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Invacare

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FY2013 Annual Report · Invacare
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Solace

Annual Report 2013

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Contents

  2  Performance highlights 
  3  Chairman’s message 
  4   Chief Executive 
Officer’s review
  8  Key strategies
  10  Management team
  11  People
  12  Digital Business
  14   Community, Parks 
and Gardens
  16  Financial Report
  18  Directors’ Report

  32   Corporate Governance 

Statement

  37  Remuneration Report
  50   Auditor’s Independence 

Declaration

 102  Directors’ Declaration
 103   Independent Auditor’s  

Report

 105  Shareholder information
 106  InvoCare locations
 108  Glossary
 IBC  Corporate information

A “Personal Details” guide 
has been included in the back 
of this document to assist 
our stakeholders.

Albany Creek
The Stations of the Cross 
in the Garden of Trinity 
Catholic Cemetery at Albany 
Creek Memorial Park

3

Singapore

19

Western Australia

Our network

43

5

Queensland

80

9

16

South Australia 46

New South Wales  
and Australian  
Capital Territory

Victoria

1

25

Tasmania

New Zealand

4

InvoCare’s location network across  
Australia, New Zealand and Singapore 
is committed to providing care to 
communities with a personalised touch.

 Funeral locations 

 Memorial Parks

Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens in Brisbane.

A traditional Korean dancer performs 
at the Chuseok celebration.

Key Funeral Brands

Cemeteries and  
Crematoria

New South Wales  

and Australian  

Capital Territory

25

White Lady Funerals is a 
dedicated team of women 
offering a unique service for our 
client families with a woman’s 
understanding. The life of the 
loved one is honoured with 
special nurturing, sensitivity, 
warmth and care. There are 
48 White Lady locations 
throughout Australia.

Flexible and less traditional, 
Simplicity Funerals offers 
practical, dignified, respectful 
and affordable funeral services. 
Steadily expanding, there 
are 51 Simplicity Funeral 
locations throughout Australia, 
New Zealand and Singapore, 
and a growing number of 
mobile arrangers servicing 
areas lacking Simplicity 
representation.

Singapore Casket Company 
has been offering caring and 
professional services to client 
families, of all denominations, 
since 1920. Its current facilities 
include nine air-conditioned 
parlours offering a bright, clean 
and tranquil environment for the 
comfort of families. 

Contemporary and Heritage Funerals

Lung Po Shan
Chinese Memorial Garden
we listen, we care, we serve

InvoCare operates 14 cemeteries 
and crematoria in Australia. The 
multicultural nature of Australia is 
recognised with burial, cremation 
and memorial options, including 
Asian sections designed by Feng 
Shui advisers, and the availability 
of architecturally designed crypts, 
vaults and family mausoleums 
preferred by many European 
communities.

We’ll know what to do.

A full list of brands and locations 
is set out on pages 106-107.

InvoCare’s over 60 
contemporary-style brands 
of funeral homes maintain the 
service approach respected by 
families over many generations. 
The service is personal 
and professional, gently 
guiding families through the 
arrangement process.

With at least one major brand 
in each Australian state 
and a number of smaller 
heritage brands serving 
local communities, there are 
155 InvoCare contemporary-
style and heritage funeral homes 
in Australia and New Zealand. 

Solace

Despite challenges in its market 
InvoCare has delivered another 
sound financial result and improved 
its cash conversion ratio allowing  
an increase in dividends in an 
otherwise difficult year.

Our core objective is to provide solace to  
our client families in their time of need  
though excellent customer service and by 
contributing to the communities we serve.

Concentration on our key growth  
strategies ensures that we can continue  
to provide solid returns to shareholders  
and be a source of solace for the  
families our people service.

The development of InvoCare’s digital  
offerings remains a major priority.

Forget-me-not
Myotsotis sylvatica, commonly 
known as the Forget-me-not, 
with its vibrant blue colour 
is generally associated with 
remembrance and continued 
love. In some countries the 
forget-me-not was also used 
to honour war dead although 
this custom has now generally 
been replaced by the poppy.

Paul McCarthy, with his 
painting of Northern 
Suburbs Memorial Gardens 
and Crematorium, that won 
a major prize in the 53rd 
Annual Ryde Arts Awards 
and now hangs in InvoCare’s 
corporate office foyer.

1

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Performance highlights

InvoCare’s solid financial performance in a year 
when the number of deaths were down confirms 
the continuing effectiveness of the business model.

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256   267   321  369  385 

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27.942887

2
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6.985722

09

10

11

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13

09

10

11

12

13

200.000000

09

10

11

12

13

60.000000

09

10

11

12

13

25.000000

09

10

11

12

13

15.000000

0.000000

Revenue 
from external 
customers 
$ million

Operating 
EBITDA  
$ million

Operating 
earnings  
after tax* 
$ million

Ordinary 
dividends  
per share 
cents per share

Profit after  
tax attributable 
to members
$ million

Five year financials

$’000 

2013

2012

 2011

 2010

 2009

Revenue from external customers  
Operating EBITDA  
Operating EBITDA margin  
Operating earnings after tax*  
Operating earnings per share (cents) 
Profit after tax attributable to members  
Earnings per share (cents) 
Dividend paid in respect of the financial year (cents) 
Ungeared, tax free operating cash flow 
Proportion of EBITDA converted to cash  
Actual capital expenditure 
Net Debt  
Operating EBITDA / Net interest (times) 
Net debt / EBITDA (times) 
Funeral homes (number) 
Cemeteries and crematoria (number) 
Employees (full time equivalents) 
Prepaid contract sales / prepaid redemptions 

385,352
 95,072
24.7%
 42,498
 38.9
 48,869
 44.7
 34.5
 104,311
110%
 19,264
 215,057
 6.8
 2.3
 237
 14
 1,470
113%

 368,652
 93,026
25.2%
 42,479
 38.8
 44,479
 40.6
 34.00
 88,542
95%
 18,412
 217,136
 6.3
 2.4
 232
 14
 1,470
115%

 321,113
 81,802
25.5%
 36,406
 34.5
 27,012
 25.6
 29.75
 75,411
92%
 16,723
 209,114
 6.5
 2.6
 226
 14
 1,430
119%

 267,449
 70,411
26.3%
 32,928
 32.4
 27,366
 26.9
 28.25
 69,059
98%
 14,266
 147,538
 7.1
 2.1
 177
 12
 1,112
117%

 255,676
 64,273
25.1%
 30,607
30.3
 48,141
47.7
25.25
 63,094
98%
 13,846
 148,358
 6.6
 2.3
 173
 12
 1,101
118%

*Operating earings after tax excludes the net gain/(loss) on undelivered prepaid contracts, acquisition related costs, prior period tax movements, 
investment allowance benefits, non cash interest rate swap movements, gain/(loss) on sale, disposal or impairment of non-current assets and 
minority interests.

2

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Chairman’s message

InvoCare was challenged in 2013 by lower numbers 
of funeral, burial and cremation cases. Tight cost 
management and strong cash flows countered the 
volume effects to deliver a sound financial performance.

Operating earnings after tax were static 
at $42.5 million for the year. Case volume 
declines arose from both lower numbers 
of deaths and market share erosion. 
The adverse volume impacts were 
mitigated by a combination of favourable 
average revenue per case, rigorous 
cost management, foreign currency 
gains due to a weakening Australian 
dollar and the results from recently 
acquired businesses.

Statutory profit after tax increased 9.9% from 
$44.5 million to $48.9 million. The higher 
statutory profit was due to gains from sales 
of surplus assets, net impairment reversals 
and undelivered prepaid contracts.

During 2013, a number of businesses were 
acquired in New Zealand, primarily in the key 
Auckland market, and each made a good 
contribution to the year’s result. Similarly, 
the Tuckers funeral business in Geelong, 
Australia, performed well following its 
acquisition in December 2012.

The focus on the development of the 
Company’s digital strategy continued 
during 2013 and includes enhanced tools 
to improve the client interface with front line 
staff, new online offerings and improvements 
in the core operational and financial systems.

In light of strong operating EBITDA to 
cash conversion ratio at 110%, the Board 
approved a fully franked final dividend of 
19.5 cents per share. Dividends for the 
year total 34.5 cents per share, an increase 
of 1.5% on 2012. The 2013 dividends 
represent  a payout ratio of 89% (2012: 
88%) of operating earnings after tax. Total 
shareholder returns (price movement plus 
cash dividends) since the initial public offering 
in late 2003 now stands at more than 22% 
compound annual growth.

On behalf of the Board and all shareholders 
I would like to thank my predecessor, Ian 
Ferrier, for his outstanding contribution as 
Chairman of the Company since joining the 
Board in 2001 and leading InvoCare through 
its first ten years as a listed company. 

All the management and staff of InvoCare 
under Andrew Smith’s leadership deserve a 
special thank you for delivering both great 
customer service and sound financial results 
in a difficult year. The Board, during its visits 
to various operational locations, continues 
to be impressed by the professionalism and 
dedication of InvoCare’s most valuable asset; 
its personnel.

I look forward to InvoCare’s continued 
success through focus on its core growth 
pillars, now including digital innovation.

Richard Fisher
CHAIRMAN

3

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Chief Executive 
Officer’s review

By focussing on its key strategies InvoCare has 
delivered a solid result despite the difficulties 
in its markets.

InvoCare has delivered a  
solid result from its core 
business in a year where 
deaths are estimated 
to be down 0.8% in 
InvoCare’s markets 
and some market share 
erosion was experienced. 

These impacts were in 
part mitigated by our 
continued expansion in 
the key Auckland market 
with the addition of five 
locations through acquisition. 
Sales revenue has grown 
by 4.5% to $385.4 million 
(2012: $368.7 million) and 
operating EBITDA grew 
2.2% to $95.1 million 
(2012: $93.0 million) 
despite the challenges 
faced during the year. 

Pleasingly, the second half 
result was more positive 
than the first, with tight 
cost controls contributing 
to a better financial 
performance. Volumes are 
on an encouraging trend 
at the beginning of 2014.

The result includes:

•  A significant 

improvement in EBITDA 
to cash conversion to 110% 
in 2013 compared to 95% 
in 2012.

•  Second half EBITDA to 
sales ratio of 26.7% 
compared to 2012 of 26.0%.

•  Acquisitions performing 
ahead of expectations 
contributing $0.8 million 
in after tax operating 
earnings.

Andrew Smith
CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
OFFICER

4

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013The Tilton, Opie & Pattinson New Lynn location in Auckland 
following the inclusion of the Simplicity Funerals branding.

The H Morris Funerals Romaleigh chapel at Hillcrest in Auckland.

•  A positive after tax 

contribution of $1.1 million 
from undelivered prepaid 
contracts compared to a 
break even result in 2012.

•  Net after tax asset sale 
gains of $3.2 million 
compared to $2.1 million 
in 2012.

•  Continued strong 

growth in the sale of new 
prepaid contracts with 
new contract exceeding 
redemptions by 13%.

•  Full year dividends 
up 0.5 cents per share 
in light of the solid cash 
conversion ratio.

Acquisitions
During the year the focus was on the 
Auckland market where InvoCare was 
under-represented. In February 2013 
Resthaven Funerals, with its highly respected 
team, became part of the InvoCare network. 
Resthaven operates from two locations in 
the south and east Auckland market.

competitor marketing, community and 
public relations and, in some markets, 
pricing as a reaction to the decline in the 
number of deaths, and the entry of new 
competitors. The tight management of 
InvoCare personnel numbers and marketing 
expenditure has contributed to some loss 
in market share.

In July 2013 Tilton, Opie & Pattinson, 
which operates in central and west 
Auckland was acquired, adding a further 
two locations to the InvoCare market. 
These locations have been co-branded 
Simplicity as part of the introduction of 
this brand to the New Zealand market.

In December 2013 H Morris Funerals, a 
significant operator in the northern part 
of Auckland was acquired.

In total five additional locations were 
added in Auckland during the year 
bringing InvoCare’s presence in this 
key market to a total of 11 locations.

In an effort to improve our product and 
service offering available in the Christchurch 
market, Fraser Lawrence, a monumental 
stone mason, was acquired in August 2013.

Tuckers Funeral & Bereavement Services 
has continued to perform strongly in the 
Geelong, Victoria market since its acquisition 
in December 2012.

Exceeding customer 
expectations
In Australia comparable funeral sales were 
$264.2 million higher than the prior year 
by 0.7%. Case volumes declined 2.8% 
compared to the prior year. The winter 
months, typically the busiest part of the year, 
were very mild which led to a reduction in 
the annual number of deaths, estimated 
to be 1% in InvoCare’s markets. Market 
share loss has been caused by aggressive 

All key brands continue to receive very 
positive brand recognition scores in our 
national surveys with several being the 
leading brand in their catchment areas. 
Once again, customer surveys show that 
97% of respondents would recommend an 
InvoCare brand, with all brands receiving 
excellent scores.

New Zealand comparable funeral sales were 
down 2.3% from the prior year and totalled 
NZ$37.7 million. Case numbers were 
down by 5.2%, due to a 1.9% reduction in 
the number of deaths and mixed market 
share results. Some locations faced some 
aggressive competitive pressures including 
the emergence of new entrants. Despite 
some markets facing increased price 
competition, pleasingly average contract 
values across New Zealand rose by 4.1%.

In Singapore total sales were up 14.5% 
to S$15.7 million despite holding prices 
constant since 2011. This growth was 
assisted by the expansion into funeral 
accessories, which, while generating lower 
margins, this provides a more streamlined 
and improved service to client families. 
Case volumes were down marginally but 
this was more than offset by an increase 
in average case revenues.

Cemeteries and crematoria gross sales 
before deferred revenue adjustments 
were higher than 2012 by 1.6% reaching 
$81.2 million. At need volumes were less 
than last year, by 2.1%, due predominantly 
to the lower number of deaths in the Sydney 

5

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Chief Executive 
Officer’s review 
continued

The Resthaven Funerals team.

The Resthaven Funerals Howick funeral home in  
West Auckland, New Zealand.

Actual and projected fiscal and calendar year deaths – Australia

Actual and projected fiscal and calendar year deaths – Australia

 190

180

170

160

150

 140

130  

 120  

110  

)

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Years

8
0
0
2

0
1
0
2

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2

4
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Actual national rolling annual deaths per ABS

Estimated national rolling annual deaths per ABS

ABS projected deaths 2012 Series B

Trend plus/minus 5%

Actual trend

InvoCare estimate

and Brisbane regions. After allowing for 
movements in the deferred revenue pool of 
unconstructed memorials and related items, 
reported sales were up 2.3%. Client surveys 
reveal that 92% would recommend the 
InvoCare’s parks and 97% believed the cost 
of memorialisation was either about what 
was expected or lower.

The sale of prepaid funeral contracts, which 
will generate future business in Australia, 
continues to perform strongly with the 
number of contracts sold increasing by 
3.8% compared to the previous year. 
Pleasingly, average contract values rose 
by 4.9% with new contracts exceeding 
redemptions by 13.2%. 14.2% of funeral 
services delivered in 2013 resulted 
from prepaid arrangements sold in 
previous periods.

Planning for the future
InvoCare’s investment in digital solutions 
and social media continued in 2013. One 
state in Australia has now fully implemented 
a mobile tablet solution for the funeral 
arrangement process. This solution provides 
a smoother process for client families, 
minimises errors and omissions to ensure 
the arrangement is delivered as the family 
requested, and reduces back office costs. 
Other notable achievements were the 
launch of FuneralOrganiser, MyMemorial 
and MyGriefAssist web sites which aim 
to provide solace to families at a very 
difficult time. HeavenAddress.com, 
InvoCare’s online memorial solution, 
continues to grow and InvoCare is working 
closely with HeavenAddress to maximise 
the possibilities this service presents.

During the year HeavenAddress launched 
iTunes and Android Apps as well as 
providing additional functionality around 
donations, “memorial clouds” and “Resting 
Place”, which links Google Maps and 
provides GPS coordinates of physical burial 
and memorial sites in certain cemeteries.

Facility improvements continued in 
2013 with significant progress made on 
rectification and strengthening works in 
Christchurch, following the devastation 
caused by earthquakes over the last few 
years. It is anticipated that the final projects 
will be completed during 2014. The ongoing 
upgrade of the InvoCare motor vehicle 
fleet, to ensure service standards are 
maintained, continued. 

6

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
1

1.  The Simplicity Funerals Wall to Wall ride team  

present a cheque to police Legacy.

Commitment to the community
InvoCare continues to support a wide variety of 
community and service organisations. One highlight 
in 2013 was Simplicity’s support for the Wall to Wall 
Ride to honour police officers who have given their 
lives in the course of duty. This saw riders from all 
over Australia, including Police Commissioners from 
the Australian Federal Police, New South Wales, 
Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, 
Queensland and Tasmania, converge on Canberra to 
raise funds for Police Legacy.

Support was provided to The Salvation Army, Legacy, 
the Jane McGrath Foundation and Lions and many 
of InvoCare’s staff were heavily involved in their local 
community service clubs such as Rotary. Christine 
Jones from Drysdale Funerals at Nambour was 
honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia 
for services to her community. Christine has been 
active for many years in a wide range of community 
organisations, including the Police-Citizens Youth Club, 
the Cancer Council and the St Vincent de Paul Society. 

Team InvoCare 
Training programmes continue to be delivered to 
InvoCare’s staff to ensure they are equipped to provide 
the best possible service. Management development 
programmes during the year were targeted at our 
future leaders, along with a range of occupational 
training courses focused on skills development. During 
the year a major staff survey, managed externally and 
anonymously, was completed to develop a better 
understanding of the key concerns and opportunities for 
InvoCare’s workforce across Australia and New Zealand. 
Initiatives from this survey are now being implemented.

Our staff also continue to be shareholders with more 
than 25% of InvoCare employees participating in the 
Company’s Deferred Employee Share Plan, Exempt 
Employee Share Plan or through direct ownership of 
shares in the Company

The path ahead
InvoCare’s strong brands, commitment to service 
excellence, and its focus on the communities in which 
we operate position the Group for sustainable growth 
into the future.

Our underlying strategic focus on the pillars of growth 
ensures that, as in 2013, InvoCare will continue to grow 
and prosper while delivering solace to our client families 
at their time of need.

All InvoCare employees must, in closing, be thanked for the 
extra effort they delivered when a tight cost regime was in 
place. Despite this additional pressure, their commitment 
to the communities in which they operate, and their 
continued desire to deliver the highest standards of service 
to our client families never wavered and for that we are 
most appreciative.

7

Christine Jones OAM, Location 
Manager Drysdale Funerals, 
Nambour who received an 
OAM during the year for her 
service to the community.

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Key strategies

InvoCare continued in 2013 to focus on its  
core strategies to drive growth and profitability. 

Demographics
The aging baby boomer generation will 
see a gradual increase in the number 
of deaths in InvoCare’s key markets, 
creating possibilities for the business. 
As experienced in 2013, factors beyond 
InvoCare’s control, such as weather 
conditions, will impact the number of 
deaths within specific periods. Changing 
attitudes to funerals, with more people 
wanting an involved and celebratory 
experience, will ensure InvoCare key 
brands such as White Lady Funerals 
will continue to prosper.

Brand Awareness
InvoCare aims to sustain and improve 
brand awareness by running integrated 
TV, radio, press and billboard campaigns. 
White Lady Funerals once again achieved 
aided brand awareness scores above 
90% in InvoCare’s research. All other 
brands researched, including Guardian 
Funerals, Simplicity, Le Pine and 
Metropolitan, achieved aided brand 
awareness scores around the same 
levels as the previous years. Tight controls 
on marketing expenditure during 2013 
may have contributed to these outcomes. 
The many hours our people devote to 
community and social organisations are 
a critical component of building the brand 
awareness. New or replacement sites 
are selected in high visibility locations 
as a cost-effective means to promote 
brand awareness. 

New Locations and Acquisitions
Building on InvoCare’s robust business 
model we continue to seek new locations 
and acquisitions within the footprint of 
established shared service functions. 
The model is based on personal service 
supported by highly efficient back end 
processes to ensure client families receive 
the most professional service possible. 
During 2013 considerable focus was 
placed on the Auckland market where 
InvoCare has been under-represented 
and this resulted in the acquisition of 
five existing locations during 2013. As 
InvoCare has continued to grow, more 
geographically dispersed locations have 
been acquired or examined.

People
The professionalism of our staff is constantly 
being enhanced by investment in training 
and other learning opportunities presented 
by InvoCare’s learning and development 
team. During 2013 a key focus of training 
was on developing the skills of InvoCare’s 
personnel to embrace digital technologies 
being introduced to enhance the customer 
experience. Additionally the core operational 
programmes, including various induction, 
customer service, staff management and 
occupational health and safety modules, 
continued in 2013. Unlike most of our 
competitors, who are often family owned, 
we are able to offer our staff career 
advancement in the industry, as well as an 
opportunity to own shares in the Company.

8

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 20132
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62
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251.000000

215.142857

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143.428571

107.571429

71.714286

35.857143

09

10

11

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13

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13

0.000000

09

10

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13

Total locations 

Employees  
(full-time 
equivalents) 

Actual capital 
expenditure
$ million 

1470

1260

1050

840

630

420

210

0

19.200000

19.000000

104.3

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0.000000

09

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11

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0.000000

Prepaid 
contract 
sales/prepaid 
redemptions
%

Ungeared, tax 
free operating 
cash flow
$ million

89.4

74.5

59.6

44.7

29.8

14.9

0.0

Facilities
Our focus is to continue to invest in 
enhancing and improving the facilities 
available. We aim to ensure that the 
ambience of our locations continues to 
meet client expectations and that the most 
modern facilities, such as audiovisual 
systems and web-casting, are available 
for those who choose them. We also 
continue to invest in the maintenance of 
our many heritage-listed assets, especially 
in our locations where many generations 
of individual families are memorialised.

Future Income Streams
The number and value of prepaid contracts 
continues to grow, providing our clients 
with the peace of knowing that when the 
time comes, their families are protected 
from unexpected burdens. We work with 
our investment managers to ensure that 
investment strategies are put in place that 
will continue to ensure good returns are 
delivered from our pre-need contracts. 
InvoCare also continues to expand the 
range of memorialisation options available 
to our client families, ensuring valuable 
future revenue streams as these products 
are delivered.

Capital Management
InvoCare’s capital management initiatives 
are designed to ensure that an appropriate 
mix of debt and equity is maintained to 
maximise returns to shareholders while 
ensuring adequate funds are available 
to support growth and expansion. The 
Company is in a healthy financial position 
and its strong operating cash flows 
provide necessary funds to pay at least 
75% of operating earnings after tax to 
shareholders as dividends, meet debt 
servicing obligations, invest in property,  
plant and equipment, as well as fund 
smaller, new business acquisitions. 
The Company’s Dividend Reinvestment 
Plan has been supported by up to 
approximately 25% of shareholders. 
In the event opportunities become limited 
for investing in the growth of the business, 
the Company will consider making 
alternative returns to shareholders.

9

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Management team

Andrew Smith
CHIEF EXECUTIVE  
OFFICER

Industry experience 
8 years

Phillip Friery
CHIEF FINANCIAL  
OFFICER AND COMPANY 
SECRETARY

Industry experience 
19 years

Greg Bisset
CHIEF OPERATING  
OFFICER, AUSTRALIA

Industry experience 
6 years

Wee Leng Goh
CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
OFFICER SINGAPORE 
Industry experience 
6 years

Graeme Rhind
CHIEF OPERATING 
OFFICER,  
NEW ZEALAND

Industry experience 
31 years

Andi Luiskandl
CHIEF INFORMATION 
OFFICER

Industry experience  
2 years

The management team at InvoCare 
has more than 70 years combined 
relevant industry experience 
and many team members have 
held senior executive roles in 
other industries.

Each operational area is supported by a network of general 
and regional managers and other specialist staff. 

All operations are supported by specialist back office management 
in the areas of Marketing & Communications, Prepaid Funeral 
Administration, Human Resources, Digital Business, Property 
& Facilities, Finance, Internal Audit, and Risk Management.

10

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013People

InvoCare’s staff are committed to serving 
the communities in which they work. 

Our employees also perceive InvoCare as 
a strong and successful organisation that 
provides job security. 

InvoCare management is seeking to ensure 
that we enhance these positive aspects of 
our employees’ working experience with 
InvoCare even further in the future.

Our employees also sent some key 
messages about the areas in which 
they would like to see improvement, 
which include:

•  Recognition and Reward: levels of 
pay are important but so too is being 
acknowledged appropriately for the  
work they do,

•  Recruitment: working on better systems 
and training to assist InvoCare select, 
recruit and induct staff,

•  Career Development: building the 

capabilities of staff and career confidence 
through planning, access to training and 
skill development, and

•  Staff Wellbeing: ensuring adequate 

systems, processes and support are in 
place to maintain the wellbeing of all staff.

What is important is what we do with this 
valuable feedback. The emphasis during 
this action planning stage has been on 
getting involvement from employees at all 
levels of InvoCare. These initiatives are now 
being implemented and future feedback will 
be sought from the next survey.

People
Every employee is responsible for 
the delivery of service and providing 
solace to our families, either directly 
or indirectly. Every role in InvoCare 
contributes to ensuring that this delivery 
is of the highest standard for each 
and every funeral and memorialisation 
we undertake. A workforce which 
is engaged and focused on service 
delivery is key to the ongoing success  
of the InvoCare business.

With this engagement of our employees 
at the forefront, in mid-2013, InvoCare in 
Australia and New Zealand undertook the 
first company-wide Employee Opinion 
Survey, “In Tune”.

The purpose of this survey was to give 
our employees an opportunity to have a 
voice in the future direction of InvoCare 
and to tell us what they thought about a 
range of issues. 

Almost two-thirds of our employees 
(1,000 people) responded to this survey, 
which was a very encouraging first-time 
participation rate.

Pleasingly, the InTune survey has shown 
that employees of InvoCare:

•   are, overwhelmingly, passionate about 
the important work they do – the score 
in this area was one of the highest 
achieved when compared to both other 
similar industries and broader business 
categories,

•  find enjoyment in their work, and see 

working for the company as a “vocation”, 

•   are willing to go the extra mile to benefit 
colleagues and the families they serve, 
and

•  have a strong intention to remain 

employed by InvoCare.

1

2

1.  Irene Morton, Funeral Director of Resthaven 

Funeral Service Howick, New Zealand; winner 
of the 2012 Funeral Directors Association of 
New Zealand President’s Award.

2.  Phil Schultz, Location Manager of Hiram Philp 

Funerals Toowoomba, Queensland, who celebrated 
20 years as a funeral director during the year.

11

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Digital business

2013 brings further digital business 
initiatives which will continue into  
2014 and beyond. 

Making it easier 
to find  
us on the web 
(search)

iPad-enabled 
customer 
service for pre-
paid funerals

Enhanced 
websites 
(increasingly 
mobile-enabled)

New Social Media  
channels reaching 
over 1 million 
people

End of Life  
Considerations

Discovery, Engagement  
and Connection

The customer journey

1

2

Salesforce.com-
enabled pre-paid 
funerals customer 
enquiries handling

New services to 
discover funeral 
and memorialisation 
options 
(FuneralOrganiser, 
MyMemorial)

InvoCare’s digital business 
strategy is grounded in  
the emergence of new 
digitally-enabled business 
models that are shaping the 
deeper structures of the 
funeral services industry. 

As the market leader, 
InvoCare is determined to 
be pro-active in digitising its 
business strategically.

In 2013 InvoCare continued 
to implement its digital 
business strategy to better 
serve customers, achieve 
higher levels of business 
excellence and create 
shareholder value.

12

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Complimentary  
HeavenAddress 
Digital Memorial 
(also available on  
iPad/iPhone and 
Android)

Design of a new  
audiovisual and 
multimedia solution 
to enable a digital-
augmented  
celebration of life

Rollout of 
HeavenAddress Resting 
Place to enable client 
families to locate the 
physical memorials of 
their loved ones in our 
Memorial Parks (linked to 
a HeavenAddress  
Digital Memorial)

Salesforce.com  
Customer 
Relationship 
Management

Free digital 
subscription  
service for  
MyGriefAssist

Building  
Relationships and Trust

Serving our  
Client Families

Ongoing 
Customer Care

3

4

5

iPad-enabled 
funeral 
arrangements

HeavenAddress  
Key Dates (e.g. 
Anniversaries)

Digital-enabled 
bereavement 
information, 
education 
and training 
(MyGriefAssist)

Digitising the way 
InvoCare works to 
improve customer 
service (e.g. digital 
cash receipting)

13

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Community, Parks 
and Gardens
InvoCare’s parks and gardens provide solace 
to families in their time of need.

Community
InvoCare and its people are involved 
in a wide variety of community events 
and organisations. Staff devoted many 
hours of their own time to support 
various charitable, community and 
sporting organisations.

Ann Wilson of Ann Wilson Funerals was 
honoured during the year with the 2013 
Community Service Award presented by 
the Rotary Club of Narrabeen Lakes and 
Norma Gill of George Hartnett Funerals was 
elevated to the position of President of the 
Rotary Club of Sandgate. Forest Funeral 
Services were pleased to be part of the 
Rotary Soap Box Derby in Auckland.

Among the events supported for Legacy, 
a major focus of InvoCare, during 2013 
was the Queanbeyan-Eden-Monaro 80th 
birthday proudly support by Tobin Brothers. 
In Victoria, White Lady Funerals was 
pleased to assist with the annual War Time 
Reflections musical event which honours 
those who have been lost in the service of 
Australia’s armed forces.

Various cancer support and research 
organisations with many locations 
participating in Australia’s Biggest Morning 
Tea events. White Lady Funerals have once 
again supported the McGrath Foundation, 
which aims to provide breast cancer 
support nurses, by assisting with the sale 
of merchandise during the Sydney Cricket 
Test’s Pink day.

Many funeral homes, including Hansen 
& Cole, Guardian Funerals, White Lady 
Funerals, Simplicity Funerals and Reed & 
Bottcher Funerals provided support for the 
Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal.

A host of InvoCare funeral homes are the 
latest support partners for the Defence 
Force Welfare Association which supports 
around 20,000 serving and former members 
of the defence forces and their dependants 
with a wide range of welfare-related issues. 

This include health and wellness, education, 
employment opportunities and social 
inclusion and integration.

A very special case is Margaret-Anne Hayes 
who is the biggest single fund raiser for 
Can Too which is the fund raising arm of 
Cure Cancer Australia. The funds raised go 
directly to high-end research projects into 
the detection and cure of cancers.  
The 73 years-young Margaret-Anne, with 
her indeflatable spirit, has parachuted from 
a plane and run a marathon, not to mention 
the thousands of jars of chutney made and 
sold in her efforts to raise money for Cure 
Cancer.

Parks and Gardens
Every year, InvoCare spends considerable 
sums on maintaining the more than 
250 hectares of parks and gardens in 
its cemeteries and crematoria. 2013 
was no exception, with over $2.5 million 
spent on a range of projects.

Albany Creek Memorial Park was proud to 
host Bishop Brian Finnigan as he officially 
opened the Garden of the Trinity Catholic 
Cemetery during the year. The section 
dedicated to the Catholic Community 
includes the 15 Stations of the Cross and 
is designed in the shape of the Shield of 
the Trinity (“Scutum Fidei”). The Shield of 
the Trinity dates to the 12th Century and 
represents the mysteries of the Holy Trinity.

Water-themed developments also featured 
highly in 2013, with Great Southern 
Memorial Park extending its existing stream 
and water feature to create an area of 
natural beauty and tranquillity. Lakeside 
Memorial Park also unveiled its Pool of 
Reflection during the year and provides 
a quiet area of reflection in the middle 
of the gardens.

Having taken second place in 2012, 
Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance 
was honoured to achieve first place in 

14

the 2013 in the Commercial Category 
of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. 
Castlebrook Memorial Park retained 
its position as first place winner in the 
Blacktown City Council Awards for the 
Best Commercial and Industrial Garden.

Placings in the InvoCare’s annual Park and 
Garden Awards are highly coveted by all 
our cemeteries and crematoria. This year, 
Pinegrove Memorial Park was the overall 
winner in a tightly fought contest.

1

2

1.  Lt Colonel Peter Law of the Salvation Army receives  
a donation from the Hansen & Cole Funerals team.
2.  Great Southern Memorial Gardens creek extension  

offers new places for tranquil reflection.

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013A team from White Lady Funerals 
outside the Cairns location, the 
first White Lady Funeral location 
in far North Queensland.

15

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Financial Report

InvoCare Limited and Controlled  
Entities Financial Report for the financial  
year ended 31 December 2013

The financial report covers the consolidated financial statements 
for the consolidated entity consisting of InvoCare Limited 
and its subsidiaries. The financial report is presented in 
Australian currency.

InvoCare Limited (ABN 42 096 437 393) is a company limited by 
shares, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. Its registered 
office and principal place of business is: 
Level 4, 153 Walker Street 
North Sydney NSW 2060

A description of the nature of the consolidated entity’s operations 
and its principal activities is included in the Directors’ Report.

The financial report was authorised for issue by the directors on 
20 February 2014. The Company has power to amend and reissue 
the financial report.

Through the use of the internet, InvoCare ensures corporate 
reporting is timely, complete, and available globally at minimum 
cost to the Company. All press releases, financial reports and 
other information are available on the Company’s website:  
www. invocare.com.au

16

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Contents
Directors’ Report 

Corporate Governance Statement 

Remuneration Report 

Auditor’s Independence Declaration 

Consolidated Income Statement 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

Consolidated Balance Sheet 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 

Notes to the Financial Statements 

Directors’ Declaration 

Independent Auditor’s Report 

Shareholder Information 

InvoCare Locations 

Glossary 

Personal Details Guide 

Corporate Information 

18

32

37

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

102

103

105

106

108

109

IBC

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 1  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 

Note 2  Financial Risk Management 

Note 3  Segment Information 

Note 4  Revenue from Continuing Operations 

Note 5  Expenses 

Note 6 

Income Tax 

Note 7  Key Management Personnel Disclosures 

Note 8  Share-based Payments 

Note 9  Remuneration of Auditors 

Note 10  Dividends 

Note 11  Earnings per Share 

Note 12  Cash and Cash Equivalents 

Note 13  Trade and Other Receivables 

Note 14  Inventories 

Note 15  Prepaid Contracts 

Note 16  Interest in Other Entities: Subsidiaries 

Note 17  Interest in Other Entities: Associates 

Note 18  Property, Plant and Equipment 

Note 19  Intangible Assets 

Note 20  Derivative Financial Instruments 

Note 21  Trade and Other Payables 

Note 22  Borrowings 

Note 23  Provisions for Employee Benefits 

Note 24   Current Liabilities expected to be settled 

in twelve months 

Note 25  Contributed Equity 

Note 26  Reserves and Retained Profits 

Note 27  Non-controlling Interests 

Note 28  Capital and Leasing Commitments 

Note 29  Business Combinations 

Note 30  Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets 

Note 31  Cash Flow Information 

Note 32  Deed of Cross Guarantee 

Note 33  Events after the Balance Sheet Date 

Note 34  Related Party Transactions 

Note 35  Parent Entity Financial Information 

Note 36  Economic Dependence 

Note 37  Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements 

Note 38  Company Details 

Note 39  Authorisation of the Financial Report 

56

62

69

70

70

71

73

75

77

78

78

79

79

80

80

82

83

84

86

87

87

87

88

88

88

90

91

91

92

95

95

96

98

98

99

100

100

101

101

17

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report

The directors submit their report on the consolidated entity 
consisting of InvoCare Limited (the “Company”) and the entities it 
controlled for the year ended 31 December 2013. InvoCare Limited 
and its controlled entities together are referred to as “InvoCare”, 
the “Group” or the “consolidated entity” in this Directors’ Report.

Principal activities
The Group is the leading provider of services in the funeral industry 
in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Other than disclosed in 
this report there were no significant changes in the nature of these 
activities during the year.

Directors
The following persons were directors of InvoCare Limited during 
the whole of the financial year and until the date of this report:

Significant changes in the state of affairs
There have been no significant changes in the state of the Group’s 
affairs during the financial year.

Richard Fisher (Chairman)
Andrew Smith (Chief Executive Officer)
Christine Clifton
Roger Penman
Aliza Knox
Richard Davis

Mr Ian Ferrier resigned from the Board of the Company 
effective 22 October 2013 and Mr Benjamin Chow resigned 
from the Board of the Company effective 16 August 2013. 
Mr Richard Fisher was appointed Chairman on 22 October 2013 
following Mr Ferrier’s resignation.

Operating results
The operating earnings after tax for the year was $42,498,000 
(2012: $42,479,000) as reconciled on page 19. The consolidated 
after tax profit of the Group attributable to shareholders was 
$48,869,000 (2012: $44,479,000).

Dividends
The Directors have recommended a final, fully franked dividend 
of 19.5 cents per share payable on 4 April 2014. Total full year 
dividends are 34.5 cents, being 0.5 cents or 1.5% higher than 2012 
which is higher than the comparable growth in operating earnings 
after tax per share. The full year dividend payout ratio is 89% 
(2012: 88%) of operating earnings after tax.

Dividends to ordinary shareholders of the Company have been paid 
or recommended as follows:

Interim ordinary dividend of 15.0 cents (2012: 15.0 cents) per fully paid share paid on 4 October 2013
Final ordinary dividend of 19.5 cents (2012: 19.0 cents) per fully paid share has been recommended by 
directors on 20 February 2014 to be paid on 4 April 2014

Total ordinary dividends of 34.5 cents (2012: 34.0 cents)

All dividends are fully franked at the company tax rate of 30%.

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

16,505

16,505

21,456

37,961

20,906

37,411

The Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRP”) was available for the 2013 interim dividend and $13,304,679 (2012: $12,587,969) was paid 
in cash and $3,197,380 (2012: $3,916,575) through the issue of 288,312 (2012: 466,077) shares purchased on market at $11.09 
(2012: $8.40) per share via the DRP. The shortfall in the DRP take-up was not underwritten in 2013 and shares were not issued at 
a discount. 

The DRP will apply to the final 2013 dividend which is not being underwritten and no discount to the market price will apply.

18

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Operating and Financial Review

Total sales to external customers
Other revenue
Operating expenses(i)

Operating EBITDA(i)
  Operating margin
Depreciation and amortisation
Finance costs
Interest income
Business acquisition costs
Share of loss from associates

Operating earnings before tax(i)
Income tax on above operating earnings(i)

Effective tax rate

Operating earnings after tax(i)
  Operating earnings per share
Net gain or (loss) on undelivered prepaid
Asset sale gains after tax(i)
Reversal of impairment loss
Non-controlling interest

Net profit after tax attributable to InvoCare shareholders

Basic earnings per share

Dividends
Interim ordinary dividend per share
Final ordinary dividend per share
Total ordinary dividend per share

(i)  Non-IFRS financial information.

2013

$’m

385.4
6.8
(297.1)

95.1
24.7%
(17.8)
(16.8)
0.7
(0.5)
(0.3)

60.3
(17.8)
29.5%

2012

$’m

368.7
6.9
(282.5)

93.0
25.2%
(16.4)
(16.3)
0.8
(0.7)
–

60.5
(18.0)
29.7%

Change

$’m

16.7
(0.0)
(14.6)

2.0

(1.4)
(0.6)
(0.1)
0.2
(0.3)

(0.2)
0.2

42.5
38.9 cents
1.1
3.2
2.2
(0.1)

42.5
38.8 cents
(0.0)
2.1
–
(0.1)

48.9
44.7 cents

44.5
40.6 cents

19.0
0.1 cents
1.1
1.0
2.2
(0.0)

4.4
4.1 cents

15.0 cents
19.5 cents
34.5 cents

15.0 cents
19.0 cents
34.0 cents

0.0 cents
0.5 cents
0.5 cents

%

4.5%
(0.3%)
5.2%

2.2%
(0.6%)
8.6%
3.4%
(15.6%)
26.5%
–

(0.2%)
(0.9%)
(0.2%)

0.0%
0.4%

9.9%
10.1%

0.0%
2.6%
1.5%

Operating EBITDA and operating earnings are financial measures which are not prescribed by Australian equivalents to International 
Financial Reporting Standards (“AIFRS”) and represent the earnings under AIFRS adjusted for specific non-cash items and significant items. 
The table above summarises the key reconciling items between net profit after tax attributable to InvoCare shareholders and operating 
EBITDA and operating earnings before and after tax. The operating EBITDA and operating earnings before and after tax information 
included in the table below has not been subject to any specific audit or review procedures by our auditor but has been extracted from 
the accompanying financial report.

19

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
Directors’ Report continued

Company profile
InvoCare owns and operates funeral homes, cemeteries 
and crematoria in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. 
It is well known for its commitment to family care, community 
engagement and investor value.

Business model
InvoCare’s business model is based upon earnings growth from 
the following pillars:

 –

 –

 –

 –

annual sales revenue growth from:
 –

ageing population trends with an approximate 1% annual 
increase in deaths;
consistent annual 3-4% pricing increments; and

 –
 – market share improvements, including new funeral locations, 

generating 1% revenue growth.

prepaid contracts providing families emotional and financial 
peace of mind as well as securing future market share 
for InvoCare;
business acquisitions, which have contributed more than half 
of InvoCare’s compound annual sales growth since listing; and
operating leverage improvement, through delivery of revenue 
growth pillars and cost control so that annual EBITDA growth 
is greater than annual sales growth.

Not all the pillars contributed positively to 2013 results as depicted 
in the following table. More detail is provided throughout this report.

Favourable Demographics

Pricing/average contract values

Market share improvements

Prepaid contracts

New locations

Business acquisitions

Operating leverage

✘

✔

✘

✔

✔

✔

✘

Financial Overview
InvoCare’s reported profit after tax was up by 9.9% or $4.4 million 
to $48.9 million (2012: $44.5 million). Disappointingly, operating 
earnings after tax1 were flat year on year at $42.5 million 
(2012: $42.5 million). 

Operating earnings were adversely impacted by declines in the 
number of funeral, burial and cremation cases, which commenced 
towards the end of the first half.

The number of deaths are estimated to have declined by an overall 
0.8% in InvoCare’s comparable markets, negatively impacting 
operating earnings after tax by an estimated $1.6 million.

Market share erosion in comparable operations is estimated to have 
reduced funeral cases by 2.1% and cremation and burial service 
volumes by 0.6%, and negatively impacted operating earnings after 
tax by an estimated $2.8 million.

There is no single cause of the market share losses with many 
factors in play. These include more aggressive competitor pricing 
in a market where there has been a declining number of deaths 
and new competitors entering the market. In some cases, the new 
competitors are operational staff who have left our own or other 
existing competitors’ employment. Additionally, tight management 
of marketing and personnel costs may have contributed, but in the 
longer term these cost constraints are not sustainable.

The unexpected volume impacts were mitigated by a 
combination of:

 –

 –
 –

 –

favourable average sales revenue per case, estimated to have 
contributed $13.6 million to operating earnings after tax in 
the year;
rigorous cost management, particularly during the second half;
foreign currency gains from New Zealand and Singapore 
operations due to a weakening Australian dollar; and
results from recently acquired businesses. 

EBITDA to sales margin, whilst down to 24.7% from last year’s 
25.2%, was assisted by a strong second half at 26.7%, up on 
26.0% for the second half of 2012 and well up on 22.5% in the first 
half (2012 first half: 24.4%).

Consequently, second half operating earnings after tax of 
$25.3 million were up $1.8 million against 2012, offsetting the first 
half decline of $1.7 million.

Statutory reported profit benefited from $3.2 million after tax 
asset sale gains (2012: $2.1 million), net impairment reversals of 
$2.2 million after tax (2012: $Nil) following the reassessment of the 
carrying values of a number of property assets and an improvement 
in undelivered prepaid contracts to a net gain of $1.1 million after 
tax (2012: $Nil).

Cash flows remained strong for the year. Ungeared, tax free 
operating cash flow was 110% of EBITDA (2012: 95%), 
underpinning the ability to pay a final franked interim dividend 
of 19.5 cents per share, which is 0.5 cents up on last year. This 
is in addition to the 15.0 cent interim dividend paid in October, 
taking total dividends declared for the year to 34.5 cents 
(2012: 34.0 cents).

1  Operating earnings after tax and operating earnings per share are non-IFRS financial information.

20

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Sales, EBITDA, margins and major profit & loss line items
The following table summarises sales revenue, EBITDA and margins by country segments.

Sales Revenue
Australia
New Zealand
Singapore
Comparable businesses
Acquisitions

Total InvoCare

EBITDA
Australia
New Zealand
Singapore
Comparable businesses
Acquisitions

Total

Margin on sales
Australia
New Zealand
Singapore
Comparable businesses
Acquisitions

Total

1H13

$’m

1H12

$’m

Var

%

2H13

$’m

2H12

$’m

Var

%

FY13

$’m

FY12

$’m

Var

%

158.3
14.8
6.5
179.6
4.0

183.6

35.3
2.2
3.1
40.6
0.7

41.3

155.2
14.2
5.4
174.8

2.0%
4.2%
21.8%
2.7%

174.8

5.0%

36.9
3.0
2.8
42.6

–4.4%
–25.0%
11.3%
–4.8%

42.6

–3.1%

172.7
17.2
6.4
196.4
5.4

201.7

45.5
3.9
3.1
52.5
1.2

53.8

172.2
16.0
5.3
193.4
0.4

193.8

44.5
3.2
2.7
50.3
0.1

50.4

22.3%
15.0%
47.4%
22.6%
17.4%

22.5%

23.8%
20.9%
51.9%
24.4%

–1.5%
–5.8%
–4.5%
–1.8%

24.4%

–1.9%

26.3%
22.8%
48.6%
26.8%
23.2%

26.7%

25.8%
20.0%
50.6%
26.0%
13.3%

26.0%

0.3%
7.9%
22.6%
1.5%

4.1%

2.2%
23.0%
17.7%
4.3%

6.7%

0.5%
2.8%
–2.0%
0.7%
10.0%

0.7%

331.0
32.0
13.0
376.0
9.4

385.4

80.7
6.2
6.2
93.1
1.9

95.1

24.4%
19.2%
48.0%
24.8%
20.7%

24.7%

327.5
30.2
10.6
368.2
0.4

368.7

81.4
6.2
5.4
93.0
0.1

93.0

24.8%
20.4%
51.2%
25.2%
13.3%

25.2%

1.1%
6.1%
22.2%
2.1%

4.5%

–0.8%
–0.1%
14.5%
0.2%

2.2%

–0.5%
–1.2%
–3.2%
–0.5%
7.5%

–0.6%

The following table shows the EBITDA performance of the business by halves, discussed in the following sections of the report.

1H13

$’m

1H12

$’m

Var

%

2H13

$’m

2H12

$’m

Var

%

FY13

$’m

FY12

$’m

Var

%

183.6
3.4

174.8
3.4

5.0%
2.8%

201.7
3.4

193.8
3.5

4.1%
-3.2%

385.4
6.8

368.7
6.9

4.5%
-0.3%

Total – all lines of business
Sales Revenue
Other revenue

Expenses:
Cost of goods sold
Personnel
Advertising and promotions
Occupancy and facility
Motor vehicles
Other

(53.9)
(60.0)
(6.8)
(12.7)
(4.0)
(8.4)

(50.4)
(54.0)
(6.3)
(12.0)
(3.8)
(9.0)

–6.9%
–11.1%
–7.4%
–5.7%
–4.5%
6.6%

–7.6%

(59.3)
(59.5)
(6.4)
(13.3)
(4.3)
(8.5)

(56.9)
(57.2)
(6.4)
(13.2)
(4.2)
(9.1)

(151.3)

(146.9)

–4.3%
–4.0%
–1.2%
–1.2%
–2.2%
7.2%

–3.0%

(113.2)
(119.4)
(13.2)
(26.0)
(8.3)
(16.8)

(297.1)

(107.3)
(111.1)
(12.7)
(25.2)
(8.0)
(18.1)

(282.5)

–5.5%
–7.5%
–4.3%
–3.4%
–3.3%
6.9%

–5.2%

Operating Expenses

(145.8)

(135.5)

Operating EBITDA

41.3

42.6

–3.1%

53.8

50.4

6.7%

95.1

93.0

2.2%

Operating Margin % 

22.5%

24.4%

26.7%

26.0%

24.7%

25.2%

Note: that the data in the tables above has been calculated in thousands and presented in millions and as a consequence some additions 
cannot be computed from the tables as presented. 

21

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

Number of deaths
As indicated in the past, the number of deaths is a very significant 
driver of InvoCare’s performance. The ageing of the population in 
InvoCare’s markets and the long-term trend of increasing number 
of deaths are major pillars of growth for the Group. However, short 
term fluctuations in the numbers of deaths do occur, such that in any 
year the number can be up to 4% above or below the trend line, as 
shown in the following graphs for both Australia and New Zealand.

The Australian graph incorporates the most recent long-term death 
projections released in November 2013 by the Australian Bureau 
of Statistics.

Projections for New Zealand have been sourced from the latest data 
supplied by Statistics New Zealand and have a similar profile to that 
expected in Australia over the next ten years.

Actual and projected fiscal and calendar year deaths – Australia

 190

180

170

160

150

 140

130  

 120  

110  

)

0
0
0
’
(

r
e
b
m
u
N

2
9
9
1

4
9
9
1

6
9
9
1

8
9
9
1

0
0
0
2

2
0
0
2

4
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

0
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

6
1
0
2

8
1
0
2

0
2
0
2

2
2
0
2

4
2
0
2

Actual national rolling annual deaths per ABS

Estimated national rolling annual deaths per ABS

ABS projected deaths 2012 Series B

Trend plus/minus 5%

Actual trend

InvoCare estimate

Years

Actual and projected fiscal and calendar year deaths – New Zealand

34.0

33.0

31.0

30.0

29.0

28.0

27.0

)

0
0
0
’
(

r
e
b
m
u
N

 26.0

2
9
9
1

4
9
9
1

6
9
9
1

8
9
9
1

0
0
0
2

2
0
0
2

4
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

0
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

4
1
0
2

6
1
0
2

8
1
0
2

0
2
0
2

Actual rolling annual deaths per NZ BDM

NZ projected deaths 2011 (base) – 2061

Actual trend

Trend plus/minus 5%

Years to 31 December

25.0

 24.0

23.0

22.0

22

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
Across the Group, funeral case volumes in comparable businesses declined by 3.0% against the prior year. The sudden and unexpected 
magnitude of the drop in case volumes experienced in the first half is depicted in the table below. At the end of April the comparable funeral 
case volume was up 1.3% on the prior corresponding period (“PCP”), but over the months of May and June the volume was 4.2% below 
2012 resulting in an overall decline in the first half of 0.7%. This trend continued into the second half with the comparable business case 
volumes down a further 5.1% against the prior year’s half, resulting in the full year decline of 3.0%.

Funeral Case Volume Analysis

Australia
New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand
Singapore
Total comparable business

Total Group (including acquisitions)

Apr YTD  
% change

May and June  
% change

Half 1 
Change

Half 2 
Change

Full Year 
Change

1.1%
4.2%
1.4%
–2.0%
1.3%

4.0%

–2.7%
–14.4%
–4.1%
–4.7%
–4.2%

–1.5%

–0.3%
–2.7%
–0.6%
–2.9%
–0.7%

2.0%

–5.1%
–7.4%
–5.4%
2.6%
–5.1%

–2.0%

–2.8%
–5.2%
–3.1%
–0.3%
–3.0%

–0.1%

InvoCare’s market assessment indicates the number of deaths in InvoCare’s Australian markets dropped by 1.0% during 2013, with the 
first half up 0.5% before a significant 2.3% decline in the second half.

Commentary on market share impacts is set out later in this report.

InvoCare estimates the number of deaths in its New Zealand markets declined by approximately 1.9% during 2013. Market share erosion 
has also been a contributor to case volume declines and further commentary is set out later in the report.

The Singapore market experienced a 5.0% growth in the number of deaths in the first half. However this swung around in the second half 
to be 1.4% down on the prior year’s second half. Consequently, for the year the number of deaths was up an estimated 1.8%. Despite the 
second half decline, InvoCare’s Singapore operation was able to grow its volumes and recover some market share lost in the first half.

InvoCare’s Australian cemeteries and crematoria operating in New South Wales and Queensland experienced a 2.1% decline in cremation 
and burial service volumes. The number of deaths in those markets is estimated to have declined by 1.5% for the year, with a 1% reduction 
in the first half and 2.0% in the second.

The reasons for the declines in death numbers across InvoCare’s markets, particularly in the second half, are unknown. As communicated 
at the half-year end, possible contributing factors may be that both Australia and New Zealand experienced very mild winters and neither 
country saw the onset of usual levels of winter influenza. Historically, the number of deaths generally peak during the winter months. The 
decline could also be cyclical with the market experiencing a period of below average growth. As discussed above the number of deaths 
do fluctuate such that in any year the number can be up to 4% above or below the long-term trend line.

Commentary on the period since 31 December 2013 is set out in the Outlook section.

Sales
Key components of the comparable sales movements are summarised below:

 –

comparable Australian funeral sales increased 0.7% or $1.8 million to $264.2 million (2012: $262.5 million);
 –

average revenue per funeral case, excluding disbursements, increased 5.1% and contributed an estimated $9.2 million to sales 
growth. This increase is attributable to both price and mix. Prices are increased in December each year, but in some markets 
additional price increases were applied during the second half to help cover increased costs. There were also brand and state mix 
shifts which assisted the overall case averages;
the number of funeral services performed was down on the previous year by 2.8% causing approximately $5.1 million reduction in 
sales revenue, excluding disbursements. The case volume decline in the second half was far more significant than during the first half;
the reduction in the number of deaths in InvoCare’s Australian markets, outlined earlier, is estimated to have contributed $1.6 million 
of the volume related drop in sales (excluding disbursements);

 –

 –

 – market share erosion, however, had a larger impact, estimated at $3.5 million (again excluding disbursements). The contributors to 

this disappointing outcome are believed to include more aggressive competitor pricing during a period of lower number of deaths 
and new competitors entering the market. In some cases, the new competitors are operational staff leaving our own or other 
existing competitors’ employment. Additionally, tight management of marketing and personnel costs may have contributed, but in 
the longer term these cost constraints are not sustainable; and
the number of new prepaid funeral contracts sold for comparable Australian business increased by 0.2% on the previous year and 
exceeded the number of prepaid services performed by 15.3% (2012: 15.2%). Prepaid funerals performed in the year were 13.8% 
(2012: 13.4%) of comparable at need funerals.

 –

 – Australian cemeteries and crematoria sales were up 2.3% or $1.7 million to $76.6 million (2012: $74.9 million). There were 2.1% lower 

cremation and burial case volumes during the year, related to a combination of lower numbers of deaths, impacting sales by an estimated 
$1.1 million, and a small overall market share decline, impacting sales by an estimated $0.5 million. List prices were raised by an average 
4% in early January for service fees and in early March for memorial products. Approximately $4.6 million (2012: $5.1 million) was added to 
the deferred revenue pool and will be recognised as sales in a future period upon delivery of the memorials;

23

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

 –

 –

comparable New Zealand sales (in NZD) were down 2.3% or $0.9 million to $37.7 million (2012: $38.6 million). Average revenue per 
funeral increased by 4.1% following planned price increases but was offset by a decline in total funeral cases performed which were 
down 5.2%. Market share performance in New Zealand continues to remain mixed with some solid performance in Auckland and the 
South Island offset by challenges in parts of North Island with new competitors and increasingly price focused markets;

singapore funeral sales increased by 14.5% in local currency and 22.2% in Australian currency. Service volumes declined 0.3%, 
largely due to market share losses. However, more than offsetting the lower volumes was average revenue per case which was up 
14.8% in local currency (23.2% in Australian currency). The increase in average revenue was attributed to a shift towards packaged 
funerals and the introduction of sales of funeral accessories which began in 2012; and

 –

intra-group elimination of cemeteries and crematoria sales to InvoCare owned funeral homes amounted to $10.0 million 
(2012: $9.9 million).

The Tuckers funeral business in Australia was acquired in December 2012 and contributed sales of $7.2 million during the year 
(2012: $0.4 million). In addition there were several business acquisitions made in New Zealand, those being Resthaven Funerals in 
February 2013, Tilton Opie & Pattinson Funeral Services in July 2013, Fraser Lawrence Memorials in August 2013 and H Morris Funerals 
in December 2013. Combined, the New Zealand acquisitions contributed NZ$2.5 million (AU$2.2 million) to sales revenue. Accordingly, 
the 2013 sales of the consolidated InvoCare business include growth from these acquisitions with sales of $9.4 million. 

Other revenue
Other revenue remained flat at $6.9 million. On a comparable basis, other revenue declined slightly by 2.4% to $6.7 million. Other revenue 
mainly comprises administration fees upon initial sale of prepaid funeral contracts and trailing commissions on prepaid funds.

Operating expenses and EBITDA
Operating EBITDA2 increased by 2.2% or $2.1 million to $95.1 million (2012: $93.0 million). The margin on sales dropped 0.6% to 24.7%. 
On a comparable basis, Operating EBITDA increased by $0.2 million or 0.2% to $93.1 million (2012: $93.0 million), with margins dropping 
0.5% to 24.8%.

Favourable FX movements benefitted Operating EBITDA by $1.0m, as the NZD and SGD strengthened against the AUD, particularly in the 
second half.

Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, amortisation, acquisition related and finance costs) increased $14.6 million or 5.2% to 
$297.1 million. On a comparable basis excluding the impact of the acquisitions, the increase was 2.6% or $7.4 million.

Backing out foreign exchange movement impacts ($2.6 million) to reflect constant exchange rates, operating expenses increased by 4.2%.

A summary of the comparable business Operating EBITDA by major income statement line item by halves is presented in the following table.

1H13

$’m

1H12

$’m

Var

%

2H13

$’m

2H12

$’m

Var

%

FY13

$’m

FY12

$’m

Var

%

179.6
3.3

174.8
3.4

2.7%
–0.8%

196.4
3.4

193.4
3.5

1.5%
–4.0%

376.0
6.7

368.2
6.9

2.1%
–2.4%

Total – all lines of business
Sales Revenue
Other revenue

Expenses:
Cost of good sold
Personnel
Advertising and promotions
Occupancy and facility
Motor vehicles
Other

(52.6)
(58.7)
(6.6)
(12.4)
(3.9)
(8.0)

(50.4)
(54.0)
(6.3)
(12.0)
(3.8)
(9.0)

–4.3%
–8.8%
–4.9%
–3.6%
–1.7%
10.5%

–5.0%

(57.4)
(58.0)
(6.3)
(13.0)
(4.2)
(8.3)

(56.7)
(57.0)
(6.4)
(13.1)
(4.2)
(9.1)

(147.2)

(146.6)

–1.3%
–1.6%
1.4%
1.4%
–0.3%
8.3%

–0.4%

(110.0)
(116.7)
(12.9)
(25.4)
(8.1)
(16.4)

(107.1)
(111.0)
(12.7)
(25.2)
(8.0)
(18.1)

(289.5)

(282.1)

–2.7%
–5.1%
–1.7%
–1.0%
–1.0%
9.4%

–2.6%

Operating Expenses

(142.3)

(135.5)

Operating EBITDA

40.6

42.6

–4.8%

52.5

50.3

4.3%

93.1

93.0

0.2%

Operating Margin % 

22.6%

24.4%

26.8%

26.0%

24.8%

25.2%

Cost of goods sold (excluding disbursements) increased as a percentage of gross sales from 12.0% in 2012 to 12.4% in 2013. Contributing 
to this increase was a marginal shift in the mix of sales away from service revenues towards products, deferral of a larger portion of high 
margin products and the commencement of the lower margin funeral accessories business in Singapore.

The ratio of personnel costs to sales revenue was 31.0% which was up from 30.1% in 2012. Base labour rates have generally been 
contained to 3.5% increases, consistent with the awards and enterprise agreements in place for the majority of the workforce. 

2  Operating EBITDA is non-IFRS financial information.

24

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013As previously reported, headcount increases occurred during 2012, and to a lesser extent in the first half of 2013, to support InvoCare’s 
expansion, to pursue marketing and digital business initiatives and in anticipation of expected increases in the number of deaths 
(e.g. approximately 1.2% in Australia) and growth in market share. This investment in personnel is in response to the Company’s 
new digital business and marketing initiatives, the payback for which will be in future years. 

During the second half efforts were made to realign the workforce with the lower volume environment. This included critically assessing 
fixed and casual staffing levels and reviewing vacancies created by departing employees to determine if immediate replacement was critical 
to maintain customer service standards. As a consequence of these actions the ratio of labour costs to sales fell from the 32.7% in the first 
half to 29.5% in the second half.

Advertising and marketing expenditure increased by $0.5 million or 4.3% to $13.2 million (2012: $12.7 million). Whilst more had been 
planned, some curtailment of expenditure occurred given the case volume pressures. Overall weighting in activity shifted towards digital 
media and increases in radio, press and outdoor. Work was also completed on a new television commercial which first went to air in 
April 2013. Also included in this amount was $0.3 million expenditure targeted at the Tuckers and New Zealand acquisitions.

In terms of digital business initiatives, work is continuing on various fronts. These include:

 –

 –

 –
 –
 –
 –

enhancing electronic processing capabilities; for example at need and preneed funeral arrangements using tablet technology which 
is being rolled out across the funerals business;
new websites, including MyGrief Assist, providing information and resources dealing with grief and MyMemorial and FuneralOrganiser 
which assist families view funeral and memorial options and help generate sales leads;
design and selection of improved audio visual capability for InvoCare’s chapels;
continued focus on obtaining greater leverage from the HeavenAddress online memorial and tribute solution;
promotion and support of InvoCare’s social media channels; and
planning and design of cloud based customer relationship management tools and front end applications.

Telecommunications and printing services savings resulting from a strategic sourcing review and contract renegotiations have helped fund 
the digital business initiatives. All other expenses have been contained and compare favourably to the prior year.

The comparable Australian Operating EBITDA margin on sales declined to 24.3% against the 24.8% achieved in 2012. The lower margins 
reflected the impact of lower case volumes and the difficulty of adjusting the high fixed cost structure for sudden changes in volumes. 
After implementing cost, labour and pricing initiatives, second half margins improved from 22.3% in the first half to 26.2%.

New Zealand comparative EBITDA margins on sales in local currency also declined from 20.4% of sales in 2012 to 19.1% in 2013. The 
declining margins again reflected the impact of lower case volumes which were down 5.2% and the additional headcount added in the 
second half of 2012. Second half margins of 22.9% improved on the first half of 15.0% following the implementation of cost and labour 
savings initiatives.

Singapore margins declined from 51.3% to 47.9% of sales in local currency. The margin decline reflected the change in product mix 
following the commencement of the lower margin funeral accessories business in 2012.

Depreciation and amortisation expenses
Depreciation and amortisation expenses were up $1.4 million in 2013 to $17.8 million (2012: $16.4 million). This increase included 
$0.4 million associated with a full year of the acquired Tuckers business in Australia and other more recent New Zealand acquisitions. 
The remainder of the increase was associated with replacement motor vehicles (including hearses and the progressive replacement of the 
previously leased Bledisloe fleet), leasehold and owned property refurbishments and general operational plant and equipment purchases.

Finance costs
Finance costs increased by $0.5 million to $16.8 million (2012: $16.3 million). The increases relate primarily to the higher average levels 
of debt during 2013 with interest expense up $0.2 million and $0.3 million in unamortised loan establishment fees which were expensed 
upon refinancing of the long-term debt facility in December 2013. More information about the Group’s debt facilities (including the 
refinancing) is set out under the Capital Management section.

Acquisition related costs
Acquisition related costs of $0.5 million were down $0.2 million on the prior year (2012: $0.7m). These costs included expenses relating 
to the New Zealand acquisitions, as well as costs associated with the investigation and review of opportunities, both closed or currently 
under investigation.

Share of associate
After contributing $5 million equity in January 2013, InvoCare has a 35% investment in HeavenAddress which provides on-line memorial 
solutions. The company is in the early stages of its development and InvoCare has recognised a $0.3 million share of the small loss in 
accordance with equity accounting standards.

25

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

Undelivered prepaid contract gains
Net gains on undelivered prepaid contracts were $1.6 million, an improvement of $1.6 million on the breakeven position achieved in 2012. 
The current year gain comprised $20.6 million increase in the fair value of funds under management offset by $19.0 million growth in the 
future liability to deliver prepaid services (see table (a) below).

The fair value uplift of $20.6 million in funds under management was $3.0 million and represented an effective earnings rate of 5.7% 
(2012: 5.5%). 

During the year the preneed liability was increased to progressively recognise the impact of planned in-year price increases. This resulted 
in liability growth of $19.0 million which was up on last year’s $17.7 million. The higher growth in 2013 was the result of higher actual price 
increases in 2013 and size of the liability pool.

(a)  Income statement impact of undelivered prepaid contracts

Gain/(loss) on prepaid contract funds under management
Change in provision for prepaid contract liabilities
Net gain/(loss) on undelivered prepaid contracts

(b)  Movements in prepaid contract funds under management

Balance at the beginning of the year
Sale of new prepaid contracts
Initial recognition of contracts paid by instalment
Redemption of prepaid contract funds following service delivery
Increase due to business combinations
Increase in fair value of contract funds under management

Balance at the end of the year

(c)  Movements in prepaid contract liabilities

Balance at the beginning of the year
Sale of new prepaid contracts
Initial recognition of contracts paid by instalment
Decrease following delivery of services
Increase due to business combinations
Increase due to reassessment of delivery costs

Balance at the end of the year

2013
$’000

20.6
(19.0)
1.6

350.9
32.0
2.9
(32.8)
–
20.6

373.6

355.1
32.0
2.9
(32.5)
–
19.0

376.5

2012
$’000

17.6
(17.7)
–

311.8
30.4
2.6
(28.3)
16.8
17.6

350.9

317.6
30.4
2.6
(30.3)
17.2
17.7

355.1

Approximately 76% of InvoCare’s prepaid funds under management are with the Over Fifty Guardian Friendly Society. This fund now holds 
approximately 60% of its assets in cash and fixed interest compared to 75% at 31 December 2012. During this time the fund has continued 
to diversify into property assets and has made a small increased allocation to equities. 

Movements in the total asset mix of all funds under management over the last 12 months are illustrated in the following table:

31 Dec 2013
%

30 June 2013
%

31 Dec 2012
%

13
23
64

10
25
65

8
17
75

Equities
Property
Cash and fixed interest

26

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Asset sale gains and losses
Gains on the sale of assets of $3.2 million after tax included $1.3 million for the sale of a small parcel of cemetery land in Sydney and 
$1.8 million relating to the sale of a surplus funeral property in Melbourne.

Impairment reversal
Under IFRS, InvoCare is required to regularly review the carrying value of its business assets. Due to the continued improvement in 
financial performance, the prior impairment on certain assets was partially reversed during the year, resulting in an after tax gain of 
$3.4 million. This was offset to some extent by new impairments identified with an after tax impact of $1.2 million. As result net after 
tax impact gains were $2.2 million (2012: $Nil). 

Income tax expense
Income tax expense on reported profit was $19.0 million (2012: $18.0 million), representing an effective rate of 28.0% (2012: 28.8%).

Income tax expense on operating earnings3 decreased by $0.2 million to $17.8 million (2012: $18.0 million) and the effective rate was 
29.5% (2012: 29.7%). The major difference between tax expense on reported profit and operating earnings was the tax effect on 
undelivered prepaid contracts, asset sales gains and impairments.

The main contributors to the effective rates being different to Australia’s corporate 30% tax rate are set out in the following table:

Prima facie tax at 30% (2012: 30%) on profit from ordinary activities
Plus/(minus):

Previously unrecognised capital losses offsetting capital gains and unrecognised capital losses
Eliminations of translation gains/(losses) on intercompany balances in foreign currencies
Reassessment of depreciation rates applicable to New Zealand assets
Acquisition costs not deductible
Share of net profit of an associate

  Other items (net)

Difference in overseas tax rates
Under/(over) provision in prior years

Income tax expense

Cash flow highlights

Net cash provided by operating activities

Asset sale proceeds
Asset purchases
Purchase of subsidiaries and businesses
Purchase of interest in associates

Net cash used in investing activities

Dividends paid
Deferred Employee Share Plan purchases
Net (decrease)/increase in borrowings
Other movements

Net cash from/(used) in financing activities

Net increase in cash during year
Cash at start of year
Exchange rate effects

Cash at end of the year

2013
$’m

20.4

(0.7)
0.4
(0.6)
0.1
0.1
0.4
(0.8)
(0.2)

19.0

2013
$’m

72.2

8.0
(19.3)
(8.1)
(5.0)

(24.4)

(37.4)
(0.8)
(6.8)
(0.1)

(45.1)

2.7
6.1
0.1

8.9

2012
$’m

18.8

(0.4)
0.2
–
0.1
–
0.1
(0.7)
–

18.0

2012
$’m

53.2

3.3
(18.4)
(9.3)
–

(24.4)

(34.4)
(1.2)
7.1
(0.1)

(28.6)

0.2
5.9
–

6.1

Cash flows provided by operating activities were up on last year by $19.0 million to $72.2 million, which resulted from the benefit of 
improved working capital management (by $6.0 million), in particular creditor payments, and lower income tax payments (by $3.8 million), 
the latter arising mainly from a higher final Australian 2011 year income tax payment in the first half of 2012 to make up for lower Pay As You 
Go (PAYG) instalments during 2011.

3  Operating earnings is non-IFRS financial information.

27

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Report continued

Improvements in working capital management have resulted in 110% Operating EBITDA conversion to cash for the period, compared to 
95.0% for the 2012 full year as shown in the table below: 

Operating EBITDA

Cash provided by operating activities
Add finance costs
Add Income tax paid
Less interest received

Ungeared, tax free operating cash flow

Proportion of Operating EBITDA converted to cash

2013
$’m

95.1

72.2
16.3
15.9
(0.1)

104.3

110%

2012
$’m

93.0

53.2
15.6
19.9
(0.2)

88.5

95%

The stronger operating cash flows and asset sale proceeds helped fund capital expenditure, business acquisitions and the HeavenAddress 
investment. Capital expenditure related to:

2013
$’m

8.0
6.5
2.1
2.7

19.3

2012
$’m

6.1
6.0
2.2
4.1

18.4

NZD 36.0m

SGD 11.0m

AUD 105.0m

Debt maturity profile
of AUD225m drawn from total AUD225 facilities

150.0m

125.0m

100.0m

75.0m

50.0m

25.0m

0.0m

SGD 22.0m

AUD 58.0m

Sept 2016

Dec 2018

Financial covenant ratios on the borrowing facilities are a Leverage 
Ratio (being Net Debt to EBITDA adjusted for acquisitions) which 
must be no greater than 3.5 and an Interest Cover Ratio (being 
EBITDA to net interest) which must be greater than 3.0. Both these 
ratios continue to be comfortably met at 31 December 2013, 
being 2.3 and 6.4 respectively. 

To maintain certainty over cash flows, the Group’s policy is to 
maintain at least 75% of hedging cover for the next 12 months of 
forecast borrowings and 50% beyond 12 months up to a maximum 
of five years. At balance date, 80% of debt principal was covered 
by floating to fixed interest rate swaps. The table below shows the 
current swap profile, including the fixed rate payable in return for 
receipt of floating rates (e.g. BBSW in the case of AUD denominated 
borrowings). As a consequence of hedging, InvoCare has not 
enjoyed the benefit of the recent reductions in market rates on its 
hedged debt.

Refurbishments and facility upgrades
Motor vehicles
Digital business
Other assets

Total capital expenditure

Dividends paid in the year were 34.0 cents per share, totalling 
$37.4 million. The amount included $7.5 million for the on-market 
purchase of shares for the dividend reinvestment plan.

Shares amounting to $0.8 million (2012: $1.2 million) were acquired 
during the year by the InvoCare Deferred Employee Share Plan 
Trust in connection with long-term, share-based incentives for 
senior management.

Capital management
At 31 December 2013, the Group had drawn down $225 million 
borrowings (from total $255 million debt facilities) compared to 
$231 million at 30 June 2013 and $224 million at 31 December 
2012. Net debt at 31 December 2013 was $216 million which 
was down on the balance at 30 June 2013 of $224 million and 
31 December 2012 of $218 million. 

During the last quarter of 2013 InvoCare refinanced $170 million 
of its $255 million bi-lateral, multi-currency, revolver facilities 
established in September 2010 and provided in equal proportions 
by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (“ANZ”), 
National Australia Bank Limited (“NAB”) and Commonwealth Bank 
of Australia (“CBA”), including in the case of NZD, their respective 
New Zealand subsidiaries or branch. 

As a result of the refinancing, the previous four- and five-year tranches 
totalling $127.5 million together with $42.5 million of the three-year 
tranche were rolled into new five-year bi-lateral facilities of $170 million 
due to mature in December 2018. The September 2016 maturity 
date of the $85 million three year tranches refinanced in December 
2012 remains unchanged. The three-year tranches are now provided 
in equal proportions by ANZ and CBA. The five-year tranches are 
provided in equal proportions by ANZ, CBA, Westpac Banking 
Corporation (“Westpac”) and HSBC Bank Australia Limited (“HSBC”).

The current facilities’ drawings comprise AUD163.0 million, 
SGD33.0 million and NZD36.0 million and the maturity profile is 
shown in the graph opposite. The foreign currency drawings naturally 
hedge investments in foreign Singapore and New Zealand markets. 

28

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Swap Principal

Start Date

Termination Date

AUD 64.5m
AUD 30.0m
AUD 60.0m
AUD 60.0m
SGD 27.0m
NZD 27.0m

Sep-2010
Jun-2011
Sep-2013
Sep-2014
Sep-2010
Sep-2011

Sep-2014
Jun-2015
Sep-2016
Sep-2017
Sep-2013
Sep-2015

Fixed Rate 
Payable

5.42%
5.33%
4.75%
3.98%
1.19%
3.72%

The overall average effective interest rate is currently 6.1%, inclusive 
of fixed rates on hedged debt, floating rates on unhedged debt, 
margins (based on tranche tenor and leverage – currently averaging 
around 167bps), undrawn commitment fees and amortisation of 
establishment fees.

Headroom on the debt facilities of $29.8 million and cash 
of $9.0 million, provided $38.8 million in available funds at 
31 December 2013. This amount together with operating 
cash flows will provide further capacity to fund near term 
growth opportunities.

Outlook
Sales revenue in January 2014 was 7.6% higher than the same 
month last year. Comparable business sales (i.e. excluding the 
New Zealand acquisitions completed in 2013) increased by 6.1%. 
EBITDA margin leverage growth was achieved with this sales 
improvement and continuing tight management of costs.

Funeral case volumes for both the total and comparable business 
have shown a return to year-on-year growth (4.4% and 2.4%), 
although cemetery and crematoria cases increased by a lower 0.5%. 
Whether the increases are a result of improved market share, a 
recovery in the number of deaths or a combination of both is yet 
to be established. To address market share challenges, strategies 
and plans have been developed and are being implemented in key 
areas, including those of people, marketing and digital.

Average revenue per funeral case has reflected normal price 
increases introduced as planned in late 2013. Cemetery and 
crematorium prices are scheduled to be increased in the first 
quarter of 2014.

The New Zealand acquisitions completed in 2013 are performing 
to plan and are expected to generate an estimated $4.5 million and 
$1.0 million in sales and EBITDA respectively in 2014.

If the sales revenue continues to improve, to more adequately 
pursue and support growth some relaxation of the cost constraints 
imposed during the second half of 2013, particularly in the areas of 
personnel, marketing and digital, may be possible.

InvoCare continues to review expansion opportunities both in 
Australia and abroad. There has been discussion with a number of 
potential vendors. There is no certainty about the success or timing 
of any acquisitions, nor of any movement into new markets.

The prepaid funeral fund returns are expected to be similar to 2013, 
although equity market returns during January 2014 were negative. 
This outlook assumes targeted investment returns are achieved 
from appropriate asset investment allocations and stable equity and 
property markets.

The Group’s capital expenditure in 2014 is expected to be 
approximately $20 million. The main investments planned include 
the upgrading of funeral homes, initial plans for upgrade of the 
operations centres, continuing investment in chapel facilities and 

further investment in digital technology. InvoCare will continue its 
practice of reviewing the performance of its property assets and, 
if required, may dispose underperforming assets.

There has been no change to InvoCare’s capital management plans. 
Sufficient funds are expected to be available from debt facilities 
and free cash flows for capital expenditure and smaller “bolt on” 
acquisitions. If a more substantial opportunity arises, alternative 
funding sources, such as an equity raising, would be considered. 
The refinancing of $170 million of borrowings in December 2013 
is expected to reduce finance costs in 2014 by approximately 
$0.6 million, at current debt levels. No debt facilities are due to 
mature in 2014. 

It remains the policy of the Board to distribute at least 75% of 
operating earnings after tax as dividends, as well as increase the 
quantum of those dividends year-on-year. Despite the flat year on 
year operating results, the 2013 final dividend has been increased 
to 19.5 cents which is 0.5 cents higher than 2012. This was made 
possible by sustained Operating EBITDA to cash conversion 
mentioned earlier.

InvoCare remains focused on its core pillars for continued growth 
in 2014. The ongoing areas of focus in 2014 include:

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

continued investment in advertising, marketing and digital 
business to drive brand awareness, customer satisfaction, 
market share improvement and business efficiencies;
broadening the footprint of key brands, for example by opening 
new funeral homes;
pursuing acquisition opportunities in existing countries of 
operation and further afield, although the size, timing and 
success is uncertain;
investing in our people and facilities to enhance the experience 
for our client families and to continue our commitment to the 
development and welfare of our staff; and
seeking sustained improvement in returns on funds 
under management.

Significant events after the balance date
There have been no significant events occurring after balance 
date which have significantly affected or may significantly affect 
either InvoCare’s operations or the results of those operations or 
InvoCare’s state of affairs in future financial years.

Environmental regulation and performance
InvoCare is committed to the protection of the environment, the 
health and safety of its employees, customers and the general 
public, as well as compliance with all applicable environmental laws, 
rules and regulations in the jurisdictions in which the consolidated 
entity operates its business. The consolidated entity is subject to 
environmental regulation in respect of its operations, including some 
regulations covering the disposal of mortuary and pathological 
waste and the storage of hazardous materials. InvoCare has 
appropriate risk management systems in place at its locations.

During the year instances of illegal dumping on land owned by the 
Group were detected and have been rectified. An Environment 
Protection Agency investigation is ongoing. Other than this there 
have been no claims during the year and the directors believe 
InvoCare, with the exceptions noted above, that the Group has 
complied with all relevant environmental regulations and holds all 
relevant licences. 

29

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
Board of Directors

Left to right: Richard Fisher; Tina Clifton; Andrew Smith; Roger Penman; Aliza Knox; Richard Davis.

Information on directors

Mr Richard Fisher AM MEc LLB
Chairman of the Board (from 22 October 2013)
Member of Audit Committee
Chairman of Nomination Committee (from 22 October 2013, 
previously member)
Member of Remuneration Committee (from 26 November 2013)
Member of Risk Committee (until 26 November 2013)

Richard Fisher has been a director of InvoCare Limited since 
24 October 2003 and was appointed Chairman on 22 October 
2013. He is General Counsel to The University of Sydney and is an 
Adjunct Professor in both its Graduate School of Government and 
Faculty of Law. Richard is the immediate past Chairman of Partners 
at Blake Dawson and specialised in corporate law during his 
25 years as a partner of that firm. He was appointed as a director 
of Sydney Water effective 1 January 2012. Richard is a former 
part-time Commissioner at the Australian Law Reform Commission, 
former Member of the Library Council of NSW and was an 
International Consultant for the Asian Development Bank. Richard 
holds a Master of Economics from the University of New England 
and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.

Interest in shares: 11,580 ordinary shares in InvoCare Limited

Mr Andrew Smith BCom MBA CA
Chief Executive Officer

Andrew joined InvoCare in January 2006 as Chief Financial Officer 
and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in March 2007. 
On 1 January 2009, Andrew was promoted to Chief Executive 
Officer and Managing Director. Prior to joining InvoCare Andrew 
held the position of Chief Financial Officer with Brazin Limited 
and previously OrotonGroup Limited. Andrew was also Financial 
Controller for Sales and Marketing at a major international fast 
moving consumer goods company, an Internal Audit Manager 
for a global insurance company and an Audit Senior at KPMG. 
Andrew was appointed as a director of Over Fifty Guardian Friendly 
Society Limited on 24 March 2009. In December 2012 Andrew 
was appointed to the Government’s Interim NSW Cemeteries and 
Crematoria Board. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the 
University of Queensland, a Master of Business Administration from 
the University of New England and is a member of the Institute of 
Chartered Accountants in Australia.

Interest in shares: 237,357 ordinary shares in InvoCare Limited

30

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Dr Christine (Tina) Clifton MB BS (Hons) BHA
Non-executive Director
Chairman of Risk Committee
Member of Audit Committee
Member of Nomination Committee

Tina Clifton has been a director of InvoCare Limited since 24 
October 2003. She is a registered medical practitioner, a Councillor 
of the University of New South Wales and was formerly a director 
of various public and private companies largely in the healthcare 
sector, including HCF, Health Care Australia, Ambri Ltd, the 
Garvan Institute of Medical Research, the Victor Chang Cardiac 
Research Institute, and St Vincents Hospitals. Prior to 2001, Tina 
held various positions in the public and private healthcare sectors, 
including Chief Executive Officer of the Sisters of Charity Health 
Service in New South Wales and deputy Chief Executive Officer 
of the Northern Sydney Area Health Service. From 1980 to 1988 
Tina was a general practitioner. She has also been President of 
the Doctors’ Health Advisory Service and involved in NSW mental 
health services Official Visitors’ programme. Tina holds degrees 
in medicine and health administration from the University of New 
South Wales and obtained a specialist qualification in medical 
administration (FRACMA).

Interest in shares: 112,961 ordinary shares in InvoCare Limited

Mr Roger Penman BEc FCA FTIA
Non-executive Director
Chairman of Audit Committee
Chairman of Remuneration Committee
Member of Nomination Committee

Roger Penman was appointed as a director of InvoCare Limited 
on 1 January 2005 and joined both the Audit Committee, as 
its Chairman and the Remuneration Committee in February 
2005. He became Chairman of the Remuneration Committee in 
December 2009. Roger is a Partner in the Taxation Services division 
at Crowe Horwath Sydney, joining the firm in 1986. He has had over 
30 years of high-level specialist tax consulting and general business 
experience, including mergers, acquisitions, initial public offerings 
and group restructures. Roger holds a Bachelor of Economics 
from the Australian National University, is a Fellow of the Institute of 
Chartered Accountants in Australia, a Fellow of the Taxation Institute 
of Australia, a member of the Australian Institute of Company 
Directors and a member of the Crowe Horwath International 
Tax Committee. 

Interest in shares: 16,665 ordinary shares in InvoCare Limited

Ms Aliza Knox BA MBA
Non-executive Director
Member of Nomination Committee
Member of Risk Committee

Aliza Knox was appointed as a director of InvoCare Limited on 
1 October 2011 and became a member of the Risk Committee later 
that month. Aliza is a digital media and financial service executive 
with more than two decades of broad international marketing 
and management experience. Aliza joined Twitter in Asia Pacific 
as Managing Director Online Sales in November 2012. She was 
formerly Managing Director of the Online Sales Group for Google 
Asia Pacific and then the Managing Director Commerce for Google 
Asia Pacific, with responsibility for China, India, South East Asia, 
Japan, Australia and all other countries in the region.

Her previous roles have included Senior Vice President with global 
payments technology company Visa International, with responsibility 
for commercial solutions and global product platforms, Senior Vice 
President with investing services and solutions provider Charles 
Schwab & Company, with responsibility for international wireless 
and Asian expansion, and Partner in Boston Consulting Group as 
head of its Asian Financial Services Practice.

She is a board member of a workforce development NGO in 
USA and an advisor to several organisations and a government 
committee in Singapore.

Aliza holds a Bachelor of Arts (Applied Math and Economics) from 
Brown University (USA) and Masters of Business Administration 
(Marketing) from New York University Graduate School of 
Administration (USA).

Interest in shares: 5,172 ordinary shares in InvoCare Limited

Mr Richard Davis BEc
Non-executive Director
Member of Risk Committee (from 24 June 2013)
Member of Remuneration Committee (from 26 November 2013)
Member of Nomination Committee

Richard Davis was appointed a non-executive director of InvoCare 
Limited on 21 February 2012. Richard previously retired as 
InvoCare’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director on 
31 December 2008 after 20 years with InvoCare. For the majority 
of that time, he held the position of Chief Executive Officer and 
successfully initiated and managed the growth of the business 
through a number of ownership changes and over 20 acquisitions, 
including Singapore Casket Company (Private) Limited, the 
Company’s first international acquisition.

Richard has been a non-executive director of Australian Vintage 
Limited since 5 May 2009 and is also Chairman of the Audit 
Committee of that company. Prior to joining the funeral industry, 
Richard worked in venture capital and as an accounting partner of 
Bird Cameron. Richard holds a Bachelor of Economics from the 
University of Sydney.

Other Public Company Directorships held in the last three years
Australian Vintage Limited (appointed May 2009)

Interest in shares: 606,607 ordinary shares in InvoCare Limited

Company Secretary
Mr Phillip Friery BBus CA
Phillip Friery was appointed Company Secretary in January 2007 
and Chief Financial Officer in March 2007. Prior to joining the 
Group in 1994 as Accounting Manager, Phillip spent approximately 
19 years with Coopers & Lybrand (before its merger with Price 
Waterhouse) in external audit, technical advisory and financial 
management consulting roles. Phillip joined the board of Over 
Fifty Guardian Friendly Society Limited on 24 March 2009. He 
holds a Bachelor of Business from the New South Wales Institute 
of Technology (now University of Technology Sydney) and is a 
member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.

Interest in shares: 81,385 ordinary shares in InvoCare Limited

31

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

Meetings of directors
Details of the meetings attended by each director during the year 
ended 31 December 2013 are set out in the Corporate Governance 
Statement on page 33.

Retirement, election and continuation in office of directors
In accordance with the Constitution of InvoCare Limited, at 
each Annual General Meeting the following directors must retire 
from office:

 –

 –

 –

one-third (or a number nearest one-third) of the number of 
directors, excluding from the number of directors the Managing 
Director (i.e. the Chief Executive Officer), who is exempt from 
retirement by rotation, and any other director appointed by the 
directors either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the 
existing directors;
any other director who has held office for three years or more 
since last being elected; and
any other director appointed to fill a casual vacancy or as an 
addition to the existing directors.

Richard Fisher and Richard Davis will retire by rotation as directors 
at the Annual General Meeting on 23 May 2014 and, being eligible, 
offer themselves for re-election.

Corporate governance
The Directors’ Report continues with the Corporate 
Governance Statement.

32

Corporate Governance Statement
InvoCare Limited (the “Company”) and the Board of Directors 
(the “Board”) are committed to achieving and demonstrating the 
highest standards of corporate governance. The Company and 
its controlled entities together are referred to as “InvoCare” or the 
“Group” in this statement.

This statement outlines the main corporate governance 
practices in place throughout the financial year, which comply 
with the ASX Corporate Governance Council’s principles and 
recommendations as issued in August 2007 and as amended 
in 2010, unless otherwise stated. The Other Key Management 
Personnel (“Other KMP”) comprise:

 – Greg Bisset, Chief Operating Officer Australia (“COO Australia”);
 – Graeme Rhind, Chief Operating Officer New Zealand 

(“COO New Zealand”);

 – Wee Leng Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Casket 

Company (“CEO Singapore”);

 – Phillip Friery, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”); and
 – Andi Luiskandl, Chief Information Officer (“CIO”).

For further information on the corporate governance policies 
adopted by InvoCare Limited, refer to the Company’s website: 
www.invocare.com.au

Principle 1 – Lay Solid Foundations for 
Management and Oversight
Functions of the Board and senior executives
The Board of InvoCare Limited is responsible for guiding and 
monitoring the Group on behalf of the shareholders by whom they 
are elected and to whom they are accountable.

The Board seeks to identify the expectations of the shareholders, as 
well as other regulatory and ethical expectations and obligations. In 
addition, the Board is responsible for identifying areas of significant 
business risk and ensuring arrangements are in place to adequately 
manage those risks.

The responsibility for the operation and administration of the Group, 
including day-to-day management of the Group’s affairs and the 
implementation of the corporate strategy and policy initiatives, 
is delegated by the Board to the CEO, Other KMP, and other 
management. Delegations are set out in the Group’s delegations 
policy and are reviewed regularly. Delegations, within defined 
authority limits, relate to various operational functions, including 
areas such as expenditure and commitments, employee matters 
(e.g. recruitment, termination, remuneration, discipline, training, 
development, health and safety), pricing, branding, investor 
and media communications. The Board ensures that the senior 
executives and the management team are appropriately qualified 
and experienced to discharge their responsibilities and has in 
place procedures to assess the performance of the CEO and the 
senior executives.

In deciding which functions and activities the Board reserves to 
itself, it is guided by the overarching principle that the Board is 
charged with strategic responsibility, along with a management 
oversight function, and that the executive management have an 
implementation function. In fulfilling these functions, the directors 
seek to enhance shareholder value and protect the interests 
of stakeholders.

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013All Board members have formal letters of appointment which clearly 
articulate the roles, responsibilities, expectations and remuneration 
of directors. 

and procedures with a particular emphasis on the respective roles 
of the Board and its committees and those functions delegated 
to management.

All employees, including the CEO and senior executives, have formal 
job descriptions. The level of seniority of the role determines whether 
a formally drafted contract of employment or a less complex letter of 
appointment is used to confirm employment. Regardless of type, all 
employment agreements clearly articulate duties and responsibilities 
and also rights and expectations. Standard letters of appointment 
are used for all new appointments.

The Board Charter is available on the Company’s website: 
www.invocare.com.au

Senior executive evaluation
After the conclusion of each financial year the CEO evaluates and 
documents the performance of the Other KMPs. The results of 
this evaluation are reviewed by the Remuneration Committee with 
specific focus on achievements against targeted key performance 
indicators. Also at this time, key performance indicator targets for 
the ensuing year are established. The Remuneration Committee and 
the Board also review and determine the Other KMPs’ remuneration 
for the ensuing year.

The Remuneration Committee evaluates the performance of 
the CEO against annual key performance indicators and reports 
to the Board its recommendations on performance appraisal 
and remuneration.

In addition to a review of monthly financial results, at least quarterly 
the Board monitors the key performance indicators for the Group 
which provides the opportunity to more regularly evaluate the 
performance of senior executives outside the annual review 
process. When appointed, all new senior executives receive an 
induction appropriate to their experience, which is designed to 
ensure they can quickly and effectively participate in decision 
making. The programme is also designed to ensure that the 
executive gains a good working knowledge of both the industry and 
the Group covering the financial position, strategies and operations. 
This induction programme also focuses on the internal policies 

Principle 2 – Structure the Board to Add Value
Board composition
The Board currently comprises six directors, being five non-
executive directors (including the Chairman) and one executive 
director, being the CEO. Any director appointed to fill a casual 
vacancy, except for the CEO, must stand for election by 
shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting. In addition, one-
third of the non-executive directors, and any other director who 
has held office for three years or more since last being elected, 
must retire from office and, if eligible, may stand for re-election. 
The CEO is exempt from retirement by rotation and is not counted 
in determining the number of directors to retire by rotation.

The majority of the Board must be independent directors, one of 
whom is the Chairman. A director is deemed to be “independent” 
if independent of management and free of any business or other 
relationship that could materially interfere with, or could reasonably 
be perceived to materially interfere with, the exercise of unfettered 
and independent judgement. 

The Board has assessed, using the criteria set out in the ASX 
Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, the 
independence of non-executive directors in light of their interests 
and relationships and considers them all to be independent. The 
Company will provide immediate notification to the market where 
the independence status of a director changes.

The skills, experience and expertise relevant to the position of each 
director and their term of office are set out starting on page 30 of 
the Directors’ Report.

Meetings of directors
During the year ended 31 December 2013, the number of meetings 
of the Board of Directors and of each Board Committee and 
the number of meetings attended by each of the directors are 
as follows:

Board

Audit
Committee

Risk
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

Nomination
Committee

Non-executive Directors

Richard Fisher

Christine Clifton

Roger Penman

Aliza Knox

Richard Davis

Ian Ferrier

Benjamin Chow

Executive Director
Andrew Smith

A

15

15

14

15

15

10

7

15

B

15

15

15

15

15

10

7

15

A

5

5

5

5*

5*

2*

2*

5*

B

5

5

5

–

–

–

–

–

A

3

3

–

3

3*

3

2

3*

B

3

3

–

3

1

3

2

–

A

1

–

2

–

2*

1

1

2*

B

1

–

2

–

1

1

1

–

A

2

2

2

2

2

1

1

–

A = number of meetings attended.
B = number of meetings held during the time the director held office or was a member of the committee during the year.
* = includes meetings attended as an invited guest of the committee where the director was not a member of the relevant committee.

B

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

–

33

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

Corporate Governance Statement continued
During the year Ian Ferrier and Benjamin Chow resigned. Richard 
Davis was appointed as a member of the Risk Committee 
on 24 June 2013 and Richard Fisher left this committee on 
26 November 2013. Both Richard Fisher and Richard Davis joined 
the Remuneration Committee on 26 November 2013.

and Committees, operation of the Board, Group behaviours and 
protocols and performance of the Board and Committees, and 
invites comments from each director.

The results of the questionnaire are aggregated and discussed 
by the Board as a basis for collegiate consideration of Board 
performance and opportunities for enhancement.

The composition of the Board and Board Committees is a minimum 
of three directors. Board Committees consist entirely of independent 
non-executive directors. The CEO may attend all Board Committee 
meetings by invitation. The other KMPs attend Board and 
Committee meetings by invitation.

At the date of this report, the composition of the Board Committees 
is as follows:

Director

Audit

Risk

Nomination Remuneration

Richard Fisher

Christine Clifton





Roger Penman Chairman

Chairman

Aliza Knox

Richard Davis





Chairman











Chairman



Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee critically reviews on an annual basis 
the corporate governance procedures of the Group and the 
composition and effectiveness of the Board.

The Committee currently consists of the five independent non-
executive directors of the Board whose skills and experience 
cover finance and accounting, taxation, law, medicine and health 
administration, marketing, digital media and the funeral industry. The 
Committee has been chaired by Richard Fisher since Ian Ferrier’s 
resignation. The Committee believes that the Board has a healthy mix 
of skills to ensure the ongoing development and growth of the Group.

In addition to its role in proposing candidates for director 
appointment for consideration by the Board, the Nomination 
Committee reviews and advises the Board in relation to Chief 
Executive Officer succession planning, Board succession planning 
and Board and Committees’ performance appraisals.

InvoCare may utilise the professional advice of external consultants 
to find the best person for the position of Director of the company. 
These advisors seek applicants according to the Board’s skills 
requirements. The Board also acknowledges the benefits of a 
diverse Board and require the advisors to present candidates with 
equal numbers of suitably qualified men and women and with some 
diversity in cultural background and age. The Board then selects the 
most suitable candidate(s) for the consideration of the shareholders. 
The Board is looking to achieve an appropriate mix of skills and 
diversity amongst directors. 

The Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website: 
www.invocare.com.au

Directors’ performance evaluation
The Board, through its Nomination Committee, undertakes an 
annual performance review of the full Board, its Committees and 
of the Chairman. The Chairman performs individual appraisals of 
each director.

The evaluation process involves an assessment of Board and 
Committee performance by each director completing a confidential 
questionnaire. The questionnaire covers such matters as the 
role of the Board, the composition and structure of the Board 

34

The individual appraisals between each director and the Chairman 
provide an opportunity for consideration of individual contributions, 
development plans and issues specific to the director.

Due to the changes in the composition of the Board during the year 
no formal performance evaluation reviews were undertaken during 
2013 although substantial discussions were held about the future 
composition of the Board and the mix of skills available currently 
and desired for the future growth of the Group.

Directors’ access to independent professional advice and 
Company information
To assist in the effective discharge of their duties, directors may, in 
consultation with the Chairman, seek independent legal or financial 
advice on their duties and responsibilities at the expense of the 
Company and, in due course, make all Board members aware of 
both instructions to advisors and the advice obtained. 

All directors have the right of access to all relevant Company 
information and to seek information from the Company Secretary 
and other senior executives. They also have a right to other 
records of the Company subject to these not being sought for 
personal purposes. 

All directors and former directors are entitled to inspect and copy 
the books of the Company for the purposes of legal proceedings, 
including situations where the director is a party to proceedings, 
where the director proposes in good faith to bring proceedings 
and where a director has reason to believe proceedings will be 
brought against him or her. In the case of former directors, this right 
of access continues for a period of seven years after the person 
ceases to be a director. 

Prior to each Board meeting, the Board is provided with 
management reports and information in a form, timeframe and 
quality that enables them to discharge their duties. If a board 
member considers this information to be insufficient to support 
informed decision making, then they are entitled to request 
additional information prior to, or at, Board meetings. 

Directors’ induction 
When appointed to the Board, all new directors receive an induction 
appropriate to their experience, which is designed to quickly allow 
them to participate fully and productively in Board decision making. 

The induction programme covers the Group’s structure and goals, 
financial, strategic, operational and risk management positions, 
the rights and duties of a director and the role and operation of the 
Board Committees. The Nomination Committee is responsible for 
reviewing the effectiveness of the director induction programme. 
New directors are given an orientation regarding the business, 
including corporate governance policies, all other corporate policies 
and procedures, Committee structures and responsibilities and 
reporting procedures.

Directors’ continuing education 
Directors are expected to undertake continuing education both 
as regards the normal discharge of their formal director duties, as 
well as ongoing developments within the Group and its operating 
environment. Directors typically attend courses and seminars 
relevant to the effective discharge of their duties. 

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Principle 3 – Promote Ethical and Responsible 
Decision Making
Code of Conduct
The Board, in recognition of the importance of ethical and 
responsible decision making, has adopted a Code of Conduct 
for all employees and directors which outlines the standards of 
ethical behaviour which are essential to maintain the trust of all 
stakeholders and the wider community. This code also mandates 
the avoidance of conflicts of interest and requires high standards 
of personal integrity, objectivity and honesty in the dealings of all 
directors, executives and staff, providing detailed guidelines to 
ensure the highest standards are maintained.

InvoCare recognises that its clients may be vulnerable due to a 
recent bereavement and it requires all employees to be aware 
of their ethical and legal responsibilities. Accordingly, InvoCare 
requires all employees to behave according to this code, to 
maintain its reputation as a good corporate citizen. Such behaviours 
extend to areas such as confidentiality, Privacy Act obligations, 
communications with the media, occupational health and safety 
and  drugs and alcohol.

This code is provided to all directors and employees as part of 
their induction process and compliance is reviewed on a regular 
basis. It is subject to ongoing review and assessment to ensure 
it continues to be relevant to contemporary conditions.

The code is available on the Company’s website: 
www.invocare.com.au

Share Trading Policy
The Company’s share trading policy is designed to minimise the 
risk that InvoCare, its directors and its employees will breach the 
insider trading provisions of the Corporations Act or compromise 
confidence in InvoCare’s practices in relation to securities trading. 
The policy prohibits directors and employees from trading in 
InvoCare securities when they are in possession of information not 
generally available to the investment community, and otherwise 
confines the opportunity for directors and employees to trade in 
InvoCare securities to certain limited periods.

This policy applies to all senior staff, particularly those such as 
finance team members, who have access to information which is 
not generally available. In addition, it applies to all the associates 
of these individuals. The policy prohibits trading in the Company’s 
shares except within narrow and specific windows when the Group 
believes the market is fully informed. There are limited procedural 
exceptions to the policy and in certain circumstances the Chairman 
has the ability to approve trading outside the policy prescriptions. 

The share trading policy is available on the Company’s website: 
www.invocare.com.au

Diversity
InvoCare serves a diverse range of communities across Australia, 
New Zealand and Singapore and believes it is very important to 
ensure that a diverse range of people, specifically suited to the 
community being served are available for families in their time of 
need. This includes actively encouraging women at all levels of 
the organisation.

Women currently comprise 33% of the board, 20% of other key 
management personnel, 29% of operational general managers in 
Australia and 38% of support general managers. Fifty-three percent 
of total InvoCare staff are women.

InvoCare’s aspirational target is to exceed 30% of women in all the 
senior management positions outlined above.

Principle 4 – Safeguard Integrity in Financial 
Reporting
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee provides assistance to the Board in fulfilling 
its corporate governance, risk management and oversight 
responsibilities in relation to the Group’s financial reporting, internal 
control structure, interest rate and foreign currency risks and the 
internal and external audit functions.

It is the responsibility of the Committee to maintain free and open 
communication between the Committee, the external auditor, the 
internal auditor and management of the Group. Both the internal 
and external auditors have a direct line of communication to the 
Chairman of the Audit Committee.

The Audit Committee comprises three independent non-executive 
directors and is currently chaired by Roger Penman. Mr Penman 
is an FCA and brings a wealth of financial and taxation experience 
to the Committee. Other members are Christine Clifton and 
Richard Fisher.

The external auditor met with the Audit Committee twice during the 
year without management being present.

The Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website: 
www.invocare.com.au

Principle 5 – Make Timely and Balanced 
Disclosure
The Company has appropriate mechanisms in place to ensure 
all investors are provided with timely, complete and accurate 
information affecting the Group’s financial position, performance, 
ownership and governance.

The Chairman, CEO, CFO or Company Secretary are responsible, 
as appropriate, for communication with shareholders and Australian 
Securities Exchange (“ASX”). This includes responsibility for ensuring 
compliance with the continuous disclosure requirements in the ASX 
listing rules and overseeing and co-ordinating information disclosure 
to the ASX, analysts, brokers, shareholders, the media and the 
public. Continuous disclosure obligations are well understood and 
upheld by the Board and senior executives. Formal and informal 
discussion and consideration of these obligations occur as and 
when the need arises.

The Group’s shareholder communication strategy is designed to 
ensure that all relevant information, especially market sensitive 
information, is made available to all shareholders and other 
stakeholders as soon as possible. InvoCare’s website is structured 
to ensure information is easily located and logically grouped. Those 
shareholders who have made the appropriate election receive email 
notification of all announcements.

The Continuous Disclosure Policy and Shareholder 
Communication Strategy are available on the Company’s website: 
www.invocare.com.au

35

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

Corporate Governance Statement continued
Principle 6 – Respect the Rights of Shareholders
The Board of Directors aims to ensure that the shareholders are 
informed of all major developments affecting the Group’s state 
of affairs.

The Company uses its website to complement the official release 
of material information to the market. Shareholders may elect to 
receive email alerts when Company announcements are made. 
Notice of Annual General Meeting, half-year and annual results 
announcements and financial reports, investor presentations, press 
releases and other ASX announcements can be found on the 
Company’s website: www.invocare.com.au

The Board encourages full participation of shareholders at the 
Annual General Meeting. The Company’s external auditor attends 
the Annual General Meeting and is available to answer shareholder 
questions about the conduct of the audit and the preparation 
and content of the auditor’s report. The Chairman of the meeting 
encourages shareholders to ask reasonable questions of the auditor 
regarding the audit and auditor’s report. Questions for the auditor 
can be submitted prior to the Annual General Meeting by contacting 
the Company’s registered office.

The next Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be 
held at 11.00am on Friday, 23 May 2014 at the offices of 
PricewaterhouseCoopers, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney.

Shareholders are also able to direct any questions relating to 
the Company’s securities to the share registry, Link Market 
Services Limited.

The Shareholder Communication Strategy is available on the 
Company’s website: www.invocare.com.au

Principle 7 – Recognise and Manage Risk
The Board, through the Risk Committee and Audit Committee, 
reviews and oversees the Group’s risk management systems. 

Risk Committee
The Risk Committee determines the Group’s risk profile and 
is responsible for overseeing and approving risk management 
strategy and policies, internal compliance and internal control. The 
Risk Committee does not have responsibility for strategic (Board 
responsibility) or financial risk management, which is the focus of 
InvoCare’s Audit Committee.

The Company’s approach to managing risk draws from the 
International Standard ISO 31000 and the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organisations of the Treadway Commission’s integrated framework 
for Enterprise Risk Management.

Each senior executive, with input and assistance from their direct 
reports, identifies key risks for their areas of responsibility and 
function which are in turn aggregated into an overall corporate risk 
register. Each risk is assessed and assigned an inherent risk rating. 
The risk register is continuously reviewed and maintained as new 
risks are identified or incidents occur, or mitigating controls change.

Extracts of the risk register are provided to the Risk Committee 
at each of its meetings, together with specific commentary or 
information on significant changes to the risks or the ratings. 
Specific major risks or incidents are reported, as and when 
they occur, to the CEO and Other KPMs who are responsible 
for escalating these to the Risk Committee and Board, where 
necessary, if the event occurs outside the regular cycle of 

36

Committee meetings. The Committee is informed of the 
effectiveness of actions to mitigate the impact of risk events. In 
addition, the Committee considers developments or improvements 
in risk management and controls, including the adequacy of 
insurance programmes.

The Group has identified risks and identified KPIs which the 
Group believes to be relevant in the industry in which the 
company operates.

Separate records and registers are maintained for other more 
common or recurring risks; for example, arising from customer 
complaints and occupational health and safety issues. These are 
managed and reported to the Committee by relevant in-house 
specialists, including the Group Integration and Risk Manager 
and General Manager of Human Resources. In this context, the 
Committee monitors complaints handling and also has a strong 
focus on ensuring suitable work practices and employee learning 
and development programmes are developed and delivered.

The Group has established a Greenhouse Emissions Plan for Board 
review which includes risks and opportunities associated with 
climate change and identifies emission reduction targets. Based on 
measures of carbon emissions in 2008, as a base year, InvoCare 
is well below the threshold reporting levels under the National 
Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 which was effective 
from 1 July 2008.

The Risk Committee comprises three independent non-executive 
directors and is currently chaired by Christine Clifton. The other 
members are Aliza Knox and Richard Davis.

The Risk Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website: 
www.invocare.com.au

Internal control
The Group maintains a register of delegated authorities which 
are designed to ensure that all transactions are approved at the 
appropriate level of management and by individuals who have no 
conflicts of interest in relation to the transaction.

An internal audit function is established and conducts a series 
of risk-based and routine reviews in accordance with three-year 
strategic, and more detailed annual, internal audit plans. These 
plans are based on the existing risk environment and the level 
of inherent risk, i.e. the level of risk before the application of 
controls, in order to effectively identify and prioritise internal audit 
projects. Within a three-year period all key business systems and 
processes are regularly reviewed, either using in-house or external 
resources, to ensure that adequate levels of checks and balances 
exist to safeguard the assets of the Company and ensure that all 
transactions are correctly and promptly recorded.

Internal audit has developed a self-assessment questionnaire 
which is distributed to operational management. This questionnaire 
serves to build higher awareness and understanding of business 
risks and how to manage and control them. In addition, internal 
audit reviews all systems improvements and enhancements prior to 
live implementation to ensure an adequate level of internal control 
and accountability are maintained. Exception reports have been 
developed that assist in continuous monitoring of major processes.

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Remuneration Report
The Remuneration Report summarises the key compensation 
policies and practices for the year ended 31 December 2013, 
highlights the link between remuneration and corporate 
performance and provides detailed information on the 
compensation for non-executive and executive directors 
and other key management personnel.

The Remuneration Report is set out under the following 
main headings:

A.  Directors and key management personnel disclosed in this 

report

B.  Remuneration governance
C.  Use of remuneration consultants
D.  Executive remuneration policy and framework
E.  Relationship between remuneration and InvoCare’s performance
F.  Non-executive director remuneration policy
G.  Voting at InvoCare’s 2013 Annual General Meeting
H.  Details of remuneration
I.  Service agreements
J.  Share-based compensation

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

A.  Directors and key management personnel
For the purposes of this report, the key management personnel 
are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, 
directing and controlling the activities of the Group or a major 
operation within the Group and are as follows:

Non-executive directors
Richard Fisher (Chairman)
Christine Clifton
Roger Penman
Aliza Knox
Richard Davis
Ian Ferrier (resigned 22 October 2013)
Benjamin Chow (resigned 16 August 2013)

Other key management personnel
Andrew Smith (Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer)
Phillip Friery (Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary)
Greg Bisset (Chief Operating Officer Australia)
Andi Luiskandl (Chief Information Officer)
Wee Leng Goh (Chief Executive Officer Singapore)
Graeme Rhind (Chief Operating Officer New Zealand)

An informal process exists by which employees of InvoCare may, in 
confidence, raise concerns about possible improprieties in financial 
reporting or other matters. Internal audit would usually be involved in 
independent investigations of such matters and follow-up actions.

The Group Internal Audit Manager and Integration and Risk 
Manager meet privately with the chairs of the Audit and Risk 
Committees without management present on a regular basis.

Assurance
Prior to finalising the release of half-year and full-year results and 
reports, the Board receives assurance from the CEO and CFO 
in accordance with s295A of the Corporations Act 2001 and 
Recommendation 7.3 of the ASX Corporate Governance Principles 
and Recommendations. These assurances also provide the Board 
with information in relation to internal control and other areas of risk 
management. These officers receive similar assurance from the 
key financial and operational staff reporting to them in relation to 
these matters.

Principle 8 – Remunerate Fairly and Responsibly
Remuneration Committee
InvoCare’s remuneration policy ensures that remuneration packages 
properly reflect the person’s duties and responsibilities, and that 
remuneration is competitive in attracting, retaining and motivating 
people of the highest calibre.

The Remuneration Committee reviews and makes 
recommendations to the Board on senior executive remuneration 
and appointment and on overall staff remuneration and 
compensation policies.

When making recommendations, the Committee aims to design 
policies that attract and retain the executives needed to run 
InvoCare successfully and to motivate executives to pursue 
appropriate growth strategies while marrying performance 
with remuneration. 

The Remuneration Committee comprises three independent 
non-executive directors with Roger Penman as Chair and 
Richard Fisher and Richard Davis as members.

The Remuneration Committee Charter is available on the 
Company’s website: www.invocare.com.au

Remuneration structure
Remuneration for senior executives typically comprises a package 
of fixed and performance-based components. The Committee may, 
from time to time, seek advice from special remuneration consulting 
groups so as to ensure that the Board remains informed of market 
trends and practices.

Non-executive directors are remunerated by way of directors’ fees, 
which may be sacrificed by payment into superannuation plans or 
by allocation of ordinary shares. They do not participate in schemes 
designed for the remuneration of executives, and do not receive 
retirement benefits, bonus payments or incentive shares.

Executive remuneration and other terms of employment are 
reviewed annually by the Committee, having regard to personal and 
corporate performance, contribution to long-term growth, relevant 
comparative information and independent expert advice. As well 
as a base salary, remuneration packages include superannuation, 
performance-related bonuses, access by invitation to the Deferred 
Employee Share Plan and fringe benefits.

The Remuneration Report is set out on pages 37 to 49.

37

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration Report continued
B.  Remuneration Governance
The Board has an established Remuneration Committee which 
critically reviews the Group’s remuneration policy and, under its 
charter, has the following primary functions:

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

review and make recommendations to the Board regarding the 
remuneration and appointment of senior executive officers and 
non-executive directors;
review and make recommendations to the Board regarding 
policies for remuneration and compensation programmes of the 
Group focusing on appropriate remuneration policies designed 
to meet the needs of the Group and enhance corporate and 
individual performance;
review and make recommendations to the Board regarding 
administration of remuneration and compensation programmes;
review and make recommendations for approval by the Board 
regarding all reports on executive remuneration required by law 
or regulation proposed to be included in the annual report;
review and make recommendations to the Board regarding all 
equity based remuneration or compensation plans; and
report to the Board regularly on each of the above matters.

During 2013, the Remuneration Committee considered 
the emerging market remuneration practices and 
legislative developments.

Any new disclosure requirements arising from the Australian 
Government’s draft bill to amend the Corporations Act 2001 
will be reviewed to ensure InvoCare fully complies with any new 
enacted law.

Both the previous and this latest Remuneration Report provide 
commentary about any changes to remuneration arrangements and 
outline the Directors’ rationale for the practices adopted. 

The Remuneration Committee makes recommendations to the 
Board in relation to the remuneration of the CEO.

The CEO recommends the remuneration of all other key 
management personnel. The Remuneration Committee reviews the 
recommendation before submission to and approval by the Board 
of Directors.

The key management personnel determine the remuneration of 
other senior management, within both the Remuneration Committee 
remuneration policy framework and a defined budget approved 
by the Board.

C.  Use of remuneration consultants
The Remuneration Committee conducted its remuneration review 
with assistance detailed below from independent remuneration 
consultant Mr Ian Crichton of CRA Plan Managers Pty Ltd (“CRA”), 
a specialist consultancy and advisory business dedicated to 
all aspects of director and executive compensation and equity 
incentive strategies.

CRA was appointed in November 2013, in writing, by the Chairman 
of the Remuneration Committee, to undertake a remuneration 
benchmark assessment and analysis in respect of Director and 
selected key management personnel remuneration. Final reports 
were provided to the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
on 11 December 2013. The information provided was used, in part, 
to assist the Board in determining changes to Director and key 
management personnel remuneration for the 2014 financial year. 
CRA received a fee of $22,952 (excluding GST and out of pocket 
expenses) for this work.

CRA also received fees totalling $48,502 (excluding GST and 
expense recovery) during the year ended 31 December 2013 
for other services, mainly related to employee share scheme 
management services.

CRA did not make any “remuneration recommendations” as 
defined in the Corporations Act 2001 in the 2013 financial year.

D.  Executive remuneration policy and framework
Policy
The guiding principle underlying InvoCare’s executive remuneration 
philosophy is to ensure rewards are fair and reasonable, having 
regard to both internal and external relativities, and appropriately 
balanced between fixed and variable components and that all 
variable components are commensurate with performance and 
results delivered.

InvoCare’s remuneration policy is that:

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

for each role, the balance between fixed and variable 
components should reflect market conditions;
individual objectives should reflect the need for sustainable 
outcomes;
all variable pay should be tightly linked to measurable personal 
and business performance; 
total compensation should be market competitive and be 
reviewed annually, with no component guaranteed to increase; 
and
the Chief Executive Officer’s and senior executives’ total 
remuneration be targeted at the 50th percentile of comparable 
positions in comparable size companies (taking into account 
sales revenue, number of employees, net profit after tax and 
market capitalisation) which is achieved when individual and 
overall Group performance targets are met.

38

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Remuneration structure 
InvoCare’s compensation structure aims to provide a balance of 
fixed and variable remuneration components. Variable components 
are tied to the performance of the Group and of the individual and 
are entirely at risk.

The compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other 
key management personnel is comprised of payments and/or 
allocations under the following categories:

 –

 –

 –

base salary and benefits, including annual leave, superannuation 
and other incidental benefits;
short-term incentives (“STI”) in the form of annual cash bonuses; 
and
long-term incentives (“LTI”) in the form of share-based bonuses.

The target remuneration mix for the CEO and other key 
management personnel, as depicted in the following graph (and 
averaged for the other key management personnel), is set to place 
a considerable portion of executive remuneration at risk so as to 
align remuneration with both Group performance and the individual’s 
personal influence and contribution to the Group performance.

CEO – 2013

52%

27%

21%

CEO – 2012

52%

27%

21%

Other key 
management 
personnel – 2013

Other key 
management 
personnel – 2012

61%

62%

23%

16%

23%

15%

20%
■ Base plus superannuation  ■ STI potential  ■ LTI potential

60%

40%

0%

80%

100%

No director or other key management personnel has, at 
31 December 2013 or during or since the end of the financial year, 
had any loans to or from the Group or any options over unissued 
ordinary shares of InvoCare Limited.

Base salary and benefits
Executives are offered a market competitive base cash salary, 
together with annual leave and post-employment superannuation 
benefits in accordance with relevant jurisdictional statutory 
requirements and other non-monetary or incidental benefits. An 
executive may elect to structure the base salary and benefits as a 
combination of cash and other benefits.

The cash salary is reviewed on a regular basis against market data 
for comparable positions provided by independent remuneration 
consultants and selected survey data. Adjustments to base 
salary are based on increases in role scope or responsibility, pay 
position relative to market and relative performance in the role. No 
guaranteed base pay increases are included in any executive’s 
service agreements.

Non-monetary benefits may include provision of fully maintained 
cars and car parking spaces. Other incidental benefits may include 
payment of total and permanent disablement, death and salary 
continuance insurance premiums and nominal discounts for funerals 
of immediate family members.

In Australia, entitlements accrue for employee’s long service and, 
subject to relevant statutory requirements and qualifying periods, 
the entitlement may be taken as leave or is payable to the employee 
upon termination of employment.

Termination benefits are provided in the respective individual 
contracts of employment and are normally limited to statutory 
entitlements, such as accrued but untaken leave, and payments 
in lieu of notice, which generally range between one month 
up to a maximum of six months. Details for key management 
personnel service agreements are set out on page 47 under 
the heading “I. Service Agreements”.

Short-term incentives
STIs are awarded for achievement of pre-determined financial and 
non-financial objectives. For key management personnel, the target 
criteria and possible bonus levels are defined each year by the 
Remuneration Committee and Board. For other executives, the key 
management personnel determine the objectives and reward levels, 
subject to ratification by the Remuneration Committee, within the 
constraints of a Board approved budget.

Each executive has a target STI opportunity depending on the 
accountabilities of the role and impact on Group performance. 
The STI opportunity is up to a maximum of 56.3% of base salary 
plus superannuation for the CEO and up to a maximum 49% for 
the other key management personnel. The target criteria for key 
management personnel are heavily weighted to overall financial 
performance, being up to 50% of the potential STI opportunity, but 
are also tailored to the relevant circumstances of each executive.

In summary, the criteria used to determine short-term bonuses for 
key management personnel are aligned with InvoCare’s strategic 
and business objectives and include:

 –

 –

 – Group or specific country EBITDA growth targets, with EBITDA 
being a key financial measure of the success of operations;
absolute case volume and Group or specific country market 
share growth, which are cornerstones of the past and 
future growth of the business, including through opening 
new locations in existing markets, entering new markets or 
acquiring businesses;
innovation in customer service delivery and business operations, 
including introducing new products and services, modifying 
operating models and further developing or strengthening 
brand positioning;
develop and implement digital business strategies, embracing 
and harnessing new or existing technologies (e.g. social media) 
to enhance customer service and business efficiencies; and
continue to grow the prepaid funeral business and, where 
possible, influence independent fund managers to adopt 
appropriate asset allocations and achieve investment returns 
in excess of price rises and investment management costs.

 –

 –

Other levels of staff also received short-term objective based 
compensation based on measurable and pre-determined targets. 
In addition to complementing the targets applying to more senior 
executives, these objectives include key performance indicators 
such as case average pricing, sales of prepaid contracts, the 
management of labour costs, client survey results and debtors’ 
days outstanding.

39

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration Report continued
Bonuses are payable in cash in the first quarter of each year after 
the completion of the audit of the results for the previous year ended 
31 December. The Remuneration Committee considers that STI 
bonuses are awarded for achievement of key performance criteria 
for a particular financial year and that no part of the bonus should 
be deferred for payment in a later year. The Committee is of the view 
that the share based LTI, described in more detail below, encourage 
executives to remain employed with the Group and ensure 
alignment with shareholder interests.

Based upon achievements in 2013, the Remuneration Committee 
determined the CEO and other key management personnel 
achieved an average 37% of their target STI opportunity. Year 
on year operating EBITDA growth of 2.2%, although positive, 
was below targeted performance and hence the 50% STI 
opportunity relating to financial performance was forfeited. 

The following factors were among those considered by the 
Remuneration Committee in making its assessment on the 
remainder of the STI opportunity:

 –

 –
 –

 –

financial performance was adversely impacted by the lower 
number of deaths, which is out of the control of management; 
however cost management initiatives resulted in a much 
improved second half with EBITDA growth of 6.9% and year 
on year and margin growth of 0.7%;
ongoing sales of prepaid funeral contracts;
negotiations with potential business vendors continued during 
the year with the successful completion and integration of 
several businesses in Australia and New Zealand; and
significant progress on roll out of digital strategy across 
the business.

Long-term incentives
Recognising the importance of an appropriate long-term incentive 
for rewarding and retaining senior management, during 2007 
a share-based compensation scheme, the InvoCare Deferred 
Employee Share Plan (“DESP”), was introduced under which 
the Board may offer selected senior managers incentive shares 
(“LTI shares”).

In the case of foreign based senior executives who may not be able 
to participate in Australian share offers, share appreciation rights 
(“LTI rights”) may be offered which mirror the same outcomes for the 
employee as LTI shares.

In determining the amount of an offer to an individual manager, 
consideration is given to factors, including market benchmarks, skill 
and experience, expected and actual performance over time and 
promotion and succession potential.

No consideration is payable by the employee for the offer of LTI 
shares or LTI rights, but they are subject to continuous service and, 
for senior management, performance conditions.

The LTI shares are purchased on market and hence the DESP is 
operated on a completely non-dilutive basis. LTI rights are valued 
by reference to the market value of InvoCare shares at the time 
of the offer. The value of LTI shares or LTI rights offered is up to a 
maximum of 41.8% of base salary plus superannuation for the CEO 
(based upon his 2014 remuneration) and up to a maximum 35% for 
the other key management personnel.

Vesting of the LTI shares and LTI rights will be in three equal 
tranches in February of each of the second, third and fourth 
subsequent years after the year of offer. Unless otherwise 
determined by the Board in its sole discretion, unvested LTI shares 
and LTI rights will be forfeited on death and disability, retirement or 
resignation or other employment termination.

The LTI shares are held in trust until vesting and the employees will 
be entitled to any dividends paid in respect of unvested, unforfeited 
shares. Similarly, notional dividend amounts will be paid to holders 
of unvested, unforfeited LTI rights coinciding with the payment 
of InvoCare dividends. The Remuneration Committee considers 
the payment of dividends on unvested shares or rights reinforces 
the value of the long-term reward. The practice helps align the 
managers’ interests with those of InvoCare shareholders through 
appreciation of the importance of dividend benefits and provides 
further incentive for managers to remain with InvoCare until vesting 
conditions are met.

Upon vesting of LTI shares, the employee has the discretion 
to leave the LTI shares in trust, withdraw or sell any number of 
them. In accordance with InvoCare’s Share Trading Policy, senior 
managers are not permitted to enter into transactions in products 
associated with their shareholding in the Company which operate 
to limit the economic risk of their shareholding (e.g. hedging or cap 
and collar arrangements), which includes limiting the economic risk 
of holdings of unvested entitlements associated with LTI shares.

Upon vesting of LTI rights, the employee will be paid in cash an 
amount equivalent to the number of vested LTI rights multiplied by 
the value of those rights derived by reference to the market value of 
InvoCare shares.

Performance conditions apply to senior managers who have an 
important strategic role impacting InvoCare’s financial performance 
and relate to compound growth per annum in normalised earnings 
per share over the vesting period. “Normalised earnings” means 
reported profit as adjusted:

 –

 –

to remove the impacts of any gains or losses arising from 
the sale, disposal or impairment of non-current assets; and
to maintain consistency in accounting policies across the 
respective vesting periods for each grant.

Compound growth per annum of normalised earnings per share 
was selected at the time of establishment of the DESP as the most 
suitable and reliable measure of organisational performance based 
on independent advice from CRA and analysis by the Board.

As part of its normal review of remuneration policy, the 
Remuneration Committee re-affirmed the appropriateness of the 
earnings per share absolute measure, including by comparison to 
the commonly used Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) relative metric. 
The reasons for this conclusion include:

 –

 –

 –

InvoCare is a stable, unique business without a true comparator 
peer or group to benchmark performance against;
relative TSR incentives tend to favour executives in companies 
with higher levels of inherent share price volatility than InvoCare, 
which has lower volatility in both share price and earnings than 
other ASX listed entities or market indices;
InvoCare has relatively small market capitalisation and its 
growth may appear constrained relative to an index or 
selected peer group;

40

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 –

 –

the vagaries of equity markets are not controllable by InvoCare’s 
Board or its executives and introducing TSR would detract from 
the clear and proven organisational performance culture which 
already exists within InvoCare; and
earnings per share growth is aligned with InvoCare’s strategic 
objectives and more closely reflects management performance 
and success in incrementally creating value through good 
decision making and sustained and improving performance 
over time.

For 2013 offers, the 2012 base comparison year earnings per 
share was set at 38.7 cents per share to exclude the asset sale 
gains during 2012. For 2014 offers, the 2013 base comparison 
year earnings per share has been set at 39.7 cents per share which 
excludes the net gains from asset sales and impairments in 2013.

LTI shares or LTI rights granted in 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 vest as set out below:

Normalised reported earnings per share (“EPS”) compound  
growth per annum from 1 January in the year of offer

Proportion of each one-third tranche of LTI shares that will vest

10% or more
9% or more but less than 10%
8% or more but less than 9%
7% or more but less than 8%
Less than 7%

100%
77% plus 2.3% for each 0.1% growth in EPS over 9%
53% plus 2.4% for each 0.1% growth in EPS over 8%
30% plus 2.3% for each 0.1% growth in EPS over 7%
Nil

LTI shares or LTI rights granted in 2013 vest as set out below:

Normalised reported earnings per share (“EPS”) compound  
growth per annum from 1 January in the year of offer

Proportion of each one-third tranche of LTI shares that will vest

12% or more
11% or more but less than 12%
10% or more but less than 11%
9% or more but less than 10%
8% or more but less than 9%
7% or more but less than 8%
Less than 7%

100%
80% plus 2.0% for each 0.1% EPS over 11%
65% plus 1.5% for each 0.1% EPS over 10%
55% plus 1.0% for each 0.1% EPS over 9%
50% plus 0.5% for each 0.1% EPS over 8%
30% plus 2.0% for each 0.1% EPS over 7%
Nil

The performance conditions for LTI shares and LTI rights were selected following independent advice and analysis of:

 –
 –

historic and forecast EPS growth in the S&P/ASX 200; and
InvoCare’s own earnings forecasts derived from its annual five-year plans.

If the cumulative EPS growth performance conditions are not met at the vesting date, the LTI shares or LTI rights remain available until 
February in the fifth year after grant and may vest based on the compound annual growth from the base date for the grant to 31 December 
of the previous year. Unvested shares at the fifth anniversary of the grant are forfeited.

The Remuneration Committee continues to support as fair and reasonable the consideration that the LTI plan provides for a cumulative EPS 
test over the vesting period. Each grant is split into three tranches with vesting ranging over two and up to a maximum of five years after 
each grant. This is to allow for the impact that the number of deaths, which is outside the control of management, has on InvoCare’s annual 
result, in particular given the fixed cost nature of the business.

To receive 100% of the LTI shares or LTI rights, the senior executive or manager must remain employed during the vesting period and 
InvoCare’s compound EPS growth must equal or exceed the maximum target growth percentage. The employee remains exposed over this 
timeframe to the consequences of the Group’s results, their own individual performance impacting that result and the market movements in 
InvoCare’s share price.

41

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration Report continued
The following table summarises the performance to date for the grants made since 2008 which impact remuneration in the current or a 
future financial year.

LTI share grant year

Target annual 
compound normalised 
EPS growth from 
1 January of grant year

Normalised EPS on 
1 January of grant year

Performance condition testing  
date and vesting outcome

2008

8% to 12%

27.2 cents

2009

7% to 10%

28.3 cents

2010

7% to 10%

32.3 cents

2011

7% to 10%

33.9 cents

2012

7% to 10%

34.4 cents

2013

7% to 12%

38.7 cents

2014

7% to 10%

39.7 cents

February 2010 – 70% of the first 1/3rd tranche vested
February 2011 – not satisfied, second 1/3rd not vested
February 2012 – not satisfied, final 1/3rd not vested
February 2013 –  not satisfied, all unvested shares forfeited 
(but later discovered 30% vesting should 
have occurred – see note)

February 2011 – 86% of first 1/3rd tranche vested
February 2012 – 39% vesting of second and unvested first tranches
February 2013 – 37% vesting of third and previous unvested tranches
February 2014 –  27% of remaining shares vested, balance 

forfeited (excluding shares used to correct vesting 
apportionment for 2008 grant – see note)

February 2012 – not satisfied, first 1/3rd not vested
February 2013 – not satisfied, first and second 1/3rd not vested
February 2014 – not satisfied, all tranches not vested
February 2015 – to be determined

February 2013 – not satisfied, first 1/3rd not vested
February 2014 – not satisfied, first and second 1/3rd not vested
February 2015 – to be determined
February 2016 (if required)

February 2014 – 39% of the first 1/3rd tranche vested
February 2015 – to be determined
February 2016 – to be determined
February 2017 (if required)

February 2015 – to be determined
February 2016 – to be determined
February 2017 – to be determined
February 2018 (if required)

February 2016 – to be determined
February 2017 – to be determined
February 2018 – to be determined
February 2019 (if required)

Note: In February 2013 it had been determined there would be no final vesting for grants made in 2008. Later in the year it was discovered 
that the apportionment had resulted in an understatement of the number of shares which should have vested. The Directors resolved in 
February 2014 to vest an additional 16,196 shares for the 2008 grant for the affected ten senior managers, which included Phillip Friery 
(3,673 shares) and Greg Bisset (2,755 shares) from key management personnel. The additional vested shares were sourced from 36,740 
shares forfeited from the 2009 grant which at the date of the resolution were still held in the deferred employee share plan trust.

Future offers of LTI shares and LTI rights may be made at the discretion of the Board and the service and performance conditions for any 
future offers may vary from previous LTI share and LTI rights offers.

Further details of LTI shares and LTI rights are set out on page 48 under the heading “J. Share-based Compensation”.

42

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013E.  Relationship between remuneration and InvoCare’s performance
The overall level of executive reward takes into account the performance of the Group over a number of years, with at risk remuneration 
linked to that performance. The remuneration approach, elements and mix has delivered shareholder value since listing as depicted by key 
performance indicators for the Group in the tables below:

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Reported profit after tax ($m)  
– note 1

Basic earnings per share  
(cents)

Normal dividends ($m)  
– note 2

Normal dividends per share  
(cents)

Total return per share ($)  
– note 3

Total shareholder return (%)  
– note 3

Share price  
– 31 December

Shares on issue (m)

Market capitalisation ($m)  
– note 4

Enterprise value ($m)  
– note 5

$48.9m $44.5m $27.0m $27.4m $48.1m $28.0m $27.6m $24.0m $20.1m $19.3m

44.7¢

40.6¢

25.6¢

26.9¢

47.7¢

28.0¢

27.6¢

24.7¢

21.0¢

20.4¢

$37.9m $37.4m $32.5m $28.9m $25.7m $23.6m $22.5m $19.2m $16.0m $14.6m

34.5¢

34.0¢

29.75¢

28.25¢

25.25¢

23.5¢

22.5¢

19.5¢

16.5¢

15.4¢

$2.60

$1.39

$0.71

$1.37

$1.28

($1.63)

$1.66

$1.56

$1.11

$1.27

30%

18%

10%

22%

25%

(23%)

30%

37%

33%

59%

$11.04

$8.78

$7.70

$7.28

$6.18

$5.15

$7.01

$5.57

$4.19

$3.35

110m

110m

110m

102m

102m

101m

100m

99m

97m

95m

$1,215m $966m

$847m

$746m $629m

$519m $703m $552m $406m

$318m

$1,430m $1,183m $1,055m $894m $778m

$671m $849m $698m $542m $449m

1.  From 2009, the Group changed its accounting policy for prepaid contracts following review by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission 
which introduced volatility into reported results associated with mark to market valuations of prepaid funds under management recognised on 
balance sheet for the first time. With a sizeable asset allocation to equities in those prepaid funds, the 2009 and 2010 fair value movements were quite 
significant as a consequence of the global financial crisis and equity returns in 2011 were subdued. Investment asset allocation tilts away from equities 
have reduced the return volatility.

2.  A special dividend of 10.5 cents per share totalling $10.2m was paid in 2005 in addition to the normal dividends for that year.

3.  Total return per share is the share price movement plus in year cash dividends paid. The total shareholder return percentage is the total return per 

share divided by the share price at the beginning of the year.

4.  Market capitalisation at 31 December, being number of shares on issue multiplied by share price at that date.

5.  Enterprise value is market capitalisation plus net debt.

InvoCare’s TSR compared to the S&P/ASX 200 Index for financial years ended 31 December since listing is set out below:

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

InvoCare Limited

Percentile rank

S&P/ASX 200 Index
75th percentile
Median
25th percentile

29.8% 18.4%
65.6% 40.2%

10.2%
76.7%

23.3%
70.4%

25.2% (23.5%)
78.2%
31.6%

30.6%
66.8%

38.0%
64.5%

33.6%
67.5%

60.1%
75.9%

37.2% 42.3%
19.6% 24.8%
(4.4%)

6.4%
(9.4%)
7.7% (24.7%)

31.2% 137.8% (25.2%)
51.3% (46.2%)
6.5%
17.3% (63.6%)
(6.8%)

38.4%
12.9%
(6.6%)

50.3%
26.7%
11.7%

47.5%
20.2%
3.1%

59.5%
34.4%
14.7%

Source: Bloomberg as at 8 January 2014

Note: Based on net dividends reinvested and a base currency of Australian dollars. Index members based on membership as at the date of the 
Bloomberg data, not historical membership.

43

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration Report continued
InvoCare’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) for the financial years ended 31 December over the past 9 years compared to a range of similar 
international business is set out below:

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

InvoCare Limited

Percentile rank

29.8% 18.4%
39.7% 57.3%

10.2%
79.7%

23.3%
59.5%

25.2% (23.5%)
45.6%
39.2%

30.6%
74.3%

38.0%
99.3%

33.6%
74.4%

Service Corporation International
Dignity plc
Stewart Enterprises Inc
Carriage Services Inc
Funespana SA
Tear Corporation
San Holdings Inc
Stonemor Partners LP

31.6%
33.4% 32.6%
16.1%
33.3% 35.2%
(12.7%)
36.5%
n/a
17.1%
65.7% 114.7%
2.7%
(10.8%)
(2.9%)
92.1% 82.8% (32.6%)
(8.2%)
18.2%
(2.3%)
34.4%

2.6%
20.2%
33.5%
23.5%
20.2%
50.3%
6.8% (10.9%)
68.5%

(15.4%)

38.6%
70.3% (64.0%)
12.3%
3.2% (16.2%)
44.5%
75.9% (65.7%)
73.1%
95.9% (77.2%)
11.3% (43.0%)
12.4%
6.1% (22.8%)
62.6%
(2.3%)
(16.3%)
1.5%
(13.3%)
92.3% (33.1%)

26.9%
10.9%
43.3%
38.3%
17.6% (21.7%)
1.2%
1.8%
9.4%
(3.1%)
n/a
n/a
4.2%
(16.3%)
10.8%
33.8%

Mean
Median

47.9%
33.4%

3.8%
(16.1%)
3.3% (12.6%)

51.6%
20.2%

64.6% (28.8%)
62.6% (16.2%)

2.5%
(7.8%)

(2.6%)
(3.1%)

61.6%
10.1%

Source: Bloomberg as at 8 January 2014

Note: Based on net dividends reinvested and a base currency of Australian dollars.

F.  Non-executive director remuneration policy
Non-executive directors
Policy
The Board’s primary focus is on the long-term strategic direction and overall performance of the Group. Accordingly, non-executive director 
remuneration is not linked to short-term results. Fees paid to non-executive directors are determined with the assistance of independent 
external advisers, CRA.

The remuneration policy is designed to:

attract and retain competent and suitably qualified non-executive directors;

 –
 – motivate non-executive directors to achieve InvoCare’s long-term strategic objectives; and
align the interests of non-executive directors with the long-term interests of shareholders.
 –

Fee pool and other fees
Non-executive directors’ base fees for services as directors are determined within an aggregate directors’ fee pool limit, which is periodically 
approved by shareholders. At the date of this report, the pool limit is $1,000,000, being the amount approved by shareholders at the Annual 
General Meeting held on 11 May 2012. 

This remuneration is divided among the non-executive directors in such proportion as the Board determines. During the 2013 financial year, 
annual fees for non-executive directors were $220,000 for the Chairman of the Board and $120,000 for each of the other six non-executive 
directors. No additional fees were paid to non-executive directors who chair the Board’s committees. 

Using market information from an external review of non-executive director compensation commissioned by the Board Remuneration 
Committee, the Board has determined 2014 fees will remain unchanged and be $220,000 for the Chairman and $120,000 for each of the 
other non-executive directors. The Chairman of the Audit Committee will receive an additional $10,000 for the additional work associated 
with the Audit Committee. The aggregate of these fees is $710,000 which is below the current pool limit. The Directors do not propose to 
ask shareholders to consider increasing the pool limit at the next Annual General Meeting on 23 May 2014.

The base fees exclude any remuneration determined by the directors where a director performs additional or special duties for the 
Company. If a director performs additional or special duties for the Company, they may be remunerated as determined by the directors 
and that remuneration can be in addition to the limit mentioned above. No fees for additional or special duties were paid to non-executive 
directors holding office during the years ended 31 December 2013 and 31 December 2012.

Directors are entitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties 
as directors.

44

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
Equity participation
Non-executive directors may receive options as part of their remuneration, subject only to shareholder approval. No options are held by 
any non-executive director at the date of this report.

Non-executive directors may participate in the Company’s Deferred Employee Share Plan on a fee sacrifice basis. No shares have been 
issued or allocated to non-executive directors under the Deferred Employee Share Plan.

During 2009, the Board resolved that with effect from 1 January 2009, non-executive directors of InvoCare Limited be required to acquire 
a minimum equity interest in the Company equivalent in value to 50% of their annual director’s fee applying at the time of their appointment 
as a director of the Company and that directors be allowed up to three years to accumulate the required shareholding. At the date of this 
report, all non-executive directors have equity interests in the Company higher than required. Directors’ equity holdings are set out under 
the heading “Information on directors” on pages 30 to 31 of the Directors’ Report and in Note 7: “Key Management Personnel Disclosures” 
on page 73 of the notes to the financial statements.

Retiring allowances
No retiring allowances are paid to non-executive directors.

Superannuation
Where relevant, fees paid to non-executive directors are inclusive of any superannuation guarantee charge and, at the discretion of each 
non-executive director, may be paid into superannuation funds.

G. Voting at InvoCare’s 2013 Annual General Meeting
The Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2012 received a vote of more than 93% in favour at the Annual General 
Meeting held on 24 May 2013. The Company did not receive any specific feedback at the AGM regarding its remuneration practices.

45

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration Report continued

H. Details of Remuneration
Details of the remuneration of the directors and the executive key management personnel of the Group are set out in the following table:

Short-term employment benefits

Post-em-
ployment 
benefits

Other 
long-term 
benefits

Share-based  
payments benefits

Cash  
Salary  
or Fee 
(note 1) 
$

Short-term 
cash bonus 
(note 2)
$

Non-
monetary 
benefits 
(note 3)
$

Super-
annuation 
(note 4)
$

Long 
Service 
Leave
(note 5)
$

LTI Shares 
at risk
(note 6)
$

LTI Shares 
forfeited
(note 7)
$

Year

Total 
Statutory 
Re-
muneration 
(note 8)
$

Executives’ 
Actual Re-
muneration 
(note 9)
$

Non-executive directors
Richard Fisher (Chairman)

Christine Clifton

Roger Penman

Aliza Knox

Richard Davis

Ian Ferrier
(resigned 22 October 2013)
Benjamin Chow
(resigned 16 August 2013)

Executive director
Andrew Smith

2013  125,221 
2012
 96,330 
2013  109,966 
 96,330 
2012

2013  120,000 
2012  105,000 
2013  120,000 
2012  105,000 
2013  109,966 
2012
 82,869 
2013  168,196 
2012  174,312 
 73,353 
2013
 96,330 
2012

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 11,445 
 8,670 
 10,034 
 8,670 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 10,034 
 7,458 
 15,138 
 15,688 
 6,648 
 8,670 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 136,667 
 105,000 
 120,000 
 105,000 

 120,000 
 105,000 
 120,000 
 105,000 
 120,000 
 90,327 
 183,333 
 190,000 
 80,000 
 105,000 

2013 720,246 122,227
2012 694,625 353,885

39,345
42,031

21,989
21,327

20,149
17,854

264,881
240,358

(55,872) 1,133,565 1,168,354
– 1,370,080 1,289,399

Other key management personnel
Phillip Friery

Greg Bisset

Andi Luiskandl
(Appointed 5 March 2012)
Wee Leng Goh
(Note 10)
Graeme Rhind
(Note 11)

Notes to Remuneration Table:

2013 366,253
2012 331,640
2013 352,654
2012 339,926
2013 248,715
181,029
2012
2013 195,359
2012 176,696
2013 176,630
161,204
2012

64,517
150,162
64,378
159,422
37,089
44,000
26,921
27,111
24,966
58,158

30,402
28,994
42,535
33,353
20,222
24,010
7,323
6,566
14,656
14,896

19,000
25,647
24,505
27,807
23,146
13,865
11,103
10,510
9,602
6,277

10,504
8,522
5,767
5,759
1,284
762
–
–
–
–

97,893
102,380
120,837
106,862
36,605
14,921
76,012
46,214
28,731
13,260

(7,966)
(79,349)
(9,323)
(57,621)
–
–
–
–
–
–

580,603
567,996
601,353
615,508
367,060
278,587
316,718
267,097
254,584
253,795

546,983
571,770
542,346
587,823
333,043
262,904
249,425
225,904
228,574
241,215

1.  The total cost of fees and salary, including annual leave accruals and, at the discretion of the director or employee, any salary or fee sacrificed benefits, 

for example into superannuation.

2.  The amount to be settled in cash relating to performance of the Group and the individual for the financial year from 1 January to 31 December. The 

proportions of STI bonuses awarded and forfeited are set out in the following table.

3.  The cost to the company, including any fringe benefits tax, for the provision of fully maintained cars, car parking spaces and other items.

4.  Company contributions to superannuation.

5.  Long service leave accruals in accordance with relevant Australian Accounting Standards.

6.  The amount amortised as an expense in the financial year in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards which require the value of long term 
share-based incentive grants to be amortised as an expense over the relevant future vesting periods. The amounts shown relate to unvested share 
and rights grants made in the current and past financial years. Subject to meeting the vesting conditions of the grants, the shares or rights will vest, or 
be forfeited, in future financial years.

7.  The reversal in the current financial year, in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, previous years’ amortisation expense for long term 

incentive shares granted in earlier years but which were forfeited in the current financial year because vesting conditions were not met.

46

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 20138.  Total statutory remuneration is calculated and disclosed in accordance with the Corporations Act and Australian Accounting Standards.

9.  For information purposes and comparison with the total statutory remuneration, this column shows the executives’ remuneration which actually 

crystallised during the year, including salary, superannuation, annual leave paid and accrued, short term incentives payable in respect of the financial 
year, the market value at vesting date of long term incentive shares granted in previous years which vested during the year and other benefits. The 
approximate market values of previous grants which were forfeited during the year were $102,000 for Andrew Smith, $18,000 for Phillip Friery and 
$17,000 for Greg Bisset.

10.  Wee Leng Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Casket Company, received total remuneration of SG$383,236 (2012: SG$345,617), which has 

been converted to Australian dollars at the average exchange rate for year of 0.826 (2012: 0.773).

11.  Graeme Rhind, Chief Operating Officer of New Zealand, received total remuneration of NZ$297,272 (2012: NZ$324,403), which has been converted to 

Australian dollars at the average exchange rate for the year of 0.848 (2012: 0.782).

The percentage of the available STI cash bonus that was payable for the financial year and the percentage that was forfeited because the 
person or the consolidated entity did not meet the service and performance criteria is set out below:

Name

Andrew Smith
Phillip Friery
Greg Bisset
Andi Luiskandl
Wee Leng Goh
Graeme Rhind

Average

Cash STI bonus

Payable
%

Forfeited
%

31%
38%
38%
58%
59%
33%

37%

69%
62%
62%
42%
41%
67%

63%

I.  Service Agreements
Chief Executive Officer
Remuneration and other terms of employment for the Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Smith, have been formalised in a service agreement, 
which has been updated from time to time during his employment. The current agreement provides for provision of salary, superannuation, 
short-term performance related cash bonuses, long-term performance related share-based bonuses and other benefits. The latest term 
of employment is for three years and four months beginning on 1 January 2012 and, subject to agreement to extend the term, ending on 
30 April 2015.

The total remuneration package is reviewed annually and the latest review effective from 1 January 2014 provides for remuneration 
as follows:

 –
 –

 –
 –

base salary and superannuation, being $745,000 for 2014 (from 1 January 2013: $745,000);
short-term incentive bonus of up to $419,528 (from 1 January 2013: $391,125), being 56.3% of base salary and superannuation 
(2013: 52.5%);
LTI shares of $311,559 (from 1 January 2013: $303,960), being 41.8% of base salary and superannuation (2013: 40.8%); and
other benefits such as fully maintained motor vehicle and membership of relevant professional or commercial bodies.

The Remuneration Committee and Board has the discretion to provide additional performance incentives. Under the service agreement, 
where less than 100% of a short-term incentive bonus is achieved in a financial year, the employee may recover any shortfall in a 
subsequent financial year if the effective compound per annum achievement rate in a subsequent financial year exceeds the original rate 
not achieved.

Termination by the Company, other than in the case of misconduct, may be effected with six months’ notice and by payment of six months 
total remuneration package, including a pro-rata short-term bonus for the year of termination based upon any bonus paid relating to the 
previous financial year. In addition, unvested LTI shares will immediately vest. Unvested LTI shares will also vest if the Company does not 
extend the employee’s service agreement.

In the case of misconduct, the Company may terminate the employee immediately and without notice. Any unvested LTI shares will be 
forfeited and there will be no payment of pro-rata short-term incentive bonus amounts for the year of termination.

If the employee resigns, the employee must give six months’ notice or forfeit six months’ total remuneration for that notice period. 
Any unvested LTI shares will be forfeited.

In any termination, the employee will be entitled to accrued statutory leave entitlements. The employee is not subject to any 
post-employment restraints.

Further details of the share-based remuneration are set out in Section E – Share-based Compensation.

47

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration Report continued
Other key management personnel
Remuneration and other terms of employment for each of the other key management personnel and other senior managers are formalised 
in service agreements or letters of appointment as varied from time to time, including through annual review of the base salary, short and 
long-term incentives. Each contract is for an indefinite term.

The employee’s total remuneration package is reviewed annually by the Remuneration Committee and Board and provides for remuneration 
to include:

 –
 –
 –
 –

base salary and superannuation;
short-term incentive bonus of up to 45% of base salary and superannuation;
LTI shares or, in the case of overseas employees, share appreciation rights of up to 35% of base salary and superannuation; and
other benefits such as fully maintained motor vehicle and membership of relevant professional or commercial bodies.

Up to six months’ notice or payment in lieu of notice is generally required in the event of termination by the employer. The employer may 
terminate the employee immediately and without notice in the case of misconduct.

If the employee resigns, the employee must generally give six months’ notice or forfeit six months’ total remuneration for that notice period.

Termination benefits are limited to statutory leave entitlements, unless determined otherwise by the Remuneration Committee and Board. 
There is no payment of pro-rata short-term incentive bonus amounts for the year of termination. Unless the Board exercises its discretion 
to determine otherwise, upon employment termination for any reason unvested LTI shares will be forfeited. The Board may decide at its 
sole discretion that some or all of the shares will not lapse in the event of voluntary retirement on or after normal retirement age, bona fide 
redundancy, death or permanent disablement and or any other reason.

Other executive key management personnel are generally subject to post-employment restrictions for up to 12 months after 
employment termination.

Non-executive directors
On appointment to the Board, all non-executive directors receive a letter of appointment which summarises the Board policies and terms, 
including compensation, relevant to the office of director.

J.  Share-based Compensation
Details of the LTI share and LTI rights grants, vesting and forfeits for the Chief Executive Officer and other key management personnel are 
set out below:

Final year 
vesting 
may occur 
(note 1)

Number 
of shares 
or rights 
granted

Year of 
grant

Value at grant 
date (note 2)

Number 
vested 
during year

Total 
number 
vested

Maximum 
value yet to 
vest (note 3)

Vested
%

Number 
forfeited 
during year
(note 4)

Value of 
forfeits 
(note 4)

Forfeited
%

Greg Bisset

Phillip Friery

Andrew Smith  2008 2013
2009 2014
2010 2015
2011 2016
2012 2017
2013 2018
2009 2014
2010 2015
2011 2016
2012 2017
2013 2018
2009 2014
2010 2015
2011 2016
2012 2017
2013 2018
Andi Luiskandl 2012 2017
2013 2018
Wee Leng Goh 2010 2015
2011 2016
2012 2017
2013 2018
Graeme Rhind 2012 2017
2013 2018

48

22,519
52,547
30,404
27,288
35,792
27,799
20,526
20,374
17,454
8,098
9,617
16,647
13,985
14,749
16,088
12,212
5,539
5,848
5,451
5,536
5,081
4,124
4,536
3,464

$135,451
$275,000
$182,875
$201,163
$284,325
$303,960
$100,000
$122,540
$128,667
$64,334
$105,140
$81,100
$84,121
$108,728
$127,803
$133,525
$44,000
$63,946
$32,760
$40,800
$39,432
$45,075
$35,199
$37,862

7,506
13,017
–
–
–
–
4,271
–
–
–
–
3,465
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

22,519
39,765
–
–
–
–
13,222
–
–
–
–
10,723
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

100%

–
76% $17,017
– $182,875
– $201,163
– $284,325
– $303,960
64% $27,619
– $122,540
– $128,667
–
$64,334
– $105,140
64% $21,309
–
$84,121
– $108,728
– $127,803
– $133,525
$44,000
–
$63,946
–
$59,928
–
$60,847
–
$55,848
–
$45,350
–
$49,858
–
$38,092
–

–

–
(9,289) $102,551
–
–
–
–
$18,050
–
–
–
–
$17,112
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
(1,635)
–
–
–
–
(1,550)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
18%
–
–
–
–
8%
–
–
–
–
9%
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 20131.  Under the terms of the respective year’s LTI grants, unvested shares or rights may vest in whole or in part in any year from 2013 up to the final year 

shown for each grant year.

2.  The value at grant date is based upon the share price at the time of grant. In accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, the original grant value 
of LTI shares is the amount amortised as an expense over the relevant future vesting periods. In the case of LTI rights for overseas based Wee Leng 
Goh and Graeme Rhind, the amount expensed over the relevant future vesting periods takes account of value changes of the rights using the Black-
Scholes/Merton valuation methodology.

3.  The maximum value of the original grant yet to vest. LTI shares are valued at original grant value. LTI rights for overseas based Wee Leng Goh and 

Graeme Rhind are valued using the Black-Scholes/Merton valuation methodology. Performance conditions must be met before vesting and, if not, the 
minimum that will vest could be nil.

4.  Upon final testing in February 2014, from the balance of unvested shares held in trust at the end of the year, shares from grants made in 2009 were 
forfeited due to EPS performance conditions unlikely being achieved. To correct the apportionment calculation for the final testing of 2008 grants in 
February 2013, the Directors resolved in February 2014 to vest an additional 3,673 shares for Phillip Friery and 2,755 shares for Greg Bisset by using 
forfeited 2009 grant shares which remained available in the deferred employee share plan trust. For the purposes of display in this table, the 2009 
grant forfeited shares, net of the additional 2008 grant vesting for the two key management personnel, have been shown as occurring in 2013 (with 
forfeit values based upon InvoCare’s share price at 31 December 2013). 

The number of ordinary shares in the Company, or share appreciation rights, held during the year by each director of InvoCare Limited and 
other key management personnel are summarised in Note 7 on page 73.

Indemnifying officers or auditor
During the financial year, InvoCare paid a premium to insure directors and officers of the consolidated entity. The insurance policy specifically 
prohibits disclosure of the nature and liability covered and the amount of the premium paid.

No indemnity has been provided to the auditor of the Company in its capacity as auditor of the Company.

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

Non-audit services
The directors are satisfied that the provision of non-audit services during the year is compatible with the general standard of independence 
for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act 2001. The nature and scope of each type of non-audit service provided means that auditor 
independence was not compromised. 

The following fees for non-audit services were paid/payable to the external auditor (PricewaterhouseCoopers) during the year ended 
31 December 2013:

Australian Firm
Assurance services
Accounting advisory services
Taxation services
Other services
Non-Australian Firms
Taxation services
Other services

Total

$

26,000
45,122
73,000
–

58,599
12,623

215,344

Auditor’s Independence Declaration
The copy of the auditor’s independence declaration as required under section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 is set out on page 50.

Rounding of amounts
The Company is of a kind referred to in Class Order 98/100 issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, relating to the 
“rounding off” of amounts in the Directors’ Report and Financial Report. Amounts in the Directors’ Report and Financial Report have been 
rounded off to the nearest thousand dollars (where rounding is applicable) in accordance with that Class Order.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors. 

Richard Fisher 
Director 
Dated this 20th day of February 2014.

Andrew Smith 
Director 

49

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auditor’s Independence Declaration

As lead auditor for the audit of InvoCare Limited for the year ended 31 December 2013, I declare that to the best of my knowledge 
and belief, there have been:

a)  no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of 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.

This declaration is in respect of InvoCare Limited and the entities it controlled during the period.

Brett Entwistle 
Partner 

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Sydney 
20 February 2014

50

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Consolidated Income Statement

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2013

Revenue from continuing operations
Finished goods, consumables and funeral disbursements
Employee benefits expense
Employee related and on-cost expenses
Advertising and public relations expenses
Occupancy and facilities expenses
Motor vehicle expenses
Other expenses

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment expenses
Finance costs
Interest income
Net gain/(loss) on undelivered prepaid contracts
Acquisition related costs
Share of net loss of associate
Net gain on disposal of non-current assets

Profit before income tax
Income tax expense 

Profit from continuing activities

Profit for the year

Profit is attributable to:

Equity holders of InvoCare Limited

  Non-controlling interests

Earnings per share for profit attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company
Basic earnings per share (cents per share)
Diluted earnings per share (cents per share)

The above consolidated income statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Notes

4

5
5

15

6

11
11

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

392,186
(113,227)
(97,395)
(22,051)
(13,242)
(26,043)
(8,307)
(16,849)

95,072
(14,587)
(16,820)
658
1,590
(537)
(300)
2,972

68,048
(19,049)

48,999

375,504
(107,304)
(91,061)
(20,081)
(12,697)
(25,196)
(8,042)
(18,097)

93,026
(16,360)
(16,262)
780
(18)
(731)
–
2,180

62,615
(18,033)

44,582

48,999

44,582

48,869
130

48,999

44.7
44.7

44,479
103

44,582

40.6
40.6

51

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2013

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income
Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss
Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax
Changes in foreign currency translation reserve, net of tax

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

Total comprehensive income for the year is attributable to:

Equity holders of InvoCare Limited

  Non-controlling interests

Notes

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

26
26

48,999

44,582

2,575
4,330

6,905

(1,742)
1,218

(524)

55,904

44,058

55,774
130

55,904

43,955
103

44,058

The above consolidated statement of comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes. 

52

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
Consolidated Balance Sheet

AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2013

ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Inventories
Prepaid contract funds under management
Property held for sale
Deferred selling costs

Total current assets

Non-current assets
Trade and other receivables
Other financial assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Prepaid contract funds under management
Intangible assets
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred selling costs
Equity accounted investments

Total non-current assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax liabilities
Prepaid contract liabilities
Deferred revenue
Provisions

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax liabilities
Prepaid contract liabilities
Deferred revenue
Provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

EQUITY
Contributed equity
Reserves 
Retained profits

Parent entity interest
Non-controlling interests

Total equity

The above consolidated balance sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Notes

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

12
13
14
15

13

18
15
19
20

21
22
20

15

23

21
22
20
6 (d)
15

23

25
26
26

27

8,899
38,366
21,637
30,480
–
1,039

100,421

14,298
63
296,545
343,129
148,912
1
8,493
4,705

6,081
34,540
21,362
28,370
2,631
1,150

94,134

14,920
104
284,974
322,535
137,484
–
7,999
–

816,146

768,016

916,567

862,150

34,563
11
1,342
9,946
30,481
6,925
12,732

96,000

1,124
223,956
4,437
28,755
346,044
43,527
2,027

25,059
17
1,353
5,216
28,455
6,748
12,431

79,279

2,163
223,217
8,032
28,502
326,635
40,696
1,735

649,870

630,980

745,870

710,259

170,697

151,891

132,393
4,423
32,636

169,452
1,245

170,697

132,687
(3,120)
21,173

150,740
1,151

151,891

53

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Consolidated Statement 
of Changes in Equity

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2013

Attributable to Owners of InvoCare Limited

Contri-
buted
equity
$’000

Reserves
$’000

Retained
earnings
$’000

Non con-
trolling
interest
$’000

Total

Total
equity
$’000

Notes

Balance at 1 January 2013

132,687

(3,120)

21,173

150,740

1,151

151,891

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners in their capacity 
as owners:
Dividends paid
Deferred employee share plan shares vesting 
during the year
Acquisition of shares by the InvoCare Deferred 
Share Plan Trust
Transfer of shares from the deferred plan to the 
InvoCare Exempt Share Plan Trust
Employee shares – value of services

10

26

25

25

–

–

388

(842)

160
–

Balance at 31 December 2013

132,393

6,905

48,869

55,774

130

55,904

–

(37,406)

(37,406)

(36)

(37,442)

(388)

–

–
1,026

4,423

–

–

–
–

–

(842)

160
1,026

–

–

–
–

–

(842)

160
1,026

32,636

169,452

1,245

170,697

Balance at 1 January 2012

133,336

(2,934)

11,084

141,486

1,131

142,617

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners in their capacity 
as owners:
Dividends paid
Deferred employee share plan shares vesting 
during the year
Acquisition of shares by the InvoCare Deferred 
Share Plan Trust
Transfer of shares from the deferred plan to the 
InvoCare Exempt Share Plan Trust
Employee shares – value of services

10

26

25

25

–

–

(524)

44,479

43,955

103

44,058

–

(34,390)

(34,390)

(83)

(34,473)

367

(367)

(1,225)

209
–

–

–
705

–

–

–
–

–

(1,225)

209
705

–

–

–
–

–

(1,225)

209
705

Balance at 31 December 2012

132,687

(3,120)

21,173

150,740

1,151

151,891

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

54

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2013

Notes

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

Cash flows from operating activities
Receipts from customers (including GST)
Payments to suppliers and employees (including GST)
Other revenue

Interest received
Finance costs
Income tax paid

434,007
(336,529)
6,833

104,311
77
(16,316)
(15,856)

Net cash inflow from operating activities

31

72,216

Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of subsidiaries and other businesses including acquisition costs, net of cash acquired
Purchase of interest in associates
Purchase of property, plant, equipment and intangibles 

8,025
(8,178)
(5,005)
(19,264)

409,219
(327,624)
6,947

88,542
182
(15,624)
(19,928)

53,172

3,294
(9,257)
–
(18,412)

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Payment for shares acquired by InvoCare Deferred Employee Share Plan Trust
Proceeds from borrowings
Repayment of borrowings
Payment of dividends – InvoCare Limited shareholders 
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries

Net cash outflow from financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

12

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

(24,422)

(24,375)

(842)
155,328
(162,162)
(37,406)
(36)

(1,225)
35,580
(28,500)
(34,390)
(83)

(45,118)

(28,618)

2,676

179

6,081
142

8,899

5,872
30

6,081

55

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2013

Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealised gains on 
transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised 
losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence 
of the impairment of the asset transferred. Accounting policies 
of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure 
consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

Non-controlling interests in the results and equity of subsidiaries are 
shown separately in the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income and balance sheet, respectively.

(ii)  Employee share trust
The Group has formed a trust to administer the InvoCare Exempt 
Employee Share Plan and the InvoCare Deferred Employee Share 
Plan. This trust is consolidated, as the substance of the relationship 
is that the trust is controlled by the Group. Shares held by the 
InvoCare Deferred Employee Share Plan Trust are disclosed as 
treasury shares and deducted from contributed equity.

(iii)  Associates
Associates are entites over which the Group has significant 
influence but not control or joint control, generally accompanying 
a shareholding between 20% and 50% of the voting rights. 
Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity 
method of accounting, after intially being recognised at cost.

The Group’s share of its associates’ post-acquistion profits or 
losses and its share of post-acqusition movements in reserves 
is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income. The 
cumulative post-acquisition movements are adjusted against 
the carrying amount of the investment. Dividends received from 
associates are recognised as a reduction in the carrying amount  
of the investment.

If the Group’s share of losses in an associate equals or exceeds its 
interest in the associate, including any other unsecured long-term 
receivables, the group does not recognise further losses, unless 
it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the 
associate.

Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its 
associates are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest 
in the associates. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless 
the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset 
transferred. Accounting policies of associates have been changed 
where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted  
by the Group.

Note 1: Summary of Significant  
Accounting Policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of 
the financial report are set out below. These policies have been 
consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise 
stated. The financial statements are for the consolidated entity 
consisting of InvoCare Limited and its subsidiaries.

(a)  Basis of preparation
This general purpose financial report has been prepared in 
accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, other 
authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting 
Standards Board, Urgent Issues Group Interpretations and the 
Corporations Act 2001.

(i)  Compliance with IFRS
Australian Accounting Standards include Australian equivalents to 
International Financial Reporting Standards (“AIFRS”). Compliance 
with AIFRS ensures that the consolidated financial statements 
and notes of InvoCare Limited comply with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board.

(ii)  Historical cost convention
These financial statements have been prepared on an accruals 
basis under the historical cost convention, as modified by the 
revaluation to fair value of financial assets and liabilities (including 
derivative instruments).

(iii)  Critical accounting estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with AIFRS 
requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also 
requires the exercise 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 
at Note 37.

(iv)  Comparatives
Where necessary, comparatives have been reclassified and 
repositioned for consistency with current year disclosures. 

(b)  Principles of consolidation
(i)  Subsidiaries
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets 
and liabilities of all subsidiaries of InvoCare Limited (“Company’’ 
or “parent entity’’) as at 31 December 2013 and the results of all 
subsidiaries for the year then ended. InvoCare Limited and its 
subsidiaries are together referred to in this financial report as the 
Group or the consolidated entity.

Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which 
the group has control. The group controls an entity when the group 
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.

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control 
is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date 
that control ceases. The purchase method of accounting is used 
to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group (refer to 
Note 1(i)).

56

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013(e)  Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the 
economic benefits will flow to the entity and the revenue can be 
reliably measured. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the 
consideration received or receivable. Amounts disclosed as revenue 
are net of returns, allowances, duties and taxes paid.

Revenue is recognised when the funeral, burial, cremation or other 
services are performed or the goods supplied.

Revenues relating to undelivered memorials and merchandise are 
deferred until delivered or made ready for use. Minor items such as 
plaques, ash containers and vases where actual deliveries are not 
individually tracked are released to revenue over fifteen years.

The Group enters into prepaid contracts to provide funeral, burial 
and cremation services in the future and funds received are placed 
in trust and are not recognised as revenue until the service is 
performed. Refer Note 1(n).

Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method.

Dividends are recognised as revenue when the right to receive 
payments is established.

(f)  Deferred selling costs
Selling costs applicable to prepaid funeral service contracts, net 
of any administrative fees recovered, are expensed when incurred. 
Direct selling costs applicable to deferred revenue on undelivered 
memorials and merchandise are deferred until the revenue  
is recognised.

(g)  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 national 
income tax rate for each jurisdiction adjusted by changes in deferred 
tax assets and liabilities attributable to temporary differences and 
unused tax losses.

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on 
temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and 
liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial 
statements. However, the deferred income tax is not accounted 
for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a 
transaction other than a business combination that at the time of 
the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. 
Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that 
have been enacted or substantially enacted by the balance sheet 
date and are expected to apply when the related deferred income 
tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.

Note 1: Summary of Significant  
Accounting Policies continued
(c)  Segment reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the 
internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision maker. 
This reporting is based on the operational location of the business 
because different economic and cultural factors impact growth and 
profitability of the segment.

(d)  Foreign currency translation
(i)  Functional and presentation currency
Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s 
entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which the entity operates (“the functional 
currency”). The consolidated financial statements are presented 
in Australian dollars, which is InvoCare Limited’s functional and 
presentation currency.

(ii)  Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional 
currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the 
transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the 
settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year end 
exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in 
foreign currencies are recognised in the income statement, except 
when they are deferred in equity as qualifying cash flow hedges and 
qualifying net investment hedges or are attributable to part of the net 
investment in a foreign operation.

(iii)  Group companies
The results and financial positions of all the Group entities (none of 
which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy) that have 
a functional currency different from the presentation currency are 
translated into the presentation currency as follows:

 –

 –

 –

assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are 
translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet;
income and expenses for each income statement are translated 
at average exchange rates (unless this is not a reasonable 
approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on 
the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are 
translated at the dates of the transactions); and
all resulting exchange differences are recognised as a separate 
component of equity.

On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation 
of any net investment in foreign entities, and of borrowings 
and other financial instruments designated as hedges of such 
investments, are taken to shareholders’ equity. When a foreign 
operation is sold or any borrowings forming part of the net 
investment are repaid, a proportionate share of such exchange 
differences will be recognised in the income statement, as part of 
the gain or loss on sale where applicable.

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of 
a foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign 
entities and translated at the closing rate.

57

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 1: Summary of Significant 
Accounting Policies continued
(g)  Income tax continued
Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary 
differences and unused tax losses only if it is probable that future 
taxable amounts will be available to utilise those temporary 
differences and losses. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not 
recognised for temporary differences between the carrying amount 
and tax bases of investments in controlled entities where the parent 
entity is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary 
differences and it is probable that the differences will not reverse in 
the foreseeable future.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally 
enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and when 
the deferred tax balances relate to the same taxation authority. 
Current tax assets and tax liabilities are offset where the entity has a 
legally enforceable right to offset and intends either to settle on a net 
basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Current and deferred tax balances attributable to amounts 
recognised directly in equity are also recognised in equity.

InvoCare Limited and its wholly-owned Australian controlled entities 
have implemented the tax consolidation legislation.

The head entity, InvoCare Limited, and the controlled entities in the 
tax consolidated group, account for their own current and deferred 
tax amounts. These tax amounts are measured as if each entity in 
the tax consolidated group continues to be a stand alone taxpayer 
in its own right.

In addition to its own current and deferred tax amounts, InvoCare 
Limited also recognises the current tax liabilities (or assets) 
and the deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses and 
unused tax credits assumed from controlled entities in the tax 
consolidated group.

Assets or liabilities arising under tax funding agreements with the tax 
consolidated entities are recognised as amounts receivable from or 
payable to other entities in the Group. Details about the tax funding 
agreement are disclosed in Notes 34(e) and 35(d).

(h)  Leases
Leases of property, plant and equipment where the Group has 
substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as 
finance leases.

Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of 
ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating 
leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any 
incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the income 
statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. 
Lease income from operating leases is recognised in income on a 
straight-line basis over the lease term.

(i)  Business combinations and acquisitions of assets
The purchase method of accounting is used to account for all 
acquisitions of assets (including business combinations) regardless 
of whether equity instruments or other assets are acquired. Cost 
is measured as the fair value of the assets given, shares issued or 
liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange. Where equity 
instruments are issued in an acquisition, the value of the instruments 
is their published market price as at the date of exchange. 
Transaction costs arising on the issue of equity instruments are 
recognised directly in equity.

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities 
assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their 
fair values at the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any 
non-controlling interest. The excess of the cost of acquisition over 
the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets 
acquired is recorded as goodwill (refer to Note 1(p)). If the cost of 
acquisition is less than the fair value of the net identifiable assets of 
the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognised directly in the 
statement of comprehensive income, but only after a reassessment 
of the identification and measurement of the net assets acquired.

Where settlement of any part of cash consideration is deferred, 
the amounts payable in the future are discounted to their present 
value as at the date of acquisition. The discount rate used is the 
entity’s incremental borrowing rate, being the rate at which a similar 
borrowing could be obtained from an independent financier under 
comparable terms and conditions. Any variations in the initial 
estimates of deferred consideration and the final amount payable 
are remeasured through the statement of comprehensive income.

Contingent consideration is classified either as equity or a financial 
liability. Amounts classified as a financial liability are subsequently 
remeasured to fair value with changes in fair value recognised in 
profit or loss.

The indirect costs of completing business combinations are 
recorded in the statement of comprehensive income.

(j)  Impairment of assets
Assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to 
amortisation and are tested annually for impairment or more 
frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the 
carrying amount may not be recoverable. Assets that are subject 
to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or 
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not 
be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by 
which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. 
The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less 
costs to sell and value in use. For the purposes of assessing 
impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which 
there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash generating units). 
Non-financial assets other than goodwill that suffered impairment 
are reviewed for possible reversals of the impairment at each 
reporting date.

58

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 1: Summary of Significant 
Accounting Policies continued
(k)  Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held 
at call with financial institutions, 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. Any 
bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities on 
the balance sheet.

(l)  Receivables
Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and 
subsequently measured at amortised cost, less provision for 
doubtful receivables.

Trade receivables are usually due for settlement no more than 
30 days from the date of recognition, except where extended 
payment terms (up to a maximum of 60 months) have been 
made available on cemetery or crematorium contracts for sale of 
interment or inurnment rights and associated memorials and other 
merchandise. Receivables arising from cemetery or crematorium 
contracts which are initially expected to be collected over a period 
exceeding 12 months are recognised as non-current receivables 
and measured as the net present value of estimated future cash 
receipts, discounted at an imputed effective interest rate. Upon 
initial recognition of the contract receivables, any undelivered 
portion of the contracts is included in deferred revenue until delivery.

The carrying amount of the asset is reduced through the use of 
a provision for doubtful receivables account and the amount of 
the loss is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income 
within “other expenses”. When a trade receivable is uncollectable, 
it is written off against the provision account for trade receivables. 
Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited 
against “sundry revenue” in the statement of comprehensive 
income. Details of the impaired receivables, provision account 
movements and other details are included in Notes 2 and 13.

(m) Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable 
value. Cost comprises direct materials and, where appropriate, a 
proportion of variable and fixed overhead. Costs are assigned to 
individual items of inventory predominantly on the basis of weighted 
average cost. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in 
the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs necessary 
to make the sale.

(n)  Prepaid contracts
Prepaid contracts are tripartite agreements whereby the Group 
agrees to deliver a specified funeral, cremation or burial service at 
the time of need and the beneficiary invests the current price of the 
service to be delivered with a financial institution and conditionally 
assigns the benefit to the Group. The Group records the value of 
the invested funds as an asset and revalues the invested funds to 
fair value at the end of each reporting period. The Group initially 
recognises a liability at the current selling price of the service to be 
delivered and increases this liability to reflect the change in selling 
prices to reflect the best estimate of the expenditure required to 
settle the obligation at the end of each reporting period.

When the service is delivered, the liability is derecognised. The 
initially recorded liability amount is included in revenue and the price 
increases recognised since initial recognition are recorded as a 
reduction in the cost of service delivery.

(o)  Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are carried at historical cost less 
depreciation or amortisation. Historical cost includes expenditure 
that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or 
recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is 
probable that future economic benefits associated with the item 
will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured 
reliably. Repairs, maintenance and minor renewals are charged 
to the income statement during the financial period in which they 
are incurred.

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 (Note 1(j)).

Cemetery land is carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and 
impairment write-downs. The consolidated entity sells interment and 
inurnment rights in perpetuity, while retaining title to the property. 
Cemetery land is amortised, as the right to each plot or space is 
sold, to write off the net cost of the land over the period in which it is 
utilised and an economic benefit has been received. Other freehold 
land is not depreciated or amortised.

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

 –
 –

 Buildings 
 Plant and equipment 

40 years
3-10 years

The cost of improvements to or on leasehold properties is amortised 
over the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful life 
of the improvement to the consolidated entity, whichever is shorter. 
The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and 
adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing 
proceeds with the carrying amount. Gains and losses are included 
in the income statement.

(p)  Intangible assets
(i)  Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over 
the fair value of the Group’s share of the net identifiable assets 
of the acquired subsidiary at the date of acquisition. Goodwill on 
acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in intangible assets. Goodwill 
acquired in business combinations 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 
(Note 19).

(ii)  Trademarks and brand names
Trademarks and brand names have a finite useful life and are carried 
at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. 
Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate 
the cost of trademarks and brand names over their estimated useful 
lives of 10 years.

59

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 1: Summary of Significant 
Accounting Policies continued
(q)  Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables represent liabilities for goods and services 
provided to the Group prior to the end of the financial year which 
had not been settled at balance date. The amounts are unsecured 
and are usually paid within 60 days of recognition.

(r)  Borrowings
Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction 
costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised 
cost. Any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) 
and the redemption amount is recognised in the income statement 
over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest 
rate method. 

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has 
an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 
12 months after the balance sheet date.

Refer to Notes 2 and 22 for further information on borrowings.

(s)  Derivative financial instruments
The Group uses derivative financial instruments such as cross 
currency and interest rate swaps to hedge its risks associated 
with exchange and interest rate fluctuations. Derivatives are initially 
recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered 
into and are subsequently remeasured to their fair value at each 
reporting date. The accounting for subsequent changes in fair value 
depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging 
instrument, and if so, the nature of the item being hedged. The 
Group designates certain derivatives as either:

 –

 –

hedges of the risks associated with the cash flows of recognised 
assets and liabilities and highly probable forecast transactions 
(cash flow hedges); or
hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation.

The Group documents at inception the relationship between 
hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk 
management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge 
transactions. The Group also documents its assessment of whether 
the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been, and 
will continue to be, highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values 
or cash flows or hedged items.

The fair value of interest rate swap contracts is calculated as the 
present value of the estimated future cash flows. The fair value of 
forward exchange contracts is determined using forward exchange 
market rates at the balance sheet date. The fair values of derivative 
financial instruments used for hedging purposes are disclosed in 
Note 20. Movements in the hedging reserve in shareholders’ equity 
are shown in Note 26. The full fair value of a hedging derivative 
is classified as a non-current asset or liability when the remaining 
maturity of the hedged item is more than 12 months; it is classified 
as a current asset or liability when the remaining maturity of the 
hedged item is less than 12 months.

Hedges that meet the strict criteria for hedge accounting are 
accounted for as follows:

(i)  Cash flow hedges
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that 
are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges is recognised 
in equity in the hedging reserve. The gain or loss relating to the 
ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the statement of 
comprehensive income within finance costs.

Amounts accumulated in equity are recycled in the statement of 
comprehensive income within finance costs in the periods when 
the hedged item affects profit or loss (for instance when the 
forecast sale that is hedged takes place).

When a hedging instrument expires or is sold or terminated, or 
when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, 
any cumulative gain or loss existing in equity at that time remains in 
equity and is recognised when the forecast transaction is ultimately 
recognised in the income statement.

When a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the 
cumulative gain or loss that was reported in equity is immediately 
transferred to the income statement.

(ii)  Hedges of a net investment
Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation, including a 
hedge of a monetary item that is accounted for as part of the net 
investment, are accounted for in a similar way to cash flow hedges. 
Gains or losses on the hedging instrument relating to the effective 
portion of the hedge are recognised directly in equity while any 
gains or losses relating to the ineffective portion are recognised in 
the income statement. On disposal of the foreign operation, the 
cumulative value of any such gains or losses recognised directly in 
equity is transferred to the income statement.

(t)  Employee benefits
(i)  Wages and salaries, annual leave and sick leave
Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits, 
annual leave and accumulating sick leave expected to be settled 
within 12 months of the reporting date are recognised in other 
payables and provision for employee benefits in respect of 
employees’ services up to the reporting date and are measured at 
the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled, 
including appropriate on-costs. Liabilities for non-accumulating sick 
leave are recognised when the leave is taken and measured at the 
rates paid or payable.

(ii)  Long service leave
The liability for long service leave is recognised in the provision 
for employee benefits and is measured as the present value of 
expected future payments to be made in respect of services 
provided by employees up to the reporting date, including 
appropriate on-costs. Consideration is given to expected future 
wage and salary levels, experience of employee departures and 
periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using 
market yields at the reporting date on national government bonds 
with terms to maturity and currency that match, as closely as 
possible, the estimated future cash outflows.

60

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 1: Summary of Significant 
Accounting Policies continued
(t)  Employee benefits continued
(iii)  Bonus plans
The Group recognises a liability in other payables and an expense 
for bonus plans when there is no realistic alternative but to settle the 
liability and at least one of the following conditions is met: 

 –

 –

 –

there are formal terms in the plan for determining the amount of 
the benefit;
the amounts to be paid are determined before the time of 
completion of the financial report; or
past practices give clear evidence of a constructive obligation.

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.

(x)  Goods and Services Tax (“GST”)
Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount 
of the GST, except where the amount of the GST incurred is not 
recoverable from the taxing authority. In these circumstances, the 
GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of asset or as 
part of an item of the expense. Receivables and payables in the 
balance sheet are shown inclusive of GST. 

(iv)  Retirement benefits
Employees of the Group are entitled to benefits on retirement, 
disability or death from the Group sponsored defined contribution 
superannuation plans. Fixed statutory contributions are made 
by the Group to these plans and are recognised as an expense 
as they become payable. The Group’s liability is limited to 
these contributions.

(v)  Share-based payments
The Group provides benefits to certain employees, including key 
management personnel, in the form of share-based payments, 
whereby employees render services in exchange for shares, share 
appreciation rights or options over shares. Details of the employee 
share, share appreciation or option plans are set out in Note 8.

The cost of equity-settled transactions with employees is measured 
by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the date 
granted. The cost is recognised as an employee benefit expense in 
the income statement, with a corresponding increase in equity, over 
the period during which the performance and/or service conditions 
are fulfilled (the vesting period), ending on the date on which the 
relevant employees become unconditionally entitled to the award 
(the vesting date).

At each balance sheet date, the Group revises its estimate of the 
number of awards that are expected to vest. The employee benefit 
expense recognised each period takes into account the most recent 
estimate. The impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, 
is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income with a 
corresponding adjustment to equity.

(u)  Contributed equity
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly 
attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in 
equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. Incremental 
costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options 
for the acquisition of a business are included in the cost of the 
acquisition as part of the purchase consideration.

(v)  Dividends
Provision is made for the amount of any dividend declared being 
appropriately authorised and no longer at the discretion of the 
Company on or before the end of the financial year but not 
distributed at balance date.

(w) Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit 
attributable to equity holders 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.

Cash flows are included in the statement of cash flows on a gross 
basis and the GST component of cash flows arising from investing 
and financing activities, which is recoverable from or payable to the 
taxing authority, is classified as operating cash flows.

(y)  Parent entity financial information
The financial information for the parent entity, InvoCare Limited, 
disclosed in Note 35 has been prepared on the same basis as 
the consolidated financial statements, except investments in 
subsidiaries and associates which are accounted for at cost in the 
financial statements of InvoCare Limited. Dividends received from 
associates are recognised as a reduction in the carrying value of the 
investment in associates.

(z)  Rounding of amounts
The Company is of a kind referred to in Class Order 98/100, issued 
by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, relating 
to rounding of amounts in the financial report. Amounts in the 
financial statements have been rounded off in accordance with that 
Class Order to the nearest thousand dollars, or in certain cases, the 
nearest dollar.

(aa) New accounting standards and interpretations
Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been 
published that are not mandatory for 31 December 2013 reporting 
periods. The Group’s assessments of the impacts of these new 
standards and interpretations are set out below.

(i)  AASB 9 Financial Instruments, AASB 2009-11 Amendments 
to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 9 , AASB 
2010-7 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising 
from AASB 9 (December 2010) and AASB 2012-6 Amendments 
to Australian Accounting Standards – Mandatory Effective Date of 
AASB 9 and Transition Disclosures (effective for annual reporting 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015)
AASB 9 Financial Instruments addresses the classification, 
measurement and derecognition of financial assets and financial 
liabilities. The standard is not applicable until 1 January 2015 but is 
available for early adoption. The new standard is likely to have no 
material impact on the Group.

(ii)  AASB 2013-3 Amendments to AASB 136 Recoverable Amount 
Disclosures for Non-Financial Assets (effective 1 January 2014)
Amendments to AASB 136 have resulted in small changes to some 
of the disclosures that are required under AASB 136 Impairment 
of Assets. These may result in additional disclosures if the group 
recognises an impairment loss or the reversal of an impairment 
loss during the period. They will not affect any of the amounts 
recognised in the financial statements. The Group intends to apply 
the amendment from 1 January 2014.

61

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 2: Financial Risk Management
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk, cash flow interest rate risk, price risk and 
fair value interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group’s overall risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability 
of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the financial performance of the Group. The Group uses derivative 
financial instruments such as interest rate swaps to hedge risk exposures. The Group uses different methods to measure different types 
of risks to which it is exposed. These methods include sensitivity analysis in the case of interest rate, foreign exchange and price risk and 
ageing analysis for credit risk.

Strategic risk management is carried out by the Board of Directors. The Risk Committee and Audit Committee, which operate under policies 
approved by the Board, are responsible for operational and financial risk management, respectively. These policies provide written principles 
for overall risk management, as well as policies covering specific areas such as interest rate risk and currency risk.

The Group holds the following financial assets and liabilities:

Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables*
Prepaid contract funds under management
Other financial assets

Financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments

* excluding prepayments and security deposits

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

8,899
47,003
373,609
63

6,081
44,599
350,905
104

429,574

401,689

35,687
223,967
5,778

265,432

27,222
223,234
9,385

259,841

(a)  Market risk
(i)  Cash flow interest rate risk
The Group’s main interest rate risk arises from long-term borrowings. All borrowings are initially at variable interest rates determined by 
a margin over the reference rate based on the Group’s leverage ratio. Borrowings issued at variable rates expose the Group to cash flow 
interest rate risk. It is the policy of the Group to keep at least 75% of debt on fixed interest rates over the next twelve months by entering 
into interest rate swap contracts. The Group has entered into interest rate swap contracts under which it receives interest at variable rates 
and pays interest at fixed rates. The bank loans of the Group outstanding during the year had an effective average interest rate of 6.4% 
(2012: 6.6%) inclusive of swaps and margins but excluding establishment fees.

At balance date, interest rate swaps for 80% (2012: 91%) of borrowings were in place. Of these interest rate swaps none (2012: 10%) 
were denominated in Singapore dollar and 14% (2012: 10%) in New Zealand dollar fixed interest instruments, with the balance denominated 
in Australian dollars. As at 31 December 2013 the weighted average fixed interest rate payable on the interest rate swaps is 4.94% 
(2012: 4.77%) and the weighted average variable rate receivable as at 31 December 2013 is 2.64% (2012: 2.80%).

The following variable rate borrowings and interest rate swap contracts are outstanding:

31 December 2013

31 December 2012

Weighted
average
interest rate

6.39%
4.94%

Weighted
average
interest rate

6.57%
4.77%

Balance
$’000

225,228
179,318

45,910

Balance
$’000

224,181
203,185

20,996

Bank loans
Interest rate swaps (notional principal)

Net exposure to cash flow interest rate risk

62

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 2: Financial Risk Management continued
(a)  Market risk continued
(i)  Cash flow interest rate risk continued
The notional principal amounts, including forward start interest rate swap contracts, and periods of expiry of the interest rate swap 
contracts are as follows:

Less than one year
One to two years
Two to three years
Three to four years

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

64,500
54,818
60,000
60,000

86,866
64,500
51,117
60,000

239,318

262,483

These contracts require settlement of net interest receivable or payable each 90 days. The settlement dates coincide with the dates on 
which interest is payable on the underlying debt.

As a consequence, the Group is exposed to interest rate risks on that portion of total borrowings not swapped to fixed rates and to 
potential movements in the margin due to changes in the Group’s leverage ratio. An increase of 100 basis points in Australian and New 
Zealand rates and 50 basis points in Singapore (2012: 100 basis points) in the interest rate would result in additional interest expense after 
tax of $259,000 (2012: $44,000). A decrease of 100 basis points (2012: 100 basis points) would result in an after tax gain of $119,000 
(2012: $197,000). Where possible, borrowings are made in the same country as the operation being funded to provide a natural hedge 
against currency volatility. Where this is not possible, other techniques, such as foreign currency bank accounts, are used to mitigate the 
profit and loss volatility due to currency movements.

Due to the use of floating to fixed interest rate swaps, the Group has fixed interest commitments and the changes in the fair value of 
the future cash flows of these derivatives are recognised in equity to the extent that the derivative remains effective in accordance with 
AASB 139 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.

The interest rate swap contracts were all effective at 31 December 2013 and the movements in the fair value of these instruments have 
been quarantined in equity. If interest rates decline by 100 basis points a further $1,404,000 (2012: $2,742,000) net of tax would have been 
charged to equity and a 100 basis points increase in interest rates would have resulted in a credit to equity of $1,264,000 (2012: $566,000) 
net of tax.

The overall impact on the Group has been summarised on page 68.

The Group’s cash and cash equivalents held in Australia are interest bearing. At 31 December 2013 the weighted average interest rate was 
1.2% (2012: 2.2%). If interest rates changed by 100 basis points (2012: 100 basis points) the Group’s after tax result would increase or 
decrease by $38,000 (2012: $49,000).

(ii)  Foreign exchange risk
The Group rarely undertakes commercial transactions in currencies other than in the functional currency of the operating entity.

Foreign exchange risks arise from recognised assets and liabilities that are denominated in a currency other than the Group’s functional 
currency, the Australian dollar. The major foreign exchange risk relates to the investments in controlled entities in New Zealand and 
Singapore. This exposes the Group to foreign currency risk on the assets and liabilities. Borrowings have been made in New Zealand and 
Singapore dollars to provide a natural hedge against the risk of changes in exchange rates. Where natural hedges do not exist, currency 
swap instruments are used to hedge at least 75% of the net recognised assets and liabilities which are denominated in foreign currencies.

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

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

New Zealand Dollars

Singapore Dollars

New Zealand Dollars

Singapore Dollars

Borrowings
Derivatives

33,091
1

29,144
–

21,415
549

21,270
132

63

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 2: Financial Risk Management continued
(a)  Market risk continued
(ii)  Foreign exchange risk continued
The Group has no significant unhedged foreign exchange exposures at 31 December 2013. The Singapore dollar borrowing is undertaken 
in Australia and designated as the hedge of a net investment in a subsidiary. The New Zealand borrowings are undertaken in New Zealand.

(iii)  Price risk
The Group is the ultimate beneficiary of funds invested in various prepaid contract trusts, as described in Note 1 (n). There are a significant 
number of trusts in existence with various investment profiles. 

Accordingly, the Group’s future revenue and margins are sensitive to the price risk relating to the investment returns of these funds 
under management. These funds are invested in a range of asset classes with different price risk variables including cash, fixed interest, 
Australian and international equities, hybrids and direct and indirect property. Based on the asset allocation as at 31 December 2013 and 
31 December 2012 the following changes in investment returns are reasonably probable.

Asset class

Equities (plus or minus 10%)
Property (plus or minus 3%)

  Cash and fixed interest (no price risk)

31 December 2013

31 December 2012

Increase

Decrease

Increase

Decrease

4,857
2,578
–

7,435

(4,857)
(2,578)
–

(7,435)

2,807
1,790
–

4,597

(2,807)
(1,790)
–

(4,597)

The returns of these funds are recognised in the income statement. An estimated 50% of the funds are expected to be realised over the 
next 10 years and 90% over about 25 years. In any one year approximately 14% of all Australian funeral services performed by InvoCare 
have been prepaid; a proportion that has been reasonably constant for many years and is not expected to significantly change in the 
short term.

InvoCare monitors the asset allocations and investment performance at least quarterly and makes representations, where possible, to those 
in control of the trusts to mitigate price risks and enhance the returns which will ultimately impact InvoCare’s future results.

As the funds are held in trust for relatively long periods, investment strategies take a long-term view for those trusts not restricted to more 
conservative, capital guaranteed assets. Historically, equities have provided the best long-term returns although the instability of the equity 
markets has caused a substantial shift in the investment bias towards more conservative cash and fixed interest investments.

The asset allocation at year end of prepaid contract funds under management is as follows:

Equities
Property
Cash and fixed interest

2013
%

13
23
64

2012
%

8
17
75

Approximately 75% of InvoCare’s prepaid funds under management are with Over Fifty Guardian Friendly Society.

Other than disclosed above, the Group does not hold any investments in equities, which are not equity accounted, or commodities and is 
therefore not subject to price risk.

64

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
Note 2: Financial Risk Management continued
(b)  Credit risk
Credit risk is managed on a Group basis. Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, derivative financial instruments and deposits 
with banks and financial institutions, as well as credit exposures to customers, including outstanding receivables and committed 
transactions. For banks and financial institutions, only independently rated parties with a minimum rating of AA- are accepted.

Credit risks in relation to customers are highly dispersed and without concentration on any particular region or sector. Funeral homes 
attempt to collect deposits at the time the service is commissioned both as a sign of good faith and in order to cover out-of-pocket 
expenses. Cemetery and crematorium products are generally not delivered prior to the receipt of all or substantially all of the amounts due.

Impaired receivables

(i) 
The total amount of the provision for doubtful receivables was $2,608,000 (2012: $2,631,000). As at 31 December 2013, receivables 
with a nominal value of $3,515,000 (2012: $3,749,000) had been specifically identified internally or referred to the Group’s independent 
debt collection agent and hence were considered to be impaired. The amount of the provision for doubtful receivables was calculated by 
applying the historical debt collector’s recovery ratio to all debtors over 90 days overdue.

The movement in the provision for impaired receivables is set out in Note 13 – Trade and Other Receivables.

(ii)  Receivables past due but not impaired
As of 31 December 2013, trade receivables of $7,341,000 (2012: $6,816,000) were past due but had not been referred to external debt 
collection agents and hence were considered not to be impaired. These relate to customers where there is no current evidence of an 
inability or unwillingness to settle the amount due but where payment has been delayed. The Group’s own collection activity, which varies 
based on the nature and relative age of the debt, is routinely applied to all past due accounts. When these activities do not result in a 
successful outcome, the debt is referred to external debt collection agencies.

The aging of receivables past due but not impaired follows:

One to three months overdue
Over three months overdue

2013
$’000

4,260
3,081

2012
$’000

3,969
2,847

(iii)  Other receivables
These amounts generally arise from transactions outside the normal operating activities of the Group. Interest is generally not charged on 
the amounts involved although collateral is generally obtained for larger amounts receivable.

(iv)  Interest rate risks
The Group has no exposure to interest rate risk in respect of receivables as they are non-interest bearing.

65

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 2: Financial Risk Management continued
(c)  Liquidity risk
Prudent liquidity management implies maintaining sufficient cash and marketable securities, the availability of funding through an adequate 
amount of committed credit facilities and the ability to close out market positions. Due to the relatively stable nature of the Group’s business, 
management aims to maintain a large portion of committed credit lines on a long-term basis.

The Group’s borrowings are unsecured but subject to negative pledges and the Group has complied with these covenants throughout and 
at the end of the year. Details of the Group’s facilities are as follows:

Finance facilities available
Unrestricted access was available at balance date to the following lines of credit:
Total facilities
–  unsecured loan facility expiring in one to two years
–  unsecured loan facility expiring in two to five years
–  working capital facility expiring within one year

Used at balance date
–  unsecured loan facility
–  working capital facility

Unused at balance date
–  unsecured loan facility
–  working capital facility

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

–
255,000
6,838

64,500
190,500
6,173

261,838

261,173

225,228
937

224,181
1,269

226,165

225,450

29,772
5,902

35,674

30,819
4,904

35,723

The tables below analyse the Group’s financial liabilities into the relevant maturity groupings based on their contractual terms. Trade, other 
payables and borrowings are non-derivative liabilities.

31 December 2013

Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Derivatives

31 December 2012

Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Derivatives

Less than
one year
$’000

34,563
–
1,342

Two to
three
years
$’000

969
77,400
3,833

More than 
three
years
$’000

Total
$’000

155
147,828
603

35,687
225,228
5,778

Less than
one year
$’000

Two to three
years
$’000

More than 
three
years
$’000

27,222
–
1,353

–
64,500
4,745

–
159,681
3,287

Total
$’000

27,222
224,181
9,385

The Group’s external debt financing is provided by four major banks in Australia and their New Zealand operations, where relevant, through 
bi-lateral revolver debt facilities totalling $255 million, $85 million expiring in September 2016 and $170 million expiring in December 2018.

The facilities agreements’ covenant ratios are calculated on a rolling 12-month basis and have been met at 31 December 2013. The ratio of 
Net Debt to EBITDA (adjusted for acquisitions) must be no greater than 3.5 and the ratio of EBITDA to net interest must be greater than 3.0.

66

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 2: Financial Risk Management continued
(d)  Capital risk management
The Group’s capital management objectives and strategies seek to maximise total shareholder returns, while maintaining a capital structure 
with acceptable debt and financial risk.

The capital management goals can be broadly described as:

 – manage the amount of equity and the expectation of returns – including dividend distribution policy, dividend reinvestment and share 

buy-back policies;

 – maintain debt and gearing that is prudent, cost effective, supports operational needs and provides flexibility for growth and 

development; and
avoid excessive exposure to interest rate fluctuations and debt refinancing risk.

 –

The goals are actively managed by the use of quantifiable measures. These measures and relevant comments are as follows:

 – Maximising shareholder returns: Earnings per share (EPS) is a key measure and for 2013, basic EPS was 44.7 cents (2012: 40.6 cents). 

Operating EPS, which excludes gains and losses on the disposal or impairment of non-current assets and on undelivered prepaid 
contracts and non-controlling interests, was 38.9 cents (2012: 38.8 cents). Importantly, senior management of the Group have 
long-term incentives linked to EPS growth, thus aligning employee and shareholder interests. Total compound annual shareholder 
return, being the sum of cash dividends and share price growth, has exceeded 22% (2012: 22%) per annum since the Company 
listed in December 2003, except for 2008 when global equity market values declined, although InvoCare’s share price did not fall as 
significantly as the rest of the market. A shareholder investing $1.00 in the initial public offering (IPO) would have enjoyed a total return 
of $5.87 or 587% (2012: $4.86 or 486%) up to 31 December 2013.

 – Maintaining a minimum ordinary dividend payout ratio of at least 75% of operating earnings after tax: For each of the years since listing, 

the Group has distributed ordinary dividends in excess of this payout ratio. The aggregate of the interim and final 2013 dividends 
represents a payout ratio of 89% (2012: 88%) of operating earnings after tax.

 – Monitoring participation in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Up to 25% of the Company’s shareholders have participated in the DRP 

since it was first activated in October 2006.

 – Confirming compliance with the debt covenant ratios, as defined in the facility agreements, through bi-annual calculations. 

The Group has complied with its banking covenants as follows:
 –
 –

Interest cover (EBITDA/Net Interest Expense) must be greater than 3.00:1.
Leverage ratio (Net Debt/Adjusted EBITDA) must not be greater than 3.50:1.

 – Maintaining an optimal leverage ratio: The optimal capital structure, which has the lowest cost of capital, is indicatively at a leverage 
ratio (i.e. Net Debt/EBITDA) of between 3:1 and 5:1. The Group can sustain and service higher levels of debt than the amount at 
balance date. Where the capacity exists, debt financing will be used for small acquisitions and capital expenditure. In the absence of 
opportunities to invest in growing the business, the Group will consider applying excess debt capacity to make returns to shareholders.

 – Maintaining floating to fixed base interest rate swaps for at least 75% of debt principal. At 31 December 2013 the proportion of debt 

hedged was 80% (2012: 91%). The hedge contracts extend to the second half of 2017.

 – Managing refinancing risk: The Groups borrowing facilities were renewed during 2013 and have been split into two tranches across four 
banks in order to reduce refinancing risk. The second tranche originally due to expire in September 2014 was refinanced in December 
2013 along with the tranche due to expire in September 2015 and now expire in December 2018.

67

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 2: Financial Risk Management continued
(e)  Summarised sensitivity analysis
The following table summarises the sensitivity of the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities to interest rate risk and foreign exchange 
risk net of applicable income tax.

Interest rate risk

Foreign exchange risk

 – 100 basis points

+ 100 basis points

 – 10%

+ 10%

Carrying
amount
$’000

Profit
$’000

Equity
$’000

Profit
$’000

Equity
$’000

Profit
$’000

Equity
$’000

Profit
$’000

Equity
$’000

31 December 2013

Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable
Prepaid contract funds under 
management
Other financial assets

Financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Derivatives

8,899
47,003

(38)
–

373,609
63

(1,444)
–

–
–

–
–

38
–

1,444
–

–
–

–
–

35,687
223,967
5,778

–
(119)
–

–
–
1,404

–
259
–

–
–
(1,264)

–
–

–
–

–
(91)
–

(91)

1
–

–
–

–
3,133
(3,133)

1

–
–

–
–

–
74
–

74

3
–

–
–

–
(2,906)
2,906

3

Total increase/(decrease)

(1,601)

1,404

1,741

(1,264)

Interest rate risk

Foreign exchange risk

 – 100 basis points

+ 100 basis points

 – 10%

+ 10%

Carrying
amount
$’000

Profit
$’000

Equity
$’000

Profit
$’000

Equity
$’000

Profit
$’000

Equity
$’000

Profit
$’000

Equity
$’000

6,081
44,599

(49)
–

350,905
104

(1,235)
–

–
–

–
–

27,222
223,234
9,385

–
(121)
–

(1,405)

–
–
2,742

2,742

49
–

1,235
–

–
121
–

1,405

–
–

–
–

–

489

489

–
–

–
–

–
(83)
–

(83)

7
–

–
–

–
2,922
(2,922)

7

–
–

–
–

–
68
–

68

(3)
–

–
–

–
(2,828)
2,828

(3)

31 December 2012

Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable
Prepaid contract funds under 
management
Other financial assets

Financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Derivatives

Total increase/(decrease)

The sensitivity analysis has been completed by applying the range values to the actual balances that existed at all points throughout 
the year.

(f)  Fair value estimation
The fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities must be estimated for recognition and measurement or for disclosure purposes. 
The fair value of derivatives, which are recorded on the balance sheet, are measured using the cumulative dollar offset method.

As of 1 January 2009, the Group adopted the amendment to AASB 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures, which requires the disclosure of 
fair value measurements by level of the following fair value measurement hierarchy:

(a)  quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1);
(b)   inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (as prices) or indirectly 

(derived from prices) (level 2); and

(c)  inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs) (level 3).

The fair value of contingent consideration is calculated as the present value of the expected cash flows using a discount rate that reflects 
the incremental costs of borrowing used to fund the acquisition. If the discount rate was increased by 10% the contingent consideration 
would reduce by $15,000 (2012: $19,000). Similarly, a 10% decrease in the discount rate results in an increase in contingent consideration 
of $15,000 (2012: $21,000).

68

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 2: Financial Risk Management continued
(f)  Fair value estimation continued

Level 1
Prepaid contract funds under management
Level 2
Derivatives financial instruments
Level 3
Contingent consideration

No financial instruments or derivatives are held for trading.

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

373,609

350,905

(5,778)

(9,717)

(2,437)

(2,163)

The carrying value less impairment provisions for trade receivables and payables is a reasonable approximation of their fair values due to the 
short-term nature of trade receivables. Non-current trade receivables are discounted to their fair value in accordance with the accounting 
policy outlined in Note 1(l).

Note 3: Segment Information
(a)  Description of segments
The operating segments should be based on the management reporting regularly reviewed by the CEO. This reporting is based on the 
operational location of the business because different economic and cultural factors impact the growth and profitability of the segments.

(b)  Segment information provided to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)
The segment information provided to the CEO for reportable segments to 31 December 2013 and 31 December 2012 is outlined below.

Australian Operations

Singapore Operations

New Zealand Operations

Consolidated

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

Revenue from external customers
Other revenue (excluding interest income)
Operating expenses

338,193
6,437
(262,325)

327,866
6,568
(252,875)

12,982
267
(7,018)

10,624
188
(5,503)

34,177
130
(27,771)

30,162
96
(24,100)

385,352
6,834
(297,114)

368,652
6,852
(282,478)

Operating EBITDA
Depreciation and amortisation
Finance costs
Interest income
Share of net loss of associate
Income tax expense

Total goodwill

Total assets

Total liabilities

82,305
(15,578)
(14,442)
628
(300)
(18,306)

81,559
(14,459)
(14,331)
744
–
(16,527)

6,231
(512)
(748)
–
–
(569)

5,309
(498)
(580)
–
–
(700)

6,536
(1,680)
(1,630)
30
–
(174)

6,158
(1,403)
(1,351)
36
–
(806)

95,072
(17,770)
(16,820)
658
(300)
(19,049)

93,026
(16,360)
(16,262)
780
–
(18,033)

84,925

84,840

12,915

11,618

42,870

32,971

140,710

129,429

812,596

785,280

37,331

29,134

66,640

47,736

916,567

862,150

674,284

659,819

31,701

23,504

39,885

26,936

745,870

710,259

Operating EBITDA of $95,072,000 (2012: $93,026,000) is reconciled to profit before tax on the face of the consolidated income statement.

(c)  Segment information – accounting policies
The consolidated entity operates in one industry, being the funeral industry, with operations in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Segment revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities are those that are directly attributable to a segment and the relevant portion that can be 
allocated to the segment on a reasonable basis. Segment assets include all assets used by a segment and consist primarily of operating 
cash, receivables, inventories, property, plant and equipment and goodwill and other intangible assets, net of related provisions. Segment 
liabilities consist primarily of trade and other creditors and employee benefits and, in the case of Singapore, include an allocation of the 
long-term borrowings raised in Australia to fund the investment in Singapore. New Zealand has long-term borrowings which are arranged 
in New Zealand but with the support of Australia.

69

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 4: Revenue from Continuing Operations

Sales revenue

Sale of goods
Services revenue

Other revenue
Rent
Administration fees
Sundry revenue

Total revenue from continuing operations

Note 5: Expenses

Profit before income tax includes the following specific expenses:
Depreciation
Buildings
Property, plant and equipment

Total depreciation

Amortisation of non-current assets
  Cemetery land

Leasehold land and buildings
Leasehold improvements
Brand names
Total amortisation

Total depreciation and amortisation

Impairment of other assets
  Cemetery land impairment reversal
  Cemetery land impairment charge

Leasehold land

  Goodwill

Total depreciation, amortisation and impairment

Finance costs

Interest paid and payable

  Other finance costs

Total financing costs

Impairment losses – financial assets

Trade receivables

Rental expense
  Operating lease rental – minimum lease payments

Defined contribution superannuation expense

70

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

154,213
231,139

148,535
220,117

385,352

368,652

327
5,017
1,490

6,834

437
4,706
1,709

6,852

392,186

375,504

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

4,094
11,613

15,707

359
180
353
1,171
2,063

3,955
10,543

14,498

368
177
300
1,017
1,862

17,770

16,360

(4,900)
1,200
407
110

–
–
–
–

14,587

16,360

14,727
2,093

16,820

14,562
1,700

16,262

729

870

11,089

7,092

10,916

6,469

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 6: Income Tax
(a)  Income tax expense

Current tax
Deferred tax
Under/(over) provided in prior years

Income tax expense attributable to continuing operations

(b)  Reconciliation of income tax expense to prima facie tax payable

Prima facie tax at 30% (2012: 30%) on profit from ordinary activities
Tax effect of amounts which are not deductible/(taxable) in calculation of taxable income

 Impact of previously unrecognised capital losses offsetting capital gains and unrecognised 
capital losses
Impact of the eliminations of translation gains/(losses) on intercompany balances in foreign currencies
 Impact of the reassessment of the appropriate depreciation rates applicable to New Zealand 
building assets
Acquisition costs not deductible
Impact of share of the net loss of an associate

  Other items (net)

Difference in overseas tax rates
Under/(over) provision in prior years

Income tax expense

(c)  Tax expense/(income) relating to items of other comprehensive income

Cash flow hedges

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

20,339
(1,050)
(240)

19,049

17,058
971
4

18,033

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

20,414

18,784

(581)
406

(583)
132
90
260

(418)
165

–
86
–
115

20,138

18,732

(849)
(240)

(703)
4

19,049

18,033

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

772

(753)

71

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 6: Income Tax continued
(d)  Deferred tax (asset)/liability

The deferred tax (asset)/liability balances comprised temporary differences attributable to:
Amounts recognised in profit and loss:
  Cemetery land

Property, plant and equipment
Deferred selling costs
Prepayments and other
Brand names
Prepaid contracts
Provisions
Receivables
Accruals and other

Amounts recognised directly in equity:
  Cash flow hedge reserve

The net movement in the deferred tax (asset)/liability is as follows:
Balance at the beginning of the year
Net charge (credit) to income statement – current period
Net charge (credit) to income statement – prior periods
Amounts recognised due to business combinations net of businesses subsequently sold
Amounts recognised directly in equity
Effect of movements in exchange rates

Balance at the end of the year

Deferred tax liabilities/(assets) to be settled within 12 months

Deferred tax liabilities/(assets) to be settled after 12 months

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

25,191
7,196
2,859
173
1,761
(149)
(4,547)
(1,275)
(721)

25,035
7,422
2,743
720
2,319
(1,108)
(4,568)
(528)
(729)

(1,733)

(2,804)

28,755

28,502

28,502
(1,050)
15
424
772
92

28,755

(7,551)

36,306

28,755

28,415
971
(332)
586
(753)
(385)

28,502

(8,323)

36,825

28,502

(e)  Tax losses
The Group has unutilised Australian capital losses with a potential benefit of $164,000 (2012: $478,000) at a tax rate of 30% (2012: 30%).

72

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 7: Key Management Personnel Disclosures
(a)  Key management personnel compensation

Short-term employee benefits
Post-employment benefits
Other long term benefits
Share-based payments

2013
$

2012
$

3,381,738
162,644
37,704
551,798

3,583,879
154,589
32,897
387,025

4,133,884

4,158,390

Detailed remuneration disclosures are provided in the Remuneration Report on pages 37 to 49.

(b)  Equity instrument disclosures relating to key management personnel
(i)  Shares and share appreciation rights provided as remuneration
Details of shares and share appreciation rights provided as remuneration, together with terms and conditions of the shares and share 
appreciation rights, can be found in the Remuneration Report on pages 37 to 49.

The Company has not provided any options over unissued shares as remuneration during the 2013 or 2012 financial years.

(ii)  Holdings of shares and share appreciation rights
The number of ordinary shares in the Company, or share appreciation rights in the case of overseas based key management personnel, 
held during the financial year by each director of InvoCare Limited and other key management personnel of the Group, including indirectly 
by their personally related parties or by the trustee of the InvoCare Deferred Employee Share Plan, are set out below. During the year, 
Long Term Incentive (“LTI”) shares or LTI rights were granted to other key management personnel under the terms of the InvoCare Deferred 
Employee Share Plan the details of which are outlined in Note 8.

Non-executive Directors 1
Richard Fisher
Christine Clifton
Roger Penman
Aliza Knox
Richard Davis

Executive Directors
Andrew Smith 2

Other key management personnel
Phillip Friery 2,3
Greg Bisset 2,3
Andi Luiskandl
Wee Leng Goh 4
Graeme Rhind 4

Balance at
start of
 the year

Granted during
year as
compensation

6,315
112,961
8,000
3,050
636,607

–
–
–
–
–

Other
changes
during
year

5,265
–
8,665
2,122
(30,000)

Balance at
end of
the year

11,580
112,961
16,665
5,172
606,607

205,303

32,054

–

237,357

98,899
69,411
5,539
16,068
4,536

9,617
12,212
5,848
4,124
3,464

(27,131)
(9,098)
–
–
–

81,385
72,525
11,387
20,192
8,000

1. 

Ian Ferrier and Benjamin Chow who resigned as directors during the year each held 52,401 and 10,821 shares respectively at the start of the year. 
Ian Ferrier held the same number of shares upon his resignation on 22 October 2013. Benjamin Chow held 11,009 shares upon his resignation on 
16 August 2013, having been issued an additional 188 shares in April 2013 from his participation in the dividend reinvestment plan.

2.  Upon final vesting test in February 2014, from the balance of shares held at the end of the year as shown in the above table, shares from grants made 
in 2009 were forfeited due to EPS performance conditions not being achieved. Andrew Smith forfeited 9,289 shares. Before the adjustment in Note 3, 
Phillip Friery forfeited 5,308 shares and Greg Bisset forfeited 4,305 shares.

3. 

In February 2013 it had been determined there would be no final vesting for grants made in 2008. Later in the year it was discovered that the 
apportionment had resulted in an understatement of the number of shares which should have vested. The Directors resolved in February 2014 
to vest an additional 16,196 shares for the 2008 grant for the affected ten senior managers (which included Phillip Friery 3,673 shares and 
Greg Bisset 2,755 shares from key management personnel). The additional vested shares were sourced from shares forfeited from the 2009 
grant which at the date of the resolution were still held in the deferred employee share plan trust. 

4.  These grants are share appreciation rights.

73

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 7: Key Management Personnel Disclosures continued
(c)  Loans to key management personnel
There were no loans to directors of the Company and other key management personnel.

(d)  Other transactions with key management personnel
The immediate past Chairman, Ian Ferrier, is also Chairman and a shareholder of Executive Health Solutions Pty Ltd, a private company 
which provides specialist medical services to the corporate sector. In the previous year, services were provided to the Group on normal 
terms and conditions amounting to $27,144.

Aggregate amounts of each of the above types of other transactions with key management personnel of the consolidated entity, including 
their personally related parties:

Amounts recognised as expense
Other professional services

2013
$

2012
$

–

27,144

At balance date there were no amounts payable in either 2013 or 2012 to key management personnel of the Group, including their 
personally related parties, relating to the above types of transactions.

Note 8: Share-based Payments
To align executive and shareholder interests, key management and other senior managers may be offered shares as long term incentives 
under the InvoCare Deferred Employee Share Plan which was established in 2006.

Performance hurdles apply to certain grants to senior managers which are outlined in detail in the Remuneration Report. Shading in 
provisions apply with partial vesting when compound earnings per share growth is less than the target.

In non-Australian jurisdictions the direct ownership of InvoCare Limited shares present complex legal and taxation challenges in an 
employee share plan environment. In these cases senior non-Australian employees are granted share appreciation rights with the same 
vesting and performance conditions as the Australia Deferred Employee share plan.

Total expenses, excluding related on-costs, arising from share-based payment transactions recognised during the period as part of 
employee benefits expense were as follows:

Long-term incentive bonus share expense

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

1,026

705

74

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 8: Share-based Payments continued
Details of unvested grants and other movements in the deferred employee share plan follow:

Grant date

Vesting date

Purchase
price per
share
$

Balance at
the start of
the year
$’000

Granted
during the
year
$’000

Vested
during the
year
$’000

Forfeited
during the
year
$’000

Balance at
the end of
the year
$’000

1 January 2008

1 January 2008
1 January 2009

1 March 2009
1 January 2010

1 March 2010

1 January 2011

1 March 2011

1 July 2011

1 January 2012

1 March 2012

1 January 2013

1 March 2013

25 February 2011
25 February 2012
25 February 2013
25 February 2011
25 February 2012
25 February 2013
25 February 2013
25 February 2012
25 February 2013
25 February 2014
25 February 2013
25 February 2014
25 February 2013
25 February 2014
25 February 2015
25 February 2013
25 February 2014
25 February 2015
25 February 2013
25 February 2014
25 February 2015
25 February 2014
25 February 2015
25 February 2016
25 February 2014
25 February 2015
25 February 2016
25 February 2015
25 February 2016
25 February 2017
25 February 2015
25 February 2016
25 February 2017

6.33
6.33
6.01
4.87
4.87
4.87
4.87
6.01
6.01
6.01
6.01
6.01
7.37
7.37
7.37
7.37
7.37
7.37
7.37
7.37
7.37
7.97
7.97
7.97
7.97
7.97
7.97
10.93
10.93
10.93
10.93
10.93
10.93

175
175
45
19
137
279
48
254
254
254
51
51
305
305
305
62
62
62
7
7
7
404
404
404
67
67
67
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
425
425
425
76
76
76

–
–
(45)
(7)
(50)
(124)
(48)
–
–
–
(51)
–
–
–
–
(62)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

(175)
(175)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(2)
–
–
–
–
(3)
(3)
–
–
–
(36)
(36)
(36)
(9)
(9)
(9)
(12)
(12)
(12)
(3)
(3)
(3)

–
–
–
12
87
155
–
254
254
254
–
49
305
305
305
–
59
59
7
7
7
368
368
368
58
58
58
413
413
413
73
73
73

Note: The data in this table has been calculated in whole dollars and presented in thousands and as a consequence some totals and movements cannot 
be computed from the table as presented.

InvoCare Limited has no options over unissued shares granted to executive management outstanding at balance date.

4,277

1,503

(387)

(538)

4,855

75

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 8: Share-based Payments continued
(c)  Employee share schemes continued
Details of unvested grants and other movements in share appreciation rights follow:

Grant date

Vesting date

Purchase
price per
share
$

Balance at
the start of
the year
$’000

Granted
during the
year
$’000

Increase
during the
year
$’000

Balance at
the end of
the year
$’000

22 February 2010

24 February 2011

21 February 2012

1 January 2012

1 March 2012

1 January 2013

21 February 2013

1 March 2013

22 February 2012
22 February 2013
22 February 2014
24 February 2013
24 February 2014
24 February 2015
21 February 2014
21 February 2015
21 February 2016
25 February 2014
25 February 2015
25 February 2016
25 February 2014
25 February 2015
25 February 2016
21 February 2015
21 February 2016
21 February 2017
21 February 2015
21 February 2016
21 February 2017
21 February 2015
21 February 2016
21 February 2017

6.01
6.01
6.01
7.37
7.37
7.37
7.76
7.76
7.76
7.76
7.76
7.76
7.76
7.76
7.76
10.93
10.93
10.93
10.93
10.93
10.93
10.93
10.93
10.93

16
16
16
16
16
16
15
15
15
27
27
27
4
4
4
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
26
26
26
15
15
15
6
6
6

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
6
6
6
2
2
2
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

20
20
20
20
20
20
19
19
19
33
33
33
6
6
6
26
26
26
15
15
15
6
6
6

Note: The data in this table has been calculated in whole dollars and presented in thousands and as a consequence some totals and movements cannot 
be computed from the table as presented.

The plan rules allow, in instances where full vesting does not occur, an additional year to satisfy the vesting conditions.

234

141

60

435

76

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 9: Remuneration of Auditors

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

(a) Audit services
PricewaterhouseCoopers – Australian firm
Audit and review of financial reports

PricewaterhouseCoopers – non-Australian firm

Audit and review of financial reports

Non-PricewaterhouseCoopers – Singaporean firm

Audit and review of financial reports

Total remuneration for audit services

(b) Non-audit services
PricewaterhouseCoopers – Australian firm

Assurance services
Accounting advisory services
Taxation services

  Other services
PricewaterhouseCoopers – non-Australian firms

Taxation services

  Other services
Non-PricewaterhouseCoopers – Singaporean firm
  Other services

Total remuneration for non-audit services

2013
$

2012
$

408,630

323,647

8,741

7,535

28,720

24,728

446,091

355,910

26,000
45,122
73,000
-

58,599
12,623

42,673
36,742
218,643
9,663

27,110
6,411

12,011

18,229

227,355

359,471

Included in $408,630 for audit and review of financial reports is $80,000 in relation to the scope changes for 2012 audit.

It is the Company’s policy to employ PricewaterhouseCoopers on assignments additional to their statutory audit duties where 
PricewaterhouseCoopers’ expertise and experience with the consolidated entity are important and auditor independence is not 
compromised. These assignments are principally tax advice and advisory services, or where PricewaterhouseCoopers is awarded 
assignments on a competitive basis. It is the Company’s policy to seek competitive tenders for any major consulting projects.

77

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 10: Dividends

Dividends paid
Final ordinary dividend for the year ended 31 December 2012 of 19.0 cents (2011: 16.25 cents) per fully 
paid share paid on 5 April 2013 (2011: 5 April 2012), fully franked based on tax paid at 30% (2011: 30%)
Interim ordinary dividend for the year ended 31 December 2013 of 15 cents (2012: 15.0 cents) per share 
paid on 4 October 2013 (2012: 5 October 2012), fully franked based on tax paid at 30% (2012: 30%)

Dividends paid to members of InvoCare Limited

On 24 July 2013 (2012:19 November 2012) dividend totalling 4.46 cents (2012: 10.4 cents) per fully paid 
share, fully franked based on tax paid at 30%, was paid to non-controlling interests.

Dividends not recognised at year end
In addition to the above dividends, since the year end, the directors recommended the payment of a final 
dividend to InvoCare Limited shareholders of 19.5 cents (2012: 19.0 cents) per fully paid ordinary share, 
fully franked based on tax paid at 30%. The aggregate amount of the proposed dividend, expected to be 
paid on 4 April 2014 out of 2013 profits, but not recognised as a liability at year end is:

Franking credit balance
The amounts of franking credits available for subsequent financial years are:
Franking account balance at the end of the financial year
Franking credits that will arise from the payment of income tax payable at the end of the financial year
Reduction in franking account resulting from payment of proposed final dividend of 19.5 cents 
(2012: 19.0 cents)

Note 11: Earnings per Share

Reconciliation of Earnings to Profit and Loss
Profit from ordinary activities after income tax
Less profit attributable to non-controlling interests

Profit used to calculate basic and diluted EPS

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

20,901

17,885

16,505

37,406

16,505

34,390

36

83

37,442

34,473

21,456

20,906

23,435
8,346

(9,195)

22,586

14,490
3,903

(8,960)

9,433

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

48,999
(130)

48,869

44,582
(103)

44,479

2013
Number

2012
Number

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

109,394,543

109,498,442

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used as the denominator in calculating diluted earnings 
per share

109,394,543

109,498,442

Earnings per share for profit attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company
Basic earnings per share (cents per share)
Diluted earnings per share (cents per share)

2013
cents

44.7
44.7

2012
cents

40.6
40.6

78

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 12: Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash on hand
Cash at bank

Cash at bank attracts floating interest rates between 1.25% and 2.0% (2012: 1.25% and 3.05%)
Reconciliation to cash at the end of the year:
The above figures are reconciled to cash at the end of the financial year as shown in the statement of 
cash flows as follows: 
Balances as above

Balances per the statement of cash flows

Note 13: Trade and Other Receivables

Current
Trade receivables 
Provision for doubtful receivables 
Prepayments
Other receivables 

Non-current
Trade receivables
Provision for doubtful receivables
Security deposits
Other receivables

(a)  Impaired receivables
Movements in the provision for impairment of receivables are as follows:

As at 1 January
Provision for impairment recognised during the year
Receivables written off as uncollectible

As at 31 December

2013
$’000

82
8,817

8,899

2012
$’000

72
6,009

6,081

8,899

8,899

6,081

6,081

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

34,131
(2,571)
5,297
1,509

30,750
(2,541)
4,554
1,777

38,366

34,540

13,571
(37)
364
400

14,298

2013
$’000

2,631
729
(752)

2,608

14,303
(90)
307
400

14,920

2012
$’000

2,236
870
(475)

2,631

79

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 14: Inventories

Current
Finished goods – at cost
Work in progress – at cost

Note 15: Prepaid Contracts
(a)  Income statement impact of undelivered prepaid contracts

Gain on prepaid contract funds under management
Change in provision for prepaid contract liabilities

Net gain/(loss) on undelivered prepaid contracts

(b)  Movements in prepaid contract funds under management

Balance at the beginning of the year
Sale of new prepaid contracts
Initial recognition of contracts paid by instalment
Redemption of prepaid contract funds following service delivery
Increase due to business combinations
Increase in fair value of contract funds under management

Balance at the end of the year

(c)  Movements in prepaid contract liabilities

Balance at the beginning of the year
Sale of new prepaid contracts
Initial recognition of contracts paid by instalment
Decrease following delivery of services
Increase due to business combinations
Increase due to re-evaluation of delivery obligation

Balance at the end of the year

80

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

20,104
1,533

21,637

20,529
833

21,362

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

20,622
(19,032)

1,590

17,646
(17,664)

(18)

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

350,905
31,951
2,941
(32,810)
–
20,622

311,763
30,414
2,563
(28,288)
16,807
17,646

373,609

350,905

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

355,090
31,951
2,941
(32,489)
–
19,032

317,598
30,414
2,563
(30,346)
17,197
17,664

376,525

355,090

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 15: Prepaid Contracts continued
(d)  Nature of contracts under management and liabilities
Prepaid contracts are tripartite agreements, currently entered into and performed in Australia only, whereby InvoCare agrees to deliver a 
specified funeral service, cremation or burial at the time of need and the beneficiary invests the current price of the service to be delivered 
with a financial institution and conditionally assigns the benefit to InvoCare. InvoCare records the value of the invested funds as an asset 
and revalues the invested funds to fair value at the end of each reporting period. InvoCare also records a liability at the current selling price 
of the service to be delivered and adjusts this liability for the change in selling prices during the period.

The assignment of the benefit of the invested funds to InvoCare, in most cases, only becomes unconditional when InvoCare demonstrates 
that it has delivered the service specified. InvoCare receives the investment returns as well as the initial investment when the service has 
been delivered.

As generally required by law, the funds are controlled by trustees who are independent of InvoCare.

InvoCare permits, on request, contracts to be paid by instalments over periods not exceeding three years. In some instances these 
contracts are never fully paid. If, during the three-year period the contract becomes at-need, the family is given the option of either paying 
outstanding instalments and receiving the contracted services at the original fixed price or using the amount paid as a part payment of 
the at-need service. If the contract is not fully paid after three years InvoCare only permits the family to use the amounts paid as a partial 
payment of the at-need services. At the end of the year the total balance of amounts received from instalment payments for incomplete 
contracts was $6,235,000 (2012: $5,727,000). These funds and the relevant liability are recognised when the contract has been fully paid.

During the year the non-cash fair value movements (i.e. investment earnings) of $20.6 million in prepaid contract funds under management 
(2012: $17.6 million) was greater than the non-cash growth due to selling price increases of $19.0 million in the liability for future service 
delivery obligations (2012: $17.6 million).

(e)  Classification of prepaid funds under management and liabilities
At 31 December 2013 a change in accounting policy has been adopted so that the current and non-current portions of the prepaid contract 
assets and liabilities are now disclosed separately. The purpose of this change was to more clearly reflect the pattern of usage associated 
with the timing of actual contract redemptions. The impact of these changes on the balance sheet is summarised in the tables below. 
The change does not affect income statement.

Prepaid contract funds under management

Current
Non-Current

Total prepaid contract funds under management

Prepaid contract liabilities

Current
Non-Current

Total prepaid contract liabilities

31 December 2013

31 December 2012

31 December 2012

$’000

30,480
343,129

373,609

$’000
Restated

28,370
322,535

350,905

$’000
Reported

350,905
–

350,905

31 December 2013

31 December 2012

31 December 2012

$’000

30,481
346,044

376,525

$’000
Restated

28,455
326,635

355,090

$’000
Reported

355,090
–

355,090

81

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 16: Interest in Other Entities: Subsidiaries
(a)  Interest in subsidiaries
Set out below are the Group’s principal trading subsidiaries at 31 December 2013. Unless otherwise stated, the subsidiaries as listed below 
have share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares, which are held directly by the Group, and the proportion of ownership interests held 
equals to the voting rights held by the Group. The country of incorporation or registration is also their principal place of business.

Name of entity

Country of
incorporation

Principal activities

InvoCare Australia Pty Limited
Bledisloe Australia Pty Ltd
Bledisloe New Zealand Limited
Singapore Casket Company (Private) Limited

Australia
Australia
New Zealand
Singapore

Funeral services provider 
Funeral services provider 
Funeral services provider 
Funeral services provider 

Ownership interest 
held by the group

2013
%

100
100
100
100

2012
%

100
100
100
100

InvoCare Australia Pty Limited and Bledisloe Australia Pty Ltd have been granted relief from the necessity to prepare financial reports 
in accordance with Class Order 98/1418 issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. For further information refer 
to Note 32.

(b)  Significant restrictions
Other than those imposed by the legislative provisions in the respective country of incorporation, for the subsidiaries listed above, the 
Group has no significant restriction on its ability to access or use assets and settle liabilities.

(c)  Complete list of subsidiaries
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of InvoCare Limited and the following controlled entities 
in accordance with the accounting policy in Note 1(b).

Name of entity

InvoCare Australia Pty Limited

New South Wales Cremation Company Pty Limited
LifeArt Australasia Pty Limited
Macquarie Memorial Park Pty Limited
Oakwood Funerals Pty Limited
Dignity Pre-Arranged Funerals Pty Limited
Memorial Guardian Plan Pty Limited
Pine Grove Forest Lawn Funeral Benefit Company Pty Limited
Kitleaf Pty Limited
The Australian Cremation Society Pty Limited
Metropolitan Burial and Cremation Society Funeral Contribution Fund Pty Limited
Labor Funerals Contribution Fund Pty Limited
IVC Custodians Pty Limited
Bledisloe Group Holdings Pty Ltd

Bledisloe Finance Pty Ltd (in liquidation)

Bledisloe Holdings Pty. Ltd. (in liquidation)

Bledone Pty Ltd

Bledtwo Pty Ltd (in liquidation)
Bledisloe Australia Pty Ltd

A.C.N. 001 068 373 Pty Ltd (in liquidation)

A.C.N. 000 146 261 Pty Ltd (in liquidation)

A.C.N. 000 963 299 Pty Ltd (in liquidation)

F Tighe & Co Pty Ltd (in liquidation)
Crematorium Chapel Funerals of Australasia Pty Ltd (in liquidation)
William Lee & Sons Pty Ltd (in liquidation)
Australian Pre-Arranged Funeral Plan Pty Ltd

Dylhost Pty Ltd (in liquidation)
Australian Funerals Pty Limited

Metropolitan Funeral Services Pty. Ltd.

Sydney Cremation Services Pty Ltd (in liquidation)

Cemetery & Crematorium Management Services Pty Ltd (in liquidation)
Cemetery & Crematorium Finance Trust (being dissolved)

82

Country of
incorporation

Equity Holding

2013
%

2012
%

Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia

100
100
100
83
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
83
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

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Name of entity

Nationwide Care Services Pty Ltd (in liquidation)

South-East Asia & Australasian Services Pty Ltd (in liquidation)

Tuckers Funeral & Bereavement Services Pty Ltd
Geelong Mortuary Transfer Services Pty Ltd

IVC Employee Share Plan Managers Pty Ltd

InvoCare Hong Kong Limited

InvoCare Consulting Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd

InvoCare (Singapore) Pty Limited

Singapore Casket Company (Private) Limited

Casket Palace Pte. Ltd.
Simplicity Casket Private Limited

Casket Company Embalming and Funeral Services Pte. Ltd

Lavender Flora Pte. Ltd.
Simplicity Flora Pte. Ltd.
SCC Care Services Pte. Ltd. (formerly SCC Funeral Supplies Pte. Ltd.)
SCC Care Pte. Ltd.
SCC Bereavement Services Pte. Ltd.
SCC Tentage Pte. Ltd.
InvoCare New Zealand Limited

Bledisloe New Zealand Limited

Country of
incorporation
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Australia
Hong Kong 
SAR
People’s 
Republic of 
China
Australia
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
New Zealand
New Zealand

Equity Holding

2013
%
100
100
100
100
100

100

100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
–
–
–
100
100

2012
%
100
100
100
100
100

100

–

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Shares in subsidiaries are carried at cost and relate to InvoCare Limited’s ownership interest in InvoCare Australia Pty Limited, InvoCare 
(Singapore) Pty Limited, InvoCare New Zealand Limited, InvoCare Hong Kong Limited and IVC Employee Share Plan Managers Pty Ltd. 
All shares held are ordinary shares.

InvoCare Australia Pty Limited, InvoCare (Singapore) Pty Limited and Bledisloe Australia Pty Ltd have been granted relief from the necessity 
to prepare financial reports in accordance with Class Order 98/1418 issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. 
For further information refer to Note 32.

During the year SCC Care Pte. Ltd., SCC Bereavement Services Pte. Ltd. and SCC Tentage Pte. Ltd. were dissolved and therefore ceased 
to exist. 

During the year the solvent winding up of a total of 14 entities was commenced and it is expected that this process will be completed 
during 2014.

100% of the issued equity of Australian Pre-Arranged Funeral Plan Pty Ltd, which acted as trustee of a prepaid funeral plan of the same 
name, was sold as part of the finalisation of the sale of Gregory & Carr.

(d)  Subsidiaries with non-controlling interests (“NCI”)
One subsidiary, Macquarie Memorial Park Pty Limited, has non-controlling interests of 16.86% (2012: 16.86%). During the year dividends 
totalling $35,745 were paid to non-controlling interests (2012: $83,000).

Note 17: Interest in Other Entities: Associates
(a)  Interests in associates
(i)  Set out below is the associate of the group at 31 December 2013. The entity listed below has share capital consisting solely of 
ordinary shares, which are held directly by the group. The country of incorporation or registration is also its principal place of business, 
and the proportion of ownership interest is the same as the proportion of voting rights held. The interest held in this entity is not material 
to the Group.

Name of entity

Country of
incorporation

Nature of 
relationship

Measurement 
method

HeavenAddress Pte. Ltd

Singapore

Associate

Equity method

2013
%

34.59

2012
%

27.59

2013
$’000

5,005

2012
$’000

–

% of ownership interest

Fair value

HeavenAddress Pte. Ltd offers online memorial services to allow families and communities celebrate the life of a loved one.

(ii)  Commitments and contingent liabilities in respect of associates:
The Group has no commitments or contingent liabilities in respect of its associates at 31 December 2013 (2012: Nil).

83

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 18: Property, Plant and Equipment

Cemetery
land
$’000

Freehold
land
$’000

Buildings
$’000

Leasehold
land and
buildings
$’000

Leasehold
improve-
ments
$’000

Plant and
equipment
$’000

Total
$’000

At 1 January 2013
Cost
Accumulated depreciation/amortisation
Impairment write-downs

106,189
(6,307)
(15,976)

74,890
–
–

123,627
(42,306)
–

4,900
(2,521)
–

4,518
(2,208)
–

99,960
(59,792)
–

414,084
(113,134)
(15,976)

Net book amount

83,906

74,890

81,321

2,379

2,310

40,168

284,974

Year ended 31 December 2013
Additions
Business combinations
Disposals
Depreciation/amortisation  
and impairment charge
Effect of movement in exchange rates
Transfers/reclassifications

1,772
–
(233)

3,341

763
1,994
(1,370)

3,662
1,041
(760)

–
–
–

601
29
(7)

12,794
496
(368)

19,592
3,560
(2,738)

–

(4,022)

(486)

(352)

(11,786)

(13,305)

–
–

2,408
–

979
–

–
–

13
–

1,062
–

4,462
–

Closing net book amount

88,786

78,685

82,221

1,893

2,594

42,366

296,545

At 31 December 2013
Cost
Accumulated depreciation/amortisation
Impairment write-downs

107,727
(6,665)
(12,276)

78,685
–
–

128,958
(46,737)
–

4,534
(2,641)
–

5,148
(2,554)
–

109,302
(66,936)
–

434,354
(125,533)
(12,276)

Net book amount

88,786

78,685

82,221

1,893

2,594

42,366

296,545

At 1 January 2012
Cost
Accumulated depreciation/amortisation
Impairment write-downs

106,437
(5,939)
(15,976)

73,352
–
–

120,718
(38,301)
–

5,087
(2,344)
–

3,877
(1,892)
–

92,298
(54,779)
–

401,769
(103,255)
(15,976)

Net book amount

84,522

73,352

82,417

2,743

1,985

37,519

282,538

Year ended 31 December 2012
Additions
Business combinations
Disposals
Depreciation/amortisation charge
Effect of movement in exchange rates
Transfers/reclassifications

352
(600)
–
(368)
–
–

–
2,925
–
–
613
(2,000)

2,151
1,017
(5)
(3,955)
328
(632)

–
–
–
(177)
–
(187)

524
101
(2)
(300)
2
–

12,748
585
(306)
(10,543)
165
–

15,775
4,028
(313)
(15,343)
1,108
(2,819)

Closing net book amount

83,906

74,890

81,321

2,379

2,310

40,168

284,974

At 31 December 2012
Cost
Accumulated depreciation/amortisation
Impairment write-downs

106,189
(6,307)
(15,976)

74,890
–
–

123,627
(42,306)
–

Net book amount

83,906

74,890

81,321

4,900
(2,521)
–

2,379

4,518
(2,208)
–

99,960
(59,792)
–

414,084
(113,134)
(15,976)

2,310

40,168

284,974

84

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 18: Property, Plant and Equipment continued
(a)  Assets in the course of construction
The carrying amounts of assets disclosed above include the following expenditure recognised in relation to property, plant and equipment 
which is in the course of construction:

Freehold buildings
Leasehold improvements
Plant and equipment

Total assets in the course of construction

2013
$’000

937
123
781

1,841

2012
$’000

1,067
9
577

1,653

(b)  Impairment
All impaired cemetery and crematorium sites were reassessed at 31 December 2013 using the same methodology as previously applied 
and a net write back (i.e. reversal of previous impairment write downs) amounting to $3,700,000 was deemed necessary to the impairment 
provision. The net amount is comprised of $4,900,000 in the reversal of previous impairments for two cemetery and crematorium sites in 
Queensland, along with $1,200,000 in write down for another cemetery and crematorium site in New South Wales.

During the year a review of the Group’s property requirements in the Australian Capital Territory (“ACT”) identified an undeveloped parcel of 
leasehold land was no longer strategically significant to the Group’s long-term growth in the ACT. Accordingly, it was decided to impair the 
parcel of land, given that the costs to exit the site may exceed its carrying value.

The impairment losses recognised over the years may be reversed in future years. The Group has no impairment at other cemetery and 
crematorium sites, or of other property, plant and equipment assets. The total recoverable amount of the Group’s assets is well in excess 
of carrying value.

The recoverable amount of cash generating units is based on value-in-use calculations. These calculations use cash flow projections based 
on financial estimates approved by management based on past performance and future expectations. The cash flows cover an initial five-
year period and are then extrapolated beyond five-years using estimated growth rates of 4% in revenues and 3% in expenses which are not 
inconsistent with historical trends and forecasts included in reports prepared by market analysts. A sensitivity analysis has been conducted 
on the impaired sites by moving the underlying assumptions both up and down 10%. This analysis demonstrates that changing the 
assumptions is unlikely to result in a material change in the currently recognised impairment losses. Management considers that a +/- 10% 
shift is within the reasonably possible range of long-term outcomes. The pre-tax discount rate used was 10.9% (2012: 10.9%), reflecting the 
risk estimates for the business as a whole.

85

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 19: Intangible Assets

At 1 January 2013
Cost
Accumulated amortisation

Net book amount

Year ended 31 December 2013
Additions
Acquisition of subsidiary / businesses
Effect of movement in exchange rates
Impairment
Amortisation charge

Net book amount

At 31 December 2013
Cost
Accumulated amortisation

Net book amount

At 1 January 2012
Cost
Accumulated amortisation

Net book amount

Year ended 31 December 2012
Acquisition of subsidiary / businesses net of divestments 
Effect of movement in exchange rates
Amortisation charge

Net book amount

At 31 December 2012
Cost
Accumulated amortisation

Net book amount

Goodwill
$’000

Brand name
$’000

Total
$’000

129,429
–

129,429

–
4,451
6,940
(110)
–

140,710

140,710
–

140,710

122,806
–

122,806

4,849
1,774
–

129,429

129,429
–

129,429

11,179
(3,124)

140,608
(3,124)

8,055

137,484

435
473
410
–
(1,171)

8,202

435
4,924
7,350
(110)
(1,171)

148,912

12,674
(4,472)

153,384
(4,472)

8,202

148,912

10,068
(2,083)

132,874
(2,083)

7,985

130,791

961
126
(1,017)

8,055

11,179
(3,124)

8,055

5,810
1,900
(1,017)

137,484

140,608
(3,124)

137,484

(a)  Impairment test for goodwill
For the Group’s Australian-based operations, goodwill cannot be allocated on a non-arbitrary basis to individual Cash Generating Units 
(“CGU”s) due to the significant history of numerous acquisitions, especially during the years 1993 to 1999, and resulting post-acquisition 
business integration activities and operational changes over many years. The New Zealand and Singapore operations are separate CGUs 
and the associated goodwill arising from that acquisition has been allocated to the single New Zealand or Singaporean CGU. As a result, 
the lowest level within the Group at which goodwill is monitored for management purposes comprises the grouping of all CGUs within a 
country of operation. The recoverable amounts of the total of Australian, New Zealand and Singaporean CGUs are based on value-in-use 
calculations. These calculations use cash flow projections based on approved financial estimates covering a five-year period. Cash flows 
beyond the five-year period have been extrapolated using estimated growth rates. The assessment also considered the reasonable possible 
long-term shift in key assumptions which will not cause further impairment.

During the year, Simplicity Casket Company undertook its own impairment calculations on the goodwill recorded in relation to Casket 
Company Embalming and Funeral Services and recognised an impairment loss of $110,000.

(b)  Key assumptions used for value-in-use calculations
Budgeted cash flows have been based on past performance and expectations for the future. The growth rates of 4% in revenue and 3% 
in expense projections are not inconsistent with historical trends and forecasts included in reports prepared by market analysts. The pre-tax 
discount rate used for assessing the carrying value of goodwill in each CGU was 10.9% (2012: 10.9%), reflecting the risk estimates for the 
business as a whole. Sensitivity analysis indicates significant headroom exists in the value-in-use calculations for Australia, New Zealand 
and Singapore compared to the carrying value of goodwill.

86

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 20: Derivative Financial Instruments

Current liabilities
Interest rate swap contracts – cash flow hedges

Non-current assets
Interest rate swap contracts – cash flow hedges

Non-current liabilities
Interest rate swap contracts – cash flow hedges

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

1,342

1,342

1

1

4,437

4,437

1,353

1,353

–

–

8,032

8,032

Full details of the derivatives being used by the Group and the risks and aging of the existing derivatives are set out in Note 2 – Financial 
risk management.

In September 2010, a controlled entity entered into a bank loan amounting to SG$27 million which was renewed in 2012. This loan, which 
was taken out to support the investment in Singapore, has been designated as a hedge of the net investment in this subsidiary. The fair 
value and carrying amount of the borrowing at 31 December 2013 was $23.8 million (31 December 2012: $21.3 million). There was no 
ineffectiveness to be recorded from net investments in foreign entity hedges. 

Note 21: Trade and Other Payables

Current
Trade payables
Sundry payables and accrued expenses
Deferred cash settlement for business interests acquired

Non-current
Deferred cash settlement for business interests acquired

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

24,926
8,324
1,313

34,563

1,124

1,124

16,950
8,109
–

25,059

2,163

2,163

Full details of the risks and currency exposure of trade and other payables are set out in Note 2 – Financial Risk Management.

Note 22: Borrowings

Short-term borrowings
Lease liabilities

Long-term borrowings
Borrowings are represented by:
Principal amount of bank loans – unsecured
Lease liabilities
Loan establishment costs

Full details of the risks, aging and available facilities are set out in Note 2 – Financial Risk Management.

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

11

11

17

17

225,228
2
(1,274)

224,181
10
(974)

223,956

223,217

87

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 23: Provisions for Employee Benefits

Current
Employee benefits

Non-current
Liability for long service leave

(a)  Employee numbers
Number of full-time equivalent employees

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

12,732

12,431

2,027

1,735

2013
Number

2012
Number

1,470

1,470

(b)  Superannuation plan
The Company contributes to accumulation-type employee superannuation plans in accordance with statutory requirements.

(c)  Exempt employee share plan
The Company’s Exempt Employee Share Plan provides employee members the opportunity to acquire ordinary shares in InvoCare Limited 
to the tax exempt value of $1,000. There are 339 members at 31 December 2013 and the balance owing by employee plan members for 
the purchase price of shares was $161,962 (2012: $110,393).

Note 24: Current Liabilities expected to be settled within twelve months
The amounts included in current liabilities which are expected to be settled within twelve months are set out below.

Trade and other payables
Short-term borrowings
Current tax liabilities
Prepaid contract liabilities
Deferred revenue
Employee benefits

Total Current Liability

Expected to settle  
within twelve months

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

34,563
11
9,946
30,481
6,925
12,732

94,658

25,059
17
5,216
28,455
6,748
12,431

77,926

34,563
11
9,946
30,481
6,925
6,604

88,530

25,059
17
5,216
28,455
6,748
6,095

71,590

The amounts expected to be settled within twelve months have been calculated based on the historical settlement patterns.

Note 25: Contributed Equity

Fully paid ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

132,393

132,687

2013
Number

2013
$’000

2012
Number

2012
$’000

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

110,030,298

136,858

110,030,298

136,858

Total contributed equity

Treasury shares (note 25 (b))

110,030,298

136,858

110,030,298

136,858

(673,808)

(4,465)

(634,252)

(4,171)

Total consolidated contributed equity

109,356,490

132,393

109,396,046

132,687

88

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 25: Contributed Equity continued
(a)  Ordinary shares
Ordinary shares entitle the holder to participate in dividends and the proceeds on winding up of the Company in proportion to the number 
of and amounts paid on the shares held. On a show of hands every holder of ordinary shares present at a meeting, in person or by proxy, is 
entitled to one vote, and upon a poll each share is entitled to one vote.

(b)  Treasury shares
Treasury shares are shares in InvoCare Limited that are held by the InvoCare Deferred Employee Share Plan Trust for the purpose of issuing 
shares under the InvoCare Deferred Employee Share Plan, as set out in Note 8.

Date

1 January 2012

25 February 2012

20 March 2012 to 10 April 2012

25 February 2012
01 July 2012
14 December 2012
31 December 2012

Details

Balance

Shares vested
Acquisition of shares by the Trust and reallocation of previously 
forfeited shares
Forfeit of shares on termination of employment
Shares forfeited due to failing vesting conditions
Transfer of shares to members of the Exempt Employee Share Plan
Shares granted but not yet allocated by the Trustee
Shares provisionally forfeited but not yet de-allocated by the Trustee 
Unallocated shares held by the Trustee

31 December 2012

Balance

25 February 2013

28 February 2013 to 07 March 2013

01 July 2013
31 December 2013

Shares vested
Acquisition of shares by the Trust and the allocation of previously 
forfeited shares
Forfeit of shares on termination of employment
Transfer of shares to members of the Exempt Employee Share Plan
Shares provisionally forfeited but not yet de-allocated by the Trustee
Unallocated shares held by the Trustee

31 December 2013

Balance

Number of
shares

$’000

572,791

3,522

(66,946)

160,419

(39,053)
(1,556)
(27,750)
17,815
(27,444)
45,976

(367)

1,274

(246)
(10)
(221)
141
(174)
252

634,252

4,171

(70,260)

77,003

(23,520)
(13,927)
(36,740)
107,000

(388)

842

(193)
(160)
(179)
372

673,808

4,465

(c)  Dividend reinvestment plan
During 2006, the Company activated its Dividend Reinvestment Plan under which holders of ordinary shares may elect to have all or part 
of their dividend entitlements satisfied in ordinary shares rather than by being paid in cash.

89

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 26: Reserves and Retained Profits

(a)  Reserves
Share-based payments reserve
Hedging reserve – cash flow hedge reserve
Foreign currency translation reserve

Movements:
Share-based payments reserve

Balance at the beginning of the year
Deferred employee share plan expense
Vesting of deferred employee share plan shares

Balance at the end of the year

Hedging reserve

Balance at the beginning of the year
Revaluation to fair value – gross
Deferred tax

Balance at the end of the year

Foreign currency translation reserve
Balance at the beginning of the year

  Currency translation differences

Balance at the end of the year

(b)  Retained profits
Movements in retained profits were as follows:

Balance at the beginning of the year

  Net profit for the year

Dividends paid during the year

Balance at the end of the year

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

3,142
(3,989)
5,270

4,423

2,504
1,026
(388)

3,142

(6,564)
3,347
(772)

(3,989)

940
4,330

5,270

2,504
(6,564)
940

(3,120)

2,166
705
(367)

2,504

(4,822)
(2,495)
753

(6,564)

(278)
1,218

940

21,173
48,869
(37,406)

32,636

11,084
44,479
(34,390)

21,173

(c)  Nature and purpose of reserves
(i)  Share-based payments reserve
The share-based payments reserve is used to recognise the expensed portion of shares granted to employees under the terms of the 
Deferred Employee Share Plan.

(ii)  Hedging reserve – cash flow hedge reserve
The hedging reserve is used to record gains or losses on hedging instruments that are cash flow hedges which are recognised directly in 
equity. Amounts are recognised in profit and loss when the associated hedged transaction affects the profit and loss.

(iii)  Foreign currency translation reserve
Exchange differences arising on translation of the foreign controlled entities and from the hedging of the net investment in foreign operations 
are taken to the foreign currency translation reserve as set out in Notes 1(d) and (s). The reserve is recognised in the profit and loss when 
the net investment is sold.

90

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 27: Non-controlling Interests

Reconciliation of non-controlling interests in controlled entities:
Share capital

Retained earnings

Balance at the beginning of the year
Add share of operating earnings
Less dividends paid

  Closing balance of retained earnings

Reserves

Balance at the end of the year

Note 28: Capital and Leasing Commitments

(a)  Operating lease commitments
Non-cancellable operating leases contracted for at the reporting date but not capitalised in the 
financial statements:
Payable – minimum lease payments
– not later than 12 months
– between 12 months and five years
– greater than five years

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

800

252
130
(36)

346

99

800

232
103
(83)

252

99

1,245

1,151

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

10,006
21,879
14,814

46,699

9,553
20,555
14,676

44,784

Non-cancellable operating leases contracted for at the reporting date but not capitalised in the financial statements include the following:

Not later than 12 months
Between 12 months and five years
Greater than five years

Property
$’000

Equipment
$’000

Total
$’000

9,370
21,097
14,814

45,281

636
782
–

1,418

10,006
21,879
14,814

46,699

91

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 28: Capital and Leasing Commitments continued
The Group leases premises, motor vehicles and sundry office equipment under non-cancellable operating leases with terms generally from 
one to five years. The Rookwood Crematorium lease expires in 2025. The Great Southern Garden of Remembrance lease expires in 2047 
with an option to renew for a further 50 years.

(b)  Finance lease commitments
Non-cancellable finance leases in respect of motor vehicles contracted for at the reporting date and 
capitalised in the financial statements:
Payable – minimum lease payments
– not later than 12 months
– between 12 months and five years

(c)  Capital expenditure commitments
Capital expenditure commitments contracted or conditionally contracted at the reporting date but not 
recognised as liabilities payable:

Building purchase
Building extensions and refurbishments – within one year
Plant and equipment purchases – within one year

(d)  Other expenditure commitments
Documentary letters of credit outstanding at balance date payable:
– within one year

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

11

2

13

4,085
48
1,398

17

10

27

–
218
930

129

84

Note 29: Business Combinations
H Morris Funerals
(a)  Summary of acquisition
On 1 December 2013, a subsidiary, Bledisloe New Zealand Limited, completed the acquisition of the funeral business assets of H Morris 
Limited (“H Morris”) which has operated in the Auckland market since 1933.

Provisional accounting for this acquisition has been completed as at 31 December 2013.

Details of the purchase consideration, the net assets acquired and goodwill are as follows:

(b)  Purchase consideration

Purchase consideration
  Cash paid

Total purchase consideration
Fair value of net identifiable assets acquired (refer (c) below):

Goodwill

$’000

4,724

4,724
2,226

2,498

The goodwill recognised is attributable to the workforce and the profitability of the acquired business. It will not be deductible for 
tax purposes.

92

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
Note 29: Business Combinations continued
(c)  Assets acquired
The assets and liabilities recognised as a result of the acquisition are as follows:

Inventories
Prepayments
Property, plant and equipment
Brand name
Deferred tax liabilities
Provisions

Net identifiable assets acquired

Fair Value
$’000

49
10
2,193
234
(246)
(14)

2,226

The acquired business contributed revenues of $138,000 and after tax profit of $18,000 to the Group for the period from 1 December 2013 
to 31 December 2013. If the acquisition had occurred on 1 January 2013, consolidated revenue for the year ended 31 December 2013 
would have increased by approximately $1,637,000 and profit after tax by approximately $244,000.

Resthaven Funeral Services
(a)  Summary of acquisition
On 1 February 2013, a subsidiary, Bledisloe New Zealand Limited, completed the acquisition of the funeral business assets of Resthaven 
Funeral Services (2000) Limited (“Resthaven”). Resthaven has operated in the South Auckland market since 2000.

Details of the purchase consideration, the net assets acquired and goodwill are as follows:

(b)  Purchase consideration

Purchase consideration
  Cash paid
  Contingent consideration

Total purchase consideration
Fair value of net identifiable assets acquired (refer (c) below):

Goodwill

The goodwill recognised is attributable to the workforce and the profitability of the acquired business. It will not be deductible for 
tax purposes.

(c)  Assets acquired
The assets and liabilities recognised as a result of the acquisition are as follows:

Inventories
Property, plant and equipment
Brand name
Deferred tax liabilities

Net identifiable assets acquired

Contingent consideration includes a total of $274,000 in future payments if predetermined revenue targets are achieved in each 
of the next five years.

The acquired business contributed revenues of $1,486,000 and after tax profit of $195,000 to the Group for the period from 
1 February 2013 to 31 December 2013. If the acquisition had occurred on 1 January 2013, consolidated revenue for the year 
ended 31 December 2013 would have been approximately $1.6 million and profit after tax approximately $0.2 million.

$’000

1,296
274

1,570
186

1,384

Fair Value
$’000

19
57
157
(47)

186

93

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2013

Note 29: Business Combinations continued
Tilton, Opie & Pattinson Funeral Services and Fraser Lawrence Memorials
(a)  Summary of acquisition
During the year, a subsidiary, Bledisloe New Zealand Limited, completed two smaller acquisitions detailed below.

The funeral business assets of Tilton, Opie & Pattinson Limited (“TOP”), which has operated in the Auckland market since 1950, were 
acquired on 26 July 2013.

The business assets of Fraser Lawrence Memorials Limited (“Fraser Lawrence”), which manufactures memorialisation products such as 
headstones in Christchurch, were acquired on 14 August 2013.

Provisional accounting for these small acquisitions has been completed as at 31 December 2013.

Details of the purchase consideration, the net assets acquired and goodwill are as follows:

(b)  Purchase consideration

Purchase consideration
  Cash paid

Total purchase consideration
Fair value of net identifiable assets acquired (refer (c) below):

Goodwill

$’000

1,757

1,757
1,274

483

The goodwill recognised is attributable to the workforce and the profitability of the acquired businesses. It will not be deductible for 
tax purposes.

(c)  Assets acquired
The assets and liabilities recognised as a result of the acquisitions are as follows:

Inventories
Property, plant and equipment
Brand name
Deferred tax liabilities
Provisions

Net identifiable assets acquired

Fair Value
$’000

25
1,310
82
(131)
(12)

1,274

The acquired businesses contributed revenues of $435,000 and after tax loss of $5,000 to the Group for the period from 26 July 2013 
to 31 December 2013. If the acquisitions had occurred on 1 January 2013, consolidated revenue for the year ended 31 December 2013 
would have increased by approximately $1,649,000 and profit after tax by approximately $68,000.

Tuckers Funeral & Bereavement Services
Tuckers Funeral & Bereavement Services Pty Ltd and Geelong Mortuary Transfer Services Pty Ltd were acquired in December 2012.

Included in the purchase consideration was $2,100,000 in future payments to be paid if predetermined revenue targets are achieved in 
each of the next three calendar years. The predetermined revenue target was achieved in 2013 and as a result $600,000 of the $2,100,000 
in future payments will be paid in early 2014.

94

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 30: Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

The Group had contingent liabilities at 31 December 2013 in respect of bank guarantees given for leased 
premises of controlled entities to a maximum of:

1,221

1,269

For information about the deed of cross guarantees given by InvoCare Limited, InvoCare Australia Pty Limited, InvoCare (Singapore) Pty 
Limited, Bledone Pty Ltd and Bledisloe Australia Pty Ltd, refer to Note 32.

No liability was recognised by the consolidated entity in relation to the guarantees as the fair value of the guarantees is immaterial.

Note 31: Cash Flow Information

Reconciliation of cash flow from operations with profit from ordinary activities after income tax
Profit from ordinary activities after income tax
Non-cash items in profit from ordinary activities
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment
Reversal of impairment loss
Share-based payments expense
Loan establishment costs
Imputed interest from deferred purchase consideration
  Net (gain)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Unrealised (gain)/loss on prepaid contracts

  Other prepaid contract movements

Business acquisition costs classified in investing activities
Effect of movement in exchange rates
Share of net loss of an associate

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of purchase and disposal of subsidiaries

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables
(Increase)/decrease in inventories
(Increase)/decrease in deferred selling expenses
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables
Increase/(decrease) in deferred revenue
Increase/(decrease) in income taxes payable
Increase/(decrease) in deferred taxes
Increase/(decrease) in provisions

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

48,869

44,479

19,487
(4,900)
1,148
589
113
(2,972)
(1,590)
325
537
–
300

(3,204)
(275)
(382)
8,464
3,009
4,730
253
(2,285)

16,360
–
766
398
–
(2,180)
18
(1,788)
731
(150)
–

(3,609)
(1,478)
(275)
158
2,398
(3,507)
10
841

72,216

53,172

95

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 32: Deed of Cross Guarantee
InvoCare Limited, InvoCare Australia Pty Limited and InvoCare (Singapore) Pty Limited entered into a Deed of Cross Guarantee on 
11 December 2006 under which each company guarantees the debts of the others. Effective from 15 June 2011 Bledone Pty Ltd and 
Bledisloe Australia Pty Ltd became parties to this Deed of Cross Guarantee. By entering into the deed, the wholly-owned entities have been 
relieved from the requirement to prepare a financial report and directors’ report under Class Order 98/1418 (as amended) issued by the 
Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

The above companies represent a “Closed Group” for the purposes of the Class Order, and as there are no other parties to the Deed of 
Cross Guarantee that are controlled by InvoCare Limited, they also represent the “Extended Closed Group”.

Set out below is a consolidated income statement, statement of comprehensive income, summary of movements in consolidated retained 
earnings and balance sheet for the year ended 31 December 2013 of the Closed Group.

(a)  Consolidated income statement, statement of comprehensive income, and a summary of movements in consolidated 
retained profits of the Closed Group

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

323,264
(90,617)
(78,668)
(18,770)
(10,865)
(20,309)
(6,829)
(13,056)

84,150
(15,644)
4,900
(14,683)
606
1,892
(273)
1,943
(300)
217

62,808
(15,809)

46,999

2,140
(3,207)

(1,067)

322,405
(89,599)
(76,149)
(17,743)
(10,891)
(20,105)
(6,914)
(15,327)

85,677
(13,218)
–
(14,859)
704
(18)
(698)
–
–
2,206

59,794
(14,584)

45,210

(2,090)
(824)

(2,914)

45,932

42,296

27,705
46,999
(37,406)

16,885
45,210
(34,390)

37,298

27,705

Consolidated income statement of the Closed Group
Revenue from continuing operations
Finished goods and consumables used
Employee benefits expense
Employee related and on-cost expenses
Advertising and public relations expenses
Occupancy and facilities expenses
Motor vehicle expenses
Other expenses

Depreciation, impairment and amortisation expenses
Reversal of impairment loss
Finance costs
Interest income
Net gain/(loss) on prepaid contracts
Acquisition costs
Inter-segment revenue
Share of net loss of associate
Net gain/(loss) on disposal of non-current assets

Profit before income tax
Income tax expense 

Profit for the year

Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax
Changes in foreign currency translation reserve, net of tax

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

Summary of movements in consolidated retained profits of the Closed Group
Retained profits at the beginning of the financial year
Profit for the year
Dividends paid

Retained profits at the end of the financial year

96

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 32: Deed of Cross Guarantee continued
(b)  Balance sheet of the Closed Group

Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Inventories
Prepaid contract funds under management
Deferred selling costs

Total current assets

Non-current assets
Trade and other receivables
Shares in subsidiaries
Property, plant and equipment
Prepaid contract funds under management
Intangible assets
Deferred selling costs
Equity accounted investments

Total non-current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax liabilities
Prepaid contract liabilities
Deferred revenue
Provisions for employee benefits

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Long-term borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax liabilities
Prepaid contract liabilities
Deferred revenue
Provisions for employee benefits

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Contributed equity
Reserves 
Retained profits/(Accumulated losses)

Total equity

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

3,080
31,996
19,385
28,991
1,039

84,491

12,933
185,477
238,607
328,435
11,048
7,972
4,705

1,139
29,629
19,565
43,630
574

94,537

14,835
164,761
234,395
307,275
47,682
8,035
–

789,177

776,983

873,668

871,520

28,046
1,342
7,666
28,631
6,925
11,883

84,493

29,118
190,870
4,437
24,443
331,041
40,915
1,914

20,957
1,685
3,404
43,326
2,983
11,595

83,950

43,404
201,796
5,798
24,259
311,374
41,779
1,703

622,738

630,113

707,231

714,063

166,437

157,457

132,393
(3,254)
37,298

132,687
(2,935)
27,705

166,437

157,457

97

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Note 33: Events after the Balance Sheet Date
No significant subsequent events have occurred since 31 December 2013. 

Note 34: Related Party Transactions
(a)  Parent entity
The ultimate parent entity within and for the Group is InvoCare Limited.

(b)  Subsidiaries
Interests in subsidiaries are set out in Note 16.

(c)  Directors and key management personnel
Disclosures relating to directors and key management personnel are set out in Note 7.

(d)  Transactions with related parties
Transactions with other related parties
  Contributions to superannuation funds on behalf of employees

2013
$

2012
$

7,091,636

6,468,550

(e)  Guarantees and other matters
Under the terms of common terms deed executed on 20 December 2013, InvoCare Limited and its material wholly-owned entities (the 
“Guarantors”) have individually guaranteed to the financiers the due and punctual payment in full of any liabilities or obligations under the 
debt facilities provided under the terms of individual Facility Agreements. The Guarantors have also indemnified the financiers against any 
loss or damage suffered by the financiers arising from any failure by a borrower or any Guarantor to satisfy the obligations.

Under Australian income tax consolidation legislation, InvoCare Limited assumes responsibility for the income tax payable by the 
consolidated Australian tax group comprising InvoCare Limited and its wholly-owned entities. A Tax Sharing and Funding Agreement (“TSA”) 
between InvoCare Limited and its wholly-owned Australian entities covers the funding, accounting and calculation of the tax liability for 
each individual entity, and also caters for entities joining and exiting the group. In accordance with the terms of the TSA, InvoCare Australia 
Pty Limited makes tax payments on behalf of InvoCare Limited and receives reimbursement through the intercompany loan account for 
amounts paid except for the tax allocated to that entity.

98

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 35: Parent Entity Financial Information
(a)  Summary financial information
The individual financial statements for the parent entity show the following aggregate amounts.

Balance sheet
Current assets
Total assets
Current liabilities
Total liabilities

Shareholders’ equity
Contributed equity
Reserves

Share-based payments

  Hedging reserve – cash flow hedge reserve
Retained earnings

Total shareholders’ equity

Profit for the year after tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

(b)  Contingent liabilities of the parent entity

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

25
372,632
9,529
174,231

71
379,771
4,813
190,665

132,393

132,687

3,142
(4,045)
66,911

2,504
(6,093)
60,008

198,401

189,106

44,311

46,997

41,087

39,612

2013
$’000

2012
$’000

The parent entity had contingent liabilities at 31 December 2013 in respect of bank guarantees given for 
leased premises of controlled entities to a maximum of:

1,221

1,269

No liability was recognised by the parent entity or the consolidated entity in relation to the guarantees as the fair value of the guarantees 
is immaterial.

(c)  Contractual commitments for the acquisition of property, plant or equipment
The parent entity has no contractual commitments for the acquisition of property, plant or equipment at 31 December 2013  
(31 December 2012: Nil).

(d)  Tax consolidation legislation
InvoCare Limited and its wholly-owned Australian controlled entities implemented the tax consolidation legislation from 1 January 2004. 
The accounting policy in relation to this legislation is set out in Note 1(g).

On adoption of the tax consolidation legislation, the entities in the tax consolidated group entered into a tax sharing and funding agreement 
which, in the opinion of the directors, limits the joint and several liability of the wholly-owned entities in the case of a default by the head 
entity InvoCare Limited.

This agreement was updated on 5 June 2007 and provides that the wholly-owned entities will continue to fully compensate InvoCare 
Limited for any current tax payable assumed and be compensated by InvoCare Limited for any current tax receivable and deferred tax 
assets relating to unused tax losses or unused tax credits that are transferred to InvoCare Limited under the tax consolidation legislation.

The amounts receivable or payable under the tax funding agreement are due upon receipt of the funding advice from the head entity, 
which is issued as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year. InvoCare Australia Pty Limited, as permitted by the tax funding 
agreement, acts on behalf of InvoCare Limited for the purpose of meeting its obligations to make tax payments, or receive refunds, and 
reimburses, or is compensated by, that entity through the intercompany loan account for amounts of tax paid, or received, except for the 
tax allocated to that entity.

99

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
Note 36: Economic Dependence
The parent entity depends on dividend and interest income from, and management fees charged to, its controlled entities to source 
the payment of future dividends and fund its operating costs and debt service obligations as borrower under the bank loan facility 
agreements. The parent entity’s financial position is sound, notwithstanding a net current liability situation being shown in the balance 
sheet. Adequate cash resources are available to enable it to meet its obligations as and when they fall due, through either drawing on 
unused finance facilities, which at the reporting date amounted to $35,674,000 as outlined in Note 2(c), or by on-demand repayment of 
intercompany advances.

Note 37: Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of 
future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the 
related actual results. The estimates and assumptions 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.

(i)  Estimated impairment of goodwill
The Group tests annually whether goodwill has suffered any impairment, in accordance with the accounting policy stated in Note 1(p). 
The recoverable amounts of cash generating units have been determined based on value-in-use calculations. These calculations require 
the use of assumptions. Refer to Note 19 for details of these assumptions and the potential impact of changes to the assumptions.

(ii)  Estimated impairment of other non-financial assets and cash generating units
The Group annually considers if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of other non-financial assets or 
cash generating units may not be recoverable. Similarly, at each reporting date, assets or cash generating units that suffered a previous 
impairment are reviewed for possible reversals of the impairment. The recoverable amounts are determined based on value-in-use 
calculations which require the use of assumptions. Refer to Note 18 for details of these assumptions.

(iii) Timing of recognition of deferred plaque and miscellaneous merchandise revenue
Prepaid cemetery/crematorium plaque and miscellaneous merchandise sales are currently brought to account over an assumed 15-year 
period. Unredeemed merchandise sales (included within deferred revenue on the balance sheet) total $39.2 million at 31 December 2013 
(2012: $37.1 million).

The 15-year period is based on the actuarially assessed average period between a customer entering into a prepaid funeral plan and the 
contract becoming at-need. The actual history of a prepaid cemetery/crematorium contract may differ from the profile of a prepaid funeral 
plan; however, in the absence of more specific data being available, the funeral data has been applied.

The average 15-year period is an assumption only and therefore subject to uncertainty. It is possible that there will remain unperformed 
contracts at the end of the 15-year amortisation period, yet all revenue will have been recognised. Offsetting this is the likelihood that 
contracts performed during the 15-year period will have unrecognised revenue.

Actual redemptions information is being collated for a sample of sites in order to determine a more accurate historical pattern of cemetery/
crematorium prepaid sale redemptions. The information collated to date suggests there is no material misstatement of revenue using the 
assumed 15 years period. The impact of recognising revenue over five years less (or five years more) than 15 years would be to increase 
annual revenue by approximately $2.5 million (decrease by $1.2 million).

100

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Note 38: Company Details
InvoCare Limited is a company limited by shares, incorporated and domiciled in Australia.

The registered office and principal place of business of the company is:
Level 4, 153 Walker Street
North Sydney NSW 2060

Note 39: Authorisation of the Financial Report
This financial report was authorised for issue by the directors on 20 February 2014. The Company has the power to amend and reissue 
this report.

101

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Directors’ Declaration

In the directors’ opinion:

(a)  the financial statements and notes set out on pages 51 to 101 are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

(i) 

(ii) 

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

 giving a true and fair view of the Company’s and consolidated entity’s financial position as at 31 December 2013 and of their 
performance for the financial year ended on that date; and

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

(c)   at the date of this declaration, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the members of the Extended Closed Group identified 

in Note 32 will be able to meet any obligations or liabilities to which they are, or may become, subject by virtue of the deed of cross 
guarantee described in Note 32.

Note 1(a) confirms that the financial statements also comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board.

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.

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

Richard Fisher 
Director 

Sydney
20 February 2014

Andrew Smith
Director

102

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INVOCARE LIMITED 

Report on the financial report
We have audited the accompanying financial report of InvoCare Limited (the company), which comprises the balance sheet as 
at 31 December 2013, and the income statement, the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and 
statement of cash flows for the year ended on that date, a summary of significant accounting policies, other explanatory notes and the 
directors’ declaration for the InvoCare Group (the consolidated entity). The consolidated entity comprises 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 1, 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.

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 Auditing 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 judgement, 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 opinions. 

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

Auditor’s opinion
In our opinion:

(a)  the financial report of InvoCare Limited is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

(i) 

(ii) 

 giving a true and fair view of the consolidated entity’s financial position as at 31 December 2013 and of its performance for the 
year ended on that date; and

 complying with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Corporations 
Regulations 2001; and

(b)  the financial report and notes also comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as disclosed in Note 1.

103

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report continued
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INVOCARE LIMITED 

Report on the Remuneration Report
We have audited the remuneration report included in pages 37 to 49 of the directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2013. The 
directors of the company are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the remuneration report in accordance with section 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 InvoCare Limited for the year ended 31 December 2013 complies with section 300A of the 
Corporations Act 2001.

Matters relating to the electronic presentation of the audited financial report
This auditor’s report relates to the financial report and remuneration report of InvoCare Limited (the company) for the year ended 
31 December 2013 included on InvoCare Limited’s website. The company’s directors are responsible for the integrity of the InvoCare 
Limited website. We have not been engaged to report on the integrity of this website. The auditor’s report refers only to the financial 
report and remuneration report named above. It does not provide an opinion on any other information which may have been hyperlinked to/
from the financial report or the remuneration report. If users of this report are concerned with the inherent risks arising from electronic data 
communications they are advised to refer to the hard copy of the audited financial report and remuneration report to confirm the information 
included in the audited financial report and remuneration report presented on this website.

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Brett Entwistle 
Partner 

Sydney
20 February 2014

104

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholder Information

Shares and options as at 27 March 2014

Shares on issue
Options on issue

Distribution of shareholders as at 27 March 2014

1 - 1,000
1,001 - 5,000
5,001 - 10,000
10,001 - 100,000
100,001 and over

Number

110,030,298
Nil

Number of
shareholders

Number of 
shares

Percentage
%

4,974
6,651
1,331
684
38

2,765,593
16,596,592
9,913,974
14,408,100
66,346,039

2.51%
15.08%
9.01%
13.10%
60.30%

13,678

110,030,298

100.00%

There were 180 holders of less than a marketable parcel of ordinary shares (being 46 based on a price of $10.66 on 27 March 2014) who 
hold a total of 2,269 ordinary shares. 

Equity security holders

Largest 20 holders of ordinary shares at 27 March 2014
1.   HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited 
2.   National Nominees Limited 
3.   J P Morgan Nominees Australia Limited 
4.   Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited 
5.   BNP Paribas Nominees Pty Ltd
6.   HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited (NT-Comnwlth Super Corp A/C)
7.    J P Morgan Nominees Australia Limited (Cash Income A/C)
8.   Milton Corporation Limited 
9.   Argo Investments Limited 
10.  Australia Foundation Investment Company Limited
11.   BKI Investment Company Limited 
12.  IVC Employee Share Plan Managers Pty Ltd
13.  Mirrabooka Investments Limited
14.  UBS Wealth Management Australia Nominees Pty Ltd 
15.  Mr Richard Hugh Davis
16.  UCA Growth Fund Limited
17.  Australian United Investment Company Limited
18.  Gwynvill Trading Pty Ltd
19.  AMP Life Limited
20.  Questor Financial Services Limited

Total for top 20

Substantial holders

Substantial holders in the Company as at 27 March 2014 are set out below:
JCP Investment Partners Ltd
National Australia Bank Limited Group
Mondrian Investment Partners Limited
Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Voting rights
The voting rights attaching to each class of security are set out below:

Number of 
shares

Percentage
%

 15,703,932 
 12,798,794 
 9,401,480 
 7,050,076 
 3,033,164 
 2,671,198 
 1,928,260 
 1,836,903 
 1,782,191 
 1,279,043 
 1,019,000 
 1,004,453 
 775,000 
 757,545 
 586,607 
 585,000 
 500,000 
 415,643 
 325,195 
 307,517 

14.27%
11.63%
8.54%
6.41%
2.76%
2.43%
1.75%
1.67%
1.62%
1.16%
0.93%
0.91%
0.70%
0.69%
0.53%
0.53%
0.45%
0.38%
0.30%
0.28%

 63,761,001 

57.95%

Number of 
shares held

Percentage
%

15,618,001
8,967,591
 7,212,371 
 5,564,456 

14.19%
8.15%
6.55%
5.06%

Ordinary shares
On a show of hands, each member present in person and each other person present as a proxy of a member has one vote. On a poll, 
each member present in person has one vote for each fully paid share held by the member and each person present as a proxy of a 
member has one vote for each fully paid share held by the member that the proxy represents.

105

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013 
 
InvoCare Locations

Contemporary – Australia and New Zealand

New South Wales

Queensland

Victoria

South Australia

New Zealand

Other Providers 
Allan Drew Funerals 
(est 1985) 
Castle Hill 
Rouse Hill

Ann Wilson Funerals 
(est 1995) 
Dee Why 
Mona Vale

David Lloyd Funerals 
(est 1885) 
Adamstown 
Belmont 
Beresfield 
Toronto

Casino Funerals 
(est 1930) 
Casino

Economy Value 
Funerals 
All areas

Kevin Geaghan 
Funerals (est 1896) 
Ballina

Liberty Funerals 
(est 1994) 
Chatswood 
Granville

Twin Towns Funerals 
(est 1913) 
Tweed Heads

Universal Chung Wah 
(est 1955) 
Fairfield

William Riley & Sons 
(est 1882) 
Lismore

W N Bull 
(est 1892) 
Newtown 
Parramatta 

Guardian Funeral 
Providers 
Guardian Funerals  
(est 1890) 
Bankstown 
Blacktown 
Bondi Junction 
Burwood 
Campbelltown 
Chatswood 
Cremorne 
Frenchs Forest 
Hurstville 
Leppington 
Lidcombe 
Merrylands 
Minchinbury 
North Ryde 
Parramatta 
Rockdale 
Warrawee

Hansen & Cole 
Funerals  
(est 1936) 
Bulli 
Kembla Grange 
Wollongong

J W Chandler Funerals  
(est 1885)
Richmond 
Windsor

Boland Funerals 
(est 1962) 
Maroubra

Tobin Brothers 
Funerals  
(est 1946) 
Queanbeyan

Australian Capital 
Territory

Tobin Brothers 
Funerals  
(est 1946)
Belconnen 
Kingston 
Tuggeranong

Le Pine including 
Le Pine Heritage 
(est 1891)
Altona 
Box Hill 
Camberwell 
Croydon 
Dandenong 
Eltham 
Ferntree Gully 
Footscray West 
Glen Waverley 
Greensborough 
Healesville 
Ivanhoe 
Kew East 
Lilydale 
Mordialloc 
Oakleigh 
Pakenham 
Thornbury
Le Pine Asian Funerals 
Glen Waverley 
West Footscray
W D Rose (est 1884) 
Brighton  
Burwood  
Cheltenham 
Joseph Allison  
(est 1853) 
Brunswick  
Essendon  
Werribee 
Other Providers
Mulqueen Funerals 
(est 1932)
Coburg
Southern Cross 
(est 1998)
Noble Park
Tuckers Funeral & 
Bereavement Service 
(est 1883)
Geelong West 
Grovedale 
Highton 
Lara
Value Funerals
All areas

Blackwell Funerals
(est 1940)
Aberfoyle Park 
Glenside 
Paradise 
Payneham 
Prospect 
Rosewater 
South Brighton 
Torrensville
Other Providers
Value Funerals
All areas

Tasmania

Turnbull Family 
Funerals (est 1936) 
North Hobart

Western Australia

Purslowe Funerals 
(est 1907) 
Midland 
North Perth 
South Fremantle 
Victoria Park 
Wangara
Other Providers 
Oakwood Funerals 
(est 1999) 
Booragoon 
Rockingham
Chipper Funerals 
(est 1889) 
Mandurah 
Myaree 
Rockingham 
Subiaco
Christian Funerals 
(est 1978) 
Maylands
Value Funerals 
All areas

George Hartnett 
Funerals 
(est 1947) 
Albany Creek 
Cleveland 
Holland Park 
Redcliffe 
Sandgate 
Wynnum
Metropolitan Funerals 
(est 1941)  
Aspley  
Cleveland  
Mt Gravatt  
Petrie  
Redcliffe  
Southport  
Springwood  
Toowong  
Wynnum
Other Providers 
Cannon & Cripps 
(est 1886) 
Kelvin Grove

Drysdale Funerals 
(est 1983) 
Nambour 
Tewantin
Reed & Bottcher 
(Reed est 1869 and 
Bottcher est 1887) 
Ipswich
Somerville Funerals 
(est 1932) 
Nerang 
Robina 
Southport
Value Funerals 
All areas
City Funeral Services  
(est 1959)  
Mackay 
Gatton Funerals  
(est 1983)  
Gatton 
Hiram Philp Funerals 
(est 1903)  
Toowoomba 
Mackay Funerals  
(est 1884)  
Mackay 
Burkin Svendsens  
(est 1884)  
Cairns
Laidley Funeral Services  
(est 1995)  
Laidley
Serenity Funerals  
(est 2001)  
Beaudesert
Beaudesert Funeral 
Services (est 1980)  
Beaudesert

North Island
Forrest Funeral 
Services (est 1978) 
Browns Bay (Auckland)  
Orewa (Auckland) 
Fountain’s Funeral 
Services (est 1956)  
Papakura (Auckland)  
Manurewa (Auckland) 
Sibuns Funeral 
Directors (est 1913)  
Remuera (Auckland) 
Harris Funerals 
(est 1933)  
Northcote
Lychgate Funeral 
Home (est 1876)  
Wellington 
Johnsonville 
Karori
Resthaven Funerals 
(est 2000)
Manurewa 
Howick
Gee & Hickton  
(est 1946) 
Lower Hutt  
Upper Hutt 
Guardian North City 
(est 1966) 
Porirua (Wellington) 
James R Hill 
(est 1965) 
Hamilton 
Pellows Funeral 
Directors (est 1963) 
Hamilton 
Elliotts Funeral 
Services (est 1967) 
Tauranga  
Mt Maunganui  
Kati Kati 
Beth Shan Funeral 
Directors (est 1977) 
Napier 
Cleggs Funeral 
Services (est 1919) 
Hawera 
Vospers (est 1933) 
New Plymouth 
Wairarapa Funeral 
Services (est 1938) 
Masterton
South Island
John Rhind Funeral 
Directors (est 1881) 
Christchurch  
Kaiapoi
Academy Funeral 
Services (est 1982) 
Christchurch
Geoffrey T Sowman 
(est 1869) 
Blenheim
Sowman Memorials 
Blenheim

106

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013New South Wales

Queensland

Victoria

South Australia

Western Australia

Simplicity Funerals (est 1979)

Balgowlah
Bankstown
Bateau Bay
Chatswood
Erina
Hornsby
Liverpool
Mascot
Miranda
Newtown

Penrith
Randwick
Ryde
Smithfield
Toukley East
Tweed Heads
Woy Woy
Wyong

Buranda
Ipswich
Kedron
Logan
Miami
Parkwood
Strathpine
Sunshine Coast

Bayswater
Carnegie
Frankston
Pascoe Vale
Reservoir
Sunshine
Werribee

Black Forest
Brahma Lodge
Enfield
Gawler
Morphett Vale
Victor Harbor

Joondalup
Kelmscott
Osborne Park
Spearwood
Mandurah

New Zealand

Royal Oak 
New Lynn 
Grey Lynn 
Christchurch

New South Wales

Queensland

Victoria

South Australia

Western Australia

White Lady Funerals (est 1987)

Bankstown
Belmont
Bondi Junction
Camden
Charlestown
Charmhaven
Eastwood
Five Dock
Manly
Mayfield
Mosman

Queanbeyan
Rockdale
Roseville
Sutherland
Tweed Heads
Wyoming
Narrabeen
Nelson Bay
Northern Rivers
Pennant Hills
Penrith

Australian Capital 
Territory

Belconnen
Kingston
Tuggeranong

Ashmore 
Cairns
Chelmer 
Clayfield
Kelvin Grove
Morningside
Tanah Merah
Warana

Caulfield South 
Burwood
Doncaster
Epping
Heathmont
Heidelberg
Mornington
North Essendon
Rosebud
South Melbourne

Hillcrest 
Glenside
Plympton

Operating as 
Mareena Purslowe & 
Associates Funerals
Subiaco
Willetton

Tasmania

Hobart

Singapore Casket Company (est 1920)

Simplicity Casket Company (est 2009)

Lavender Street
Mount Vernon

Sin Ming Drive

Singapore

Cemeteries and Crematoria

New South Wales

Queensland

Albany Creek Memorial Park (est 1964)
Allambe Gardens Memorial Park (est 1968)
Great Southern Memorial Gardens (est 1997)
Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens (est 1934)
Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance (est 1966)

Bridgeman Downs
Nerang
Carbrook
Holland Park
Toowoomba

Castlebrook Memorial Park (est 1973)
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (est 1962)
Lake Macquarie Memorial Park (est 1994)
Lakeside Memorial Park (est 1964)
Lung Po Shan Information Centre (est 2000)
Newcastle Memorial Park (est 1936)
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and 
Crematorium (est 1933)
Pinegrove Memorial Park (est 1962)
Po Fook Shan Information Centre (est 2002)
Rookwood Memorial Gardens and  
Crematorium (est 1925)
Tweed Heads Memorial Gardens (est 1971)

Rouse Hill
Leppington
Ryhope
Dapto
Haymarket
Beresfield
North Ryde

Minchinbury
Cabramatta
Rookwood  
Necropolis
Tweed Heads

107

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Glossary

AASB 

ABS 

ACCC 

AGAAP 

AIFRS 

ASX 

Australian Accounting Standards Board

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission

Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

 The Australian equivalents to International Reporting Standards for annual reporting 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 2005 

Australian Securities Exchange which is the operating brand of ASX Limited

ASX Corporate Governance  
Guidelines 

The eight essential corporate governance principles and best practice recommendations  
of the ASX Corporate Governance Council including 2010 amendments

Cemetery 

CGU 

Condolence Lounge 

Constitution 

Crematorium 

Crypts 

DRP 

EBITDA 

EEO 

EPS 

A place for burials and memorialisation

 A cash generating unit which is the smallest identifiable group of assets that independently 
generates cash inflows

 A facility for family and friends to gather at after the funeral service – usually offering 
a catering service

The Constitution of the Company

A place for cremations and memorialisation

Above ground burial facilities

Dividend reinvestment plan

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation

Equal Employment Opportunity

Earnings per share

Funeral Arrangement 

The process in which the funeral service is planned and necessary documentation prepared

Funeral Home 

 The InvoCare location where a funeral can be arranged and where some services 
can be conducted

Memorial or Memorialisation 

The physical marker or tribute to the life of the deceased

Memorial Park 

WH&S 

Operating Earnings 

Prepaid Cemetery and  
Crematorium Services

An InvoCare location offering cremation, burial and memorialisation services

Work Health and Safety

 Earnings before the net gain/(loss) on undelivered prepaid contracts, asset sales gains/ 
(losses), minority interests and any other unusual items as disclosed in the relevant 
reconciliations. 

Cemetery and crematorium services that have been arranged and paid for in advance 

Prepaid Funeral Fund 

 The fund where prepaid funeral monies are held in trust until the funeral service is provided

Volume 

 A term that refers to the number of funeral services, burials and cremations performed

108

INVOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2013Corporate Information

InvoCare Limited
ABN 42 096 437 393

Directors
Richard Fisher (Chairman)
Andrew Smith (Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer)
Christine Clifton (Non-executive Director)
Richard Davis (Non-executive Director)
Aliza Knox (Non-executive Director)
Roger Penman (Non-executive Director)

Company Secretary
Phillip Friery

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of InvoCare Limited will  
be held at the offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers,  
201 Sussex Street, Sydney on 23 May 2014

Registered Office
Level 4, 153 Walker Street 
North Sydney NSW 2060 
Telephone: 02 9978 5200 
Facsimile: 02 9978 5299 
Website: ww w.invocare.com.au

Share Registry
Link Market Services Limited  
Level 12, 680 George Street 
Sydney NSW 2000 
Toll free: 1300 854 911 
Facsimile: 02 9287 0303

Stock Exchange Listing
InvoCare Limited is a company limited by shares  
that is incorporated and domiciled in Australia.

InvoCare Limited’s shares are listed on the  
Australian Securities Exchange only.  
ASX code is IVC

Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers 
Darling Park Tower 2 
201 Sussex Street 
Sydney NSW 1171

Solicitors
Addisons Lawyers  
Level 12  
60 Carrington Street 
Sydney NSW 2000 

Anthony Harper Lawyers 
Level 15, Chorus House 
66 Wyndham Street 
Auckland New Zealand

Bankers
Australia and New Zealand 
Banking Group Limited 
242 Pitt Street 
Sydney NSW 2000

ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited 
ANZ Centre 
23–29 Albert Street 
Auckland New Zealand

Commonwealth Bank of Australia
201 Sussex Street
Sydney NSW 2000

HSBC Bank Australia Limited 
580 George Street 
Sydney NSW 2000

The Hongkong and Shanghai  
Banking Corporation 
1 Queen Street 
Auckland New Zealand

Westpac Banking Corporation 
275 Kent Street 
Sydney NSW 2000

Westpac New Zealand Limited 
16 Takutai Square 
Auckland New Zealand

Printing Specifications

Pages 1–16 are printed on Impress Silk. 
Impress ensures that all virgin pulp is derived from well-managed forests 
and controlled sources. It is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill  
and is Elemental Chlorine Free.

Pages 16–108 are printed on ENVI Uncoated.  
ENVI Recycled 50/50 Uncoated contains 50% recycled fibre. It is made from 
elemental and process chlorine free pulp derived from sustainably managed 
forests and non-controversial sources. ENVI Recycled 50/50 Uncoated is certified 
neutral and Australian Paper is an ISO 14001 accredited mill.

Designed and produced by Precinct

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