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FY2016 Annual Report · K+S
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Annual Report2016Steadfast Group Limited343 insurance brokerages1,146 offices22 underwriting agencies6 complementary businessesOne Vision

2

Scale & Diversity 

Our 20 Year Journey 

Financial Highlights 

Message from the Chairman 

02

04

06

07

Message from the Managing Director & CEO 

08 

Steadfast Network  

Steadfast Underwriting Agencies  

Steadfast Technologies 

Social Awareness  

Board of Directors  

Senior Management Team  

Chief Financial Officer Report  

2016 Financial Report  

10

12

14

16

17

18

20

22

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016 
Scale  
& Diversity

Steadfast benefits from having scale and a diversified business model. 
What unites the Group is one common vision revolving around being 
stronger together. 

Our scale and diversified business 
model spread the earnings risk of 
the Group and place Steadfast in a 
strong position for growth.

Scale
Steadfast is the largest general insurance broker network 
in Australia and New Zealand with 343 broking businesses 
generating annual GWP of $4.5 billion. Our market share 
in Australia is 27% based on GWP and 39% based on the 
number of brokers.

Diversity
The Steadfast Broker Network is well diversified by broker 
size, product and geography. This results in a resilient book 
of premiums and a healthy spread of earnings risk driven 
by sales through the Network and ownership stakes in 
individual brokers. 

By grouping together, our brokers have the benefits of scale 
while running their business individually, whether Steadfast 
has an equity interest in them or not.

Steadfast Underwriting Agencies is the largest underwriting 
agency group in Australia with 22 agencies generating 
annual GWP of $745 million. We are 2.5 times the second 
largest group in Australia.

Our scale has led to better arrangements with insurers as 
well as back office cost savings. Investments in services and 
common IT systems are being made to create further value 
for our underwriting agencies.

What Steadfast Underwriting Agencies brings to the Group 
is diversification of our distribution. We are spreading our 
earnings risk over 22 underwriting agencies who specialise 
in different niche market segments and whose business is 
underwritten by a wide range of insurers.

Common among all our businesses is the desire for Steadfast 
to succeed and follow its vision 'to enhance the value of 
Steadfast-aligned businesses through our combined strength, 
creating exceptional value for our shareholders.'

Market Share in Australia1

FY16 Network Broker GWP

by GWP

by number of brokers

by product

by geography

Steadfast $4.2 b | 27%

Steadfast 307 | 39%

Business Pack 20%

VIC 28%

WA 16%

TAS 2%

Rest of market $11.2 b | 73%

Rest of market 487 | 61%

Commercial Motor 14%

NSW 22%

SA 6%

ACT 1%

Professional Lines 11%

QLD 18%

NZ 6%

NT 1%

Property 10%

Liability 9%

Statutory Covers 8%

Retail Home & Motor 8%

Strata 6%

Rural & Farm 4%

Construction & Engineering 4%

Other 6%

1 Market share based on 2015 Steadfast Network Broker GWP and 2015 GWP placed with APRA authorised general insurers, sources: Steadfast, APRA 

5

2012

$46m

2013

2014

2015

2016

$114m

$145m

$385m

$745m

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Our 20  
Year Journey

Network Brokers

Underwriting Agencies

Complementary Businesses

Steadfast Group

Steadfast was established in 1996 as a collective buying and service group for independent brokers.  
The network quickly grew to become the largest general insurance broking network in Australia. 
In August 2013, Steadfast listed on the ASX to raise funds to become a co-owner and consolidator  
of brokers, underwriting agencies and complementary businesses. 

Twenty years on, we are the largest distribution channel of general insurance products across  
Australia and New Zealand. We are the largest group of underwriting agencies in Australia. Steadfast also  
has a number of complementary businesses that provide our brokers and agencies with exclusive products 
and services such as Steadfast Technologies, Steadfast Life, Steadfast Re, Macquarie Pacific Funding,  
White Outsourcing and Meridian Lawyers. 

Establishment of 
Macquarie Premium 
Funding, a 50% 
owned joint venture 
with Macquarie Bank

Establishment 
of Miramar 
Underwriting 
Agency with a 50% 
ownership position

$3.7b

Network Broker GWP

278

Network Brokers

In preparation for 
the ASX listing, 
bought equity 
interests in three 
insurance broking 
businesses 
(including one from 
New Zealand) and a 
second underwriting 
agency (Pre IPO 
Acquisitions)

Achieved 
nationwide 
representation with 
insurance broker 
businesses across 
all Australian states

43

Steadfast Network 
Brokers

Founded as a 
collective buying 
and service group for 
independent brokers 
in Australia 

1996

1999

2005

2007

2012

PRE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

6

$4.5b

Network Broker GWP

343

Network Brokers

$745m

Underwriting Agencies  
GWP

$4.4b

Network Broker GWP

304

Network Brokers

$385m

Underwriting Agencies GWP

22

Underwriting Agencies

22

Underwriting Agencies

Established hubs in six 
states and merged 25 
entities into eight hubs

Purchased eight Calliden 
underwriting agencies

Raised $300m in equity to 
fund acquisitions, primarily 
the CHU and UAA agencies 

Became the largest 
underwriting agency group 
in Australia 

Reached an ASX market 
capitalisation of 

$1b+

$40m

Steadfast Direct GWP

Developed common 
back office IT systems 
for Steadfast brokers and 
agencies

Launched the Steadfast 
Client Trading Platform

Launched the Steadfast 
Underwriting Agencies 
London 'super' binder 

Reached an ASX market 
capitalisation of

$1.5b+

$4.1b

Network Broker GWP

306

Network Brokers

$145m

Underwriting Agencies GWP

10

Underwriting Agencies

Joined the ASX 200 index

Acquired the second 
largest broker network in 
New Zealand which was 
renamed Steadfast New 
Zealand

Established a referring 
network in Asia

Launched retail product 
offerings through Steadfast 
Direct

Established Steadfast Life 
with a 50% ownership

Established Steadfast 
Re, a 50% owned joint 
venture with the former 
management of the 
Australian & New Zealand 
reinsurance broking business 
of Beach & Associates 
Limited 

ASX  
listed

at an IPO price of $1.15 per 
share, raised $334 million 
and purchased equity 
interests in 59 brokers, 
three agencies and two 
complementary businesses 
(White Outsourcing and 
Meridian Lawyers)  
(IPO Acquisitions)

$3.9b

Network Broker GWP

278

Network Brokers

$114m

Underwriting Agencies GWP

5

Underwriting Agencies

Macquarie Premium 
Funding merged with 
Pacific Premium Funding
to form Macquarie Pacific 
Funding

2013

2014

2015

2016

POST INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

7

Steadfast Group Annual Report 20162016
Financial 
Highlights

Underlying NPAT1

Underlying Cash EPS1

Full Year Dividend

$60m 11.00cps 6.0cps

up 44% year-on-year

up 12% year-on-year

up 20% year-on-year

Underlying Revenue1,2
$460m

up 54% year-on-year

Underlying EBITA1,2
$130m

up 43% year-on-year

Earnings mix

460

299

156

173

$m
500

400

300

200

100

0

$m
150

120

90

60

30

0

130

90

57

62

Insurance broking 43%

Underwriting agencies 45%

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

Complementary businesses 12%

Network Broker GWP
$4.5b

up 4% year-on-year

Underwriting Agenices GWP
$745m

up 94% year-on-year

Network Billings

4.4

4.5

3.9

4.1

$b
5

4

3

2

1

0

$b
800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

745

385

114

145

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

1Adjustments to statutory results outlined on page 20 under ‘Reconciliation of NPATA’.

2FY13 and FY14 consist of underlying pro-forma results.

8

$6b+

Consists of Network Broker and 
Underwriting Agencies GWP 
and fees, plus levies and taxes

Underlying NPAT1

Underlying Cash EPS1

Full Year Dividend

$60m 11.00cps 6.0cps

up 44% year-on-year

up 12% year-on-year

up 20% year-on-year

Underlying Revenue1,2

Underlying EBITA1,2

Earnings mix

$460m

up 54% year-on-year

$130m

up 43% year-on-year

460

299

130

90

156

173

57

62

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

Complementary businesses 12%

Insurance broking 43%

Underwriting agencies 45%

Network Broker GWP

$4.5b

up 4% year-on-year

Underwriting Agenices GWP

$745m

up 94% year-on-year

Network Billings

4.4

4.5

3.9

4.1

745

385

114

145

$6b+

Consists of Network Broker and 

Underwriting Agencies GWP 

and fees, plus levies and taxes

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

$m

150

120

90

60

30

0

$b

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

$m

500

400

300

200

100

0

$b

5

4

3

2

1

0

Message from the Chairman

'Steadfast Group has delivered 
another year of strong growth 
in revenue and profits.' 

This strong performance was against a backdrop of 
continued low growth in the insurance industry. The 
main drivers of our growth in profit were the acquisitions 
we made in FY15, the synergies generated from these 
acquisitions and from our existing businesses, and the 
resilience of our diversified business model.

Shareholders who invested in Steadfast when we listed in 
August 2013 have benefited from a three-year 99% total 
return on their investment (including the final 2016 dividend 
and excluding the further value to shareholders who 
participated in the rights issue). 

Our ASX market capitalisation has now reached over $1.5 
billion largely driven by the strong growth in profits, the 
capital raising last year and our outlook for further growth 
from our ever increasing network of brokers. Pleasingly 
around 23% of the Group is owned by Steadfast Network 
members who continue to share in the benefits of the solid 
growth and premier service provided by Steadfast.

Acquisitions
During the year, we made a number of bolt-on and small 
strategic acquisitions. Most of these acquisitions were in 
insurance broking and included buying new brokers as well 
as larger stakes in existing brokers. A number of acquisition 
opportunities did not materialise as they did not fit our strict 
acquisition criteria based on culture, strategic fit and price.

Network Broker Growth
Gross written premium (GWP) placed by Steadfast Network 
Brokers was $4.5 billion, an increase of 4.2% compared to 
2015 in a flat pricing environment. The growth was driven 
by higher volumes and new Network Brokers. With $4.2 
billion GWP in Australia and $0.3 billion in New Zealand,  
we remain the largest general insurance broker network in 
Australia and a leading network in New Zealand. 

Capital Management
We continue to adopt a prudent approach to capital 
management. The Board has set maximum corporate debt 
at 25% of total shareholders’ equity plus debt and approved 
an additional 5% leverage for subsidiary borrowings.  As 
at year end, the actual corporate gearing ratio was 16.0% 
and the total gearing ratio was 18.4%. Long-term corporate 
debt facilities in place amount to $285 million and year end 
corporate debt was $171m. This leaves us with $114 million 
of capacity for the future, including acquisitions. 

Dividends
Strong growth in profits and cash flow has allowed your 
Board to declare a final 2016 dividend of 3.6 cents per share, 
fully franked. This resulted in a total 2016 dividend of 6.0 
cents per share, fully franked, an increase of 20% year-on-
year. The total 2016 dividend is in line with our target payout 
ratio of between 65% and 85% of net profit after adjusting 
for non-trading items. 

Corporate Governance
Corporate governance remains a key role for your Board. 
This includes a regular review of management performance 
against business plans, especially of our largest 20 
businesses. The Board is pleased to again report that the 
strong corporate governance and risk management in 
place have enabled Steadfast to report no material breaches 
during the year.

Based on market feedback and industry best practice, we 
have made changes to the remuneration structure for our 
senior management team. They relate to both short-term and 
long-term remuneration incentives and better align senior 
management’s interests with the interests of shareholders. 
For further detail on these changes and the rewards for FY16, 
please refer to the Remuneration Report on pages 33 to 52.

Strategy
Steadfast’s strategy continues to revolve around enhancing 
our Network and profits for our shareholders. Covered in 
various sections of this Annual Report are the many new 
initiatives from the Steadfast team to create more value for 
all our brokers and agencies and to grow our revenue and 
improve margins. 

Summary 
I would like thank all those who have contributed to 
the continued growth of Steadfast, including our valued 
employees led by our tireless and highly experienced 
Managing Director & CEO Robert Kelly, our brokers, our 
underwriting agencies, our strategic partners and our end 
customers. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my 
fellow Directors for their strong commitment to governance 
and to their contribution to another successful year.

Frank O’Halloran, AM 
Chairman

9

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Message from the Managing Director & CEO

'Steadfast is uniquely 
positioned to continue to 
outperform as we leverage 
our history, scale and 
diversified businesses into 
2017 and beyond.'

Over the past 20 years, Steadfast has grown to become 
the largest general insurance intermediary in Australia and 
New Zealand. What started out as 43 insurance broking 
businesses joining together to compete against the large 
international players has evolved into 343 with 1,146 offices 
across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and London. 

During that time, we have witnessed a number of insurance 
cycles as well as the global financial crisis in 2007-2009. 
We have also seen new capital entering the insurance 
market which has resulted in lower, and in some cases, 
unsustainable pricing levels and lower profit returns.

Technology has become an important part of our business and 
our lives as it allows us to perform tasks faster, more efficiently 
from anywhere and using many different devices. Furthermore, 
it enables us to collect and analyse data to better service the 
needs of our insurance brokers and end customers.   

Becoming an ASX listed company in August 2013 allowed 
us to participate in the consolidation of the Australian 
insurance broking industry and diversify our business further 
into the underwriting agency space. We now have equity 
ownership in 52 insurance brokers (including 27 hubbed 
or merged brokers), 22 underwriting agencies and six 
complementary businesses.

As we celebrate Steadfast’s 20th anniversary and third year 
as a listed public company, we are proud to have achieved 
another year of record performance.

Financial Performance
In FY16, Steadfast Group reported underlying net profit 
after tax and before amortisation (NPATA) was $82 million, 
up 45% year-on-year and in line with guidance. Growth in 
underlying cash earnings per share was 12% and factored in 
a higher share count from our $300 million equity raising in 
February and March 2015. 

The strong growth was driven by acquisitions made during 
the previous financial year – in particular the Calliden 
and QBE agency acquisitions. These two acquisitions 
transformed Steadfast into the largest underwriting 
agency group in Australia and diversified our earnings mix. 
Underwriting agencies accounted for 45% of our earnings in 
FY16 compared to 18% two years ago.

In light of a flat pricing environment and cost inflation, the 
performance from our existing brokers and agencies was 
solid and reflected their resilience in challenging markets. Our 
complementary businesses faced stronger market pricing 
pressures but continue to enhance the Group through revenue 
and cost synergies for both our brokers and agencies. 

10

Network Broker Growth
In FY16, gross written premium (GWP) from our Network 
Brokers grew by 4.2% to $4.5 billion. The increase was due 
to growth in volumes and new Network Brokers. 

What’s pleasing to see is the continued growth in 
new members as brokers are looking to prosper in an 
increasingly competitive market. Being part of the Steadfast 
Network provides them with access to 160 services, fully 
funded by the Network, as well as market access to our 
strategic partners. For more on the key services we provide 
to our brokers and the Steadfast advantage, refer to pages 
10 and 11.

To further highlight the benefits of being part of Steadfast, 
99 brokers have joined the Network and only one broker 
has left since we went public in August 2013. Over the past 
three years, our Network broker count has increased from 
278 to 343. New members and acquisitions have added to 
the count whilst hubbing has decreased the count but led 
to larger, stronger broker businesses. 

Number of Steadfast Network Brokers
August 2013 – August 2016

31

27

6

1

343

31

37

278

400

375

350

325

300

275

250

225

200

Aug 
2013

New 
Brokers

Allied 
NZ

Insight Hubbing

Sold

Leavers

Aug 
2016

Operational Achievements
During the past three years, and most notably in 2016, we have 
implemented a number of cost savings initiatives including:

 - Created 10 hubs in six states across Australia to create 

back office cost savings;

 - Hubbed or merged 27 Network brokers;

 - Provided back office services for 17 brokers and agencies;

 - Implemented a new general ledger system across head 

office and 16 brokers and agencies;

 - Developed and launched common IT systems for brokers 
(INSIGHT) and agencies (UnderwriterCENTRAL). For more 
on these systems and Steadfast Technologies, please refer 
to pages 14 and 15; and 

 - Increased offshoring of certain non-client facing 
functions including back office, marketing and IT.

We have also introduced a number of revenue-enhancing 
strategic initiatives including:

 - Steadfast Direct, a retail product offering for our brokers 
that includes home, motor and now landlord products. 
As of 30 June 2016, Steadfast Direct has generated $41 
million of GWP;

 - The Steadfast Client Trading Platform, which operates 

on the Steadfast Virtual Underwriter, will deliver 
improved product, service and efficiency with a panel of 
strategically aligned insurer partners; and

 - The Steadfast Underwriting Agencies London 'super' 

binder, which rationalises and consolidates our London 
market placements into a single binder with a select 
number of carriers, co-brokered by JLT and Steadfast Re.

For more information on these last two strategic initiatives, 
which have the potential to generate further upside to our 
Network’s client base and to the Group’s profitability, please 
refer to page 13.

Acquisitions
The FY15 acquisitions were successfully integrated into the 
Group and overall have performed in line with expectations. 
We are extremely pleased with the two large acquisitions 
made in FY15 – the Calliden and the QBE agency 
acquisitions – which are performing ahead of expectations.

In December 2015, we acquired Insight Group, a network 
of brokers across Australia, who were finding it hard to 
compete due to their lack of scale. The 31 Insight brokers 
that joined our network generate annual GWP of $140 
million (excluding pet and life insurance). We also made a 
number of bolt-on acquisitions and bought larger stakes in 
hubs or brokers. This remains part of our organic growth 
strategy as it adds value to our brokers’ businesses and helps 
them with succession planning.

In total, we made 13 acquisitions in FY16 and passed on a 
number of sizeable acquisition opportunities. This was due 
to our strict due diligence process which is based on cultural 
fit, strategic fit and price. We continue to have a strong 
pipeline of acquisition opportunities but are not looking 
to grow short term earnings per share at the expense of 
sustainable returns.

Expanding International Footprint
We continue to expand our international footprint with 
a growing network in New Zealand and an expanding 
presence in Asia. 

1Also refer to key risks on pages 29 to 31.

In New Zealand, we now have 36 brokers and an annual GWP 
of close to $300 million, giving us a 10% share of the general 
insurance intermediary market. Our focus for our Kiwi brokers 
includes strengthening their position with the domestic 
insurers, improving their back office systems, including 
rolling out INSIGHT to the majority of their businesses, and 
supporting them with bolt-on acquisition opportunities.

In Asia, we have co-broking arrangements in place with 11 
brokerages across eight regions and have being liaising with 
regulatory authorities to set up a Steadfast cluster group 
in Singapore. We will continue to explore and develop our 
footprint in Asia as we see this region as an exciting growth 
opportunity in the longer term. 

Concurrently, we are supporting one of our largest 
underwriting agencies, UAA, with its expansion into New 
Zealand and Singapore and future growth opportunities in 
Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Outlook
Based on a continued flat pricing environment and no 
material acquisitions, we expect underlying NPATA of $85 
million to $90 million for FY17.1

We expect the insurance market to start to harden by the 
June 2017 renewal period as insurance companies will be 
forced to address their declining profits and in some cases 
unsustainable pricing. Steadfast will be in a strong position 
to benefit from this cyclical change. 

In the meantime, we continue to benefit from a defensive 
SME customer base and only a 2% exposure to the high-
end corporate market that is more susceptible to pricing 
pressure. We also benefit from a diversified business model 
– well diversified by broker, agency, geographic region 
and product line – and a strategy that includes growth by 
acquisition based on a disciplined due diligence process.

Thank You
Steadfast has grown tremendously over the past 20 years 
and especially since our ASX listing. What hasn’t changed 
is the quality and enthusiasm of the people that work for 
Steadfast. We make things happen by working together 
to make the Network and its stakeholders stronger. We 
continue to treat all our brokers equally, irrespective of their 
size or our stake in them. We also continue to enhance our 
service offering to them based on what they want and are 
always seeking feedback from them through our Town Hall 
meetings, training sessions and at our annual Convention. 
This one vision and one culture has enabled our diverse 
group of businesses to work together and create a leading 
player in the insurance market. 

I would like to thank our employees, senior management 
team, Board members, Network brokers, underwriting 
agencies and strategic partners for their valued contribution 
to Steadfast’s growth and success this year. 

We have accomplished a lot in the past 20 years, but there 
is still so much more to do and I look forward to creating 
further value for Steadfast and its stakeholders. 

Robert Kelly 
Managing Director & CEO

11

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Steadfast 
Network

Steadfast strives toward building a network that is stronger together.  
This involves enhancing the services provided to our Network brokers;  
building and developing relationships with our Strategic Partners;  
and meeting the needs of our end customers. 

Strategic Partners

Network Services

Complementary Businesses

Network Brokers

Customers

Market Access 
Steadfast Network Brokers have 
access to our Strategic Partners (with 
dedicated Steadfast contacts) and 
hence an extensive market of product 
and service providers.

Exclusivity
Our innovative, leading edge products 
and services are only available through 
the Steadfast Network. This exclusivity 
plus Steadfast’s market access gives our 
brokers a real competitive advantage. 

Scale & Strength 
Our 343 brokers located in 1,146 
offices across Australia, New Zealand, 
Singapore and London provide their 
customers with a local presence 
backed by the strength of Steadfast.

12

Customers
Our customers consist mainly of small to medium sized 
businesses who rely on our brokers for their expert advice 
on insurance and risk management.

Steadfast Network Services

Exclusive Policy Wordings 

With broader coverage than standard product offerings 
of the major insurers and underwriting agencies, these 
policies are a unique selling point for Steadfast brokers.

Helplines

Our dedicated helplines are an essential part of the 
ongoing support we provide to our broker network.  
Advice is provided by experts in compliance, contractual 
liability, human resources, industrial relations, legal 
matters, technical insurance issues and technology.

Technology

Steadfast Technologies, our in-house technology service 
arm, provides our brokers and agencies with day-to-day 
IT help and systems maintenance. Our technology team 
of over 50 people also develops and rolls out common IT 
systems tailored to the insurance industry.

Steadfast Triage

Steadfast Triage is a review and appeal process for claims 
and related issues. Working closely with the brokers, we 
help to resolve disputes by working directly with the 
brokers and the insurers. 

Erato Program

This professional indemnity program provides our brokers 
with access to a higher level of cover for errors and 
omissions than they could purchase individually.

Marketing

Steadfast corporate office markets our brand to promote 
the value of the Steadfast Network Brokers to consumers. 
We also help individual brokers with their marketing needs 
in terms of brand development and awareness, broker 
marketing materials and website enhancements.

Steadfast Direct

Steadfast Direct is a competitive retail product offering that 
currently includes home, motor and landlord products, 
available for sale only through Steadfast Network Brokers 
and the Virtual Underwriter. 

Training Networking Events

We provide our brokers with opportunities for business 
development and to broaden their knowledge and skill 
base with training workshops and an on-line training tool, 
‘Steadfast Campus’. Steadfast networking events include 
quarterly Town Hall meetings and the annual Steadfast 
Convention.

Steadfast 2016 Convention

Steadfast’s 18th Convention was held in April 2016 at the 
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Attended by 
over 2,100 people, including brokers from across Australia, 
New Zealand and Asia, it is the largest gathering of 
insurance professionals in Australia.

Complementary Businesses
Steadfast Network Brokers benefit from access to niche 
products and services through our equity ownership in  
22 underwriting agencies and the following 
complementary businesses: a premium funder, a life 
broker, a reinsurance broker, a technology service arm, a 
back office outsourcing company and a legal practice with 
a focus on insurance.

Life

Strategic Partners

Over our 20 year history, Steadfast has built and developed 
strong relationships with a significant number of carefully 
selected insurers, underwriting agencies and premium 
funders – referred to as our Strategic Partners. These 
relationships extend to our brokers, providing them with 
an extensive market of product and service providers.

Major Insurer Partners 

Premium Funders

13

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Steadfast  
Underwriting 
Agencies

Steadfast Underwriting Agencies expands the Group’s footprint in the 
distribution of general insurance in Australia and New Zealand, and provides 
our Network brokers with specialised products in niche market segments. 

Steadfast aims to highlight each agency’s specialised service by preserving its brand and unique offering.  
This is particularly important as around 50% of our agencies’ business is placed with non-Steadfast brokers.

Personal accident and sickness, 
and travel

Complete farm package

Income protection

Home and contents for  
owner-occupied homes

Residential and commercial strata

Specialist/exotic motorcar 
and motorcycle

Emerging risks

Community care, entertainment 
and hospitality, and security

Business interruption focused  
on SME

High-value homes

Building and construction 
industry

Strong focus on SME insurance 
programs

Marine and motorcycle

Professionals including engineers, 
architects and doctors

Specialised equipment, tradesmen 
and small business, and marine 
transit

Property insurance

Builders’ warranty

Sports and leisure-related 
businesses

Hard-to-place risks, exclusive to 
Steadfast Network Brokers

Hard-to-place and complex risks, 
including environmental liability

Mobile plant and equipment

Hospitality, leisure and 
entertainment sector

14

by GWP

by number of brokers

by product

by geography

Steadfast $4.2 b | 27%

Steadfast 307 | 39%

Business Pack 20%

VIC 28%

WA 16%

TAS 2%

Rest of market $11.2 b | 73%

Rest of market 487 | 61%

Commercial Motor 14%

NSW 22%

SA 6%

ACT 1%

Professional Lines 11%

QLD 18%

NZ 6%

NT 1%

Property 10%

Liability 9%

Statutory Covers 8%

Retail Home & Motor 8%

Strata 6%

Rural & Farm 4%

Construction & Engineering 4%

Other 6%

Steadfast entered the underwriting agency market in 2005 with the establishment of Miramar, a joint venture between 
Steadfast and the current CEO of Steadfast Underwriting Agencies, Simon Lightbody. The IPO in August 2013 gave the Group 
the ability to significantly expand its agency portfolio with numerous acquisitions including two transformational ones. In 
December 2014, eight agencies were acquired from Calliden. Four months later, two sizeable market leading agencies were 
purchased from QBE. 

Today, Steadfast Underwriting Agencies is the largest underwriting agency group in Australia  
with 22 agencies generating annual GWP of $745 million.

2012

$46m

2013

2014

2015

2016

$114m

$145m

$385m

$745m

Steadfast Underwriting Agencies (SUA) London 
'Super' Binder
SUA is revolutionising the way it does business by 
consolidating the number of its Lloyd's of London 
syndicates who currently underwrite business for four 
2013
2012
Steadfast Underwriting Agencies.

2014

With the support of Steadfast Group, SUA is rationalising its 
London market placement into a single binder with a select 
number of syndicates and co-brokers, JLT and Steadfast 
Re. This results in a much simpler solution that provides for 
SUA to act on behalf of selected Lloyd's syndicates, giving 
them opportunities to sell more products through Steadfast 
Underwriting Agencies and the Steadfast Network.

OLD ARRANGEMENT

NEW ARRANGEMENT

-  Expensive and inefficient

-  Much simpler solution
-  Substantial cost savings
-  Better access to the  
  Steadfast Network
-  Top and bottom line  
  growth opportunities

30

Syndicates

16

Binders

3

Brokers

Syndicates

6
1

Binder

1

Co-broking solution

Update on Steadfast’s Two Largest Underwriting 
Agencies

In April 2015, Steadfast acquired two large underwriting 
agencies from QBE – CHU Underwriting Agencies (CHU)  
and Underwriting Agencies of Australia (UAA). Both agencies 
have 10 year distribution agreements with QBE (for Australia 
and New Zealand) which give them a great deal of certainty 
when developing their product offering.

2015

2016

Both agencies transitioned well into the Steadfast fold and 
benefit from growth in residential/commercial construction 
and large infrastructure projects. 

CHU Underwriting Agencies 
CHU is a leading residential and commercial strata insurance 
specialist in Australia with over 100,000 schemes across the 
country. 

Under a new leadership team, CHU has expanded the broker 
sales channel which now distributes 52% of GWP compared 
to 39% 16 months ago. GWP distributed through Steadfast 
brokers has expanded almost twofold to 24% over the same 
period. CHU is also expanding geographically into far north 
Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Underwriting Agencies of Australia 
UAA is a leading insurance specialist in mobile plant 
and equipment such as cranes, heavy equipment and 
machinery. Approximately 40% of its GWP is sold through 
Steadfast Network Brokers. Post the acquisition, 10% of the 
company was sold to management so they could share in 
the future growth of UAA.

Since its acquisition, UAA has successfully launched into 
New Zealand. UAA is looking to expand into Asia with 
Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines as the 
next targeted geographies.

15

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Steadfast 
Technologies

At Steadfast, we see technology  
as a competitive advantage for our  
brokers and underwriting agencies.

Steadfast Technologies provides specialised technology 
services to our brokers and underwriting agencies with a 
product suite that includes Steadfast’s Virtual Underwriter, 
INSIGHT and UnderwriterCENTRAL.  

Compared to other industry solutions, we want to:

CAPTURE 
more data

ANALYSE 
more data

DELIVER 
more data faster

We believe investment in these key IT systems enables us to 
own and control the data that flows through these systems.  
By analysing the data, our brokers and agencies have better 
awareness into how to best service their clients.

The diagram below outlines how these three key systems 
work for our brokers, underwriting agencies and the 
Steadfast Group.

INSURERS

STEADFAST  
BROKERS & AGENCIES

STEADFAST  
GROUP

Accounting 
systems

MYOB 
Quick Books 
SAP  
XERO 
Others

Portal

Group  
reporting  
systems

SAP etc.

Broking systems

WinBEAT 
CBS 
eGlobal 
iBAIS 
Others

Agency systems

underwritercentral

TM

CBS 
eGlobal 
iBAIS 
Others

Insurance 
exchange 
platforms

Non-Steadfast 
systems

16

underwritercentral

TM

Virtual marketplace for brokers, 
underwriting agencies and insurers

The Virtual Underwriter lets brokers 
transact with a range of leading 
insurers and provides them with 
insurance quotes on one secure 
platform. They can place new 
business, endorsements, renewals 
and cancellations across a range of 
insurance products using a single 
agreed question set.

The Virtual Underwriter is one of 
the many benefits of being part of 
the Steadfast Network and is funded 
by the Steadfast Group.

Broking platform that provides 
client, policy and claims 
management

Underwriting agency platform that 
provides client, policy and claims 
management

INSIGHT is a cloud-based platform 
with a powerful search engine 
that gives brokers what they need 
to run their business – anytime 
from anywhere. It’s an open 
platform that interfaces with Virtual 
Underwriter.  

The INSIGHT system was launched 
at the 2016 Steadfast Convention 
and generated interest from 99% of 
our brokers. To date, 115 Network 
brokers have signed up to use 
INSIGHT.

UnderwriterCENTRAL was the first 
platform to electronically interface with 
Lloyd’s of London as a market leader in 
design and innovation of solutions for 
underwriting agencies.  It enables rapid 
delivery of insurance products through 
its powerful configuration capability.

UnderwriterCENTRAL is used by 40% of 
Steadfast’s underwriting agencies as well 
as non-Steadfast entities.  

Key advantages

Key advantages

Key advantages

1

Generates and compares 
quotes from different 
insurers without re-
keying data into multiple 
insurers’ systems

Real-time, straight-
through processing 
throughout the full 
policy life cycle

Increased knowledge 
from data analytics

Reduces third party 
vendor costs in the 
value chain

Minimal staff training 
due to user-friendly 
system

Controls, analyses and 
reports all data

Automated data 
recovery and backup

Open to integrate to 
any CRM, accounting 
package or other 
software packages

Turnkey solution for 
underwiting agencies to 
manage client, policy and 
claims 

Supports insurance 
products through its 
powerful configuration 
capability

Built-in document 
management

eCommerce portal capability

17

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016 
Social  
Awareness

Steadfast is conscious of how our end activities affect a range of stakeholders, including 
shareholders, employees, end customers, suppliers and local communities. 
Giving back to our community, promoting workforce diversity and addressing climate 
change are some of the ways we address this. 

Steadfast supports our female employees, and those in 
the industry generally, by sponsoring the Association for 
Women in Insurance. Women in Insurance is a not-for-profit 
organisation whose purpose is to raise the awareness of the 
contribution made by women in the insurance and financial 
services industry and to provide them with a networking 
forum. Furthermore, a number of our female employees 
in senior leadership roles are supported with part-time or 
flexible working hours, which assists in their retention and 
breaking down perceived barriers.

To show our support of women in leadership roles, we 
are a platinum member of Head Over Heels, a non-profit 
organisation whose mission is to increase the representation 
of women entrepreneurs leading high-growth businesses. 
Heads Over Heels works with senior business and 
community leaders to provide senior businesswomen with 
access to strategic networks.

Climate Change
Steadfast is committed to finding solutions for our brokers 
on important issues like climate change. With the help 
of our sustainability ambassador, Tim Jarvis, we are 
researching pragmatic solutions to major environmental 
issues related to climate change and biodiversity loss. Tim 
is an environmental scientist, author, adventurer and public 
speaker with masters degrees in environmental science and 
environmental law. 

At Steadfast’s 2016 Convention, Tim spoke about his 
extraordinary journey recreating the expedition of Sir 
Ernest Shackleton, almost 100 years later. The expedition 
highlighted the deteriorating effects of climate change. 
Drawing on Tim’s experience and knowledge, we plan to 
develop actions that our brokers and agencies can put into 
practice to reduce their climate footprint.

Philanthropy
Steadfast Group and its subsidiaries actively support the 
communities in which we live and work, typically donating 
around one percent of net profit after tax to charitable 
causes each financial year. 

The Group created the Steadfast Foundation to facilitate 
grants and charitable contributions that support charities 
helping people to overcome adversity, with approximately 
$1.3 million raised since 2011. Charities are often chosen 
based on the recommendations of our brokers, and include 
cancer research and support, mental health, surf lifesaving, 
children’s causes and charities supporting the homeless and 
disadvantaged. Robert Kelly, Managing Director & CEO, is 
a director of the Steadfast Foundation as well as a director 
of KidsXpress, a charity that provides therapy programs for 
children affected by emotional trauma. 

In addition to the ongoing activities of the Steadfast 
Foundation, Steadfast Network Brokers help raise funds 
for charities at the annual Steadfast Convention. In 2016, 
Convention attendees raised over $185,000 for Parkinson’s 
Australia. During the past year, Steadfast Group and our 
subsidiaries have donated close to $640,000 to charities. 

White Outsourcing does its part by providing services pro 
bono to two ASX-listed investment companies that channel 
some of their profits to Australian children’s charities – the 
Future Generation Investment Company (ASX:FGX) and the 
Future Generation Global Investment Company (ASX:FGG).

Workforce Diversity
We have a diverse group of people at Steadfast – both at the 
corporate office level and throughout the entities that are 
controlled by our organisation. This is due to the fact that 
we hire and promote on talent, which supports diversity and 
equal opportunity.  

Overall 22% (46% at the corporate office) were born outside 
of Australia including Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, 
South America and New Zealand.  

Our diversity statistics continue to show a high percentage 
of women in the organisation and a healthy percentage 
of women in leadership positions. Women hold 33% of 
management positions in Steadfast-controlled entities, and 
27% in our corporate office.

18

Board of Directors

Frank O’Halloran, AM 
Non-Executive Chairman 
(independent)

Frank had over 35 years’ 
experience at QBE where he 
was Group CEO from 1998 
until 2012. He also worked with 
Coopers & Lybrand for 13 years 
where he started his career as 
a Chartered Accountant. Frank 
was President of the ICA from 
1999 to 2000 and was inducted 
into the International Insurance 
Hall of Fame in 2010. He is the 
Chairman of The Salvation Army 
Territorial Appeal and Fund 
Development Committee.

Robert Kelly
Managing Director & CEO

Robert co-founded Steadfast  
and has over 45 years’ 
experience in the insurance 
industry. He is ranked the 
second most influential person 
in insurance by Insurance News, 
and was awarded the ACORD 
Rainmaker Award in 2014. 
Robert is a Qualified Practising 
Insurance Broker, a Fellow of 
NIBA, a Senior Associate of 
ANZIIF, a Certified Insurance 
Professional and a Graduate 
member of the Australian 
Institute of Company Directors.

David Liddy, AM 
Non-Executive Director 
(independent)

David has 44 years’ experience 
in banking, including postings in 
London and Hong Kong. He was 
Managing Director of Bank of 
Queensland from 2001 to 2011. 
David is currently Chairman of 
Collection House Limited and a 
Director of Emerchants Limited. 
He is a Senior Fellow of the 
Financial Services Institute of 
Australasia and a Fellow of the 
Australian Institute of Company 
Directors.

Anne O’Driscoll 
Non-Executive Director 
(independent)

Anne has over 30 years 
of business experience. 
A Chartered Accountant 
since 1984, she was CFO of 
Genworth Australia from 2009 
to 2012 following more than 
13 years with IAG. Anne is 
on the boards of Infomedia 
Limited, Commonwealth 
Bank’s insurance subsidiaries 
(CommInsure) and MDA 
National Insurance Pty Ltd. She 
is a Fellow of ANZIIF, a Graduate 
member of the Australian 
Institute of Company Directors 
and a graduate of Harvard’s 
Advanced Management 
Program.

Philip Purcell
Non-Executive Director 
(independent)

Philip has 43 years’ experience 
in the insurance and legal 
industries. He has been a partner 
at Dunhill Madden Butler, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal 
and Ebsworth & Ebsworth, and 
has held two board positions with 
GE in Australia. Philip currently 
is a consultant to Norton Rose 
Fulbright, a leading global legal 
practice, and also assists clients 
who are engaged in commercial 
transactions or mediation of 
commercial disputes.

Greg Rynenberg 
Non-Executive Director 
(independent)

Greg has 40 years of experience 
in the insurance broking industry 
with 32 years spent running his 
own business, East West Group. 
East West Group is a Steadfast 
Network Broker not owned by 
Steadfast. Greg is a Qualified 
Practising Insurance Broker, 
Fellow of NIBA and an Associate 
of ANZIIF. He holds an Advanced 
Diploma in Financial Services 
(General Insurance Broking) and 
was named NIBA Queensland 
Broker for 2014.

19

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Senior Management Team

Our senior 
management team 
has proven expertise 
and experience 
across the different 
parts of our business. 
Together we build 
on the strength of 
Steadfast.

Robert Kelly
Managing Director & CEO

Robert co-founded Steadfast  
and has over 45 years’ 
experience in the insurance 
industry. He is ranked the 
second most influential person 
in insurance by Insurance News, 
and was awarded the ACORD 
Rainmaker Award in 2014. 
Robert is a Qualified Practising 
Insurance Broker, a Fellow of 
NIBA, a Senior Associate of 
ANZIIF, a Certified Insurance 
Professional and a Graduate 
member of the Australian 
Institute of Company Directors.

Nick Cook 
Executive General Manager 
Partner & Broker Services

Nick, who joined Steadfast in 
February 2015, had over 12 
years’ experience at Zurich 
Financial Services, including 
three as the Head of Customer 
& Proposition Development 
(where he was responsible 
for the performance of Zurich 
products & propositions in the 
marketplace) and nine years as 
a distribution manager. He is 
an Associate ANZIIF member 
and has graduated from both 
the AGSM Leadership Program 
and the Prosci Organizational 
Change Management Program.

Linda Ellis 
Group Company Secretary  
& Corporate Counsel

Linda joined Steadfast in 
2013. She has over 15 years’ 
experience as a lawyer in 
Sydney and London, including 
at King & Wood Mallesons, 
Atanaskovic Hartnell and Clifford 
Chance. Linda has diverse 
experience in capital markets, 
corporate and commercial law, 
and corporate governance. She 
is a Graduate member of the 
Australian Institute of Company 
Directors, holds a BEC and LLB 
(Hons 1) and is on the board 
of Mosman Church of England 
Preparatory School.

20

Samantha Hollman 
Executive General Manager 
Projects, Brand, People

Sam joined Steadfast in 2000 
and has more than 20 years’ 
experience in the insurance 
industry. She has held key 
roles in broker services, project 
management, and marketing 
and communications. Sam 
works closely with the 
Managing Director & CEO 
and the Board, implementing 
strategic initiatives for the 
Group, including marketing trips 
overseas to review projects on 
an international level. She also 
oversees human resources and 
marketing for the Group.

Adrian Humphreys 
Executive General Manager 
Business Development

Adrian joined Steadfast in 
January 2015 in a new role to 
help brokers grow their business. 
He was previously Managing 
Director of Lloyd’s Australia 
where he grew the business by 
84% to over $2 billion in under 
five years while increasing the 
number of agencies. Adrian 
has over 10 years’ experience 
in insurance, working for both 
Lloyd’s of London and Aon. 
Prior to insurance, he worked at 
KPMG Financial Services.

Stephen Humphrys 
Chief Financial Officer

Stephen joined Steadfast in 
2013 and has over 25 years’ 
experience as a Chartered 
Accountant and extensive 
experience in acquisitions 
and integrations. As Managing 
Director of Moore Stephens 
Sydney for 10 years and 
Chairman of Moore Stephens 
Australasia for three, Stephen 
played a key role in placing 
Moore Stephens into the 
top 10 accounting firms in 
Australia. Stephen is a Fellow 
of the Institute of Chartered 
Accountants.

Simon Lightbody 
Chief Executive Officer  
of Steadfast Underwriting 
Agencies

Simon has worked in the 
insurance industry for 25 years 
in both the UK (at Lloyd’s of 
London) and Australia, including 
nine years within his own 
business, Miramar Underwriting 
Agency (Miramar). Steadfast 
entered into the underwriting 
agency market in 2005 as a 50% 
joint venture partner of Miramar 
and acquired the remaining 
balance in August 2013.

Duncan Ramsay
General Counsel

Duncan began with Steadfast 
in June 2014 after 20 years at 
QBE. He was Group General 
Counsel and Company Secretary 
at QBE. He was also a director or 
secretary of a number of QBE-
controlled entities in Australia. 
Duncan's career commenced 
in 1986 with Freehills in Sydney. 
He holds degrees in commerce 
and law and is a Fellow of ANZIIF 
and the Governance Institute of 
Australia.

Allan Reynolds 
Executive General Manager 
Direct & New Zealand

Allan joined Steadfast in 2002, 
and in April 2015 took on 
the Direct and New Zealand 
portfolios. With a background 
in product development and 
distribution, corporate strategy 
and portfolio management, 
Allan has more than 40 years of 
industry experience in general 
insurance broking. He holds a 
Diploma of Business Studies 
(Insurance), is a Certified 
Insurance Professional and is a 
Fellow, honorary member and 
board member of ANZIIF. 

Peter Roberts 
Executive General Manager 
Integration Synergies

Peter joined Steadfast in 2013 
and focuses on back office 
outsourcing opportunities for the 
Group. He was also Managing 
Director of White Outsourcing 
until stepping down on 30 June 
2016 to concentrate on his role 
at Steadfast. Peter has over 25 
years’ experience in accounting 
and back office services to 
the financial services sector, 
is a member of the Institute 
of Chartered Accountants, 
and commenced his career in 
accounting with KPMG.

Dana Williams 
Chief Operating Officer

Dana joined Steadfast in January 
2014 and was promoted to 
COO in June that year. Her 
focus is on working with 
Steadfast equity brokers to 
improve their operations, as 
well as acquisitions including 
due diligence and integration. 
Dana has 25 years’ business 
experience, including 15 in 
insurance. She has held senior 
roles at Hub International and 
Marsh, holds a Bachelor of 
Engineering and an MBA, and is 
a Certified Public Accountant.

21

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Chief Financial Officer Report

Since the IPO in August 
2013, Steadfast has delivered 
17.5% compound annual 
growth in underlying cash 
earnings per share.

17.5% 
CAGR

11.0

9.79

FY13-FY16 Cash EPS1

11.0

10.0

9.0

8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

7.94

6.77

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

The Group’s FY16 results continue to show strong revenue 
and earnings growth despite a competitive insurance 
pricing environment. This was due to the full year impact of 
significant acquisitions made in FY15 as well as solid organic 
performance from our brokers and agencies, and improved 
efficiencies, particularly in our agencies. Our conversion of 
profits into cash remains high and we ended the year with 
a strong balance sheet with $114 million capacity for future 
activities, including acquisitions. 

Top and Bottom Line Growth
Steadfast has reported significant growth in top line revenue 
and bottom line earnings for the third successive year since 
listing. For the year ended 30 June 2016, top line revenue 
grew by 54% year-on-year to $460 million. Underlying net 
profit after tax and before amortisation (NPATA) rose 45% 
compared to the prior year, to $82 million.

The $82.0 million of underlying NPATA corresponds to 
an 11.0 cents per share of underlying earnings per share, 
which was in line with our earnings guidance (10.8-11.2 
cents per share) and included the full year impact of 
major acquisitions made in December 2014 and April 2015 
(namely the Calliden and QBE agency acquisitions). These 
acquisitions in aggregate have outperformed the original 
acquisition earnings base through a combination of strong 
sales and synergy extraction. 

22

1 Adjusted pro-forma FY13 and FY14; adjusted FY15

Year ended 30 June, 
$million

2016

2015

2014

2013

Revenue

459.5

298.7

173.4

155.9

Underlying EBITA

Underlying NPATA

129.6

82.0

90.4

56.7

62.3

41.2

57.4

35.2

Underlying Cash EPS 
(NPATA per share)

Reconciliation of 
NPATA:

Statutory comprehensive 
income after tax

Amortisation

Statutory NPATA before 
adjusting items

Change in value and sale 
of investments

IPO, due diligence and 
restructure costs

Share-based payment 
expense on share options 
and executive loans and 
shares

Trading of IPO businesses 
pre IPO

Deferred acquisition 
adjustments

Non-recurring 
impairments and 
amortisation

Income tax

Underlying NPATA

Underlying NPATA 
growth

11.00

9.79

7.94

6.77

73.4

21.6

42.1

14.6

25.7

8.8

(13.3)

7.1

95.0

56.7

34.5

(6.2)

(2.2)

(0.6)

(4.0)

-

-

3.3

2.3

13.3

(0.4)

(1.2)

5.3

10.5

-

-

3.1

17.6

(23.9)

(0.9)

13.5

-

82.0

-

(0.6)

56.7

-

-

-

-

-

-

41.2

35.2

45%

38%

17%

n/a

Our strong performance in FY16 adds to our track record 
of earnings growth, as illustrated by the graph below 
showing our earnings before interest expense, taxation and 
amortisation (EBITA) since FY11:

FY11-FY16 EBITA1

$m
150

120

90

60

30

0

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

EBITA pre Corporate Office expenses

EBITA

Improved Profitability
For the past two years, market conditions have been 
particularly competitive due to declining and now flattening 
pricing.  Pleasingly, our businesses were able to grow 
bottom line earnings and extract synergies.  They were also 
able to make astute acquisitions (bolt-ons) to extract further 
benefits of scale, as shown in the chart below, which breaks 
down the components of our EBITA growth for FY16: 

33.6m

1.7m

139.6m

98.8m

1.9m

3.6m

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

FY15 
EBITA 
pre CO

Organic 
excluding 
bolt-ons

Bolt-ons

Acquisitions Hubbing

FY16 
EBITA 
pre CO

High Cash Flow Conversion
During the 2016 financial year, Steadfast converted 102% 
of underlying NPATA into cash flow from operations. This 
strong profit into cash conversion is due to that fact that the 
businesses we invest in usually pay the Group a minimum 
75% of their after tax profit within 45 days of half and full 
year end.  This 75% payout ratio has been exceeded each 
half year.  

Strong Balance Sheet
As at 30 June 2016, we had a strong balance sheet with 
capacity to fund future activities, including acquisitions.  
Our corporate gearing ratio was 16.0%, well below the Board 
approved 25% maximum ratio. The Board has also approved 
an additional 5% leverage for subsidiary borrowing. The total 
gearing ratio was 18.4%. 

Post the $300 million equity raising in March and April 2015, 
Steadfast negotiated new multibank debt facilities in August 
2015 to fund future needs.  The new debt facilities consist  
of a three year ($235 million) tranche and a five year  
($50 million) tranche.  Since 30 June 2016, the three year 
tranche has been extended to August 2019.  At 30 June 
2016, the Company had utilised $171 million of our debt 
facilities, with $114 million available for future drawdowns.

Dividends up 20% Year-on-Year
In August 2016, our Board declared a fully franked final 
dividend of 3.6 cents per share, payable on 14 October 
2016. This, together with our fully franked interim dividend 
of 2.4 cents per share, brings our total dividends for the 
year to 6.0 cents per share.  This is in line with our target 
dividend payout ratio of 65%-85% of net profit after tax (after 
adjusting for non-trading items) and is 20% more than the 
prior year's dividends.

Total Shareholder Return
Steadfast has reported healthy consecutive increases in both 
earning per share and dividends per share since our ASX 
listing at the beginning of August 2013, which have been 
reflected in our share price.  The total shareholder return for 
the three years since IPO (including the final dividend for the 
year ending 30 June 2016, and excluding the further value 
to shareholders who participated in the rights issue) was 
99%, which represents a compound average growth rate of 
26% per annum over the three year period.

Robust Financial Reporting Systems
Steadfast has a robust structure in place to consolidate the 
financial results and manage the financial risks of the Group 
and its entities. This includes effective financial reporting 
systems and efficient Finance, Risk and IT teams. We have 
now centralised the accounting process for approximately 
half of our equity-owned businesses to extract synergies 
that come from one common system. My thanks go out to 
all those behind the financial reporting and analysis process, 
which provides management, the Network, as well as our 
shareholders with the data they need to make informed and 
timely decisions.

Stephen Humphrys 
Chief Financial Officer

1 Adjusted pro-forma FY11-FY13; adjusted FY15-FY16

23

Steadfast Group Annual Report 20162016 Financial Report

Directors’ report

Remuneration report - audited

Lead auditor’s independence declaration

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated statement of profit or loss  
and other comprehensive income

Consolidated statement of financial position

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Consolidated statement of cash flows

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. General information

Note 2.

Significant accounting policies

Note 3. Critical accounting judgements,  

estimates and assumptions

Note 4. Operating segments

Note 5.

Earnings per share

Note 6. Dividends 

Note 7.

Intangible assets and goodwill

Note 8. Borrowings

Note 9. Notes to the statement of changes  

in equity and reserves

Note 10. Business combinations

Note 11. Subsidiaries

Note 12.

Investments in associates

Note 13.

Investment in joint venture

Note 14. Financial instruments

Note 15. Contingencies

Note 16. Commitments

Note 17. Events after the reporting period

Note 18. Profit and loss information

Note 19. Share-based remuneration

Note 20. Taxation

Note 21. Notes to the statement of cash flows

Note 22. Related party transactions

Note 23. Parent entity information 

Note 24. Remuneration of auditors

Directors’ declaration

Independent auditor’s report

24

23

33

53

54

56

58

60

61

61

65

66

68

69

70

72

73

75

78

81

83

84

86

87

87

87

88

90

92

93

95

96

97

98

Directors’ Report

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016

The Directors present their report together with the consolidated financial statements of Steadfast Group Limited (Steadfast or 
the Company) and its subsidiaries, and the Group’s interests in associates and a joint venture (Steadfast Group or the Group) 
for the financial year ended 30 June 2016 (FY16) and the auditor’s report thereon.

DIRECTORS

The Directors of the Company at any time during or since the end of the financial year are as follows.  
Directors were in office for the entire period unless otherwise stated.

Name

CHAIRMAN

Frank O’Halloran, AM

MANAGING DIRECTOR & CEO

Robert Kelly

OTHER DIRECTORS

David Liddy, AM

Anne O’Driscoll

Philip Purcell

Greg Rynenberg

Date of appointment

21 October 2012

18 April 1996

1 January 2013

1 July 2013

1 February 2013

10 August 1998

DIRECTORSHIPS OF OTHER LISTED COMPANIES

Directorships of other listed companies held by the Directors in the three years preceding the end of the financial year are as follows:

Name

Company

Period of directorship

Frank O’Halloran, AM

SubZero Group Limited

December 2013 to June 2016

Robert Kelly

David Liddy, AM

Anne O’Driscoll

Philip Purcell

Greg Rynenberg

None

Collection House Limited

Emerchants Limited

Infomedia Limited

None

None

From March 2012

From April 2012

From December 2014

Particulars of the Directors’ qualifications and experience are set out under Board of Directors on page 17.

COMPANY SECRETARIES

LINDA ELLIS, BEC, LLB (HONS 1), GAICD

Linda Ellis joined the Company in June 2013 as Group Company Secretary & Corporate Counsel. Linda is a lawyer with over 
15 years’ experience. Further details of Linda’s experience are set out under Senior Management Team on page 19.

PETER ROBERTS, BBUS, CA 

Peter Roberts was appointed Company Secretary in May 2013 and has over 25 years’ experience in the fields of chartered 
accountancy and specialised back-office services to the financial services sector. Peter is also Executive General Manager – 
Integration Synergies. Further details of Peter’s experience are set out under Senior Management Team on page 19.

25

Directors’ Report continued

DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS

The number of Directors’ meetings (including meetings of committees of Directors) and number of meetings attended by 
each of the Directors of the Company during the financial year were as follows:

Director

Total number of  
meetings held

Board

6

Audit &  
Risk Committee

Nomination  
Committee

Remuneration & 
Succession Planning 
Committee

4

4

4

Eligible to 
attend as a 
member

Attended 
as a 
member

Eligible to 
attend as  
a member

Attended 
as a  
member

Eligible to 
attend as  
a member

Attended 
as a 
member

Eligible to 
attend as  
a member

Attended  
as a 
member

Frank O’Halloran, AM

Robert Kelly

David Liddy, AM

Anne O’Driscoll

Philip Purcell

Greg Rynenberg

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

4

-

4

4

4

4

4

-

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

-

4

4

4

4

4

-

4

4

4

4

Particular details of the responsibilities of the members of the Board and the various committees are set out in the Corporate 
Governance Statement lodged with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on the same date as this report, and are available 
in the corporate governance section of the Steadfast Investor website (www.investor.steadfast.com.au).

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

The principal activities of the Group during the financial year were the provision of services to Steadfast Network Brokers,  
the distribution of insurance policies via insurance brokerages and underwriting agencies, and related services.

26

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW

A. OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE YEAR

Revenue – consolidated entities

Expenses – consolidated entities

EBITA* – consolidated entities

Share of EBITA from associates and joint venture

EBITA from core operations – pre-corporate expenses

Corporate expenses

EBITA from core operations – post-corporate expenses

Finance costs

Amortisation expense

Profit before income tax before non-trading items

Income tax expense on profit before non-trading items

Profit after income tax before non-trading items

Non-trading items:

   Income

   Expenses

   Income tax benefit on non-trading items

Net profit after income tax for the year 

Non-controlling interests (NCI)

NCI in non-trading items:

   Income

   Income tax benefit on non-trading items

Net profit after income tax attributable to owners of Steadfast 
Group Limited

Other comprehensive income attributable to owners of Steadfast 
Group Limited

Total comprehensive income after income tax attributable to owners of 
Steadfast Group Limited

*  EBITA refers to earnings before interest expense, tax and amortisation.

Note

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

2016
$’000

358,483

(239,124)

119,359

20,683

140,042

(9,951)

130,091

(9,187)

(24,164)

96,740

(28,774)

67,966

27,173

(18,572)

4,551

81,118

(7,519)

(171)

52 

2015
$’000

251,370

(172,962)

78,408

20,357

98,765

(8,396)

90,369

(5,333)

(16,530)

68,506

(20,511)

47,995

3,186

(3,302)

126

48,005

(5,901)

-

-

73,480

42,104

(59)

(1,047)

73,421

41,057

The increase in comprehensive income after tax was mainly due to:

•  full year impact of profits generated from acquisitions in the year ended 30 June 2015, including the acquisition  
of Calliden Group in December 2014 and the acquisition of two underwriting agencies and an insurance broker  
from QBE (‘QBE agencies’) in April 2015;

•  revenue growth derived by our existing businesses as well as cost synergies extracted from acquired entities; and
•  increased marketing and administration fee revenue in Australia and New Zealand.

This additional income was partially offset by:

•  amortisation and financing costs in relation to these acquisitions; and
•  higher income tax expense on the increased scale of operations.

27

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

There were also two major items of a non-trading nature relating to businesses acquired during the year ended 30 June 2015, 
namely:

•  revenue from downwards revised estimates of deferred acquisition payments where earnout arrangements existed; and
•  an impairment of certain intangible assets acquired during that year, including businesses where there were downward 

estimates of deferred acquisition payments.

Refer Note 4 for further details.

Some of the financial data in the table above, namely the EBITA-related and non-trading items, are not disclosed in 
accordance with current Australian Accounting Standards requirements. However, all financial data is based on the 
information disclosed in the audited financial statements and notes to the financial statements of the Group and follow the 
recognition requirements of Australian Accounting Standards.

B. REVIEW OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

I. Financial position

The total assets of the Group as at 30 June 2016 were $1,712.498 million compared to $1,615.507 million as at 30 June 2015. 
The increase was mainly attributable to the addition of assets from acquired businesses throughout the year as detailed in 
Note 10 to the financial statements.

Total liabilities of the Group as at 30 June 2016 were $814.357 million compared to $773.942 million as at 30 June 2015. The 
increase was mainly attributable to:

•  the assumption of liabilities in the books of the newly acquired businesses; and
•  the $40.079 million increase in bank loans, principally to fund acquisitions.

The increase in the Group’s equity from $841.565 million at 30 June 2015 to $898.141 million at 30 June 2016 largely reflects:

•  $8.911 million of new shares issued in relation to the dividend reinvestment plan (DRP); and
•  retention of profits not paid as dividends.

The Group has a multibank syndicated facility that will allow the Group to borrow up to $285.000 million. As at balance date, 
the Group had the ability to borrow an additional $114.072 million from this facility. 

II. Cash from operations

The net inflows of $126.227 million include a net inflow of $42.259 million to broking accounts and net inflows from the 
balance of operating activities of $83.968 million.

The net operating cash flows, before broking trust account movements, of $83.968 million are higher than those for the  
prior period, reflecting the continued growth of the Group. This amount represents the derivation of the profits for the period 
(after removing significant non-cash items), apart from the delayed receipt of dividends from associates, which are contracted 
to be received half-yearly (typically no later than 45 days post December half year end and June year end). 

The net cash inflow from operating activities for the year ended 30 June 2016 was $126.227 million compared  
to $66.999 million for the year ended 30 June 2015. 

III. Capital management 

As at 30 June 2016, the Company had a total of 749.752 million ordinary shares on issue. This is an increase of 6.338 million 
shares since 30 June 2015. The increase is due to DRP participation in October 2015. In April 2016 the DRP was satisfied via  
an on-market purchase of shares.

The Board leverages the Group’s equity, adopting a maximum 25.0% corporate gearing ratio (defined as corporate debt: 
corporate debt and equity). As at 30 June 2016, the Company’s corporate gearing ratio was 16.0% (2015: 14.9%). In recognition 
that subsidiaries may require debt to fund bolt on acquisitions, the Group has limited the extent of subsidiary borrowings to an 
additional 5% leverage. The Group's total gearing ratio at year end was 18.4% (2015: 16.1%). Refer note 9C.

28

STRATEGY AND PROSPECTS

Steadfast’s business strategy is to increase shareholder value through maintaining and growing its market position in the 
provision of insurance distribution and related services, with a core focus on general insurance intermediation. The table 
below details the key strategies of the Group together with FY16 accomplishments and the prospects for future years. Also 
relevant to an assessment of the Company’s prospects is an assessment of risks facing the Company and the industry 
generally, and the risk management strategies in place to address these risks. These are discussed in the next section.

Strategy

FY16 achievements

Prospects and strategic initiatives

Maintain and develop 
premier service offering to 
Network brokers

•  Steadfast Client Trading Platform 

(consolidation of underwriters onto SVU  
with enhanced policy wording) established
•  Continued provision of over 160 services to 
Steadfast Network, including regular town 
hall meetings

•  Steadfast Client Trading Platform rollout 
completed and expanded into further 
products

•  Marketing: brand, marketing solutions, digital, 

content and social selling

•  Steadfast Convention scheduled for April 

•  Steadfast Convention held, the premier event 

2017 in Sydney

in general insurance in Australia
•  National marketing campaigns 
•  Net addition of more than 40 new brokers 
to Steadfast Network, including brokers 
previously in Insight Group

•  Steadfast Direct rollout of three products
•  Steadfast New Zealand Network increased

Maintain, build and 
enhance our strategic 
relationships for the 
benefit of the Network

•  Steadfast Client Trading Platform established
•  Partnership with IAG to expand Steadfast 

Direct

•  Partnerships between underwriting agencies 

and strategic partners enhanced and 
working effectively, including super binder 
(consolidation of underwriters)

•  Further products added to the strategic 

product list

•  New strategic partners added

•  Continue to expand the services offered to 

the Steadfast New Zealand Network

•  Further expansion of Steadfast Direct across 

the Network

•  Continue to expand and refine broker services
•  Continued product development
•  Improving efficiencies and service offerings 
through technology, including continued 
rollout of Insight, further penetration 
of SVU, and further enhancement of 
underwriterCENTRAL

•  Steadfast Client Trading Platform expanded 

into further products

•  Continued promotion of products with 
enhanced policy wording and coverage 
•  Continue to develop new opportunities and 
joint ventures for the benefit of our Network

Improve profitability, 
margin and earnings 
per share (EPS) through 
organic and inorganic 
growth

•  Insight broker back-office system launched
•  UnderwriterCENTRAL underwriting system 

•  Margin improvement through improving 

efficiencies

acquired

•  Deliver synergies with hubs and bolt-on 

•  Continued hubbing in each State including 

acquisitions

bolt-on acquisitions by hubs

•  Further business development initiatives 

across Network

•  Bedding down SAP and refining processes to 

improve efficiencies

•  Rolling out procedures around accounting 
functions more broadly across the Group

•  Bringing more brokers onto back-office 

accounting functions

•  Extraction of cost synergies in the hubs
•  Executed a number of management buy-ins 
(e.g. management acquired 10% of UAA) to 
enhance owner-driver model

•  Back-office services being provided for 17 

equity businesses

•  New general ledger system implemented 

across head office and 16 equity businesses
•  Increased offshoring of certain functions:  
back office, marketing and Information 
Technology (IT) 

•  Integration of Calliden and QBE agencies 

successfully completed

•  Provision of business development initiatives 

across the Network

•  Increased M&A fees, especially in New Zealand

29

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

Strategy

FY16 achievements

Prospects and strategic initiatives

Growth through both 
acquisitions and new 
Network brokers

•  Acquired a number of businesses, including 

bolt-on acquisitions by equity-owned 
businesses

•  Continually assessed potential acquisitions in 

the acquisition pipeline

•  Executed $285m syndicated debt facility to 

provide funding for acquisitions

•  Actively engaging Network brokers as 

potential acquisitions

•  Continue to develop an acquisition pipeline 
and execute acquisitions in accordance 
with strict cultural and financial acquisition 
guidelines, including that acquisitions be 
earnings accretive in first 12 months using a 
75% equity and 25% debt funding assumption

•  Implement management buy-ins to drive 

owner-driver model

•  Attract new Network brokers as we pursue 

strategy of providing premier service offering 
to Network brokers

Complete Steadfast Client 
Trading Platform (SCTP)

Continue to develop 
our London operation 
to support our Network 
including super binder

Expand our international 
connections and footprint

•  Participants in business pack signed off

•  Roll out the SCTP beginning with business 

pack, followed by professional lines and then 
public and product liability

•  Super binder (consolidation of underwriters 
into one) is operational and writing new and 
renewal business

•  Further expand and develop super binder
•  Expand London office capability
•  Expand use of Steadfast Re placement services 

into London

•  Steadfast Asia Network (co-broking of risks 

that are referred from Australia) in place with 
11 Asian brokerages across 8 regions

•  Explore and develop our international footprint
•  Build our Network in Asia
•  Continue to consider acquisitions of Asian 

•  Extensive liaison with regulatory authorities  

brokerages

Enhance our 
organisational 
sustainability

to set up Steadfast cluster in Singapore

•  Licensing in Singapore by UAA

•  Continued provision of technology solutions 
that support strategies, e.g. development of 
Insight 

•  Ongoing improvements in risk management 
and governance policies and procedures

•  Formalised succession planning for key roles 

in equity-owned businesses

•  Brand kept reputable and strong
•  Brand awareness grown and initiatives executed
•  Strong, dynamic, ethical culture continues
•  Various initiatives executed to engage 

workforce to ensure quality people driving 
business performance and supporting diversity
•  Business conducted in accordance with budget

•  Underlying business expansion into Asia

•  Continue HR initiatives for a high performance 

culture

•  Continue to provide technology solutions 
that support key strategies and ongoing 
sustainability

•  Continue to implement good practice 
corporate governance, including risk 
management

•  Continue to conduct business in accordance 

with the budget approved by the Board

•  Continue to support strong, dynamic, ethical 

culture

30

RISKS

In seeking to achieve its strategic goals, Steadfast is subject to a number of risks that may materially and adversely affect 
operating and financial performance. Steadfast adopts a rigorous risk management process that is an integral part  
of the Company’s corporate governance structure, but some risks are outside the Group’s control. Some of the key risks  
(in no particular order) include: 

Risk

Description

Risk management strategies

Acquiring and holding 
equity in operating 
businesses

•  Insufficient funding to capitalise on 

•  Ongoing monitoring of available capital  

opportunities

and resources 

•  Deficiencies in due diligence by Steadfast
•  Transition to new owners may be disruptive 

and costly

•  Potential unknown or contingent liabilities
•  Reliance on partners performing satisfactorily

People risk

•  Loss of key executives
•  Loss of key individuals in operating businesses 
with consequential material business interruption

•  Potential loss of key customer relationships

Investment  
impairment risk

•  Investments that are subject to  
a permanent decrease in value 

Reduction in rates 
for marketing and 
administration fees, 
commission rates or 
advice fees

•  Investment write down or impairment results 

in an expense for the Group

•  Strategic partners may seek to reduce rates  

of M&A fees paid to Steadfast

•  Insurers may seek to reduce rates of 

commission paid to brokers

•  Stringent due diligence
•  Selecting acquisitions that are expected to 
transition well and have a good cultural fit

•  Tight acquisition and shareholders’ 

agreements

•  Thorough transition management
•  Close oversight and audit of ongoing 
operations, profit margins, including 
continual reporting and reviews

•  Ongoing monitoring of profit and margins
•  Business continuity planning

•  Succession planning
•  Appropriate restraints to protect ongoing 

business

•  Market-competitive remuneration
•  Career development opportunities

•  Close monitoring of investments
•  Steadfast works with management of 

businesses in which Steadfast is invested,  
to optimise results

•  Diversity of earnings via a number of revenue 
sources, e.g. M&A fees, profits from operating 
businesses derived from commission and 
other revenue

•  Continue to engage strategic partners and 

offer a powerful value proposition to them to 
justify the M&A fees and commission rates
•  Operating businesses seek to increase fees to 
mitigate any loss of commission arising from 
reduced premiums

Fraud or embezzlement  
of Group or client funds

•  Fraud in operating businesses where Steadfast 
does not control the day-to-day operations

•  Appropriate policies and procedures 
implemented and regularly reviewed

•  Fidelity insurance held
•  Implement Insight broker system improving 
day-to-day visibility for brokers, and system 
controls and audit trails

Loss of Steadfast  
Network Brokers

•  Network brokers can leave the Steadfast 

Network at any time, potentially resulting in a 
reduction in M&A fees for Steadfast

•  Provision of excellent services and greater 
benefits to Steadfast Network Brokers than 
those provided by our competitors

•  Continue to share M&A fees in the form of 
Network broker rebates with members, and 
negotiate higher commission rates

•  Considerable ongoing engagement with 
Network brokers, including seeking and 
addressing feedback

31

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

Risk

Description

Risk management strategies

Loss of underwriter for 
Insurance Underwriting 
Agencies

•  Risk that the underwriter withdraws capacity 
for strategic reasons (exit of lines of business 
or country exit)

•  Risk that an underwriter withdraws due to 

uneconomic underwriting results
•  Loss of third party broker support

•  Long-standing delivery of attractive results to 

underwriters 

•  Long-standing strong relationships with both 
incumbent underwriters and/or alternative 
capacity

•  Steadfast Underwriting Agencies (SUA) results 
and classes of business written are not in the 
volatile classes that underwriters historically 
enter and exit 

•  Replacement capacity available for profitable 

portfolios

•  Establishment of London super binder will 
provide better access to deeper insurance 
markets

Reliance on strategic 
partners

Increased competition  
or market change

•  Potential reduction in M&A fees (and 

•  Significant effort expended in maintaining 

commission due to lower gross written 
premium (GWP)) if strategic partners are lost 
and not replaced within appropriate timeframe

and strengthening relationships with strategic 
partners of which most are longstanding
•  Continually adding new strategic partners

•  Increased competition from new entrants 
and existing market participants, including 
increased commoditisation of business 
insurance products

•  Diversity in investments (i.e. portfolio of 

underwriting agencies, premium funding and 
complementary services as well as insurance 
broking)

•  Changes in the remuneration model for 

insurance brokers or underwriting agencies
•  Increased competition or change in market 

•  Diversity in earnings (e.g. M&A fees, Steadfast 
Direct as well as profits from investments)
•  Geographical spread of the businesses of 

structure for premium funding

subsidiaries and associates

•  More customers buying direct from insurers 

through the internet

Information technology 
(IT) systems risk

•  Risk of data loss/fraud, system breakdown
•  Potential material adverse effect on ability  

to deliver services and profitability

•  Implementation risk for the Insight system  

into our businesses

•  Backup, restoration and recovery procedures
•  IT security guidelines implemented
•  IT risk assessment program and other procedures
•  Experienced personnel and controlled rollout 
with monitoring, management and continual 
improvement in our rollout process

Reduction in gross 
written premium (GWP) 
in the Australian and New 
Zealand general insurance 
markets

•  Group has a number of revenue sources 

•  Initiatives to increase the size of the Steadfast 

linked to size and growth of GWP in Australian 
and New Zealand markets

•  GWP is influenced by factors, including pricing 
decisions by insurers and level of demand for 
general insurance products (which can be 
influenced by economic conditions)

Network, make further investments in 
insurance brokers and underwriting agencies, 
and other strategic initiatives (including 
increasing fee income) have the capacity to 
partially offset pressure on profitability of any 
softening in GWP

•  Any softening in local and global economic 
conditions would be expected to lead to a 
softening in the level of GWP

•  SME sector, which accounts for 85%+ of 
Steadfast’s total GWP sold through the 
Steadfast Network, has historically experienced 
higher growth in GWP with less volatility 
compared to the large corporate sector

•  Growth in other markets, e.g. Steadfast Direct 

and Asia

32

Risk

Description

Risk management strategies

Regulatory risk

•  Risk that Steadfast’s subsidiaries and 

•  Initial due diligence on acquisition includes 

associates may individually not comply with 
their Australian Financial Services Licence 
requirements or financial services regulation 
more generally, and their licence may be in 
the worst case suspended or withdrawn
•  Risk that regulatory changes may affect 

reviews of historical and current compliance. 
Steadfast also provides a range of services to 
advise and assist the entities within the Group 
with regulatory change and compliance
•  Continue to monitor the entities within the 

Group from an operations viewpoint

the Group’s or entities within the Group’s 
business model through costly and 
burdensome regulations; or the structure and 
management of the operations; or through 
changes to remuneration arrangements

•  An ongoing internal audit program, which 

includes a review of compliance

•  Along with other broker representative 
organisations, the Group monitors and 
consults on regulatory changes with the 
regulators to ensure changes are introduced 
in the most efficient way for the industry, and 
to minimise unintended consequences

DIVIDENDS

Details of dividends paid or declared by the Company are set out in Note 6 to the accounts.

During the financial year ended 30 June 2016, a final dividend for 2015 of 3.0 cents per share and an interim dividend for 2016 
of 2.4 cents per share were declared and paid, both fully franked.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE STATE OF AFFAIRS

There were no significant changes in the state of affairs of the Group. The Group continued to acquire insurance 
intermediaries during the year. 

EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO REPORTING DATE

Subsequent to 30 June 2016, the Board declared a final dividend of 3.6 cents per share, 100% franked. Further details are set 
out in Note 17 to the accounts.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

The Group’s operations are not subject to any particular significant environmental regulations under a law of the 
Commonwealth or of a State or Territory legislation.

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE OF OFFICERS

The Company has entered into deeds of access, insurance and indemnity, with each Director and officer, which contain rights 
of access to certain books and records of the Company for a period of seven years after the Director or officer ceases to hold 
office. This seven-year period can be extended where certain proceedings or investigations commence before the seven-year 
period expires. 

In respect of the indemnity of the Directors and officers, the Company is required, pursuant to the constitution, to indemnify 
all Directors and officers, past and present, against all liabilities allowed under law. Under the deed of access, insurance and 
indemnity, the Company indemnifies parties against all liabilities to another person that may arise from their position as a 
Director or an officer of the Company or its subsidiaries to the extent permitted by law. The deed stipulates that the Company 
will meet the full amount of any such liabilities, including reasonable legal costs and expenses. 

The Company may arrange and maintain Directors’ and officers’ insurance for its Directors and officers to the extent permitted 
by law. Under the deeds of access, insurance and indemnity, the Company must obtain such insurance during each Director’s 
and officer’s period of office and for a period of seven years after a Director or an officer ceases to hold office. This seven-year 
period can be extended where certain proceedings or investigations commence before the seven-year period expires.

Disclosure of the insurance premiums and the nature of liabilities covered by such insurance are prohibited by the relevant 
contracts of insurance.

33

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

NON-AUDIT SERVICES

During the financial year, KPMG, the Group’s auditor, has performed certain other services in addition to their statutory duties.

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

•  all non-audit services were subject to the corporate governance procedures adopted by the Group, and have been 
reviewed by the Audit & Risk Committee to ensure they do not affect the integrity and objectivity of the auditor; and
•  the non-audit services provided do not undermine the general principles relating to auditor independence as set out in 

APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, as they did not involve reviewing or auditing the auditor’s own work, 
acting in a management or decision-making capacity for the Group, acting as an advocate for the Group or jointly sharing 
risks and rewards. 

Details of the amounts paid to the auditor of the Group, KPMG and its network firms, for audit and non-audit services provided 
during the financial year are provided in Note 24 to the financial statements.

LEAD AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION

The lead auditor’s independence declaration is set out on page 53 and forms part of the Directors’ Report for the year ended 
30 June 2016.

34

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016

Remuneration Report

1. 

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Key management personnel 

2.

REMUNERATION OUTCOMES FOR 2016

2.1

Link between Steadfast’s performance  
and remuneration

2.2 Maximum potential and actual STI and LTI outcomes

2.3 Maximum potential and actual remuneration mix

3.

2016 REMUNERATION EXPLAINED

3.1 Remuneration framework

3.2 Fixed remuneration

3.3

Short term incentives

3.4 Long term incentives

3.5 Keeping executives’ and shareholders’ interest aligned

4. 

REMUNERATION IN DETAIL 

4.1

Statutory remuneration disclosure

4.2 Conditional rights

4.3

Executive service agreements

5.  NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REMUNERATION

5.1

Fee structure and policy

5.2 Minimum shareholding requirement

5.3 Remuneration details for non-executive directors

6.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

6.1 Remuneration governance

6.2 Valuation of conditional rights

6.3

Shareholdings

6.4 Executive loans

6.5 Related party transactions

34

34

35

35

36

37

38

39

41

41

43

44

44

44

46

46

47

47

47

48

49

49

49

50

50

52

35

Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration Report - Audited

1. INTRODUCTION

The Remuneration Report outlines Steadfast’s remuneration philosophy, framework and outcomes for the financial year ended 
30 June 2016 (FY16) for all key management personnel (KMP), including all Non-executive Directors and the Executive Team 
made up of the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) and certain direct reports. KMP are those persons 
having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the entity, directly and indirectly.

1.1 Key management personnel

The current KMP of the Group for the entire financial year unless otherwise stated, are as follows:

Name

Role

Date of appointment

Non-executive Directors

Frank O’Halloran, AM(a)(d)

Chairman, Non-executive Director

21 October 2012

David Liddy, AM(b)(d)

Anne O’Driscoll(c)(d)

Philip Purcell(d)

Greg Rynenberg(d)

Executive Director

Robert Kelly 

Other key management

Stephen Humphrys

Dana Williams

Simon Lightbody

Allan Reynolds 

Samantha Hollman

Non-executive Director

Non-executive Director

Non-executive Director

Non-executive Director

1 January 2013

1 July 2013

1 February 2013

10 August 1998

Managing Director & CEO

18 April 1996

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Operating Officer

2 January 2013

28 January 2014

CEO, Steadfast Underwriting Agencies 

1 January 2015(e)

Executive General Manager  
– Direct & New Zealand

Executive General Manager  
– Project, Brand, People

5 December 2002

4 January 2000

Linda Ellis (Group Company Secretary & Corporate Counsel) and Peter Roberts (Executive General Manager – Integration 
Synergies) ceased to be KMP on 1 July 2015

Table notes:

(a)  Frank O’Halloran is Chairman of the Nomination Committee.

(b)  David Liddy is Chairman of the Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee.

(c)  Anne O’Driscoll is Chairman of the Audit & Risk Committee.

(d)  All Non-executive Directors listed in the table above are independent directors.

(e)  Simon Lightbody commenced as a KMP on 1 July 2015. 

36

 
2. REMUNERATION OUTCOMES FOR 2016

The following table outlines the returns the Group delivered to its shareholders. The Company experienced significant 
development and transformation to facilitate its successful listing on the ASX in August 2013. As a result, historical analysis of 
financial performance for the financial years prior to 2014 does not provide meaningful comparative information to the users 
of this report.

2.1 Link between Steadfast’s performance and remuneration

EPS is used to determine incentives payable (if any) to the Executive Team. An explanation as to why this measure has been 
chosen is included in Section 3.1.1. That section also explains changes for FY16 and FY17.

The EPS used for determining short-term incentives (STI) and long-term incentives (LTI) for FY16 excludes non-trading income 
and expenses approved by the Board. This is consistent with the FY15 underlying EPS used as the base for determining FY15’s 
STI and LTI awards. 

Net profit/(loss) attributable to owners  
of the Company ($’000)

6,174

(13,437)*

25,087

42,104

72,529

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

*  The adjusted earnings for 2013 were $7.075 million after adjusting for non-trading items.

The reconciliation on the reported EPS to the adjusted EPS used for STI and LTI is as follows:

Reported net profit attributable to owners of the Company 

Less: non-trading income (Note 4 (iv))

Add: non-trading expenses (Note 4 (v))

Add: July 2013 trading results, pre-tax

Less: non-trading tax benefit

2014(a)
$’000 

25,087

(3,996)

8,562

4,507

(1,738)

2015(b)
$’000

42,104

(3,186)

3,302

-

(126)

Adjusted pro forma net profit attributable to owners of the Company 

32,422

42,094

2016
$’000

73,480

(27,002)

18,572

-

(4,603)

60,447

Adjusted pro forma diluted EPS (cents per share)

6.22 cents

7.24 cents

 8.09 cents

Growth from prior financial year (%)

Growth required for maximum STI (%)

UBS EPS growth for industrial companies (%)(c)

UBS EPS growth for finance sector (%)(c)

Notes:

19.1%

15.0%

7.4%

8.3%

16.4%

15.0%

5.8%

3.6%

11.8%

15.0%

-0.5%

-1.3%

(a)  The 2014 adjusted pro forma net profit attributable to owners of the Company reflected the full 12 months’ operations  

of the Group. 

(b)  The diluted EPS is adjusted for the bonus element of the rights issue completed in March 2015.

(c)  Data sourced from Australian Equity Strategy report published by UBS on 16 June 2016. Figures shown for 2016 are estimates.

37

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

Pro forma diluted EPS (cents per share): 

The graph below shows the base, minimum, maximum and actual pro forma diluted EPS (cents per share) used for 
determining STI and LTI for the financial years ended 30 June 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The base EPS is the diluted EPS achieved in the prior financial year and is used as the basis for calculating growth for the 
following financial year. The minimum growth requirement to award any STI is 5% against the base EPS, and maximum STI is 
awarded if the diluted EPS growth is 15% or more. 

8.09

7.24

6.22

5.22

PF FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

Base

Min 5%

Max 15%

Actual

2.2 Maximum potential and actual STI and LTI outcomes

The CEO’s performance against his annual key performance indicators (KPIs) set at the beginning of FY16 is set out below:

FY16 performance measures

Weighting %

Achieved %

Comments

•  Achieving pro forma diluted EPS growth 
of 10% or more against the FY15 pro 
forma diluted EPS of 7.24 cents

•  Improving margins from broking and 

underwriting agency businesses

•  Improving performance from major hubs

•  Successful integration of acquisitions 
including Calliden, UAA and CHU

•  Achieving targets for Steadfast Direct

•  Empowering executives including 

developing the COO for Network brokers

•  Succession planning implementation

•  Successful implementation of new 

technology for back-office efficiencies

20

20

10

20

10

5

10

5

100

20

11.8% EPS growth achieved

10

Broking margin down slightly due to pricing. 
Underwriting agency margin significantly 
improved

7 Major hubs improved performance

20

Successfully integrated

5

Successfully implemented, but premium 
income below plan largely due to change in 
underwriters

5

All executives appropriately empowered

Successfully implemented for all key roles

Successful development, but implementation 
delayed due to issues beyond management 
control

10

3

80

60% of the KPIs have to be achieved before any individual payments are made. The above scorecard shows more than 60% of 
KPIs were achieved.

38

8.09

7.24

6.22

5.22

PF FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

Base

Min 5%

Max 15%

Actual

The table below provides details of maximum potential STI and LTI, and actual STI and LTI awarded to KMP.

STI – 
deferred 
equity 
award 
outcome
(40% of 
outcome)
($)(b)

STI –  
cash 
outcome
(60% of 
outcome)
($)

Maximum 
STI potential
(% of  
fixed pay)

Actual STI 
outcome(a)
(% of  
fixed pay)

150%

100%

75%

50%

50%

50%

110%

574,200

382,800

76%

59%

42%

42%

42%

228,000

152,000

159,300

106,200

110,680

90,720

75,600

73,787

60,480

50,400

Fixed pay
($)

870,000

500,000

450,000

439,205

360,000

300,000

Maximum 
LTI  
potential
(% of  
fixed pay)

Actual LTI 
outcome(a)
(% of  
fixed pay)

50%

50%

50%

35%

50%

35%

50%

50%

50%

35%

50%

35%

LTI – 
deferred 
equity 
award 
outcome
($)(b)

435,000

250,000

225,000

153,722

180,000

105,000

Robert Kelly

Stephen Humphrys

Dana Williams

Simon Lightbody

Allan Reynolds 

Samantha Hollman

Table notes

(a)  All participants of the FY16 STI and LTI schemes have exceeded the 60% performance hurdle and therefore are eligible

(b)  The number of conditional rights to be granted to the Executive Team has been determined by the dollar value of deferred 
equity award (DEA) outcome divided by the weighted average share price over the five trading days prior to the date of this 
report. The LTI award outcome is subject to meeting future financial hurdles detailed in Section 3.4.

2.3 Maximum potential and actual remuneration mix

Fixed remuneration

At risk

STI – cash 

STI – deferred*

LTI*

Total at risk

Maximum potential

FY16 actual

MD & CEO
%

Other executives
%

MD & CEO
%

Other executives
%

33%

30%

20%

17%

67%

100%

40–54%

15–24%

10–16%

19–25%

46–60%

100%

33%

22%

15%

17%

54%

87%

40–54%

13–18%

8–12%

19–25%

42–50%

90–96%

*  During the year, there was no vesting of STI or LTI deferred rights. Deferred rights granted are subject to vesting conditions 

being met in the future.

39

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

Targeted maximum remuneration mix for FY16

Robert Kelly

Stephen Humphrys

Dana Williams

Simon Lightbody

Allan Reynolds

Samantha Hollman

33%

40%

30%

24%

20%

16%

45%

20%

13%

54%

16%

11%

50%

15%

10%

54%

16%

11%

17%

20%

22%

19%

25%

19%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Fixed remuneration

At risk - STI cash

At risk - STI deferred

At risk - LTI

Vesting conditions on the STI and LTI plans are as detailed below:

STI

LTI

Vesting conditions

•  Tenure of employment
•  Achieve at least 60% of the annual 

•  Tenure of employment
•  Vesting in accordance with table in 

performance objectives

Section 3.1.1

•  No material adverse deterioration of 
diluted EPS over the retention period

Should all vesting conditions be met, the deferred rights will convert to Steadfast ordinary shares over the following years 
(refer to Section 6.2 for the vesting date of the deferred rights):

August 2016

August 2017

August 2018

August 2019

FY14

FY15

FY16

STI

LTI

STI

LTI

STI

LTI

Vesting occurs 3 years after grant date

Vesting occurs 5 years after grant date

Vesting occurs in three equal tranches after 1, 2, and 3 years from grant date

3. 2016 REMUNERATION EXPLAINED

The listing of the Company necessitated the introduction of a remuneration structure which aligns with the current ASX 
Corporate Governance Practice and which commenced from 1 July 2013.

The Group aims to reward executives with a level of remuneration commensurate with their responsibilities and position 
within the Group and their ability to influence shareholder value creation. The incentive schemes are designed to encourage 
participants to strive to outperform the market (refer to table 2.1 above for EPS growth comparison against the finance sector 
and market).

40

Robert Kelly

Stephen Humphrys

Dana Williams

Simon Lightbody

Allan Reynolds

Samantha Hollman

33%

40%

30%

24%

20%

16%

45%

20%

13%

54%

16%

11%

50%

15%

10%

54%

16%

11%

17%

20%

22%

19%

25%

19%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Fixed remuneration

At risk - STI cash

At risk - STI deferred

At risk - LTI

The remuneration framework links rewards with the strategic goals and performance of the individual and the Group, and 
provides a market competitive mix of both fixed and variable rewards. To retain and attract high calibre employees, the Group 
has adopted an approach to position fixed remuneration and total remuneration at the 75th percentile. Key Performance 
Indicators (KPIs) together with weightings are established for each individual and are aligned to the Group’s strategic objectives.

The key elements of the executive remuneration are:

•  fixed remuneration consisting of cash salary, superannuation and non-monetary benefits (Section 3.2);
•  an annual incentive referred to as short-term incentive (STI) plan (Section 3.3); and
•  a long-term incentive referred to as long-term incentive (LTI) plan (Section 3.4).

Refer Section 2.3 for targeted maximum remuneration mix.

3.1 Remuneration framework

The objective of the Group’s executive remuneration framework is to ensure reward for performance is competitive and 
appropriate for the results delivered. The framework aligns executive reward with achievement of strategic objectives and the 
creation of value for shareholders and conforms to market practice for delivery of remuneration. Our incentive schemes are 
designed to incentivise performance that is better than market.

The Board embodies the following principles in its remuneration framework:

•  a performance based reward structure;
•  competitive and reasonable rewards to attract and retain high calibre executives;
•  strong links between executive rewards and shareholder value;
•  a significant proportion of executive remuneration is at risk, and is linked to achievement of pre-determined individual KPIs 

and financial performance targets; and

•  transparent reward structures.

3.1.1 Target remuneration mix

The Board believes that the fundamental driver for executive remuneration should be long-term financial performance that 
generates value for Steadfast shareholders. The at risk (or variable) remuneration components of the Executive Team are 
set by referencing regulation and current market practices. To ensure the Executive Team remain focused on long-term 
outcomes without encouraging excessive risk taking, the following conditions apply:

•  financial performance hurdle – diluted earnings per share (EPS) growth has been chosen to meet and align with 

shareholders’ objectives. This measure was chosen by the Board, after considering alternatives such as return on capital 
employed (ROCE), or return on equity (ROE) as the Board considers that EPS is, on balance, the best driver of Executive 
behaviour that achieves superior performance outcomes for Steadfast and its shareholders. It is also a relatively simple and 
transparent measure that is easily reconciled to reported net profit (see Section 2.1). The Board has approved a maximum 
corporate gearing ratio of 25.0%. In recognition that subsidiaries may require debt to fund bolt on acquisitions, the Group 
has limited the extent of subsidiary borrowings to an additional 5% leverage. The corporate gearing ratio at year end was 
16.0%. The total gearing ratio at year end was 18.4%;

•  operating performance hurdle – each member of the Executive Team has set annual performance objectives known as KPIs 
with weightings aligned to the Group’s strategic objectives, and must achieve at least 60% of those objectives to be eligible 
for any STI and LTI;

•  40% of the STI is granted as deferred equity awards and is intended to be satisfied by the issue or transfer of ordinary shares 
in the capital of the Company over a three-year period from the grant date – being one-third at the end of years one, two 
and three;

•  subject to meeting the personal and financial objectives, vesting of the LTI occurs after three years from the grant date and 

is satisfied by the issue or transfer of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company; and

•  the Board retains the discretion to adjust any unpaid or unvested performance related remuneration (such as STI – Cash, 

STI – DEA and LTI) downwards if it is appropriate to do so. This discretion applies to all the STI and LTI awards on applicable 
dates for vesting of share-based payment awards.

The Board has set the remuneration of the Managing Director & CEO at a level to correspond to the 75th percentile of CEO 
remuneration of a comparator group of companies. The 75th percentile was chosen in light of the considerable experience 
of the Managing Director & CEO and his very strong performance in the role, including the very strong financial performance 
of Steadfast since its initial public offering in August 2013, and driving the Company to achieve an underlying 11.8% diluted EPS 
growth in FY16. Refer Section 2.1.

As part of the ongoing review of remuneration, the STI and LTI plans were refined to ensure incentives aligned with our 
remuneration philosophy, market competitiveness and market feedback on our incentive schemes. The Board approved the 
remuneration changes as set out below for the financial years ending 30 June 2016 (FY16) and 30 June 2017 (FY17).

41

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Robert Kelly

Stephen Humphrys

Dana Williams

Simon Lightbody

Allan Reynolds

Samantha Hollman

30%

36%

28%

22%

15%

19%

13%

10%

10%

10%

20%

15%

15%

15%

45%

50%

50%

50%

23%

27%

22%

25%

25%

25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Fixed remuneration

At risk - STI cash

At risk - STI deferred

At risk - LTI

Directors’ Report continued

Remuneration  
changes

FY15 terms

FY16 terms

FY17 new terms

STI

LTI

Maximum STI awarded when 
diluted EPS growth of 15% is 
achieved.

Maximum STI awarded when 
diluted EPS growth of 15% is 
achieved.

Maximum STI awarded when 
diluted EPS growth of 12.5% is 
achieved.

100% based on average diluted 
EPS increasing by a compound 
10% per annum over a future 
three-year vesting period.

100% based on average diluted 
EPS increasing by a compound 5% 
to 12.5% per annum over a future 
three-year vesting period. The 
vesting schedule is outlined below:

75% based on average diluted EPS 
increasing by a compound 5% to 
12.5% per annum over a future 
three-year vesting period. The 
vesting schedule is outlined below:

Compound 
average diluted 
EPS growth

Vesting  
outcome

Compound 
average diluted 
EPS growth

Vesting 
outcome

Below 5%

At 5%

5% to 12.5%

0%

50%

Straight line 
between 50% to 
100%

Below 5%

At 5%

5% to 12.5%

0%

50%

Straight line 
between 50% to 
100%

12.5% or higher

100%

12.5% or higher

100%

We note that UBS estimate(a) FY16 
EPS growth rate to be -0.5% for 
the Market ex Resources and 
-1.3% for Financial stocks.

We note that UBS estimate(a) FY17 
EPS growth rate to be 6.4% for the 
Market ex Resources and 4.4% for 
Financial stocks.

25% based on Total Shareholder 
Return (TSR)(b) measured against 
Top 200 ASX companies 
excluding those in the mining 
industry (‘peer group’).

TSR

Vesting outcome

0%

50%

Straight line 
between 50%  
to 100%

100%

Less than 
average of  
peer group

At average  
of peer group

Exceeding 
average of peer 
group by 100%  
or below 

Exceeding 
average of peer 
group by 100%  
or higher

Targeted maximum remuneration 
mix changed for majority of 
executives including MD & CEO, 
with more allocated to LTI. 
MD & CEO fixed remuneration 
reduced to 30% of maximum 
remuneration.

(a)  Data sourced from Australian Equity Strategy report published by UBS on 16 June 2016.

(b)  Total Shareholder Return (TSR) is the change in share price plus dividends paid and any capital returns measured over a 

future three-year vesting period.

42

Targeted maximum remuneration mix for FY17

Robert Kelly

Stephen Humphrys

Dana Williams

Simon Lightbody

Allan Reynolds

Samantha Hollman

30%

36%

28%

22%

45%

50%

50%

50%

15%

19%

13%

10%

10%

10%

20%

15%

15%

15%

23%

27%

22%

25%

25%

25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Fixed remuneration

At risk - STI cash

At risk - STI deferred

At risk - LTI

3.2 Fixed remuneration for FY16

The table below outlines the key details of executives’ fixed remuneration.

Component

Details

Description

Cash salary, superannuation, and non-monetary benefits

Purpose and link  
to strategy

Operation

Helps to attract and retain high calibre executives

Reflects individual role, experience and performance

Reviewed annually by the Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee and fixed for 12 
months, with any changes effected from 1 July each financial year. Decision influenced by:

•  role, experience and performance;
•  reference to comparative remuneration in the market; and
•  total organisational salary budgets.

Executive Team is provided with cash salary, superannuation, car parking ($7,310 per annum), 
income protection and life insurance ($10,000 per annum).

Opportunity

Target at 33%–54% of total remuneration.

3.3 Short-term incentives for FY16

The table below outlines the key details of the STI plan. STI awards in FY16 are summarised in Section 2.2 of the Remuneration 
Report. 

Component

Details

Purpose and link  
to strategy

Recognises the contributions and achievements of the Executive Team and helps to attract and 
retain talent

Operation

Opportunity

STI Plan consisting of cash and deferred equity award

STI awards are discretionary, performance based, at risk reward arrangements

The combined total of at risk remuneration (STI and LTI combined) is targeted at 46%–67% of total 
remuneration

Performance metrics

STI – Cash award (60% of total STI); Deferred equity award (40% of total STI)

•  achievement of 60% of personal objectives
•  diluted EPS minimum growth hurdle of 5% to be met
•  for deferred equity award, continuous employment for the vesting period split one-third over 

one, two and three years

43

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

Component

Details

Performance measures

Non-financial measures – personal, cultural and behavioural objectives as agreed. At least 60% of 
the objectives must be achieved by the members of the Executive Team to be eligible for any STI. 

The objectives agreed for the MD & CEO for FY16 were:

•  improving margins from broking and underwriting agency businesses;
•  improving performance from major hubs;
•  successful integration of acquisitions including Calliden, UAA and CHU;
•  achieving targets for Steadfast Direct;
•  empowering executives including developing the COO for Network brokers;
•  succession planning implementation; and 
•  successful implementation of new technology for back-office efficiencies. 

The MD & CEO achieved a substantial majority of his non-financial objectives with weightings 
(refer Section 2.2) and through astute negotiation and subsequent acquisition of a number of 
underwriting agencies. He built the largest portfolio of underwriting agencies in Australia and 
drove the Company to achieve an underlying 11.8% diluted EPS growth in FY16.

Financial measures – no STI is payable unless at least 5% EPS growth is achieved against the FY15 
pro forma EPS of 7.24 cents. Maximum STI can be awarded if the EPS growth is 15% or more.

Potential maximum STI

MD & CEO can earn up to 150% of his annual fixed remuneration. 

The other executives within the Executive Team can earn 50% to 100% of their annual fixed 
remuneration.

Approval of the STI

The MD & CEO’s STI is recommended by the Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee 
based on the financial and his non-financial performance outcome and approved by the Board.

The STI of other members of the Executive Team is recommended by the MD & CEO to the 
Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee, based on their financial and non-financial 
performance outcomes. It is recommended by the Remuneration & Succession Planning 
Committee and approved by the Board.

Rationale for choosing 
performance measures

The non-financial measures are chosen to ensure each member of the Executive Team performs 
specific tasks that support the success of Steadfast.

Forms of STI reward 
elements

The financial measure of EPS growth is chosen to ensure long-term shareholder value is achieved.

60% is paid as cash, normally in September following the end of financial year.

40% is granted as deferred equity award (DEA) of conditional rights to Steadfast ordinary shares 
and vesting over a three-year tenure hurdle from the grant date. The conditional rights will vest in 
three equal tranches after one, two and three years from the grant date.

Key terms of DEA

DEA of conditional rights to Steadfast ordinary shares are normally granted in August following the 
end of financial year. 

These rights are granted to the participants at no cost, to the dollar value of their DEA awarded. 

The number of conditional rights granted is calculated based on the weighted average share price 
over the five trading days before the grant date. 

The participants in the STI Plan become eligible to receive one Steadfast ordinary share per 
conditional right, subject to their continuing employment with the Group over the vesting period 
post grant date, and no material adverse change to the reported results. The committee noted 
there had not been any negative material deterioration in EPS from prior year adjustments in the 
subsequent year.

These rights will accrue notional dividends and any bonus element inherent in any rights issue, 
which will be paid as additional shares upon vesting.

Forfeiture conditions

The Board retains the discretion to adjust any unpaid or unvested performance related 
remuneration (such as STI – Cash, STI – deferred portion) downwards if it is appropriate to do so. 

The conditional rights will be forfeited if the executive resigns before the vesting date.

When an executive ceases employment in special circumstances, such as redundancy, any 
unvested rights may be paid in cash and/or Steadfast ordinary shares, subject to Board discretion.

44

3.4 Long-term incentives for FY16

The table below outlines the key details of the LTI plan. LTI awards in FY16 are summarised in Section 2.2 of the Remuneration Report. 

Component

Details

Purpose and link  
to strategy

Provides opportunity for the Executive Team to acquire equity in the Company as a reward for 
increasing EPS over the longer term and helps to attract and retain talent

Operation

Opportunity

LTI Plan consisting of deferred equity award.

LTI awards are discretionary, performance based, at risk reward arrangements

The combined total of at risk remuneration (LTI and STI combined) is targeted at 46%–67% of total 
remuneration

Performance metrics

LTI – Deferred equity award (100%)

Future performance 
hurdles

•  continuous employment and performance rating to be met for the three-year vesting period; and
•  vesting in accordance with table in Section 3.1.1.

Non-financial measures – personal, cultural and behavioural objectives aligned to the Group’s 
strategic objectives as agreed with the Board. At least 60% of the objectives must be achieved by 
the members of the Executive Team to be eligible to any LTI. The FY16 achievements are shown 
in the ‘Strategy and Prospects’ section of the Directors’ Report and include items such as:

•  establishing Steadfast Client Trading Platform;
•  launch of Insight broker back-office system;
•  Steadfast Direct rollout of three products;
•  expanded services offered to other jurisdictions including New Zealand;
•  extraction of cost synergies in the hubs; and
•  increased offshoring of certain functions.

Financial measures – no LTI will be vested unless the Group’s average compound diluted EPS 
growth is 5% per annum or more over the three-year vesting period.

Potential maximum LTI

The MD & CEO can earn up to 50% of his annual fixed remuneration. 

The other executives within the Executive Team can earn 35% to 50% of their annual fixed 
remuneration.

Approval of the LTI

Forms of LTI reward

The Board approves the LTI based on the financial and non-financial performance outcome as 
recommended by the Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee.

DEA of conditional rights to Steadfast ordinary shares and vesting after a three-year tenure hurdle 
and meeting future performance hurdles from the grant date.

Rationale for choosing 
performance measures

The financial measure of EPS growth is chosen to ensure long-term shareholder value is achieved. 

The non-financial measures are chosen to ensure each member of the Executive Team performs 
specific tasks that support the success of Steadfast.

Key terms of DEA

DEA of conditional rights to Steadfast ordinary shares are normally granted on the date the 
audited financial results are announced. 

These rights are granted to the participants (at no cost), to the dollar value of a percentage of their 
fixed remuneration in accordance with the LTI Plan. 

The number of conditional rights granted is calculated based on the weighted average share price 
over the five trading days before the grant date. 

The participants in the LTI Plan become eligible to receive one Steadfast ordinary share per 
conditional right, subject to their continuing employment with the Group for the three-year 
period from the grant date and meeting performance hurdles, subject to Board discretion.

These rights will not accrue notional dividends.

Forfeiture conditions

The Board retains the discretion to adjust any unpaid or unvested LTI downwards if it is 
appropriate to do so. 

The conditional rights will be forfeited if the executive resigns before the vesting date.

When an executive ceases employment in special circumstances, such as redundancy, any 
unvested rights may be paid in cash and/or Steadfast shares subject to Board discretion.

45

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

3.5 Keeping executives’ and shareholders’ interest aligned

Component

Details

Shareholding 
requirements

There is no specific policy requiring the Executive Team to hold any of Steadfast’s ordinary 
shares. However, the Executive Team have acquired Steadfast’s ordinary shares through the 
following means:

•  re-weighting shares allocated to the MD & CEO as a shareholder who held ordinary shares 
before the Company’s change of constitution as approved by its Extraordinary General 
Meeting in June 2013; 

•  allotment of ordinary shares to Mr Lightbody as part consideration for the acquisition by 

Steadfast, as part of the initial public offer in August 2013, of Miramar, an underwriting agency 
business then partly owned by Mr Lightbody;

•  subscription for ordinary shares as part of the Company’s initial public retail and institutional 

offer and subsequent rights issues;

•  for three executives, acquisition of Executive Shares through the Executive Loan Arrangement 

(for further details, refer to Section 6.4 Executive loans);
•  participation in the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan;
•  conditional rights conversion into ordinary shares at the end of August 2014; and
•  potential vesting of DEAs granted through the STI and LTI Plans in the financial years from 

1 July 2014 onwards (refer to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 for further details of the STI and LTI Plans).

Section 6.3 provides movements of Steadfast’s ordinary shares held by the Executive Team during the current financial year.

4. REMUNERATION IN DETAIL 

4.1 Statutory remuneration disclosure

The table opposite provides remuneration details for the Executive Team (including the MD & CEO and his direct reports). 

For an executive who was newly appointed to the Executive Team during either financial year, the remuneration information 
provided in the table below relates to the period from the date of their appointment as KMP to the year ended 30 June. Refer to 
Section 1.1 Key management personnel for KMP who were appointed during the financial year ended 30 June 2015 and 2016. 

46

Short-term employment benefits

(1)
Cash salary 
and leave 
accruals
$

(2)

Short-term 
incentive
$

(3)
Non-
monetary 
benefits
$

Post-  
employment 
benefits

Other  
long-term 
employment 
benefits

Subtotal 
(excluding 
share-based 
payments)

Share-based 
payments

Total

(4)

(5)

Super- 
annuation
$

Long service 
leave accruals
$

$

$

$

Key Management Personnel (including Managing Director & CEO):

Robert Kelly, Managing Director & CEO

2016

2015

931,331

983,104

574,200

618,750

Stephen Humphrys, Chief Financial Officer

2016

2015

509,306

228,000

465,741

213,750

Dana Williams, Chief Operating Officer

2016

2015

445,187

390,258

159,300

180,000

27,453

22,456

20,719

16,864

10,841

15,806

Simon Lightbody, CEO, Steadfast Underwriting Agencies(6)

19,308

18,783

19,308

18,783

19,308

18,783

23,051

1,575,344

504,469

2,079,813

21,276

1,664,369

354,025

2,018,394

-

 -

-

 -

777,333

207,648

984,981

715,138 

144,143

859,281 

634,636

604,847 

125,475

88,424

760,111

693,271 

2016

2015

440,469

110,680

9,093

19,308

14,344

593,894

37,480

631,374

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Allan Reynolds, Executive General Manager – NZ and Direct

2016

2015

334,069

345,546

90,720

105,719

11,622

11,080

19,308

18,783

8,338

8,701

464,057

489,829

119,785

583,842

90,881

580,710

Samantha Hollman, Executive General Manager – Projects, Brand, People 

2016

2015

299,378

248,237

75,600

78,347

16,524

13,327

19,308

18,783

(1,334)

(10,802)

409,476

347,892

77,987

55,649

487,463

403,541

Former Key Management Personnel

Linda Ellis, Group Company Secretary & Corporate Counsel(7)

2016

2015

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

266,208

90,000

17,626

18,783

5,917

398,534

63,009

461,543

Peter Roberts, Executive General Manager – Integration Synergies(7)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

299,730

92,400

10,083

18,783

7,005

428,001

64,220

492,221

2016

2015

Table notes

(1)  Cash salary includes amounts paid in cash plus any salary sacrifice items. Annual leave accruals are determined in 

accordance with Accounting Standard, AASB 119 Employee Benefits.

(2)  The 2016 short-term incentive (STI) represents 60% of the total STI awarded and approved by the Board and will be paid in 

cash in September 2016. 

(3)  This amount includes car parking and the relevant fringe benefit tax, cost of income protection and life insurance provided 

by the Group.

(4)  Superannuation contribution is paid in line with legislative requirements.

(5)  Long service leave accruals are determined in accordance with AASB 119 Employee Benefits.

(6)  Simon Lightbody (CEO, Steadfast Underwriting Agencies) commenced as KMP on 1 July 2015. The 2016 amounts in the 

table above reflect remuneration for the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

(7)  Linda Ellis (Group Company Secretary & Corporate Counsel) and Peter Roberts (Executive General Manager – Integration 

Synergies) ceased to be KMP on 1 July 2015. They remain members of the Executive Team.

47

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

4.2 Conditional rights

In August 2015, the Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee approved the allocation of conditional rights to the KMP 
being the deferred equity award (DEA) portion of the STI and LTI based on FY15 results. The STI conditional rights will vest in 
three equal tranches on 24 August 2016, 24 August 2017 and 24 August 2018 should all conditions of vesting be met. The 
LTI conditional rights will vest 24 August 2018 should all conditions of vesting be met. These conditional rights participated in 
the dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) in October 2015 and April 2016 for the final FY15 dividends and half year FY16 interim 
dividends respectively.

The table below provides the number of conditional rights held by members of the Executive KMP at 30 June 2015 and 30 
June 2016. 

Robert Kelly

Stephen Humphrys

Dana Williams

Simon Lightbody

Allan Reynolds 

Samantha Hollman

Balance  
30 June 2015  
Number

587,984

258,845

61,667

-

182,914

106,168

1,197,578

FY15 STI  
granted  
Number

277,199

95,760

80,640

-

47,362

35,099

536,060

FY15 LTI  
granted  
Number

277,199

159,599

134,400

-

118,405

61,423

751,026

DRP  
granted  
Number

Balance  
30 June 2016 
Number

38,189

17,205

9,465

-

11,646

6,772

83,277

1,180,571

531,409

286,172

-

360,327

209,462

2,567,941

Refer to Section 6.2 for the fair value of the conditional rights awarded in August 2015. 

4.3 Executive service agreements

Steadfast has ongoing executive service agreements (Executive Agreements) with each of the members of the Executive KMP. 
These Executive Agreements may be terminated by written notice from either party or by the Company making a payment in 
lieu of notice. 

The Executive Agreements outline the components of remuneration paid to executives and require the remuneration of 
executives to be reviewed annually. The Executive Agreements do not require the Company to increase base salary, pay a 
short-term incentive or offer a long-term incentive in any given year. 

The table below contains the key terms of the Executive KMP’s Executive Agreements. The Executive Agreements do not 
provide for any termination payments, other than payment in lieu of notice by the Company.

Name

Notice period from  
the Company

Notice period from  
the employee

Termination provisions in relation  
to payment in lieu of notice

Robert Kelly* 

12 months

12 months

12 months fixed remuneration

Stephen Humphrys

6 months

Dana Williams

Simon Lightbody

Allan Reynolds

Samantha Hollman

6 months

6 months

6 months

6 months

6 months

6 months

6 months

6 months

6 months

6 months fixed remuneration 

6 months fixed remuneration

6 months fixed remuneration

6 months fixed remuneration 

6 months fixed remuneration 

*  Mr Kelly has agreed not to terminate his employment contract before 31 December 2020.

In accordance with the requirements of Corporations Act 2001, termination provisions could include the payment of unused 
annual leave and long service leave accruals where applicable.

4.3.1 Retrenchment entitlements 

In the event of redundancy, Mr Kelly will be paid an amount equal to 12 months fixed remuneration.

4.3.2 Termination under other situations 

In the event of gross negligence or gross misconduct, the Company may terminate the Executive Agreement immediately by 
notice in writing and without payment in lieu of notice.

48

5. NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REMUNERATION

5.1 Fee structure and policy

Non-executive Directors’ fees are determined within an aggregate Directors’ fee pool limit which is reviewed periodically and 
recommended for approval by shareholders. 

The fee structure is designed to provide the Group with the ability to attract and retain directors of the highest calibre.

The aggregate amount of remuneration sought to be approved by shareholders and the manner in which it is paid to 
Directors is reviewed annually. The Board considers advice from external consultants as well as fees paid to Non-executive 
Directors of comparable companies when undertaking the review process.

For the financial year ended 30 June 2016, a remuneration consultant (Mercers) was engaged to provide information on Non-
executive Director remuneration to the Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee. No recommendation as defined by 
the Corporations Act 2001 was provided by Mercers.

Independent and non-independent Non-executive Director remuneration consists of three elements:

•  Board fees;
•  committee fees; and
•  superannuation, which is paid in line with legislative requirements.

Directors do not receive retirement benefits beyond superannuation contributions and do not participate in any incentive 
programs.

Directors may also be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in attending to the Company’s affairs.

At the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 14 June 2013, the shareholders approved the maximum aggregate Directors’ fee 
pool of $900,000 per annum for each financial year effective from 1 July 2013.

The table below contains the annual fee structure for the Steadfast Board and committees (inclusive of superannuation).

Board 
$

220,000

200,000

110,000

100,000

Audit &  
Risk Committee 
$

Remuneration & 
Succession  
Planning Committee 
$

Nomination  
Committee 
$

20,000

7,500

5,000

2,500

20,000

7,500

5,000

2,500

-

-

-

-

Chairman

Members

2016

2015

2016

2015

No additional remuneration will be paid for the Chairman and members of the Nomination Committee nor any directorships 
of subsidiaries.

5.2 Minimum shareholding requirement

Non-executive Directors are not required under the Company’s constitution to hold any of Steadfast’s ordinary shares. 

However, contained in each Director’s letter of appointment from the Company is a term and condition that the Non-
executive Directors must hold an amount equal to 50% of their annual remuneration in the Company’s ordinary shares by the 
end of their second year in office. 

Refer to Section 6.3 for details of Steadfast’s ordinary shares held by the Non-executive Directors.

49

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

5.3 Remuneration details for Non-executive Directors

The table below provides remuneration details of the Non-executive Directors on the Company’s Board.

Short-term employment benefits

Post-  
employment benefits

Board fees 
$

Committee fees 
$

Superannuation 
$

200,913

182,648

100,457

91,324

100,457

91,324

100,457

91,324

100,457

91,324

9,779

4,567

22,831

11,416

22,831

11,416

9,132

4,566

9,132

4,566

19,308

17,785

11,712

9,760

11,712

9,760

10,411

9,110

10,411

9,110

Total

$

230,000

205,000

135,000

112,500

135,000

112,500

120,000

105,000

120,000

105,000

Current Directors

Frank O’Halloran, AM

2016

2015

David Liddy, AM

2016

2015

Anne O’Driscoll

2016

2015

Philip Purcell

2016

2015

Greg Rynenberg

2016

2015

50

 
6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

6.1 Remuneration governance

This report meets the remuneration reporting requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and Accounting Standard AASB 124 
Related Party Disclosures. The term remuneration used in this report has the same meaning as compensation as prescribed in 
AASB 124. 

6.1.1 Role of the Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee

The Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee of the Board is responsible for reviewing and determining remuneration 
arrangements for the Non-executive Directors and the Executive Team made up of the Managing Director & CEO and his 
direct reports listed in the KMP table in Section 1.1.

6.1.2 Use of remuneration consultant

The Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee directly engages and considers market remuneration data from 
remuneration consultants as required. The data provided by remuneration consultants is used as a guide for remuneration 
decisions with respect to the Executive Team. Remuneration consultants are engaged every three years to provide information 
on fixed remuneration packages and incentives to the Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee. 

No remuneration recommendations as defined by the Corporations Act 2001 were provided.

6.2 Valuation of conditional rights 

The table below details the fair value of conditional rights issued affecting remuneration of KMP in the previous, current or 
future reporting periods:

Description

Recipient

Grant date

Vesting date

FY15 STI conditional rights*

MD & CEO

30 October 2015

24 August 2016

FY15 STI conditional rights*

MD & CEO

30 October 2015

24 August 2017

FY15 STI conditional rights*

MD & CEO

30 October 2015

24 August 2018

FY15 STI conditional rights*

Other executives

24 August 2015

24 August 2016

FY15 STI conditional rights*

Other executives

24 August 2015

24 August 2017

FY15 STI conditional rights*

Other executives

24 August 2015

24 August 2018

FY15 LTI conditional rights

MD & CEO

30 October 2015

24 August 2018

FY15 LTI conditional rights

Other executives

24 August 2015

24 August 2018

FY14 STI conditional rights

MD & CEO

29 October 2014

25 August 2017

FY14 STI conditional rights

Other executives

25 August 2014

25 August 2017

FY14 LTI conditional rights

MD & CEO

29 October 2014

25 August 2019

FY14 LTI conditional rights

Other executives

25 August 2014

25 August 2019

Fair value  
at grant date  
($)

1.4992

1.4939

1.4841

1.4519

1.4442

1.4323

1.4841

1.4323

1.4312

1.3253

1.4001

1.2908

*  The FY15 STI conditional rights will vest in three equal tranches after one, two and three years from the grant date.

51

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

6.3 Shareholdings

The table below summarises the movement in holdings of ordinary shares during the year and the balance at the end of the 
financial year both in total and held nominally by related parties of Non-executive Directors and KMPs. 

Total shares 
held at 1 July 
2015 
Number

Purchases 
Number

Sales/ 
Reductions 
Number

Shares  
allocated  
via DRP 
Number

Total shares 
held at  
30 June 2016 
Number

Shares held 
nominally at  
30 June 2016(a) 
Number

Frank O’Halloran, AM(b)

Robert Kelly(b)

David Liddy, AM(b)

Anne O’Driscoll(b)

Philip Purcell(b)

Greg Rynenberg(b)

1,947,826

5,378,259

466,667

163,043

160,142

724,916

Stephen Humphrys

1,466,667

Dana Williams

Simon Lightbody

Allan Reynolds 

Samantha Hollman

Linda Ellis(c)

Peter Roberts(c)

Table notes 

-

1,910,009

1,020,332

305,711

199,350

1,009,783

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(216,667)

-

-

-

-

-

(117,695)

-

-

(199,350)

(1,009,783) 

-

13,284

-

-

-

20,717

-

-

-

713

10,726

-

-

1,947,826

5,391,543

250,000

163,043

160,142

745,633

1,466,667

-

1,792,314

1,021,045

316,437

-

-

1,252,174

391,543

250,000

163,043

160,142

745,633

-

-

445,314

21,045

246,751

-

-

(a)  Shares held nominally are included in the column headed ‘Total shares held at 30 June 2016'. Total shares are held directly 
by the KMP and indirectly by the KMP’s related parties, inclusive of domestic partner, dependants and entities controlled, 
jointly controlled or significantly influenced by the KMP.

(b)  For the Directors, total shares held directly and nominally also represented the relevant interest in the listed securities, 

being ordinary shares of the Company, as notified by the Directors to the ASX in accordance with section 205G(1) of the 
Corporations Act 2001, at the date of this Directors’ Report.

(c)  Individual shareholdings removed upon cessation as a KMP of the Company.

6.4 Executive loans

In the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 14 June 2013, the shareholders approved the making by the Company of 
full recourse loans to three continuing KMP. They have entered into loan agreements with the Company (Executive Loan 
Agreements). Under the Executive Loan Agreements, the Company provided loans to these executives with the loan proceeds 
to be used only to fund the acquisition of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company at a fixed price of $1.00 per share 
pursuant to the Company’s initial retail and institutional offer (Executive Shares). 

The loans were intended:

•  to recognise and reward the services and contributions provided by these executives to the development and ongoing 

transformation of the Company;

•  to assist in the retention of these executives; and
•  as part of the Company’s remuneration strategy to align the interests of the Executive Team to shareholder value.

The key terms of the Executive Loan Agreements are:

•  interest-free, unsecured and full recourse loans; 
•  all dividends in respect of Executive Shares must be applied towards repayment of the loans; and
•  to be repaid in full five years after the date on which the loans are provided.

52

The Executive Shares are subject to escrow restrictions. Apart from the exceptions as noted below, the key restrictions are:

•  for the period from the receipt by the executives of the Executive Shares until the end of the term of the loan (or upon the loan 
being accelerated due to an event of default) the executives agreed not to dispose of the Executive Shares or grant security 
over the Executive Shares (subject to certain exceptions as set out below) without the prior consent of the Board; and

•  the executives agreed to the application of a holding lock in respect of the Executive Shares.

During the financial year ended 30 June 2014, the Executive loans were recognised at fair value. The Executive loans were 
interest-free loans, and the Executive Shares were issued at a fixed price of $1.00 (being the minimum price to meet the 
condition of listing). The fixed price was different to the final share price of the Company when listed on the ASX in August 
2013. A share-based payments expense on Executive Shares of $4.015 million was recorded in FY14 to recognise the 
difference between the cost and the fair value of the Executive loans. The share-based payments expense of $4.015 million is 
likely to be reversed over the period to the final repayment date. $2.956 million has been reversed as at 30 June 2016.

The exceptions to the above escrow restrictions on Executive Shares are:

•  if the disposal does not cause the executive to breach the trading restrictions and the Executive Shares are disposed of 

during the permitted trading window under the Executive Loan Agreements. Under the trading restrictions, each executive 
may only sell their Executive Shares as below:

Period 

Cumulative amount of Executive Shares that may be sold

12 months ended 31 August 2015

≤ 20% of total Executive Shares

12 months ended 31 August 2016

≤ 40% of total Executive Shares

12 months ended 31 August 2017

≤ 60% of total Executive Shares

12 months ended 31 August 2018

≤ 80% of total Executive Shares

12 months ended 31 August 2019

≤ 100% of total Executive Shares

•  should the executive leave, then the shares are not subject to the trading restrictions noted above. 
•  the proceeds from the disposal of the Executive Shares are to be applied towards the repayment of the Executive loans first, 
in the same proportion as the percentage of total Executive Shares disposed. The executives are entitled to retain any profits 
or gains from the disposal of the Executive Shares. 

•  the disposal is made in the event of the death of the executive, the executive being declared bankrupt or the executive ceasing 

to be employed by the Company as a consequence of termination of an employment contract, ill health or retirement.

The table below provides the amount of the Executive loans provided to three executives and the fair value at the drawn 
down date and movement during the financial year.

Face value of 
Executive loans 
$

Fair value of 
Executive loans 
drawn down at  
start of the year 
$

Deemed 
 interest income 
during the year 
$

Repayment  
during the year 
$

Fair value of 
Executive loans  
at the end  
of the year 
$

Robert Kelly 

Stephen Humphrys

Allan Reynolds 

5,000,000

1,000,000

900,000

6,900,000

 3,539,310

 707,800

 637,128

 4,884,238

368,316

73,631

66,324

508,271

(270,000)

(54,000)

(48,600)

(372,600)

3,637,626

727,431

654,852

5,019,909

53

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Directors’ Report continued

6.5 Related party transactions

6.5.1 KMP related party transactions

The following transactions occurred with Directors’ (Robert Kelly and Greg Rynenberg) related parties which are part of 
Steadfast Network but are not part of Steadfast Group:

2016
$

2015
$

i. Sale of goods and services

Marketing and administration fees received from Directors’ related entities  
on normal commercial terms

27,683

26,143

ii. Payment for goods and services

Estimated Steadfast Network Broker rebate expense to Directors’ related entities  
on the basis as determined by the Board

40,648

49,272

The following balances are outstanding at the reporting date in relation to transactions with related parties:

iii. Current receivable from related parties 

Trade receivables from Directors’ related entities

ROUNDING

-

52,917

The Group is of the kind referred to in the Instrument 2016/191 dated 24 March 2016 issued by the Australian Securities and 
Investments Commission. In accordance with that Instrument, amounts in the Directors’ Report and financial report have 
been rounded to the nearest thousand dollars, unless otherwise stated.

Signed at Sydney on 24 August 2016 in accordance with a resolution of the Directors.

Frank O’Halloran, AM 
Chairman

Robert Kelly 
Managing Director & CEO

54

Lead Auditor’s Independence Declaration
UNDER SECTION 307C OF CORPORATIONS ACT 2001

TO THE DIRECTORS OF STEADFAST GROUP LIMITED 

I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, in relation to the audit for the year ended 30 June 2016, there have been:

•  no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the 

audit; and

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

KPMG

Andrew Dickinson  
Partner

Sydney 
24 August 2016

KPMG, an Australian partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG 
International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional 
Standards Legislation.

55

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Steadfast Group Limited

Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Other  
Comprehensive Income
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2016

Note

2016 
$’000

2015 
$’000

246,413

(64,314)

182,099

29,619

6,358

32,452

250,528

8,293

2,138

565

939

2,524

264,987

 404,828 

(124,830)

279,998

 32,404 

 7,222 

 37,159 

356,783

 9,071 

 2,095 

 1,600 

 23,874 

 3,399 

 396,822 

(159,046)

(110,555)

(15,255)

(48,781)

(10,158)

(13,071)

(20,888)

(3,119)

(18,090)

(8,432)

(127)

99,855

(18,737)

81,118

 379 

(463)

 25 

(59)

81,059

(11,804)

(37,740)

(9,270)

(9,287)

(12,881)

(2,702)

-

(4,417)

(3,302)

63,029

(15,024)

48,005

(1,486)

-

445

(1,041)

46,964

REVENUE

Fee and commission income

Less: brokerage commission paid

Net fee and commission income

Marketing and administration fees

Interest income

Other revenue

12

13

18

10

4, 7

18

20

Share of profits of associates accounted for using the equity method

Share of profits of joint venture accounted for using the equity method

Profit on fair value of investments

Gain from adjustments to deferred consideration estimates

Other income

EXPENSES

Employment expense

Selling expense

Administration, brokers’ support service and other expenses 

Steadfast Network Broker rebates expense

Occupancy expense

Amortisation expense

Depreciation expense

Impairment expense

Finance costs

Stamp duty, due diligence and restructure costs

Profit before income tax expense

Income tax expense

Profit after income tax expense for the year

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

ITEMS THAT MAY BE RECLASSIFIED SUBSEQUENTLY TO PROFIT OR LOSS

Net movement in foreign currency translation reserve

Cash flow hedge effective portion of change in fair value

Income tax expense on other comprehensive income

Other comprehensive income for the period, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

56

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO:

Non-controlling interests

Owners of Steadfast Group Limited

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO:

Non-controlling interests

Owners of Steadfast Group Limited

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share (cents per share)

Diluted earnings per share (cents per share)

Note

5

5

2016 
$’000

 7,638 

 73,480

 81,118

 7,638 

 73,421

 81,059 

9.86

9.84

2015 
$’000

5,901

42,104

48,005

5,907

41,057

46,964

7.26

7.24

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

57

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Steadfast Group Limited

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
AS AT 30 JUNE 2016

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash held on trust

Receivables from broking/underwriting agency operations

Other receivables

Related party loans receivable

Other

Total current assets

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Related party loans receivable 

Property, plant and equipment

Deferred tax assets

Investments in associates

Interest in joint venture

Intangible assets

Goodwill

Other

Total non-current assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Bank overdrafts

Payables on broking/underwriting agency operations

Other payables

Borrowings

Income tax payable

Provisions

Deferred consideration

Total current liabilities

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Borrowings

Other payables

Deferred tax liabilities 

Deferred consideration

Provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

58

Note

2016 
$’000

2015 
$’000

21

21

22

22

20

12

13

7

7

14

8, 21

8

8

20

 67,457 

 224,752 

 301,011 

 35,466 

 976 

 4,455 

634,117

 7,197 

 27,908 

 8,284 

 121,783 

 2,211 

 165,280

 712,329 

 33,389 

1,078,381

1,712,498

 464 

 453,322 

 48,002 

1,116 

 17,583 

 15,363 

 11,821 

547,671

 200,326

 3,005 

 55,342

 1,848 

 6,165 

266,686

814,357

898,141

67,648

172,155

311,521

27,507

927

3,386

583,144

7,500

25,777

10,357

122,351

3,446

180,952

669,321

12,659

1,032,363

1,615,507

632

429,012

43,380

453

4,168

11,851

27,506

517,002

160,910

1,284

59,810

27,821

7,115

256,940

773,942

841,565

Note

9

9

EQUITY

Share capital

Treasury shares held in trust

Foreign currency translation reserve

Share-based payments reserve

Undistributed profits reserve

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Equity attributable to the owners of Steadfast Group Limited

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

2016 
$’000

2015 
$’000

 796,857 

787,946

(4,396)

 28 

 3,675 

 31,542 

(15,108)

 47,399

859,997

38,144

898,141

(3,018)

(237)

3,130

6,562

(10,698)

39,196

822,881

18,684

841,565

14.9%

CORPORATE GEARING RATIO

9

16.0%

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

59

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Steadfast Group Limited

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2016

Equity attributable to owners of Steadfast Group Limited

Treasury 
shares  
held in 
trust 
$’000

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve 
$’000

Share-
based 
payments 
reserve 
$’000

Un- 
distributed 
profits 
reserve 
$’000

Share 
capital 
$’000

Other 
reserves 
$’000

Retained 
earnings 
$’000

Non-
controlling
 interests

Total  
equity

$’000

$’000

2016

Balance at 1 July 2015

787,946

(3,018)

(237)

3,130

6,562 (10,698)

39,196

18,684 841,565

Profit after income tax 
expense for the year

Other comprehensive 
income for the year,  
net of tax

Total comprehensive 
income for the year

TRANSACTIONS WITH 
OWNERS IN THEIR 
CAPACITY AS OWNERS:

Shares issued for 
Dividend Reinvestment 
Plan (Note 9)

Shares acquired and held 
in trust (Note 9)

Share-based payments 
on Executive Shares and 
employee share plans

Shares allotted through 
Dividend Reinvestment 
Plan (Note 9)

Shares allotted to 
employees under 
Employee Conditional 
Rights Scheme

Transfer of retained 
earnings to profit reserve

Put option liability on 
acquisition of subsidiaries

Acquisition of non-
controlling interests 

Changes in part equity 
interests in subsidiaries 
without loss of control 

Dividends declared  
and paid 

-

-

-

8,911

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,388)

-

(155)

165

-

-

-

-

-

-

265

265

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

710

-

(165)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

47,282

-

-

-

-

73,480

7,638

81,118

(324)

-

-

(59)

(324)

73,480

7,638

81,059

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(4,086)

-

-

-

-

-

(47,282)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

8,911

(1,388)

710

(155)

-

-

-

(279)

(279)

19,247

15,161

(22,302)

-

(17,995)

(7,146)

(47,443)

Balance at 30 June 2016

796,857 

(4,396)

28 

3,675 

31,542 

(15,108)

47,399

38,144  898,141

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

60

Equity attributable to owners of Steadfast Group Limited

Treasury 
shares  
held in 
trust 
$’000

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve 
$’000

Share-
based 
payments 
reserve 
$’000

Un- 
distributed 
profits 
reserve 
$’000

Share 
capital 
$’000

Other 
reserves 
$’000

Retained 
earnings 
$’000

Non-
controlling
 interests

Total  
equity

$’000

$’000

2015

Balance at 1 July 2014

488,187

(1,070)

810

3,187

6,328

(2,578)

20,937

9,237

525,038

Profit after income tax 
expense for the year

Other comprehensive 
income for the year,  
net of tax

Total comprehensive 
income for the year

TRANSACTIONS WITH 
OWNERS IN THEIR 
CAPACITY AS OWNERS:

Contributions of equity, 
net of transaction costs 
(Note 9)

Shares issued for 
Dividend Reinvestment 
Plan (Note 9)

Shares acquired and held 
in trust (Note 9)

Share-based payments 
on Executive Shares and 
employee share plans

Shares allotted through 
Dividend Reinvestment 
Plan (Note 9)

Shares allotted to 
employees under 
Employee Conditional 
Rights Scheme

Transfer of retained 
earnings to profit reserve

Put option liability on 
acquisition of subsidiaries

Acquisition of non-
controlling interests 

Changes in part equity 
interests in subsidiaries 
without loss of control 

Dividends declared  
and paid 

-

-

-

294,201

5,558

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(2,931)

-

(63)

1,046

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,047)

(1,047)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

989

-

(1,046)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

23,845

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

804

-

(8,924)

(23,611)

-

42,104

5,901

48,005

-

6

(1,041)

42,104

5,907

46,964

-

-

-

-

-

-

(23,845)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

294,201

5,558

(2,931)

989

(63)

-

-

804

2,850

2,850

4,970

(3,954)

(4,280)

(27,891)

Balance at 30 June 2015

787,946

(3,018)

(237)

3,130

6,562

(10,698)

39,196

18,684

841,565

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

61

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Steadfast Group Limited

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2016

Note

2016 
$’000

2015 
$’000

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Receipts from customers

Payments to suppliers and employees, and Network broker rebates

Dividends received from associates and joint venture

Interest received

Interest and other finance costs paid

Income taxes paid

Net cash from operating activities before customer trust accounts movement

Net movement in customer trust accounts  
(net cash receipts/payments on behalf of customers)

Net cash from operating activities

21

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Payment for acquisitions of subsidiaries and business assets, 
net of cash acquired and repayment of subsidiaries’ loans

Payments for deferred consideration of subsidiaries,  
associates and business assets

Payments for investments in associates

Proceeds from part disposal of investment on scheme of arrangement

Proceeds from part disposal of investment in subsidiaries  
on hubbing arrangements

Proceeds from disposal of investment in associates

Payment for step-up investment in subsidiaries on hubbing arrangements

Payments for property, plant and equipment

Payments for intangible assets

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Proceeds from issue of shares

Payments of transaction costs on issue of shares

Payments for purchase of treasury shares

Repayment of related party loan

Provision of related party loans

Repayment of non-related party loans

Provision of non-related party loans

Proceeds from borrowings

Repayment of borrowings

Dividends paid to owners of Steadfast Group Limited,  
net of Dividend Reinvestment Plan

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

Net cash (used in)/from financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year

21

376,862

(289,209)

12,910

5,773

(7,710)

(14,658)

83,968

42,259

126,227

258,897

(214,604)

14,622

4,943

(4,417)

(14,663)

44,778

22,221

66,999

(10,521)

(355,530)

(23,138)

(17,632)

-

-

497

(3,593)

(5,306)

(5,637)

(65,330)

-

-

(1,388)

976

(200)

2,038

(1,440)

210,553

(180,331)

(31,385)

(7,146)

(8,323)

52,574

239,171

291,745

(18,938)

(8,901)

47,112

6,145

-

-

(1,803)

(1,301)

(333,216)

300,002

(8,287)

(2,931)

927

(221)

4,090

(1,660)

139,421

(18,196)

(18,053)

(4,280)

390,812

124,595

114,576

239,171

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

62

Notes to the Financial Statements
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2016

NOTE 1. GENERAL INFORMATION 

This general purpose financial report is for the year ended 30 June 2016 and comprises the consolidated financial statements 
for Steadfast Group Limited (Steadfast or the Company) and its subsidiaries and the Group’s interests in associates and a joint 
venture (Steadfast Group or the Group). These financial statements are presented in Australian dollars, which is Steadfast’s 
functional and presentation currency.

The Company is a for-profit listed public company limited by shares, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. Its registered 
office and principal place of business is Level 3, 99 Bathurst Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

A description of the nature of the Group's operations and its principal activities is included in the Directors' Report, which is 
not part of the financial report.

This general purpose financial report was authorised for issue by the Board on 24 August 2016.

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

A. STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

This financial report has been prepared in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, Australian Accounting Standards and 
other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board, as appropriate for for-profit oriented 
entities and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Listing Rules.

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) refer to the overall framework of standards and pronouncements  
approved by the International Accounting Standards Board. IFRS forms the basis of the Australian Accounting Standards.  
This financial report of the Group complies with IFRS.

B. BASIS OF PREPARATION OF THE FINANCIAL REPORT

The significant accounting policies adopted in the preparation of this financial report are set out below. These accounting 
policies have been applied consistently by all entities in the Group and are the same as those applied for the previous 
reporting period unless otherwise noted. These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, 
modified, where applicable, by the measurement at fair value of certain non-current assets, financial assets and financial 
liabilities.

I. New and amended standards adopted by the Group 

The Group has adopted the following revised or amending Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the Australian 
Accounting Standards Board that are mandatory for the year ended 30 June 2016. Adoption of these standards has not had 
any material effect on the financial position or performance of the Group.

Title

Description

AASB 2015-3 

Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from the withdrawal of AASB1031 Materiality

II. Reclassification of comparatives 

Certain prior year comparative information has been revised in this financial report to conform to the current period’s 
presentation. The reclassification is to reclassify the trading results of authorised representatives from selling expenses  
to brokerage commission paid.

III. Rounding

The Group is of the kind referred to in the Instrument 2016/191 dated 24 March 2016 issued by the Australian Securities and 
Investments Commission. In accordance with that Instrument, amounts in this financial report have been rounded to the 
nearest thousand dollars, unless otherwise stated.

63

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

C. PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

I. Business combinations

The Group accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method when control is transferred to the Group.  
The consideration transferred in the acquisition is measured at fair value, as are the identifiable net assets acquired.  
The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired and non-controlling interests 
is recorded as goodwill. If the consideration transferred is less than the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired and  
non-controlling interests, the difference is recognised directly in profit or loss. Costs of acquisition are expensed as incurred, 
except if it related to the issue of debt or equity securities. 

II. Subsidiaries

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

III. Non-controlling interests

Non-controlling interests (NCI) are measured at their proportionate share of the acquired subsidiaries’ identifiable net assets 
at the date of acquisition. For the operations and business being put into a business hub, NCI represent the fair value at the 
hubbing date. Changes in the Group’s interest in a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as equity 
transactions. 

IV. Loss of control

When the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it derecognises the assets and liabilities of the subsidiary, and any related NCI 
and other components of equity. Any resulting gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss. Any interest retained in the former 
subsidiary is measured at fair value when control is lost. 

V. Interests in equity-accounted investees

The Group’s interests in equity-accounted investees comprise interests in associates and a joint venture. Associates are those 
entities in which the Group has significant influence, but not control or joint control, over the financial and operating policies. 
A joint venture is an arrangement in which the Group has joint control, whereby the Group has rights to the net assets of the 
arrangement, rather than rights to its assets and obligations for its liabilities. 

Interests in associates and the joint venture are accounted for using the equity method. They are initially recognised at cost, 
which includes transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, the Group’s share of the profit or loss of associates and  
the joint venture is included in the Group’s profit or loss. 

VI. Transactions eliminated on consolidation

Intra-group balances and transactions, and any unrealised income and expenses arising from intra-group transactions,  
are eliminated in full. 

64

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

D. REVENUE RECOGNITION

Revenue is recognised when it is probable that the economic benefit will flow to the Group and the revenue can be  
reliably measured. Revenue is recognised to the extent that there is no future obligation. Where there is a future obligation,  
a portion is deferred over the expected service period. 

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable.

I. Fees and commission income

Commission, brokerage and fees are recognised when the related service has been provided and it is probable that the Group 
will be compensated for services rendered and the amount of consideration for such services can be reliably measured. This is 
deemed to be the invoice date. An allowance is made for anticipated lapses and cancellations. Where there is a future obligation 
to provide claims handling services, a portion of the commission income is deferred over the expected service period. 

II. Marketing and administration fees

The Company has negotiated with strategic partners, such as insurers, premium funders and underwriting agencies, to receive 
marketing and administration fees based on the amount of business placed with those entities for the Group’s preferred 
products. These amounts are recognised as revenue when base premium is placed (in the case of insurers and underwriting 
agencies) or premiums funded (in the case of premium funders).

III. Claims experience benefit

The Group may receive a claims experience benefit payment or payments in respect of certain types of insurance products 
placed with insurance companies. Revenue is recognised for a claims experience benefit for a particular policy year when  
it is likely that a claims experience benefit is receivable and the amount can be measured reliably.

Factors taken into account in recognising a claims experience benefit include the number of years that have passed since  
the end of a policy year and whether various claims have been closed or can be reliably measured.

IV. Other revenue

Other revenue is recognised when the right to receive payment is established.

E. TAXATION

Tax consolidation

The Company (the head entity) and its wholly owned Australian subsidiaries have formed an income tax consolidated group 
under the tax consolidation regime. Consequently, these entities are taxed as a single entity and the deferred tax assets and 
liabilities of these entities are offset in the consolidated financial statements. 

In addition, certain controlled subsidiaries and their wholly owned Australian subsidiaries have formed income tax 
consolidated groups under the tax consolidation regime. These entities are also taxed as a single entity and the deferred  
tax assets and liabilities of these tax consolidated groups are offset in the consolidated financial statements.

F. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash at bank, deposits held at call with financial institutions, and other short-term,  
highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts  
of cash. This includes cash held by the subsidiaries for business operations/operating expenses purposes.

Cash held on trust relates to cash held for insurance premiums received from policyholders which will ultimately be paid  
to underwriters. Cash held on trust cannot be used to meet business operations/operating expenses other than payments  
to underwriters and/or refunds to policyholders.

65

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued

G. RECEIVABLES FROM BROKING/UNDERWRITING AGENCY OPERATIONS

Receivables from broking/underwriting agency operations are initially recognised based on the invoiced amount  
to customers. After initial recognition, provision is made for lapses or cancellations of insurance policies or other matters  
that may lead to non-collection.

These receivables are generally due for settlement within 30 to 60 days. Collectability of trade receivables is reviewed  
on an ongoing basis.

H. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Identifiable intangible assets acquired separately or in a business combination (mainly customer relationships and capitalised 
software) are initially measured at cost.

The cost of an intangible asset acquired in a business combination is its fair value as at the date of acquisition. The useful lives 
of these intangible assets are assessed on acquisition. Internally developed software costs are capitalised once the project is 
assessed to be feasible. The costs capitalised include licensing and direct labour costs. The useful lives of capitalised software 
are assessed when the project is completed and available for use. 

Following initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation and provision for impairment. 

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortised over their useful lives, currently estimated to be up to 10 years, and their useful 
lives are reviewed annually. 

I. PAYABLES ON BROKING/UNDERWRITING AGENCY OPERATIONS

These amounts represent insurance premiums payable to insurance companies for broking/underwriting agency operations 
on amounts invoiced to customers and liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the end of the financial 
period and which are unpaid. The amounts are unsecured and are usually paid within 30 to 90 days of recognition.

J. HEDGE ACCOUNTING

Hedge accounting is applied when the Group designates certain derivatives to be part of a hedging relationship, and they 
meet the criteria for hedge accounting.

The Group uses cash flow hedges to mitigate the risk of variability of future cash flows attributable to interest rate fluctuations 
associated with the corporate debt facility. For cash flow hedges, the portion of the gain or loss on the hedge instrument that 
is effective is recognised directly in equity, while the ineffective portion is recognised in profit or loss. Amounts deferred in 
equity are transferred to profit or loss in the same periods the hedged item is recognised in the profit or loss. 

K. AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ISSUED AND NOT YET EFFECTIVE

The Company has not early adopted and applied any new, revised or amending Accounting Standards and Interpretations  
that are not yet mandatory for the year ended 30 June 2016.

The Company intends to adopt new, revised or amending Accounting Standards and Interpretations in the operating year 
commencing 1 July after the effective date of these standards and interpretations as set out in the table below.

Title

Description

Effective date

Operating year

Note

AASB 9

AASB 15

Financial Instruments and the relevant amending standards

1 January 2018

30 June 2019

Revenue from Contracts with Customers and the relevant 
amending standards

1 January 2018

30 June 2019

AASB 16

Leases

1 January 2019

30 June 2020

AASB 1057

Application of Australian Accounting Standards

1 January 2016

30 June 2017

AASB 2016-2

Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards  
– Disclosure Initiative: Amendments to AASB 107

1 January 2017

30 June 2018

(i)

(i)

(i)

(i)

(i)

Table note

(i)  These changes are not expected to have a significant financial impact.

66

NOTE 3. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that 
affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Management continually evaluates its judgements and estimates in 
relation to assets, liabilities, contingent liabilities, revenue and expenses. Management bases its judgements, estimates and 
assumptions on historical experience and on other various factors, including expectations of future events management 
believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The resulting accounting judgements and estimates may differ from the 
related actual results. The judgements, estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment 
to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities (refer to the respective notes) during the year ended 30 June 2016 are 
discussed below.

A. FAIR VALUE OF ASSETS ACQUIRED

The Group measures the net assets acquired in a business combination at their fair value at the date of acquisition.  
If new information obtained within one year from the acquisition date about facts and circumstances that existed at the 
acquisition date identifies adjustments to the fair value, then the amounts recognised as at the acquisition date will be 
retrospectively revised.

Fair value is estimated with reference to the market transactions for similar assets or discounted cash flow analysis.

B. DEFERRED CONSIDERATION

The Group has made a best estimate of the fair value of consideration payable for the acquisitions where there is a variable 
purchase price (generally, a multiple of revenue or future period earnings before interest expense, tax and amortisation 
(EBITA)) after performing due diligence on the acquisition. Should the fair value of the final consideration payable vary from 
these estimates, the Group will be required to recognise the difference as expense or income.

C. GOODWILL

Goodwill is not amortised but assessed for impairment annually or when there is an evidence of impairment.

The recoverable amount of goodwill is estimated using the higher of fair value or the value in use analysis of the relevant cash 
generating unit (CGU) deducting the carrying amount of the identifiable net assets of the CGU. Key assumptions used in the 
calculation of recoverable amounts are the discount rates, terminal value growth rates and EBITA growth rates.

D. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The carrying amounts of intangible assets with finite lives are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is 
any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated on the same basis 
as goodwill above.

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of the intangible asset exceeds its recoverable amount.

E. EQUITY-ACCOUNTED INVESTMENTS 

Equity-accounted investments are carried at the lower of the equity-accounted amount and the recoverable amount.

The carrying amounts of equity-accounted investments (which include embedded amounts of intangible assets)  
are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication  
exists, then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated on the same basis as goodwill above.

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of the equity-accounted investment exceeds its recoverable amount.

F. ESTIMATION OF USEFUL LIVES OF ASSETS

The Group determines the estimated useful lives and related depreciation and amortisation charges for its property,  
plant and equipment and finite life intangible assets. The useful lives could change significantly as a result of technical 
innovations or some other event. The depreciation and amortisation charge will increase where the useful lives are less  
than previously estimated, or technically obsolete or non-strategic assets that have been abandoned or sold will be written  
off or written down.

F. RECOVERY OF DEFERRED TAX ASSETS

Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary differences and operating tax losses only if the Group considers  
it is probable that future taxable amounts will be available to utilise those temporary differences and losses.

67

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 4. OPERATING SEGMENTS 

The Company’s corporate structure includes equity investments in insurance intermediary entities (insurance broking, 
underwriting agencies and premium funders) and complementary businesses. Discrete financial information about each 
of these entities is reported to management on a regular basis and, accordingly, management considers each entity to be 
a discrete business operation. The Company believes that all of the Group’s equity investments in insurance intermediary 
entities exhibit similar economic characteristics and have therefore been aggregated into a single reporting segment, being 
the general insurance intermediary sector. This assessment is based on each of the business operations having similar 
products and services, similar types of customer, employing similar operating processes and procedures, and operating within 
similar regulatory environments. The Group is in the business of distributing and advising on insurance products in Australia, 
New Zealand, London and Singapore.

In addition to reviewing performance based on statutory profit after tax, the Chief Operating Decision Maker  
(being the Managing Director & CEO) also reviews a key additional performance measure being earnings before interest 
expense, tax and amortisation (EBITA) broken down by consolidated entities, associates and joint venture.

The additional performance measures, EBITA and other related information (broken down by consolidated entities, and 
associates and joint venture) provided on a regular basis to the Chief Operating Decision Maker are outlined in the table below.

Insurance 
intermediary 
$’000

Table  
note

Other 
$’000

2016

Total 
$’000

Insurance 
intermediary 
$’000

 345,477 
(228,244)

 13,006 
(10,880)

 358,483 
(239,124)

 117,233

 2,126 

 119,359

242,335
(165,307)

77,028

2015

Total 
$’000

251,370
(172,962)

78,408

Other 
$’000

9,035
(7,655)

1,380

20,341

342

20,683

20,048

309

20,357

137,574

2,468

140,042

(9,951)

- 

(9,951)

97,076

(8,396)

1,689

98,765

-

(8,396)

127,623

2,468

130,091

88,680

1,689

90,369

(i)

(ii)

(9,169)

(23,420)

(18)

(9,187)

(744)

(24,164)

(5,321)

(16,006)

(12)

(5,333)

(524)

(16,530)

95,034

1,706

96,740

67,353

1,153

68,506

(iii)

(28,268)

(506)

(28,774)

(19,916)

(595)

(20,511)

66,766

1,200

67,966

47,437

558

47,995

(iv)

(v)

 27,173 

(18,572)

 4,551 

- 

- 

- 

 27,173 

(18,572)

 4,551 

(7,519)

(171)

52

-

-

-

(7,519)

(171)

52

3,186

(3,302)

126

47,447

(5,901)

-

-

-

-

-

3,186

(3,302)

126

558

48,005

-

-

-

(5,901)

-

-

72,280

1,200

73,480 

41,546

558

42,104

(59)

-

(59)

(1,047)

-

(1,047)

72,221 

1,200

73,421 

40,499

558

41,057

Revenue – consolidated entities
Expenses – consolidated entities

EBITA – consolidated entities

Share of EBITA from associates and joint 
venture (Note 12,13)

EBITA from core operations –  
pre-corporate expenses

Corporate expenses

EBITA from core operations –  
post-corporate expenses

Finance costs (net of interest received  
on surplus cash held)

Amortisation expense 

Profit before income tax from core 
operations before non-trading items

Income tax expense on profit before non-
trading items

Profit after income tax before non-
trading items

Non-trading items:

   Income

   Expenses

   Income tax benefit on non-trading items

Non-controlling interests (NCI)

NCI in non-trading items:

   Income

   Income tax benefit on non-trading items

Net profit after income tax attributable  
to owners of Steadfast Group Limited

Other comprehensive income attributable 
to owners of Steadfast Group Limited

Total comprehensive income after income 
tax attributable to owners of Steadfast 
Group Limited

68

Net profit after income tax for the year 

 79,918 

1,200

 81,118

 
NOTE 4. OPERATING SEGMENTS continued

Table notes

(i) Breakdown of finance costs:

Finance costs – consolidated entities
Finance costs – associates and joint venture 
(Note 12, 13)

(ii) Breakdown of amortisation expenses:

Insurance 
intermediary 
$’000

Other 
$’000

2016

Total 
$’000

Insurance 
intermediary 
$’000

Other 
$’000

2015

Total 
$’000

(8,432)

- 

(8,432)

(4,417)

-

(4,417)

(737)

(9,169)

(18)

(18)

(755)

(9,187)

(904)

(5,321)

(12)

(12)

(916)

(5,333)

Amortisation expense – consolidated entities

(20,216)

(672)

(20,888)

(12,429)

(452)

(12,881)

Amortisation expense – associates and joint 
venture (Note 12, 13)

(3,204)

(72)

(3,276)

(3,577)

(72)

(3,649)

(23,420)

(744)

(24,164)

(16,006)

(524)

(16,530)

(iii) Breakdown of income tax expense on profit before non-trading items:

Income tax expense – consolidated entities

(22,856)

(432)

(23,288)

(14,625)

(525)

(15,150)

Income tax expense – associates and joint 
venture (Note 12, 13)

(5,412)

(74)

(5,486)

(28,268)

(506)

(28,774)

(5,291)

(19,916)

(70)

(5,361)

(595)

(20,511)

(iv) Breakdown of non-trading income:

Net profit on change in value of investments

 1,600 

Executive loans fair value adjustment on part 
repayment of loan

Reversal of deemed interest costs on interest 
free executive loans

Net gain on disposal of customer list

Net gain on re-estimation and settlement  
of deferred consideration(a)

(v) Breakdown of non-trading expenses:

Impairment loss(a)

Non-recurring amortisation expense

Stamp duty, due diligence and restructure costs(b)

-

 530

1,169

23,874

27,173

(18,090)

(482)

-

(18,572)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 1,600 

-

 530

1,169

23,874

27,173

(18,090)

(482)

-

(18,572)

565

971

711

-

939

3,186

-

-

(3,302)

(3,302)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

565

971

711

-

939

3,186

-

-

(3,302)

(3,302)

(a)  The Group often defers a portion of the purchase price of a business and makes the final payment referable to  

future financial performance. At the time of acquisition an estimate is made as to the fair value of the final payment.  
This is reviewed each half-year based on information available and at settlement, and the estimate is adjusted if 
appropriate. Any adjustment is taken to profit (downwards estimate) or loss (upwards estimate). Where an estimate is 
reduced, the Group will consider whether the factors leading to the estimate of deferred consideration represent an 
indicator of impairment, and if so, the need for impairment is considered. The deferred consideration adjustments and 
impairments do not affect cash flows from operating activities. 

(b)  For the year ended 30 June 2016, the Group has incurred $0.127 million of stamp duty, due diligence and restructure 

costs (30 June 2015: $3.302 million). These costs are not considered to be non-trading for the current year as they are 
largely incurred for internal restructure which is part of the Group’s normal operation. In prior year, the Group incurred 
large one-off costs for the capital raising and the acquisitions of a number of underwriting agencies (including Calliden 
Group, CHU and UAA) to become the largest underwriting agency group in Australia and New Zealand. These events are 
considered to be significant changes in the state of affairs for the Group; as such the associated expenses are presented as 
non-trading expenses. 

69

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 5. EARNINGS PER SHARE

A. REPORTING PERIOD VALUE

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

B. RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS USED IN CALCULATING EARNINGS PER SHARE

Profit after income tax

Non-controlling interests

Profit after income tax attributable to the owners of Steadfast Group Limited for 
calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share

C. RECONCILIATION OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES USED  
IN CALCULATING EARNINGS PER SHARE

I. Weighted average number of ordinary shares issued

Weighted average number of ordinary shares issued

Weighted average number of treasury shares held in trust

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating basic earnings per share

II. Weighted average number of dilutive potential ordinary shares related to

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

Effect of share-based payments arrangements(a)

Effect of deemed bonus shares on share options(b)

2016  
Cents

9.86

9.84

2016 
$’000

2015  
Cents

7.26

7.24

2015 
$’000

81,118

(7,638)

48,005

(5,901)

73,480

42,104

2016 
Number  
in ‘000

2015 
Number  
in ‘000

747,928

(2,721)

745,207

581,306

(1,460)

579,846

745,207

579,846

729

1,144

522

967

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

747,080

581,335

The weighted average number of ordinary shares or dilutive potential ordinary shares is calculated by taking into account the 
period from the issue date of the shares to the reporting date unless otherwise stated as below.

(a)  Steadfast operates share-based payments arrangements (being an employee conditional rights scheme, a short-term 

incentive plan and a long-term incentive plan) where eligible employees could receive conditional rights instead of cash. 
One conditional right will convert to one ordinary share subject to vesting conditions being met. These share-based 
payments arrangements are granted to employees free of costs and no consideration will be paid on conversion to 
Steadfast’s ordinary shares. These arrangements have a dilutive effect to the basic earnings per share (EPS).

(b)  3.000 million share options were issued to a member of a key management personnel of an acquired business in 2013 

with an exercise price of $1.00 per share. Because the average share price exceeds the exercise price, 1.144 million shares 
(2015: 0.967 million) are deemed to be bonus shares. 

70

NOTE 6. DIVIDENDS 

A. DIVIDENDS ON ORDINARY SHARES

Cents  
per share

Total amount 
$’000

Payment date

Tax rate for 
franking credit

Percentage 
franked

2016
2016 interim dividend

2015 final dividend

2015

2015 interim dividend

2014 final dividend

2.4

3.0

2.0

2.7

17,994

14 April 2016

22,302

14 October 2015

10,067

13,544

14 April 2015

8 October 2014

30%

30%

30%

30%

100%

100%

100%

100%

It is standard practice that the Board declares the dividend for a period after the relevant reporting date. A dividend is not 
accrued for until it is declared and so the dividends for a period are generally recognised and measured in the financial 
reporting period following the period to which the dividends relate.

The dividends recognised in the current reporting period include $0.155 million (2015: $0.063 million) paid in relation to treasury 
shares held in a trust controlled by the Group. All the treasury shares participate in the dividend reinvestment plan (DRP). 

B. DIVIDEND POLICY

The Company targets a dividend payout ratio in the range of 65% to 85% of net profit after tax attributable to shareholders  
of the Company with a minimum dividend payout ratio of 50% of net profit after tax and before amortisation expense.

C. DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT

A DRP operates which allows equity holders to elect to receive their dividend entitlement in the form of the Company’s 
ordinary shares. The price of DRP shares is the average share market price calculated over the pricing period (which is at least 
five trading days) as determined by the Board for each dividend payment date. 

D. DIVIDEND NOT RECOGNISED AT REPORTING DATE

On 24 August 2016, the Board resolved to pay the following dividend. As this occurred after the reporting date, the dividends 
declared have not been recognised in this financial report.

Cents  
per share

Total amount 
$’000

Expected  
payment date

Tax rate for 
franking credit

Percentage 
franked

2016 final dividend

3.6

26,991

14 Oct 2016

30%

100%

The Company’s DRP will operate by purchasing ordinary shares on market. No discount will be applied. The last election 
notice for participation in the DRP in relation to this final dividend is 14 September 2016.

E. FRANKING CREDITS

Franking account balance at reporting date at 30%

Franking credits/(debits) to arise from payment/(refund) of income tax payable

Franking credits available for future reporting periods

Franking account impact of dividends declared before issuance of financial report but 
not recognised at reporting date

Franking credits available for subsequent financial periods based on a tax rate of 30%

2016 
$’000

27,942

8,824

36,766

(11,568)

25,198

2015 
$’000

31,795

(2,614)

29,181

(9,558)

19,623

The above amounts represent the balance of the franking account as at the end of the financial year, adjusted for:

•  franking credits/(debits) that will arise from the payment/(refund) of the amount of the provision for income tax relating  

to the parent entity at the reporting date;

•  franking debits that will arise from the payment of dividends not recognised as a liability at the reporting date; and
•  franking credits that will arise from the receipt of dividends recognised as receivables at the reporting date.

71

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 7. INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

Customer 
relationships 
$’000

Capitalised 
software 
$’000

Other  
intangible  
assets 
$’000

Total  
intangible  
assets 
$’000

Goodwill 
$’000

2016

A. COMPOSITION

At cost

Accumulated amortisation and impairment

207,291

(52,324)

154,967

B. MOVEMENTS 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

175,742

Additions

Additions through business combinations

Reduction in intangibles upon loss of control

Amortisation expense transferred to other 
reserve on hubbing

Amortisation expense

Impairment

Net foreign currency exchange difference

Balance at the end of the financial year

2015

C. COMPOSITION

At cost

Accumulated amortisation

D. MOVEMENTS

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

Additions

Additions through business combinations

Reduction in intangibles upon loss of control

Amortisation expense transferred to other 
reserve on hubbing

Amortisation expense

Balance at the end of the financial year

-

13,360

(678)

201

(19,484)

(14,343)

169

154,967

194,440

(18,698)

175,742

75,964

-

113,238

(1,802)

415

(12,073)

175,742

7,255

(894)

6,361

1,746

5,095

-

-

-

(480)

-

-

7,747

(3,795)

3,952

3,464

543

3,109

-

-

(924)

(2,240)

-

222,293

(57,013)

713,837

(1,508)

165,280

712,329

180,952

669,321

5,638

16,469

(678)

201

(20,888)

(16,583)

169

-

46,405

(2,459)

-

-

(1,507)

569

6,361

3,952

165,280

712,329

2,161

(415)

1,746

642

1,281

-

-

-

(177)

1,746

4,095

(631)

3,464

-

18

4,077

-

-

(631)

3,464

200,696

669,321

(19,744)

180,952

-

669,321

76,606

1,299

117,315

(1,802)

415

(12,881)

180,952

289,162

-

384,373

(4,214)

-

-

669,321

E. AMORTISATION RATES

10.0% 20.0%–100.0% 20.0%–33.3%

72

NOTE 7. INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL continued

F. IMPAIRMENT TESTING OF IDENTIFIABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL 

The Group performs impairment testing for all goodwill on an annual basis and for any identifiable intangibles that have 
impairment indicators. For the year ended 30 June 2016, the Group has recognised an impairment provision of $18.090 
million (2015: nil). Impairment losses for each category of intangible assets are shown in Section B above. When assessing the 
recoverable amount of customer relationships, the Group considered client retention rates and current market conditions to 
determine both fair value and value in use of each asset. Some assets, including the underwriting agencies acquired in the 
2015 financial year, were acquired under earnout arrangements where the Group estimated deferred consideration payable 
with a consequential impact to the value of associated intangible assets. As the revised estimates are now below the original 
estimates, the recoverable value of these assets were closely monitored as an indicator of impairment, and an impairment was 
subsequently booked for certain intangible assets. Refer Note 4.

In performing impairment testing, each subsidiary acquired or portfolio of businesses acquired is considered a separate cash 
generating unit (CGU) or grouped into one CGU where operations are linked.

To conduct impairment testing, the Group compares the carrying value with the recoverable amount of each asset.  
The recoverable amount is the higher of:

•  value in use – a discounted cash flow model, based on a five year projection on the approved budget of the tested CGUs 

with a terminal value; and

•  fair value – based on the Group’s estimates of sustainable earnings before interest expense, tax and amortisation (EBITA)  

for each CGU multiplied by an earnings multiple appropriate for similar businesses less costs to sell.

The following table sets out the key assumptions for the value in use model:

Post tax discount rates(a)

Pre-tax discount rates

2016  
%

2015  
%

9.8% or 11.5%

12.7% or 15.2%

10.0% or 11.7%

12.6% or 15.2%

Revenue growth rate(b) – one year to five years extrapolation

5.9% per annum

4.0% per annum

Long-term revenue growth rate(c)

3.25% per annum

4.0% per annum

(a)  Post tax discount rates reflect the Group’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC), adjusted for additional risks specific 

to each CGU. The WACC takes into account market risks, size of the business, current borrowing interest rates, borrowing 
capacity of the businesses and the risk free rate. External advice has been sought in relation to the determination of 
appropriate discount rates to be used.

(b)  The Group has estimated a revenue growth of 5.9% per annum for the financial years between 2017 and 2021 based on 

short-term forecasts and current performance, including initiatives pertaining to the rollout of the Steadfast Client Trading 
Platform to further products. 

(c)  The Group considers that a long-term revenue growth rate of 3.25% is appropriate, based on the current market 

conditions and historical Gross Written Premium (GWP) trends. This was reduced during FY16 reflecting lower long-term 
market forecasts of economic growth. 

No reasonable possible change in assumptions would result in the recoverable amount of a CGU being materially less than 
the carrying value.

73

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 8. BORROWINGS 

A. BANK LOANS

Current 

Non-current

Capitalised transaction costs

B. BANK FACILITIES AVAILABLE

I. Bank facilities drawn down

Bank loans – corporate facility

Bank loans – subsidiaries

Lines of credit – corporate facility

Lines of credit – subsidiaries

II. Undrawn bank facilities 

Bank loans – corporate facility

Bank loans – subsidiaries

Lines of credit – corporate facility

Lines of credit – subsidiaries

III. Total bank facilities available

Bank loans

Lines of credit

C. CORPORATE FACILITY DETAILS

As at 30 June 2016:

2016 
$’000

2015 
$’000

 1,116 

 201,265 

(939)

453

160,910

-

 201,442 

161,363

 170,500 

31,881

-

 464 

147,109

14,254

-

632

 202,845 

161,995

110,500

32,891

-

4,000

 1,211 

 115,711 

 312,881 

 5,675 

 318,556 

-

-

368

33,259

194,254

1,000

195,254

•  the Company had a $285.000 million multibank syndicated facility (corporate facility) with Macquarie Bank and ANZ 

Banking Group (30 June 2015: $180.000 million); and

•  $170.500 million of the $285.000 million facility has been drawn down, which together with $0.428 million for bonds and 
rental guarantees, leaves $114.072 million available in the corporate facility for future drawdowns (2015: $32.891 million).

74

NOTE 8. BORROWINGS continued

D. KEY TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CORPORATE FACILITIES

During the financial year, the Company entered into a $285.000 million multibank syndicated facility with Macquarie Bank and 
ANZ Banking Group to replace the $180.000 million facility with Macquarie Bank. The $180.000 million facility was fully repaid 
on 13 August 2015. 

Immediately after the first draw down on the multibank syndicated facility, the Company transacted an interest rate swap  
with a notional amount of $75.000 million where the Company swaps the floating rate payment into fixed rate payments.  
Refer to Note 14 for further details on the interest rate swap. 

The key terms and conditions of the multibank syndicated facility with Macquarie Bank and ANZ Banking Group for Steadfast 
as at 30 June 2016 were as follows:

•  $285.000 million facility consisting of a three-year tranche of $235.000 million and a five-year tranche of $50.000 million;
•  the three-year tranche has the potential for two one-year extensions by agreement of all parties at the end of the first and 

second year of the facility. Subsequent to balance date the first one-year extension was completed.

•  variable interest rate – based on BBSY plus a margin;
•  the facility is guaranteed by certain wholly owned subsidiaries and is secured over all of the present and after acquired property 

of the Company and the guarantors (other than certain excluded property), which is standard in facilities of this nature; and

•  other terms and conditions are consistent with a facility of this size and nature and the circumstances of Steadfast.

E. BORROWING BY ASSOCIATES

As at 30 June 2016, the associates had a total of $37.674 million of bank borrowings (including bank overdrafts and loans).  
As the associates are equity-accounted, these borrowings are not included in the balance sheet. Refer Note 12C.

NOTE 9. NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY AND RESERVES

2016  
Number of  
shares  
in ’000

2015
Number of  
shares  
in ’000

2016 

2015 

$’000

$’000

A. SHARE CAPITAL

Reconciliation of movements

Issued ordinary shares, fully paid at the beginning  
of the financial year*

Shares issued on the ASX

Less: transaction costs on issue of ordinary shares,  
net of income tax

743,414

-

-

Shares issued for the dividend reinvestment plan

6,338

501,638

238,097

-

3,679

787,946

-

-

8,911

488,187

300,002

(5,801)

5,558

Issued ordinary shares, fully paid at the end of the 
financial year

749,752

743,414

796,857

787,946

*  Ordinary shares in the Company have no par value and entitle the holder to participate in dividends as declared from time  

to time. All ordinary shares rank equally with regard to the Company’s residual assets. 

75

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 9. NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY AND RESERVES continued

2016
Number of  
shares in ’000

2015
Number of  
shares in ’000

B. TREASURY SHARES HELD IN TRUST

Reconciliation of movements

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

Shares allocated to employees

Shares acquired

Shares allotted through the dividend reinvestment plan

Balance at the end of the financial year

2,036

(100)

907

99

2,942

754

(737)

1,977

42

2,036

2016 

$’000

3,018

(165)

1,388

155

4,396

2015 

$’000

1,070

(1,046)

2,931

63

3,018

Treasury shares are ordinary shares of Steadfast bought on market by the trustee (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Group)  
of an employee share plan for meeting future obligations under that plan when conditional rights vest and shares are allocated 
to participants.

C. CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can 
continue its listing on the ASX, provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders, and to maintain an 
optimum capital structure to minimise the cost of capital, within the risk appetite approved by the Directors.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders,  
return capital to shareholders, issue new shares, take on borrowings or sell assets to reduce debt. 

The Group monitors capital on the basis of corporate gearing ratio, which is calculated as borrowings attributable to the 
Company (corporate borrowings) divided by total equity and corporate borrowings. The Company’s current maximum 
corporate gearing ratio determined by the Board is 25%. In recognition that subsidiaries may require debt to fund bolt on 
acquisitions, the Group has limited the extent of subsidiary borrowings to an additional 5% leverage. The gearing ratios at 
reporting date are as follows:

Corporate borrowings

Total borrowings

Total Group equity

Total Group equity and corporate borrowings

Total Group equity and total borrowings

Corporate gearing ratio

Total gearing ratio

D. NATURE AND PURPOSE OF RESERVES

I. Foreign currency translation reserve

2016
$’000

170,500

202,845

898,141

1,068,641

1,100,986

16.0%

18.4%

2015
$’000

147,109

161,995

841,565

988,674

1,003,560

14.9%

16.1%

The foreign currency translation reserve records the foreign currency differences from the translation of the financial 
information of foreign operations that have a functional currency other than Australian dollars. 

II. Share-based payments reserve

The share-based payments reserve is used to recognise the fair value at grant date of equity settled share-based remuneration 
provided to employees; a member of key management personnel of a subsidiary; as well as the discount on Executive Shares.

III. Other reserves

The other reserves are used to recognise other movements in equity including: cumulative net change in fair value of hedging 
instruments; the fair value of put options issued to a shareholder of a subsidiary over that subsidiary’s shares; and the net 
effect on disposal of partial equity ownership in subsidiaries without loss of control.

IV. Undistributed profits reserve

The undistributed profits reserve consists of the current financial year’s net profit attributable to owners of the Group and 
any retained amount carried forward from prior periods transferred from retained earnings. This reserve will be used to pay 
dividends declared by the Board.

76

NOTE 10. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

ACQUISITIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2016

During the year ended 30 June 2016, the Group completed a number of acquisitions in accordance with its strategy. 

Acquisition of subsidiaries 

The following disclosures provide information for nine acquired businesses. As no acquisition is individually material, the 
information is shown in aggregate. Note 10.f. contains a list of subsidiaries acquired and the respective ownership interests. 

a. Consideration paid/payable

2016

Cash

Consideration previously paid(a)

Deferred consideration(b)

Scrip for scrip(c)

Total

Acquisitions
$’000

25,012

17,857

7,901

3,792

54,562

(a)  This amount represents the original investment in Austcover Holdings Pty Ltd and Consolidated Insurance Agencies Pty Ltd 

when the Group increased its shareholding from 49% to 50% and 49% to 55% respectively. 

(b)  Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreements, some of the consideration will be settled based on future years’ actual 
financial performance and thus was recognised as deferred consideration by the Group. The deferred consideration 
is estimated based on a multiple of forecast revenue and/or earnings. Any variations at the time of settlement will be 
recognised as an expense or income in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income.  
The deferred consideration shown above represents:

 -   $6.498 million of deferred consideration for which the maximum amount of payment is not capped; and
 -   $1.403 million of deferred consideration which is fixed.

(c)  Some acquisitions made through existing subsidiaries of the Group have been partially completed on a scrip for scrip basis 

(using the subsidiaries’ scrip). 

b. Identifiable assets and liabilities acquired

2016

Cash and cash equivalents(1)

Trade and other receivables(2)

Property, plant and equipment

Deferred tax assets

Identifiable intangibles 

Other assets

Trade and other payables

Income tax payable

Provisions

Deferred tax liabilities

Other liabilities

Total net identifiable assets/(liabilities)

(1)  Includes cash held on trust

(2)  The trade receivables comprise contractual amounts and are expected to be fully recoverable.

If new information obtained within one year from the acquisition date about facts and circumstances that existed  
at the acquisition date identifies adjustments to the above amounts, then the acquisition accounting will be revised.

Acquisitions
$’000

14,491

10,757

632

302

16,469

189

(19,525)

(970)

(1,058)

(5,397)

(8,012)

7,878

77

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 10. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS continued

c. Goodwill on acquisition

2016

Total consideration paid/payable

Total net identifiable (assets)/liabilities acquired

Non-controlling interests acquired

Goodwill on acquisition*

Acquisitions
$’000

54,562

(7,878)

(279)

46,405

*  The majority of goodwill relates to benefits from the combination of synergies as well as the acquired subsidiaries’ ability  

to generate future profits. None of the goodwill recognised is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

d. Financial performance of acquired subsidiaries

The contribution for the period since acquisition by the acquired subsidiaries to the financial performance of the Group 
is outlined in the table below.

2016

Revenue

EBITA

Profit after income tax

Acquisitions
$’000

10,275

4,218

2,625

If the acquisitions of subsidiaries occurred on 1 July 2015, the Group’s total revenue and profit after income tax attributable to 
the owners of the Group for the year ended 30 June 2016 would have been $375.709 million and $74.725 million respectively.

e. Acquisition-related costs

The Group incurred $0.127 million of acquisition-related costs, being stamp duty and legal fees for business interests acquired 
during the year ended 30 June 2016.

f. Subsidiaries acquired

The table below outlines all the subsidiaries acquired during the year ended 30 June 2016. It includes some entities in which 
the Group had a prior equity interest and that became subsidiaries following internal restructuring.

Ownership interest as 
at 30 June 2016
%

Table note

60.50

64.00

60.00

47.00

100.00

55.00

50.00

100.00

80.00

(i)

(ii)

(ii) (iii)

(iv)

Name of subsidiary acquired

Ausure Consolidated Brokers Pty Ltd

Gardners Insurance Brokers Qld Pty Ltd

DIB Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Seamac Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Trident Broking Pty Ltd

Consoliated Insurance Agencies Pty Ltd

Austcover Holdings Pty Ltd

InsuranceCONNECT Pty Ltd

Forbes Chatham Insurance Pty Ltd

78

NOTE 10. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS continued 

Table notes

(i)  The Group acquired Seamac Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd (Seamac) through Capital Insurance (Broking) Group Pty Ltd (trading 
as Hervey Bay Maryborough Insurance Brokers (Hervey Bay)), an existing subsidiary of the Group. The 47% equity interest in 
Seamac represents the Group’s effective interest in Seamac. The Group effectively has control over Seamac as the Group 
has the right to appoint half of the directors of Hervey Bay; therefore it is classified as a subsidiary.

(ii)  The Group acquired additional shares in Austcover Holdings Pty Ltd and Consolidated Insurance Agencies Pty Ltd.  

As a result, they became subsidiaries of the Group.

(iii)  Although the Group only has 50.00% equity interest in Austcover Holdings Pty Ltd, the Group has control over the entity 
due to the terms of the sale and purchase agreement, which give the Group the ability to direct the key financial and 
operating activities.

(iv)  The Group acquired Forbes Chatham Insurance Pty Ltd through RIB Group Holdings Pty Ltd, an existing subsidiary of the 

Group. The 80.00% equity interest in Forbes Chatham Insurance Pty Ltd represents the Group’s effective interest in the entity. 

g. Deferred consideration reconciliation

The following table shows a reconciliation of movements in deferred consideration for the years ended 30 June 2016  
and 30 June 2015.

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

Settlement of deferred consideration

Non-cash settlement of deferred consideration

Additions from new acquisitions in business combinations

Additions from new acquisitions of associates

Additions from new acquisitions in step-up acquisitions and hubbing arrangements

(Gain)/loss in profit or loss on settlement or reassessment*

Balance at the end of the financial year

30 June 2016
$’000

30 June 2015
$’000

55,327

(23,138)

(3,745)

7,901

1,003

195

(23,874)

13,669

20,052

(18,938)

-

52,384

-

2,768

(939)

55,327

*  The Group often defers a portion of the purchase price of a business and makes the final payment referable  

to future financial performance. At the time of acquisition an estimate is made as to the fair value of the final payment.  
This is reviewed each half-year based on information available and at settlement, and the estimate is adjusted if appropriate. 
Any adjustment is taken to profit (downwards estimate) or loss (upwards estimate). For the year 30 June 2016, the Group 
has recognised a net gain of $23.874 million (year to 30 June 2015: net gain of $0.939 million), based on actual financial 
performance to 30 June 2016 and revised estimates of expected future financial performance.

The balance of deferred consideration at the end of the financial year represents:

30 June 2016
$’000

30 June 2015
$’000

Amount payable is limited

Amount payable is not capped

Amount payable is fixed

247

8,250

5,172

13,669

26,354

25,717

3,256

55,327

79

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 11. SUBSIDIARIES

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of the following key subsidiaries.

Table 
note

Country of 
incorporation

2016
%

2015
%

Ownership interest

Name

A. PARENT ENTITY

Steadfast Group Limited

B. SUBSIDIARIES – OPERATING ENTITIES

I. Insurance broking businesses

Steadfast Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Austcover Holdings Pty Ltd

Ausure Group Pty Ltd and its related entities

(iii)

Body Corporate Brokers Pty Ltd

Brecknock Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Brecknock Insurance Brokers (Vic) Pty Ltd

Capital Insurance (Broking) Group Pty Ltd and Capital 
Insurance Broking Group Unit Trust and its subsidiaries

Centrewest Holdings Pty Ltd

Commercial-Industrial Insurance Consultants Pty Ltd

Consolidated Insurance Agencies Pty Ltd

Corporate Insurance Brokers Ballina (NSW) Pty Ltd and 
Corporate Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Cyclecover Pty Ltd

DIB Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Finn Foster & Associates Pty Ltd

Gallivan, Magee & Associates Pty Ltd

Garaty Murnane Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Gardner Insurance Brokers Qld Pty Ltd

(i)

GWS Pty Ltd

ICF (Australia) Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries

IC Frith (NZ) Limited and its subsidiaries

Insurance Broking Queensland Pty Ltd

Les Wigginton Pty Ltd

Masterman Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd and Robert 
Masterman Insurance Broking Unit Trust

Jakomil Pty Ltd and The Milbar Unit Trust

Mega Capital Holdings Pty Ltd

Multi-Functional Policies Pty Ltd

National Credit Insurance (Brokers) Pty Ltd (incorporating 
IMC Trade Credit)

Newmarket Grand West Pty Ltd

Newmarket Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

PID Holdings Pty Limited

Professional Risk Placements Pty Ltd

80

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

New Zealand

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

100.00

50.00

60.50

100.00

83.24

64.00

47.00

67.00

80.00

55.00

80.00

80.00

60.00

60.00

80.00

60.00

65.00

80.00

100.00

90.00

65.00

80.00

80.00

67.00

100.00

83.24

86.95

90.00

90.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

49.00

73.82

100.00

80.80

80.80

47.00

67.00

83.00

49.00

80.00

100.00

-

60.00

83.00

60.00

-

83.00

100.00

90.00

64.00

80.00

83.00

67.00

80.00

80.80

86.95

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

NOTE 11. SUBSIDIARIES continued

Name

Table 
note

Country of 
incorporation

(iv)

(i)

Queensland Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd and QIS Financial 
Services Pty Ltd

RIB Group Holdings Pty Limited and its subsidiaries (RIB Group)

RSM Financial Services Pty Ltd

Sawtell & Salisbury Pty Ltd and Sawtell & Salisbury Unit Trust

Steadfast IRS Pty Limited

Steadfast NZ Holdings Limited

Steadfast NZ Limited

Steadfast Re Pty Ltd

Steadfast Taswide Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd 

Trident Broking Pty Ltd

VBIH Pty Ltd

V.F.P. Insurance Brokers Pty Limited

Waveline Investments Pty Ltd

Webmere Pty Ltd

Work Health Alternatives Pty Ltd

II. Underwriting agency businesses

Steadfast Underwriting Agencies Holdings Pty Ltd

SUA Services Pty Ltd

Associated Marine Underwriting Agency Pty Limited

CAIP Services Pty Ltd

Calliden Group Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries

CHU Underwriting Agencies Pty Ltd

Grange Underwriting Pty Ltd

Hostsure Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd

Miramar Underwriting Agency Pty Limited

NM Insurance Pty Ltd 

Procover Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd

Protecsure Pty Limited

Residential Builders Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd

Sports Underwriting Australia Pty Ltd

Steadfast Placement Solutions Pty Ltd

Underwriting Agencies of Australia Pty Ltd

(ii)

Winsure Underwriting Pty Limited

WM Amalgamated Pty Ltd 

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

New Zealand

New Zealand

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

Ownership interest

2016
%

80.00

80.00

100.00

65.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

50.00

73.21

100.00

80.00

80.00

67.00 

65.00

70.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

70.00

100.00

100.00

65.00

100.00

100.00 

75.00 

100.00

80.00 

100.00

80.00

100.00

90.00

100.00 

85.00 

2015
%

80.00

80.00

100.00

64.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

50.00

70.70

-

-

80.80

67.00 

64.00

-

100.00

100.00

100.00

70.00

100.00

100.00

64.00

100.00

100.00 

70.00 

100.00

90.00 

100.00

80.00

100.00

100.00

100.00 

86.00 

81

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 11. SUBSIDIARIES continued

Name

III. Complementary businesses

Actionquote Holdings Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries

InsuranceCONNECT Pty Ltd

Steadfast Convention Pty Ltd

Steadfast Foundation Pty Ltd

Steadfast Share Plan Nominee Pty Ltd

Steadfast Technologies Pty Ltd

Steadfast Technology Services Pty Ltd

White Outsourcing Pty Limited

Table notes

Ownership interest

Table 
note

Country of 
incorporation

(vi)

(v)

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

2016
%

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00 

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

2015
%

100.00

-

100.00

100.00 

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

(i)  The following entities went through internal restructuring — transferring the equity interests of the broking business  

and its operations into a business hub headed by another entity within the Group (hubbing) during the financial year.  
The ownership interest in the table above represents the ownership interest post restructuring:

 -   Queensland hub – On 30 October 2015, the Group sold its 49.00% equity interest in Gardner Insurance Brokers Qld 
Pty Ltd (Gardner) to Webmere Pty Ltd (Webmere), which also acquired the remaining 51% of Gardner from external 
shareholders. As a result of these transactions, Gardner became a subsidiary of the Group. 

(ii)  On 22 February 2016, the Group sold 10% of its equity interest in Underwriting Agencies of Australia Pty Ltd (UAA) to its 
management. As a result of the management buy-in, the Group’s equity interest in UAA reduced from 100.00% to 90%. 

(iii)  In the current financial year Ausure Group Pty Ltd (Ausure) purchased 100% of Ausure Consolidated Brokers Pty Limited 
(ACB). Consideration was in the form of cash and Ausure shares which as a result diluted the Group's effective interest  
in Ausure from 73.8% to 60.5%. 

(iv)  Although the Group only has 50.00% of equity interest in Steadfast Re Pty Ltd, the Group effectively has control over 

Steadfast Re as the Group has the right to appoint (and has appointed) half of the directors of Steadfast Re, and the Group 
has the ability to direct the key financial and operating activities of Steadfast Re under the terms of the sale and purchase 
agreement. 

(v)  A trustee for Steadfast employee share plans.

(vi)  A trustee for Steadfast Foundation, a charitable foundation.

82

NOTE 12. INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES

A. DETAILS OF ASSOCIATES

Interests in associates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Information relating to key associates  
is set out below.

Name

I. Insurance broking businesses

Armbro Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Armstrong's Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd and Armstrong's Insurance 
Brokers Unit Trust

Ausure Group Pty Ltd – associates thereof

Austcover Holdings Pty Ltd

Blackburn (Insurance Brokers) Pty Ltd and Liability Brokers Pty Ltd

Consolidated Insurance Agencies Pty Ltd

Covercorp Pty Ltd

Edgewise Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd and The Bradstock GIS Unit Trust

Empire Insurance Services Pty Ltd and McLardy McShane & 
Associates Pty Ltd

Finpac Insurance Advisors Pty Ltd

Gardner Insurance Brokers Qld Pty Ltd(a)

Glenowar Pty Ltd

IPS Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

J.D.I (YOUNG) Pty Limited

Johansen Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

King Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Lanyon Partners Consolidated Pty Ltd

McKillop Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Melbourne Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

NCA Insurance Services Pty Ltd

Optimus 1 Pty Ltd

Paramount Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Phoenix Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

Pollard Advisory Services Pty Ltd

QUS Pty Ltd

Risk Partners Pty Ltd

Rose Stanton Insurance Brokers Pty Limited

Rothbury Group Limited(b)

RSM Group Limited

Sapphire Star Pty Ltd

Scott & Broad Pty Ltd

Southside Insurance Brokers Pty Limited

Steadfast Life Pty Ltd

Ownership interest

Equity-accounted

2016
%

2015
%

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

40.00

40.00

1,536

1,572

25.00

27.02

-

49.00

-

49.00

25.00

37.00

49.00

-

49.00

40.00

25.00

48.00

37.00

45.00

49.00

49.00

49.00

25.00

25.00

46.00

49.00

46.50

45.00

49.00

44.44

49.00

30.00

42.88

49.00

50.00

25.00

23.99

49.00

49.00

49.00

49.00

25.00

37.00

49.00

49.00

49.00

40.00

25.00

48.00

37.00

45.00

49.00

49.00

49.00

25.00

25.00

46.00

49.00

46.50

-

49.00

30.00 

49.00

30.00

49.00

49.00

50.00

832

3,577

798

1,124

-

12,800

3,607

-

1,158

2,126

3,739

1,078

-

4,276

3,100

821

4,677

-

4,908

4,845

1,545

3,550

584

1,470

4,851

4,714

1,103

7,503

680

3,490

3,734

1,174

2,066

3,657

1,109

1,367

4,289

3,243

774

4,724

-

5,053

4,979

1,564

3,471

596

1,004

5,046

4,700

934

-

760

22,857

14,774

5,953

1,318

8,242

660

3,018

6,071

1,433

8,971

662

2,957

Tudor Insurance Australia (Insurance Brokers) Pty Ltd and Tudor 
Insurance Agency Unit Trust

Watkins Taylor Stone Insurance Brokers Pty Limited and D&E Watkins 
Unit Trust

48.00

48.00

2,002

2,050

35.00

35.00

1,824

1,860

83

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 12. INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES continued

Name

II. Underwriting agencies businesses
Emergence Insurance Group Pty Ltd

Sterling Insurance Pty Limited

Tradewise Insurance Pty Ltd

III. Complementary businesses

Meridian Lawyers Limited

Ownership interest
2015
2016
%
%

Equity-accounted
2015
2016
$’000
$’000

33.33

39.50

48.00

25.00

39.50

48.00

200

7,346

-

231

7,340

-

25.00

25.00

2,081

1,974

(a)  The following entities went through internal restructuring — transferring the equity interests of the broking business and its 
operations into a business hub headed by another entity within the Group (hubbing). The ownership interest in the table 
above represents the ownership interest post restructuring:

 -   The Group sold its 49.00% equity interest in Gardner to Webmere. As a result, Gardner became a subsidiary of the Group 

– see Note 11. 

(b)  All entities classified as associates have their principal operations in Australia with the exception of Rothbury Group Limited 

whose principal operation are in New Zealand. 

B. RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS

Balance at the beginning of the financial year
Acquisition of associates

Reclassification of investment in associates to investment in subsidiaries

Disposal of associates through hubbing arrangements

Share of EBITA from associates

Less share of:

   Finance costs

   Amortisation expense

   Income tax expense

Share of associates’ profit after income tax

Dividend received/receivable 

Net foreign exchange movements

Balance at the end of the financial year

C. SUMMARISED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF ASSOCIATES

I. Disclosure in aggregate

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

122,351
18,635

(16,257)

(1,842)

17,004

(574)

(2,795)

(4,564)

9,071

(9,580)

(595)

144,388
4,204

(16,927)

(5,503)

16,653

(686)

(3,169)

(4,505)

8,293

(11,505)

(599)

121,783

122,351

These disclosures relate to the investment in all associates in aggregate. The figures below represent the financial position  
and performance of the associates as a whole and not just the Group’s share.

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

Current assets
Non-current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Net assets

Revenue

EBITA

Profit/(loss) after income tax from continued operations

Total comprehensive income

Included in liabilities is $37.674 million of bank borrowings. Refer Note 8E.
84

241,831
101,918

210,357

26,030

107,362

163,051

42,778

27,261

27,261

252,303
109,544

230,980

35,354

95,513

166,309

41,036

26,056

26,056

NOTE 13. INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURE

A. DETAILS OF JOINT VENTURE

Name

Ownership interest

2016
%

2015
%

Macquarie Premium Funding Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries (Macquarie Pacific Funding Group)

50.00

50.00

Macquarie Pacific Funding Group, which has a business name of Macquarie Pacific Funding, is an insurance premium funding 
provider. Macquarie Premium Funding Pty Ltd, the holding company of the Macquarie Pacific Funding Group, is incorporated 
in Australia. It has operations in both Australia and New Zealand.

Macquarie Bank Limited and the Company, the joint venture partners, have an equal equity interest in Macquarie Pacific 
Funding Group.

B. RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

Share of EBITA from joint venture

Less share of:

   Finance costs

   Amortisation expense

   Income tax expense

Share of joint venture’s profit after income tax

Dividend received/receivable 

Balance at the end of the financial year

2016
$’000

3,446

3,679

(181)

(481)

(922)

2,095

(3,330)

2,211

2015
$’000

4,425

3,704

(230)

(480)

(856)

2,138

(3,117)

3,446

C. SUMMARISED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF JOINT VENTURE

These disclosures relate to the financial position and financial performance of the joint venture as a whole and not just the 
Group’s share.

Current assets

Non-current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Net assets

Revenue

EBITA

Profit/(loss) after income tax

Total comprehensive income

2016
$’000

15,892

6,068

12,559

4,615

4,786

48,700

7,357

4,190

4,190

2015
$’000

17,212

7,429

10,785

6,629

7,227

51,578

7,408

4,276

4,276

85

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

A. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

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

Risk management is carried out by senior finance executives (finance) under policies approved by the Directors.  
These policies include identification and analysis of the risk exposure of the Group and appropriate procedures, controls and 
risk limits. Finance identifies, evaluates and may hedge financial risks within the Group's operating units. Finance reports to the 
Directors on a regular basis.

B. MARKET RISK

Interest rate risk

As at the reporting date, the Group had the following variable rate bank accounts and borrowings:

Non-derivatives

Cash at bank

Cash on deposit

Bank overdrafts

Bank loans

Derivatives

Interest rate swap

Weighted 
average  
interest rate 
%

1.39

2.45

6.75

2016

Balance
$’000

231,834

60,333

(464)

Weighted 
average 
interest rate 
%

1.63

2.85

6.65

2015

Balance
$’000

193,607

46,149

(632)

3.78(a)

(201,442)

 3.85(a)

(161,363)

90,261

77,761

3.79(b)

75,000(b)

-

-

(a)  Weighted average interest rate excludes any applicable line fee.

(b)  The Group has entered into an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $75 million where the Group swaps  

the BBSY indexed floating rate payment into 3.79% fixed rate payment. The interest rate swap matures in August 2018.  
The Group entered into the interest rate swap to minimise the Group’s exposure to interest rate risk, in which the Group 
agrees to exchange the difference between fixed and variable rate interest amounts calculated by reference to an 
agreed-upon notional principal amount. The swap is designed to hedge interest costs associated with the underlying 
corporate debt obligations. At 30 June 2016, after taking into account the effect of the interest rate swap, the Group had 
approximately 56% of the Group’s corporate debt exposed to variable rates (2015: 100%).

The Group held $0.042 million (2015: $0.047 million) cash in hand which did not generate any interest income at the end  
of the financial year. 

An increase/decrease in interest rates of one hundred (2015: one hundred) basis points would have an adverse/favourable 
effect on profit/(loss) after tax of $0.632 million (2015: adverse/favourable effect of $0.544 million) per annum.

The basis point change is based on the expected volatility of interest rates using market data, historical trends over prior years 
and the Group's ongoing relationships with financial institutions.

86

NOTE 14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS continued

C. CREDIT RISK

Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. 
The Group obtains guarantees where appropriate to mitigate credit risk. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting 
date to recognised financial assets is the carrying amount, net of any provisions for impairment of those assets, as disclosed  
in the statement of financial position and notes to the financial statements. The Group does not hold any collateral, apart from 
arrangements described in Note 15.

Credit risk of the Group mainly arises from cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and a loan to the joint venture. 

The Group has funded $29.800 million of loans to facilitate management buy-ins of certain businesses under our  
owner-driver business model. These loans are disclosed as other non-current assets in the Consolidated Statement of 
Financial Position. These loans attract commercial interest rates, with dividends from these businesses used to fund interest 
and loan repayments. The shares held by management in those businesses are provided as loan collateral.

The Group’s exposure to credit risk is concentrated in the financial services industry with parties that are considered to be 
of sufficiently high credit quality (including cash held with major Australian banks) to minimise credit risk losses. Receivables 
include amounts due from policyholders in respect of insurances arranged by controlled entities. Insurance brokers and 
underwriting agencies have credit terms of up to 90 days from policy inception to pay funds received from policyholders to 
insurers. Should policyholders not pay, the insurance policy is cancelled by the insurer and a credit given against the amount 
due. Commission revenue is recognised after taking into account an allowance for expected revenue losses on policy lapses 
and cancellations, based on past experience.

The loan to a joint venture is provided with a fixed maturity date, seven years from March 2013. The credit risk from the joint 
venture party is considered to be low as it is a loan secured by all present and future assets of the joint venture party.

D. LIQUIDITY RISK

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

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

The following tables detail the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its financial liabilities. The tables have been drawn 
up based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the financial liabilities  
are required to be paid. 

Weighted 
average  
interest rate 
%

1 year or less
$’000

Between  
1 to 2 years
$’000

Between  
2 to 5 years
$’000

Over 5 years
$’000

Total 
contractual 
maturities
$’000

2016

Non-derivatives

Non-interest bearing

Payables on broking/
underwriting agency 
operations*

Trade and other payables

Deferred consideration

Interest bearing

Bank loans

Total non-derivatives

Derivatives

Hedge interest rate swaps  
(net settled)

Total derivative

453,322

48,002

11,821

1,158

514,303

-

3,005

1,848

1,530

6,383

-

-

-

-

-

-

453,322

51,007

13,669

213,912

213,912

6,962

6,962

223,562

741,560

3.78

-

-

-

-

463

463

-

-

463

463

87

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS continued

Weighted 
average  
interest rate 
%

1 year or less
$’000

Between  
1 to 2 years
$’000

Between  
2 to 5 years
$’000

Over 5 years
$’000

Total 
contractual 
maturities
$’000

2015

Non-derivatives

Non-interest bearing

Payables on broking/
underwriting agency 
operations*

Trade and other payables

Deferred consideration

Interest bearing

Bank loans

Total non-derivatives

429,012

43,380

27,506

470

500,368

-

1,284

27,821

155,253

184,358

-

-

-

-

-

-

429,012

44,664

55,327

12,110

12,110

579

579

168,412

697,415

3.85

*  Paid to underwriters only upon receipt of premiums from customers.

E. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Group’s deferred consideration liability is measured at fair value at the end of each reporting period. The following table 
gives information about how the fair value of this financial liability is determined, including the valuation technique and inputs 
used. For the Group’s financial instruments not measured at fair value, the carrying amount of these financial instruments 
provides a reasonable approximation of their fair values. 

Financial  
instrument

Fair value  
hierarchy

Valuation technique

Significant  
unobservable inputs

Relationship of unobservable 
inputs to fair value

Deferred  
consideration

Level 3

The fair value is calculated based 
on an agreed multiple of forecast 
EBITA or fees and commissions

Forecast EBITA or fees  
and commissions

The estimated fair value would 
increase/(decrease) if the 
forecast EBITA was higher/
(lower)

Interest rate  
swaps

Level 2

The fair value is calculated using  
the present value of the estimated 
future cash flow based on 
observable yield curves

Not applicable

Not applicable 

NOTE 15. CONTINGENCIES

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES 

Macquarie Bank put options

The Group has granted options to Macquarie Bank Limited (‘Macquarie’) to enable Macquarie to put shares held by other 
shareholders in associates to the Group at fair value if Macquarie enforces its security over those shares. These have been 
granted in relation to shares held by other shareholders in associates over which Macquarie holds a security interest to secure 
indebtedness by those shareholders. The Group expects no material net exposure from this arrangement as the contingent 
liabilities have contingent assets approximating similar values.

88

NOTE 16. COMMITMENTS

Contracted non-cancellable leases for property, plant and equipment committed at the reporting date but not recognised  
as liabilities or payables are provided below.

OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

Within one year

One to five years

Over five years

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

7,804

16,330

2,253

26,387

8,421

13,041

1,413

22,875

NOTE 17. EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD 

FINAL DIVIDEND 

On 24 August 2016, the Board declared a final dividend for 2016 of 3.6 cents per share, 100% franked. The dividend will be 
paid on 14 October 2016.

NOTE 18. PROFIT AND LOSS INFORMATION

This note provides further information about individual items recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

A. STAMP DUTY, DUE DILIGENCE AND RESTRUCTURE COSTS

Stamp duty, due diligence and restructure costs on acquisition of businesses

127

3,302

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

B. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (INCLUDED IN EMPLOYMENT EXPENSE)

Contributions to defined contribution superannuation funds

Share-based payments

C. RENTAL EXPENSE RELATING TO OPERATING LEASES

Lease payments

D. PROFIT/(LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS

Profit on fair value of investments(a)

2016

11,380

710

7,767

989

10,665

7,482

1,600

565

(a)  This amount represents profit recognised as a result of remeasuring to fair value the equity interest in Austcover and 

Consolidated Insurance Agencies of $1.335 million and $0.265 million respectively. The Group increased its shareholdings 
in Austcover and Consolidated Insurance Agencies from 49.00% to 50.00% and 49.00% to 55.00% respectively.

2015

(a)  This amount represented a profit of $0.565 million recognised as a result of remeasuring to fair value the equity interest in 

Webmere. The Group increased its shareholding in Webmere from 49.00% to 50.50% (and subsequently increased it to 64.00%).

89

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 19. SHARE-BASED REMUNERATION

SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS – EMPLOYEE RELATED

Share-based remuneration encourages employee share ownership, links employee reward to the performance of the Group 
and assists with retention of key personnel.

The Company intends to settle its obligations under share-based payment arrangements by the on-market purchase of the 
Company’s ordinary shares which will be held in trust. The Group has established a practice of purchasing a tranche of shares 
on or near grant date at the prevailing market price to facilitate building up a portfolio sufficient to meet the obligations when 
rights vest.

Trading in the Company’s ordinary shares awarded under the share-based remuneration arrangements is covered by the  
same restrictions that apply to all forms of share ownership by employees. These restrictions limit an employee trading  
in the Company’s ordinary shares when they are in a position to be aware, or are aware of price sensitive information. 

The Group has the following types of share-based remuneration arrangements provided to employees; each arrangement  
has different purposes and different rules:

•  conditional rights;
•  short-term incentive plan; and
•  long-term incentive plan. 

The share-based payments are included in the employment expense line in the statement of comprehensive income.

I. Senior management and executive share plans

The senior management and executive share plan arrangements are awarded based on the terms and conditions as set out in 
the short-term and long-term incentive plans. The awards in these two plans when granted may be in the form of cash and/or 
conditional rights. The Remuneration & Succession Planning Committee has approved the participation of each individual in 
these arrangements as well as the actual awards based on the performance conditions in these two plans being met.

a. Short-term incentive plan

The STI plan is a discretionary, performance-based, at risk reward arrangement. STI is awarded based on each participant’s 
performance hurdles and whether the financial performance hurdle of minimum 5% underlying earnings per share growth  
of the Group are met. 

The key terms of the STI plan are:

•  total STI will be awarded and settled in the form of cash and conditional rights as approved by the Board if diluted EPS 

growth targets and individual participant’s performance criteria for the performance period (i.e. 1 July to 30 June) are met.  
If met:

 -   60% of STI will be settled in the form of cash and will be paid annually in September after the performance period; and
 -   40% of STI awarded will be deferred and granted in the form of conditional rights;

•  conditional rights (rights) are granted for nil consideration;
•  the vesting condition of rights is not market related and requires the participant to continue in relevant employment  

from the grant date of the rights (retention period), split one-third over one, two and three years;

•  the rights will accrue notional dividends during the retention period;
•  when vesting (after completion of the retention period), each right will be converted into one Steadfast ordinary share  

per right for nil consideration upon exercise by the participant. The notional dividends will be converted into an equivalent 
number of Steadfast ordinary shares based on the Dividend Reinvestment Plan issue price applicable to each dividend; 

•  the Board has discretion to settle the rights in cash instead of Steadfast ordinary shares; and
•  if the vesting condition is not met then the rights lapse.
The first STI award was approved by the Board on 25 August 2014. Further details of the 2016 STI in relation to the Group’s  
key management personnel are disclosed in the Remuneration Report for the current financial year.

90

NOTE 19. SHARE-BASED REMUNERATION continued

b. Long-term incentive plan

The LTI plan is a discretionary, performance-based, at risk reward arrangement. LTI is awarded based on the Board’s  
approved percentage of the fixed remuneration for each participant (in the range of 35% to 50% for the financial year  
ended 30 June 2016). 

The key terms of the LTI plan are:

•  LTI will be awarded in the form of conditional rights as approved by the Board and will be granted in August following  

the end of each financial year; 

•  conditional rights (rights) are granted for nil consideration;
•  the vesting condition of rights is not market related and is conditional on meeting the following performance hurdles:

 -   the participants meeting their individual performance hurdles during the three-year employment tenure from the grant 

date of the rights (retention period); and

 -   the Group’s achieving a minimum 5% average compound per annum diluted EPS growth during the retention period;

•  the rights will not accrue notional dividends during the retention period but do accrue for FY14 and FY15 plans;
•  the vesting is conditional on there being no material adverse deterioration of the EPS growth during the performance  

period before the exercise of the rights;

•  before vesting, the Board will determine the number of rights to vest based on the combined outcome of the  

performance hurdles;

•  when vesting (after completion of the retention period), each right will be converted into one Steadfast ordinary share  

for nil consideration upon exercise by the participant. 

•  the Board has discretion to settle the rights in cash instead of Steadfast ordinary shares; and
•  if the vesting conditions are not met then the rights lapse.
Further details of the 2016 LTI in relation to the Group’s key management personnel are disclosed in the Remuneration Report 
for the current financial year.

91

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 20. TAXATION

A. INCOME TAX (EXPENSE)/BENEFIT

Profit before income tax expense

Income tax expense at statutory tax rate of 30%

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

Share of after-tax profits of associates and joint venture

Unrealised gain on non-assessable deferred consideration revised

Non-deductible/non-assessable items – including acquisition costs

Other amounts deductible upon acquisition

Other miscellaneous

Losses not previously recognised

Over/(under) provision for income tax of prior periods

Income tax expense

B. MAJOR COMPONENTS OF INCOME TAX EXPENSE

Current tax

Movement in deferred tax assets

Movement in deferred tax liabilities

Adjustments for current tax of prior periods

C. INCOME TAX ON ITEMS RECOGNISED DIRECTLY IN EQUITY

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

D. DEFERRED TAX ASSETS

I. Composition

Accrued expenses

Provisions

Software development pool and capitalised project

Expenditure claimable over five years

Executive loans

Employee share scheme

Deferred income

Others

92

2016 
$’000

2015 
$’000

99,855

(29,956)  

3,350 

7,840

101 

-

-

-

(18,665)

(72) 

(18,737)  

63,029

(18,909)

3,129

-

(878)

585

1

777

(15,295)

271

(15,024)

(26,191) 

(13,234)

266 

7,260  

(72)  

55

(2,116)

271

(18,737)  

(15,024)

(88) 

51 

(37) 

2,777 

6,348 

102 

3,626 

388 

848 

1,997 

1,773 

17,859 

2,819

186

3,005

1,467

5,342

142

5,233

547

339

2,238

2,071

17,379

NOTE 20. TAXATION continued

II. Movements

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

Add: reversal of offset against deferred tax liabilities

Gross balance at the beginning of the financial year

Credited to profit or loss 

Credited to equity

Additions through business combinations 

Balance at the end of the financial year before offset

Less: offset against deferred tax liabilities 

Balance at the end of the financial year

E. DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES

I. Composition

Intangible assets

Receivables

Accrued income

Property, plant and equipment

Prepayments

Acquisition adjustments

Other

II. Movements

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

Add: reversal of offset against deferred tax assets

Gross balance at the beginning of the financial year

Credited to profit or loss 

Charged to equity

Additions through acquisitions

Balance at the end of the financial year before offset

Less: offset against deferred tax assets 

Balance at the end of the financial year

2016 
$’000

10,357 

7,022 

17,379 

266 

(88) 

302 

17,859 

(9,575) 

8,284 

47,827  

14,886 

1,264 

86 

11 

-

843 

64,917  

59,810 

7,022 

66,832 

(7,260)  

(51) 

5,396

64,917  

(9,575)  

55,342

2015 
$’000

5,817

4,407

10,224

55

2,819

4,281

17,379

(7,022)

10,357

52,219

11,845

1,420

90

35

265

958

66,832

25,865

4,407

30,272

2,116

(186)

34,630

66,832

(7,022)

59,810

93

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 21. NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

A. COMPOSITION

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash held on trust

Bank overdrafts

2016 
$’000

2015 
$’000

67,457

224,752

(464)

291,745

67,648

172,155

(632)

239,171

B. RECONCILIATION OF PROFIT AFTER INCOME TAX TO NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Profit after income tax expense for the year

81,118

48,005

Adjustments for

Depreciation and amortisation and loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Share of profits of associates and joint venture

Income tax paid

Dividends received from associates/joint venture

Profit on fair value of investment

Capitalised interest on loans

Executive loans fair value adjustment

Gain from adjustments to deferred consideration estimates

Gain on disposal of customer list

Share-based payments and incentives accruals

Impairment loss

Change in operating assets and liabilities

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

(Increase)/decrease in deferred tax assets

(Increase)/decrease in other assets

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

Increase/(decrease) in income tax payable

Increase/(decrease) in deferred tax liabilities

Increase/(decrease) in other liabilities

Increase/(decrease) in provisions

Net cash from operating activities

24,275

(11,166)

(14,658)

12,910

(1,600)

(726)

-

(23,874)

(1,169)

1,986

18,090

13,281

2,375

(1,018)

9,627

22,021

(5,659)

650

(236)

15,734

(10,431)

(14,663)

14,622

(565)

(1,415)

(971)

(939)

-

2,301

-

(99,145)

(37)

341

107,291

15,321

(260)

(7,657)

(533)

126,227

66,999

C. SIGNIFICANT NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS IN RELATION TO INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES

I. Investing activities

During the financial year ended 30 June 2016, the Group completed a number of acquisitions (investing activities) to effect 
hubbing arrangements using the scrip of certain subsidiaries (refer Note 10).

II. Financing activities

During the financial year ended 30 June 2016 $8.911 million dividends under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan were settled by 
the allotment of 6.338 million ordinary shares at $1.4060 per share in lieu of cash.

During the financial year ended 30 June 2015 $5.558 million of dividends under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan were settled 
by the allotment of 1.715 million ordinary shares at $1.5000 per share in lieu of cash, and 1.964 million ordinary shares at 
$1.5200 per share in lieu of cash.

94

NOTE 22. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

A. KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL COMPENSATION 

The aggregate remuneration received/receivable by the Directors and other members of key management personnel of the 
Group is set out below.

Short-term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits

Long-term benefits

Share-based payments

2016 
$

2015 
$

4,294,492

4,480,815

115,848

44,400

1,072,844

5,527,584

131,484

50,138

860,351

5,522,788

B. TRANSACTIONS WITH SUBSIDIARIES 

All transactions that have occurred among the subsidiaries within the Group have been eliminated for consolidation purposes.

C. TRANSACTIONS WITH OTHER RELATED PARTIES 

The following transactions occurred with related parties:

I. Sale of goods and services

Marketing and administration fees received from associates on normal commercial terms

165,965

Marketing and administration fees received from joint venture on normal commercial terms

2,537,988

Commission income received/receivable from associates on normal commercial terms

84,437

147,293

2,957,507

73,429

II. Interest income

Interest income received/receivable from joint venture

185,538

255,011

III. Payment for goods and services

Estimated Steadfast Network Broker rebate expense paid or payable to associates  
on the basis as determined by the Board 

Commission expense paid/payable to associates on normal commercial terms

Service fees paid to associates

896,910

2,533,913

14,220

935,966

2,652,969

43,604

IV. Receivable from and payable to related parties 

The following balances are outstanding at the reporting date in relation to transactions with related parties:

a. Current receivables

Trade receivables from associates

Trade receivables from joint venture

Dividend receivable from associates

b. Current payables

Trade payables to associates

6,082,087

5,953,360

88,434

73,163

137,366

84,086

134,786

151,753

95

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 22. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS continued

V. Loans to/from related parties

The following balances are outstanding at the reporting date in relation to loans with related parties:

a. Current receivables

Loan to joint venture(a)

Executive loans(b)

b. Non-current receivables

Loan to joint venture(a)

Executive loans(b)

Loans to associates

2016 
$

2015 
$

603,125

372,600

975,725

1,809,375

4,647,309

739,825

7,196,509

603,125

324,300

927,425

2,412,500

4,559,947

527,442

7,499,889

(a)  The loan to the joint venture, Macquarie Pacific Funding Group (MPF) has a face value of $2,412,500 (2015: $3,015,625). 

The loan receivable balance includes $nil accrued interest (2015: $nil). 

The key terms and conditions of this loan are:
•    variable interest rate based on the aggregate of Macquarie Bank Limited (MBL) Reference Rate and a margin  

of 2% per annum. The MBL Reference Rate refers to the interest rate determined by MBL and published by MBL  
at any time on its website;

•    the loan is repayable seven years from the date of initial advance, which occurred in March 2013; and
•    the loan is secured by all present and future assets of MPF.

(b)  Executive loans are interest-free loans to certain executives provided at the time of listing for them to acquire Steadfast 

ordinary shares when the Company was listed on the ASX. 

The key terms and conditions of these loans are:
•    interest free, unsecured and full recourse loans; 
•    dividends received from the acquired shares to be applied towards part repayment of the loans; and
•    to be repaid in full five years after the date on which the loans were provided.

96

NOTE 23. PARENT ENTITY INFORMATION 

The financial information provided in the table below is only for Steadfast Group Limited, the parent entity of the Group.

A. STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Profit after income tax

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

B. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Total liabilities

Equity

Share capital

Reserves

Total equity

2016 
$’000

2015 
$’000

65,278

419

65,697

43,202

1,045,888

43,158

213,418

796,857

35,613

832,470

23,844

(744)

23,100

35,502

970,400

25,994

173,506

787,946

8,948

796,894

C. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies of the parent entity are consistent with those of the Group, as disclosed in Note 2, except for 
investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint venture which are accounted for at cost, less any impairment. Dividends 
received are recognised as income by the parent entity.

D. GOING CONCERN

The parent entity financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. 

E. GUARANTEES ENTERED INTO BY THE PARENT ENTITY IN RELATION TO THE DEBTS OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES

The parent entity had no guarantees in relation to the debts of its subsidiaries as at 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2015.

F. CONTINGENT ASSETS/LIABILITIES

The Company is exposed to the contingent assets and liabilities set out in Note 15.

G. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS — PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The parent entity had no capital commitments for property, plant and equipment as at 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2015.

97

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Notes to the Financial Statements continued

NOTE 24. REMUNERATION OF AUDITORS

A. KPMG

I. Audit and review services

2016 
$

2015 
$

Audit or review of the financial statements of the Company and certain subsidiaries

1,485,671

1,276,212

II. Other assurance, taxation and due diligence services

Other assurance services

Due diligence services

Other assurance services

Other services

Taxation compliance and other advisory services

B. OTHER AUDITORS

I. Audit and review services

-

720,427

43,350

-

82,780

126,130

193,387

913,814

Audit or review of the financial statements

272,865

193,864

II. Services other than audit and review of financial statements

Other services

Taxation advisory services

Other services

110,644

-

110,644

119,388

24,410

143,798

98

Directors’ declaration

1. 

In the opinion of the Directors of Steadfast Group Limited (‘the Company’):

(a)   the consolidated financial statements and notes that are set out on pages 54 to 96 and the Remuneration Report  

in the Directors’ Report, are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

(i)  giving a true and fair view of the Group’s financial position as at 30 June 2016 and of its performance,  

for the financial year ended on that date; and

(ii)  complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001; and

(b)   there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become  

due and payable.

2.  The Directors have been given the declarations required by Section 295A of the Corporations Act 2001 from the chief 

executive officer and chief financial officer for the financial year ended 30 June 2016. 

3.  The Directors draw attention to Note 2A to the consolidated financial statements, which includes a statement  

of compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

Signed at Sydney on 24 August 2016 in accordance with a resolution of the Directors:

Frank O’Halloran, AM 
Chairman

Robert Kelly 
Managing Director & CEO

99

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Independent Auditor’s Report 
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF STEADFAST GROUP LIMITED

REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL REPORT

OPINION 

We have audited the accompanying financial report of Steadfast Group Limited (the Company), which comprises the 
consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 June 2016, the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other 
comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity and the consolidated statement of cash flows 
for the year then ended, notes 1 to 24, comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory 
information, and the directors’ declaration of the Group comprising the Company and the entities it controlled at the year’s 
end or from time to time during the financial year.

In our opinion:

(a)  the accompanying financial report of the Group is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

(i)  giving a true and fair view of the Group’s financial position as at 30 June 2016 and of its performance for the year 

ended on that date; and

(ii)  complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001. 

(b)  the financial report also complies with International Financial Reporting Standards as disclosed in note 2.

BASIS FOR OPINION 

We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we comply with 
relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance 
about whether the financial report is free from material misstatement. Our responsibilities under those standards are further 
described in the Auditor’s responsibility section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the 
Corporations Act 2001 and the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 
Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We 
have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code.

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

KEY AUDIT MATTERS

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
report of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial report as a whole, and 
in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

100

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL, INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES

Refer to Note 7, Intangible Assets ($165,280k) and Goodwill ($712,329k), Note 12, Investments in Associates ($121,783k) and 
Note 3, Critical Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions.

The impairment of goodwill, customer relationships and 
investments in associates is a key audit matter as:

•  goodwill, customer relationships and investments in 

associates represented 57.8% of the Group’s total assets.

•  the high number of individual Cash Generating Units 

(CGUs) (more than 40 at 30 June 2016) necessitated our 
consideration of management’s determination of CGUs 
and their valuation.

•  the sectors in which the Group operates experienced  
competitive market conditions during the year which 
increased the uncertainty of forecast cash flows used in 
the valuation models. 

•  we applied a significant level of judgement when 

considering management’s assessment of impairment.

In addition we specifically assessed some of the 
underwriting agencies acquired in the prior financial year 
as they experienced lower than expected client retention 
rates. An impairment of customer relationships of $14,343k 
was recognised for the year.

We focused on the Group’s valuation methodologies and 
the key inputs such as forecast cash flows, discount rates 
applied, forecast growth rates and terminal growth rates. 

Our procedures included, amongst others, the following:

•  We assessed management’s determination of the Group’s 
CGUs based on our understanding of the nature of the 
Group’s business. We also analysed the internal reporting 
of the Group to assess how results were monitored and 
reported.

•  We compared the cash flow forecasts to Board approved 

forecasts. We also evaluated the forecasting process 
undertaken by the Group by assessing the precision of prior 
year forecast cash flows by comparing to actual outcomes. 
We used knowledge from this evaluation to inform our 
approach.

•  We challenged management’s forecast cash flows based 

on our understanding of general insurance industry trends, 
in particular the competitive premium rates. This included 
comparing growth assumptions to APRA statistics for the 
general insurance industry. 

•  For underwriting agencies experiencing lower than 

expected client retention rates, we specifically analysed 
the recent client retention rates, discussed the trends with 
management and evaluated them for consistency with our 
understanding of the industry when assessing the forecast 
cash flows. 

•  With the assistance of KPMG valuation specialists we 

challenged the Group’s valuation methodologies, discount 
rates and growth rates. This included comparing the group’s 
inputs to external data such as economic growth projections 
and interest rates. We also cross checked the valuation 
results against earnings multiples inherent in the value of 
other comparable companies.  

•  We performed sensitivity analysis on the discount rate and 

growth rate inputs for all CGUs.

•  For the intangible assets where impairments had been 

recognised, we also recalculated the impairment charge 
by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to 
management’s valuation.

101

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

DECENTRALISED OPERATIONS 

Refer to Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, Note 11, Subsidiaries and Note 12, Investments in Associates.  

The Group comprises more than 100 subsidiaries and 
associates (components) whose operations are spread 
across Australia, as well as in New Zealand and Singapore. 
The Group’s business is general insurance distribution, 
and the individual components are wide ranging in size 
and also in the customers and products of each business 
operation. 

The decentralised and varied nature of these operations 
require significant oversight by Steadfast management 
to monitor the activities, review component financial 
reporting and undertake the Group consolidation. This 
is an extensive process due to the variety of accounting 
processes and systems used across the Group. 

This was a key audit matter for us given the high number 
of subsidiaries and associates, and the varied operations, 
accounting processes and systems. We focused on:

•  understanding the components and identifying the 

significant risks of misstatement within them;

•  the scoping of relevant procedures consistent with the 
risks identified and to enable coverage of significant 
aggregated balances;

•  the assessment of components compliance with Group 

accounting policies, particularly regarding revenue 
recognition; and 

•  the consolidation process and aggregating results from 

component procedures.

Audit procedures included, amongst others, the following:

•  We instructed component audit teams to perform procedures 

on the financial information prepared for consolidation 
purposes for 20 components.  The selected components were 
those of most significance to the audit of the Group, either 
by individual size or by risk to the Group, and included over 
75% of the Group’s assets and revenues. The objective of this 
approach was to gather evidence on significant balances that 
aggregate to form the Group’s financial reporting.

•  The component audit teams performed audits of the financial 
information of the components on specific group reporting 
package information and local statutory financial reporting. We 
worked with the component audit teams to understand the 
components, to identify risks that are significant to the audit of 
the Group and to plan relevant procedures.  We discussed the 
audits as they progressed to identify and address any issues, 
working with the component audit teams as appropriate.  
We read their audit reports to us and the underlying memos 
explaining component results.  We evaluated the work 
performed by the component audit teams for sufficiency for 
our overall audit purpose. We also considered the component 
auditors' reporting about the components' compliance with the 
Group’s accounting policies, including revenue recognition.
•  We tested the financial data used, in both the consolidation 

process and head office management review, for consistency 
with the financial data audited by component audit teams. We 
also assessed the consolidation process for compliance with 
accounting standards. 

•  For the other components, not within the scope of the 

component audit teams, our procedures included testing 
the Group’s key monitoring controls and performance 
of analytical procedures to deepen our understanding of 
these components. This included testing the head office 
management review of financial information received from 
components. We inspected a sample of bank reconciliations, 
statutory financial reports and accompanying audit reports, 
and enquired of head office and component management.  
In our analytical procedures we compared actual financial 
results to budgets and the prior year results, we enquired of 
management and considered trends within the insurance 
market.

102

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 gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error. In note 2, the directors also state, in accordance with Australian Accounting Standard AASB 101 
Presentation of Financial Statements, that the financial report complies with International Financial Reporting Standards.

In preparing the financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the 
directors either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable 
assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and 
to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee 
that an audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it 
exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could 
reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.

As part of an audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgement and maintain 
professional scepticism throughout the audit. 

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 of the financial report that gives a true and fair view 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. 

The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may 
involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. 

An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting 
estimates and related disclosures made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report. 

We conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit 
evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt 
on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to 
draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, 
to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. 
However, future events or conditions may cause the Group to cease to continue as a going concern. 

We evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and whether the 
financial report represents the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation. 

We obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within 
the Group to express an opinion on the financial report. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of 
the Group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion. 

We communicate with the directors regarding, amongst other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and 
significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit. 

The Auditing Standards require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements. We also 
provide the directors with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and 
to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, 
and where applicable, related safeguards.

From the matters communicated with the directors, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit 
of the consolidated financial report of the current period and are therefore key audit matters. We describe these matters 
in our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare 
circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of 
doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.

103

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016REPORT ON THE REMUNERATION REPORT

We have audited the Remuneration Report included the Directors’ Report for the year ended 30 June 2016. 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.

OPINION 

In our opinion, the Remuneration Report of Steadfast Group Limited for the year ended 30 June 2016, complies with Section 
300A of the Corporations Act 2001. 

KPMG

Andrew Dickinson  
Partner

Sydney 
24 August 2016

KPMG, an Australian partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG 
International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional 
Standards Legislation.

104

Shareholders' Information
AS AT 18 AUGUST 2016

ORDINARY SHARE CAPITAL
There were 749,751,634 fully paid ordinary shares held by 3,917 shareholders.  All the shares carry one vote per share and carry  
the rights to dividends.

DISTRIBUTION OF SHAREHOLDERS
The number of shareholders by size of holding are as follows:

Range

100,001 and Over

10,001 to 100,000

5,001 to 10,000

1,001 to 5,000

1 to 1,000

Total

No. of holders

No. of shares

% of issued capital

 453 

 1,423 

 578 

 967 

 496 

 3,917

 695,864,523 

 46,480,194 

 4,348,448 

 2,782,212 

 276,257 

 749,751,634 

92.81

6.20

0.58

0.37

0.04

100.00

There were 92 shareholders holding less than a marketable parcel ($500) based on a market price of $2.17 at the close of 
trading on 18 August 2016.

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS

Date of notice

No. of shares

% of issued capital

JCP Investment Partners

Investors Mutual Ltd

13/04/16

16/12/15

65,811,118

52,633,205

8.78

7.02

This information is based on the most recent substantial holder notices lodged with the ASX.

TWENTY LARGEST SHAREHOLDERS 
Name 

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited   

JP Morgan Nominees Australia Limited

National Nominees Limited

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited  

RBC Investor Servcies Australia Nominees Pty Limited

MacKay Insurance Services Pty Ltd  

BNP Paribas Noms Pty Ltd

UBS Nominees Pty Ltd

RBC Investor Services Australia Nominees Pty Limited

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited   

Argo Investments Limited

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited  

Mr Robert Bernard Kelly

RC & IP Gilbert Pty Ltd

RM & JA Alford Investments Pty Ltd

Steadfast Share Plan Nominee Pty Ltd

RBC Investor Services Australia Nominees Pty Limited

Mr David Ingram

AMP Life Limited

Australian Executor Trustees Limited

Total

DIVIDEND DETAILS

Dividend

Interim 

Final

Franking

Fully franked

Fully franked

No. of shares

% of issued capital

142,975,115

133,322,793

57,356,226

39,685,804

35,549,074

29,600,000

19,476,250

14,713,006

13,541,998

10,988,290

9,431,269

9,417,131

5,000,000

4,200,000

3,185,000

2,942,460

2,730,898

2,622,043

2,548,488

2,499,176

19.07

17.78

7.65

5.29

4.74

3.95

2.60

1.96

1.81

1.47

1.26

1.26

0.67

0.56

0.42

0.39

0.36

0.35

0.34

0.33

541,785,021

72.26

Amount per share

DRP issue price

Payment date

2.4 cents

3.6 cents

 $1.78 

14 April 2016

*

14 October 2016

The final dividend has an ex-dividend date of 12 September 2016, a record date of 13 September 2016, a payment date of 14 
October 2016 and is eligible for Steadfast's Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP), which carries no discount.

* The DRP issue price for the final dividend is scheduled to be announced on 30 September 2016.

105

Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Corporate Directory

DIRECTORS
Frank O’Halloran, AM (Chairman)
Robert Kelly (Managing Director & CEO)
David Liddy, AM
Anne O’Driscoll
Philip Purcell
Greg Rynenberg

COMPANY SECRETARIES
Linda Ellis
Peter Roberts

NOTICE OF AGM
The AGM will be held on Thursday 27 October 2016 at 10.00 am at the 
Sheraton on the Park, 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

CORPORATE OFFICE
STEADFAST GROUP LIMITED
Level 3
99 Bathurst Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Postal Address
PO Box A980
Sydney South NSW 1235

P 02 9495 6500
E investor@steadfast.com.au
W steadfast.com.au

SHARE REGISTRY
LINK MARKET SERVICES
Level 12
680 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Postal Address
Locked Bag A14
Sydney South NSW 1235

P 1300 554 474
E registrars@linkmarketservices.com.au

STOCK LISTING
Steadfast Group Limited ordinary shares are listed
on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX code: SDF).

106

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Steadfast Group Annual Report 2016Steadfast Group Limited
ABN 98 073 659 677

www.steadfast.com.au

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