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Reckon Limited

rkn · ASX Technology
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Employees 501-1000
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FY2010 Annual Report · Reckon Limited
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2010 annual RepoRt

Reckon Limited Annual Report 

ABN 14 003 348 730 
for the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2010

Contents

Our results at a glance 

Message to shareholders from the Chairman and the Group CEO 

Directors’ Report 

Remuneration Report 

Corporate Governance Report 

Auditor’s Independence Declaration 

Auditor’s Report 

Financial Report 

Directors’ Declaration 

Statement of Comprehensive Income 

Statement of Financial Position 

Statement of Changes in Equity 

Statement of Cash Flows 

Notes to the Financial Statements 

Additional Information  

2

3

6

10

17

21

22

24

24

25

26

27

28

29

63

Our results at a glance

Revenue

Operating revenue was 
up 6% to $90.1 million 
from $85.3 million  

$m

% Growth

EBITDA

Group EBITDA was up 20% 
to $30.2 million from $25.1 
million.

$m

% Growth

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

-

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

-

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

85.3

90.1

8%

23%

8%

42%

6%

25.1

30.2

29%

26%

15%

32%

20%

20

16

12

8

4

-

17.8

22.4

19%

21%

14%

18%

26%

NPBT

Group NPBT was up 26% 
to $22.4 million from $17.8 
million.

22.4

$m

% Growth

2

Message to shareholders from  
the Chairman and Group CEO

Overview

It is with great pleasure that we present the results for Reckon Limited for the year ended 31 December 2010.

We are pleased to report that 2010 was again a successful year for the Company and we have a clear vision for 2011 and beyond.

The table below sets out the key indicators for 2010 compared to 2009. 

2010

$90.1 million

$30.2 million

$17.2 million

12.4 cents 

2009

$85.3 million

$25.1 million

$13.6 million

9.9 cents

% Change

6% up

20% up

27% up

25% up

Operating Revenue

EBITDA

NPAT

EPS

Dividend

On 8 February 2011, the Board declared a final dividend of 4.5 cents per share, compared with 4 cents per share in 2009.  
The dividend was 90% franked. The interim dividend announced on 10 August 2010 was 3.5 cents per share franked to 90%.

Operations

The Reckon Group operations are currently divided into three main divisions: Professional, Business and nQueue Billback.  
Each of these divisions has contributed to the strong results in 2010.

The table below sets out the performance of each division compared to 2009. 

Operating Revenue

Professional Division

$26.8 million

Business Division

$56.0 million

nQueue Billback Division

$7.3 million

% change on  
2009 Revenue

5% down

12% up

1% down

EBITDA

% change on  
2009 EBITDA

$10.8 million

2% down

$20.7 million

$3.1 million

32% up

41% up

Overall, operating revenue for the Reckon Group rose by 6% to $90.1 million in 2010. The Group NPAT increased to $17.2 million 
(up 27%) and the Group EBITDA grew to $30.2 million (up 20%).

Reckon’s Business Division performed particularly well with overall revenue growth of 12%. In 2010, retail sales rose  
32%, direct sales lifted 11% and corporate services grew by 7%. These positive results translated into an EBITDA increase of 32%.

The Professional Division results were impacted adverse the foreign exchange rate changes in 2010. The division ended the year 
with revenue down 5% and an EBITDA decrease of 2%. We do note, that without a negative foreign exchange impact, the EBITDA 
would in fact have been up by 2%.

nQueue Billback Division revenue was down 1%, however without the adverse foreign exchange impact it would have been up 
15%. EBITDA grew 41% as a result of the merging of the nQueue and BillBack businesses. 

3

 
 
 
Message to shareholders from  
the Chairman and Group CEO continued

Business Division

Professional Division

One of the growth areas for the Business Division in 2010 was 
in the take up of online accounting software. QuickBooks, 
hosted by Reckon Online, has now attracted over 8,000 users. 
The familiarity and popularity of the QuickBooks product, 
combined with anytime, anywhere access is expected to 
attract many more users in 2011 and beyond.

The licence agreement between Reckon and Intuit for the 
exclusive distribution of QuickBooks and Quicken products 
in Australia and New Zealand was updated at the end of 
2010. We are pleased to maintain an excellent relationship 
with the leading accounting software house, and to have 
updated the agreement which has a continuing term of five 
years, followed by a three year rolling renewal periods. The 
agreement includes terms that guarantee Reckon’s access to 
the source code well beyond any date that the licence may be 
terminated. 

Highlights for the division in 2010 included the release of 
QuickBooks 2010/11 with a number of enhancements 
including the well received launch of a company snapshot 
feature that gives users a quick view of how their business 
is going. The QuickBooks 2011/12 release will expand this 
feature to give users greater flexibility over their business 
snapshot.

Reckon Elite, Reckon Docs and Reckon Tools also fall under 
the Business Division. The 2010 Reckon Elite tax release 
occurred smoothly and customers continue to rate the 
product highly. There are plans to expand the Reckon Elite tax 
software offering into the mid-market space.

Reckon Docs is well regarded as a leading corporate services 
supplier and has continued to attract new customers. Overall 
the market in Australia for new company formations grew 9%, 
Reckon Docs increased 11%. We expect to see the Reckon 
Docs sales grow in 2011 through new online service offerings. 

Reckon Professional Partnership network continues to grow 
with membership up 10% indicating strong support from the 
accounting industry.

The Professional Division end-of-year results were impacted 
by negative foreign exchange effects and weaknesses in the 
UK economy. However strong new sales in the division were 
experienced in the fourth quarter of 2010 and we expect to 
see these delivered early in 2011.

APS remains a market leader in the provision of practice 
management systems for accounting practices. Despite 
difficult times that have faced the accounting profession as a 
result of the recent economic downturn, the division continued 
it's history of new customer acquisitions with 66 new firms 
added in 2010. 

Highlights for the division in 2010 included the establishment 
of alliances with large accounting firms to distribute the 
QuickBooks software, and a strengthened position as supplier 
of choice to leading firms.

The Professional Division remains focused on top accounting 
firms and the development of best of breed technology for this 
segment of the market in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

nQueue Billback Division

While the nQueue Billback Division was also impacted by 
negative foreign exchange impacts, a greater sales focus at 
the end of 2010 culminated in strong fourth quarter sales 
that were significantly up on the previous year. Again, these 
will be delivered in 2011.

nQueue Billback now serves 35% of the largest 250 law firms 
in the United States and 5 of the top 10 firms globally.

At the start of 2011 Reckon announced that the BillBack UK 
team is now managed by the nQueue Billback team, taking 
advantage of their vast expertise assisting law firms to improve 
the processing of operational and administrative expenses. 
This will allow greater cross-sell opportunities, particularly 
into legal practices which are expanding as a result of global 
mergers.

4

 
 
Message to shareholders from  
the Chairman and Group CEO continued

Future Outlook

Partners

We would like to acknowledge the support of the Reckon 
network of partners. We are fortunate to enjoy support from 
a range of professionals including accountants, bookkeepers 
and business and IT consultants.

We also want to express our thanks to Reckon staff, our 
customers, our suppliers and our fellow directors who 
contributed to Reckon’s success in 2010.

John Thame  
Chairman 

Clive Rabie 
Group CEO

The results from 2010 are a clear indication that the Reckon 
Group is well placed to tackle 2011.

There is a growing demand for online and mobile solutions 
and we plan to grow the range of these products in both the 
Business and Professional Divisions. 

The Business Division will focus on this growing demand 
for mobile solutions by expanding Reckon’s online offering, 
including the release of CashBook Online. This new online 
product will be suitable for small sized businesses. The division 
will also launch the Reckon GovConnect Activity Statement 
lodgement application, a feature that will significantly improve 
how businesses deliver their BAS to the ATO utilising 
advanced technology. This feature will be available with the 
QuickBooks 2011/12 release.

The Professional Division, while working to address the 
demand for mobile solutions, will also focus on maintaining 
and upgrading its existing core product suite. The division has 
a number of newle developed products in the early stages of 
rollout to clients.

In 2011 the nQueue Billback Division will continue to grow 
market share and accelerate efforts in new territories, including 
Europe and Asia. The division will also expand outside the 
legal market.

In 2011 Reckon’s Business and Professional Divisions will 
merge at the North Sydney Premises enhancing opportunities 
for cross-selling, efficiencies in product delivery and the further 
development of integrated products.

5

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clive Rabie 
Age 51, Group Chief Executive Officer 

Clive was Chief Operating Officer of Reckon from 2001 until 
February 2006 and in that time played a pivotal role in its 
turn-around. In February 2006 Clive was appointed to the 
position of Group Chief Executive Officer. He has extensive 
management and operational experience in the IT and retail 
sectors as both an owner and Director of companies. 

Myron Zlotnick LLM, GCertAppFin  
Age 46, General Counsel and Company Secretary

Myron Zlotnick has 25 years experience as a legal practitioner, 
general and corporate counsel, and as a director of 
companies in the information, communications and technology 
sector. Myron also assumes responsibility for some aspects 
of the management and operations of the ReckonDocs and 
nQueue Billback businesses. He is also a member of the 
Business Advisory Committee of ASIC’s “Real Economy”.

Marianne Kopeinig LLM, GDipApplCorpGov  
Age 49, Legal Counsel and Assistant Company 
Secretary

Marianne has over 20 years experience as a private 
practitioner and corporate counsel for private and ASX listed 
companies and broad industry experience in commercial, risk 
management and compliance functions. 

directors' Report 

The Directors of Reckon Limited submit these financial  
statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2010

BOARd Of diRECtORs 

John Thame AAIBF FCPA 
Age 69, Non-Executive Chairman

John Thame has over 35 years’ experience in the retail 
financial services industry. He was Managing Director of 
Advance Bank Limited from 1986 until it merged with St 
George Bank Limited in January 1997 and held a variety 
of senior positions in his career with Advance. John was 
Chairman of St George Bank Limited until April 2008 and a 
member of the St George Bank Limited board until 1 July 
2008. He is also Chairman of Abacus Property Trust Group 
Limited, where he has been a Director since 2002. John was 
appointed to the Board on 19 July 1999.

Ian Ferrier FCA 
Age 70, Non-Executive Director

Ian Ferrier is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants 
in Australia.  He has more than 45 years experience in 
company corporate recovery and turnaround practice.  He is 
also a director of a number of private and public companies.  
Ian is Chairman of InvoCare Limited, Australian Vintage Limited 
and Goodman Group Limited. Ian is a director of Energy 
One Limited. He has significant experience in property and 
development, tourism, manufacturing, retail, hospitality and 
hotels, infrastructure and aviation and service industries. Ian 
joined the Board on 17 August 2004. In January 2008 Ian 
assumed the Chair of a new accounting practice, Ferrier 
Green Krejci & Silvia, which after merging with insolvency 
practice BRI, now trades as BRI Ferrier.

Greg Wilkinson 
Age 55, Founder, Deputy Non-Executive Chairman 

Greg Wilkinson co-founded Reckon in 1987 and has over 
25 years experience in the computer software industry. Greg 
entered the industry in the early 1980s in London where he 
managed Caxton Software, which became one of the UK’s 
leading software publishers. Greg was the Chief Executive 
Officer until February 2006. He became a member of the 
Board of the listed entity on 19 July 1999 and was appointed 
to the position of Deputy Chairman in February 2006.

6

 
 
Principal Activities 

Reckon Limited conducts business predominantly across 
three following areas: (1) the sales and support of small 
and enterprise business accounting and personal wealth 
management software under the QuickBooks and Quicken 
brands; the sales and support of corporate services such as 
company incorporations, SMSF documentation and ASIC 
compliance management under the ReckonDocs brand, (2) 
the sales and support of accounting practice management 
and allied software, including the newly acquired modules 
for revenue and expense management, under the APS 
brand to larger professional accounting firms, and to smaller 
professional accounting firms under the Elite brand; (3) 
supplying software solutions to legal firms in the main areas of 
revenue management, expense management, print solutions, 
business process automation, business intelligence, document 
service automation, and document management. 

Through strategic acquisition of businesses and technology, 
Reckon continues to broaden its scope of operations to 
provide complementary products and services across these 
business areas. The main products and services are principally 
organised into three operating units, the Business Division; the 
Professional Division and nQueue Billback Division.

In the Business Division, under the QuickBooks and Quicken 
brands, Reckon develops, localises, distributes and provides 
after sales technical support for the accounting software 
needs of small to medium sized and enterprise businesses 
and in the personal finance and wealth management sector. 
In addition, Reckon independently develops and distributes 
a payroll and point of sale solution. Under the Reckon Tools 
brand, Reckon develops applications that enhance these 
products, for example: electronic data interchange (“EDI”) 
functionality, bill payment solutions, super choice management 
solutions, on-line backup, and on-line trading. 

Reckon has also recently developed QuickBooks, hosted 
by Reckon Online. This offers end users and accountants 
a convenient secure online version of the QuickBooks 
application that is accessible from anywhere and that very 
closely mimics the traditional desktop package.

Reckon operates its QuickBooks and Quicken business 
under an exclusive licence from Intuit Inc. This licence was 
updated in December 2010 to take account of the parties’ 
respective online ambitions. Intuit is the leading US-based 
accounting software house with over 25 million customers 
worldwide, annual sales of over US$2 billion and a market 
capitalisation of close to US$10 billion. Intuit’s annual research 
and development budget exceeds US$300 million. Reckon is 
able to leverage off this extensive research and development 
spend without the usual associated development risk. The 
updated licence from Intuit has an effective continuing term 
of 5 years plus 3 year renewal periods thereafter. There are 

also commercial terms that guarantee Reckon’s access to 
the source code beyond any termination date of the licence. 
Reckon continues to maintain an excellent working relationship 
with Intuit Inc.

The Reckon Elite business develops and distributes tax return 
preparation tools, practice management tools and related 
solutions for accountants and tax agents in public practice. 
Reckon Elite focuses on sales to smaller accounting firms 
compared to APS which focuses on the larger firms. 

Through its New Zealand subsidiary, Reckon distributes 
QuickBooks and Quicken products as well as IBankData; 
Intrepid Payroll, Bit Defender and IBackup solutions.

ReckonDocs is a corporate services business, part of the 
Business Division, comprising a services and data business.

The ReckonDocs services business comprises the technology 
and client base for the registration and management of 
companies and other business structures using the traditional 
full service method predominantly through an easy to use web 
based ordering system. This business provides clients with 
an online company registration service available 24 hours a 
day, seven days a week. It also provides documentation and 
services for the establishment of a range of entities, especially 
trusts for self managed superannuation funds. ReckonDocs 
also provides services for constitution updates and domain 
name registrations.

The ReckonDocs data business provides comprehensive 
accredited business name and ASIC information electronically, 
combined with a highly personalised client relationship. A 
full range of sophisticated information services to assist 
customers with the provision of financial, corporate and 
statutory information is also offered. 

ReckonDocs also offers a desktop utility called ReckonDocs 
Desktop (RDD) that is a simple and convenient desktop 
application for company registration, searches, and ASIC 
compliance management. The same product has been 
developed for integration into the Practice Management suite 
of APS, known as Advance Company Registers (ACR).

In the Professional Division, the APS business develops, 
distributes and supports a suite of solutions for professional 
service firms in Australia, New Zealand and the United 
Kingdom. For professional accountants these solutions also 
include tax and accounts production. APS also delivers a wide 
range of complementary applications to practice management. 

7

Overall growth in revenue was generally good. The Professional 
Division was slightly behind because of weakness in the United 
Kingdom, the lag of the global financial crisis as well as adverse 
foreign exchange impacts. The nQueue Billback Division was also 
impacted by adverse foreign exchange movements. On the other 
hand, the Business Division performed well with good growth 
across the board. Overall strong management of costs also 
contributed to the strong performance of the Group. 

Dividends

On 8 February 2011, the Board declared a final dividend of 
4.5 cents per share (90% franked) payable to shareholders 
recorded on the Company’s Register as at the record date 
of 18 February 2011. Reckon does not have a dividend re-
investment plan currently in operation. On 10 August 2010, 
the Board declared an interim dividend of 3.5 cents per share 
(90% franked) payable to shareholders recorded on the 
Company’s Register as at the record date of 24 August 2010. 

Principal Activities continued

The APS business continues to be considered a market leader 
in the provision of its products and services to professional 
accounting firms. This is reflected in the market share that 
APS enjoys in all its markets. 

APS has committed several years of research and development to 
delivering unique integrated practice software to work off a single 
platform, collectively offering all its solutions within a suite under the 
Advance brand.

The Advance suite comprises several integrated modules 
for several business critical functions in professional firms: 
Practice Management (PM); Reporting (PIQ); Document and 
E-mail Management (DM); Taxation (Tax); Client Accounting 
(XPA); Client Relationship Management (CRM); Resource 
Planning (RP); Superannuation (DS); Corporate Secretarial 
(ACR) Workpaper Management (WM); and others.

The nQueue Billback Division provides software and support 
services in the revenue management, expense management, 
print solutions, document service automation, and document 
management markets. APS is also progressively integrating these 
solutions into its practice management suite, and conversely. 
APS is also adapting accounting solutions for sale into the legal 
professional market.

In July 2009, Reckon entered into collaboration with nQueue Inc 
for a more efficient and competitive means of delivering BillBack 
products in the USA. In January 2011 Reckon announced that it 
had repeated the strategy for its United Kingdom operation with 
a collaborative entity set up to continue tackling that market. 
The nQueue Billback business assists  law firms by enhancing 
the automation and processing of any operational and 
administrative expenses, including print, copy, scan, telephone, 
online searches, emails, court fees, car services, credit card 
charges, courier costs and more. nQueue Billback’s software 
offerings can be embedded directly into multi-function devices 
or reside on tablet computers or terminals to provide clients with 
the knowledge required to run their businesses more profitably.

Review of Operations 
Overview of financial performance 

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

	Operating	revenue	was	up	6%	to	$90.1	million	from	 
$85.3 million. 
	Group	EBITDA	was	up	20%	to	$30.2	million	from	 
$25.1 million. 
	Group	NPAT	was	up	27%	to	$17.2	million	from	 
$13.6 million.
	Basic	EPS	was	up	25%	to	12.4	cents	per	share	from	 
9.9 cents per share. 
	Final	dividend	of	4.5 cents per share – 90% franked with a 
full year dividend payout ratio of 65%.
	Operating	cash	flow	was	up	49%	to	$28.2	million	for	the	year.

8

 
 
The Future

The Company will continue to pursue its historically well 
tested strategies of expanding its product offering; pursuing 
recurring revenue; selling across divisions; maintaining and 
enhancing relationships with its network of partners, including 
retailers and professional partners; and striving for operational 
efficiency.

Specifically in the Business Division the Company will focus 
on expanding online services, including improvements to 
existing connected services as well as launching a new 
online CashBook product. There are also opportunities 
to further leverage off the scalability of the QuickBooks 
Enterprise version. There are plans to expand the Reckon 
Elite tax product into the so-called mid-market space. For the 
ReckonDocs business the Company will continue to attain 
growth in market share through new service offering as well as 
by expanding into the client base of the Professional Division 
with integrated products. 

In the Professional Division there were signs of improved 
new business growth in the last quarter of 2010. There is 
also growing demand for online and mobile solutions and the 
Company will focus on addressing this demand in addition 
to maintaining and upgrading its existing core product suite. 
Fledgling new products for 2011 include: Time and expense 
capture; Workpaper management; Value/contract billing; 
Credit management; CRM including event management; 
Resource and capacity planning; and company secretarial and 
corporate services. 

For the nQueue Billback business for 2011 we will accelerate 
efforts in new territories; target the mid-sized law firm market, 
including through re-seller relationships with hardware and 
facility managers; extend our channel relationships; and 
attempt to expand out of the legal professional market. 
nQueue Billback enjoyed excellent sales in the last quarter of 
2010 and will see a revenue impact of this in 2011. 

The Group has also been taking steps to consolidate its 
various development teams and this will continue through 
2011 with the intended result being closer co-operation for 
integrated product development.

Finally, the Business Division will move from its Pyrmont 
premises to North Sydney by mid 2011. This will bring 
Professional and Business Divisions together with expected 
synergistic benefits.

Significant Changes in State of Affairs

There were no significant changes made in 2010.

Matters Subsequent to the End of the 
Financial Year

Buyback

On 8 February 2011 the company announced a buy-back of 
shares which under the provisions of the Corporations Act 
permits the Company to buy back up to 10% of its shares 
on the open market. It is anticipated to keep the buy back in 
place until 31 December 2011, subject to the normal ASIC 
requirements. 

Dividend

A final dividend for 2010 was declared on 8 February 2011 as 
disclosed above.

Litigation

On 25 February 2011, the Company settled legal proceedings 
against Espreon Limited in relation to several claims arising 
from the share sale agreement entered into on 27 November 
2008. An amount of $700,000 was paid by Espreon Limited in 
full and final settlement of all relevant claims.

Other matters

Other than as disclosed in this Directors’ Report no other 
matter or circumstance has arisen since 31 December 2010 
that has significantly affected, or may significantly affect:

•	

•	
•	

	the	consolidated	entity’s	operations	in	future	financial	
years, or
	the	results	of	those	operations	in	future	financial	years,	or
	the	consolidated	entity’s	state	of	affairs	in	future	financial	
years

Future Developments

Other than as outlined above, disclosure of information 
regarding likely developments in the operations of the 
consolidated entity in future financial years and the expected 
results of those operations is likely to result in unreasonable 
prejudice to the consolidated entity. Accordingly, this 
information has not been disclosed in this report.

Directors’ Shareholdings 

As at the date of this report, the Directors held shares and 
options in Reckon Limited as set out in the Remuneration 
Report immediately below.  

9

 
 
 
 
Remuneration Report

Key management

The key management personnel include the directors and 
Group executives who have responsibility for planning, 
directing and controlling the activities of the Company and the 
consolidated entity. Key management personnel details are set 
out on page 12 below.  

Policy for determining remuneration of key 
management personnel

Policy for determining remuneration of key management personnel, 
including the directors, Group CEO, Group CFO, Divisional CEOs 
and other Company officers is the ultimate responsibility of this 
Remuneration Committee comprising the Chairman of the Board 
and the other independent non-executive directors. The Chairman 
of the Remuneration Committee is Ian Ferrier. There is no formal 
charter for the Remuneration Committee. Policy is set with due 
consideration for the need to motivate directors and management 
to pursue the long-term growth and success of the Company as 
well as to tie remuneration in with performance as contemplated in 
the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations 
(“ASX Guidelines”). It is the view of the Board that the Company 
complies with the substance of the aims and aspirations of the ASX 
Guidelines in the context of the size of the Company, the size of the 
Board, the size of the senior management team and the size of the 
business.

Policy for determining remuneration of other management personnel 
has been delegated to the Group CEO, Group CFO and Divisional 
CEO’s by the Board to be exercised in accordance with the same 
broad principles as apply for the Group CEO, Group CFO, other 
Company officers and Divisional CEOs. The Board reviews all 
remuneration in its consideration of the Company’s annual budget 
process. The Board, through the Remuneration Committee will 
consider for approval the levels of remuneration set in the annual 
budget, taking into account the relevant performance budgeted, as 
well as compared with historical performance. 

The policy is to pay the relevant officers and employees’ 
remuneration consistent with applicable market comparisons suited 
to the unique features of the Company, the competitive landscape, 
the scale of the business, the responsibilities of the individual 
directors and employees, internal relativities and performance. 
The Board is conscious of the need to attract and retain talent. 
The remuneration policy takes account of striking the right 
balance between short term benefits and long term incentives. All 
remuneration is reviewed annually. Generally increases, if justified, 
will not exceed comparable market increases. 

10

Terms of employment for key management 
personnel

Executive directors and Group executives are all appointed on 
standard employment terms that are not fixed term contracts. 
These contracts include a notice period of between 1-3 months to 
be provided by either the executive or the Company. No contract 
provides for termination payments except where the employee is to 
receive payment in lieu of notice.

For 2010, remuneration for key management personnel including 
the Group CEO, Group CFO, other Company officers, Divisional 
CEOs and other senior executives, comprises a fixed element, a 
short-term incentive element and a long-term incentive element.

Fixed component

The fixed component of remuneration is determined in preparing the 
annual budget for the year and then subjected to the approval of 
the Board through the Remuneration Committee.

Short term incentive payments

The short-term incentive component of remuneration is dependent 
on satisfaction of performance conditions. Each annual budget fixes 
a pool representing the total potential amount in which the relevant 
employees can share if the performance conditions are met. There 
are three weighted elements to the performance conditions, viz: a 
revenue target, a net profit after tax (NPAT) target, and earnings per 
share (EPS) target measured against the budgeted performance 
of the Company. The Board retains a discretion regarding the 
allocation of the pool between employees as well as regarding 
weightings. Short term incentives are paid in cash as bonuses 
usually in February or March of the following year. If the relevant 
performance targets are exceeded, then the amount of short term 
incentive can be increased by an amount not exceeding 10% of the 
total pool.

Long term incentive payments

The long-term incentive component is the last of the mix of the 
components comprising remuneration packages. It is aimed at 
retaining the long term services of the key management personnel 
to whom it applies and to align their remuneration with the longer 
term performance of the Company. The substance of the long-term 
incentive component for key management was approved by Special 
General Meeting on 20 December 2005. In general terms, the 
long-term incentive component comprises three possible methods 
of participation: an option plan, a performance share plan and a 
share appreciation plan. The Board has discretion to approve the 
making of offers to applicable employees to participate in any of 
these plans. Options granted and/or performance shares awarded 
(all in respect of the Company’s ordinary shares) and/or share 
appreciation rights do not vest before three years after their grant 
date. Vesting is also conditional upon the Company achieving defined 
performance criteria. The performance criteria are based upon a total 
shareholder return (TSR) target. A TSR is the return to shareholders 

over a prescribed period, based upon the growth in the Company's 
share price plus dividends or returns of capital for that period. The 
Company's TSR target will be the Company achieving a median 
or higher ranking against the TSR position of individual companies 
within a 'comparator group' of companies (i.e. a group of comparable 
ASX listed companies pre-selected by the Board) over the same 
period. The comparator group (and indeed the entire design of the 
long term incentive component) was determined after taking advice 
from independent advisers and was set out in the Chairman’s speech 
at the Special General Meeting on 20 December 2005.

The Board will review the suitability of the comparator group on an 
ongoing basis. Some of the entities comprising the comparator 
group have delisted either as part of merger and acquisition 
activity or for other reasons. This was factored into the calculation 
of the Company’s performance by the independent valuers 
who undertook the exercise on behalf of the Company. Where 
companies were delisted for example, it was assumed that the 
Company out-performed that company. The comparator group of 
companies used in the performance period for assessment included 
(1) Adacel Technologies Limited, (2) Firstfolio Limited (previously 
listed as AFS), (3) Altium Limited, (4) Amcom Telecommunications 
Limited, (5) ASG Group Limited, (6) CPT Global Limited, (7) Eftel 
Limited, (8) Eservglobal Limited, (9) Hansen Technologies Limited, 
(10) Infomedia Ltd, (11) Integrated Research Limited, (12) Melbourne 
IT Limited, (13) Lifestyle Communities Limited (previously listed as 
NMB), (14) MYOB Limited (no longer listed), (15) Newsat Limited, 
(16) Objective Corporation Limited, (17) Oakton Limited, (18) 
Powerlan Limited, (19) Queste Communications Limited, (20) Rea 
Group Ltd, (21) Sirius Corporation Limited, (22) Sonnet Corporation 
Limited (no longer listed), (23) Asian Pacific Limited (previously listed 
as TMO, no longer listed), (24) Technology One Limited, (25) Talent2 
International Limited, (26) Chariot Limited (no longer listed) and (27) 
Citect Corporation Limited (no longer listed).

Only 50 percent of options or performance shares become 
exercisable or vest if the initial performance criterion is satisfied.  
The extent to which the balance of options or performance shares 
become exercisable or vest will depend on the extent to which the 
initial performance criterion is exceeded (i.e., the extent to which the 
Company exceeds a median ranking against the TSR position of 
the comparator group of companies). 

The share appreciation right plan represents an alternative 
remuneration component (to offering options or performance 
shares) under which the Board can invite relevant employees to 
apply for a right to receive a cash payment from the Company equal 
to the amount (if any) by which the market price of the Company's 
shares at the date of exercise of the right exceeds the market price 
of the Company's shares at the date of grant of the right. The 
right may only be exercised if performance criteria are met. The 
performance criteria are fixed by the Board in the exercise of its 
discretion. At present these are the same as the TSR target set for 
the right to exercise options or for performance shares to vest.

Balance between salary, short term and long term 
incentives

It is the Board’s opinion that an adequate balance is struck between 
the three components comprising the relevant remuneration. 
For short term incentives, the performance targets reflect, in 
part, the key factors that the Company pursues in measuring its 
performance: volume of sales; profit generated; and value returned 
to shareholders in terms of EPS. The targets also represent a 
measure of an incentive to encourage commitment to the business 
and to its growth. The audited financial results for the year are used 
to assess whether the performance conditions are satisfied. Audited 
results represent an independent accurate method of determining 
the attainment of the conditions. For long-term incentives, the 
additional targets comprising TSR reflect a further independent 
assessment of value to shareholders before the remuneration is 
earned. As stated above the comparator group to which reference 
will be had will be subject to review. 

The Remuneration Committee is satisfied that to date, the 
remuneration of the relevant employees accords with the general 
upward trend of the performance of the Company and returns 
to shareholders, as set out in the table below. The remuneration 
of these employees also takes into account the imperative to 
retain their services so as to avoid the business and opportunity 
costs associated with replacing them as well as the need to be 
commensurate with market rates. 

Consequence of performance on shareholder wealth

NPAT

EPS

Dividend

Changes in Share Price 
between the beginning and 
the end of the year

Beginning of 
January

End of 
December

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

$’000

8,169

9,893

11,312

13,602

17,248

(cents per share)

(cents)

6.2 

7.5

8.5

9.9

12.4

4.5

5.5

6.0

7.0

8.0

76

102

139

105

184

102

139

105

184

234

The Company’s Trading Policy prohibits directors, key management personnel and employees from entering into a transaction 
with securities which limit the economic risk of any unvested entitlements awarded under any Reckon equity-based remuneration 
scheme.  Prior to presenting full-year results Reckon equity plan participants are required to confirm that they have not entered into 
any transactions which would contravene the Company’s Trading Policy.

11

 
Remuneration Report continued

Remuneration 2010

Fixed 

Short term Incentive 

Other 

component

component

compensation

Long term incentive component

Office

Salary

Bonus1

term benefits2 Superannuation

Other short 

Equity settled 

Cash settled  

share based 

share based 

payments-

payments-

Performance 
shares3 8

Appreciation 
rights4 6

Total 

remuneration

Directors7

John Thame

Chairman, Non-
executive Director

$95,000

Greg Wilkinson

Deputy Chairman, 
Non-executive Director

$82,000

$0

$0

Clive Rabie

Ian  Ferrier

 Executives7

Group CEO, 
Executive Director

Non-executive 
Director

$550,000

$180,041

$80,000

$0

Brian Armstrong

CEO,  
Professional Division 

$370,000

$103,934

Chris Hagglund

CFO

$335,000

$78,447

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$8,550

$7,380

$49,500

$7,200

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$103,550

$89,380

$980,269

$1,759,810

$0

$87,200

$33,300

$76,797

$30,150

$68,355

Paul James5

GM, Professional 
Division Australia

$182,358

$40,560

$71,269

$20,123

$6,172

Myron Zlotnick

General Counsel & 
Company Secretary

$275,000

$51,440

$179,832

$13,200

$370,000

$87,449

$0

$0

$0

$24,750

$42,070

$9,652

$8,642

$33,300

$76,037

$116,627

$19,608

$28,430

$15,259

$169,323

$16,471

$2,243

$16,215

$217,628

$108,814

$9,546

$10,055

$6,172

$8,642

$0

$0

Russell Scott

GM, Reckon Docs

$200,500

$0

$0

$18,045

Brian Coventry

Gavin Dixon

Grant Linton

Nigel Boland

Richard Hellers

MD, Professional 
Division United 
Kingdom

CEO, Business 
Division 

GM, Professional 
Division New Zealand

GM Development, 
Professional Division

President and CEO, 
nQueue Billback 
Division 

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$584,031

$511,952

$320,482

$393,260

$211,326

$566,786

$186,096

$212,894

$346,043

$218,545

TOTAL

$3,223,268 $699,964

$111,488

$283,479

$292,887

$980,269

$5,591,355

1  The potential amounts payable for the short term cash performance bonuses are determined at the 
beginning of the year and are earned based upon the performance criteria for the year described 
in more detail on pages 10 and 11 The short term bonus for Mr Hellers is based on specific 
performance targets for nQueue Billback LLC.

2  For Mr James this represents a redundancy termination payment. For Mr Linton this represents sales 
commission of $26,187 and a car park allowance of $2,243. For Mr Boland this represents a car 
park allowance. For Mr Hellers this represents a contribution to life and medical insurance..

3  Mr Armstrong (45,946 shares), Mr Hagglund (41,216 shares), Mr James (5,405 shares), Mr Zlotnick 
(27,027 shares), Mr Coventry, (7,568 shares), Mr Dixon (45,946 shares), Mr Linton (5,405 shares) 
and Mr Boland (7,568 shares) are participants in the 2010 performance share plan. The date of grant 
for each of these participants was 1 January 2010. The value of the long term incentive is the fair 
value using a model that adopts the Monte Carlo simulation approach allocated over each year of 
the 3 year performance period. If the performance criteria are met, then the shares are released at no 
consideration. The fair value of the performance shares at grant date was $1.48. The performance 
shares are exercisable on 31 December 2012 at zero cents. The fair value of performance shares 
which vested and were forfeited during the financial year are set out in the table below.

4  Mr Rabie is a participant in the share appreciation plan. 357,873 rights were issued under the plan on 
1 January 2010. The value of the rights was $0.489 determined using a model that adapts the Monte 
Carlo simulation approach to determine the value as at hurdle dates. The fair value of appreciation 
rights which vested and were forfeited during the financial year are set out in the table below.

5. Employment ended on 31 December 2010.

12

6.  The amount is calculated based on the difference between the company share price at vesting 
and the share price at date of issue spread over the three year performance period. The share 
based remuneration earned by Mr Rabie relative to share price movement is as follows: 

Share based remuneration

Share price movements

2008

2009

2010

$34,088

$661,843

$980,269

-24%

+75%

+27%

7.  To the extent that any of the above are directors of any wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company 

listed on page 51 no additional remuneration is paid. 

8.  No options were granted to any person during the year as part of their remuneration. No options 
vested during the financial year. All options issued in previous years as set out in Note 27 in the 
financial statements were fully vested in prior years. No options were exercised during 2010.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration Report continued

Remuneration 2010 continued

Percentage 
of total 
remuneration 
that is 
performance 
related

Percentage 
of available 
bonus which 
vested in the 
year

Percentage 
of available 
bonus  which 
was forfeited 
during the 
year

No of 
performance 
shares 
vested in 
2010

Value  of 
Performance 
shares vested 
in 2010

Value of 
Performance 
shares 
forfeited  in 
2010

Value of 
Appreciation 
rights vested 
in 2010

Value of 
Appreciation 
rights forfeited 
in  2010

Directors

John Thame

Greg Wilkinson

Clive Rabie

Ian  Ferrier

Executives

Brian Armstrong

Chris Hagglund

Paul James

Myron Zlotnick

Brian Coventry

Gavin Dixon

Grant Linton

Nigel Boland

Richard Hellers

Russel Scott

TOTAL

0%

0%

66%

0%

31%

29%

15%

24%

10%

29%

14%

12%

31%

0%

n/a

n/a

94%

n/a

94%

94%

100%

94%

33%

94%

100%

50%

100%

0%

n/a

n/a

6%

n/a

6%

6%

0%

6%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

58,656

$72,990

51,324

$63,867

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$0

$0

15,482

$18,801

$8,836

27,018

$33,621

67%

7,332

$9,124

6%

0%

56,823

$70,710

0

$0

50%

7,332

$9,124

0%

0%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$497,585

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

n/a

n/a

223,967

$278,237

$8,836

$497,585

n/a

n/a

0

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$0

13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration Report continued

Remuneration 2009

Fixed 
component

Short term Incentive 
component

Other 
compensation

Long term incentive 
component

Office

Salary

Bonus1

benefits2 Superannuation

Other 
short term 

Equity settled 
share based 
payments-
Performance 
shares3 9   

Cash settled  
share based 
payments-
Appreciation 
rights4 7

Total 
remuneration

$0

$0

Directors8

John Thame

Chairman, Non-
executive Director

$90,000

Greg Wilkinson

Clive Rabie

Deputy Chairman, 
Non-executive 
Director

Group CEO, 
Executive Director

$78,000

$500,000

$181,884

Ian  Ferrier

Non-executive 
Director

$75,000

$0

Executives8

Brian Armstrong

CEO, Professional 
Division 

$340,000

$103,934

Chris Hagglund

CFO

$305,000

$79,250

$203,029

$40,560

$250,000

$51,967

$188,307

$45,000

$340,000

$88,344

Paul James

Myron Zlotnick

Brian Coventry

Gavin Dixon

Grant Linton

Nigel Boland

Richard Hellers5

GM, Professional 
Division Australia

General Counsel 
& Company 
Secretary

MD, Professional 
Division United 
Kingdom

CEO, Business 
Division 

GM, Professional 
Division New 
Zealand

GM Development, 
Professional 
Division

President and 
CEO, nQueue 
Billback Division 

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$8,100

$7,020

$45,000

$6,750

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$98,100

$85,020

$661,8437

$1,388,727

$0

$81,750

$30,600

$83,109

$27,450

$73,472

$21,902

$3,506

$22,500

$40,017

$9,010

$4,908

$30,600

$80,384

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$557,643

$485,172

$268,997

$364,484

$247,225

$539,328

$171,126

$200,687

$203,628

$230,550

$220,014

$105,696

$20,032

$29,928

$11,964

$3,506

$163,346

$20,032

$0

$12,401

$4,908

$126,263

$63,131

$7,380

$6,854

Russell Scott

GM, Reckon Docs

$195,000

$0

$18,000 

$17,550

Andrew Moon6

GM, BillBack 

$57,340

$0 $157,514

$5,160

TOTAL

$3,016,981

$694,134 $212,822

$262,861

$293,810

$661,843

$5,142,451

 1  The potential amounts payable for the short term cash performance bonuses are determined at the 

beginning of the year and are earned based upon the performance criteria for the year. 

2  For Mr Linton and this represents a sales commission. For Mr Hellers this represents a contribution to 
life and medical insurance. For Mr Scott this represents a motor vehicle allowance. For Mr Moon this 
represents terminations benefits.

3  Mr Armstrong (80,952 shares), Mr Hagglund (72,619 shares), Mr James (9,524 shares), Mr Zlotnick 
(47,619 shares), Mr Coventry, (13,333 shares), Mr Dixon (80,952 shares), Mr Linton (9,524 shares) 
and Mr Boland (13,333 shares) are participants in the 2009 performance share plan. The date of 
grant for each of these participants was 1 January 2009. The value of the long term incentive is 
obtained by reference to the market price of the shares on the grant date allocated over each year of 
the 3 year performance period. If the performance criteria are met, then the shares are released at no 
consideration. The fair value of the performance shares at grant date was $1.05. The performance 
shares are exercisable on 31 December 2011 at zero cents. The fair value of performance shares which 
vested and were forfeited during the financial year are set out in the table below.

4  Mr Rabie is a participant in the share appreciation plan. 888,324 rights were issued under the plan on 
1 January 2009. The value of the rights was $0.197 determined using a Monte Carlo simulation with 
a Black Scholes based valuation model to determine the value as at hurdle dates. The fair value of 
appreciation rights which vested and were forfeited during the financial year are set out in the table below.

14

5  Appointed 1 July 2009.
6. Employment ended on 31 March 2009.
7.  The amount is calculated based on the difference between the company share price at vesting and 
the share price at date of issue spread over the three year performance period. The share based 
remuneration earned by Mr Rabie relative to share price movement is as follows: 

Share based remuneration

Share price movements

2007

2008

2009

$284,833

$34,088

$661,843

+36%

-24%

+75%

      2009 reflects a catch up of share based payment expense following the strong re-bound of the share 

price in 2009.

8.  To the extent that any of the above are directors of any wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company no 

additional remuneration is paid. 

9.  No options were granted to any person during the year as part of their remuneration. No options 

vested during the financial year. All options issued in previous years as set out in Note 27 in the financial 
statements were fully vested in prior years. 47,500 options were exercised during 2009.

 
Remuneration Report continued

Remuneration 2009 continued

Percentage 
of total 
remuneration 
that is 
performance 
related

Percentage 
of available 
bonus which 
vested in the 
year

Percentage 
of available 
bonus  which 
was forfeited 
during the year

No of 
performance 
shares 
vested in 
2009

Value  of 
Performance 
shares 
vested in 
2009

Value of 
Performance 
shares 
forfeited  in 
2009

Value of 
Appreciation 
rights vested 
in 2009

Value of 
Appreciation 
rights 
forfeited in  
2009

2009

Directors

John Thame

Greg Wilkinson

0%

0%

n/a

n/a

Clive Rabie

61%

100%

Ian  Ferrier

Executives

Brian Armstrong

Chris Hagglund

Paul James

Myron Zlotnick

Brian Coventry

Gavin Dixon

Grant Linton

Nigel Boland

Richard Hellers

Russel Scott

Andrew Moon

TOTAL

0%

n/a

34%

31%

16%

25%

20%

31%

31%

12%

31%

0%

0%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

0%

0%

n/a

n/a

0%

n/a

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$477,528

n/a

n/a

72,451 

$86,937

63,630 

$76,350

0

$0

28,204 

$33,843

9,823

$11,788

67,539 

$81,042

0

$0

9,823

$11,788

0

0

0

$0

$0

$0

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

251,470

$301,748

$0

$477,528

Options and shareholding for directors and relevant employees can be found at Note 27 to the accounts.

n/a

n/a

$0 

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$0

15

 
directors Report continued

Indemnification of Directors and Officers and Auditors

During the financial year, the Company paid a premium in respect of a contract insuring the directors of the Company (as named 
above), the Company Secretary and all executive officers of the Company, and of any related body corporate, against a liability 
incurred as a director, secretary or executive officer to the extent permitted by the Corporations Act 2001.  The contract of insurance 
prohibits disclosure of the nature of the liability and the amount of the premium.

In addition, Rule 12 of the Company’s constitution obliges the Company to indemnify on a full indemnity basis and to the full extent 
permitted by law, every director, officer or former officer for all losses or liabilities incurred by the person as an officer.  This obligation 
continues after the person has ceased to be a director or an officer of the Company or a related body corporate, but operates only 
to the extent that the loss or liability is not covered by insurance.

The Company has not otherwise, during or since the financial year, indemnified or agreed to indemnify an officer or auditor of the 
Company, or any related body corporate, against a liability incurred as an officer or auditor.

Directors’ Meetings

The following table sets out the number of directors’ meetings held during the financial year and the number of meetings attended 
by each director. 

Directors

Board

Audit & Risk Committee

Remuneration Committee

Reckon Limited - Attendance Tables

Meetings

A

10

10

10

10

B

10

10

10

10

A

2

2

1*

n/a

B

2

2

1*

n/a

A

2

2

n/a

n/a

B

2

2

n/a

n/a

Key:    A – number of meetings eligible to attend;  B - number of meetings attended
           *Joined Committee in August 2010

JM Thame

I Ferrier

GJ Wilkinson

C Rabie

Non-Audit fees

Details of the non-audit services can be found in Note 4 to the financial statements.

The directors are satisfied that the provision of non-audit services, during the year, by the auditor (or by another person or firm on the 
auditor’s behalf) is compatible with the general standard of independence for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act 2001.

The directors are of the opinion that the services as disclosed in Note 4 to the financial statements do not compromise the external 
auditor’s independence, based on advice received from the Audit & Risk Committee, for the following reasons:

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

the auditor, and

•		 	none	of	the	services	undermine	the	general	principles	relating	to	auditor	independence	as	set	out	in	Code	of	Conduct

APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants issued by the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board, 
including reviewing or auditing the auditor’s own work, acting in a management or decision-making capacity for the 
Company, acting as advocate for the company or jointly sharing economic risks and rewards.

On behalf of the directors

Mr J Thame 
Chairman 
Sydney, 30 March 2011 

16

	
	
  
Corporate Governance Report 

The Company is committed to a system of relationships, 
policies and processes which align with the ASX Corporate 
Governance Principles and Recommendations, 2nd Edition 
(“the ASX Governance Principles”) and the recent 2010 
Amendments. It is a priority of the Board to ensure the 
Company’s governance framework and support processes 
uphold these principles. The Board is of the opinion that 
the Company’s existing policies and processes effectively 
achieve the objectives of the relevant Recommendations. 
The few departures from the Recommendations in the ASX 
Governance Principles are generally justified on the basis 
that the formal requirements of the Recommendations 
are not applicable to the size of the Company and the 
resources available. Where appropriate, the Board seeks 
opportunities to adopt these Recommendations to suit the 
circumstances of the Company and continue to improve 
the Company’s governance policies and processes.  The 
Board notes disclosure relating to the 2010 Amendments 
are not required before financial year ending 31 December 
2011.  However, where applicable, the extent to which the 
Company has already applied these amended principles and 
recommendations will be included in this Report.  

1. Management and Oversight

The Company is governed on behalf of the shareholders by 
its board of directors who in turn oversee the Company’s 
management team. The responsibilities and duties of the 
Board are set out in the Constitution. The Board is responsible 
for ensuring appropriate risk management, accountability and 
control mechanisms. The Board also provides advice and 
input into development of the businesses generally, overall 
corporate strategy, performance objectives, and appointment 
of senior executives. The Board monitors and reviews 
the performance of the Company, financial reporting and 
implementation of strategy. The Board approves the annual 
budget, material capital expenditure and large acquisitions.

The Company has adopted each of the Recommendations 
relating to Principle 1 of the ASX Governance Principles, 
except for the requirement in Recommendation 1.1, only to 
the extent that there is no formal charter. The Board is of the 
opinion, given the relatively small size of the composition of 
the board, the relatively flat structure of management, the size 
of the management team and open and frequent channels of 
communication between management and the Board, that 
there is adequate definition and understanding of the functions 
and responsibilities of the board and management. The Board 
maintains sufficiently close oversight of operations and has close 
input to material decisions to ensure compliance with principles 
of good corporate governance. The Board recognises that with 
the growth and evolution of the Company, it is important to review 
the division of matters and responsibilities reserved to the Board 
or delegated to senior executives regularly and where needed, to 
formalise these by way of a charter. 

The Board is able to efficiently deal with issues which, in other 
larger enterprises, may normally be delegated to committees 
because of the size of the Company and the management 
team. The Audit & Risk Committee and Remuneration 
Committee are the only committees of the Board.

The Company undertakes an annual performance evaluation 
of key management personnel. The nature of the review 
process is as follows:

•		In	the	case	of	key	management	personnel	other	than 	
head of divisions the review process is managed and 
administered by the Group Human Resources Manager. 
It generally involves a 360 degree feedback review in 
which selected peers and reporting staff assess the 
performance of relevant executives and managers 
according to a set of questions benchmarked against 
key performance indicators. The process also includes 
a series of reviews with the Divisional CEO’s in which 
the 360 degree feedback review is discussed with the 
relevant executive or manager and remedial steps and 
coaching, if applicable, are implemented. There may be 
further additional reviews undertaken through the year if 
necessary. 

•		In	the	case	of	head	of	divisions	and	head	office 	

management (CFO, General Counsel and Company 
Secretary) the review process is managed and 
administered by the Group Chief Executive Officer. 
The review involves a one-on-one interview in which 
performance against key performance indicators is 
assessed and discussed and feedback from peers (where 
relevant) is reviewed. Where necessary remedial steps 
are identified and coaching is implemented. There may 
be additional reviews undertaken through the year if 
necessary.

In addition, a portion of remuneration for key management 
personnel is tied into the financial performance of the 
Company as set out in more detail in the Remuneration 
Report. Performance evaluation for key management 
personnel was undertaken in 2010 and it was in accordance 
with the processes disclosed in this report.

The independent non-executive directors also generally 
informally monitor and review the ongoing performance of 
senior executives.

The Group Human Resources Manager is also responsible for 
managing and administering an induction process for newly 
appointed senior executives. In addition the Group CEO and 
divisional CEO’s undertake a rigorous process of briefing new 
senior executives.

17

Corporate Governance Report continued 

2. The Board

At present, the Board comprises four members: John Thame, 
Ian Ferrier, Greg Wilkinson and Clive Rabie. Mr Thame is 
Chairman of the Board and he, together with Mr Ferrier, are 
independent non-executive directors. Further details of the 
directors, including a summary of their skills and experience 
and period of office, are set out in the Directors’ Report.

The Company has adopted each of the Recommendations 
relating to Principle 2 of the ASX Governance Principles, 
except for the requirement in Recommendation 2.1 and 2.4 
due to the size and circumstances of the Board. However in 
the opinion of the Board, the existing structure and processes 
are appropriate for the Company and still meet the objectives 
of the Recommendations and Principle 2. While there is not 
strictly an independent majority in the sense described in 
Recommendation 2.1, as there are only four directors, the 
non-executive directors ensure that all issues that come 
before the Board are considered in an impartial manner and 
from a variety of perspectives and meet the objectives of 
Recommendation 2.1. Mr Wilkinson, although still a substantial 
shareholder, has occupied a non-executive position for more 
than three years since he resigned from the management 
of the Company. The Chairman, who is independent, has a 
casting vote where necessary. The independent non-executive 
directors oversee the nomination of any potential directors.

The criteria for directorship and the election process are set 
out in the Company’s constitution. The directors periodically 
review the composition of the Board to ensure that members 
have the desired breadth of experience and expertise to 
govern the Company effectively. The size of the Board dictates 
that there is no efficiency obtained in establishing a formal 
nomination committee. Accordingly, the Company departs 
from this requirement in Recommendation 2.4. 

Directors are entitled to seek independent professional 
advice at the Company’s expense to assist them in fulfilling 
their duties in order to comply with all applicable laws and 
regulations. There is no formal procedure for the Board to 
agree when to take independent advice at the expense of the 
Company, but given the size of the Board there is no efficiency 
to be obtained in formalising this process. The independent 
non-executive directors exercise their judgment to call for such 
advice when they deem appropriate. The Chairman also has 
frequent contact with internal legal counsel to assess the need 
for external advice. 

The Board met ten times during 2010. The details of 
attendance at these meetings are set out in the Directors’ 
Report.

The independent non-executive directors monitor and review 
the ongoing performance of the executive directors and 
key executives. The independent non-executive directors 

occasionally meet informally without management being 
present to generally discuss the affairs of the Company and 
the overall performance of key executives.

The independent non-executive directors are subject to 
the Company’s constitution and their continuity of tenure is 
dependent on re-election by shareholders in accordance with 
the constitution. 

Any decision regarding the appointment of new directors 
is taken cognisant of the need to appoint someone who is 
technically qualified and as far as possible familiar with the 
Company’s market sector.

While there is no formal induction process in place, the 
Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Group CEO undertake a 
rigorous process of briefing new board members. 

Given the size of the Company there is also direct informal 
communication on a regular basis between the Chairman and 
the Company Secretary on governance matters.

3. Ethical and Responsible Decision Making

The Company’s governance policies and processes 
incorporate all the Recommendations relating to Principle 3 of 
the ASX Governance Principles. 

The Board’s policy is that the Company, the directors and 
employees in addition to their legal obligations must maintain 
high ethical standards in their dealings with the public and 
other members of the industry.

The initial Directors’ Code of Conduct adopted in 2003 was 
reviewed and updated in 2007 to apply to all employees and 
will be reviewed in 2011. 

The Company’s Human Resources Policy and Procedures, 
binding on all employees, also collectively embraces the 
substance of the ASX Governance Principles in a Code of 
Conduct, including expectations regarding behaviour in the 
workplace, disciplinary processes, grievance processes, 
discrimination and harassment, occupational health and 
safety, ethical business practices, conflict of interest,  
corporate opportunity.

The Company is committed to training employees and 
maintaining employees’ relevant technical expertise and 
understanding of their ethical and legal obligations, for 
example by way of trade practices training from time to time 
for relevant staff.

The Company is creating a profile of executive, management 
and employees to benchmark the Company’s current position 
on diversity, particularly as to gender. The Board will then be in 
a position to consider appropriate objectives on diversity and 
formulate a diversity policy relevant to the Company and its 
objectives.  The Board will report in more detail on its application 
of Recommendations 3.2-3.2 in the 2011 Annual Report. 

18

Corporate Governance Report continued 

4. Integrity in Financial Reporting

5. Timely and Balanced Disclosure

The Company has adopted each of the Recommendations 
relating to Principle 5 of the ASX Governance Principles. 
The Board remains conscious of the Company’s disclosure 
obligations under the Corporations Act, the ASX listing rules 
and the ASIC guidance principles. These obligations are 
reflected in the Continuous Disclosure Policy. All required 
disclosures are also made in accordance with the Continuous 
Disclosure policy which is accessible to the public at the 
Company web site. A review of operations and commentary 
on the financial results is provided in the Directors' Report and 
the Financial Report. 

6. Rights of Shareholders

The Board is conscious of the requirements of Principle 6 
of the ASX Governance Principles and takes into account 
the rights and needs of shareholders to balanced and 
understandable information about the Company and acts in 
accordance with this Principle. The Company communicates 
with shareholders through its ASX disclosures to the market. 
The Company also communicates with shareholders through 
the posting of statutory notices to shareholders and at the 
general and special meetings of the Company. The Company 
keeps recent announcements and general Company 
information on its web site with a dedicated investor relations 
section which is accessible to the public. The web site 
contains a link to the ASX web site for older announcements. 
Given the size and circumstances of the Company, there is 
no formally documented communications strategy, and in this 
respect the Company has not adopted Recommendation 6.1. 

The Company’s auditor attends the Annual General Meeting 
and is available to answer shareholder questions about the 
conduct of the audit and the preparation and content of the 
Auditor’s Report at the meeting.

The Board assumes the responsibility to ensure the integrity 
of the Company’s financial reporting and has established 
the Audit & Risk Committee to focus on the issues relating 
to the integrity of the financial reporting of the Company and 
oversight and review of the Company’s risk management. The 
terms of reference for the Audit & Risk Committee, to review 
and monitor all financial, risk management and compliance 
policies, were formalised in a Charter in 2003 to meet the 
requirements of the ASX Governance Principles. The Audit 
& Risk Committee consists of John Thame and Ian Ferrier, 
independent, non-executive directors, as well as the non-
executive director Greg Wilkinson, to ensure independent 
review of financial reporting over and above formal audit 
processes. Details of their experience and qualifications are 
set out in the Directors’ Report.

The Audit & Risk Committee also meets informally to discuss 
matters including risk management and reporting. 

With the appointment of Greg Wilkinson to the Audit & Risk 
Committee in February 2010, the Board is of the opinion that 
the structure of the Committee, together with its considerable 
technical expertise in the market sector of the Company and 
financial literacy, enables it to discharge it functions effectively 
and meet the objectives of Principle 4 and that the Company 
has fully adopted Recommendation 4.2. 

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, the Company’s auditors, report 
directly to the Audit & Risk Committee on the appropriateness 
of the Company’s internal accounting policies and practices. 
The Board reviews the adequacy of existing external audit 
arrangements each year, with particular emphasis on the 
scope and quality of the audit.  The Audit & Risk Committee 
provides written advice to the Board on the standard of 
independence of the auditors in light of any non-audit services 
during the 2010 and which is reported in the Directors' Report.

At each Audit & Risk Committee meeting, the independent 
non-executive directors meet separately with the auditors 
without management being present to review any 
concerns that the auditors may have regarding the financial 
management of the Company.

The Audit & Risk Committee met twice during 2010. The 
Audit & Risk Committee reports back to the Board after each 
Audit & Risk Committee meeting. The details of attendance 
at these meetings are set out in the Directors’  Report. The 
Board is aware of its obligations to ensure the appropriate 
selection and rotation of external auditors and the external 
audit engagement partners and closely monitors and reviews 
the engagement of the Company’s external auditors. 

19

Corporate Governance Report continued 

Due to the effectiveness of the existing processes and the size 
of the business, business risk management systems, policies 
and procedures have not been comprehensively formalised. 
With a view to fully adopting Recommendations 7.1 and 
7.2, the Company’s risk management systems, policies and 
processes are under consideration to be formalised and 
documented, if necessary. 

8. Remunerate Fairly and Responsibly

The Company remunerates directors and key executives 
in accordance with the aspirations set out in ASX 
Governance Principle 8. Accordingly, the Board has adopted 
a remuneration policy designed to attract and maintain 
talented and motivated directors and senior employees so 
as to encourage enhanced performance of the Company. 
There is a clear relationship between performance and 
remuneration and a desire to strike the correct balance 
between the various components making up remuneration. 
The Remuneration Committee consists of the independent, 
non-executive directors, John Thame and Ian Ferrier. Details of 
their experience and qualification are set out in the Directors’ 
Report. The Remuneration Committee ensures independent 
review of financial reporting over and above formal audit 
processes. The Remuneration Committee supervises 
the development and implementation of the Company’s 
remuneration policy including the operation of option plans, 
and reviews the performance of the executive directors 
and senior executives. There is no formal charter for the 
Remuneration Committee, but it does fix policy and reward  
in accordance with ASX Governance Principle 8. The full 
detail of the policy and remuneration is contained in the 
Remuneration Report.

The Remuneration Committee met twice during 2010. The 
details of attendance at these meetings are set out in the 
Directors’ Report.

7. Recognise and Manage Risk

As stated above in paragraph 1, the Board is responsible for 
ensuring appropriate risk management, accountability, and 
control mechanisms. It constantly monitors the operational 
and financial aspects and material risks of the Company’s 
activities and, through the Audit & Risk Committee, considers 
the recommendations and advice of the auditors and other 
external advisers on the operational and financial risks that 
face the Company. The Group CEO and Group CFO monitor 
and review the financial performance of the Company and 
monitor any potential risk virtually on a daily basis. The Board 
has received assurance from the CEO and the CFO that the 
S295A Declaration provided in the Financial Report is founded 
on a sound system of risk management and internal control 
and that the system is operating effectively in all material 
respects in relation to financial reporting risks. The Board is of 
the opinion that there is substantial compliance with the ASX 
Governance Principle 7 although Recommendations 7.1 and 
7.2 have not yet been fully adopted. 

As described above, the size of the Company and the 
management team enables the Board to have effective 
oversight of the overall risk management of the Company. In 
the Board’s opinion, especially with the existence of an Audit 
& Risk Committee, there is no efficiency for the Company to 
establish a separate risk management committee. 

The Board is provided with a declaration from the Group CEO 
and the Group CFO under section 295A of the Corporations 
Act, that due consideration is given to budgets, cash flows, 
realisation of current assets, continuity of terms of trade, and 
consideration of contingencies in the day to day operations 
of the Company and in the monthly management financial 
reporting and statutory reporting of the Company. 

At present the nature of operations and scope of the business is 
reasonably well established and understood by management and 
the Board. The decision making and reporting processes in the 
Company incorporate an assessment of the relevant material risks, 
for example in the planning, budget, HR, product development, 
R&D, legal and compliance activities and, where relevant, any 
material risk issues are reported to and considered by the Board. 
The planning and budget process involves both the executive 
and senior management, which means all of these employees 
have a more than adequate understanding of the issues, activities 
and opportunities across the Company. In turn this enables them 
to manage operational, planning, strategic and risk issues in the 
Company. In addition, the Company regularly conducts reviews of 
the material risks in the context of the annual insurance renewals 
and, in relation to acquisitions through due diligence. Relevant 
risk factors are included in the various management and financial 
reports to the Board and are then considered by the Board. The 
reporting, identification and management of risk are now effectively 
a standing board agenda item.

20

 
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 
ABN 74 490 121 060

Grosvenor Place 
225 George Street 
Sydney  NSW  2000 
PO Box N250 Grosvenor Place 
Sydney NSW 1220 Australia

DX 10307SSE 
Tel: +61 (0) 2 9322 7000 
Fax: +61 (0) 2 9322 7001 
www.deloitte.com.au

30 March 2011 

The Board of Directors

Reckon Limited

35 Saunders Street

Pyrmont NSW 2009

Dear Board Members

RECKON LIMITED

In accordance with section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001, I am pleased to 
provide the following declaration of independence to the directors of Reckon Limited.

As lead audit partner for the audit of the financial statements of Reckon Limited 
for the financial year ended 31 December 2010, I declare that to the best of my 
knowledge and belief, there have been no contraventions of:

(i) 

 the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to 
the audit; and

(ii)  any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.  

Yours sincerely

DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU

Michael Kaplan 
Partner 
Chartered Accountants

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

21

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 
ABN 74 490 121 060

Grosvenor Place 
225 George Street 
Sydney  NSW  2000 
PO Box N250 Grosvenor Place 
Sydney NSW 1220 Australia

DX 10307SSE 
Tel: +61 (0) 2 9322 7000 
Fax: +61 (0) 2 9322 7001 
www.deloitte.com.au

independent Auditor’s Report to 
the Members of Reckon Limited

Report on the Financial Report 

We have audited the accompanying financial report of Reckon Limited, which 
comprises the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2010, the 
statement of comprehensive income, the statement of cash flows and the 
statement of changes in equity for the year ended on that date, notes comprising 
a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information, 
and the directors’ declaration of the consolidated entity comprising the company 
and the entities it controlled at the year’s end or from time to time during the 
financial year as set out on pages 24 to 62. 

Directors’ Responsibility for the Financial Report

The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report 
that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and 
the Corporations Act 2001 and for such internal control as the directors determine is 
necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that is free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In Note 1, the directors also state, in 
accordance with Accounting Standard AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements, 
that the financial statements comply with International Financial Reporting Standards.

Auditor’s Responsibility

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

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts 
and disclosures in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the 
auditor’s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of 
the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, 
the auditor considers internal control, relevant to the entity’s preparation 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. An audit also includes 
evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness 
of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall 
presentation of the financial report.

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

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

22

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

In conducting our audit, we have complied with the independence requirements of the 
Corporations Act 2001. We confirm that the independence declaration required by the 
Corporations Act 2001, which has been given to the directors of Reckon Limited, would be 
in the same terms if given to the directors as at the time of this auditor’s report. 

Opinion

In our opinion:

(a)   the financial report of Reckon Limited is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, 

including:

(i) 

 giving a true and fair view of the consolidated entity’s financial position as at 31 
December 2010 and of its performance for the year ended on that date; and

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

2001; and

(b)   the financial statements also comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as 

disclosed in Note 1.

Report on the Remuneration Report 

We have audited the Remuneration Report included in  pages 10 to 15 of the Directors’ 
Report for the year ended 31 December 2010. 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 Reckon Limited for the year ended 31 
December 2010, complies with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001.  

DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU 

Michael Kaplan 
Partner 
Chartered Accountants 
Sydney, 30 March 2011 

23

 
 
financial Report

Directors’ Declaration

The directors of the Company declare that:

1.  the financial statements and notes as set out on pages 25 to 62 are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, and: 

•	comply	with	Accounting	Standards;	and

•		comply	with	International	Financial	Reporting	Standards	issued	by	the	International	Accounting	Standards	Board,	as	set	

out in Note 1; and

•		give	a	true	and	fair	view	of	the	financial	position	as	at	31	December	2010	and	of	the	performance	for	the	year	ended	on	

that date of the consolidated group;

2.  the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Finance Officer have each declared that:

•		the	financial	records	of	the	company	for	the	financial	year	have	been	properly	maintained	in	accordance	with	s	286	of	the	

Corporations Act 2001;

•	the	financial	statements	and	notes	for	the	financial	year	comply	with	the	Accounting	Standards,	and

•	the	financial	statements	and	notes	for	the	financial	year	give	a	true	and	fair	view;

3.  in the directors’ opinion there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and 
when they become due and payable; and

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

On behalf of the directors

Mr J Thame 
Chairman 
Sydney, 30 March 2011

24

 
 
statement of Comprehensive income 

for the year ended 31 December 2010

Continuing operations

Revenue 

Product and selling costs

Royalties

Employee benefits expenses

Share-based payments expenses

Marketing expenses

Premises and establishment expenses

Depreciation and amortisation of other non-current assets

Telecommunications

Legal and professional expenses

Finance costs

Other expenses 

Profit before business acquisition restructure costs

Business acquisition restructure costs

Profit before income tax 

Income tax expense

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Consolidated

2010

$’000

2009

$’000

Note

2

90,273

85,389

(14,588)

(14,623)

(4,786)

(4,204)

(27,461)

(26,913)

(1,300)

(2,471)

(2,685)

(7,769)

(920)

(981)

(161)

(1,027)

(3,106)

(2,683)

(6,897)

(995)

(889)

(303)

(4,752)

(4,761)

22,399

-

22,399

(5,151)

18,988

(1,176)

17,812

(4,210)

17,248

13,602

2

2

3

Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations

21

(294)

(258)

Total comprehensive income for the year

16,954

13,344

Profit attributable to:

Owners of the parent

Non-controlling interest

Total comprehensive income attributable to:

Owners of the parent

Non-controlling interest

Basic Earnings per Share

Diluted Earnings per Share

22

16,478

13,226

770

376

17,248

13,602

16,184

12,968

770

376

16,954

13,344

Cents

12.4

12.4

Cents

9.9

9.9

23

23

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

25

  
statement of financial Position 

as at 31 December 2010

Consolidated

ASSETS

Current Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Inventories

Other assets

Total Current Assets

Non-Current Assets

Receivables

Financial assets

Property, plant and equipment

Deferred tax assets

Intangible assets

Other assets

Total Non-Current Assets

Total Assets

LIABILITIES

Current Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Current tax payables

Provisions

Deferred revenue

Deferred rent contribution 

Total Current Liabilities

Non-Current Liabilities

Borrowings

Deferred tax liabilities

Provisions

Deferred rent contribution

Total Non-Current Liabilities

Total Liabilities

Net Assets

Equity

Issued capital

Reserves

Retained earnings

Equity attributable to owners of the parent

Non-controlling interest

Total Equity

Note

28

6

5

7

6

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

15

20

21

22

29

2010

$’000

8,095

6,756

831

1,320

17,002

236

56

3,760

56

46,438

-

50,546

67,548

5,838

2

920

2,007

5,742

233

14,742

-

1,607

1,337

721

3,665

18,407

49,141

18,048

(63)

31,156

49,141

-

49,141

2009

$’000

2,350

9,152

1,159

1,164

13,825

617

64

3,768

586

45,270

192

50,497

64,322

6,022

375

813

1,899

6,048

250

15,407

2,023

1,972

850

795

5,640

21,047

43,275

18,037

239

24,625

42,901

374

43,275

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

26

 
statement of Changes in Equity  

for the year ended 31 December 2010

Consolidated

Issued 
capital

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve

Share-
based 
payments 
reserve

Retained 
earnings

Attributable 
to owners 
of the 
parent

Non-
controlling 
interest

Total

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$'000

Balance at 1 January 2010

18,037

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income:

Exchange differences on translation of  
foreign operations 

Total comprehensive income for the year

Share based payments expense

Dividends paid

Treasury shares vested/lapsed

Transfer to share capital

Treasury shares acquired

Proceeds from issues of equity securities

-

-

-

-

-

314

18

(370)

49

(400)

-

(294)

(294)

-

-

-

-

-

-

639

-

-

-

24,625

16,478

42,901

16,478

374

770

43,275

17,248

-

(294)

-

(294)

16,478

16,184

770

16,954

324

-

324

-

324

-

(9,947)

(9,947)

(1,144)

(11,091)

(314)

(18)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(370)

49

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(370)

49

49,141

Balance at 31 December 2010

18,048

(694)

631

31,156

49,141

Balance at 1 January 2009

17,566

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income:

Exchange differences on translation of  
foreign operations 

Total comprehensive income for the year

Share based payments expense

Dividends paid

Treasury shares vested/lapsed

Transfer to share capital

Treasury shares acquired

Proceeds from issues of equity securities

-

-

-

-

-

498

132

(415)

256

(142)

-

(258)

(258)

-

-

-

-

-

-

958

-

-

20,003

13,226

38,385

13,226

(2)

38,383

376

13,602

-

(258)

-

(258)

13,226

12,968

376

13,344

311

-

311

-

(8,604)

(8,604)

(498)

(132)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(415)

256

-

-

-

-

-

-

311

(8,604)

-

-

(415)

256

Balance at 31 December 2009

18,037

(400)

639

24,625

42,901

374

43,275

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

27

 
statement of Cash flows 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

Consolidated

Inflows/(Outflows)

Note

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

Receipts from customers

Payments to suppliers and employees

Interest received

Interest paid

Income taxes paid

Net cash inflow from operating activities

28(c)

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

Payment for purchase of business, net of cash acquired

Payments for purchase of intellectual property

Payment for capitalised development costs 

Payment for property, plant and equipment

Proceeds/(payments) for security deposits 

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

Proceeds from issues of equity securities

Proceeds from/(repayment of)  borrowings

Payment for treasury shares

Dividends paid 

Non-controlling interest dividends paid

Net cash outflow from financing activities

Net Increase/(Decrease)  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

28(a)

2010

$’000

101,523

 (68,461)

158

(161)

(4,879)

28,180

-

(61)

(7,568)

(1,387)

8

(9,008)

49

(2,396)

(370)

(9,947)

(763)

(13,427)

5,745

2,350

8,095

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

2009

$’000

93,451

 (69,701)

81

(303)

(4,647)

18,881

(18,394)

(164)

(6,485)

(1,822)

565

(26,300)

256

2,398

(415)

(8,604)

-

(6,365)

(13,784)

16,134

2,350

28

 
Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

1  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 

(c)  Depreciation and Amortisation

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation 
of the Financial Report are set out below. Unless otherwise 
stated, the accounting policies adopted are consistent with 
those of the previous year. The Financial Report includes 
the consolidated entity consisting of Reckon Limited and its 
subsidiaries.

Basis of preparation

This general purpose financial report has been prepared 
in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and 
Interpretations and the Corporations Act 2001, and complies 
with the other requirements of the law.

Australian Accounting Standards include Australian equivalents 
to International Financial Reporting Standards (AIFRS). 
Compliance with AIFRS ensures that the consolidated financial 
statements and notes of Reckon Limited, comply with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs).

The Financial Report has been prepared in accordance with 
the historical cost convention, except for the revaluation of 
certain non-current assets and financial instruments.

Significant Accounting Policies

(a)  Trade Payables 
These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services 
provided to the consolidated entity prior to the end of the 
financial year and which are unpaid.  These amounts are 
unsecured and are usually paid within 30 days of the month of 
recognition. Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value, 
and subsequently at amortised cost.

(b) Acquisition of Assets 

Assets acquired are recorded at the cost of acquisition, being 
the fair value of the purchase consideration determined as at 
the date of acquisition.   Where equity instruments are issued 
in an acquisition, the value of the instruments is the weighted 
average of their closing market price for the total of the five 
business days either side of the acquisition date. Acquisition 
related costs are recognised  in the profit or loss as incurred.

In the event that settlement of all or part of the consideration 
given in the acquisition of an asset is deferred, the fair value of 
the purchase consideration is determined by discounting the 
amounts payable in the future to their present value as at the 
date of acquisition.  However, where the deferred component 
is subject to certain criteria being met, the amount deferred is 
recognised based on an estimate where it is probable that the 
relevant criteria will be met. If the amount is not probable or 
cannot be reliably measured, no amount is recognised.

Depreciation is provided on plant and equipment.  Depreciation 
is calculated on a straight-line basis. Leasehold improvements 
are amortised over the period of the lease or the estimated 
useful life, whichever is the shorter, using the straight-line 
method.  The following estimated useful lives are used in the 
calculation of depreciation and amortisation: 
Plant and equipment  
Leasehold improvements 

3 - 5 years 
3 - 6 years

(d)  Employee Benefits 

Provision is made for benefits accruing to employees in 
respect of wages and salaries, annual leave and long service 
leave, when it is probable that settlement will be required and 
they are capable of being measured reliably.

Provisions made in respect of wages and salaries, annual 
leave, and other employee entitlements expected to be settled 
within 12 months are measured at the amounts expected to be 
paid when the liabilities are settled.

Provisions made in respect of long service leave which are 
not expected to be settled within 12 months are measured as 
the present value of the estimated future cash outflows to be 
made by the consolidated entity in respect of services provided 
by employees up to the reporting date, using the projected unit 
credit method. Consideration is given to expected future wage 
and salary levels, experience of employee departures and 
periods of service.

The Group recognises a liability and an expense for the long-
term incentive plan for selected executives based on a formula 
that takes into consideration the ranking of total shareholder 
return measured against a comparator group of companies. 

Contributions are made by the Group to defined contribution 
employee superannuation funds and are charged as expenses 
when incurred.

(e)  Contributed Equity

Transaction Costs on the Issue of Equity Instruments 
Transaction costs arising on the issue of equity instruments are 
recognised directly in equity as a reduction of the proceeds of 
the equity instruments to which the costs relate.  Transaction 
costs are the costs that are incurred directly in connection with 
the issue of those equity instruments and which would not 
have been incurred had those instruments not been issued.

29

 
 
Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

(f)  Foreign Currency Translation

(g)  Goods and Services Tax

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

Transactions and balances  
All foreign currency transactions during the financial year have been 
brought to account in the functional currency using the exchange 
rate in effect at the date of the transaction.  Foreign currency 
monetary items at reporting date are translated at the exchange 
rate existing at that date. Exchange differences are brought to 
account in the profit or loss in the period in which they arise.

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

•		Assets	and	liabilities	are	translated	at	the	closing	rate	at	the	

date of the statement of financial position;

•		Income	and	expenses	are	translated	at	average	rates	(unless	
this is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect 
of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which 
case income and expenses are translated at the dates of the 
transactions); and

•		All	resulting	exchange	differences	are	recognised	as	a	

separate component of equity.

On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation 
of monetary items forming part of the net investment in foreign 
entities, and of borrowings and other currency instruments 
designated as hedges of such investments, are taken directly to 
reserves. When a foreign operation is sold, a proportionate share of 
such exchange differences are recognised in profit or loss as part 
of the gain or loss on sale.

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

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the 
amount of goods and services tax (GST), except: 
i.    where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from 
the taxation authority, it is recognised as part of the cost of 
acquisition of an asset or as part of an item of expense; or
ii.    for receivables and payables which are recognised inclusive 

of GST.

The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the 
taxation authority is included as part of receivables or payables.

(h)  Intangible assets 

Goodwill 
Where an entity or operation is acquired, the identifiable net 
assets acquired are measured at fair value.  Goodwill represents 
the excess of the fair value of the cost of acquisition over the 
fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is 
not amortised, and is tested for impairment annually or more 
frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that 
it might be impaired. Following initial recognition goodwill is 
measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.  If 
an impairment has been identified, the goodwill is written down 
and an expense recognised in profit or loss. Impairment losses 
recognised for goodwill are not subsequently reversed.

Intellectual Property 
Acquired Intellectual Property is recognised at cost, less 
accumulated amortisation and any impairment losses, and is 
amortised on a straight line basis between 3-10 years.

Research and development costs 
Research and development expenditure is recognised as an 
expense when incurred, except in the undernoted instances.

Development costs in respect of enhancements on existing 
Professional and nQueue Billback Division and Elite suites 
of software applications are capitalised and written off over 
a 3 to 4 year period. Development costs on technically and 
commercially feasible new Professional Division and Elite 
products are capitalised and written off on a straight line 
basis over a period of 3 to 4 years commencing at the time of 
commercial release of the new product.

Development costs include cost of materials, direct labour and 
appropriate overheads.

At each balance date, a review of the carrying value of the 
capitalised development costs being carried forward is 
undertaken to ensure the carrying value is recoverable from 
future revenue generated by the sale of that software.

30

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

(i)   Income Tax

(m)  Principles of Consolidation

The income tax expense or revenue for the period is the tax 
payable on the current period’s taxable income based on 
the national income tax rate for each jurisdiction adjusted by 
changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to 
temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and 
liabilities, and their carrying amounts in the financial statements, 
and to unused tax losses.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised for temporary 
differences at the tax rates expected to apply when the assets 
are recovered or liabilities are settled, based on those tax rates 
which are enacted or substantively enacted for each jurisdiction. 
The relevant tax rates are applied to the cumulative amounts of 
deductible and taxable temporary differences to measure the 
deferred tax asset or liability. An exception is made for certain 
temporary differences arising from the initial recognition of an asset 
or liability. No deferred tax asset or liability is recognised in relation 
to those temporary differences if they arose in a transaction, other 
than a business combination, that at the time of the transaction did 
not affect either accounting profit or taxable profit or loss.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary 
differences and unused tax losses only if it is probable that future 
taxable amounts will be available to utilise those temporary 
differences and losses. All deferred tax liabilities are recognised.

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

(j)   Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable 
value.  Costs are assigned to inventory on hand on a weighted 
average cost basis.

(k)  Investments in subsidiaries

Investments in subsidiaries are recorded at cost.  

Dividend revenue is taken to income on a receivable basis. 

(l)   Leased Assets

A distinction is made between finance leases which effectively 
transfer from the lessor to the lessee substantially all the risks and 
benefits incident to ownership of leased assets, and operating 
leases under which the lessor effectively retains substantially all 
the risks and benefits.

Operating lease payments are recognised on a straight line basis 
over the lease term, except where another systematic basis 
is more representative of the time pattern in which economic 
benefits from the leased assets are consumed. Contingent 
rentals arising under operating leases are recognised as an 
expense in the period in which they are incurred.  Lease 
incentives are initially recognised as a liability and are amortised 
over the term of the lease on a straight line basis.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared 
by combining the financial statements of all the entities that 
comprise the consolidated entity, being the Company (the 
parent entity) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are all entities 
over which the Group has the power to govern the financial and 
operating policies.

The consolidated financial statements include the information 
and results of each subsidiary from the date on which the 
Company obtains control and until such time as the Company 
ceases to control the entity.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, all inter-
company balances and transactions, and unrealised profits 
arising from transactions within the consolidated entity are 
eliminated in full.

(n)  Receivables

Trade receivables and other receivables are recorded at 
amortised cost, less impairment.

(o)  Impairment of assets

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

(p)  Revenue Recognition

Sale of Goods and Disposal of Assets 
Revenue from the sale of goods and disposal of other assets 
is recognised when the consolidated entity has passed control 
of the goods or other assets to the buyer, the fee is fixed or 
determinable and collectability is probable.

Professional and nQueue Billback Division software licence 
fee revenue is recognised at the point when the customer is 
in agreement for a “live operation” (i.e. when the customer 
accepts that all users can use the system on a fully functional 
basis).

Rendering of Services 
Revenue from a contract to provide services is recognised 
by reference to the stage of completion of the contract or on 
a time and materials basis depending upon the nature of the 
contract.

31

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

Support and maintenance revenue is recognised on a 
straight-line basis over the period of the contract, unless the 
cost of providing the technical support is insignificant. Under 
those circumstances the revenue and the associated cost of 
providing the technical support is accrued upon shipment of 
the goods. In multiple element arrangements where goods and 
services are sold as a bundled product, the fair value of the 
services is recognised as revenue over the period during which 
the service is performed, unless the cost of providing those 
services is insignificant. Under those circumstances the revenue 
and the associated cost of providing the services is accrued 
upon shipment of the goods.

Interest and Other Revenue 
Interest revenue is recognised on a time proportional basis 
taking into account the effective interest rates applicable to the 
financial assets.  Other revenue is recognised when the right to 
receive the revenue has been established. 

(q)  Deferred Revenue

Revenue earned from maintenance and support services provided 
on sales of certain products by the consolidated entity are deferred 
and then recognised in the statement of comprehensive income 
over the contract period as the services are performed, normally 
12 months. Refer note 1(p) for further detail. 

(r)  Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing net profit 
after income tax attributable to members of the Company by 
the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding 
during the financial year, adjusted for bonus elements in 
ordinary shares issued during the year.

Diluted earnings per share adjusts the figures in the 
determination of basic earnings per share by taking into account 
the after income tax effect of interest and other financing costs 
associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares and the 
weighted average number of dilutive potential ordinary shares.

(s)  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held 
at call with financial institutions and bank overdrafts. 

(t)  Other financial assets

Other financial assets represent security deposits held as rental 
guarantees. They are valued at amortised cost.

(u)  Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a legal or 
constructive obligation, as a result of past events, for which it 
is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will result and 
that the outflow can be reliably measured.

(v)  Fair Value estimation

The fair value of financial instruments and share based payments 
that are not traded in an active market is determined using 
valuation techniques. The Group uses a variety of methods and 
assumptions that are based on existing market conditions. Other 
techniques, such as estimated discounted cash flows, are used 
to determine fair value for the remaining instruments. 

The Directors consider that the nominal value less estimated 
credit adjustments of trade receivables and payables 
approximate their fair values.

(w)  Rounding of amounts

The parent entity has applied the relief available to it under ASIC 
Class Order 98/100, and accordingly, amounts in the financial 
report have been rounded off to the nearest thousand dollars, 
except where otherwise indicated.

(x)  Significant accounting judgments, estimates and 
assumptions

Significant accounting judgments 
In applying the Group’s accounting policies, management has 
made the following judgments which have the most significant 
effect on the financial statements:

Capitalisation of development costs – the Group has adopted 
a policy of capitalising development costs only for products for 
which an assessment is made that the product is technically 
feasible and will generate definite economic benefits for the 
Group going forward. The capitalised costs are subsequently 
amortised over the expected useful life of the product.

Revenue recognition - in multiple element arrangements where 
goods and services are sold as a bundled product, the fair 
value of the services is recognised as revenue over the period 
during which the service is performed.

Significant accounting estimates and assumptions 
The carrying amount of certain assets and liabilities are often 
determined based on estimates and assumptions of future 
events. The key estimates and assumptions that have a 
significant risk of causing material adjustment to the carrying 
amounts of certain assets and liabilities are:

Impairment of goodwill – the Group determines whether goodwill 
is impaired on an annual basis. This requires an estimation of 
the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the 
goodwill is allocated. The assumptions used in this estimation, and 
the effect if these assumptions change, are disclosed in Note 11.

Share based payments – the Group measures the cost of 
equity-settled transactions with employees by reference to 
the fair value of the equity instruments at the date on which 
they are granted. The fair value has been determined using a 
model that adopts Monte Carlo simulation approach, and the 
assumptions related to this can be found in Note 19.

32

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

(y)  New accounting standards not yet effective

At the date of authorisation of the Financial Report, a number of Standards and Interpretations were in issue but not yet effective.

Initial application of the following Standards will not affect any of the amounts recognised in the financial report, but will change the 
disclosures presently made in relation to the Financial Report.

Standard/Interpretation

•		AASB	9	Financial	Instruments,	AASB	2009-11	and	AASB	
2010-7 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards 
arising from AASB 9

Effective for annual 
reporting periods 
beginning on or after

Expected to be initially 
applied in the financial year 
ending

1 January 2013

31 December 2013

•		AASB	124	Related	Party	Disclosures	(2009),	AASB	2009-

1 January 2011

31 December 2011

12 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards

•		AASB	2009-10	Amendments	to	Australian	Accounting	

1 February 2010

31 December 2011

Standards – Classification of Rights Issues

•		AASB	2009-14	Amendments	to	Australian	Interpretation	–	

1 January 2011

31 December 2011

Prepayments of a Minimum Funding Requirement

•		AASB	2010-3	Amendments	to	Australian	Accounting	

1 July 2010

31 December 2011

Standards arising from the Annual Improvements Project

•		AASB	2010-4	Further	Amendments	to	Australian	
Accounting Standards arising from the Annual 
Improvements Project

1 January 2011

31 December 2011

•		AASB	2010-5	Amendments	to	Australian	Accounting	

1 January 2011

31 December 2011

Standards

•		AASB	2010-6	Amendments	to	Australian	Accounting	

1 July 2011

31 December 2012

Standards – Disclosures on Transfers of Financial Assets

•		AASB	2010-7	Amendments	to	Australian	Accounting	

1 January 2013

31 December 2013

Standards arising from AASB9 (December 2010)

•		AASB	2010-8	Amendments	to	Australian	Accounting	

1 January 2012

31 December 2012

Standards – Deferred Tax: Recovery of Underlying Assets

•		AASB	Interpretation	19	Extinguishing	Financial	Liabilities	

1 July 2010

31 December 2011

with Equity Instruments

33

 
 
Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

2  Profit for the year

Consolidated

2010

$’000

2009

$’000

Profit before income tax includes the following items of revenue and expense:

Revenue 

Sales revenue

Sale of goods and rendering of services

90,042

85,231

Other Revenue

Other income

Interest revenue – bank deposits

Expenses

Cost of Sales

Bad debt expense:

   Other Entities

Finance costs expensed: 

   Bank loans and overdraft

Net transfers to/(from) provisions:

   Sales returns and rebates

   Employee benefits

   Allowance for doubtful debts

Depreciation of non-current assets:

   Property, plant and equipment

Amortisation of non-current assets:

   Leasehold improvements

   Intellectual property

   Development costs

Foreign exchange losses/(gains)  

Research and Development costs

Operating lease rental expenses:

   Minimum lease payments

Business acquisition restructure costs

73

158

231

77

81

158

90,273

85,389

19,374

18,827

51

161

158

891

332

915

422

1,332

5,100

(83)

2,339

2,425

0

103

303

149

796

47

871

425

1,529

4,072

(59)

2,190

2,362

1,176

Business acquisition restructure costs in 2009 relate predominantly to surplus premises and staff redundancies  

34

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

3  Income Tax

Consolidated

(a) Income tax  expense

Current tax

Deferred tax

Under /(over) provided in prior years

(b)  The prima facie income tax expense on pre-tax accounting  

profit reconciles to the income tax expense/(income tax revenue)  
in the financial statements as follows:

Profit before income tax

Income tax expense calculated at 30% of profit 

Tax Effect of:

Effect of higher tax rates on overseas income

Tax effect of non-deductible/non-taxable items:

Non-taxable income

Research and development claims

Sundry items

Reversal of withholding tax on pre-acquisition dividend 

Under/(over) provision in prior years

Income tax expense attributable to profit

(c)  Future income tax benefits not brought to account as an asset:  

not probable of recovery

Tax losses:

Revenue

Capital

2010

$’000

5,114

165

(128)

5,151

2009

$’000

4,215

733

(738)

4,210

22,399

6,720

17,812

5,344

86

(231)

(787)

(79)

5,709

(430)

(128)

5,151

-

2,295

2,295

60

(113)

(389)

46

4,948

-

(738)

4,210

-

2,295

2,295

35

 
 
 
Consolidated

2010

$

2009

$

194,153

98,765

292,918

32,078

24,085

56,163

349,081

2010

$’000

831

184,851

71,617

256,468

56,842

19,766

76,608

333,076

2009

$’000

1,159

Consolidated

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

4  Remuneration of Auditors

(a) Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

During the year, the auditors of the parent entity earned the following 
remuneration:

Auditing and reviewing of financial reports

Tax compliance and consulting services, due diligence and other  
assurance services

(b) Other Auditors

Auditing and reviewing of financial reports

Tax compliance services

5  Inventories

Finished goods:

At lower of cost and net realisable value

36

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

6  Trade and Other Receivables

Consolidated

Current:

Trade receivables (i)

Allowance for doubtful debts 

Other receivables

Non current:

Other receivables: non-controlling interest holder

(i) The ageing of past due receivables at year end is detailed as follows:

Past due 0 - 30 days

Past due 31 - 60 days

Past due 61+ days

Total

The movement in the allowance for doubtful accounts in respect of  
trade receivables is detailed below:

Balance at beginning of the year

Amounts written off during the year

Increase in allowance recognised in the profit and loss

Balance at end of year

2010

$’000

6,652

(542)

6,110

646

6,756

236

236

1,468

520

1,058

3,046

261

(51)

332

542

2009

$’000

8,552

(261)

8,291

861

9,152

617

617

1,271

988

1,474

3,733

317

(103)

47

261

37

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

7  Other Assets

Consolidated

Prepayments

Other

8  Other Financial Assets

2010

$’000

970

350

1,320

2009

$’000

820

344

1,164

Security deposits

56

64

9  Property, Plant And Equipment

Leasehold Improvements

At cost

Less: Accumulated amortisation

Total leasehold improvements

Plant and equipment

At cost

Less: Accumulated depreciation

Total plant & equipment

Reconciliations

2,464

1,234

1,230

5,591

3,061

2,530

3,760

2,472

858

1,614

5,382

3,228

2,154

3,768

Reconciliations of the carrying amounts of each class of property, plant and equipment at the beginning and end of the financial 
year are set out on the next page.

38

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

9  Property, Plant And Equipment continued

Consolidated

Carrying amount at 1 January 2010

Additions

Depreciation/amortisation expense

Balance at 31 December 2010

Consolidated

Carrying amount at 1 January 2009

Additions

Depreciation/amortisation expense

Balance at 31 December 2009

10   Deferred Tax Asset

The balance comprises temporary differences attributable to:

Doubtful debts

Employee benefits

Deferred revenue

Other provisions

Details of unrecognised deferred tax assets can be found in Note 3(c)

Reconciliation:

Opening balance at 1 January

Credited/(charged) to profit or loss

Acquisition of businesses

Balance at 31 December

Leasehold 
Improvements

Plant and Equipment

Total

$’000

1,614

38

(422)

1,230

$’000

2,154

1,349

(973)

2,530

$’000

3,768

1,387

(1,395)

3,760

Leasehold 
Improvements

Plant and Equipment

Total

$’000

1,210

829

(425)

1,614

Consolidated

$’000

1,333

1,741

(920)

2,154

2010

$’000

3

29

-

24

56

586

(530)

-

56

$’000

2,543

2,570

(1,345)

3,768

2009

$’000

22

319

65

180

586

426

(955)

1,115

586

39

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

11   Intangibles

Consolidated

Intellectual property – at cost

Accumulated amortisation

Development costs – at cost

Accumulated amortisation

Goodwill – at cost

Impairment test for goodwill

Professional Division Australia

Professional Division New Zealand 

Professional Division United Kingdom

nQueueBillback 

Elite

Corporate Services

2010

$’000

11,950

(7,387)

4,563

30,732

(17,496)

13,236

28,639

46,438

10,361

1,742

426

2,449

2,536

11,125

28,639

2009

$’000

12,588

(6,667)

5,921

23,107

(12,397)

10,710

28,639

45,270

10,361

1,742

426

2,449

2,536

11,125

28,639

The recoverable amount of a CGU is determined based on value-in-use calculations.  Management has based the value in use 
calculations on the most recently completed Board approved budget for the forthcoming one year (2011) period.  Subsequent 
cash flows are projected using constant growth rates of 3% per annum.  An average post-tax discount rate of 13.4% (2009: 
13.4%) (pre-tax rate: 18%) reflecting assessed risks associated with CGU’s have been applied to determine the present value of 
future cash flow projections.  No impairment write-offs have been recognized during the year (2009: nil).  Should the projected 
growth rates reduce to 0%, an impairment would still not arise.  

40

 
Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

11   Intangibles continued

Consolidated movements in intangibles

At 1 January 2010

Additions

Amortisation charge

At 31 December 2010

At 1 January 2009

Additions

Amortisation charge

At 31 December 2009

Goodwill

Intellectual 
Property

Development 
Costs

$’000

$’000

$’000

28,639

-

-

28,639

14,708

13,931

-

28,639

5,921

(26)

(1,332)

4,563

1,132

6,318

(1,529)

5,921

10,710

7,626

(5,100)

13,236

8,248

6,534

(4,072)

10,710

12   Other Assets

Consolidated

Prepayments - other

13   Trade and Other Payables

Current:

Trade payables and sundry accruals (i)

Employee benefits (Note 19)

(i) The credit period for the majority of goods purchased is 30 days. No 
interest is charged. The Group has policies in place to ensure payables are 
paid within the credit periods.

2010

$’000

-

-

4,420

1,418

5,838

Total

$’000

45,270

7,600

(6,432)

46,438

24,088

26,783

(5,601)

45,270

2009

$’000

192

192

4,683

1,339

6,022

41

 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

14   Borrowings

Consolidated

2010

$’000

-

2

2

2009

$’000

258

117

375

Current:

Bank overdraft (i)

Other borrowings

(i) During 2009 the consolidated entity secured bank facilities totaling $23 
million. The facility comprises a bank overdraft facility, and a multi option 
facility (which includes a bill facility and bank guarantee/transactional facility). 
The facility covers a 3 year term, except for $1 million which is subject to 
annual review. The facility is secured over the Australian net assets of the 
Group ($48.4 million at 31 December 2010). The facilities, apart from the 
bank guarantee, are undrawn.

Bank 
overdraft

Bill facility

Bank 
guarantee 
facility

2010

$’000

$’000

$’000

The available, used and unused components of the facility at  
year end is as follows: 

Available

Used

Unused

The remaining contractual maturity for the facility (including both interest  
and principal) is as follows:

0 -12 months

12-24 months

1,000

19,000

-

-

1,000

19,000

-

-

-

-

Weighted average interest rate

8.26%

6.14%

3,000

1,078

1,922

1,078

-

-

42

 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

15   Provisions

Consolidated

Current:

Sales returns, volume rebates

Employee benefits (Note 19)

Commissions and sundry provisions

Non-current:

Employee benefits (Note 19)

Movement in provisions

Movements in each class of provision during the financial year, excluding 
employee benefits, are set out below:

2010 Consolidated

Carrying amount at the start of the year

Released to profit or loss

Carrying amount at the end of the year

2010

$’000

181

1,377

449

2,007

1,337

2009

$’000

339

1,052

508

1,899

850

Sales returns, 
volume 
rebates

Commissions 
and sundry

Total

$’000

$’000

$’000

339

(158)

181

508

(59)

449

847

(217)

630

16   Borrowings

Consolidated

Non–current:

Bank loans (Note 14)

Other borrowings

2010

$’000

-

-

-

2009

$’000

2,012

11

2,023

43

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

17   Deferred Tax Liabilities

Consolidated

The temporary differences are attributable to:

Withholding tax payable in event of distribution of pre-acquisition dividend

Doubtful debts

Employee benefits

Sales returns and volume rebates

Deferred revenue

Difference between book and tax value of non-current assets

Other provisions

Details of unrecognised deferred tax assets can be found in Note 3(c)

Reconciliation:

Opening balance at 1 January

Charged (credited) to profit or loss

Acquisition of businesses

Balance at 31 December

2010

$’000

-

(137)

(1,220)

(54)

(641)

4,307

(648)

1,607

1,972

(365)

-

1,607

2009

$’000

430

(54)

(600)

(101)

(762)

3,387

(328)

1,972

640

(222)

1,554

1,972

44

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

18   Parent Entity Disclosures

Parent

Financial position

Assets

Current assets

Non-current assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Equity

Share capital

Share based payments reserve

Retained earnings

Financial performance

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

2010

$’000

9,054

55,534

64,588

12,918

3,596

16,514

18,049

631

29,394

48,074

17,205

-

17,205

2009

$’000

2,953

52,803

55,756

11,081

3,862

14,943

18,037

639

22,137

40,813

12,249

-

12,249

Capital commitments for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment

Not longer than 1 year

1,042

-

Other

Reckon Limited assets have been used as security for the bank facilities set out in Note 14.

The parent entity has no contingent liabilities.

45

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

19   Employee Benefits

The aggregate employee benefit liability recognised and included in the 
financial statements is as follows:

Accrued annual leave:

Current (Note 13)

Long term incentive:

Current (Note 15)

Non-current (Note 15)

Provision for long service leave:

Current (Note 15)

Non-current (Note 15)

Long-term incentive plan 

Consolidated

2010

$’000

2009

$’000

1,418

1,339

526

892

851

445

492

407

560

443

4,132

3,241

The long-term incentive plan was approved at the Special General Meeting on 20 December 2005, and comprises three possible 
methods of participation: an option plan, a performance share plan and a share appreciation plan. The Board has discretion to 
make offers to applicable employees to participate in any of these plans. Options granted and/or performance shares awarded 
(all in respect of the Company’s ordinary shares) and/or share appreciation rights do not vest before three years after their grant 
date. Vesting is also conditional upon the Company achieving defined performance criteria. The performance criteria are based 
upon a total shareholder return (TSR) target.  A TSR is the return to shareholders over a prescribed period, being the growth in the 
Company's share price plus dividends or returns of capital for that period.  The Company's initial TSR target will be the Company 
achieving a median or higher ranking against the TSR position of individual companies within a 'comparator Group' of companies 
(i.e. a group of comparable ASX listed companies pre-selected by the Board) over the same period. The initial comparator group 
was determined by independent advisers and was set out in the Chairman’s speech at the Special General Meeting on 20 
December 2005. The Board will review the suitability of the comparator group on an on going basis.

Only 50% of options or performance shares become exercisable or vest if the initial performance criterion is satisfied.  The extent 
to which the balance of options or performance shares become exercisable or vest will depend on the extent to which the initial 
performance criterion is exceeded (i.e. the extent to which the Company exceeds a median ranking against the TSR position of the 
comparator group of companies). The performance shares are held in trust after vesting.

The share appreciation rights plan represents an alternative remuneration element (to offering options or performance shares) 
under which the Board can invite relevant employees to apply for a right to receive a cash payment from the Company equal to 
the amount (if any) by which the market price of the Company's shares at the date of exercise of the right exceeds the market 
price of the Company's shares at the date of grant of the right. The right may only be exercised if performance criteria are met. The 
performance criteria are fixed by the Board in the exercise of its discretion. At present these are the same as the TSR target set for 
the right to exercise options or for performance shares to vest.

No options were issued during the year (2009: nil).

357,873 (2009: 888,324) appreciation rights and 214,190 (2009:375,475) performance shares were issued during the year. The fair 
value of these rights was 48.9 cents (2009: 19.7 cents) and the shares were $1.48 (2009: $1.05), using a model that adopts the 
Monte Carlo simulation approach. The assumptions used in this model are: grant date share price of $1.85; expected volatility of 
35.2%; dividend yield of 3.5%; and a risk free rate of 4.9%. The expense recognised in 2010 for appreciation rights/performance 
shares was $1,299,810 (2009: $1,027,823). 

46

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

19   Employee Benefits continued

Set out below are summaries of performance shares and appreciation rights granted under the long-term incentive plan:

Performance Shares

Grant Date

Expiry 
Date

Shares 
Granted

Shares lapsed  
during the year

Shares vested  
during the year

Shares available at  
the end of the year

Jan’07

Jan’08

Jan’09

Jan’10

Dec’09

300,590

Dec’10

252,477

Dec’11

375,475

Dec’12

214,190

Appreciation Rights

2010

-

-

3,175

3,604

2009

9,823

7,332

-

-

2010

2009

2010

2009

-

290,762

245,145

6,349

1,801

-

-

-

-

-

-

245,145

365,951

375,475

208,785

-

Grant Date

Expiry 
Date

Rights 
Granted

Rights lapsed during  
the year

Rights vested during  
the year

Rights available at  
the end of the year

2010

2009

2010

2009

2010

2009

Jan’07

Jan’08

Jan’09

Jan’10

Dec’09

561,798

Dec’10

495,356

Dec’11

888,324

Dec’12

357,873

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

561,798

495,356

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

495,356

888,324

888,324

357,873

-

Reckon Limited Employee Option Plans

The Company has previously had two ownership-based remuneration schemes:

Executive share option plan

The executive share option plan has been terminated.

Executive share option plan No. 2

The Reckon Limited Executive Share Option Plan No. 2 was established on 19 July 2000.  Under the provisions of the plan, the 
directors may grant options over unissued shares in the Company to executives and directors of the Company (or their associates) 
or subsidiaries of the Company selected by the directors from time to time, subject to the ASX Listing Rules and the Corporations 
Act 2001. 

Options are granted for a five-year period and 50% of each new tranche becomes exercisable after each of the first two 
anniversaries of the grant date.  The entitlements are vested as soon as they are exercisable (i.e. they are not conditional on future 
employment).  Each option entitles the holder to one ordinary share.

Amounts receivable on exercise of any options are recognised as share capital. Options exercised during the year were exercised 
with an average exercise price of $0.75 (2009: $0.67).  

47

 
 
Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

19   Employee Benefits continued

Set out below are summaries of options granted under the Executive Share Option Plan No. 2.

Grant 
date

Expiry 
date

Exercise 
Price

Options 
Initially 
Granted

Options lapsed 
during the year

Options exercised 
and shares issued 
during the year

Options vested and 
available at the end 
of the year

2010

2009

2010

2009

2010

2009

Feb 01

Mar 01

Jun 03

Sep 03

Dec 03

Jan 04

Mar 04

Jun 04

Sep 04

Dec 04

Mar 05

Jul 05

Sep 05

Dec 05

Feb 06

Mar 06

Jun 08

Sep 08

Dec 08

Jan 09

Mar 09

Jun 09

Sep 09

Dec 09

Mar 10

Jul 10

Sep 10

Dec 10

$0.198

1,123,334

$0.162

$0.270

$0.505

$0.619

22,145

58,891

115,002

48,890

$0.551

1,061,159

$0.789

$0.960

$0.823

56,110

76,668

151,166

$0.796

250,554

$0.743

$0.741

$0.779

$0.722

75,555

79,999

113,887

144,445

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

41,166

30,349

39,319

68,087

-

-

-

8,339

10,555

217,076

35,889

45,389

45,441

78,281

-

-

-

-

178,921

440,970

-

-

-

950

1,419

9,340

5,937

-

18,050

7,298

633

161,168

-

-

-

171

16,361

19,527

13,722

13,722

66,505

-

24,278

42,223

80,315

-

-

31,139

-

379,748

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

950

1,419

633

-

-

-

171

57,527

49,876

53,041

81,809

245,426

245,426

Number of shares that can be issued for unexercised options 

20   Issued Capital

Fully Paid Ordinary Share Capital

Balance at beginning of financial year
Transfer from share-based payments reserve for options 
exercised during the year

Issue of shares

Balance at end of financial year

Less Treasury shares

Balance at beginning of financial year

Shares purchased in current  period

Shares lapsed 

Prior year lapsed shares utilised 

Shares vested 

Balance at end of financial year

2010

2009

No.

$’000

No.

$’000

133,317,555

18,766

132,937,807

18,378

-

66,505

18

49

-

379,748

132

256

133,384,060

18,833

133,317,555

18,766

620,620

197,030

(6,779)

17,160

(253,295)

574,736

729

370

(10)

20

(324)

785

717,319

375,475

(17,155)

-

(455,019)

620,620

812

415

(20)

-

(478)

729

Balance at end of financial year net of treasury shares

132,809,324

18,048

132,696,935

18,037

Fully paid ordinary shares carry one vote per share and carry the right to dividends.

Changes to the then Corporations Law abolished the authorised capital and par value concepts in relation to share capital from 1 
July 1998. Therefore the Company does not have a limited amount of authorised capital and issued shares do not have a par value. 

66,505 (2009: 379,748) options were exercised during the year with an average exercise price of $0.75.  Details of the options that 
were exercised and further details in respect of the share option plans are contained in Note 19 to the financial statements.

Total consideration for options exercised during the year is $49,793 (2009: $255,419).

48

 
 
Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

21   Reserves

Consolidated

Foreign currency translation reserve

Balance at beginning of financial year

Translation of foreign operations

Balance at end of financial year

Share-based payments reserve

Balance at beginning of financial year

Treasury share expense

Treasury shares vested/lapsed

Transfer to share capital (options exercised)

Balance at end of financial year

Nature and purpose of reserves

(a)  Foreign currency translation reserve 

2010

$’000

(400)

(294)

(694)

639

324

(314)

(18)

631

(63)

2009

$’000

(142)

(258)

(400)

958

311

(498)

(132)

639

239

Exchange differences arising on translation of the financial reports of foreign subsidiaries are taken to the foreign currency 
translation reserve, as described in Note 1(f).

(b)  Share-based payments reserve 

The share-based payments reserve is for the fair value of options granted and recognised to date but not yet exercised, and 
treasury shares purchased which have not yet vested.

22   Retained Earnings

Consolidated

Balance at beginning of financial year

Net profit

Dividends 

Balance at end of financial year

23   Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

2010

$’000

24,625

16,478

(9,947)

31,156

2010

cents

12.4

12.4

2009

$’000

20,003

13,226

(8,604)

24,625

2009

cents

9.9

9.9

Consolidated

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

132,779,303

132,494,486

Weighted average number of ordinary shares and potential ordinary shares 
used in the calculation of diluted earnings per share

133,354,038

133,358,778

49

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

24   Contingent Liabilities

There are no material contingent liabilities as at 31 December 2010.

25   Commitments For Expenditure

 (a)  Capital Expenditure Commitments 

The consolidated entity has capital expenditure commitments 
of $1,042 thousand as at 31 December 2010 (2009: $nil), 
payable within 12 months.

(b) Lease Commitments

Operating Leases

Within 1 year

Later than 1 year and not longer than 5 years

Later than 5 years

Consolidated

2009

$’000

1,976

7,344

1,949

11,269

2010

$’000

2,520

10,907

2,127

15,554

Operating leases relate to office and warehouse premises with lease terms of between 1 to 7 years.  All operating lease contracts 
contain market review clauses in the event that the consolidated entity exercises its option to renew.  The consolidated entity does 
not have an option to purchase the leased asset at the expiry of the lease period.

50

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

26   Subsidiaries

Name of Entity

Country of Incorporation

Parent Entity

Reckon Limited 

Subsidiaries

Reckon.com.au Pty Limited 

Reckon Australia Pty Limited 

Reckon Investment Centre Limited

Reckon Online Holdings Pty Limited 

Reckon Pacrim Pty Limited 

Reckon Training Pty Limited

Reckon Limited Performance Share Plan Trust

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Reckon New Zealand Pty Limited 

New Zealand

Advanced Professional Solutions Pty Limited

Australia

Advanced Professional Solutions Limited

New Zealand

Advanced Professional Solutions Limited

United Kingdom

Reckon Docs Pty Limited

Independent Corporate Services Pty Limited

Quickdocs.com.au Pty Limited

Recount Expense Management Pty Limited

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Billback Systems (UK) Limited1

United Kingdom

Billback LLC

nQueue Billback LLC1

United States of America

United States of America

All shares held are ordinary shares. 

Ownership Interest

2010

%

2009

%

100

100

100

100

100

90

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

67

100

100

100

100

100

90

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

67

1.  Subsequent to year end 25% of Billback Systems (UK ) Limited has  been sold to nQueue Inc in return for an additional 7% of 

nQueueBillback LLC.

51

 
 
Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

27   Related Party Disclosures

Consolidated

(a) Key Management Personnel Remuneration

Short term benefits

Post-employment benefits

Share based payments

2010

$

3,963,452

354,747

1,273,156

5,591,355

2009

$

3,923,937

262,861

955,653

5,142,451

The names of and positions held by the key management are set out in note 27(d). Further details of the remuneration of key 
management are disclosed in the Directors’ Report.

(b) Other Transactions with Key Management Personnel

There were no transactions with directors apart from those disclosed in this note.

(c) Other Related Party Transactions

Intuit Ventures Inc

Intuit Ventures Inc, a significant shareholder (11.1%) in Reckon Limited provides the rights for Reckon to market and distribute 
Intuit software throughout Australasia.  In return for this, Intuit receives a royalty payment based on sales made throughout the 
territory.  These royalties amounted to $4,714,664 (2009: $4,056,227) which is expensed in the month that the associated 
product was sold. The balance due at 31 December 2010 is $167,898 (2009: $161,238).

52

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

27   Related Party Disclosures continued

d) Directors’ and Key Management Equity Holdings

Options and Shareholding 2010

Shareholding  

Shareholding  

Performance 

Performance 

Performance 

Performance 

at start of  

at end of  

Options at start 

Options at end 

shares at start 

shares vested 

shares issued 

shares held at 

2010

20103

of 2010

of 20101

of 2010

in 2010

in 2010

end of 2010

Greg 
Wilkinson

Office

Deputy 
Chairman, 
Non-executive 
Director

7,450,000

7,450,000

Clive Rabie

CEO, Executive 
Director

10,508,000

10,508,000

Brian 
Armstrong

CEO, 
Professional 
Division

768,673

776,107

Brian 
Coventry

John 
Thame

Myron 
Zlotnick

MD, 
Professional 
Division United 
Kingdom

Chairman,Non-
executive 
Director

297,589

109,589

19,000

19,000

General  Counsel 
& Co Secretary

28,204

50,215

Ian  Ferrier

Non-executive 
Director

0

0

Chris 
Hagglund

Nigel 
Boland

Paul James

Gavin 
Dixon

Grant 
Linton

Russell 
Scott

Richard 
Hellers

Chief Financial 
Officer

GM, 
Development 
Professional 
Division

GM 
Professional 
Division 
Australia2

CEO  Business 
Division

GM, 
Professional 
Division New 
Zealand

GM Reckon 
Docs

President & 
CEO nQueue 
Billback Division

111,130

162,454

13,039

20,371

0

15,482

67,539

124,362

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

229,508

58,656

45,946

216,798

20,665

7,332

7,568

20,901

0

0

0

0

107,075

27,018

27,027

107,084

0

0

0

0

165,857

51,324

41,216

155,749

20,665

7,332

7,568

20,901

16,856

15,482

5,405

0

137,775

56,823

45,946

126,898

9,524

0

0

0

0

0

5,405

14,929

0

0

0

0

1 No options were issued in 2010.

2 Mr James' employment ended on 31 December 2010 (6,779 performance shares lapsed).

3 Shareholdings as at the date of the Directors' Report remain unchanged.

53

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

27   Related Party Disclosures continued 

d) Directors’ and Key Management Equity Holdings continued

Options and Shareholding 2009

Shareholding  

Shareholding  

Performance 

Performance 

Performance 

Performance 

at start of  

at end of  

Options at start 

Options at end 

shares at start 

shares vested 

shares issued 

shares held at 

2009

2009

of 2009

of 20091

of 2009

in 2009

in 2009

end of 2009

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Greg 
Wilkinson

Office

Deputy 
Chairman, 
Non-executive 
Director

7,450,000

7,450,000

Clive Rabie

CEO, Executive 
Director

10,508,000 10,508,000

Brian 
Armstrong

CEO, 
Professional 
Division

748,222

768,673

Brian 
Coventry

John 
Thame

Myron 
Zlotnick

MD, 
Professional 
Division United 
Kingdom

Chairman,Non-
executive 
Director

General  Counsel 
& Co Secretary

Ian  Ferrier

Non-executive 
Director

Chris 
Hagglund

Nigel 
Boland

Paul James

Gavin 
Dixon

Grant 
Linton

Russell 
Scott

Andrew 
Moon2

Richard 
Hellers3

Chief Financial 
Officer

GM, 
Development 
Professional 
Division

GM 
Professional 
Division 
Australia

CEO  Business 
Division

GM, 
Professional 
Division New 
Zealand

GM Reckon 
Docs

GM BillBack

President & 
CEO nQueue 
Billback Division

287,766

297,589

19,000

19,000

28,204

0

0

0

0

111,130

47,500

23,222

13,039

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

67,539

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

221,007

72,451

80,952

229,508

17,155

9,823

13,333

20,665

0

0

0

0

87,660

28,204

47,619

107,075

0

0

0

0

156,868

63,630

72,619

165,857

17,155

9,823

13,333

20,665

7,332

0

9,524

16,856

124,362

67,539

80,952

137,775

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9,524

9,524

0

0

0

0

0

0

1 No options were issued in 2009.

2 Employment ended on 31 March 2009.

3 Mr Hellers was appointed President & CEO of the merged BillBack USA and nQueue business effective 1 July 2009.

54

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

28   Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows 

Consolidated

(a) Reconciliation of Cash

For the purposes of the statement of cash flows, cash includes cash on 
hand and in banks and investments in money market instruments, net of 
outstanding bank overdrafts.  Cash at the end of the financial year as  
shown in the statement of cash flows is reconciled to the related items in  
the statement of financial position as follows:

Cash (i)

(i) Cash balance is predominantly in the form of short-term money market 
deposits, which can be accessed at call.

(b) Businesses Acquired

Corporate Services and BillBack businesses

Consideration:

Cash consideration (i)

Net debt acquired

Direct costs relating to the acquisition

Consideration yet to be paid

Fair value of net assets of entity acquired:

Receivables

Inventories

Intellectual property – customer contracts

Intellectual property – development and software

Intellectual property – trademarks and domain names

Fixed assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Trade payables 

Deferred revenue

Other current liabilities

Other non-current liabilities

Goodwill

2010

$’000

8,095

8,095

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2009

$’000

2,350

2,350

18,000

228

1,045

-

19,273

3,437

881

4,210

1,793

150

728

(439)

(772)

(3,361)

(1,121)

(138)

5,368

13,905

19,273

(i) On 25 February 2011 Reckon Limited settled legal proceedings against 
Espreon in relation to several claims. An amount of $700,000 was paid by 
Espreon to Reckon in full and final settlement of all claims. 

55

    
   
Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

28   Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows continued

(b) Businesses aquired continued

Consolidated

    nQueue Billback 

     Consideration:

     Cash consideration

     Direct costs relating to the acquisition

    Fair value of net assets of entity acquired:

     Receivables - current

     Receivables - non current

     Inventories

     Fixed assets

     Deferred revenue

     Other current liabilities

     Goodwill

2010

$’000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2009

$’000

-

26

26

334

684

301

20

(1,082)

(257)

-

26

26

Corporate Services and BillBack businesses

Reckon Limited acquired the Corporate Services and BillBack businesses previously owned by Espreon Limited effective from 2 
January 2009 for $18 million. The acquisition was funded predominantly from existing cash reserves. Debt funding was used to 
fund the difference. 

The Corporate Services business is a provider of documentation for company formations, secretarial services, trusts and self 
managed super fund trust deeds. This is a range of products and services which is similar to Reckon’s Shelco business.

The BillBack business is a provider of technologies for the capture, reporting and billing of client expenses by professional services 
suppliers such as lawyers and accountants, and hence has a natural fit with Reckon’s Professional Division.

nQueue Billback

Reckon Limited merged its United States subsidiary of BillBack with nQueue Inc effective from 1 July 2009. Reckon holds a 67% 
controlling interest in the merged entity.

The merged entity brings together the best of the parties cost recovery and cost management products and service offerings in 
the USA and gives the business greater scale. 

56

Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

28   Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows continued

Consolidated

(c) Reconciliation of Profit After Income Tax to Net Cash

Profit after income tax

Depreciation and amortisation of non-current assets

Non-cash employee benefits expense – 

share based payment

Increase/(decrease) in current tax liability/asset

Increase/(decrease) in deferred tax balances

Unrealised foreign currency translation amount

(Increase)/decrease in assets:

Current receivables

Current inventories

Other current assets

Non-current receivables

Increase/(decrease) in liabilities:

Current trade payables

Other current liabilities

Other non-current liabilities

Net cash inflow from operating activities

29   Outside Equity Interests in Controlled Entities

Interest in:

Share Capital

Accumulated profits

30   Dividends – ordinary shares

Final franked dividend for the year ended 31 December 2009 of 4.0 cents 
(2008: 3.5 cents) per share paid on 5 March 2010

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2010 of 3.5 cents per 
share franked to 90% (2009: 3.0 cents) paid on 10 September 2010

Franking credits available for subsequent financial years based on a tax rate 
of 30% (2009: 30%)

2010

$’000

17,248

7,769

324

107

165

(294)

2,396

328

36

-

11

(323)

413

28,180

-

-

-

5,307

4,640

9,947

1,441

2009

$’000

13,602

6,897

311

(1,106)

733

(258)

(388)

463

(309)

(125)

(371)

(629)

61

18,881

-

374

374

4,636

3,968

8,604

1,932

57

 
Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

31    Financial Instruments

(a) Significant Accounting Policies

Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted, including the criteria for recognition, the basis of measurement 
and the basis on which revenues and expenses are recognised, in respect of each class of financial asset, financial liability and 
equity instrument are disclosed in Note 1 to the financial statements.

(b) Financial Risk Management Objectives

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Company and Group’s financial 
management framework.

The Board of Directors oversees how management monitors compliance with risk management policies and procedures and 
reviews the adequacy of the risk management framework in relation to the risks.  The main risk arising from the Company and 
Group’s financial instruments are currency risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow interest rate risk.

(c) Interest Rate Risk

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on the cash held in bank deposits and on bank borrowings. Cash deposits of $8,095 
thousand were held by the consolidated entity at the reporting date, attracting an average interest rate of 4.2% (2009: 1.5%). If 
interest rates had been 50 basis points higher or lower (being the relevant volatility considered relevant by management) and all 
other variables were held constant, the Group’s net profit would increase/decrease by $40 thousand (2009: $12 thousand).

Borrowings by the consolidated entity at the reporting date were $2 thousand. Borrowings during the year attracted an average 
interest rate of 8.26% on overdraft facilities and 6.14% on bank bill facilities (2009: 4.33%). 

The Board of Directors monitors these exposures and does not presently hedge against these risks.

(d) Credit Risk

Credit risk refers to the risk that a counter party will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the consolidated 
entity.  The consolidated entity has adopted the policy of only dealing with creditworthy counterparties and obtaining sufficient 
collateral or other security where appropriate, as a means of mitigating the risk of financial loss from defaults.

The consolidated entity does not have any significant credit risk exposure to any single counterparty or any group of counterparties 
having similar characteristics.

The carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the financial statements, net of any provisions for losses, represents the 
consolidated entity’s maximum exposure to credit risk without taking account of the value of any collateral or other security obtained.

(e) Foreign Currency Risk

The consolidated entity and company undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies that are different to the 
functional currencies of the entities undertaking the transactions, hence exposures to exchange rate fluctuations arise.  The Board of 
Directors monitor these exposures and does not presently hedge against this risk.

The carrying amount of the consolidated entity’s foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities at the reporting date that 
are denominated in a currency that is different to the functional currency of respective entities undertaking the transactions is as follows: 

Liabilities

2010

$’000

-

-

Consolidated

2009

$’000

-

-

Assets

2010

$’000

21

-

2009

$’000

33

28

Euro

US Dollar

58

 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

31    Financial Instruments continued

At 31 December 2010, if the Euro weakened against the UK Pound by 10% (being the relevant volatility considered relevant by 
Management), with all other variables held constant the net profit of the consolidated entity would increase by $2 thousand (2009: 
$3 thousand). At 31 December 2010, if the New Zealand Dollar, US Dollar and UK Sterling weakened against the Australian Dollar 
by 10% (being the relevant volatility considered relevant by management), with all other variables held constant the net profit of 
the consolidated entity would increase by $37 thousand (2009: $231 thousand). This latter sensitivity relates to inter-group loan 
balances denominated in Australian Dollars, which are eliminated on consolidation.

In management’s opinion, the sensitivity analysis is not fully representative of the inherent foreign exchange risk as the year-end 
exposure does not necessarily reflect the exposure during the course of the years.  The consolidated entity includes certain 
subsidiaries whose functional currencies are different to the consolidated entity presentation currency.  The main operating entities 
outside of Australia are based in New Zealand, United States of America and the United Kingdom.  These entities transact primarily 
in their functional currency and, aside from inter-group loan balances, do not have significant foreign currency exposures due 
to outstanding foreign currency denominated items.  As stated in the consolidated entity’s accounting policies per Note 1, on 
consolidation the assets and liabilities of these entities are translated into Australian Dollars at exchange rates prevailing at year end.  
The income and expenses of these entities is translated at the average exchange rates for the year.  Exchange differences arising 
are classified as equity and are transferred to a foreign exchange translation reserve.  The consolidated entity’s future reported 
profits could therefore be impacted by changes in rates of exchange between the Australian Dollar and the New Zealand Dollar, and 
the Australian Dollar and the US Dollar and the Australian Dollar and the UK Sterling.

(f) Liquidity

The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate cash reserves and banking facilities by continuously monitoring forecast 
and actual cash flows.

(g) Capital risk management

The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern. The capital structure 
of the Group consists of cash, debt and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent. The Board reviews the capital structure 
on a regular basis. Based upon this review, the Group balances its overall capital structure through borrowings, the payment of 
dividends, issues of shares, share buy-backs and returns of capital. This strategy remains unchanged since the prior year.

(h) Fair Value

The fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities with standard terms and conditions and traded on active liquid markets, is 
determined with reference to quoted market prices. The fair value of other financial assets and liabilities is determined in accordance 
with generally accepted pricing models based on discounted cash flow analysis using prices from observable market transactions. 
The carrying amount of financial assets and financial liabilities recorded in the financial report approximates their respective fair 
values, determined in accordance with the accounting policies disclosed in Note 1 to the financial statements.

59

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2010

32   Segment Information

The Group has adopted AASB 8 Operating Segments and AASB 2008-3 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising 
from AASB 8 with effect from 1 January 2009. AASB 8 requires operating segments to be identified on the basis of internal reports 
about components of the Group that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in order to allocate resources to 
the segment and to assess its performance.

(a) Business segment information

The consolidated entity is organised into three operating divisions:

Business Division
Professional Division 
nQueueBillback Division

These divisions are the basis upon which the consolidated entity reports its financial information to the chief operating decision 
maker, being the Board of Directors.

The principal activities of these divisions are as follows:   

•		Business	Division	-	development,	distribution	and	support	of	personal	financial	and	accounting	software,	as	well	as	related	

products and services to professional partners. Products sold in this division include QuickBooks, Quicken, ReckonDocs and 
Reckon Elite.  

•		Professional	Division	-	development,	distribution	and	support	of	practice	management,	tax,	client	accounting,	cost	

management and related software under the APS and BillBack brands. 

•		nQueue	Billback	Division	–		distribution	and	support	of	cost	recovery,	cost	management	and	related	software	to	the	USA	legal	market. 

Segment revenues and results 

Business Division

Professional 
Division

nQueue Billback 
Division

Total

2010

$’000

2009

$’000

2010

$’000

2009

$’000

2010

$’000

2009

$’000

2010

$’000

2009

$’000

Operating revenue

56,050

49,854

26,803

28,115

7,262

7,339

90,115

85,308

Interest revenue

Total revenue

158

81

90,273

85,389

Segment EBITDA

20,720

15,677

10,837

11,021

Depreciation and amortisation

(2,017)

(1,865)

(5,053)

(4,703)

3,109

(699)

2,205

34,666

28,903

(545)

(7,769)

(7,113)

Total segment profit before tax

18,703

13,812

5,784

6,318

2,410

1,660

26,897

21,790

Central administration costs

Interest revenue/(Financing costs)

Profit before income tax

Income tax expense 

Profit for the year

(4,495)

(3,756)

(3)

(222)

22,399

17,812

(5,151)

(4,210)

17,248

13,602

The revenue reported above represents revenue generated from external customers.

Segment profit represents the profit earned by each segment without allocation of central administration costs, finance costs and 
income tax expense, all of which are allocated to corporate head office.  This is the measure reported to the chief operating decision 
maker for the purposes of resource allocation and assessing performance. 

60

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements 

For the year ended 31 December 2010

32   Segment Information continued

Segment assets and liabilities

Assets

Liabilities

2010

$’000

29,308

36,052

8,760

   74,120

(6,572)

2009

$’000

23,331

35,107

10,486

68,924

(4,602)

2010

$’000

2009

$’000

15,794

12,613

6,215

2,970

9,182

3,854

24,979

   25,649

(6,572)

(4,602)

Additions to  
non-current assets

2010

$’000

2,196

 5,461

1,330

8,987

-

2009

$’000

6,673

 8,152

7,081

21,906

-

67,548

64,322

18,407

21,047

8,987

21,906

Business Division

Professional Division

nQueueBillback Division

Total of all segments

Eliminations

Consolidated

(b) Geographical information 

Revenues from external 
customers

Non-current assets

Australia

Other countries (i)

2010

$’000

73,199

16,916

90,115

2009

$’000

67,628

17,680

85,308

2010

$’000

37,137

13,409

50,546

2009

$’000

36,512

13,985

50,497

(i) No single country outside of Australia is considered to generate revenues which are material to the Group.  

(c) Segment revenues 

External sales

Business and wealth management products

Accounting industry products

Legal industry products

2010

$’000

49,694

28,298

12,123

90,115

2009

$’000

44,433

28,203

12,672

85,308

61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements

for the year ended 31 December 2010

33   Economic Dependency

Reckon Limited generates a significant volume of its revenue from products supplied by Intuit Inc under the manufacturing and 
distribution agreement it has with Intuit Inc. The agreement was renegotiated effective from December 2010 to ensure that it also 
catered for the emerging online market. The initial term of the agreement is 5 years with automatic rolling terms of 3 years. The 
agreement is subject to commercial terms relating to royalties and termination. Previously the term of the agreement was 10 years 
and was subject to annual market growth objectives being achieved. 

34    Subsequent Events 

Subsequent to the end of the financial year:

Share buy back

A share buy back of up 10% of the company’s share capital, was announced on 8 February 2011, as part of the Company’s 
strategy to manage its capital base.

Dividend

The Board has declared a dividend of 4.5 cents per share to shareholders on 8 February 2011. The dividend will be 90% franked. 
The record date for the dividend is 18 February 2011. The impact on the franking account balance of unrecognised dividends is 
$2,561 thousand.

nQueue Billback UK

Subsequent to year end 25% of Billback Systems (UK ) Limited has  been sold to nQueue Inc in return for an additional 7% of 
nQueue Billback LLC.

Espreon Litigation

On 25 February 2011 Reckon Limited settled legal proceedings against Espreon Limited in relation to several claims. An amount of 
$700,000 was paid by Espreon to Reckon in full and final settlement of all relevant claims. 

35    Company information 

Reckon Limited is a listed public company limited by shares, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. Its registered office and 
principal place of business is:

Up to 17 April 2011 
35 Saunders Street 
Pyrmont 
Sydney NSW 2009 

From 18 April 2011 
Level 12, 65 Berry Street 
North Sydney 
NSW  2060

A description of the nature of the consolidated entity’s operations and its principal activities is included in the review of operations 
and activities in the Directors’ Report, which is not part of this Financial Report.

The Financial Report was authorised for issue by the Directors on 30 March 2011 

62

 
 
Additional information

as at 16 March 2011

Twenty Largest Holders of Quoted Equity Securities

Ordinary Shareholder

National Nominees Limited

Intuit Ventures Inc

JP Morgan Nominees Australia Limited

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited

Gregory John Wilkinson

UBS Nominees Pty Limited

DJZ Investments Pty Limited

RBC Dexia Investor Services Australia Nominees Pty Ltd

Cogent Nominees Pty Limited

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited

Australian Executor Trustees NSW Ltd

Mr Clive Rabie and Mrs Kerry Rose Rabie 

Mr Stephen James Rickwood

Mr Clive Alan Rabie

Rawform Pty Ltd

Mr Philip Ross Hayman

Reckon Australia Pty Ltd

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited

Queensland Investment Corporation

Mr Philip Ross Hayman

Number

Percentage

16,448,564

14,828,304

14,579,653

9,595,769

6,247,800

4,843,475

4,690,000

4,526,483

4,507,389

4,378,728

4,322,759

4,285,611

2,651,062

1,532,389

1,202,200

1,000,000

987,883

941,204

695,757

679,264

12.33

11.12

10.93

7.19

4.68

3.63

3.52

3.39

3.38

3.28

3.24

3.21

1.99

1.15

0.90

0.75

0.74

0.71

0.52

0.51

102,944,294

77.17

Number of Holders of Equity Securities

Ordinary Share Capital

133,384,060 fully paid ordinary shares are held by 4,000 individual shareholders as at 16 March 2011.

All issued ordinary shares carry one vote per share.

Shareholdings less than marketable parcels

The number of shareholdings held in less than marketable parcels is 69. 

63

Additional information

as at 16 March 2011

Distribution of Holders of Equity Securities

As at 16 March 2011

Number of Ordinary Shares

Number of  Shareholders

1 – 1,000

1,001 – 5,000

5,001 – 10,000

10,001 – 100,000

100,001 and over

Total

 930

1,871

  602

  549

   48

4,000

Substantial Shareholders

As at 16 March 2011

Ordinary 
Shares 
(Number)

Ordinary 
Shares 
(Percentage)

National Nominees Limited

16,448,564

Intuit Ventures Inc

14,828,304

12.33

11.12

Principal Registered Office

Up to 17 April 2011
Ground Floor, 35 Saunders Street
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Tel: (02) 9577 5000 

From 18 April 2011 
Level 12, 65 Berry Street 
North Sydney NSW  2060 
Tel: (02) 9577 5000

Share Registry

Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited
Level 3
60 Carrington Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 8234 5000 

Auditors

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
225 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000 

JP Morgan Nominees 
Australia Limited

Mr Clive Rabie and Mrs 
Kerry Rose Rabie

14,579,653

10.93

10,508,000

7.88

Principal Administration Office
Up to 17 April 2011
Ground Floor, 35 Saunders Street
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Tel: (02) 9577 5000

HSBC Custody Nominees 
(Australia) Limited

9,595,769

Gregory John Wilkinson

7,450,000

7.19

5.58

From 18 April 2011 
Level 12, 65 Berry Street 
North Sydney NSW  2060 
Tel: (02) 9577 5000

Stock Exchange Listings

Reckon Limited’s ordinary shares are listed on the Australian 
Securities Exchange Limited under the symbol ‘RKN’.

Company Secretary

Mr Myron Zlotnick

64

 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional information

as at 16 March 2011

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting for Reckon Limited will be held 
on Tuesday 24 May 2011 at 10:00am at level 12, 65 Berry 
Street, North Sydney, NSW. If you are unable to attend, 
you are invited to complete the Proxy Form included with 
your Notice of Meeting. The completed Proxy Form must be 
received no later than 48 hours before the Annual General 
Meeting.

Important Information – Corporate Notices

Securityholders will be aware that they have options as to how 
they want to receive statutory corporate notices and reports. 
In the interest of cost saving and the environment (every little 
bit helps), we encourage you to opt in to receive all notices 
and reports electronically. Please go to: www.computershare.
com.au and follow the prompts to register your opting in 
to receive ALL NOTICE AND REPORTS IN ELECTRONIC 
FORMAT.

To register to be notified by email when the Annual Report and 
other Announcements are available online:

•	Visit	the	share	registry	at	www.computershare.com.au

•	Click	on	‘Investor	Centre’

•		Click	on	‘Update	my	details’	and	 
select 'communications options'

•	Type	‘RKN’	in	the	Company	Code	field

•		You	will	need	to	enter	your	personal	security	information:	

Holder Identification Number (HIN) or Securityholder 
Reference Number (SRN); family or company name, 
postcode or country (if outside Australia); and click ‘Login’

•		After	you	have	entered	your	email	address	and	selected	the	
publications you wish to receive, a confirmation email will be 
sent to you.

Should you have any further enquiries, contact the  
Registry on 1300 855 080 or +61 3 9415 4000 (if  
outside Australia). For web enquiries, please send an  
email to web.queries@computershare.com.au. 

Alternatively, email your full name and address to 
shareholders@reckon.com.au to receive the Annual  
Report, corporate and statutory notices electronically.

65

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