Warrior Forum

On 15 April 2014, the Group acquired the assets of Warrior Forum, warriorforum.com, from Clifton Allen Says Jr. for a purchase 
consideration of $3.4 million. Warrior Forum is an online marketplace and community for Internet marketing professionals. 

Warrior Forum contributed marketplace and advertising revenues of $1.1 million for the period 15 April 2014 to 31 December 2014. 
The Group has determined it impracticable to disclose the profit or loss of Warrior Forum included in the consolidated statement of 
profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the period 15 April 2014 to 31 December 2014. The Group has assessed that an 
objective determination of the net profit was not able to be made due to the integrated nature of the Group’s website operations 
and as such disclosure has not been made.

The Group has determined it impracticable to disclose the revenue and net profit/loss included in the consolidated statement of 
profit or loss and other comprehensive income had the acquisition of the assets of Warrior Forum occurred at the beginning of the 
reporting period. The Group has assessed that an objective determination of the revenue and net profit since the beginning of the 
reporting period was not able to be made due to the integrated nature of the Group’s website operations and as such disclosure has 
not been made.

Purchase consideration:

Cash

Fair value of net identifiable assets acquired:

Goodwill on acquisition
Total purchase consideration

70 

$000

3,422

3,422
3,422

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(b) Acquisition of other businesses

The acquisition of other assets and liabilities, which prior to acquisition operated as standalone websites, each individually 
immaterial, had the following effect on the Group’s assets and liabilities:

Purchase consideration:

Cash

Fair value of net identifiable assets and liabilities acquired:

User obligations

Goodwill on acquisition
Total purchase consideration

$000

269

(152)

421
269

The Group has assessed that an objective determination of the revenue and net profit from the date of acquisition of these other 
businesses to 31 December 2014, which prior to acquisition operated as standalone websites, was not able to be made due to the 
integrated nature of the Group’s website operations and as such disclosure has not been made.

The Group has determined it impracticable to disclose the revenue and net profit/loss included in the consolidated statement of 
profit or loss and other comprehensive income had the acquisition of the other businesses, which prior to acquisition operated as 
standalone websites, occurred at the beginning of the reporting period. The Group has assessed that an objective determination of 
the revenue and net profit since the beginning of the reporting period was not able to be made due to the integrated nature of the 
Group’s website operations and as such disclosure has not been made.

26. Interests in controlled entities

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of the following subsidiaries in accordance with 
the accounting policy described in Note 3:

Country of 
incorporation

Percentage Owned (%)
2014

2013

Name of entity

Subsidiaries of Freelancer Limited:

Freelancer International Pty Ltd

Freelancer Technology Pty Ltd

Freelancer India Pty Ltd

Warrior Forum Pty Ltd (formerly Freelancer Pakistan Pty Ltd)

Warrior Technology Pty Ltd (formerly Freelancer Bangladesh Pty Ltd)

Payments Pty Ltd

Payments Australia Pty Ltd

Payments IP Pty Ltd

Freelancer Networks (Canada) Inc

Freelancer Outsourcing Inc

Freelancer.com Pte Limited

Freelancer Belize Limited

Freelancer International GmbH

Freemarket (Switzerland) GmbH

Freelancer Online India Private Limited

Freelancer.com Philippines, Inc

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Canada

Canada

Singapore

Belize

Switzerland

Switzerland

India

Philippines

Freelancer Outsourcing UK Limited
Freelancer (Shanghai) Information Technology Co., Ltd. (incorporated 
on 16 December 2014)

United Kingdom
China

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
-

27. Events occurring after the reporting date

There are no other matters or circumstances that have arisen since 31 December 2014 that have significantly affected, or may 
significantly affect:

• 
• 
• 

the aggregated entity’s operations in the future financial years, or 

the results of those operations in future financial years, or 

the aggregated entity’s state of affairs in the future financial affairs.

71 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

28. Reconciliation of (loss) / profit after tax to net cash flow from 
operating activities

(Loss) / Profit for the year 

Non-cash items in operating (loss) / profit:

Depreciation and amortisation

Share based payments expense

Net exchange differences

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

(Increase) in trade and other receivables

Decrease / (increase) in deferred tax assets

(Increase) / decrease in other assets

(Decrease) / increase in trade and other creditors

Increase / (decrease) in provision for income tax

(Decrease) / increase in deferred tax liabilities

Increase in provisions for employee benefits

Increase in other provisions

Net cash (outflow) / inflow from operating activities

29. Earnings per share (EPS)

(a) Basic earnings per share
From operations attributable to the ordinary equity of the Company

Total basic earnings per share attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company

(b) Diluted earnings per share
From operations attributable to the ordinary equity of the Company

Total basic earnings per share attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company

(c) Reconciliation of earnings used in calculating earnings per share
Basic earnings per share:

(Loss) / profit from continuing operations ($000s)

Diluted earnings per share:

(Loss) / profit attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company ($000s)

2014 
$000

(1,847)

338

388

38

(352)

(995)

(373)

2,149

(165)

(14)

404

334

(94)

 2013 
$000

 753 

 186 

 33 

 356

 (733)

  (360)

 (235)

 (255) 

 329 

 (39)

 153 

 56 

 245 

Consolidated

2014 
Cents

(0.43)

(0.43)

(0.42)

(0.42)

(1,847)

(1,847)

 2013 
Cents

0.19

0.19

0.19

0.19

753

753

(d) Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating basic earnings per share

430,003,380

402,849,315

Adjustments for calculation of ordinary shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share:

ESP shares

Share grants
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share

6,640,872

744,658

299,178
436,943,430

-
403,593,973

(e) Information on the classification of securities

ESP shares and share grants

ESP shares granted to employees under the ESP and shares granted to employees outside of the ESP are considered to be potential 
ordinary shares and have been included in the determination of diluted earnings per share to the extent to which they are dilutive. 
The ESP shares and share grants have not been included in the determination of basic earnings per share. Details relating to the ESP 
shares are set out in Note 22.

72 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTDIRECTORS DECLARATION

DIRECTORS’ DECLARATION

In the Directors’ opinion:

• 

the Financial Statements and notes of the consolidated entity set out 
on pages 42 to 72 are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, 
including:

•  giving a true and fair view of the consolidated entity’s financial position 
as at 31 December 2014 and of its performance for the financial year 
ended on that date; and

•  complying with Australian Accounting Standards, the Corporations 
Regulations 2001 and other mandatory professional reporting 
requirements;

•  Note 2(a) confirms that the Financial Statements also comply with 

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board;

• 

• 

there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able 
to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable; and

the Directors have been given the declarations by the Chief Executive 
Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by section 295A of the 
Corporations Act 2001 for the financial year ending 31 December 2014.

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

On behalf of the directors

Matt Barrie 
Chairman

16 February 2015

73 

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

FREELANCER LIMITED 
ABN 66 141 959 042 
AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF  
FREELANCER LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES

Report on the Financial Report

We have audited the accompanying financial report of Freelancer Limited, which comprises 
the consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 December 2014, the consolidated 
statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of 
changes in equity and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended, notes 
comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information 
and the directors’ declaration of the consolidated entity comprising the company and the 
entities it controlled at the year’s end or from time to time during the financial year.

Directors’ Responsibility for the Financial Report

The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report 
that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the 
Corporations Act 2001 and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to 
enable the preparation of the financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether 
due to fraud or error. In Note 2, the directors also state, in accordance with Accounting 
Standard AASB 101: Presentation of Financial Statements, that the financial statements comply 
with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Auditor’s Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. We 
conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Those standards require 
that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan 
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial report is free from 
material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and 
disclosures in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, 
including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether 
due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control 
relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in order to 
design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose 
of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also 
includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of 
accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of 
the financial report.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a 
basis for our audit opinion.

74 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTLiability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. SYDNEY   Level 40   2 Park Street   Sydney NSW 2000 AustraliaGPO Box 3555  Sydney NSW 2001 Ph: (612) 9263 2600 Fx:  (612) 9263 2800 A member of Hall Chadwick Association, an association of separate and independent accounting and consulting firms .www.hallchadwick.com.auChartered Accountants and Business AdvisersINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

Independence

In conducting our audit, we have complied with the independence requirements of the 
Corporations Act 2001.  

Auditor’s Opinion

In our opinion:

• 

• 

the financial report of Freelancer Limited is in accordance with the Corporations Act 
2001, including:

1.  giving a true and fair view of the consolidated entity’s financial position as at 31  
December 2014 and of its performance for the year ended on that date; and

2.  complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 

2001; and

the financial report also complies with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
disclosed in Note 2. 

Report on the Remuneration Report

We have audited the remuneration report included in pages 31 to 34 of the directors’ report 
for the year ended 31 December 2014. The directors of the company are responsible for the 
preparation and presentation of the remuneration report in accordance with s 300A of the 
Corporations Act 2001. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the remuneration report, 
based on our audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards.

Auditor’s Opinion

In our opinion the remuneration report of Freelancer Limited for the year ended 31 December 
2014 complies with s 300A of the Corporations Act 2001.

Hall Chadwick 
Level 40, 2 Park Street 
Sydney NSW 2000

GRAHAM WEBB 
Partner 
Dated: 16 February 2015

75 

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Chartered Accountants and Business AdvisersSYDNEY   Level 40   2 Park Street   Sydney NSW 2000 AustraliaGPO Box 3555  Sydney NSW 2001 Ph: (612) 9263 2600 Fx:  (612) 9263 2800 A member of Hall Chadwick Association, an association of separate and independent accounting and consulting firms .www.hallchadwick.com.auADDITIONAL ASX INFORMATION

ADDITIONAL ASX INFORMATION

Shareholder information 

Additional information required by the Australian Securities Exchange Limited Listing Rules and not disclosed elsewhere in this 
report. This additional information was applicable as at 13 February 2015.

Substantial shareholders

The names of substantial shareholders who have notified the Company in accordance with section 671B of the Corporations Act 
2001 are:

Robert Matthew Barrie 1

Simon Clausen and Startive Holdings Limited and its related bodies 2

Number  of shares

206,446,891

177,230,004

Top 20 Shareholders as at 13 February 2015

Rank

Name

Number of ordinary 
shares held

% of ordinary shares 
held

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Matt Barrie

Startive Holdings Limited

Darren Williams

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited

National Nominees Limited 

Nicholas P De Jong

J P Morgan Nominees Australia Limited

National Nominees Limited

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited

UBS Nominees Pty Ltd

Rodney Sellick

Merrill Lynch (Australia) Nominees Pty Limited

Mr Michael John Ruhfus

Marobar Holdings Pty Limited

Vikram Sharma

Frostheath Pty Ltd 

Sandhurst Trustees Ltd 

Mr David Harrison

Willix Halim

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited-GSCO ECA

Total top 20 holders

Total remaining holders

200,406,578

167,939,739

12,605,660

4,819,246

4,125,247

3,499,899

3,331,834

3,024,539

1,701,072

1,363,251

1,315,833

1,104,134

819,500

789,500

789,500

633,128

605,250

557,116

511,049

497,972

410,440,047

25,889,957

45.93

38.49

2.89

1.10

0.95

0.80

0.76

0.69

0.39

0.31

0.30

0.25

0.19

0.18

0.18

0.15

0.14

0.13

0.12

0.11

94.07

5.93

Notes
1.  Included a relevant interest in 5,930,004 fully paid ordinary shares by virtue of the Director having had a voting power of over 20% in the Company, 

which had a relevant interest as a result of trading restrictions over shares issued under the ESP.

2.  Included a relevant interest in 6,330,004 fully paid ordinary shares by virtue of the Director having had a voting power of over 20% in the Company, 

which had a relevant interest as a result of trading restrictions over shares issued under the ESP.

76 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTADDITIONAL ASX INFORMATION

Distribution of ordinary shareholders as at 13 February 2015

1 - 1,000

1,001 – 5,000

5,001 – 10,000

10,001 – 100,000

100,001 – 1,000,000

1,000,001 and over
Total

Number of shareholders
479

Number of shares
303,232

919

318

337

52

12
2,117

2,688,517

2,580,725

11,090,354

14,430,144

405,237,032
436,330,004

Restricted securities as at 13 February 2015

There are no restricted securities on issue for the purpose of the ASX Listing Rules. 

There are ordinary shares on issue that are subject to trading restrictions pursuant to the ESP. The table below sets out the number 
of shares subject to trading restrictions together with the trading restriction end dates:

Vested ESP shares subject to trading 
restrictions 1
Unvested ESP shares subject to trading 
restrictions 2

Not applicable
Approximately 18,750 ESP shares vest at the end of each calendar 
month until 31 October 2017
Approximately 68,337 ESP shares vest at the end of each calendar 
month until 30 November 2017
Vesting on 22 May 2015
Approximately 19,792 ESP shares vest at the end of each calendar 
month starting 30 June 2015 until 31 May 2018
Vesting on 3 November 2015
Approximately 28,125 ESP shares vest at the end of each calendar 
quarter starting 31 December 2015 until 30 September 2017
Incapable of vesting and subject to future buy-back by the Company

Total shares subject to trading restrictions

Voting Rights

Number of shares

1,372,193

618,751

2,323,472
237,500

712,500
100,000

225,000
684,401

6,273,817

The voting rights attaching to ordinary shares, set out in the Company’s Constitution are:

a.  at meetings of members, each member is entitled to vote in person or by proxy, attorney or representative; and

b.  on a show of hands, every person present who is a member has one vote, and on a poll every member present has a vote for 

each fully paid share owned.

There are no voting rights attached to unlisted ordinary shares or unlisted options, voting rights will be attached to unlisted ordinary 
shares once issued and to options upon exercise.

On-market Buy Back

There is no current on-market buy back.

Notes
1.  Vested ESP shares remain subject to trading restrictions until the corresponding ESP loans are repaid. ESP shares may vest earlier in limited 

circumstances under the ESP. Refer to Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements above for a summary of the terms of the ESP.

2.  Unvested ESP shares remain subject to trading restrictions until vesting conditions are satisfied and the corresponding ESP loans are repaid. ESP 

shares may vest earlier in limited circumstances under the ESP. Refer to Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements above for a summary of 
the terms of the ESP.

77 

CORPORATE DIRECTORY

CORPORATE DIRECTORY

Company Directors

Mr Robert Matthew Barrie
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Mr Darren Nicholas John Williams
Executive Director

Mr Simon Alvin Clausen
Non Executive Director

Company Secretary

Neil Leonard Katz

Registered Office

Freelancer Limited

Level 20

680 George st

Sydney NSW 2000

Australia

Share Registry

Boardroom Limited

Level 7

207 Kent St

Sydney NSW 2000

Australia

External Auditors

Hall Chadwick

Level 40

2 Park St

Sydney NSW 2000

Australia

Securities Exchange 
Listing

Freelancer Limited shares are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange

Listing code: FLN

78 

FREELANCER LIMITED 2014 ANNUAL REPORTIt’s been a pleasure working with the Freelancer.com 

team to help design the Annual Report for a second 

year in a row.

Natalia S.
Visual Communication Designer  
Ensenada, Argentina     

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