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Quickstep Holdings Limited

qhl · ASX Industrials
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Employees 201-500
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FY2019 Annual Report · Quickstep Holdings Limited
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TECHNOLOGY

DRIVEN GROWTH

ANNUAL

REPORT 2019

(a2 x b2) - (ab2) = ab2(π2 x y2) + (zyb2) = πb2CONTENTS
CONTENTS

OUR 
ACHIEVEMENTS

$5.8M

EBITDA IN FY19

UP $4.6M

37%

INCREASE IN 
JSF CONTRACT 
REVENUE

FIRST

PART

DELIVERIES 
TO BOEING 
DEFENSE

$5.6M

NPAT 
IMPROVEMENT 
ON FY18

22.3%

GROSS MARGIN

UP 6.5%

$0.3M

NET DEBT   - 
DOWN $11.2M 
FROM DEC 18

FIRST FULL

YEAR

OF POSITIVE 
OPERATING 
CASHFLOW

5YR

CONTRACT 
EXTENSION 
C-130J

$73.3M

SALES REVENUE

UP 24.1%

$2.7M

MAIDEN FULL 
YEAR NET 
PROFIT

$2.2M

COMMERCIALLY 
FOCUSED R&D 
SPEND

$4.6M

LIFT IN EBITDA 
ON FY18

CONTENTS

01  PROMISES TO  SHAREHOLDERS  02 CHAIR’S  REPORT  04 CEO'S  REPORT  08  TECHNOLOGY  LED  GROWTH 
12  OUR  LEADERS  14 THE  BOARD  18 DIRECTORS  REPORT  26  REMUNERATION  REPORT  34  FINANCIAL  REPORT 
80  SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION  82  CORPORATE DIRECTORY

QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 201901

TECHNOLOGY

DRIVEN

GROWTH

DELIVERED TO SHAREHOLDERS

Commercially Focused R&D 
spend of $2.2m

Successful share placement 
and SPP, $11.7m net of fees

Board renewal process 
continuing to plan

Supply of wheelchair access 
train ramps to Lockelec

Supply of chassis units for 
x-ray device to MicroX

Healthy pipeline of new business 
opportunities

Further commercialisation of 
Qure and QPS 4.0 solutions

First full year of positive 
operating cashflow

(a2 x b2) - (ab2) = ab2b2 x y2 = x2QUICKSTEP.COM.AU02

CHAIR’S REPORT

 CHAIR'S 

REPORT

FY2019 was milestone year for QUICKSTEP as 
we achieved a net profit and positive operating 
cashflow for the full-year, the first in the history of 
the company, as we continued our journey towards 
accelerated growth and long-term profitability. 

TONY QUICK

CONTINUING TO DELIVER  — FULL YEAR PROFITABILITY.

(π2 x y2) + (zyb2) = ∏2QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 201903

In FY19, we delivered:

24%

INCREASE IN ANNUAL 
SALES REVENUE

EBIT

POSITIVE EBIT 
FOR THE FULL 
YEAR OF FY19

COSTS

COST SAVINGS 
& EFFICIENCY 
IMPROVEMENTS

IMPLEMENTATION OF
CHEMRING
PROJECT

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

BUSINESS GROWTH AND PROFITABILITY

CLOSING REMARKS

Our financial results for FY2019 reflect 
the success of our focus on continuous 
improvement and efficiency, targeted R&D 
expenditure, which combined with volume 
growth from the JSF program, resulted in 
total sales of $73.3 million in FY2019, up 24% 
from $59.0 million in FY2018. A maiden full 
year net profit after tax (NPAT) of $2.7 million, 
represented a $5.6 million improvement on 
FY2018 and included a $4.6 million lift in 
EBITDA and $1.0m tax benefit reflecting future 
taxable income. The company also delivered 
$0.4 million operating cash flow for FY19, its 
first full year positive result, and at 30 June 
2019 reported net debt of $0.3m, a reduction of 
$11.2 million from 31 December 2018.

Operating cash flow improved year on year 
by $1.0 million despite a $3.1 million increase 
in working capital, principally inventory to 
support our growth. The much improved 
debt position was in large part attributable 
to the successful share placement and Share 
Purchase Plan (SPP) in early 2019 that raised 
$11.7 million net of fees. The placement 
resulted in an issue of 125 million new shares to 
institutional and sophisticated investors. These 
funds were used to strengthen our balance 
sheet to allow flexibility to accelerate future 
growth projects and reduce debt. Additional 
shares were also offered to existing eligible 
Quickstep shareholders in FY2019, under a 
Share Purchase Plan.

$73.3M

SALES REVENUE

UP 24.1%

The unprecedented scale of Australian 
defence procurement and Quickstep’s 
unique position in the Australian defence 
industrial base has created a very favourable 
market environment for the company in 
the US. Based on this we have focused on 
developing a strong pipeline of new business 
opportunities in the US market and we have 
made substantial progress in a number of 
confidential negotiations with US customers. 
We anticipate significant new business awards 
during FY2020.

In FY2019, we announced that we secured a 
new project to produce carbon fibre composite 
housings for an F-35 counter-measure flare 
for Chemring Australia, further expanding 
our advanced manufacturing capability. 
At year end, we were in the final stages of 
commissioning and testing all of the advanced 
manufacturing equipment for the Chemring 
project. The result will be a highly automated 
manufacturing cell that demonstrates 
high volume carbon fibre production 
methods with integrated quality control and 
product traceability for high performance 
and precision products. Trial production 
commenced in Q1 FY20.

We also signed a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MoU) with Lockheed Martin 
for a Long Term Flexible Contract (LTFC) 
associated with the ongoing supply of C-130J/
LM-100J wing flaps for an additional five-
years, covering the period 2020 to 2024. We 
have an existing contract with Lockheed 
Martin to provide wing flaps for the C-130J/
LM-100J aircraft through to end-2019, and 
this contract extension will see us continue 
our successful supply chain relationship with 
Locked Martin.

We are continuing to seek new opportunities 
in the Defence sector and to develop the 
appropriate process and people capabilities 
to support new business opportunities in 
commercial markets. This will be a major focus 
for the Quickstep team in FY2020.

In closing, I would like to recognise the ongoing 
support of our shareholders, customers and 
suppliers and my fellow Board members. I 
would like to acknowledge the addition of 
Leanne Heywood who the joined the Board 
in February 2019. Subsequent to the end of 
the year we also welcomed Elisabeth Mannes 
(joined August 2019) to the Board and Bruce 
Griffiths left the Board at the end of August 
2019 consistent with our on-going Board 
renewal process. I would like to thank Bruce 
for his six and a half years on the Board and 
his significant contribution to our strategic 
direction and growth plans.

Finally, I would also like to sincerely thank 
Mark Burgess, the executive management 
team and all of our staff at Quickstep, for the 
significant contributions they have made 
throughout FY2019.

We have had an extraordinary year in 
FY2019 and the outlook for the year ahead 
is extremely promising. Quickstep remains 
focused on continued successful execution 
of our existing defence contracts, on 
implementing further improvement and 
efficiency initiatives, on developing our 
process and people capabilities and on 
converting our pipeline of opportunities into 
production programs. Our strong long-term 
order book and advanced manufacturing 
technologies and capabilities will provide us 
with the opportunity to further accelerate 
our global growth and provide long-term 
sustainable profitability and improved 
shareholder value.

TONY QUICK
Chair

QUICKSTEP.COM.AU04

CEO’S REPORT

CEO’S 

REPORT

I am extremely pleased to deliver this  
report to you, as the CEO and Managing 
Director of QUICKSTEP. In FY2019 we 
continued to deliver on our commitments 
to all stakeholders and have shifted the 
business from a loss position to position 
of profit. I am excited to report that this 
is a sustainable profit position and we can 
look forward to accelerated growth. Some 
of the significant initiatives undertaken by 
our talented and dedicated team at  
Quickstep in FY2019 include:

CONTINUING TO DRIVE OUR COMPETITIVENESS 

AND EFFICIENCY

IMPLEMENTING QPS4.0 AND BUILDING A 

WORLD-CLASS BUSINESS

DELIVERING AND INCREMENTALLY EXPANDING ALL 

EXISTING PRODUCT LINES

PROTECTING AND GROWING OUR CORE DEFENCE 

BUSINESS BY CONVERTING OUR DEFENCE PIPELINE

IDENTIFYING AND WINNING NEW BUSINESS IN 

COMMERCIAL AEROSPACE MARKETS

BEING AN ‘EMPLOYER OF CHOICE’, RECOGNISED 

BY PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES GLOBALLY

MARK BURGESS

A HIGH PERFORMANCE CULTURE.

(π2 x y2) + (zyb2) = πb2QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 201905

I am immensely proud of what our team has 
achieved in FY2019 and I am truly excited 
about the ongoing expansion and growth 
of the Quickstep business over the next 
five years. Over the past twelve months we 
set, and achieved all key targets resulting 
in a full year profit for the first time since 
commencing the business. We have made 
a number of operational improvements 
that have improved our efficiency and cost 
competitiveness and we have developed a 
new pipeline of business that will accelerate 
our growth in the future. We have also 
spent time developing the capabilities of 
our people and this will ensure that we have 
the resources on hand to take greater steps 
forward in FY2020.

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
IMPROVEMENTS

Production volumes grew in FY2019 on the 
back of increased JSF volumes. We are a 
major supplier to the global Joint Strike 
Fighter (JSF) program, manufacturing and 
supplying a range of centre fuselage and 
vertical tail composite parts for the F-35 
aircraft. We anticipate that the business will 
continue to grow strongly in FY2020, as JSF 
deliveries ramp up further towards peak 
production volumes during FY2020.

During FY2019 Quickstep undertook a  
number of operational efficiency 
improvements including: 

 » Improvements to production cycle times

 » Production process flow improvements

 » Additional cross-skilling and job rotation

 » Increased visual management

 » Process and value chain mapping

 » Introduction of new workplace 

organisation methods

 »  Further implementation of our Lean/

Continuous Improvement (CI) program

Quickstep is continuing to invest in advanced 
manufacturing capabilities, installing and 
utilising a range of advanced processes within 
our facilities including 3D printing, automated 
Robotic drilling and riveting and automated 
preforming technologies to name a few.

DEVELOPMENT OF A PIPELINE OF
NEW BUSINESS

Throughout FY2019, Quickstep has been in 
detailed discussions with a number of existing 
and new customers further developing 
our healthy pipeline of opportunities for 
future growth. These activities are part of 
a comprehensive business plan to grow 
Quickstep’s sales revenue and diversify our 
customer base in the Defence and Aerospace 
sectors, while expanding our capabilities 
to further increase business globally in the 
Aerospace, Defence and other advanced 
industry sectors. 

Quickstep has a clear focus on the North 
American market where we continue to 
make significant investment in business 
development (both in Defence and 
Commercial Markets) and supply chain 
resources. We remain extremely positive 
that these efforts will deliver significant new 
business wins in FY2020.

23.3%

GROSS MARGIN

UP 6.5%

An FY2019 gross margin of 22.3% (6.5% points 
improved on FY2018) was achieved through 
a combination of efficiency gains, process 
improvements, economies of scale and cost 
reductions, despite a challenging operating 
environment mid-way through the year as a 
consequence of a three month long repair 
to a key production item. As efficiency gains 
continue and production ramps up further we 
expect margins to maintain a strong trajectory 
of positive improvement.

TARGETED INNOVATION AND 
CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT

During FY2019 we furthered the development 
and industrialisation of Qure 2.5 bar and our 
AeroQure to meet aerospace qualification 
standards. Quickstep has commenced 
the manufacture of test plaques that are 
being tested by an independent aerospace 
laboratory and a major global material  
systems company. The objective of this testing 
is to validate that AeroQure meets aerospace 
qualification requirements. The AeroQure 
process delivers dramatically reduced cycle 
times versus the traditional standard autoclave 
process, while delivering multiple processing 
benefits and overall cost reduction. 

The Quickstep Production System 4.0 (QPS 
4.0) is an advanced lean production system. 
QPS 4.0 is a complete material to finished 
part solution and is focused on production 
rate improvement, process efficiency, 
automation, one piece material flow and 
cost competitiveness. QPS 4.0 projects 
undertaken in FY2019 include the design 
and commissioning of unique manufacturing 
solutions to produce:

 »  Completely automated manufacturing cell 
to manufacture advanced composite flare 
housings for the global JSF program. These 
will be supplied to Chemring Australia

 »  Carbon fibre composite chassis bodies for a 
portable x-ray device manufactured for an 
Australian SME, MicroX, which are exported 
to the North American market

 »  Portable wheelchair access ramps for 

another Australian SME, Lockelec, for use 
on the Victoria metro rail system

(a2 x b2) - (ab2) = ab2(a2 x ∑2) ÷ ~(zyb2) = π2QUICKSTEP.COM.AU06

CEO’S REPORT

REFINEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
 OUR STRATEGIC PLAN

During the course of FY2019, the Board and 
the leadership team spent considerable 
time reviewing and reframing our Strategic 
Plans for the next five years and beyond. 
Quickstep’s mission is to become a ‘Globally 
Relevant Provider of Advanced Composite 
Solutions’. Our aim over the coming five years 
is to become a $200 million mid-tier business 
and we are aiming to become a $500 million+ 
business by 2030. We will achieve this by 
strategically and aggressively:

 »  Continuing to drive our competitiveness 

and efficiency

 »  Implementing QPS4.0 and building a 

OUTLOOK FOR FY2020

world-class business

 »  Delivering and incrementally expanding 

all existing product lines

 »  Protecting and growing our core defence 

business by converting our defence pipeline

 »  Identifying and winning new business in 

commercial aerospace markets

 »  Being an ‘Employer of Choice’, recognised by 

prospective candidates globally

The leadership team at Quickstep is fully 
focused and aligned on developing the 
technical, operational and people capabilities 
to support all current and future Defence 
programs and evolve and expand into the 
global commercial aerospace sector.

Quickstep’s revenue is expected to grow 
further in FY2020 but, subject to new work 
being secured, at a more modest pace than in 
FY2019. JSF deliveries on existing contracts 
will ramp up to peak production volumes 
during the financial year. Our gross margins 
are expected to continue to improve year on 
year through economies of scale, further cost 
reductions and increasing efficiencies. We 
expect to continue to deliver positive NPAT for 
FY20 as well as positive operating cash flow.

Quickstep has significant growth potential 
through securing and implementing additional 
advanced composite manufacturing contracts, 
primarily in the defence and aerospace 
sector, using traditional techniques and our 
proprietary advanced manufacturing process, 

$200M

MID-TIER BUSINESS 
IN THE NEXT 5YRS

+
$500M

BUSINESS BY 2030

GLOBALLY RELEVANT
PARTNER OF
ADVANCED

COMPOSITE SOLUTIONS

Our aim is to become a:QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 201907

Commercial Markets
Our longer-term plan is to grow and expand 
into the global commercial aerospace market 
and we are focusing on a number of target 
segments including commercial airliners, 
electric aircraft and new mobility markets.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the 
capability, support and dedication of our 
Board of Directors and my leadership team, 
who have turned this business around and set 
the company up for an extremely bright and 
profitable future.

MARK BURGESS
CEO and Managing Director

CLOSING REMARKS

In closing, I would like to sincerely thank 
all of our shareholders, customers and 
collaboration partners for their ongoing 
support and confidence in Quickstep. We are 
a unique business and provide a strong value 
proposition. We have a fantastic and dedicated 
team of highly capable people at Quickstep 
and I am extremely proud of their efforts 
throughout FY2019.

Qure and its aerospace equivalent AeroQure 
and our QPS4.0 technologies provide faster, 
more controllable methods for curing of parts 
and enable a Class A finish.

In FY2020 we will continue to focus on 
winning additional business with our existing 
customers and adding new customers to our 
portfolio. We will support this growth through 
strategic partnerships and alliances, enabling 
us to build our global presence and scale. 
We will continue to accelerate our business 
development activities, with a strong focus on 
the key following key segments:

Core Defence Aerospace

We will do this by adding new business with 
our existing customers and diversifying our 
customer base within the sector. This will see 
us fully-utilise our current facilities and expand 
our core capabilities to convert the current 
pipeline of new business we are working on, 
into greater export sales.

Aerospace Qure and Advanced 
Manufacturing
We are also focusing on new growth within 
the Aerospace and Defence sector, using 
our Qure, AeroQure and innovative QPS4.0 
technology solutions.

(a2 x b2) - (∞2) = ab2QUICKSTEP.COM.AU08

TECHNOLOGY LED GROWTH

TECHNOLOGY LED 

GROWTH

Quickstep is at the forefront of advanced composites manufacturing 
and technology development. Innovation and technology is leading 
our growth and we are continuing to develop our state-of-the-art 
process technologies to support both current and future customer 
programs in the defence sector and to enter both traditional and 
new commercial markets.

The key to our future and competitive differentiation lies in:

ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING

QURE AND
AEROQURE

QPS 4.0

Quickstep has and will continue to invest in R&D, 
new capital for secured programs and operational 
improvements to deliver greater efficiencies and 
profitable growth. Priorities for Quickstep include:

Research & Development
Further commercialisation of our patented Qure and 
AeroQure processes, as well as QPS 4.0 (Quickstep 
Production System 4.0), our implementation of an 
advanced manufacturing system based on Industry 
4.0; volume/rate improvement for composite 
solutions; introduction of automated lay-up 
technologies to further industrialize our Out Of 
Autoclave (OOA) curing solutions; development of 
manufacturing solutions for new emerging aviation 
markets (electric aircraft and Urban Air Mobility).

Manufacturing Capability
Digital manufacturing practices; automated fibre 
lay-up; new preforming processes; additional curing 
techniques (i.e. Resin Transfer Moulding and others); 
specific engineering, tooling and production fixtures 
for newly secured projects; automated measuring 
and testing cells for specific projects.

Operational Improvement
Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement 
activities; OHS&E improvements; digital 
manufacturing and industry 4.0 processes and 
practices; facility improvements including the soon 
to be completed, Quickstep Learning Academy.

NSW PREMIER’S 2018 EXPORT AWARDS

"This award is a testament to the hard 
work and dedication of the entire 
Quickstep team and we are pleased 
that we have been recognised for our 
defence export achievements and 
our contribution to NSW’s economy 
and job creation in the state. We are 
extremely proud that we have been 
presented this prestigious award." 
Mark Burgess | CEO & MD

WINNER 
DEFENCE 
INDUSTRIES 
CATEGORY

X2 - (ab2) = ab2(a2 x b2) ± (ab2) = ab21800QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 201909

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

Advanced manufacturing capability is a critically 
important element of Quickstep’s overall strategy. 
In respect of conventional aerospace production 
we have placed ourselves at the forefront 
of the available technology by pursuing and 
winning highly complex, close-tolerance work 
and commissioning state-of-the-art advanced 
manufacturing equipment in Bankstown, NSW 
and advanced technical capabilities in Geelong, 
Victoria. Our advanced manufacturing capabilities 
include:

 »  CNC ply-cutting and laser-guided lay-up

 »  Autoclave and Out-of-Autoclave curing

 »  Range of NDT testing equipment

 »  PMM cells and robotic trimming

 »  Robotic/Automated drilling and riveting

 »  Complex assembly and painting

 »  Laboratory testing of materials/components

1400QUICKSTEP.COM.AU10

QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 2019

TECHNOLOGY LED GROWTH

QURE SYSTEM SCHEMATIC

Pictured: Quickstep proprietary Out Of Autoclave (OOA) composite curing technologies.

QURE AND AEROQURE

Quickstep’s patented system, Qure, and its 
high-performance version for aerospace 
applications, AeroQure, is an advanced 
composites manufacturing process that 
offers significant advantages over traditional 
manufacturing techniques such as autoclave 
curing, including:

 »  low capital cost for set-up

 »  significantly shorter cure cycle times

 »  reduced energy consumption

 »  design flexibility to meet or improve material 

properties of the end product

 »  ability to produce complex integrated parts

Qure is currently being used by Quickstep 
to manufacturer a lightweight carbon 
fibre chassis for a portable medical device 
(x-ray machine) and to manufacture 
portable wheelchair ramps for the public 
transport sector. It is suitable for use in a 
range of defence and commercial aerospace 
applications, requiring lightweight, advanced 
composite components at a higher rate 
of production and lower overall cost than 
traditional autoclave curing.

AeroQure, is the most advanced version 
of our Out Of Autoclave proprietary curing 
technology. In our journey to fully industrialise 
the technology we are planning to integrate 
it with an efficient automated lay-up process, 

MY OPTUS BUSINESS AWARDS NOVEMBER 2018

as well as other components like trimming 
and inspection. Apart from intensive internal 
testing of parts cured with AeroQure, our plan 
also includes validation from results by third 
party independent aerospace labs, as well as 
major global material systems providers. These 
results will allow us to demonstrate how we 
can achieve dramatically reduced cycle times 
compared to the traditional autoclave process, 
while delivering multiple processing benefits.

WINNER 
DEFENCE 
BUSINESS OF THE 
YEAR 2018

"Australia has a highly capable aerospace and defence sector, needless to say we 
are deeply humbled to have won this prestigious national award. It’s a reflection of 
the depth of skill and talent we have within the business." 
Mark Burgess | CEO & MD

Buffer TankCooling ElementHea�ng ElementHeated Liquid TankPumpPower SupplyMould Tool BaseHea�ng ElementControl TerminalMouldUpper Qure TrayBladderChiller11

QPS 4.0

Quickstep Production System 4.0 (QPS 4.0), 
is an advanced LEAN production system, 
developed by Quickstep, which provides a 
complete material to finished part solution. 
QPS 4.0 articulates the most relevant aspects 
of an Industry 4.0 manufacturing solution 
and can be adapted to multiple markets and 
part applications.

QPS 4.0 integrates different technological 
components and methodologies, in particular 
LEAN manufacturing, automation, advanced 
manufacturing processes and digitalisation, 
and is used by Quickstep to develop and 
transform production systems. The key 
building blocks of QPS 4.0 are:

 »  Agile Engineering  – element + production

 »  Core Composite Manufacturing 
Technologies IP and know-how

 » Processes like Project Life Cycle 

Management and systems like our Product 
Life Cycle Management & Enterprise 
Resource Planning systems.

 »  LEAN production techniques

 »  Digital Integration and Digital Thread

 »  People and Culture

QPS 4.0 creates value for the company, our 
employees, our customers, our suppliers and 
our shareholders and has been utilised in 
FY2019 on the Chemring counter-measure 
flare housing project.

Quickstep is in the final stages of 
commissioning all of the manufacturing 
equipment for the flare housing project. 
The result will be a leading advanced 
manufacturing production line that 
demonstrates “cutting edge” high volume 
carbon fibre production methods, with 
integrated quality control and product 
traceability for high performance and precision 
products. Trial production commenced in 
Q1 FY2020.

(∏2 x ∑2) - √ab2 
≠ ∆2

QUICKSTEP.COM.AU12

OUR LEADERS

OUR 

LEADERS

The leadership team is aligned and focused on developing and fostering a high performance 
culture at Quickstep, through technology, innovation, business excellence and long-term 
sustainable growth. With extensive local and international aerospace, defence, automotive 
and advanced manufacturing experience, the leadership team is determined to deliver 
continuing value to all our stakeholders.

MARK BURGESS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 
& MANAGING DIRECTOR

DAVID DORAL

CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER 
& HEAD OF ENGINEERING

ALAN TILLEY

CHIEF FINANCIAL 
OFFICER

ALIGNED AND FOCUSED 
ON DELIVERING RESULTS.

Mark Burgess, CEO and Managing Director, 
leads the senior management team and 
believes that “Quickstep has an exceptionally 
talented team of people, dedicated to 
delivering value to our customers and 
stakeholders. Our role as the leadership team 
is to ensure that we provide our people with 
the direction, support and resources that they 
need to perform at the highest level”.

This is echoed by Alan Tilley, Quickstep’s Chief 
Financial Officer, who not only oversees the 
financial activities of the company, but sees a 
major part of his role as being “to encourage 
teams to engage more deeply with the 
business drivers and processes and to lift the 
capability and skills of the people in the teams 
that I lead”.

Each member of the leadership team has their 
own functional accountabilities, however it 
is people, teamwork and collaboration that 
is turning the business around and driving a 
high performance culture. As Jacque Courtney 
Pitman, Executive General Manager, Human 
Resources, puts it “we are about being an 
‘employer of choice’ and developing our 
people. My role is to ensure that we retain, 
recruit and develop talented people and that 
we invest in increasing our diversity, giving us a 
variety of thoughts, industries and experience 
to achieve great outcomes”.

Innovation is a key element of our business 
strategy and to be successful engineering 
and operations need to work closely together 
to deliver the most effective and efficient 
manufacturing solutions for our customers. 
David Doral, Chief Technical Officer & Head 
of Engineering draws on his extensive 
experience in the global aerospace industry 
to “identify and implement advanced 
manufacturing processes and technologies 
to create advanced composite solutions 
for our customers to ensure that Quickstep 
has a competitive advantage in the global 
aerospace market”.

QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 201913

CARL DE KONING

GENERAL MANAGER, 
CORPORATE AFFAIRS

JACQUE COURTNEY-PITMAN

EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER, 
HUMAN RESOURCES

GARY ROBINSON

EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER, 
OPERATIONS

From an operations perspective, Gary 
Robinson, Executive General Manager, 
Operations, is upbeat about Quickstep and 
manufacturing in Australia, “Quickstep’s 
success proves that you can base your 
operations in Australia, provide jobs and give 
rise to a whole new industry in our country. 
Not only is it possible, but as we have shown, 
it can be profitable.”

Carl de Koning, General Manager Corporate 
Affairs, has worked and lived overseas for a 
number of years and is “immensely proud to 
be working with an Australian business that is 
pushing itself into the global aerospace market. 
Australians have a unique way of thinking, and 
our team at Quickstep is no exception.

We are developing and delivering innovative 
solutions and true value to our customers”.

Winning and implementing new work is the 
life blood of any business and Steve Osborne, 
General Manager Business Development 
and Michael Schramko, General Manager, 
Programs, know a lot about this. Steve 
Osborne who resides in Texas in the US, joined 
the company because he “saw high potential 
in Quickstep. I recognised a growing and very 
capable company. And I saw that by helping 
Quickstep access global markets, I could help 
accelerate growth”. Michael Schramko loves 
the challenges that new work brings to the 
company “Quickstep’s size makes us extremely 

agile as a company – we can move on projects 
very quickly. We are growing and expanding in 
different directions and we have a great team 
for implementing complex new projects”.

As a final thought, Mark Burgess said “I am 
immensely proud of what we have achieved 
in FY2019 and I am truly excited about the 
ongoing growth that our highly capable and 
talented team will provide over the next 
five years”.

QUICKSTEP.COM.AU14

THE BOARD

THE 

BOARD

JAMES DOUGLAS

NON-EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR

JAMIE PINTO

COMPANY 
SECRETARY

ELISABETH MANNES

NON-EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR

MARK BURGESS

CEO & MANAGING 
DIRECTOR

BOARD RENEWAL 
PROCESS COMMENCED.

The Quickstep Board commenced a process of renewal in FY2019, with the appointment 
of Leanne Heywood as a new Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk 
Committee. Further changes have commenced in FY2020, with Lis Mannes replacing Bruce 
Griffiths. The Board led by Tony Quick as Chair, currently consists of four Non-Executive 
Directors (including the Chair) and our CEO and Managing Director, Mark Burgess.

QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 201915

TONY QUICK

CHAIR & NON-EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR

BRUCE GRIFFITHS

NON-EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR

LEANNE HEYWOOD

NON-EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR

CURRENT QUICKSTEP BOARD:

 »  Tony Quick: Chair and Non-Executive Director

 »  Mark Burgess: CEO and Managing Director

 »  James Douglas: Non-Executive Director

 »  Leanne Heywood: Non-Executive Director

 »  Elisabeth Mannes: Non-Executive Director

The renewal process provides the Quickstep Board with opportunities 
for greater diversity including gender diversity plus new skills and 
capabilities to support the future growth of the business. The Board 
will continue to focus on providing strategic direction, overseeing 
corporate governance and reviewing the performance of the business, 
all with the view of creating and sustaining shareholder value.

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skills x passion x knowledge  = success2 (∞)(∏2 x ∑2) - (∞) = ∏∑2QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 201917

MARK BURGESS

WE ARE A UNIQUE BUSINESS 
AND PROVIDE A STRONG VALUE 
PROPOSITION. WE HAVE A 
FANTASTIC AND DEDICATED 
TEAM OF HIGHLY CAPABLE 
PEOPLE AT QUICKSTEP AND I AM 
EXTREMELY PROUD OF THEIR 
EFFORTS THROUGHOUT FY2019. 

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT

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AUDITED REMUNERATION REPORT

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AUDITED REMUNERATION REPORT

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AUDITED REMUNERATION REPORT

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AUDITED REMUNERATION REPORT

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S DECLARATION

Lead Auditor’s Independence Declaration under 
Section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 
Lead Auditor’s Independence Declaration under 
Section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 

To the Directors of Quickstep Holdings Limited 

I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, in relation to the audit of Quickstep Holdings 
To the Directors of Quickstep Holdings Limited 
Limited for the year ended 30 June 2019 there have been: 

i.

no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the 
Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and 
I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, in relation to the audit of Quickstep Holdings 
no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.
Limited for the year ended 30 June 2019 there have been: 

ii.

i.

ii.

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.

KPM_INI_01 

KPMG 

KPM_INI_01 

KPMG 
Charmaine Hopkins 
Partner 

Sydney, 26 August 2019 
PAR_SIG_01 
Charmaine Hopkins 
Partner 

Sydney, 26 August 2019 
PAR_SIG_01 

PAR_NAM_01 

PAR_POS_01 

PAR_DAT_01 

PAR_CIT_01 

PAR_NAM_01 

PAR_POS_01 

PAR_DAT_01 

PAR_CIT_01 

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.

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.

QUICKSTEP ANNUAL REPORT 2019CONTENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Independent Auditor’s Report 

To the shareholders of Quickstep Holdings Limited 

Report on the audit of the Financial Report 

Opinion 

We have audited the Financial Report of 
Quickstep Holdings Limited (the 
Company). 

In our opinion, the accompanying Financial 
Report of the Company is in accordance 
with the Corporations Act 2001, including:  

•

•

giving a true and fair view of the 
Group’s financial position as at 30 
June 2019 and of its financial 
performance for the year ended on 
that date; and 

complying with Australian Accounting 
Standards and the Corporations 
Regulations 2001. 

Basis for opinion 

The Financial Report comprises:  

• Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2019 

• Consolidated Statement of profit or loss and other 

comprehensive income, Consolidated Statement of 
changes in equity, and Consolidated Statement of cash 
flows for the year then ended 

• Notes including a summary of significant accounting 

policies 

• Directors’ Declaration. 

The Group consists of the Company and the entities it 
controlled at the year-end or from time to time during the 
financial year. 

We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. We believe that the audit 
evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the 
audit of the Financial Report 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 fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code.  

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

Key Audit Matters 

Revenue recognition 

Refer to Note B.1 to the Financial Report ($73,275,000) 

The key audit matter 

How the matter was addressed in our audit 

The Group generates revenue through sale of 
goods to customers under long term contract 
arrangements and is recognised over time 
based on performance completed to date of 
individual purchase orders.  

We focused on this as a key audit matter due to 
the significance of the quantum of revenue 
recognised combined with the large volume of 
transactions. This necessitated additional audit 
effort across the transactions.  

In addition to the above, the transition to the 
new accounting standard AASB 15 Revenue 
from contracts with customers (AASB 15) (with 
effect from 1 July 2018 for the Group) has 
resulted in additional disclosure of the transition 
adjustments. We focussed on the transitional 
disclosures as a key audit matter due to the 
audit effort required from the: 

•

•

complex nature of the changes to the 
accounting standard and the impact on long 
term contract accounting requiring senior 
team involvement; and 

consideration of consistency in application 
of AASB 15 across the contracts of the 
Group. 

Our procedures included: 

• We obtained an understanding of the Group’s 
process for revenue recognition and deferral of 
advanced payments and assessed the Group’s 
revenue recognition policy in accordance with the 
accounting standards; 

• We tested a statistical sample of revenue 

transactions recognised during the year and 
checked the recognition of revenue against 
underlying invoices to customers, customer 
signed dispatch dockets or evidence of delivery. 

• We selected a sample of pre and post year end 

revenue transactions and checked the recognition 
of revenue in the correct period against underlying 
invoices to customers, customer signed dispatch 
dockets or evidence of delivery.  

• We selected a sample of advanced payment 
receipts from customers and checked to the 
Group’s bank statements. For a sample of 
revenue transactions we checked the release of 
deferred revenue against underlying invoices to 
customers, signed dispatch dockets or evidence 
of delivery. 

• We selected a sample of transactions forming 

part of purchase orders in progress and checked 
to actual labour and materials performance 
completed to date. 

•

For a sample of contracts, we compared the 
relevant features of the underlying contracts to 
the criteria in the AASB 15 accounting standard, 
those in the Group’s policy, and against what the 
Group identified as performance obligations. 

• We assessed the new disclosures relating to the 
adoption of AASB 15 against the requirements of 
the accounting standard and evidence obtained 
from our procedures above. 

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Going concern basis of accounting 

Refer to Note A to the Financial Report 

The key audit matter 

How the matter was addressed in our audit 

The Group’s use of the going concern basis of 
accounting and the associated extent of 
uncertainty is a key audit matter due to the high 
level of judgement required by us in evaluating 
the Group’s assessment of going concern and 
the events or conditions which may cast 
significant doubt on their ability to continue as a 
going concern. These are outlined in Note A. 

The Directors have determined it appropriate to 
prepare the financial report on a going concern 
basis of accounting. Their assessment of going 
concern was based on cash flow projections. 
The preparation of these projections 
incorporated a number of assumptions and 
significant judgements. The range of possible 
outcomes considered in arriving at this 
judgement has been concluded by the Directors 
to not give rise to material uncertainty casting 
significant doubt on the Group’s ability to 
continue as a going concern.  

We critically assessed the levels of uncertainty, 
as it related to the Group’s ability to continue as 
a going concern, within these assumptions and 
judgements, focusing on the following: 

•

•

•

the Group’s planned levels of operational 
expenditure including efficiencies and, 
improvement in working capital. This 
included the feasibility, projected timing, 
and quantum of potential improvement in 
working capital and efficiencies and 
progress of these; 

• 

the Group’s ability to raise additional funds 
from shareholders or other parties; and 

the Group’s planned levels of capital 
expenditure and research and development 
spending, and the ability of the Group to 
achieve cash outflows within available 
funding 

In assessing this key audit matter, we involved 
senior audit team members who understand 
the Group’s business, industry and the 
economic environment it operates in. 

Our procedures included: 

• 

We analysed the cash flow projections by: 

•  Evaluating the underlying data used to 

generate the projections.  We specifically 
looked for their consistency with those used 
by the Directors, and tested by us, their 
consistency with the Group’s intentions, and 
their comparability to past practices; 

•  Analysing the impact of possible changes in 
projected cash flows and their timing, to the 
projected periodic cash positions.  Assessing 
the resultant impact to the ability of the 
Group to pay debts as and when they fall 
due and continue as a going concern. The 
specific areas we focused on were informed 
from our test results of the accuracy of 
previous Group cash flow projections and 
sensitivity analysis on key cash flow 
projection assumptions.  

•  Assessing the planned levels of operating 
and capital expenditures for consistency of 
relationships and trends to the Group’s 
historical results, results since year end, and 
our understanding of the business, industry 
and economic conditions; 

We assessed significant non-routine forecast 
cash inflows and outflows including the impact 
of working capital improvements and 
efficiencies in operating costs for feasibility, 
quantum and timing, and their impact to going 
concern.  We used our knowledge of the client, 
its industry and status to assess the level of 
associated uncertainty. 

•    We have checked the funds received from the 

capital raise to the Group’s bank statements; and 

• We evaluated the Group’s going concern 

disclosures in the financial report by comparing 
them to our understanding of the matter, the 
events or conditions incorporated into the cash 
flow projection assessment, the Group’s plans to 
address those events or conditions, and 
accounting standard requirements. 

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

Recognition of deferred tax assets relating to tax losses 

Refer to Note B.5 to the Financial Report ($989,000) 

The key audit matter 

How the matter was addressed in our audit 

The recoverability of deferred tax assets (DTA) 
relating to tax losses is dependent on the ability 
of the Group to generate sufficient taxable 
income in the future to which the historical tax 
losses can be applied. 

This is a key audit matter due to: 

•

•

The high level of judgement required by us 
in evaluating the Group’s assessment on 
the probability sufficient taxable income will 
be generated in the future, given the 
Group’s history of tax losses; and 

The judgement required by us in evaluating 
the Group’s interpretation of tax legislation 
requirements particularly on the treatment 
of grant income amounts received during 
the period. 

These factors increase the risk associated with 
accurately forecasting future taxable income 
and create complexity in our work on the 
recoverability of the DTA. 

We involved our tax specialists and senior audit 
team members in assessing this key audit 
matter. 

Our procedures included: 

•

•

Involved our tax specialists in assessing the 
groups continuity of ownership assessment and 
the tax loss availability for consistency with 
regulatory parameters and legislation; 

Involved our tax specialists in assessing the 
Groups tax treatment of grant income amounts 
received in accordance with the relevant tax 
legislation;  

• Compared the forecasts included in the Group’s 
estimate of future taxable income used in the 
DTA recoverability assessment to those used in 
the Group’s assessment of the going concern 
assumption for consistency. Our approach in 
testing these forecasts was consistent with the 
approach detailed above in addressing the key 
audit matter relating to the going concern basis of 
accounting; and 

• Understanding the timing of future taxable 

income and considering the consistency of the 
timeframes of expected recovery to our 
knowledge of the business and its plans.   

Other Information 

Other Information is financial and non-financial information in Quickstep Holdings Limited’s annual 
reporting which is provided in addition to the Financial Report and the Auditor's Report. The Directors are 
responsible for the Other Information.  

Our opinion on the Financial Report does not cover the Other Information and, accordingly, we do not 
express an audit opinion or any form of assurance conclusion thereon, with the exception of the 
Remuneration Report and our related assurance opinion. 

In connection with our audit of the Financial Report, our responsibility is to read the Other Information. In 
doing so, we consider whether the Other Information is materially inconsistent with the Financial Report 
or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. 

We are required to report if we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this Other Information, 
and based on the work we have performed on the Other Information that we obtained prior to the date 
of this Auditor’s Report we have nothing to report. 

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Responsibilities of the Directors for the Financial Report 

The Directors are responsible for: 

• preparing the Financial Report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian 

Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act 2001 

•

•

implementing necessary internal control to enable the preparation of a Financial Report that gives 
a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error 

assessing the Group and Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and whether the use 
of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate. This includes disclosing, as applicable, 
matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless they 
either intend to liquidate the Group and Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic 
alternative but to do so.  

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the Financial Report 

Our objective is: 

•

•

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. They 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 the Financial Report. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the Financial Report is located at the Auditing an  
Assurance Standards Board website at: http://www.auasb.gov.au/auditors_responsibilities/ar1.pdf. This 
description forms part of our Auditor’s Report. 

Report on the Remuneration Report 

Opinion 

Directors’ responsibilities 

In our opinion, the Remuneration Report 
of Quickstep Holdings Limited for the year 
ended 30 June 2019 complies with 
Section 300A of the Corporations Act 
2001. 

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 responsibilities 

We have audited the Remuneration Report included in 
pages 26 to 33 of the Directors’ report for the year ended 
30 June 2019.  

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the 
Remuneration Report, based on our audit conducted in 
accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. 

KPMG 

Charmaine Hopkins 
Partner 
Sydney 
26 August 2019 

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SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

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CORPORATE DIRECTORY

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(a2 x b2) - (ab2) = ab2(π2 x y2) + (zyb2) = πb2