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Reckon Limited

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FY2016 Annual Report · Reckon Limited
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Reckon Limited Annual Report

for the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2016

ABN 14 003 348 730 

Contents

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56

58

59

Message to Shareholders from the Chairman and Group CEO

Directors’ Report

Remuneration Report

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

Independent Auditor’s Report

Directors’ Declaration

Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss

Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Notes to the Financial Statements

96

Additional Information as at 15 March 2017

3

Message from the Chairman and 
Group CEO

2016 was another important year for Reckon Limited.

We are seeing results that confirm our commitment to the strategies we have previously announced.

To repeat what was articulated last year, we committed to three pillars of strategy:

• 

• 

• 

investing in technology, 

expanding products and territory, and 

preserving existing profitable businesses.

Across  all  key  performance  metrics  we  have  delivered  according  to  expected  performance.  This  is  especially 
encouraging because we operate in a transition phase as we continue to move to the cloud and confront a fiercely 
competitive market.

Non IFRS*

2016

2015

Amount Change

% Change 

Group

Revenue

$97.8 million

$91.4 million**

Underlying EBITDA

$40.5 million

Underlying NPAT

$20.8 million

$39.2 million

$19.3 million

* Refer to page 11 for an IFRS reconciliation.

$6.4 million

$1.3 million

$1.5 million

7%

3%

8%

**The revenue results for 2015 have been adjusted to remove the pass through revenue for ASIC fees collected in the Reckon Docs business, to 
align with the accounting treatment in 2016.

The  above  results  for  EBITDA  and  NPAT  exclude  the  impact  from  net  costs  associated  with  investment  in  sales, 
marketing and development/technology primarily in the Reckon One (Australia, New Zealand and UK) and Document 
Management (Australia, New Zealand and USA) growth markets.

Our net development spend of $22.8 million was also in line with expected expenditure in the range of $23 million to 
$25 million.

Generally  across  all  segments  of  the  group  we  have  seen  good  revenue  growth;  growth  in  online  products; 
improvements in subscription revenue; and customer growth across all divisions. 

Our customer base is strongly diversified and has serious scale. For example in the Business Group we have over 
800,000  registered  users  who  have  relied  on  our  solutions.  In  the  Document  Management  Group  we  have  over 
51,000 paying users who share documents with over 617,000 users through the online portal. And in the Practice 
Management Group we have 70 of the top 100 accounting firms deploying our solutions.

This means that the underlying business remains sound while we pursue our growth objectives in new markets and 
in the cloud.

Reckon One, our cloud based small business accounting solution, is growing well. Customer feedback about the 
product has been overwhelmingly positive. Its unique modular approach which is a strong value for money proposition 
is a strong competitive edge over our rivals whose pricing cannot compete. We see great growth potential in this 
product.

In the Reckon APS part of our Practice Management Group we continue to add to our list of blue chip accounting 
firms at a very encouraging rate of growth.

The Document Management Group has shown strong growth in overseas markets.

Shareholders are urged to refer to our roadshow slides which we presented to the market in early February for the detail 
about our performance. These are available on the ASX website as well as on the investor section of our website.

If we look at the collective performance of the group we believe there is much to be proud of. 

4

It seems that the market, however, does not always see it that way. Our largely realised ambitions of building a truly 
integrated set of solutions for professionals and small business have created a diverse and complicated business. It 
may be that the true value of the sum of the parts is not reflected in the perception of the whole of the business. 

Against that background we have continued to explore other opportunities to unlock shareholder value.  

On 17 March 2017 we announced an exciting opportunity to unlock value from our diverse range of operations. 

At  the  date  of  that  announcement  it  was  proposed  to  de-merge  Reckon’s  Document  Management  segment 
(representing aproximately 15% of group turnover) under an independent company with shares admitted to trading 
on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM), “Document Management Newco”.

By the time this Annual Report reaches you there may have been developments regarding this proposal that amend 
what was announced and we urge you to consult our ASX announcements to check for any updates.

It is our opinion that this opportunity can help to:

•  Place  Reckon  in  a  strong  position  to  move  forward  and  focus  on  its  strategy  in  the  Business  and  Practice 
Management segment and obtain the benefit of improved cash flow by the removal of the development capital 
and new market costs of the Document Management segment;

• 

Free the Document Management segment to pursue an independent strategy to develop new global market 
leading  document  management  offerings,  building  on  the  existing  customer  base  of  the  Virtual  Cabinet  and 
SmartVault businesses;

•  Simplify a diverse business portfolio and set a base to unlock value; 

•  Allow Reckon to take advantage of investment in cloud based products and focus on domestic activities while 
the Document Management segment will focus on overseas activities where the bulk of the potential market is.

It is proposed that every Reckon shareholder (other than those in certain overseas jurisdictions) will receive pro rata 
Document Management Newco shares for Reckon shares held by way of a dividend in specie such that after the 
de-merger and admission to trading on AIM, shareholders will own shares in both companies.

In  addition  it  is  intended  to  offer  Reckon  shareholders  a  pro  rata  opportunity  to  participate  in  a  capital  raising  in 
Document Management Newco just prior to AIM admission to provide the Document Management business with 
funding to develop its cloud based secure information communication management products. 

Members of the Reckon board, including the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, and the Group CEO have indicated 
their confidence and commitment to this proposal by declaring their intention to participate in the capital raising. 

At the time of this message these plans are preliminary and highly conditional, including subject to due diligence and 
any necessary regulatory approvals. The ASX has indicated that shareholder approval is not required.

We will keep all shareholders updated on material progress of this process.

This is an exciting period for us as we embark on a new strategic direction.

We thank all our shareholders, customers, partners and employees for your continued support.

Ian Ferrier
Chairman

Clive Rabie
Group CEO

5

Directors’ Report
The Directors of Reckon Limited submit these financial statements for 
the financial year ended 31 December 2016

Ian Ferrier AM FCA 
Independent Non-Executive Director, Independent Non-Executive Chairman

Ian Ferrier is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. He has extensive experience in company 
corporate recovery and turn around practice. He is also a director of a number of private and public companies. Ian 
is  Chairman  of  Goodman  Group  Limited  (since  2003)  and  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. Ian is Chairman of the board.

Greg Wilkinson 
Founder, Independent Non-Executive Deputy Chairman

Greg Wilkinson has over 30 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  co-founded  Reckon  in  1987  and  was  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  until  February  2006.  He  was 
appointed to the position of Deputy Chairman in February 2006 and became a member of the board of the listed 
entity  on  19  July  1999.  He  was  appointed  to  the  Audit  &  Risk  Committee  in  February  2010  and  Remuneration 
Committee in December 2011. He is also an investor and mentor to a number of cloud based start-up companies.

Christopher Woodforde B Comm LLB 
Independent Non-Executive Director

Chris Woodforde has an extensive background as a legal practitioner in New South Wales, South Asia and the United 
Kingdom spanning over 30 years. Over that time he has held a wide range of senior legal and consulting positions. 
He occupied senior positions in Microsoft from 1994 to 2008 including as Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs in 
Australia and New Zealand. More recently he has acted as a consultant and senior contributor in legal and commercial 
capacities  for  a  range  of  clients.  He  has  been  and  remains  a  mentor  to,  and  investor  in,  private  initiatives  in  the 
information  and  communications  technology  market.  Chris’  breadth  of  experience  brings  a  unique  mix  of  legal, 
commercial and management skills in South Asia, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand well suited to 
information  technology  companies.  Chris  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the  Audit  &  Risk  Committee  and  the 
Remuneration Committee on 1 January 2016.

6

Clive Rabie 
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 
General Counsel and Company Secretary

Myron Zlotnick has over 20 years experience as a legal practitioner, general and corporate counsel, and as a director 
of companies in the information, communications and technology sector.

7

Directors’ Report (continued)

Review of Operations and Statement of Principal Activities

Summary

In 2016 Reckon Limited organised its activities into three operating and reporting segments: a Business Group, a 
Document Management Group, and a Practice Management Group.

The Business Group undertakes the development, sales and support of business accounting software for small to 
larger sized businesses and personal wealth management software branded as Reckon One and Reckon Accounts 
Hosted (cloud products), Reckon Accounts Business, and Reckon Accounts Personal respectively.

The  Document  Management  Group  develops,  sells  and  supports  document  management  and  document  portal 
products to a wide variety of clients under the Reckon Virtual Cabinet and Reckon SmartVault brands.

The Practice Management Group develops, supplies and supports accounting practice management, tax compliance 
and allied software under the Reckon APS brand to larger professional accounting firms, and under the Reckon Elite 
brand  to  smaller  professional  accounting  firms.  The  Practice  Management  Group  also  supplies  and  supports 
company  secretarial  services  such  as  company  incorporations;  domain  registrations;  SMSF  documentation  and 
ASIC  compliance  management;  and  other  documentation  for  human  resources  needs,  under  the  Reckon  Docs 
brand. This Group also supplies software solutions to legal firms and corporations for revenue management, expense 
management, print solutions, business process automation, business intelligence, document service automation, 
scan and document management under the Reckon nQueue and Reckon Billback brands.

The  three  Groups  are  supported  by  shared  services  teams  which  include  IT,  development,  finance,  marketing, 
logistics, legal and human resources.

Business Group

The Business Group distributes and supports a range of programs under the Reckon brand. These programs are 
generally used by small to larger businesses in Australia and New Zealand and more recently in the United Kingdom. 
Alongside cloud, hosted and desktop accounting software the range includes a payroll and point of sale solution, as 
well as personal finance software.

A key focus in the Business Group is to grow the Reckon One cloud based business accounting software. Reckon 
One  cloud  based  accounting  software  is  based  on  a  “designed  by  you”  concept  that  allows  users  to  tailor  the 
solution to their needs by choosing modules their business will use. The current modules available are: Core (which 
includes  payments  and  receipts,  budgets  and  reporting);  Invoices;  Payroll,  BankData  (automatic  bank  statement 
import into accounts and reconciliation); Projects (manage revenue, costs and forecasts by project); Time & Billing 
(timesheets and expenses); and an open API for third party applications. The development roadmap also includes 
GovConnect (BAS lodgement) and Inventory.

Users can select which modules they need and only pay for those; and can switch modules on or off as required, 
making Reckon One a very cost-effective solution for small businesses.

One of the fastest growing products in the Reckon Accounts suite remains Reckon Accounts Hosted, a convenient secure 
online accounting software solution that very closely mimics the Reckon Accounts business range desktop package.

Reckon Accounts products include: (1) Reckon BankData, a bank feed solution which allows connections with banks 
and other financial institutions to download bank transaction information directly into accounting software; and (2) 
Reckon GovConnect, an SBR-enabled solution for lodging reports to government agencies such as the ATO.

Document Management Group

The Document Management Group provides software and support services for accountants, lawyers and businesses 
for document management and document portal solutions.

8

The Document Management Group currently operates under the Virtual Cabinet and SmartVault brands in Australia, 
New Zealand, USA and United Kingdom.

The Virtual Cabinet solution enables companies to control all documents in a secure document management system. 
Virtual Cabinet document management fully integrates with back office systems and has the ability to link all forms 
of electronic files back to client records. Linked with the document portal it also provides a secure and audit trailed 
method  to  send  documents  (with  digital  signatures  if  required)  to  selected  recipients,  and  provides  an  efficient 
method for professionals to collaborate with their clients.

Effective on 1 January 2016 Reckon completed the acquisition of SmartVault Corp in Houston, Texas. SmartVault is 
a secure cloud based online document management system with a portal for workflow and client collaboration. It is 
a “lighter” cloud based version of the document management processes similar to what Virtual Cabinet provides on 
the desktop at the enterprise level.

The acquisition of SmartVault presented an opportunity to accelerate the move of document management products 
to the cloud. In turn, Virtual Cabinet expertise will add to the SmartVault model and their ability to take an enterprise 
product to the USA market.

Practice Management Group

The  Practice  Management  Group  develops,  distributes  and  supports  the  Reckon  APS  suite  of  solutions  for 
professional  service  firms  in  Australia,  New  Zealand  and,  via  a  reseller  arrangement,  in  the  United  Kingdom.  For 
professional accountants these solutions also include tax and accounts production. Reckon also delivers a wide 
range of complementary applications for practice management.

The Reckon APS product suite continues to be considered market leading for its sophistication and depth of offering 
to professional accounting firms. This is reflected in the market share that Reckon APS enjoys in Australia and New 
Zealand.

Reckon has committed several years of research and development to delivering unique integrated practice software 
to work off a single platform, offering all its solutions under the collective Reckon APS suite. The suite comprises 
several integrated modules for several business critical functions in professional firms: Practice Management (PM); 
Business Intelligence and 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); SyncDirect and others. 

The Desktop Super business was sold in 2016. 

Reckon has also made all of the above modules available in a hosted version called APS Private Cloud.

Reckon acquired cloud based technology timesheets and time cost reports which will be included in later offerings.

Sync Direct is a cloud based system that allows accountants to upload financial transaction data from virtually any 
source and automatically enter it into their practice management system for accounts and tax return preparation 
purposes. It is an extremely beneficial tool for professional accounting firms as it creates a “single ledger” experience 
for them without being required to use the same software as their clients.

The Reckon Elite product suite includes tax return preparation tools, practice management tools and related solutions 
mostly used by accountants and tax agents. Reckon Elite is predominantly used in small to medium sized accounting 
firms compared to Reckon APS which is used by larger firms.

Under  the  Reckon  nQueue  and  Reckon  Billback  brands,  this  Group  also  comprises  cost  recovery,  expense 
management, and scan solutions that assist law firms and commercial and government clients 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. These solutions 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.

9

Directors’ Report (continued)

The development of a scan solution marked a shift from standalone cost recovery, expense management software 
towards a closer integration with document management and practice management.

The  Reckon  Docs  corporate  services  business  comprises  technology  for  the  registration  and  compliance 
management of companies and other business structures through an easy to use web based ordering system. This 
business provides clients with an online company registration service available 24/7; documentation and services for 
the  establishment  of  a  range  of  entities,  especially  trusts  for  self-managed  superannuation  funds;  constitution 
updates and domain name registrations; and other documentation for human resources needs.

The  Reckon  Docs  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.

Reckon Docs also offer a desktop utility called Reckon Docs Desktop (RDD) that is a simple and convenient desktop 
application for company registration, searches, and ASIC compliance management. This product is also integrated 
into the Practice Management suite of APS, known as ACR.

Development and Software that Connects

Reckon’s various product roadmaps and development efforts are co-ordinated to meet the overall strategic goal of 
delivering  integrated  solutions,  on  the  desktop,  in  a  hosted  environment,  and  in  the  cloud,  to  businesses  and 
accounting  and  legal  professionals.  The  development  strategy  is  aimed  at  improving  collaboration  between 
businesses, accountants, banks, government agencies and other stakeholders.

This development also takes account of demand for remote and mobile access to all solutions and applications.

10

Results of Operations

Results Headlines (Non-IFRS)

•  Revenue was up 7% to $97.8 million from $91.4 million.

•  Underlying EBITDA was up 3% to $40.5 million from $39.2 million.

•  Underlying NPAT attributable to owners of the parent was up 8% to $20.8 million from $19.3 million.

The revenue results for 2015 have been adjusted to remove the pass through revenue for ASIC fees collected in the 
Reckon Docs business, to align with the accounting treatment in 2016.

The above results for EBITDA and NPAT also exclude the impact from net costs associated with investment in sales, 
marketing and development/technology primarily in the Reckon One (Australia, New Zealand and UK) and Document 
Management (Australia, New Zealand and USA) growth markets. 

IFRS EBITDA

New market expenditure

EBITDA - Underlying business

IFRS NPAT 
attributable to owners of the parent

After tax effect of new market expenditure*

NPAT - Underlying business

* At effective tax rate.

2016
$m

35.3

2015
$m

36.6

5.2

2.6

40.5

39.2

2016
$m

11.0

2015
$m

14.6

9.8

4.7

20.8

19.3

The company declared a total dividend of 5 cents per share for the 2016 financial year (final dividend of 3 cents per 
share and an interim dividend of 2 cents per share) down 31% from 7.25 cents per share in 2015. This reduction in 
dividend remains largely a consequence of the company’s shift in strategy to invest in technology and new markets. 
The company has a dividend reinvestment plan in place but it does not apply to the final dividend.

11

Directors’ Report (continued)

Revenue Drivers

Generally group revenue was impacted:

•  positively by strong volume growth in seats and online users

•  positively by strong new customer growth

•  positively by new markets for Document Management

•  positively by growth from online products in the Business Group

•  positively by subscription revenue

• 

• 

• 

negatively by a decline in Reckon Docs revenue 

negatively by the sale of the Desktop Super business

negatively by currency

In the Business Group, by the end of the first quarter of 2016 the company had substantially completed the strategy 
to shift the revenue model for sales from upfront once off purchases to a subscription revenue model.

Subscription  revenue  in  the  Business  Group  for  2016  was  $25.4  million,  up  13%  on  2015  from  $22.5  million. 
Subscription revenue in the Business Group now comprises 81% of available Business Group revenue compared to 
72% in 2015. 

In the cloud market, demand for online accounting software is driving good growth. The Business Group now has 
39,000  users  which  is  18%  annualised  growth  over  2015.  This  represented  23%  in  revenue  growth.  35%  of  all 
available revenue in the Business Group is from cloud solutions. 

These gains in the Business Group are an encouraging sign in a group where overall revenue growth was flat, $35.5 
million in 2016 compared to $35.4 million in 2015. Revenue declined by 2% in the first half of 2016 due to the move 
to subscription revenue but grew by 3% in the second half.

Revenue growth for the Document Management Group was driven by organic growth of 7,000 new paying users. 
This represents an annualised underlying growth rate of 15% on 2015. The revenue for 2016 was $14.8 million, up 
70% on underlying revenue of $8.7 million for 2015.  This growth is also a result of increasing cross sales into the 
Practice Management Group customer base in Australia and New Zealand as well as the acquisition of SmartVault, 
which then exceeded growth expectations. 

Underlying revenue for the Practice Management Group was up 4% to $46.8 million from $45 million in 2015, with 
the software component of this group growing by 6%. The key revenue drivers here were 8% growth in seats added 
across the Reckon APS suite and good growth in large size customers in both Reckon APS and Reckon nQueue in 
the USA. 

As with the Business Group, the strategy to move from an upfront once off software sales model to a subscription 
based model continues to bear success. It is expected that there will always be a residue of upfront and service 
revenue in the Practice Management Group but for 2016 subscription revenue represented a healthy 83% of available 
revenue. 

The Reckon Docs content business was weaker in 2016 and strategy has been reset to attempt to rectify this. 

Underlying EBITDA

The underlying EBITDA delivered by the businesses in the group was up 3% to $40.5 million from $39.2 million in 2015.

As mentioned above, the profitability of the group was impacted by investment in sales and marketing primarily in 
Reckon One (in Australia, New Zealand and the UK) and Document Management (in Australia, New Zealand and  
USA) growth markets.

12

In the Business Group, underlying EBITDA was 4% up on 2015. If investment in sales and marketing in Australia, New 
Zealand and UK for Reckon One are taken into account, then EBITDA is only marginally up. However, EBITDA for the 
second half of 2016 was up 8% on the second half of 2015. This is attributable to revenue growth with the transition 
to subscription revenue complete.

In the Document Management Group, underlying EBITDA increased by 11% on 2015 from $4.2 million to $4.7 million. 
Once  again  sales  and  marketing  investment  in  the  Australian,  New  Zealand  and  USA  markets  impacted  EBITDA 
adversely.

In the Practice Management Group, underlying EBITDA increased by 3% from $19.4 million to $19.9 million.

NPAT

Underlying business NPAT grew from $19.3 million in 2015 to $20.8 million in 2016. As with the EBITDA headline 
result, NPAT growth was negatively impacted by the growth investments.

Profitability was also impacted by higher amortisation due to development investment in Reckon One and Document 
Management growth products.

Cash Flow

As  a  consequence  of  the  investment  in  new  markets  the  company’s  operating  cash  flow  decreased  from  $33.5 
million to $29.7 million.  In addition increased net development spend ($22.8 million in 2016 compared to $19.6 million 
in 2015) as well as the cost of acquiring SmartVault ($5.8 million) but offset by the proceeds of the sale of Desktop 
Super ($1.3 million) further impacted cash flow in 2016.

EPS

As a result of the decline in NPAT, premised on growth investment in 2016, basic EPS consequently declined 25% 
from 13.1 cents per share to 9.8 cents per share.

Dividends

On 14 February 2017, the board declared a final dividend of 3 cents per share (unfranked) payable to shareholders 
recorded on the company’s register as at the record date of 22 February 2017. 

The dividend reinvestment plan does not apply to the final dividend.

Significant Changes in State of Affairs

There were no significant changes in the company’s state of affairs during the year.

13

Directors’ Report (continued)

Future  Developments,  Business  Strategies  and  Prospects 
for Future Financial Years

Last year the company reported in detail on the outcome of a strategic review undertaken in late 2015.

In summary, the outcome of that review revealed that focus should be given to:

• 

• 

• 

continued investment in scaling proven international businesses (especially nQueue and Virtual Cabinet);

consolidating  Reckon  APS’  market  leadership  by  continuing  to  provide  high-value  additional  modules  and 
functionality, including further “cloudification” of products;

strengthening product offerings for document management in the USA market and gain a point of access to the 
valuable accountants market;

• 

accelerating investment in targeted development priorities to be undertaken over 2016 and 2017, especially:

•  Reckon One;

• 

• 

“Cloudification” of Reckon APS functionality; and

The integration of SmartVault / Virtual Cabinet onto one platform.

Specifically  in  relation  to  the  last  bullet  point  above  regarding  the  future  plans  for  the  Document  Management 
business the company announced on 17 March 2017 a proposal to de-merge Reckon’s Document Management 
segment (representing aproximately 15% of group turnover) under an independent company with shares admitted to 
trading on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM).

These plans place Reckon in a strong position to move forward and focus on its strategy in the Business and Practice 
Management segment and obtain the benefit of improved cash flow by the removal of the development capital and 
new market costs of the Document Management segment.

In addition, the Document Management segment is freed up to pursue an independent strategy to develop new 
global market leading document management offerings, building on the existing customer base of the Virtual Cabinet 
and SmartVault businesses.

As a result a complex and diverse business portfolio is also simplified with a base set to unlock shareholder value. 

Reckon  will  take  advantage  of  investment  in  cloud  based  products  and  focus  on  domestic  activities  while  the 
Document Management segment will focus on overseas activities where the bulk of the potential market is.

At the time of the writing of this Annual Report, these plans are preliminary and conditional, including subject to due 
diligence and any necessary regulatory approvals. The ASX has indicated that shareholder approval is not required.

Success in pursuing strategic ambitions is subject to certain risks. In general terms the businesses will always be 
subject to domestic macro-economic pressures to the extent that these may or may not impact the confidence of 
small  to  medium  sized  businesses.  The  markets  in  which  we  operate  are  vigorously  competitive  and  subject  to 
disruption and price pressure. The competitive landscape does show the emergence of disruptive operators in the 
cloud market, but the scale of yet to be acquired customers in all groups is large. Ambitions to expand overseas and 
product  development  carry  execution  risks.  And,  operationally,  any  business  of  this  nature  is  subject  to  service 
interruption, infrastructure failure or data breaches.

The main risk arising from the company and Group’s financial instruments are currency risk, credit risk, equity price 
risk, liquidity risk and interest rate risk. See note 28 to the Financial Statements for further detail of these risks.

Reckon undertook a review of its information security practices using ISO27001 Information Security Management 

14

System (ISMS) as a guide to provide an assurance framework for our information security practices. At the end of 
2015 this review was completed and in 2016 a lengthy and ongoing process to implement relevant changes was 
commenced.

Matters Since the End of the Financial Year

On 17 March 2017 the company announced a proposal regarding the de-merger of the Document Management 
business from the Reckon group as described above.

Other than this, no matter or circumstance has arisen since the end of the year that has significantly affected, or may 
significantly affect the company’s operations in future financial years; or the results of those operations in future financial 
years; or the company’s state of affairs in future financial years.

15

Remuneration Report (Audited)

1 Introduction

Reckon continues to undertake a process of transition in a fiercely competitive market which is expected to require 
some years to complete.  The transition may involve continued investment in technology and new markets as well as 
possible changes to the group’s management and operating structure.  However, the Board is confident that the 
right team of the right calibre and with the right talent to execute the transition is largely already in place.  It should 
also be noted that externally fuelled speculation about the Company and its future during the late FY15 year led to 
some  significant  volatility  in  the  share  price  in  early  FY16.    These  represent  challenging  conditions  in  which  to 
motivate, retain and attract senior executives, and indeed directors (together, KMP), appropriate to the needs of the 
Company.

At  the  AGM  held  in  2015  (in  respect  of  FY14),  the  Company  received  a  second  strike  against  the  Remuneration 
Report but no spill meeting was required by shareholders to be convened.  Following this the strikes were “re-set”, 
however at the AGM held in 2016, the Company received a strike against the Remuneration Report (in respect of 
FY15).  Consequently the Board has invested significant time and effort to understand those areas of the Remuneration 
Report and of the Company’s remuneration practices, which are seen to be causing the strikes, as it did in the prior 
years.    As  part  of  its  efforts,  the  Board  has  refreshed  the  governance  of  remuneration  by  appointing  its  newest 
director, Chris Woodforde, to the role of Chair of the Remuneration Committee.  In any event it is good governance 
to  split  the  role  of  Chairman  of  the  Board  from  Chair  of  the  Remuneration  Committee  and  hence  Mr  Ferrier,  the 
Chairman of the Board has stepped aside as Chair of the Remuneration Committee.  The Remuneration Committee 
through the new Chair has spent time understanding the concerns of external stakeholders including shareholder 
and proxy advisors, understanding the history of current remuneration practices implemented by the Company, and 
current circumstances and future needs of the Company, to gain a complete understanding of the issues that need 
to be considered in the oversight of KMP remuneration.

One of the most prominent issues that was raised, was the design and implementation of the long term incentive (LTI) 
scheme.  In response, the Board has sought external advice from independent KMP remuneration experts to better 
understand the issues, and to assist the Company in re-designing the LTI.  The Board has also clearly appreciated 
that despite compelling internal and competitive factors to do so, shareholders saw the application of the Board’s 
discretion in FY13 and partially in FY14 to trigger vesting of the previous LTI when shareholders had not benefitted 
as inappropriate.  The Board has discussed the need to limit the circumstances in which the application of discretion 
would be considered.  The board went to great lengths to explain the context for exercising the discretion and believe 
it was rational and justified in the circumstances at the time. It was also understood that the vesting hurdles for the 
LTI were seen as too low, relative to practices evident in the market and the Board has resolved to be clearer in its 
communication to the market regarding the setting of performance conditions in the Company’s circumstances, as 
part of implementing the new LTI.

Some external stakeholders also reflected the view that, at the time and given the changes to the Company’s market 
value, fixed remuneration was high relative to the market.  While this may have been the case under their particular 
methodology at that point in time, at the time that KMP remuneration was set, it was set with reference to measures 
which the board felt were reasonable.  The Board asks that shareholders consider that when the Company’s market 
value is lower than at the time when fixed remuneration was determined, any pay cut would present a material and 
unacceptable risk of loss of KMP, and is not a practical solution.  Instead, the Board has virtually frozen fixed pay or 
provided only modest increases except where remuneration was below market levels required to retain KMP or to 
provide compensation commensurate with responsibility. It should also be noted that several of the KMPs have been 
employed for many years and were instrumental in the implementation of significant strategies to guide the Company 
through adversity in the early 2000’s.

Given  the  significant  efforts  of  the  Board  to  review  and  improve  remuneration  governance  and  practices,  and  to 
consult with stakeholders and engage with their views, as well as noting the excellent performance of the Company 
in the lead-up to the coming AGM, it is hoped that shareholders and their representatives will support the Remuneration 
Report resolution at this AGM and avoid the need for another vote to consider whether a spill meeting should be held.

16

2 Persons Covered by this Report

The Remuneration Report sets out, in accordance with section 300A of the Corporations Act: (i) the Company’s 
governance relating to remuneration, (ii) the policy for determining the nature and amount or value of remuneration of 
key  management  personnel;  (iii)  the  various  components  or  framework  of  that  remuneration;  (iv)  the  prescribed 
details relating to the amount or value paid to key management personnel, as well as a description of any performance 
conditions; (v) the relationship between the policy and the performance of the Company.

Key management personnel (KMP) are the non-executive directors, the executive directors and employees who have 
authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the consolidated entity.  On that 
basis, the following roles/individuals are addressed in this report:

Non-executive Directors

•  Mr Ian Ferrier, independent non-executive director since 17 August 2004

•  Chairman of the Board since 1 July 2015

•  Mr Greg Wilkinson, director since 19 July 1999

•  Deputy Chairman since 1 February 2006

•  Risk and Audit Committee member since 1 February 2010

•  Remuneration Committee member since 1 December 2011

•  Mr Chris Woodforde, Independent non-executive director since 1 July 2015

•  Remuneration Committee Chair since 1 January 2016 

•  Risk and Audit Committee Chairman since 1 January 2016.

Senior Executives Classified as KMP

•  Mr  Clive  Rabie,  COO  from  1  January  2001,  Executive  Director  since  1  January  2005,  group  CEO  from  22 

February 2006

•  Mr Chris Hagglund, Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since 1 October 2004

•  Mr Myron Zlotnick, General Counsel and Company Secretary since 1 October 2002

•  Mr Sam Allert, MD Business and Accounting Group ANZ since 1 October 2012 and

•  Mr Daniel Rabie, Chief Operating Officer since 27 July 2015.

3 Context of and Changes to KMP Remuneration

3.1 Context of FY16 Remuneration Policies and Practices

The KMP remuneration structures that appear in this report are largely those that prevailed over FY16, as is required 
by  law.    These  structures  were  implemented  as  part  of  a  decision  making  process,  mainly  driven  by  the  budget 
setting process and cost to company, that was undertaken in previous years.

Mindful of shareholder response as above, the Board will continue to review its practices and policies in the future.

The following outlines important context for the decisions that were made during FY15 to determine remuneration for 
FY16, as well as relevant context that emerged during FY16:

17

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

• 

The  Board  sought  and  received  feedback  on  both  stakeholder  and  independent  consultant  views  of  KMP 
remuneration governance and practices, noted both above, and in more detail below,

•  Market  capitalisation  is  one  of  the  factors  that  influences  external  assessments  of  the  appropriateness  of 
remuneration; it is understood that external groups tend to see it as the primary indication of the size and status 
of the Company, and the field in which the Company is competing for talent.  While Reckon does not subscribe 
to this view exclusively and instead considers a broad range of factors that drive competition for talent in different 
parts of the Company, it is acknowledged that it must be a consideration when communicating with stakeholders,

•  Historically remuneration was set at times when the market capitalisation of the Company was higher than it was 
during  FY16,  and  at  present,  and  at  a  time  when  retaining  talent  for  a  company  in  a  competitive  arena  was 
important,

• 

The Company is going through a significant period of transition, in line with its current strategy of:

• 

• 

Investing in new technology;

Expanding products and territories;

•  Preserving and building on existing profitable businesses,

• 

and this means that all of the executive team is heavily involved in more than business as usual to ensure that 
the requirements of the current strategy are fulfilled.

3.2 

Remuneration Matters Identified and Adjustments in Response During FY16

Following the 2015 AGM it was brought to the attention of the Remuneration Committee that some stakeholders, 
most notably the proxy advisors, had some questions or concerns regarding remuneration practices that were not 
clear from the Annual Report or Notice of Meeting. A summary of these concerns has been compiled and is available 
on request to the Company Secretary.

In response to these concerns during FY16 the following are the most significant changes made to remuneration 
for KMP:

• 

The Board sought the views of an independent external remuneration consultant and governance advisor in 
relation to Reckon’s incentive framework, policies, practices and procedures,

• 

• 

• 

The  consultant  identified  areas  where  the  Company’s  policies  and  practices  departed  from  standard/
common market practices,

The consultant and the Board spent significant time discussing the merits of standard market approaches, 
and of more tailored approaches, given the circumstances of the Company at the time,

The Board determined to make adjustments to the incentive arrangements that were a balance of market 
standard, and tailored practices, so as to best meet the needs of the Company in its current circumstances, 
while also improving alignment with typical stakeholder expectations,

• 

The Board sought the views of an independent external remuneration consultant and governance advisor in 
relation to Reckon’s Remuneration Report disclosure,

• 

• 

• 

The consultant recognised that there were many areas of the Company’s Remuneration Report that were 
highly transparent and exceeded typical disclosure levels, and

That  there  were  some  areas  that  could  be  improved  in  terms  of  explaining  the  context,  rationale  and 
approach to KMP remuneration, and some additional details that would assist shareholders to understand 
the Company’s remuneration policies, procedures, and practices with more clarity, and

The  recommended  changes  have  been  adopted  herein,  and  the  Board  invites  feedback  regarding  the 
changes to disclosure,

18

•  Changes to the design of the LTI plan were agreed to improve alignment with external stakeholder expectations, 
while still meeting the specific needs of the Company in its current circumstances, for offers from FY16 onwards,

•  Replacement of the single ASX 300 relative TSR condition (used for 2015 - 2017) with a combination of:

• 

• 

TSR relative to the ASX 300, with a 50% weighting, and

EPS Growth relative to target, with a 50% weighting,

•  Adjustment  of  the  TSR  vesting  scale  to  remove  any  vesting  at  below-market  (index)  performance,  in 

response to stakeholder feedback,

•  Continued adoption of minimum Measurement Periods of 3 years prior to vesting for future grants of LTI, 

•  However it should be noted that as part of a transitionary arrangement to phase in the new LTI as 
grants of legacy equity phase out and to smooth out share price volatility in early FY16 (over which 
management had no control) and which would have set starting TSR levels at unrealistic/unachievable 
levels, offers in relation to the FY16 LTI were composed of three tranches:

•  One tranche with a Measurement Period from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016, linked to the 

EPSG measure only, and

•  One tranche with a Measurement Period from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018, linked to 

EPSG, and

•  One tranche with a Measurement Period from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018, linked to the 

TSR measure (equal weighting between the two measures in relation to traches 2 and 3).

• 

In total, the offer covers a three year Measurement Period, and no vesting occurs prior to the 
elapsing of three years, despite earlier performance testing for the first tranche,

•  Refer to the diagram on page 27,

• 

It is recognised that this first grant will not strictly meet the expectation that Measurement Periods are 
a minimum of three years prior to vesting, however, given the way that legacy LTI/equity grants are 
phasing out through FY16 and FY17 it was deemed necessary to modify the Measurement Periods 
under the first grant of the new LTI to try to achieve some stability in the opportunity for equity/LTI to 
be earned (if not vested) as the new plan is phased in (i.e. not to penalise executives for the change in 
the approach), in any case there is no vesting before the passing of three years. The only quirk for the 
initial grant is the disproportionate weighting given to EPS in the first year to deal with the share price 
volatility of early FY16.

The  Board  of  Reckon  asks  shareholders  to  consider  the  significant  efforts  of  the  Board  to  improve  remuneration 
governance, practices, disclosure and outcomes in response to feedback from stakeholders. The Board is confident 
that the company has come a long way in improving it’s Remuneration Report and will endeavour to continue to do so.

19

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

4 Overview of Reckon’s Remuneration Governance Framework 
& Strategy

The Company seeks input regarding the governance of KMP remuneration from a wide range of sources, including:

•  Remuneration Committee Members,

• 

External remuneration consultants (ERCs),

•  Stakeholder groups including proxy advisors, and

•  Company management to understand roles and issues facing the Company.

The following outlines Reckon’s remuneration governance framework.

4.1 Remuneration Committee

Authority for remuneration matters rests with the Remuneration Committee which reports to the board and makes 
recommendations  regarding  remuneration  to  the  board  which  has  ultimate  responsibility  for  signing  off  on 
remuneration policies, practices and outcomes.

The Remuneration Committee is comprised of three non-executive directors.

As at the end of FY16 the Remuneration Committee was composed of:

•  Mr Chris Woodforde (independent) as the Chair of the Committee,

•  Mr Ian Ferrier (independent, Chairman of the board), and

•  Mr Greg Wilkinson (independent, Deputy Chairman of the board).

The Remuneration Committee operated substantially in accordance with the aims and aspirations of Principle 8 of 
the  ASX  Corporate  Governance  Principles  and  Recommendations  (“ASX  Principles  and  Recommendations”), 
including that the majority of the committee should be composed of independent non-executive directors.

The  role  and  responsibilities  of  the  committee  are  outlined  in  the  Reckon  Remuneration  Committee  Charter  (the 
Charter), available on the Company Website.  The role of the Remuneration Committee is to ensure that appropriate 
remuneration policies are in place which are designed to meet the needs of the Company and to enhance corporate 
and individual performance.  That is, the development, maintenance and application of the Remuneration Governance 
Framework for the purposes of making recommendations to the Board regarding KMP remuneration matters, as well 
as advising the Board on procedures that must be undertaken in relation to the governance of remuneration, and 
communicating such matters to the market (such as the calculation of grants of incentives, review of performance 
conditions and receipt of independent advice, etc.).

Under the Charter, the Remuneration Committee is to be composed of at least three non-executive members with 
the majority being independent directors.

The charter of the Remuneration Committee is available on the company’s website at
https://www.reckon.com/au/investors/governance/.

4.2 Trading Policy

The Trading Policy of the Company is available on the Company website.  It contains the standard references to 
insider trading restrictions that are a legal requirement under the Corporations Act, as well as conditions associated 
with  good  corporate  governance.    To  this  end  the  policy  specifies  trading  windows  during  which  officers  of  the 
Company may trade in the securities of the Company, and that officers must seek permission from the Chairman of 

20

the Company before so doing.  It also requires officers to notify the Company Secretary of the transaction once 
completed,  and  prohibits  trading  at  all  other  times  unless  an  exception  provided  by  the  Chairman  following  an 
assessment  of  the  circumstances  (e.g.  financial  hardship).    Trading  windows  arise  during  the  six  week  period 
commencing 24 hours after each of the following events:

• 

• 

The announcement to the ASX of the company’s half-year results,

The announcement to the ASX of the annual results, and

•  After the general meeting.

Officers generally includes directors and Senior Executives of the Company.

The policy also restricts employees from short-term trading or from hedging etc. and gives the Board the power to 
suspend all dealing in Company securities by employees at any time, should it be appropriate.

Prior to presenting full year results, equity plan participants are required to confirm that they have not entered into 
any transactions which would contravene the Company’s trading policy. 

4.3 Executive Remuneration Policy

The following outlines the policy that applies to executive KMP (and does not apply to non-executive directors):

•  Remuneration should be composed of:

•  Base  Package  (inclusive  of  superannuation,  allowances,  benefits  and  any  applicable  fringe  benefits  tax 

(FBT) as well as any salary sacrifice arrangements),

•  Short term incentive (STI) which provides a reward for performance against annual objectives, and

• 

Long  term  incentive  (LTI)  which  provides  an  equity-based  reward  for  performance  against  indicators  of 
shareholder benefit or value creation, over a three year period, and

• 

In total the sum of the elements will constitute a total remuneration package (TRP).

•  Both internal relativities and external market factors should be considered,

• 

• 

• 

TRPs ought to be structured with reference to market practices and the circumstances of the Company at the 
time,

That the Base Package policy mid-points should be set with reference to P50 (the median or the middle) of the 
relevant market practice,

That TRPs at Target (being the Base Package plus incentive awards intended to be paid for targeted levels of 
performance) should be set between P50 and P75 (the upper quartile, the point at which 75% of the sample lies 
below) of the relevant market practice so as to create a strong incentive to achieve targeted objectives in both 
the short and long term,

•  Remuneration will be managed within a range so as to allow for the recognition of individual differences such as 
the calibre of the incumbent and the competency with which they fulfil a role (a range of +/- 20% is used, in line 
with common market practices),

• 

• 

Exceptions  will  be  managed  separately  such  as  when  particular  talent  needs  to  be  retained  or  there  are 
individuals with unique expertise that need to be acquired (“Red circle” exceptions), and

Termination benefits will generally be limited to the default amount that may be provided for without shareholder 
approval, as allowed for under the Corporations Act.

21

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

4.4 Non-executive Director Remuneration Policy

The Non-executive Director Remuneration Policy applies to non-executive directors (NEDs) of the Company in their 
capacity as directors and as members of committees, and may be summarised as follows:

•  Remuneration may be composed of:

•  Board fees inclusive of superannuation,

•  Other benefits (if appropriate), and

• 

Equity (if appropriate at the time, currently not applicable).

•  Committee fees do not form part of the NED remuneration policy because at present the workload of the Board 

is shared equitably amongst its members,

•  Remuneration will be managed within the aggregate fee limit (AFL) or fee pool approved by shareholders of the 

Company – currently $400,000 in accordance with shareholder approval in 2005,

• 

Termination benefits will not be paid to NEDs by the Company,

•  A policy level of Board Fees (being the fees paid for membership of the Board, inclusive of superannuation) will 

be set with reference to the P50 (median or middle) of the market of comparable ASX listed companies.

During the FY16 reporting period the following fees were applicable:

Function

Main Board

Audit & Risk Committe

Nomination & Remuneration Committee

Other Committee

*Average

As at the commencement of FY17, the following fees apply:

Function

Main Board

Audit & Risk Committe

Nomination & Remuneration Committee

Other Committee

*Average

22

Role

Chair

Member

Chair

Member

Chair

Member

Chair

Member

Role

Chair

Member

Chair

Member

Chair

Member

Chair

Member

Fee Including Super

$123,188

$110,869*

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Fee Including Super

$126,651

$113,059*

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

4.5 Short Term Incentive (STI) Policy

Currently the short term incentive policy of the Company is that an annual component of executive remuneration 
should be at-risk tested over a single financial year, and allow the Company to modulate the cost of employment to 
align with individual and Company performance while motivating value creation for shareholders.  In addition:

•  STI  should  be  settled  in  part  or  whole  in  the  form  of  cash,  and  if  appropriate  at  the  time,  a  portion  may  be 

specified as being settled in the form of equity,

• 

The  target  cash  component  of  the  STI  at  target  should  have  a  weighting  in  the  remuneration  mix  that  is  no 
greater than the sum of LTI at target and any equity component of the STI at target, to ensure that executives 
are focussed on long term value creation via equity ownership,

• 

If part of the STI is to be settled in the form of equity, 

•  STI deferral is to apply to contribute to the long term alignment of executives and shareholders, and to 

facilitate retention of senior executive talent, and

• 

For FY16, approximately one third to one half of any STI award will be settled provided the incumbent has 
remained employed for 12 months following the end of the STI Measurement Period in order to receive the 
full award.

See below regarding the treatment of those executives for whom it is not reasonable to provide share-based equity 
due to the tax consequences that apply when the participant owns a material share of the Company’s issued capital.  

4.6 Long Term Incentive (LTI) Policy

Currently the long term incentive policy of the Company is that an annual component of remuneration of executives 
should be at-risk and based on equity in the Company to ensure that executives hold a stake in the Company, to align 
their interests with those of shareholders, and that executives share risk with shareholders. 

Further:

• 

The  LTI  should  be  based  on  Performance  Rights  that  vest  based  on  assessment  of  performance  against 
objectives,

• 

The Measurement Period should be three years,

•  As noted above, the Company has instituted a transitional arrangement whereby as legacy grants of equity 
are phased out (such as the previous grants of retention incentives) certain tranches of the FY16 offers will 
be tested (but not vested) early to ensure a smooth and consistent transition to the new equity arrangements.  
This is necessary to align the Company’s future equity practices with accepted market practice in a way 
that does not punish executives by reducing their opportunity for equity to be earned during the transition,  

• 

For FY16, three tranches were offered, one with a 12 month Measurement Period, and two with a 24 month 
Measurement  Period,  however  the  latter  Measurement  Period  does  not  commence  for  12  months, 
producing a three year period between the start of the first Measurement Period, and the end of the second 
Measurement Period.  No vesting occurs prior to the elapsing of three years.  

• 

• 

There  should  be  two  measures  of  long  term  performance,  one  which  best  reflects  internal  measures  of 
performance and one which best reflects external measures of performance,

The  measure  that  has  strongest  alignment  with  shareholders  is  total  shareholder  return  (TSR),  however  it  is 
recognised that absolute TSR is influenced by overall economic movements.  Therefore the TSR component of 
LTI is based on relative TSR which removes broad market movements from assessments of the Company’s TSR 
performance, and avoids windfall gains from broad market movements.  The vesting scale has been adjusted to 
only vest when the performance of the Company meets or exceeds the performance of the broader market, in 
response to stakeholder feedback,

23

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

•  Senior Executives are faced with significant and long term business development and project based challenges.  
Therefore the LTI should also be linked to the achievement of earnings growth objectives that will lead to value 
creation for shareholders, and the earnings per share (EPS) growth measure is considered the best measure of 
long term performance and value creation from an internal perspective, by the Board and by many stakeholders,

•  Reckon is fortunate to have KMP, including the MD/CEO, who are already strongly aligned with shareholders 
due  to  personal  acquisition  and  ownership  of  shares.    When  an  executive  owns  a  substantial  portion  of  the 
Company’s  issued  capital,  they  are  ineligible  for  employee  share  scheme  (ESS)  tax  treatment,  and  the 
consequences of participating in the plan are punitive.  In order to address this there is a separate plan which is 
effectively the same as the Rights LTI plan but allows for the LTI instrument to be replaced with Share Appreciation 
Rights (SARs) which are settled in cash, when this circumstance arises. Such payments are treated the same 
way as a cash STI in terms of tax.  This treatment also applies to any deferred component of STI that would 
otherwise be awarded in the form of share-based rights.  Whilst it is recognised that the settling of incentive 
rights in the form of cash is unusual, it is trusted that shareholders understand the need to do so in these limited 
cases,

• 

The SAR plan operates in a similar way to an option, in that the participant only receives a benefit to the 
extent of growth in value over the market value of a share at the time of calculation/granting.  This requires 
that they be valued differently, as their value is not the whole value of a Company share.

4.7 Variable Executive Remuneration – The Short Term Incentive (STI)

Short Term Incentive (STI) 

Aspect

Purpose

Measurement 
Period

Award 
Opportunities

24

Plan, Offers and Comments

The STI Plan’s purpose is to give effect to an element of Senior Executive Remuneration.  This 
element of remuneration constitutes part of a market competitive total remuneration package and 
aims to provide an incentive for Senior Executives to deliver and outperform annual business plans 
that will lead to sustainable superior returns for shareholders.  Target-based STI’s are also intended 
to modulate the cost to the Company of employing Senior Executives, such that risk is shared with 
the executives themselves and the cost to the Company is reduced in periods of poor performance.

The Company’s financial year i.e. from 1 January to the following 31 December.

FY16 Offer
The  CEO  was  offered  a  target-based  STI  equivalent  to  roughly  24%  of  the  Base  Package  for 
target performance, with a stretch opportunity of up to 110% of the target.

Other Senior Executives who are KMP were offered a target-based STI equivalent to between 
10% and 21% of the Base Package for target performance with a stretch opportunity of up to 
110% of the target.

Comments
The  incentive  levels  offered  in  FY16  were  consistent  with  the  proportional  opportunities 
(proportional to Base Package) offered in previous years.

FY17 Offer
The FY17 offers do not materially depart from the FY16 offers.

Comments
The incentive levels offered in FY17 were consistent with the opportunities (proportional to Base 
Package) offered in previous years.

Key Performance 
Indicators (KPIs), 
Weighting and 
Performance 
Goals

Award 
Determination and 
Payment

Cessation of 
Employment 
During a 
Measurement 
Period

Change of Control

Plan Gate and 
Board Discretion

FY16 Offers
KPIs  may  vary  to  some  extent  between  participants  and  reflect  the  nature  of  their  roles,  while 
creating shared objectives where appropriate.  KPIs used for FY16 included:
• 
• 
• 
•  Weightings  are  applied  to  the  KPIs  selected  for  each  participant  to  reflect  the  relative 
importance  of  each  KPI.    Information  on  this  aspect  and  specific  KPIs  is  given  in  detail 
elsewhere in this report.

Revenue,
EBITDA,
EPS,

Comments
The Board selected KPI’s that were identified as having the strongest links with long term value 
creation for shareholders at the Company level, and those objectives over which individuals had 
most control that would also be expected to contribute to long term value creation and sustainability 
for  shareholders  within  a  12  month  period,  as  well  as  KPIs  to  recognise  individual  role  related 
objectives and business plans for FY16.

FY17 Offers
FY17 offers were made on a similar basis to FY16 offers, based on a similar rationale, although the 
specific levels of performance and some KPIs were adjusted to account for the expected conditions 
in FY17.  These will be disclosed in detail as part of the next Remuneration Report. It is noted that 
there is a duplication of EPS with the new LTI performance measures and this is intended to be 
addressed for FY17.

Calculations  are  performed  following  the  end  of  the  Measurement  Period  and  the  audit  of 
Company accounts.

Payments  are  in  cash  (around  62%  in  2016)  with  PAYG  tax  deducted,  paid  following  the 
completion of the Measurement Period and completed audited full year accounts.   A portion of 
the  STI  (between  one  third  and  one  half)  is  only  paid  a  year  later  provided  the  KMP  is  still 
employed.

Performance was determined following audit sign-off of the FY16 accounts.

In the event of cessation of employment due to dismissal for cause all entitlements in relation to 
the Measurement Period are forfeited.

In  the  event  of  cessation  of  employment  for  other  reasons  all  entitlements  in  relation  to  the 
Measurement Period are forfeited, unless otherwise determined by the Board.  No awards are 
paid on termination that would breach the default limit on termination benefits for managerial and 
executive officers, unless shareholder approval is obtained to do so.

The Board has discretion to terminate the STI for the Measurement Period and make pro-rata 
awards  having  regard  to  performance  or  make  pro-rata  awards  based  on  performance  and 
allow the plan to continue for the Measurement Period or make no interim awards and allow the 
Plan to continue for the Measurement Period.

If the Company’s overall performance during the Measurement Period is substantially lower than 
expectations and resulted in significant loss of value for shareholders the Board may abandon 
the STI Plan for the Measurement Period or adjust STI payouts downward.  The Board also has 
discretion to increase payouts, however, as noted earlier in this report, it has been determined 
that such discretion will only be applied in future when it would be substantially inappropriate not 
to  do  so,  due  to  an  anomaly  during  the  Measurement  Period,  or  because  of  exceptional 
circumstances, which would be explained in detail as part of the Remuneration Report.  

25

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

Fraud, Gross 
Misconduct etc.

If  the  Board  forms  the  view  that  a  Participant  has  committed  fraud,  defalcation  or  gross 
misconduct  in  relation  to  the  Company  then  all  entitlements  in  relation  to  the  Measurement 
Period will be forfeited by that participant.  

Clawback & Malus

A clawback policy is in place for cases of material misstatement or misconduct.  The Remuneration 
Committee has the power to withdraw offers that have not vested or to clawback short-term 
incentives  paid  in  the  case  of  serious  misconduct  or  material  misstatement  in  the  financial 
statements respectively.

4.8 Variable Executive Remuneration – Long Term Incentive (LTI) – Performance Rights Plan

Long Term Incentive (LTI)

Aspect

Purpose

Plan, Offers and Comments

The  LTI  Plan’s  purpose  is  to  give  effect  to  an  element  of  Senior  Executive  remuneration.    This 
element of remuneration constitutes part of a market competitive total remuneration package and 
aims to provide an incentive for Senior Executives to deliver Company performance that will lead 
to sustainable superior returns for shareholders.  Other purposes of the LTI Plan is to act as a 
retention mechanism so as to maintain a stable team of performance focussed Senior Executives, 
to create alignment with the interests and experiences of shareholders and to modulate the cost 
to the Company of employing executives such that in periods of poor performance the cost is 
lesser  (applies  to  non-market  measures  under  AASB2).    Currently  the  Company  operates  two 
performance  rights  plans,  one  which  is  settled  in  the  form  of  Company  shares  (equity-based 
Rights), and one which is settled in the form of cash, but based on growth/change in the Company’s 
share price (SARs), similar to an option (necessary to avoid potentially adverse tax treatment of 
certain executive KMP due to personal shareholdings).

Measurement 
Period

Three years.

Form of Equity

LTI is in the form of Performance Rights, which are either rights to:

• 

• 

ordinary Company shares, under the regular LTI plan,

or to a cash value equivalent to growth in the market value of a share in respect of each 
vested Performance Right, since the date of grant/calculation, under the share appreciation 
rights plan (SARs),

both of which which vest subject to the satisfaction of conditions related to long term performance 
and/or service on an identical basis i.e. the form of equity has no bearing on the setting of vesting 
conditions etc. 

There is no entitlement to dividends during the Measurement Period.

26

LTI Value

The Board retains discretion to determine the value of LTI to be offered each year, subject to 
shareholder approval in relation to Directors, when the Rights are to be settled in the form of a 
new issue of Company shares.  The Board may also seek shareholder approval for grants to 
Directors in other circumstances, at its discretion.

Measurement 
Period

FY16 Offers
In relation to the MD/CEO, Performance Rights with a target/maximum value equivalent to 14% 
of the cash Base Package when target vesting applies.

For other Senior Executives (direct reports to the MD/CEO, executive KMP) the LTI granted was 
equivalent to between 2% and 11% of Base Packages when target vesting applies.  A stretch 
level is not available for performance that exceeds the targets.

For the SAR plan, the value of a Right is determined by the Black-Scholes option model, ignoring 
vesting conditions. For FY16 (for the KPI period FY16 to FY18) the grant of rights was determined 
by  an  absolute  number  of  shares  only  based  on  the  Remuneration  Committee’s  intention  to 
provide a meaningful retention incentive for the 3 year period during which the transitional issues 
mentioned above will be faced by management.

The Measurement Period will be three years unless otherwise determined by the Board.

FY16 Offers
Under  the  offers  made  during  FY16,  no  rights  will  vest  until  the  completion  of  the  third  year 
following  the  commencement  of  the  first  Measurement  Period  (three  year  vesting  period).  
However, as noted earlier in this report, to ensure fairness and a smooth transition to the new LTI 
arrangements, there is one tranche with a Measurement Period that is FY16, and two which have 
Measurement  Period  of  FY17  to  FY18.    The  Measurement  Periods  therefore  cover  the  three 
financial years from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018.  To address stakeholder expectations 
that  LTI  vesting  periods  should  be  three  years,  a  two  year  delay  after  the  initial  one  year 
Measurement Period has been attached.

A diagram showing the transition arrangements follows:

Weighting

Tranches

FY16

FY17

FY18

<- Start of performance period

Vesting ->

50%

Tranche 1

Tranche 1 EPSG measurement period

25%

Tranche 2

25%

Tranche 3

Tranche 2 EPSG 
measurement period

Tranche 3 EPSG 
measurement period

FY17 Offers
For offers made in or after FY17, the Measurement Period will be three years, unless exceptional 
circumstances arise and a determination is made by the Board to alter the period.

Comments
Three year Measurement Periods combined with annual grants will produce overlapping cycles 
that will promote a focus on producing long term sustainable performance/value improvement 
and mitigates the risk of manipulation and short-termism.

27

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

Vesting Conditions

The Board has discretion to set vesting conditions for each offer.  Performance Rights that do 
not vest will lapse.

FY16 Offers
Except  as  indicated  below,  a  participant  must  remain  employed  by  the  Company  during  the 
Measurement Period and the performance conditions must be satisfied for Rights to vest.  

The  FY16  offers  included  two  performance  conditions,  tranche  1  vesting  in  relation  to 
earnings per share growth (EPSG), and tranche 2 and tranche 3 vesting in relation to 
EPSG and relative TSR.  The vesting scales follow:

Performance Level

Annualised EPS Growth

Vesting

Below Threshold

< Budget

Threshold

= Budget

0%

75%

Between Threshold and Target

> Budget, <110% of Budget

Pro-rata

Target

110% of Budget

100%

Performance Level

Relative TSR of the 
Company as % of the S&P 
/ ASX 300 Accumulation 
Index

Below Threshold

< Index

Threshold

= Index (100%)

Vesting

0%

75%

Between Threshold and Target

> 100%, <110%

Pro-rata

Target

110% of Index

100%

FY17 Offers
FY17 offers do not materially depart from FY17 offers, save that the performance conditions are 
equally weighted over the 3 year performance period.

Comments
The Board of Reckon recognises that it is important that shareholders understand why the LTI 
vesting conditions selected are appropriate to the circumstances of the Company, and therefore 
seeks to be transparent in this regard.

A form of total shareholder returns (TSR) was selected as it recognises the total returns (share 
price movement and dividends assuming they are reinvested into company shares) that accrue 
to shareholders over the Measurement Period.  This measure creates the most direct alignment 
between the experience of shareholders and the scaling of rewards realised by Senior Executives.

Relative TSR has been selected to ensure that participants do not receive windfall gains from 
broad market movements unrelated to the performance of the Senior Executives (which is the 
key feature that has led many companies to use relative TSR).  Relative TSR achieves this by 
modulating the required TSR outcome of the Company based on indicators of overall market 
movements, and assessing performance in excess of broad market movements unrelated to the 
activities of the Company.

28

While  ranked  TSR  was  considered,  it  was  not  possible  to  identify  a  comparator  group  of 
companies that was statistically robust enough to be meaningful and the Board was concerned 
that  this  would  undermine  the  link  between  executive  performance  and  reward  outcomes.    In 
addition the comparator group used until very recently is no longer appropriate as several entities 
have  failed  or  are  no  longer  listed  on  the  ASX.  TSR  relative  to  a  robust  indicator  of  market 
movements/performance will therefore apply to future grants of LTI from FY16.

The relative TSR vesting scale requires that the Company deliver a TSR to shareholders that is at 
least as good or better than the market over the Measurement Period before any vesting may 
occur.  Full vesting becomes available when the TSR of the Company reaches 100% of the TSR 
of the index over the Measurement Period.  The Target of 110% of the index is considered by the 
Board  to  be  challenging,  but  achievable,  should  the  Board’s  assumptions  in  making  that 
assessment prevail.  While, under such a TSR LTI approach, the market indicator is generic, the 
vesting  scale  reflects  the  expectations  of  the  Board,  management,  shareholders  and  other 
stakeholders given the particular circumstances of the Company, relative to the broader market.   
This  new  measure  is,  in  the  view  of  the  Board  and  based  on  advice,  likely  to  better  align  the 
outcomes of the LTI plan with Company performance and shareholder interests than selecting a 
tailored but largely irrelevant comparator group of companies to which a generic vesting scale is 
then applied, which is the approach adopted by the vast majority of companies that use ranked 
TSR.

Based on advice received by the Board from its independent remuneration advisor, it is understood 
to be good practice to have both an external (TSR) and internal measure of long-term Company 
performance in relation to the LTI.  This logic aligns well with the current transition strategy, in that 
there will be lead internal and lag external indicators of value creation.  The internal measures that 
will most clearly align with shareholder value creation at this stage will be the achievement of the 
earnings growth targets specified by the Board in consideration of business plans and economic 
circumstances each year.  Therefore earnings per share growth (EPSG) will be used as the second 
condition, going forward.

For FY17 the weighting upon the TSR measure and the weighting upon EPS will be 50% and 50% 
respectively, so as to optimise the alignment with shareholders’ interests.

Retesting

The  Plan  Rules  do  not  contemplate  retesting  and  therefore  retesting  is  not  a  feature  of  the 
Company’s current LTI offers.

Plan Gate & Board 
Discretion

A gate applies to the TSR component of the LTI such that no vesting will occur if the Company’s 
TSR is not positive.  If the movement of the index is low over the Measurement Period, at less than 
5%, then the Board will exercise its discretion to limit vesting to the threshold level, or an even 
lesser level. 

The Board has the power to exercise discretion to decline to allow an award to vest, for example 
in the circumstances of a “bad leaver”.

No amount is payable for Performance Rights.

The value of Rights is included in assessments of remuneration and policy positioning. 

Under the plan rules, vested Performance Rights will be available to be exercised, subject to the 
payment of any Exercise Price, until the last exercise date.  Exercised Rights will be satisfied in the 
form of ordinary Company shares, except where the participant necessarily participates in the 
cash Rights (SAR) plan to address the tax issues faced by them as significant shareholders in the 
Company (see earlier discussion of this aspect).

No amount is payable by participants to exercise vested Performance Rights.

Shares that result from the exercise and vesting of Performance Rights will be subject to dealing 
restrictions as per the Company’s trading policy applicable to officers of the Company.

Amount Payable for 
Performance 
Rights

Exercise of Vested 
Performance 
Rights

Dealing 
Restrictions on 
Shares

29

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

Cessation of 
Employment

In the event of cessation of employment due to dismissal for cause all unvested Performance 
Rights are forfeited.

In the event of cessation of employment due to resignation or dismissal all unvested Performance 
Rights are forfeited.

Change of Control 
of the Company

The Board retains discretion under the rules of the plans to over-rule the automatic vesting of 
incentives in the event of “capital events” such as takeovers or restructures.

Clawback & Malus

A  clawback  policy  is  in  place  which  is  activated  in  the  case  of  material  misstatement  or 
misconduct.

In previous years the Company also operated a Retention Rights scheme which allowed for vesting based on service 
only.  On 24 May 2011 the Remuneration Committee approved and recommended to the Board an extension to the 
long term incentive plan by adding a long term retention incentive.  The genesis of the idea to extend the plan and 
offer additional performance shares was to provide a reward and an incentive for senior level employees who have a 
long employment history and good performance record (i.e. beyond the KMP).

It  was  also  intended  that  these  performance  shares  could  be  used  to  provide  an  incentive  for  employees  with 
potential for a longer term contribution to the success of the company to participate in the growth of equity value of 
the company.  Part of the company’s success as an organisation is premised on human domain expertise and the 
consistency and longevity of service of KMP and other senior employees.  The offer of these additional performance 
shares  is  designed  to  encourage  and  reward  employees  to  commit  to  longevity  as  well  as  to  complement  other 
traditional forms of executive remuneration.  By rewarding those employees who commit to the company over a very 
long  period  and  thereby  providing  stability  as  the  business  grows  and  matures,  the  board  believes  long  term 
shareholder benefits will result for shareholders.

The  long  term  retention  incentives  are  offered  to  selected  employees  with  the  principal  vesting  condition  that 
participants must remain employed for the term specified (typically 7-10 years).  The shares offered remain at risk of 
forfeiture  until  the  relevant  period  of  service  has  been  satisfied.    There  is  no  entitlement  to  dividends  during  the 
relevant period of service.  

It is the Remuneration Committee’s belief that the addition of these performance shares has added to the balance 
and overall mix of remuneration to the applicable employees in a positive way.  If the exacting service requirements 
are not satisfied then any costs incurred under AASB 2 will be recouped and any forfeited shares will be available for 
reallocation or to fund other employee equity entitlements.

However  no  grants  were  made  to  KMP  under  that  plan  during  FY16,  and  in  response  to  feedback  from  some 
shareholders and stakeholders, the Board does not contemplate making further grants such as this to executive 
KMP again unless exceptional circumstances arise.  This legacy arrangement is being grandfathered and is phasing 
out, with the final tranche vesting at the end of FY20.

4.9 Securities Holding Policy

The Board currently sees a securities holding policy as unnecessary since executives receive a significant component 
of remuneration in the form of equity and that a number of key executives already hold significant numbers of shares, 
voluntarily.  Given that the outcome is effectively already being achieved, it was determined that such a policy was 
currently unnecessary.

4.10 Clawback Policy

Reckon  has  adopted  a  clawback  policy  which  is  activated  in  cases  of  material  misstatements  in  the  Company’s 
financial reports, or in cases of misconduct by executives.

30

5 Remuneration Records for FY16 – Statutory Disclosures

5.1 Senior Executive Remuneration

The following table outlines the remuneration received by Senior Executives of the Company during FY16 prepared 
according to statutory disclosure requirements and applicable accounting standards:

Name

Role(s)

Year

Salary

Superannuation 
Contributions

Other 
Benefits

Base Package

STI

LTI*

Amount

% of 
TRP

Amount

% of 
TRP

Amount

% of 
TRP

Total 
Remuneration 
Package (TRP)

Group 
CFO

Group 
CFO

General 
Counsel/
CoSec

General 
Counsel/
CoSec

Mr Clive 
Rabie

Mr Chris 
Hagglund

Mr Myron 
Zlotnick

Mr Sam 
Allert

Mr Daniel 
Rabie

MD/CEO

2016

$786,250

$35,000

MD/CEO

2015

$747,925

$35,000

2016

$452,275

$35,000

2015

$435,850

$34,400

$0

$0

$0

$0

$821,250

76% $297,580

27% ($32,351)**

3%

$1,086,479

$782,925

61% $303,899

24% $188,784

15%

$1,275,608

$487,275

71% $137,395

20%

$65,329

9%

$689,999

$470,250

72% $139,909

21%

$43,387

7%

$653,546

2016

$360,000

$34,200

$0

$394,200

72% $91,497

17%

$62,998

11%

$548,695

2015

$350,000

$33,250

$0

$383,250

75% $92,664

18%

$33,505

7%

$509,419

MD ANZ

2016

$408,000

$30,000

$5,632

$443,632

75% $91,639

16%

$50,855

9%

$586,126

MD ANZ

2015

$375,150

$30,000

$6,833

$411,983

77% $93,693

18%

$19,332

4%

$525,008

COO 

2016

$250,000

$23,750

COO 

2015

$215,000

$20,425

$0

$0

$273,750

80% $28,950

8%

$41,518

12%

$344,218

$235,425

87% $28,837

11%

$5,465

2%

$269,727

* Note that the LTI value reported in this table is the amortised accounting charge of all grants that have not lapsed or vested as at the start of the 
reporting period. Where a market based measure of performance is used such as TSR, no adjustments can be made to reflect actual LTI vesting. 
However in relation to non-market conditions, such as EPS, adjustments must be made to ensure the accounting charge matches the vesting.

** Intended to be cash settled. 

Both target and awarded values of STI and LTI remuneration are outlined in the relevant sections of the 
Remuneration Report to assist shareholders to obtain a more complete understanding of remuneration as it relates 
to senior executives.

No termination benefits were paid in FY16.

31

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

5.2 Non-executive Director Remuneration 

Non-executive director fees are managed within the current annual fees limit (AFL or fee pool) of $400,000 which 
was approved by shareholders at the 2008 AGM.

Remuneration received by non-executive directors in FY16 and FY15 is disclosed below:

Name

Role(s)

Year

Board 
Fees

Committee 
Fees

Superannuation

Other 
Benefits

Equity 
Grant

Termination 
Benefits

Total

Independent, 

Non-executive 

2016

$112,500

$0

$10,688

$0

$0

$0

$123,188

Mr Ian 
Ferrier

Chairman

Independent, 

Non-executive 

2015

$104,000

$0

$9,880

$0

$0

$0

$113,880

Mr Greg 
Wilkinson

Chairman

Non-executive 

Director and 

Deputy 

Chairman

Non-executive 

Director and 

Deputy 

Chairman

Independent 

2016

$107,500

$0

$10,212

$0

$0

$0

$117,712

2015

$104,000

$0

$9,880

$0

$0

$0

$113,880

Non-executive 

2016

$95,000

$0

$9,025

$0

$0

$0

$104,025

Mr Chris 
Woodforde

Director

Independent 

Non-executive 

2015*

$45,000

$0

$4,275

$0

$0

$0

$49,275

Director

* Appointed 1 July 2016.

32

 
6 Planned Executive Remuneration for FY16

The  disclosures  required  under  the  Corporations  Act  and  prepared  in  accordance  with  applicable  accounting 
standards reflect an attempt to match remuneration with the services provided to earn that revenue whereas the 
table below provides information to users to understand remuneration offered to KMP to be earned in the current and 
future periods. For example the LTI disclosed is not reflective of the offer made in the year being reported on due to 
the requirements of AASB2. Therefore the following table is provided to ensure that shareholders have an accurate 
understanding  of  the  Board’s  intention  regarding  the  remuneration  offered  to  executives  during  FY16,  for  target 
performance.  It should be noted that the table presents target incentive opportunities for achieving a challenging but 
achievable target level of performance.  In the case of STI, the maximum incentive may be up to 10% higher (i.e. 110% 
of the target) and no additional amount is available in relation to the LTI (i.e. target=maximum).

Position

Incumbent

MD/CEO

Group CFO

General 
Counsel/
CoSec

MD 
Business & 
Accounting 
ANZ

Mr Clive 
Rabie

Mr Chris 
Hagglund

Mr Myron 
Zlotnick

Mr Sam 
Allert

COO

Mr Daniel 
Rabie

STI

LTI

Base 
Package 
Including 
Super

Fixed 
% 
TRP

Target % 
of Base 
Package

Target 
STI 
Amount

STI 
% 
TRP

Target % 
of Base 
Package

Target 
LTI 
Amount

LTI 
% 
TRP

Total 
Remuneration 
Package at 
Target 
Performance

$821,250

62%

39%

$324,000

24%

23%

$189,000

14%

$1,334,250

$487,275

68%

31%

$151,500

21%

17%

$81,500

11%

$720,275

$394,200

72%

25%

$98,000

18%

13%

$53,000

10%

$545,200

$443,632

77%

23%

$100,000

18%

8%

$35,000

6%

$578,632

$273,750

88%

11%

$30,000

10%

2%

$5,000

2%

$308,750

The incentives presented in the table above is the target level of STI and the target/maximum level of LTI offered for 
FY16, valued at the time of the grant.

The intended value for STI and LTI will flow to participants when performance targets are achieved.

33

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

7 Actual/Realised Remuneration Relevant to FY16 Completion

The statutory disclosure requirements do not provide clear information on value obtained by KMP during the current 
year as the statutory information attempts to match the disclosed remuneration with when the services are provided.  
The following table outlines the non-deferred component of STI achieved during the financial year, and the LTI and/
or any deferred STI that vested during the financial year in relation to the completion of the performance or vesting 
period at the end of the specified financial year:

Name

Role(s)

Year

Base Package 
Including Super

Non-deferred 
STI Awarded for 
the Financial 
Year

Deferred cash 
STI paid out for 
the FY

Grant Value of 
Previous Equity 
Grants that 
Vested for the 
FY*

Actual Total 
Remuneration 
Package 
(TRP)

Amount

% of 
TRP

Amount

% of 
TRP

Amount

% of 
TRP

Amount

% of 
TRP

Mr Clive 
Rabie

Mr Chris 
Hagglund

Mr Myron 
Zlotnick

Mr Sam 
Allert

MD/CEO

2016

$821,250

72%

$189,997

17%

$129,259

11%

$0

MD/CEO

2015

$782,925

72%

$180,963

17%

$116,617

11%

$12,747

Group CFO

2016

$487,275

73%

$81,930

12%

$64,390

10%

$34,890

Group CFO

2015

$470,250

72%

$78,034

12%

$59,361

9%

$44,744

0%

1%

5%

7%

$1,140,506

$1,093,252

$668,485

$652,389

General 
Counsel/
CoSec

General 
Counsel/
CoSec

MD 
Business & 
Accounting 
ANZ

MD 
Business & 
Accounting 
ANZ

2016

$394,200

77%

$53,280

10%

$43,086

9%

$22,690

4%

$513,256

2015

$383,250

76%

$50,746

10%

$40,751

8%

$29,098

6%

$503,845

2016

$443,632

79%

$80,422

14%

$19,149

3%

$14,984

3%

$558,187

2015

$411,983

78%

$76,598

15%

$15,041

3%

$19,215

4%

$522,837

Mr Daniel 
Rabie

COO

COO

2016

$273,750

89%

$25,132

2015

$235,425

89%

$23,937

8%

9%

$4,787

$5,014

2%

2%

$2,142

$0

1%

0%

$305,811

$264,376

* This is the value as at grant of any equity that vested in relation to the completion of the specified financial year.

At exercise date the value of shares that vest can be calculated by reference to a VWAP based on 5 days trading 
price to the date of vesting, $1.60.

34

8 Performance Outcomes for FY16

8.1 Company Performance

The following highlights the major achievements, milestones and areas where value was created during FY16:

• 

Increase in long term sustainable subscription revenue;

•  Strong volume growth in competitive markets;

•  New customer growth in competitive markets;

•  New customer growth in online product markets;

• 

International businesses exceeding expectations, especially Document Management.

The following outlines the performance of the Company over the FY16 period and the previous 4 financial years in 
accordance with the requirements of the Corporations Act:

Date

Revenue ($m)

Profit After Tax 
attributable to 
owners of the parent 
($m)

Share Price

Change in Share 
Price

Dividends

31-Dec-16

$97.8*

$11.0

$1.59

-$0.81

$0.05

31-Dec-15

$105.13

$14.6

$2.40

$0.59

$0.07

31-Dec-14

$100.8

$17.0

$1.81

-$0.36

$0.09

31-Dec-13

$98.1

$17.8

$2.17

-$0.19

$0.09

31-Dec-12

$96.6

$17.3

$2.36

$0.02

$0.09

*Note change in reporting of ASIC pass through revenue / costs (impact of $12.5m).

35

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

The  table  below  sets  out  the  comparison  between  internal  targets  set  by  the  company  compared  to  consensus 
estimates published by market analysts and compared to actual performance for the relevant performance metrics.  
This  gives  some  indication  of  a  correlation  between  internal  targets  and  external,  objective  targets.    It  should  be 
noted that the analyst reports relied upon are amended and updated sometimes on several occasions each year and 
the numbers reported here are based on the information available at the time.  The board is of the opinion that this 
nonetheless gives some indication of the trend of a correlation between internal targets and market expectations 
which is important in the context of target setting and the range of incentive outcomes presented elsewhere in this 
report.

Financial Year 
(FY)

Operating 
Revenue 
Target

Consensus 
Average

Operating 
Revenue 
Achieved

EBITDA 
Target

Consensus 
Average

EBITDA Achieved

2010

$92.3m

$93.1m

$90.1m

$29.0m

$30.7m

$30.1m

2011

$96.8m

$94.6m

$90.2m

$32.5m

$33.7m

$33.1m

2012

$98.3m

$96.3m

$96.6m

$36.0m

$35.3m

$34.0m

2013

$104.9m

$100.1m

$98.1m

$36.1m

$36.0m

$35.3m

2014

$104.5m

$102.1m

$100.8m

$37.4m

$38.5m

$37.1m

2015

$107.3m

$105.9m

$105.1m

$38.9m

$39.6m

$36.6m / $39.2m*

2016

$104.2m

$100.0m***

$97.8m

$35.0m

$35.4m

$35.3/40.5m**

* Adjusted for new market expenditure. For purposes of remuneration, awards were calculated on the unadjusted figures.

** Adjusted for new market expenditure and business sold. For purposes of remuneration, awards were calculated on the unadjusted figures.

*** Excluded reports that had not adjusted for ASIC fee.

8.2 Links Between Performance and Reward

The remuneration of executive KMP is intended to be composed of three parts as outlined earlier, being:

•  Base Package, which is not intended to vary with performance but which tends to increase as the scale of the 

business increases (i.e. following success),

•  STI which is intended to vary with indicators of annual Company and individual performance, including a deferred 

component to encourage retention and

• 

LTI which is also intended to deliver a variable reward based on long-term measures of Company performance.

36

The STI paid during the FY16 period related to performance during the FY15 period and was paid in cash on 15 
February 2016. On average 96% of the target award opportunity or 87% of the maximum award opportunity (being 
110% of the target) available was paid.  This level of award was considered appropriate under the STI scheme that 
was  in  place  during  FY15,  which  is  summarised  in  the  table  below.    Therefore  there  were  strong  links  between 
internal measures of Company performance and the payment of short term incentives.

Name

Position 
Held at 
Year End

KPI 
Summary

Revenue

Mr Clive Rabie

MD/CEO

EBITDA

EPS

Mr Chris 
Hagglund

Revenue

Group CFO

EBITDA

Mr Myron 
Zlotnick

General 
Counsel/
CoSec

Mr Sam Allert

MD Business 
& Accounting 
ANZ

Mr Daniel 
Rabie

COO

EPS

Revenue

EBITDA

EPS

Revenue

EBITDA

EPS

Revenue

EBITDA

EPS

FY15 Company Level KPI Summary

Weighting

Target

Achievement

40%

40%

20%

40%

40%

20%

40%

40%

20%

40%

40%

20%

40%

40%

20%

$107.3m

$38.9m

13.8cps

$107.3m

$38.9m

13.8cps

$107.3m

$38.9m

13.8cps

$107.3m

$38.9m

13.8cps

$107.3m

$38.9m

13.8cps

98%

94%

95%

98%

94%

95%

98%

94%

95%

98%

94%

95%

98%

94%

95%

Award 
Outcomes

Total 
Award

$180,963

$78,034

$50,746

$76,598

$23,937

37

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

The STI achieved in relation to the FY16 period was paid after the end of the period (i.e. during FY17, on 15 February 
2017). On average 96% of the target award opportunity or 87% of the maximum award opportunity (being 110% of 
the  target)  available  was  paid.  This  level  of  award  was  considered  appropriate  under  the  STI  scheme  since  the 
objectives were set and offers made in relation to the achievement of each KPI at the beginning of the financial year, 
and the majority of those objectives were met. During the FY16 period the objectives that were linked to the payment 
of STI included:

Name

Position 
Held at 
Year End

KPI 
Summary

Revenue

Mr Clive Rabie

MD/CEO

EBITDA

EPS

Revenue

Mr Chris 
Hagglund

Group CFO

EBITDA

Mr Myron 
Zlotnick

General 
Counsel/
CoSec

Mr Sam Allert

MD Business 
& Accounting 
ANZ

Mr Daniel 
Rabie

COO

EPS

Revenue

EBITDA

EPS

Revenue

EBITDA

EPS

Revenue

EBITDA

EPS

FY16 Company Level KPI Summary

Weighting

Target

Achievement

40%

40%

20%

40%

40%

20%

40%

40%

20%

40%

40%

20%

40%

40%

20%

$104.2m

$35m

7.3cps

$104.2m

$35m

7.3cps

$104.2m

$35m

7.3cps

$104.2m

$35m

7.3cps

$104.2m

$35m

7.3cps

96%

101%

110%

96%

101%

110%

96%

101%

110%

96%

101%

110%

96%

101%

110%

Award 
Outcomes

Total 
Award

$189,997

$81,930

$53,280

$80,422

$25,132

These KPIs outlined were selected because they were the most significant matters expected to contribute to the 
success of the Company during FY16 in the case of each role.  Following the end of the Measurement Period (the 
financial year), the Company accounts were audited and reports on the Company’s activities during the year were 
prepared  for  the  Board.    The  Board  then  assessed  the  extent  to  which  target  levels  of  performance  had  been 
achieved in relation to each KPI and used the pre-determined scales (for non-binary measures) to calculate the total 
award payable.  This method of performance assessment was chosen because it is the most objective approach to 
short term incentive governance, and reflective of market best practices.

38

During the reporting period, previous grants of equity made under the LTI scheme vested in relation to grants that 
were made in January 2014 and which vested in relation to the performance period FY14 to FY16 being completed, 
i.e. vesting during FY16.  This value is accounted for in the realised remuneration table presented earlier.

Incumbent

Role

Target LTI 
Value (at 
grant January 
2014) to Vest 
for FY16

Tranche Weighting

Number of 
Shares 
Eligible to 
Vest for FY16

Performance 
Against 
Target

% of 
Grant 
Vested

Number of 
Shares or 
Appreciation 
Rights 
Vested

Mr Clive Rabie

MD/CEO

$189,000

TSR

100%

 0 

Not achieved

0%

0

Mr Chris Hagglund

Group CFO

$69,780

TSR

100%

 37,760 

Mr Myron Zlotnick

Mr Sam Allert

General 
Counsel/
CoSec

MD 
Business & 
Accounting 
ANZ

$45,380

TSR

100%

 24,556 

$29,968

TSR

100%

 16,216 

Mr Daniel Rabie

COO

$4,284

TSR

100%

 2,318 

Partially 
Completed

Partially 
Completed

Partially 
Completed

Partially 
Completed

50%

 18,880 

50%

 12,278 

50%

 8,108 

50%

 1,159 

TOTAL

$338,412

 80,850 

 40,425 

At no time during or in relation to FY16 did the Board exercise its discretion to increase the vesting of any equity that 
was subject to such discretion. The vesting of LTI scheme incentives correlated directly to performance.

While previous/legacy LTI arrangements are still being phased out/grandfathered, the Board has made significant 
efforts in recent years to improve the alignment between performance and executive reward.  The Board is confident 
in  stating  that  the  links  between  Company  performance  and  executive  reward,  both  internally  and  externally 
measured, and over both the short and long term, are well aligned, appropriate and strongly linked, going forward.  
However the Board will continue to make improvements and adjustments to these links as stakeholder expectations 
and Company circumstances evolve.

8.3 Links Between Company Strategy and Remuneration

The Company intends to attract and retain the superior talent required to successfully implement the Company’s 
strategies at a reasonable and appropriately variable cost by:

• 

positioning Base Packages (the fixed element) around P50 of relevant market data benchmarks when they are 
undertaken, 

• 

supplementing the Base Package with at-risk remuneration, being incentives that motivate executive focus on:

• 

• 

short to mid-term objectives linked to the strategy via KPIs and annual performance assessments, and the 
imposing of deferral periods for part of STI awards, and

long term value creation for shareholders by linking a material component of remuneration to those factors 
that shareholders have expressed should be the long term focus of executives and the Board.

Key  strategies  are:  investment  in  new  technology;  investment  in  new  markets;  maintenance  of  existing  profitable 
businesses. The company continues to play catch up in the cloud market because of restrictions imposed on it by 
its relationship with Intuit Inc. It is important to fix remuneration mindful of maintaining morale and retaining talent.

39

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

9 Employment Terms for Key Management Personnel

9.1 

Service Agreements

A summary of contract terms in relation to executive KMP is presented below:

Name

Position Held 
at Close of 
FY16

Duration of 
Contract

Period of Notice

Termination 
Payments

From 
Company

From KMP

Mr Clive 
Rabie

Mr Chris 
Hagglund

MD/CEO

Reckon Limited

Open ended

1 month

1 month

Group CFO

Reckon Limited

Open ended

3 months

3 months

Mr Myron 
Zlotnick

General 
Counsel/CoSec

Reckon Limited

Open ended

1 month

1 month

Mr Sam 
Allert

Mr Daniel 
Rabie

MD Business & 
Accounting 
ANZ

Reckon Limited

Open ended

1 month

1 month

COO

Reckon Limited

Open ended

1 month

1 month

Up to 12 
months*

Up to 12 
months*

Up to 12 
months*

Up to 12 
months*

Up to 12 
months*

* Under the Corporations Act the Termination Benefit Limit is 12 months average Salary (last 3 years) unless shareholder approval is obtained

On appointment to the Board, all non-executive directors enter into a service agreement with the Company in the 
form of a letter of appointment. The letter summarises the Board policies and terms, including compensation relevant 
to the office of the director. Non-executive directors are not eligible to receive termination payments under the terms 
of the appointments.

A summary of the appointment terms in relation to non-executive KMP is presented below:

Name

Position Held at Close of 
FY16

Employing 
Company

Duration of 
Contract

Period of Notice

From 
Company

From 
KMP

Termination 
Payments

Mr Ian 
Ferrier

Independent, Non-executive 
Chairman

Mr Greg 
Wilkinson

Independent Non-executive 
Director and Deputy Chairman

Mr Chris 
Woodforde

Independent Non-executive 
Director

Reckon 
Limited

Reckon 
Limited

Reckon 
Limited

Open ended

None

None

None

Open ended

None

None

None

Open ended

None

None

None

40

10 Changes in KMP Held Equity

The following table outlines the changes in the amount of equity held by executives over the financial year:

Number Held 
at Open 2016

Granted 
FY16

Forfeited 

Vested

Purchased / 
DRP

Number Held 
at Close 2016

Name

Instrument

Number

Number

Number 

Number

Number

Number

Shares

10,758,000

0

0

Mr Clive 
Rabie

Share 
Appreciation 
Rights

1,337,661

300,000

590,625

0

0

472,189

11,230,189

0

1,047,036

Shares

473,655

0

0

18,880

61,303

553,838

Mr Chris 
Hagglund

Mr Myron 
Zlotnick

Mr Sam 
Allert

Performance 
Shares

187,774

100,000

18,879

18,880

Shares

184,092

0

0

12,278

Performance 
Shares

175,702

100,000

12,278

12,278

Shares

8,571

0

0

8,108

Performance 
Shares

85,548

100,000

8,108

8,108

0

0

0

0

0

250,015

196,370

234,274*

16,679

169,332

Shares

0

0

0

1,159

100,000

101,159

Mr Daniel 
Rabie

Performance 
Shares

25,079

100,000

1,158

1,159

0

122,762

*Released 16,872 shares held in trust under legacy tax regime.

41

Remuneration Report (Audited) (continued)

The following table outlines the changes in the amount of equity held by non-executive directors over the financial 
year:

Number Held at Open 
2016

Granted 
FY16

Forfeited 

Vested

Purchased 
/ DRP

Number Held 
at Close 2016

Name

Instrument

Dates 
Granted

Mr Ian 
Ferrier

Mr Greg 
Wilkinson

Mr Chris 
Woodforde

Shares

Rights/
Options

Shares

Rights/
Options

Shares

Rights/
Options

Number

Number

Number  Number

Number

Number

100,000

na

7,450,000

na

20,000

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

na

2,159

102,159

na

na

569,374

8,019,374

na

na

25,432

45,432

na

na

The following table outlines the value of equity granted during the year that may be realised in the future:

2016 Equity Grants

Tranche

Name

Role

Total Value at 
Grant

Value 
Expensed in 
FY16

Max Value to 
be Expensed 
in Future 
Years

Min Value to 
be Expensed 
in Future 
Years

Mr Clive Rabie MD/CEO

TSR

EPS

$113,000

$37,667

$113,000

$226,000

$75,333

$113,000

Mr Chris 
Hagglund

Group CFO

Mr Myron 
Zlotnick

General 
Counsel/
CoSec

Mr Sam Allert

MD Business 
& Accounting 
ANZ

Mr Daniel 
Rabie

COO

Service

Must be employed at end of performance period

TSR

EPS

$37,667

$12,556

$75,333

$25,111

$37,667

$37,667

Service

Must be employed at end of performance period

TSR

EPS

$37,667

$12,556

$75,333

$25,111

$37,667

$37,667

Service

Must be employed at end of performance period

TSR

EPS

$37,667

$12,556

$75,333

$25,111

$37,667

$37,667

Service

Must be employed at end of performance period

TSR

EPS

$37,667

$12,556

$75,333

$25,111

$37,667

$37,667

Service

Must be employed at end of performance period

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

TOTALS

$791,000

$263,667

$527,333

$0.00

42

11 Other Remuneration Related Matters

The following outlines other remuneration related matters that may be of interest to stakeholders, in the interests of 
transparency and disclosure:

•  Other than as disclosed, there were no loans to Directors or other KMP at any time during the reporting period, 

and

• 

There  were  no  relevant  material  transactions  involving  KMP  other  than  compensation  and  transactions 
concerning shares, performance rights/options as discussed in this report.

12 External Remuneration Consultant Advice

During the reporting period, the Board approved and engaged an external remuneration consultant (ERC) to provide 
KMP remuneration recommendations and advice.  The consultants and the amount payable for the information and 
work that led to their recommendations are listed below:

Godfrey Remuneration 
Group Pty Limited

A recommendation on the mix of remuneration elements offered to senior 
executives, bundled with commentary on other “non-recommendation” matters

$18,000 
+GST

The consultant(s) also provided other services during the year and the kinds of advice and remuneration payable for 
such advice is summarised below:

Godfrey Remuneration 
Group Pty Limited

Fees for assistance amending incentive plan documentation, and for providing 
information and commentary to the Board regarding the incentive practices of 
peers in the market etc.

$19,000 
+ GST

So as to ensure that KMP remuneration recommendations were free from undue influence from the KMP to whom 
they relate the Company established policies and procedures governing engagements with external remuneration 
consultants.  The key aspects include:

a.  KMP remuneration recommendations may only be received from consultants who have been approved by the 
Board.    This  is  a  legal  requirement.    Before  such  approval  is  given  and  before  each  engagement  the  Board 
ensures that that the consultant is independent of KMP.  

b.  As required by law, KMP remuneration recommendations are only received by non-executive directors, mainly 

the Chair of the Remuneration Committee.

c.  The  policy  seeks  to  ensure  that  the  Board  controls  any  engagement  by  management  of  Board  approved 
remuneration consultants to provide advice other than KMP remuneration recommendations and any interactions 
between  management  and  external  remuneration  consultants  when  undertaking  work  leading  to  KMP 
remuneration recommendations.  

The Board is satisfied that the KMP remuneration recommendations received were free from undue influence from 
KMP to whom the recommendations related.  The reasons the Board is so satisfied include that it is confident that 
the  policy  for  engaging  external  remuneration  consultants  is  being  adhered  to  and  is  operating  as  intended,  the 
Board has been closely involved in all dealings with the external remuneration consultants and each KMP remuneration 
recommendation received during the year was accompanied by a legal declaration from the consultant to the effect 
that their advice was provided free from undue influence from the KMP to whom the recommendations related.

43

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’ Meeting

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

Reckon Limited – Attendance Tables

Directors

Meeting

Board

Audit & Risk Committee

Remuneration Committee

Ian Ferrier

Chris 
Woodforde

Greg 
Wilkinson

Clive Rabie

A

10

10

10

10

B

10

10

9

10

A

2

2

2

B

2

2

2

A

4

4

4

B

4

4

4

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Key: 
A - number of meetings eligible to attend 
B - number of meetings attended

44

Non-Audit Fees

Details of the non-audit services can be found in note 7 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 7 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 I Ferrier 
Chairman 
Sydney 23 March 2017

45

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

The Board of Directors 
Reckon Limited 
Level 12 
65 Berry Street 
North Sydney NSW 2060

23 March 2017

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 2016, 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

Alfie Nehama

Partner 
Chartered Accountants

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. 
Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited 

46

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 Audit of the Financial Report

Opinion

We  have  audited  the  financial  report  of  Reckon  Limited  (the  Company)  and  its  subsidiaries  (the  Group),  which 
comprises the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December 2016, the Consolidated Statement 
of Profit or Loss, the Consolidated Statement of Profit and loss and Other Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated 
Statement of Changes in Equity and the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended, and notes 
to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies, and the directors’ declaration.

In our opinion, the accompanying financial report of the Group is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, 
including:

i.  Giving  a  true  and  fair  view  of  the  Group’s  financial  position  as  at  31  December  2016  and  of  its  financial 

performance for the year then ended; and

ii.  Complying with Australian Standards and the Corporations Regulation 2001.

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those standards 
are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report section of our report. We 
are independent of the Group in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 and the ethical requirements of the 
Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the 
Code)  that  are  relevant  to  our  audit  of  the  financial  report  in  Australia.  We  have  also  fulfilled  our  other  ethical 
responsibilities in accordance with the Code.

We confirm that the independence declaration required by the Corporations Act 2001, which has been given to the 
directors of the Company, would be in the same terms if given to the directors as at the time of this auditor’s report.

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

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, 
each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/au/about for a detailed description of the legal structure 
of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

The entity named herein is a legally separate and independent entity. In providing this document, the author only acts in the named capacity and 
does not act in any other capacity.  Nothing in this document, nor any related attachments or communications or services, have any capacity to 
bind any other entity under the ‘Deloitte’ network of member firms (including those operating in Australia).

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited 

47

Auditor’s Report (continued)

Key Audit Matters

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

Key Audit Matter

How the scope of our audit responded to the Key 
Audit Matter

Capitalisation  and carrying value of development costs

As  at  31  December  2016,  the  Group  has  capitalised 
developments costs totaling $38.1m (2015: $32.9m) as 
disclosed in Note 12.

The  Group  capitalises  certain  costs  that  are  directly 
attributable to the development of intangible assets.

As set out in Note 1 (w), significant judgement is involved 
in assessing whether the criteria set out in the Australian 
Accounting  Standards  for  capitalisation  of  such  costs, 
has been met, particularly in determining:

i. 

ii. 

the  appropriateness  of  the  costs  that  can  be 
capitalised  and  whether  these  costs  were  directly 
attributable to relevant products developed; and

the extent to which these capitalised development 
costs  will  generate  sufficient  economic  benefit  to 
support their carrying values.

Our procedures included, but were not limited to:

•  Discussing  the  products  for  which  development 
costs have been capitalised with management, to 
develop  an  understanding  of  the  nature  and 
feasibility of the products at 31 December 2016,

•  Obtaining  an  understanding  of  the  key  controls  in 
place over the process for recording and identifying 
qualifying costs to be capitalised,

• 

• 

Assessing the appropriateness of costs capitalised 
with reference to internal  documentation, including, 
on  a  sample  basis,  agreeing  payroll  costs 
capitalised to supporting payroll and time records, 
and cost allocation calculations, and 

Evaluating  the  appropriateness  of  the  carrying 
value  of  the  capitalised  development  costs  by 
major  product,  with  reference  to  historical  and 
forecast cash flows, and analysis of sales trends.

We  also  assessed  the  appropriateness  of  the  related 
disclosures in Note 12 to the financial statements.

48

Key Audit Matter

Impairment of goodwill

As  at  31  December  2016  the  Group  has  recognised 
goodwill  of  $49.6m  (2015:  $51.1m)  as  a  result  of  historic 
acquisitions over a number of years as disclosed in note 12.

As set out in Note 1 (w), the directors’ assessment of the 
recoverability  of  goodwill  requires  the  exercise  of 
significant judgement, in particular;

i. 

ii. 

In identifying the cash generating units (CGU’s) to 
which the goodwill has been allocated, and

In  estimating  the  future  growth  rates,  nominal 
discount  rates  and  expected  cash  flows  of  each 
CGU.

How the scope of our audit responded to the Key 
Audit Matter

Our procedures included, but were not limited to;

• 

Assessing the Group’s categorisation of CGU’s and 
the  allocation  of  goodwill  to  the  carrying  value  of 
CGU’s based on our understanding of the Group’s 
business,

•  Challenging  management’s  ability  to  accurately 
forecast  cash  flows  by  assessing  the  precision  of 
the prior year forecasts against actual outcomes,

• 

Engaging our valuation specialists to assist with;

•  Comparing  the  discount  rate  utilised  by 
management  to  an  independently  calculated 
discount rate;

•  Comparing the Group’s forecast cash flows to 

the board approved budget; and

• 

Performing  sensitivity  analysis  on  the  growth 
and discount rates.

We  also  assessed  the  appropriateness  of  the  related 
disclosures in Note 12 to the financial statements.

Revenue recognition in respect of multiple element arrangements

As at 31 December 2016 the Group has reported Sales 
Revenue of $97.7m (2015: $91.4m) as disclosed in Note 3. 
The statement of financial position also reflects deferred 
revenue of $11.7m (2015: $10.7m).

In  multiple  element  arrangements  where  goods  and 
services are sold as a bundled product, the fair value of 
the goods and services component is estimated and then 
recognised  as  revenue  over  the  period  during  which 
goods are transferred and services are provided. The fair 
value  of  each  component  is  determined  on  a  cost  plus 
basis.

Significant  judgement  is  required  by  management  in 
determining the fair value attributable to each element of 
the  bundled  products  and  the  period  over  which  the 
revenue  is  recognised,  together  with  the  corresponding  
determination of deferred revenue.

Our procedures included but were not limited to:

• 

• 

• 

Testing controls over the capture and measurement 
of revenue transactions,

Assessing the appropriateness of the Group’s 
revenue recognition accounting policies for multiple 
element arrangements and their compliance with 
Australian Accounting Standards; and

Recalculating the fair value attributed to each 
element of the bundle, including;

i.  Confirming the appropriateness of the logic 
used by Management in the underlying 
allocation model; 

ii.  Ensuring the data inputs into the model have 
been properly extracted from underlying data 
sources; and

iii.  Creating an independent expectation of the 
margin to be applied, and comparing this to 
Management’s margin.

We also assessed the appropriateness of the related 
disclosures disclosed in the Note 1(n) and 1 (o) to the 
financial statements.

49

Auditor’s Report (continued)

Other Information

The  directors  are  responsible  for  the  other  information.  The  other  information  comprises  the  Message  from  the 
Chairman and Group CEO, the Directors’ Report and the Additional Information as at 15 March 2017, but does not 
include the financial report and our auditor’s report thereon.

Our opinion on the financial report does not cover the other information and accordingly we do not express any form 
of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial report, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial report or our knowledge obtained 
in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

If,  based  on  the  work  we  have  performed,  we  conclude  that  there  is  a  material  of  this  other  information,  we  are 
required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard,

Directors’ Responsibilities for the Financial Report

The directors of the Entity are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view in 
accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act 2001 and for such internal control as 
the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view 
and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the ability of the Group to continue as a 
going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of 
accounting  unless  the  directors  either  intend  to  liquidate  the  Group  or  to  cease  operations,  or  has  no  realistic 
alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable 
assurance  is  a  high  level  of  assurance,  but  is  not  a  guarantee  that  an  audit  conducted  in  accordance  with  the 
Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise 
from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected 
to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.

As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgement and 
maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:

• 

Identify  and  assess  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the  financial  report,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error, 
design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from 
fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, 
misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

•  Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit 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 
Group’s internal control.

• 

Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and 
related disclosures made by the directors.

•  Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on 
the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast 
significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty 
exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial report 
or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence 

50

obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Group to 
cease to continue as a going concern.

• 

Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and 
whether the financial report represents the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair 
presentation.

•  Obtain sufficient appropriate evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities 
within the Group to express an opinion on the financial report.  We are responsible for the direction, supervision 
and performance of the Group audit.  We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.

We communicate with the directors regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and 
significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We also provide the directors with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding 
independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to 
bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.

From the matters communicated with the directors, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the 
audit of the financial report of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters 
in our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely 
rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse 
consequences  of  doing  so  would  reasonably  be  expected  to  outweigh  the  public  interest  benefits  of  such 
communication.

Report on the Remuneration Report 

Opinion on the Remuneration Report

We have audited the Remuneration Report included in pages 16 to 43 of the directors’ report for the year ended 31 
December 2016.

In our opinion, the Remuneration Report of Reckon Limited, for the year ended 31 December 2016, complies with 
section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001.

Responsibilities

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.

DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU

Alfie Nehama
Partner
Chartered Accountants
Sydney, 23 March 2017

51

Directors’ Declaration

The directors of the company declare that:

1.  The  financial  statements  and  notes  as  set  out  on  pages  53  to  95,  are  in  accordance  with  the  Corporations 

Act 2001, and:

•  Comply with Accounting Standards; and

•  Comply with International Financial Reporting Standards, as stated in note 1 to the financial statements; and

•  Give a true and fair view of the financial position as at 31 December 2016 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;

•  That this opinion has been formed on the basis of a sound system of risk management and internal control 

which are operating effectively;

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.

This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 295(5) of the 
Corporations Act 2001.

On behalf of the directors

Mr I Ferrier 
Chairman 
Sydney, 23 March 2017

52

Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss

for the year ended 31 December 2016

Continuing operations

Revenue

Product costs

Employee benefits expenses

Share-based payments expenses

Marketing expenses

Premises and establishment expenses 

Note

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

Restated1

3

3

3

97,759

91,448

(12,012)

(9,998)

(34,928)

(31,232)

(373)

(354)

(4,256)

(3,483)

(2,501)

(2,462)

Depreciation and amortisation of other non-current assets

3

(19,557)

(15,788)

Telecommunications

Legal and professional expenses

Finance costs – bank loans and overdrafts

Other expenses

Profit before income tax 

Income tax expense

Profit for the year

Profit attributable to:

Owners of the parent

Non-controlling interest

Earnings per share

Basic Earnings per Share

Diluted Earnings per Share

1. Refer note 4 in the accompanying notes.

(877)

(1,095)

(747)

(786)

(2,068)

(2,091)

(6,426)

(5,712)

13,666

18,795

6

(2,674)

(3,714)

10,992

15,081

10,992

14,577

-

504

10,992

15,081

Cents

Cents

9.8

9.6

13.1

13.0

22

22

The above consolidated statement of profit or loss should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

53

Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss 
and Other Comprehensive Income

for the year ended 31 December 2016

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income, net of income tax

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations

Fair value movement on interest rate swap

Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of income tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

Total comprehensive income attributable to:

Owners of the parent

Non-controlling interest

Note

Consolidated

2016 
$’000

2015
$’000

10,992

15,081

21

21

(4,720)

1,626

309

69

(4,411)

1,695

6,581

16,776

6,581

16,272 

-

504

6,581

16,776

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

54

Consolidated Statement 
of Financial Position

as at 31 December 2016

ASSETS

Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Financial assets

Inventories – finished goods

Current tax receivables

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

Provisions

Deferred revenue

Total Current Liabilities

Non-Current Liabilities
Borrowings

Other financial liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Provisions

Total Non-Current Liabilities

Total Liabilities

Net Assets

Equity
Issued capital

Reserves

Retained earnings

Total Equity

Note

Consolidated

2016 
$’000

2015
$’000

26

8

14

9

8

14

10

11

12

9

13

15

13

14 

17

15

20

21

1,715

10,340

632

2,791

287

2,602

1,641

9,327

-

2,471

2,032

2,156

18,367

17,627

113

133

2,452

948

95,557

2,154

101,357

119,724

7,266

936

3,215

11,712

23,129

168

-

2,485

193

89,303

1,367

93,516

111,143

6,113

-

3,048

10,653

19,814

51,618

49,900

-

7,418

841

59,877

83,006

36,718

18,707

(47,148)

65,159

36,718

176

6,678

659

57,413

77,227

33,916

16,929

(42,767)

59,754

33,916

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

55

Consolidated Statement 
of Changes in Equity

for the year ended 31 December 2016 

Share 
buyback 
reserve

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve

Share- 
based 
payments 
reserve

Swap 
hedging 
reserve

Retained 
earnings

Acquisition 
of non 
controlling 
interest 
reserve

Attributable
to owners 
of the 
parent

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Issued 
capital

$’000

16,929

(42,018)

4,941

638

(176)

59,754

(6,152)

33,916

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,682

96

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(4,720)

–

(4,720)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

126

–

–

(96)

–

10,992

–

10,992

–

309

–

–

309

10,992

–

–

–

–

–

(5,587)

–

–

(4,720)

309

6,581

126

(5,587)

1,682

–

–

–

–

–

–

18,707

(42,018)

221

668

133

65,159

(6,152)

36,718

Consolidated

Balance at 
1 January 2016

Profit for the year

Other 
comprehensive 
income:

Exchange 
differences on 
translation of 
foreign operations 

Fair value 
movement on 
interest rate swap

Total 
comprehensive 
income

Share based 
payments expense

Dividends paid 
(note 27)

Dividend  
re-investment plan
(note 20)

Treasury shares 
vested/lapsed

Balance at 
31 December 
2016

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

56

Consolidated Statement 
of Changes in Equity (continued) 

for the year ended 31 December 2016

Share 
buyback 
reserve

Foreign 
currency 
translation  
reserve

Share-
based 
payments 
reserve

Swap 
hedging 
reserve

Retained 
earnings

Acquisition 
of non- 
controlling 
interest 
reserve

Attributable 
to owners 
of the 
parent

Non- 
controlling 
interest

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

$’000

Issued 
capital

$’000

Total

$’000

17,036 (42,018)

3,315

582

(245)

55,187

(3,788)

30,069

–

30,069

–

–

–

–

–

14,577

–

14,577

504

15,081

–

–

–

–

–

(215)

108

–

–

–

1,626

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,626

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

69

–

–

69

14,577

164

–

–

–

–

(108)

–

–

–

(10,010)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,626

69

–

–

1,626

69

16,272

504

16,776

164

(10,010)

(215)

–

–

–

–

–

164

(10,010)

(215)

–

–

504

504

(504)

(2,868)

(2,868)

Consolidated

Balance at 
1 January 2015

Profit for 
the year

Other 
comprehensive 
income:

Exchange 
differences 
on translation 
of foreign 
operations 

Fair value 
movement 
on interest 
rate swap

Total 
comprehensive 
income 

Share based 
payments 
expense

Dividends paid 
(note 27)

Treasury shares 
acquired

Treasury shares 
vested/lapsed

Transfer to 
acquisition of 
non-controlling 
interest reserve

Remeasurement 
of Linden House 
option liability

Balance at 
31 December 
2015

16,929 (42,018)

4,941

638

(176)

59,754

(6,152)

33,916

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

–

–

(2,868)

33,916

57

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 

for the year ended 31 December 2016

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

Receipts from customers

Payments to suppliers and employees

Interest received

Interest paid

Income taxes paid

Note

Consolidated 
Inflows/(Outflows)

2016 

$’000

2015
$’000

105,963

101,138

(73,169)

(62,153)

30

43

(2,068)

(2,091)

(1,058)

(3,398)

Net cash inflow from operating activities

26(b)

29,698

33,539

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

Payment for buyout of non-controlling interest

Payments for purchase of business

26(c)

Proceeds on sale of business

Payment for capitalised development costs 

Payment for capitalised internal systems costs

Proceeds from New Zealand government development grant

Proceeds from security deposits

Payment for property, plant and equipment

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

Proceeds from / (repayment of) borrowings

Payment for other financial liabilities

Payment for treasury shares

–

(9,032)

(5,785)

1,250

–

–

(22,868)

(19,840)

(1,299)

(1,389)

1,384

1,627

–

39

(942)

(1,152)

(28,260)

(29,747)

1,863

6,424

–

–

(674)

(215)

Dividends paid to owners of the parent

27

(3,905)

(10,010)

Net cash outflow from financing activities

(2,042)

(4,475)

Net Increase / (Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

(604)

1,641

(113)

(683)

2,248

76

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year

26(a) 

924

1,641

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

58

 
Notes to the Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 December 2016

1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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.  For  the  purposes  of  preparing  the 
consolidated financial statements, the Company is a for-profit entity.

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 statements were authorised for issue by the directors on 23 March 2017.

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. Historical cost is generally based on the fair values of the 
consideration given in exchange for assets. The Company is a company of the kind referred to in ASIC Corporations 
(Rounding in Financial/Directors’ Reports) Instrument, dated 24 March 2016, and in accordance with that Corporations 
Instrument amounts in the financial report are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Adoption of new and revised Accounting Standards

The Group has adopted all of the new and revised Standards and Interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting 
Standards Board (the AASB) that are relevant to their operations and effective for the current year.

Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities (including 
special purpose entities) controlled by the Company (its subsidiaries). Control is achieved when the Company:

•  Has power over the investee;

• 

Is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee; and

•  Has the ability to use its power to affect its returns.

Income  and  expense  of  subsidiaries  acquired  or  disposed  of  during  the  year  are  included  in  the  consolidated 
statement  of  profit  or  loss  and  other  comprehensive  income  from  the  effective  date  of  acquisition  and  up  to  the 
effective date of disposal, as appropriate. Total comprehensive income of subsidiaries is attributed to the owners of 
the Company and to the non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit 
balance.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies 
into line with those used by other members of the Group.

All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated in full on consolidation.

Changes in the Group’s ownership interests in subsidiaries that do not result in the Group losing control are accounted 
for  as  equity  transactions.  The  carrying  amounts  of  the  Group’s  interests  and  the  non-controlling  interests  are 
adjusted to reflect the changes in their relative interests in the subsidiaries. Any difference between the amount by 

59

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

which the non-controlling interests are adjusted and the fair value of the consideration paid or received is recognised 
directly in equity and attributed to owners of the Company.

(b) Business Combinations

Acquisitions  of  businesses  are  accounted  for  using  the  acquisition  method.  The  consideration  transferred  in  a 
business combination is measured at fair value which is calculated as the sum of the acquisition-date fair values of 
assets transferred by the Group, liabilities incurred by the Group to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity 
instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquiree. Acquisition-related costs are recognised in 
profit  or  loss  as  incurred.  At  the  acquisition  date,  the  identifiable  assets  acquired  and  the  liabilities  assumed  are 
recognised at their fair value, except that:

•  Deferred tax assets or liabilities and assets or liabilities related to employee benefit arrangements  and share-
based  payment  arrangements  are  recognised  and  measured  in  accordance  with  the  relevant  accounting 
standards; and

Goodwill is measured as the excess of the sum of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling 
interests in the acquiree, and the fair value of the acquirer’s previously held equity interest in the acquiree (if any) over 
the  net  of  the  acquisition-date  amounts  of  the  identifiable  assets  acquired  and  the  liabilities  assumed.  If,  after 
reassessment, the net of the acquisition-date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed 
exceeds the sum of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree and the 
fair value of the acquirer’s previously held interest in the acquiree (if any), the excess is recognised immediately in 
profit or loss as a bargain purchase gain.

Non-controlling interests that are present ownership interests and entitle their holders to a proportionate share of the 
entity’s net assets in the event of liquidation may be initially measured either at fair value or at the non-controlling 
interests’  proportionate  share  of  the  recognised  amounts  of  the  acquiree’s  identifiable  net  assets.  The  choice  of 
measurement basis is made on a transaction-by-transaction basis. 

Where the consideration transferred by the Group in a business combination includes assets or liabilities resulting 
from a contingent consideration arrangement, the contingent consideration is measured at its acquisition-date fair 
value. Changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration that qualify as measurement period adjustments are 
adjusted  retrospectively,  with  corresponding  adjustments  against  goodwill.  Measurement  period  adjustments  are 
adjustments that arise from additional information obtained during the ‘measurement period’ (which cannot exceed 
one year from the acquisition date) about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date.

Where a business combination involves the issuance of a put option granted to the vendor in respect of an equity 
interest not owned by the parent, the present value of the put exercise price is recognised as a financial liability in the 
consolidated accounts of the parent entity.  The recognition of this liability effectively treats the option as if it has been 
exercised, constituting a transaction between owners as owners which is  recorded  in equity. Any subsequent re-
measurement is considered to be part of the equity transaction and is recorded in equity via an “acquisition of non-
controlling interest reserve.

If the initial accounting for a business combination is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the 
combination occurs, the Group reports provisional amounts for the items for which the accounting is incomplete. 
Those provisional amounts are adjusted during the measurement period (see above), or additional assets or liabilities 
are recognised, to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition 
date that, if known, would have affected the amounts recognised as of that date.

60

(c) Depreciation and Amortisation

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 

3 - 5 years

• 

Leasehold improvements 

3 - 7 years

(d) 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.

(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.

(f) Foreign Currency Translation

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.

61

 
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

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.

(g) Intangible assets

Goodwill

Goodwill arising on an acquisition of a business is carried at cost as established at the date of the acquisition of the 
business less accumulated impairment losses, if any.

For the purposes of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to each of the Group’s cash-generating units (or groups 
of cash-generating units) that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination.

A cash-generating unit to which goodwill has been allocated is tested for impairment annually, or more frequently 
when there is indication that the unit may be impaired. If the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less 
than its carrying amount, the impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated 
to the unit and then to the other assets of the unit pro rata based on the carrying amount of each asset in the unit. 
Any impairment loss for goodwill is recognised directly in profit or loss in the consolidated income statement. An 
impairment loss recognised for goodwill is not reversed in subsequent periods.

On disposal of the relevant cash-generating unit, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination 
of the profit or loss on disposal.

Intellectual Property

Intangible assets acquired in a business combination and recognised separately from goodwill are initially recognised 
at their fair value at the acquisition date (which is regarded as their cost).

Subsequent  to  initial  recognition,  intangible  assets  acquired  in  a  business  combination  are  reported  at  cost  less 
accumulated  amortisation  and  accumulated  impairment  losses,  on  the  same  basis  as  intangible  assets  that  are 
acquired separately.

Customer contracts are amortised on a straight line basis over their useful life to the Group of ten years.

Brand names are not amortised but are subject to annual impairment testing. The Group has committed to continually 
use, invest in and promote acquired brands, therefore brands have been assessed to have an indefinite life.

Research and development costs

Research expenditure is recognised as an expense when incurred.

An internally-generated intangible asset arising from development is recognised if, and only if, all of the following have 
been demonstrated:

•  The technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale;

•  The intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it;

•  The ability to use or sell the intangible asset;

•  How the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits;

•  The availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or 

sell the intangible asset; and

•  The ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development.

62

Development  costs  in  respect  of  enhancements  on  existing  suites  of  software  applications  are  capitalised  and 
written off over a 3 to 4 year period. Development costs on technically and commercially feasible new 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.

(h) Income Tax

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

The  company  and  its  wholly-owned  Australian  resident  entities  have  formed  a  tax-consolidated  group  and  are 
therefore taxed as a single entity from that date. The head entity within the tax-consolidated group is Reckon Limited. 
The Group uses the standalone approach by reference to the carrying amounts in the separate financial statements 
of each entity in applying the accounting for tax consolidation.

The  tax  sharing  agreement  entered  into  between  members  of  the  tax-consolidated  group  provides  for  the 
determination of the allocation of income tax liabilities between the entities should the head entity default on its tax 
payment obligations or if an entity should leave the tax-consolidated group. The effect of the tax sharing agreement 
is that each member’s liability for tax payable by the tax consolidated group is limited to the amount payable to the 
head entity under the tax funding arrangement.

(i) 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.

(j) 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.

63

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

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.

(k) Employee Benefits

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

Liabilities recognised in respect of short-term employee benefits, are measured at their nominal values using the 
remuneration rate expected to apply at the time of settlement.

Liabilities recognised in respect of long term employee benefits are measured as the present value of the estimated 
future cash outflows to be made by the Group in respect of services provided by employees up to reporting date.

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.

(l) Receivables

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

(m) Impairment of assets

At the end of each reporting period, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to 
determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication 
exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if 
any). When it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Group estimates the 
recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. When a reasonable and consistent basis 
of allocation can be identified, corporate assets are also allocated to individual cash-generating units, or otherwise 
they are allocated to the smallest group of cash-generating units for which a reasonable and consistent allocation 
basis can be identified.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and intangible assets not yet available for use are tested for impairment 
at least annually, and whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired.

Recoverable  amount  is  the  higher  of  fair  value  less  costs  to  sell  and  value  in  use.  In  assessing  value  in  use,  the 
estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current 
market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future 
cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the 
carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is 
recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the 
impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

When  an  impairment  loss  subsequently  reverses,  the  carrying  amount  of  the  asset  (or  cash  generating  unit)  is 
increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not 
exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset 
(or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, 
unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated 
as a revaluation increase.

64

(n) 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.

Software  licence  fee  revenue  is  recognised  at  the  point  of  “go  live”  (i.e.  when  all  users  can  use  the  system  on  a 
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.

Subscription, support and maintenance revenue is recognised on a straight-line basis over the period of the contract.

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

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.

(o) Deferred Revenue

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

(p) 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.

(q) Cash and cash equivalents

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

(r) Borrowings

Borrowings are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs and are subsequently measured at amortised 
cost using the effective interest method, with interest expense recognised on an effective yield basis. The effective 
interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability and of allocating interest expense 
over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments 
through the expected life of the financial liability, or (where appropriate) a shorter period, to the net carrying amount on 
initial recognition.

65

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

(s) 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.

(t) Fair Value estimation

The fair value of financial instruments and share based payments that are not traded in an active market is determined 
using appropriate valuation techniques. The Group uses a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on 
existing market conditions. The fair value of financial instruments traded on active markets (quoted shares), are based 
on balance date bid prices.

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

(u) Government Grants

Government  grants  are  not  recognised  until  there  is  reasonable  assurance  that  the  Group  will  comply  with  the 
conditions attaching to them and that the grants will be received.

Government  grants  are  recognised  in  profit  or  loss  on  a  systematic  basis  over  the  periods  in  which  the  Group 
recognises as expenses the related costs for which the grants are intended to compensate. Specifically, government 
grants whose primary condition is that the Group should continue to develop its range of software products, are 
offset against development costs in the statement of financial position and transferred to profit or loss on a systematic 
and rational basis over the useful lives of the related assets.

Government grants that are receivable as compensation for expenses or losses already incurred or for the purpose 
of giving immediate financial support to the Group with no future related costs are recognised in profit or loss in the 
period in which they become receivable.

Government assistance which does not have conditions attached specifically relating to the operating activities of 
the entity is recognised in accordance with the accounting policies above.

(v) Hedge Accounting

The Group enters into derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to interest rate risk, including interest 
rate swaps. Further details of derivative financial instruments are disclosed in note 14.

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date the derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently 
remeasured to their fair value at the end of each reporting period. The resulting gain or loss is recognised in profit or 
loss immediately unless the derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument, in which event the timing 
of the recognition in profit or loss depends on the nature of the hedge relationship.

The Group designates certain hedging instruments, as cashflow hedges. 

At the inception of the hedge relationship, the entity documents the relationship between the hedging instrument and 
the  hedged  item,  along  with  its  risk  management  objectives  and  its  strategy  for  undertaking  various  hedge 
transactions. Furthermore, at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, the Group documents whether 
the  hedging  instrument  is  highly  effective  in  offsetting  changes  in  fair  values  or  cash  flows  of  the  hedged  item 
attributable to the hedged risk.

Note 14 sets out details of the fair values of the derivative instruments used for hedging purposes.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges 
is recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated under the heading of swap hedging reserve. The 
gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognised immediately in profit or loss, and is included in the ‘other 

66

gains  and  losses’  line  item.  Amounts  previously  recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income  and  accumulated  in 
equity are reclassified to profit or loss in the periods when the hedged item affects profit or loss, in the same line as 
the recognised hedged item. However, when the hedged forecast transaction that is hedged results in the recognition 
of a non-financial asset or a non-financial liability, the gains and losses previously recognised in other comprehensive 
income and accumulated in equity are transferred from equity and included in the initial measurement of the cost of 
the non-financial asset or nonfinancial liability.

Hedge accounting is discontinued when the Group revokes the hedging relationship, when the hedging instrument 
expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised, or when it no longer qualifies for hedge accounting. Any gain or loss 
recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity at that time remains in equity and is recognised 
when  the  forecast  transaction  is  ultimately  recognised  in  profit  or  loss.  When  a  forecast  transaction  is  no  longer 
expected to occur, the gain or loss accumulated in equity is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

(w) 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 component is estimated and then 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 12.

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.

Product life and amortisation – the Group amortises capitalised development costs based on a straight line basis 
over a period of 3-4 years commencing at the time of commercial release of the new product. This is the assessed 
useful life.

67

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

(x) New accounting standards not yet effective

At the date of authorisation of the financial report, a number of Standards and Interpretations that are relevant to the 
group were in issue but not yet effective.

With the exception of AASB 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ and AASB 16 ‘Leases‘, initial application 
of the following Standards and Interpretations is not expected to have any material impact to the financial report of 
the consolidated entity and the Company. The impact, if any, of the adoption of AASB 15 and AASB 16 is currently 
being assessed.

Standard/Interpretation

Effective for 
annual reporting 
periods beginning 
on or after

Expected to be 
initially applied 
in the financial 
year ending

AASB 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ (2013, 2014), and the relevant amending 
standards

1 January 2018

31 December 2018

AASB 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’, AASB 2014-5 
‘Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 
15’ and AASB 2015-8 ‘Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards 
– Effective Date of AASB 15’

1 January 2018

31 December 2018

AASB 16 Leases

1 January 2019

31 December 2019

2 Segment Information

Operating segments are 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 Group

•  Practice Management Group

•  Document Management Group

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 Group - development, distribution and support of business accounting and personal financial software, 
as well as related products and services. Products sold in this division include Reckon Accounts and Reckon One.

•  Practice  Management  Group  -  development,  distribution  and  support  of  practice  management,  tax,  client 
accounting and related software under the APS brand as well as the Reckon Docs and Reckon Elite products. 
Development, distribution and support of cost recovery, cost management, scan and related software under the 
nQueue Billback brand predominantly to the legal market.

•  Document Management Group –  development , distribution and support of document management and client 

portal products under the Virtual Cabinet and SmartVault brands.

68

Segment revenues and results

Operating revenue

Business Group

Practice Management Group

Document Management Group

Business sold

Other revenue

Total revenue

2016 
$’000

2015
$’000

Restated

35,555

35,430

46,774

45,123

14,839 

9,771

97,168

90,324

561

1,081

97,729

91,405

30

43

97,759

91,448

2016
$’000
EBITDA

2016
$’000
D&A

2016
$’000
NPBT

2015
$’000
EBITDA

2015
$’000
D&A

2015
$’000
NPBT

Business Group

19,952

(2,267)

17,685

19,138

(2,118)

17,020

Practice Management Group

19,865

(8,684)

11,181

19,412

(8,732)

10,680

Document Management Group

4,647 

(1,368) 

3,279 

4,694 

(1,264) 

3,430

44,464

(12,319)

32,145

43,244

(12,114)

31,130

New market net costs

(5,213)

(7,004)

(12,217)

(2,577)

(3,271)

(5,848)

Central administration costs

(4,676)

-

(4,676)

(4,853)

-

(4,853)

Business sold

686

(234)

452

817

(403)

414

35,261

(19,557)

15,704

36,631

(15,788)

20,843

Other revenue

Finance costs

Profit before income tax

Income tax expense

Profit for the year

30

(2,068)

13,666

(2,674)

10,992

43

(2,091)

18,795

(3,714)

15,081

69

 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

2 Segment Information (continued) 
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, new market expenditure, 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. 

No single customer contributed 10% or more of Group revenue for either 2016 or 2015. 

EBITDA  above  means  earnings  before  interest,  depreciation  and  amortisation,  D&A  means  depreciation  and 
amortisation, and NPBT means net profit before tax.

In the prior year nQueue Billback was combined with the Virtual Cabinet business to form the International Group. In 
2016 nQueue Billback has been combined with the Accountant Group to form the Practice Management Group, and 
Virtual Cabinet together with the recently acquired SmartVault business will now form the Document Management 
Group. The 2015 results have been restated to reflect these changes.

Segment revenues and results

Assets

Liabilities

2016 
$’000

2015 
$’000

2016 
$’000

Business Group

21,760

18,614

8,290

Additions to non-
current assets

2015
$’000

5,706

2016 
$’000

8,890

2015
$’000

8,989

Practice Management Group

60,215

59,155

8,176

10,277

9,120

8,861

Document Management Group

32,917 

28,404

6,567 

4,490

12,218 

1,634

Corporate Division

4,832

4,970

59,973

56,754

1,297

1,389

Total of all segments

119,724

111,143

83,006

77,227

31,525

20,873

(b) Geographical information

Australia

Revenues from 
external customers

Non-current assets

2016 
$’000

2015
$’000

2016 
$’000

2015
$’000

63,665

62,562

59,213

53,961

United States of America

14,978

8,907

14,091

6,537

United Kingdom

Other countries (i)

Total of all segments

11,554 

12,784

25,465 

27,280

7,532

7,152

2,588

5,738

97,729

91,405

101,357

93,516

(i) No other country is considered to generate revenues which are material to the group.

70

  
 
 
3 Profit for the Year

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

Revenue 

Sales revenue

Subscription revenue

Other recurring revenue

Reckon Docs revenue

Other revenue

Sale of goods and rendering of services

Other Revenue

Interest revenue

Expenses

Product costs

Bad debt expense:

Other Entities

Depreciation of non-current assets:

Property, plant and equipment

Amortisation of non-current assets:

Leasehold improvements

Intellectual property

Development costs

Total depreciation and amortisation

Profit on sale of business

Foreign exchange losses/(gains)

Employee benefits expense:

Post employment benefits – defined contribution plans

Termination benefits

Share based payments:

Equity-settled share-based payments

Cash-settled share-based payments

Operating lease rental expenses:

Minimum lease payments

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

Restated

70,547

63,055

5,367

7,485

14,330

97,729

7,598

7,894

12,858

91,405

30

43

97,759

91,448

12,012

9,998

88

168

1,017

1,078

151

2,378

16,011

19,557

258

1,234

13,218

15,788

392

-

92

(89)

3,025

129

3,017

88

126

247

373

164

190

354

2,695

2,416

71

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

4 Change in accounting policy

The  Group  has  amended  the  manner  in  which  pass  through  ASIC  fees  in  the  Reckon  Docs  business  has  been 
accounted  for  in  2016.  Previously  ASIC  fees  were  disclosed  in  both  Reckon  Docs  revenue  and  product  costs, 
whereas in 2016 these fees have been eliminated from both. Prior year results have been restated. There is no impact 
on profits from this change, but in management’s opinion, this change allows the Group to report margins in a more 
meaningful manner and more accurately reflects the performance of the business.  The Group has no control over 
ASIC prices and merely passes these costs through to the customer.

2015 as previously reported

Impact of change in accounting policy

2015 after change in accounting policy

5 New market expenditure

Marketing expenses

Employee benefits expense

Other expenses

Amortisation of other non-current assets

Revenue
$’000

Product 
costs
$’000

105,168

23,718

(13,720)

(13,720)

91,448

9,998

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

(2,725)

(1,129)

(5,460)

(2,698)

(908)

(540)

(7,004)

(3,271)

(17,887)

(5,848)

Reckon Limited has made substantial investments in establishing and developing Reckon One for both the domestic 
and international markets as well as establishing the Document Management market in the USA and in Australia and 
New Zealand. These costs have been expensed through the Consolidated Profit and Loss during the year. Revenue 
of $5,670 thousand has been recognised in these markets in 2016. 

72

6 Income Tax

(a) Income tax expense recognised in profit and loss

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 in the financial statements as follows:

Profit before income tax

Income tax expense calculated at 30% of profit 

Tax Effect of:

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2,645

(15)

44

2,674

2015
$’000

2,820

1,612

(718)

3,714

13,666

18,795

4,100

5,638

Effect of lower tax rates on overseas income

(264)

(450)

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

Research and development claims

Sundry items

Under/(over) provision in prior years

Income tax expense attributable to profit

The tax rate used for the 2016 and 2015 reconciliations above is the corporate tax 
rate  of  30%  payable  by  Australian  corporate  entities  on  taxable  profits  under 
Australian tax law.

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

Tax losses:

Revenue

Capital

(1,064)

(142)

2,630

44

2,674

(699)

(57)

4,432

(718)

3,714

–

2,098

2,098

–

2,098

2,098

73

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

7 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 other consulting services

(b) Other Auditors

Auditing and reviewing of financial reports

Tax compliance services

Consolidated

2016
$

2015
$

233,427

254,275

154,218

355,814

387,645

610,089

70,239

65,424

154,896

101,192

225,135

166,616

612,780

776,705

74

8 Trade and Other Receivables

Current:

Trade receivables (i)

Allowance for doubtful debts 

Other receivables

Non current:

Trade receivables

Other receivables

(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/(reduction) in allowance recognised in the profit and loss

Balance at end of year

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

8,934

7,963

(315)

(311)

8,619

7,652

1,721

1,675

10,340

9,327

53

60

113

108

60

168

1,010

1,291

416

1,124

480

911

2,550

2,682

311

(88)

92

315

562

(168)

(83)

311

75

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

1,967

1,633

635

523

2,602

2,156

199

234

1,955

1,133

2,154

1,367

9 Other Assets

Current:

Prepayments

Other

Non current:

Prepayments

Other

76

10 Property, Plant and Equipment

Leasehold Improvements

At cost

Less: Accumulated amortisation

Total leasehold improvements

Plant and equipment

At cost

Less: Accumulated depreciation

Total plant and equipment

Consolidated

Carrying amount at 1 January 2016

Additions

Depreciation/amortisation expense

Balance at 31 December 2016

Consolidated

Carrying amount at 1 January 2015

Additions

Depreciation/amortisation expense

Balance at 31 December 2015

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

2,920

2,663

(2,528)

(2,371)

392

292

10,685

(8,625)

2,060

2,452

Leasehold 
Improvements 
$’000

Plant and 
Equipment 
$’000

9,471

(7,278)

2,193

2,485

Total
$’000

2,485

1,313

292

251

(151)

392

503

47

(258)

292

2,193

1,062

(1,195)

(1,346)

2,060

2,452

2,284

1,105

2,787

1,152

(1,196)

(1,454)

2,193

2,485

77

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) 

11 Deferred Tax Assets

The balance comprises temporary differences attributable to:

Recoverable losses

Doubtful debts

Employee benefits

Other provisions

Details of unrecognised deferred tax assets can be found in note 6(c).

Reconciliation:

Opening balance at 1 January

Credited/(charged) to profit or loss

Balance at 31 December

12 Intangibles

Intellectual property – at cost (i)

Accumulated amortisation

Development costs – at cost

Accumulated amortisation

Internal systems – at cost

Accumulated amortisation

Goodwill – at cost

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

772

12

99

65

948

193

755

948

-

9

117

67

193

185

8

193

21,535

17,251

(15,438)

(13,123)

6,097

4,128

113,380

96,343

(75,286)

(63,412)

38,094

32,931

2,688

1,389

(939)

(302)

1,749

1,087

49,617

51,157

95,557

89,303

(i) The intellectual property carrying amount comprises of customer contracts of $1,876 thousand (2015: $2,495 thousand), 
brand  names  of  $562  thousand  (2015:  $562  thousand)  and  other  intellectual  property  of  $3,659  thousand  (2015:  $1,071 
thousand). The amounts amortised in the current year for customer contracts was $619 thousand, brand names $nil and other 
intellectual property $1,759 thousand.

78

Impairment test for goodwill

Goodwill is allocated to the Group’s cash generating units (CGUs) identified based on how 
the businesses are managed and reported on and taking into account the use of shared 
resources, as follows: 

Accountant Group

nQueue Division

Document Management Division 

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

25,765

25,765

2,738

2,785

21,114

22,607

49,617

51,157

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 (2017) period for the Practice 
Management Group which includes the Accountant Group and the nQueue Division. Subsequent cash flows are projected 
using constant long term average growth rates of 3% per annum. The value-in-use  calculations for the Document Management 
CGU has been based on the Group’s four year plans and constant growth rates of 5% to reflect the early stage of the evolution 
of this CGU.  An average post-tax discount rate of 9.7% (2015: 10.3%) (pre-tax rate: 14%) reflecting assessed risks associated 
with CGU’s has been applied to determine the present value of future cash flow projections for all CGU’s.  No impairment write-
offs  have  been  recognised  during  the  year  (2015:  nil).  Sensitivity  analysis  performed  indicates  that  if  a  change  in  EBITDA 
reflected in the models were to decrease by up to 15% for the respective CGU’s, there would be no impairment.

Consolidated movements in intangibles

At 1 January 2016

Additions

Acquisitions

Effect of foreign currency exchange differences

Disposals

Amortisation charge

At 31 December 2016

At 1 January 2015

Additions

Effect of foreign currency exchange differences

Amortisation charge

At 31 December 2015

Development 
Costs 
(including 
internal 
systems)

Intellectual 
Property
$’000

Total
$’000

4,128

34,018

89,303

-

22,961

22,961

5,096

(749)

-

-

7,251

(267)

(858)

(4,711)

(858)

(2,378)

(16,011)

(18,389)

Goodwill
$’000

51,157

-

2,155

(3,695)

-

-

49,617

6,097

39,843

95,557

49,502

5,362

27,515

82,379

-

1,655

-

-

19,721

19,721

-

1,655

-

(1,234)

(13,218)

(14,452)

51,157

4,128

34,018

89,303

79

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

13 Borrowings

Current:

Bank overdraft (i)

Hire purchase liabilities

Non-current

Bank borrowings (i)

Hire purchase liabilities

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

791

145

936

-

-

-

51,506

49,900

112

-

51,618

49,900

(i) The consolidated entity has increased its bank facilities to $71 million during the year. The facility comprises variable rate 
bank overdraft facilities, loan facilities, and bank guarantee and transactional facilities. The loan facilities and $1m of the bank 
overdraft facility expires in August 2019 and the remaining facilities are subject to annual review expiring in April 2017. The 
facility is secured over the Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom net assets. Reckon has partially hedged the bank 
borrowings – refer note 14.

2016

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

Available

Used

Unused

Bank 
overdraft
$’000

Loan 
facility 
$’000

Bank 
guarantee & 
transaction 
facility
$’000

2,000

66,000

1,516

50,781

484

15,219

3,110

1,644

1,466

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

0-12 months

2-5 years

791

725

Weighted average interest rate

5.30%

3.23%

80

-

1,644

50,781

-

-

14 Other financial assets/(liabilities)

Current:

Loans receivable

Non-current:

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

632

–

Derivative that is designated and effective as a hedging instrument carried at fair value (i)

133

(176)

(i) This balance represents an interest rate swap. To reduce the fair value risk of changing interest rates, the Group has entered 
into a pay-floating receive-fixed interest rate swap. The swap’s notional principal is $26 million and represents 52% of the bank 
borrowings outstanding at 31 December 2016. The swap reduces to $25 million in February 2017, then to $24m in August 2018 
and then matures in July/August 2019. The fixed interest rate is 3.28%, and interest rate swaps are settled monthly or quarterly. 
Within the context of AASB 7, this is classified as a level 2 fair value measurement being derived from inputs, other than quoted 
prices included within level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

15 Provisions

Current:

Employee benefits – annual leave

Employee benefits – long service leave

Employee benefits – long term incentive

Surplus premises

Non-current:

Employee benefits – long service leave

Employee benefits – long term incentive

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

1,639

1,576

-

-

1,573

1,325

116

34

3,215

3,048

347

494

841

514

145

659

81

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

16 Working Capital Deficiency

The consolidated statement of financial position indicates an excess of current liabilities over current assets of $4,762 
thousand  (December  2015:  $2,187  thousand).  This  arises  due  to  the  cash  management  structure  adopted  by 
management, whereby surplus funds are used to repay debt and make investments. Net cash inflows from operations 
for the year were $29,698 thousand (2015: $33,539 thousand). Unused bank facilities at balance date total $17,169 
thousand – refer note 13. Also, included in current liabilities is deferred revenue of $11,712 thousand (December 2015: 
$10,653 thousand), settlement of which will involve substantially lower cash flows.

17 Deferred Tax Liabilities

The temporary differences are attributable to:

Doubtful debts

Employee benefits

Sales returns and volume rebates

Deferred revenue

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

(36)

(48)

(1,590)

(1,397)

(10)

(35)

(568)

(462)

Difference between book and tax value of non-current assets

11,120

9,587

Other provisions

Details of unrecognised deferred tax assets can be found in note 6(c)

Reconciliation:

Opening balance at 1 January

Charged (credited) to profit or loss

Balance at 31 December

(1,498)

(967)

7,418

6,678

6,678

5,058

740

1,620

7,418

6,678

82

18 Parent Entity Disclosures

Financial position

Assets

Current assets

Non-current assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Equity

Share capital

Share buyback reserve

Swap hedging reserve

Share based payments reserve

Acquisition of non-controlling interest reserve

Foreign currency translation reserve

Retained earnings

Financial performance

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Parent

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

7,856

8,427

100,473

104,862

108,329

113,289

9,148

8,917

44,599

57,417

53,747

66,334

18,707

16,929

(42,018)

(42,018)

133

668

(176)

638

(1,657)

(1,657)

(277)

703

79,026

72,536

54,582

46,955

12,076

15,960

(671)

703

11,405

16,663

Capital commitments for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment

Not longer than 1 year

–

–

Other

Reckon Limited assets have been used as security for the bank facilities set out in note 13. 
The parent entity has no contingent liabilities. 

83

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

19 Employee Benefits

Long-term incentive plan

The long-term incentive plan presently comprises two possible methods of participation:  the grant of equity under 
a performance share plan; or cash payments under a share appreciation plan. The board has discretion to make 
offers  to  applicable  employees  to  participate  in  these  plans.  Performance  shares  offered  (all  in  respect  of  the 
company’s ordinary shares) and/or share appreciation rights do not vest before three years after their grant date and 
are conditional on the participant remaining employed at vesting date, subject to board discretion. Vesting is also 
conditional upon the company achieving defined performance criteria. The performance criteria are based upon a 
total shareholder return (TSR) target. 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. 

For the performance period 2014-2016, the company’s TSR target is 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 reviews the suitability of the comparator group on an ongoing basis.  50% of 
performance shares or performance rights vest if the initial performance criterion is satisfied. The balance of any offer 
would vest proportionally on a sliding scale between the median and the third quartile with 100% vesting (capped) if 
the company’s ranking equalled or exceeded the third quartile. 

From 2011 onwards performance shares may also be offered with longer term vesting periods. The single vesting 
condition is that participants must remain employed for the term required. To achieve 100% vesting employees must 
remain in employment for an effective 10 years from the date of the initial offer.

The share appreciation rights plan represents an alternative remuneration element (to offering 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 the share price at the end of the performance period is greater than at the beginning of the performance period. 
The performance criteria for the rights to vest are fixed by the board in the exercise of its discretion. At present these 
are the same as the TSR target set for performance shares to vest and the same sliding scale applies. 

For the performance period 2015-2017 the remuneration committee changed the benchmark against which the TSR 
target is measured for both the performance share plan and  the share appreciation rights  plan. The  comparator 
group of companies has been jettisoned and replaced by the company’s TSR performance measured against the 
performance  of  the  ASX  300  Index  over  the  performance  period.  Shares  or  rights  will  vest  at  the  end  of  the 
performance period depending on the company’s average TSR over the period relative to the average TSR of the 
ASX 300 Index.  The percentage of shares or rights vested is determined by the proportional difference in these two 
results.

For the performance period 2016-2018 the benchmark was changed again. There are two performance criteria that 
must be met. The first is achievement of budgeted earnings per share growth (EPS) over the performance period. 
The  second  is  a  comparison  of  the  company’s  total  shareholder  return  over  the  performance  period  measured 
against the change in the S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index (iTSR) over the performance period. The criteria carry 
equal weighting except for the first year of the performance period where EPS is given 100% weighting to account 
for share price volatility in late 2015 and early 2016 rather than the fundamental behaviour of the company. Vesting 
against  both  criteria  occurs  on  a  sliding  scale.  In  the  case  of  EPS  75%  of  entitlements  vest  if  the  target  EPS  is 
achieved and 100% of entitlement will vest on achievement of 110% of target EPS, on a sliding scale capped at 100% 
of entitlement. In the case of iTSR 75% of entitlements vest if 100% of the target iTSR is achieved, 100% of entitlements 
will vest on achievement of 110% of target iTSR.

No options were issued during the year (2015: Nil).

84

1,087,500 (2015: nil) senior executive rights, nil (2015: 747,036) appreciation rights and nil (2015: 158,739) performance 
shares,  were  issued  during  the  year.  The  fair  value  of  senior  executive  rights  issued  in  2016  was  $1.13,  and  the 
appreciation rights issued in 2015 were 25.3 cents, and the shares issued in 2015 were $1.70, using a model that 
adopts the Monte Carlo simulation approach. The assumptions used in this model are: grant date share price of 
$1.46; expected volatility of 30.8%; dividend yield of 4.8%; and a risk free rate of 1.5%. The expense recognised in 
2016 for appreciation rights/performance shares was $373 thousand (2015: $354 thousand).

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

Performance Shares

Grant 
Date

Vesting 
Date

Shares 
Granted

Shares lapsed
during the year

Shares vested 
during the year

Shares available at 
the end of the year

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

Jan’13

Dec’15

91,740

-

39,166

-

48,352

Jan’14

Dec’16

101,696

47,521

9,266

44,909

Jan’15

Dec’17

121,239

11,047

11,047

Jan’11

Dec’17

112,500

-

10,000

Jan’12

Dec’18

127,500

3,750

10,000

Jan’13

Dec’19

296,250

8,750

25,000

Jan’14

Dec’20

101,250

12,500

10,000

Jan’15

Dec’21

37,500

10,000

10,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

92,430

99,145

110,192

76,250

76,250

87,500

91,250

242,500

251,250

78,750

91,250

17,500

27,500

193,894 additional shares have been acquired for future grants.

85

 
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

19 Employee Benefits (continued)

Appreciation Rights

Grant 
Date

Expiry 
Date

Rights 
Granted

Rights lapsed
during the year

Rights vested 
during the year

Rights available at 
the end of the year 

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

Jan’13

Dec’15

549,419

-

230,756

Jan’14

Dec’16

590,625

590,625

Jan’15

Dec’17

747,036

-

-

-

-

-

-

318,663

-

-

-

-

-

590,625

747,036

747,036

Senior Executive Rights

Grant 
Date

Expiry 
Date

Rights 
Granted

Rights lapsed
during the year

Rights vested 
during the year

Rights available at 
the end of the year 

Jan’16

Dec’18

1,087,500

-

-

-

-

1,087,500

-

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

Short-term incentive plan

Each annual budget fixes a pool of cash representing a total potential amount in which the relevant employees can 
share if short term performance conditions are met.

The  performance  period  for  the  short  term  incentive  plan  is  one  year.  However,  approximately  one  third  of  the 
payment will only be made if the employee remains in employment for a further one year period after the performance 
period.

The  performance  conditions  are  budgeted  targets  set  for  revenue,  EBITDA  and  earnings  per  share.  Actual 
performance is the measured on a sliding scale form 90% to 110% against the budgeted performance of the group 
to determine the extent to which incentives are paid. The incentive is paid on a sliding scale. Below 90% no incentive 
is paid. Between 90% and 110% a pro rata increase is paid, capped at 110%. For 2016 there is an overlap of earnings 
per share as a performance condition for the long term incentive and the short term incentive, but this is expected 
to change for 2017.

86

20 Issued Capital

Fully Paid Ordinary Share Capital

2016

 2015

No.

$’000

No.

$’000

Balance at beginning of financial year

112,084,762

18,842 112,084,762

18,842

Dividend re-investment plan

1,210,070

1,682

-

-

Balance at end of financial year

113,294,832

20,524 112,084,762

18,842

Less Treasury shares

Balance at beginning of financial year

840,448

1,913

765,714

1,806

Shares purchased in current  period

Lapsed shares utilised 

-

-

-

-

116,115

6,971

215

-

Shares vested 

(44,909)

(96)

(48,352)

(108)

Balance at end of financial year

795,539

1,817

840,448

1,913

Balance at end of financial year net of treasury shares

112,499,293

18,707 111,244,314

16,929

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.

During the year nil shares were bought back.

No options were exercised during the year.

The Group implemented a dividend re-investment plan in 2016. 1,210,070 shares were issued on 6 April 2016 under 
this plan.

87

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

21 Reserves

Nature and purpose of reserves

(a) Foreign currency translation reserve

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) Swap hedging reserve

The swap hedging reserve represents the cumulative gains or losses arising on changes in the fair value of hedging 
instruments entered into. These gains or losses will be reclassified to profit or loss only when the hedged transaction 
affects profit or loss.

(c) Share buyback reserve

The value of shares bought back are allocated to this reserve.

(d) 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 and recognised to date which have not yet vested.

(e) Acquisition of non-controlling interest reserve

The  acquisition  of  non-controlling  interest  reserve  represents  an  equity  account  to  record  transactions  between 
equity holders.

22 Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Consolidated

2016
cents

9.8

9.6

2015
cents

13.1

13.0

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

112,217,898 111,244,314

Weighted average number of ordinary shares and potential ordinary shares (in relation to 
employee performance shares) used in the calculation of diluted earnings per share

114,064,937 112,084,762

Earnings used in the calculation of earnings per share is $10,992 thousand (2015: $14,577 thousand).

23 Contingent Liabilities

There are no material contingent liabilities as at 31 December 2016 (2015: Nil).

88

24 Commitments for Expenditure

(a) Capital Expenditure Commitments

The consolidated entity has capital expenditure commitments of $nil as at 31 December 2016 (2015: $nil). 

(b) Lease Commitments

Operating Leases

Within 1 year

Later than 1 year and not longer than 5 years

Later than 5 years

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

2,426

2,096

3,491

3,183

269

194

6,186

5,473

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.

89

 
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

25 Subsidiaries

Name of Entity

Country of Incorporation

Ownership Interest

2016
%

2015
%

Parent Entity

Reckon Limited 

Subsidiaries

Reckon.com.au Pty Limited* 

Reckon Australia Pty Limited 

Reckon Investment Centre Limited*

Reckon Online Holdings Pty Limited* 

Reckon Limited Performance Share Plan Trust

Reckon New Zealand Pty Limited 

Reckon Accountants Group Pty Limited

Reckon Accountants Group Limited

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

New Zealand

Australia

New Zealand

Reckon One Limited

United Kingdom

Reckon Docs Pty Limited

Quickdocs.com.au Pty Limited*

Reckon Billback Pty Limited

Australia

Australia

Australia

nQueue Billback Limited

United Kingdom

Billback LLC

United States of America

nQueue Billback LLC

United States of America

Reckon Software Limited (formerly Linden House Software 
Limited)

United Kingdom

SmartVault Corporation

United States of America

Reckon Accounts Pte Limited

Reckon Sync Technology Pty Ltd*

Singapore

Australia

* Dormant subsidiaries de-registered during 2016 
All shares held are ordinary shares. 

90

0

100

0

0

100

100

100

100

100

100

0

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

0

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

0

100

100

 
26 Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows

(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)

Bank overdraft

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

(b) Reconciliation of Profit After Income Tax To Net Cash 
Flows From Operating Activities

Profit after income tax

Depreciation and amortisation of non-current assets

Non-cash employee benefits expense – share based payment

Profit on sale of business

Increase/(decrease) in current tax liability/asset

Increase/(decrease) in deferred tax balances

Unrealised foreign currency translation amount

(Increase)/decrease in assets net of acquisitions:

Current receivables

Current inventories

Other current assets

Non-current receivables

Non-current other

Increase/(decrease) in liabilities net of acquisitions:

Current trade payables

Other current liabilities

Other non-current liabilities

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

1,715

1,641

(791)

924

-

1,641

10,992

15,081

19,557

15,788

126

(392)

164

-

1,631

(1,296)

(15)

154

(962)

(320)

(699)

55

(787)

613

(437)

182

1,612

(106)

82

(292)

(31)

510

(239)

904

1,285

77

Net cash inflow from operating activities

29,698

33,539

91

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

26 Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows (continued)

(c) Business acquired  
SmartVault Corporation
Reckon Limited acquired SmartVault Corporation effective 1 January 2016. SmartVault is a 
cloud based document management business located in the USA.

Consideration:

Cash paid

Cash acquired

Debt acquired

Cash

Consideration:

Receivables

Intellectual property – development and software

Fixed assets

Trade payables

Deferred revenue

Goodwill

SmartVault Corporation contributed $4 million of revenue in 2016.

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

5,628

(211)

368

5,785

430

5,096

421

(654)

(1,663)

2,155

5,785

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

92

27 Dividends – Ordinary Shares

Final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2015 of 3 cents (2014: 4.75 cents) per share 
unfranked paid on 6 April 2016. $1,682 thousand of this dividend was re-invested via the 
dividend re-investment plan.

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2016 of 2 cents per share unfranked  
(2015: 4.25 cents) paid on 2 September 2016

Franking credits available for subsequent financial years based on a  
tax rate of 30% (2015: 30%)

Consolidated

2016
$’000

2015
$’000

3,338

5,284

2,249

4,726

5,587

10,010

11

31

The Board has declared an unfranked dividend of 3 cents per share to shareholders on 14 February 2017. The record 
date for the dividend is 22 February 2017. The aggregate amount of the proposed dividend expected to be paid on 
10 March 2017 out of retained profits at 31 December 2016, but not recognised as a liability at the end of the year is 
$3,775 thousand.  The impact on the franking account balance of unrecognised dividends is $nil thousand.

28 Financial Instruments

(a) 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.

(b) 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 $1,715 thousand were held by the consolidated entity at the reporting date, attracting an average interest rate of 
0.77%  (2015:  0.7%).  Interest  bearing  borrowings  by  the  consolidated  entity  at  the  reporting  date  were  $52,554 
thousand (2015: $49,900 thousand). Interest rate risk is managed by maintaining an appropriate mix between fixed 
and floating rate borrowings, and by the use of interest rate swap contracts. Variable rate borrowings during the year 
attracted an average interest rate of 5.3% (2015: 6.1%) on overdraft facilities and 2.8% on loan facilities (2015: 4%). 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 $253 
thousand (2015: $241 thousand).

Hedging activities are evaluated to align with interest rate views and defined risk appetite, ensuring the most cost-
effective hedging strategies are applied.

The maturity profile for the consolidated entity’s cash ($1,715 thousand) that is exposed to interest rate risk is one 
year, and interest bearing borrowings ($52,554 thousand) that are exposed to interest rate risk, and the interest rate 
swap is three years. On the assumption that interest bearing borrowings and variable interest rates remain at the 
current level, the annual interest costs are expected to be $1,720 million.  

Further details are set out in note 14.

93

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

28 Financial Instruments (continued)

c) 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.

The average credit period on sale of goods is 45 days. Interest is generally not charged. The group recognises an 
allowance for doubtful debts comprising a specific component for expected irrecoverable amounts, and a general 
provision calculated as a % of outstanding balances based upon the historical experience.

(d) Foreign Currency Risk

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.    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.

(e) Liquidity

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

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.

Further details are set out in notes 13 and 14.

(f) 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, other financial assets, 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 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.

94

29 Related Party Disclosures

(a) Key Management Personnel Remuneration
Short term benefits

Post-employment benefits

Share based payments

Consolidated   

2016
$

2015
$

3,224,218

3,204,159

187,875

188,349

191,362

290,473

3,600,442

3,685,994

The names of and positions held by the key management are set out on page 17 of the Remuneration Report. 
Further details of the remuneration of key management are disclosed in the Remuneration Report.

(b) Other Transactions with Key Management Personnel

There were no transactions with directors and other key management personnel apart from those disclosed in this note.

(c) Directors’ and Key Management Equity Holdings

Refer to the table on page 41 of the Remuneration Report.

30 Subsequent Events

Subsequent to the end of the financial year:

On 17 March 2017 the company announced a proposal to de-merge Reckon’s Document Management segment 
(representing approximately 15% of group turnover) under an independent company with shares admitted to trading 
on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM).

At the time of the writing of the Annual Report these plans are preliminary and conditional, including subject to due 
diligence and any necessary regulatory approvals. Although the ASX has indicated that shareholder approval is not 
required.

Shareholders are urged to monitor the ASX company announcements platform for any material updates that the 
company will announce regarding this proposal.

Other than the matters mentioned above, there has not been any matter or circumstance occuring subsequent to 
the financial year that has significantly affected, or may significantly affect the company’s operations in future financial 
years; or the company’s state of affairs in future financial years.

31 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:

• 

Level 12, 65 Berry Street 
North Sydney 
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 23 March 2017.

95

Additional Information as at 
15 March 2017 (Unaudited)

Corporate Governance Statement

The Reckon Limited Corporate Governance Statement is available on our website in the section titled Corporate 
Governance (https://www.reckon.com/au/investors/governance/).

Twenty Largest Holders of Quoted Equity Securities

Ordinary Shareholder

J P MORGAN NOMINEES AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Number Percentage

17,681,216

15.61

HSBC CUSTODY NOMINEES (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

12,096,412

10.68

NATIONAL NOMINEES LIMITED

RBC INVESTOR SERVICES AUSTRALIA NOMINEES PTY LTD 

GREGORY JOHN WILKINSON

CITICORP NOMINEES PTY LIMITED

MR CLIVE RABIE + MRS KERRY ROSE RABIE 

DJZ INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED

BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES PTY LTD 

BOND STREET CUSTODIANS LIMITED 

RAWFORM PTY LTD 

MR STEPHEN JAMES RICKWOOD

BNP PARIBAS NOMS PTY LTD 

MR CLIVE ALAN RABIE

MR PHILIP ROSS HAYMAN

RECKON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 

BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES PTY LTD 

BNP PARIBAS NOMS (NZ) LTD

VANWARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED

RBC INVESTOR SERVICES AUSTRALIA NOMINEES PTY LIMITED 

96

8,902,233

7,943,255

6,280,487

5,431,195

5,107,914

4,791,224

3,418,105

1,431,903

1,330,306

1,301,062

1,104,553

1,091,051

809,542

798,864

643,300

591,421

581,982

549,130

7.86

7.01

5.54

4.79

4.51

4.23

3.02

1.26

1.17

1.15

0.97

0.96

0.71

0.71

0.57

0.52

0.51

0.48

81,769,040

72.28

 
Number of Holders of Equity Securities

Ordinary Share Capital

113,294,832 fully paid ordinary shares are held by 4,216 individual shareholders as at 15 March 2017. 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 182.

Distribution of Holders of Equity Securities

As at 15 March 2017

Number of Ordinary Shares

1 – 1,000

1,001 – 5,000

5,001 – 10,000

10,001 – 100,000

100,001 and over

Total

Number of
Shareholders

1,011

1,972

657

522

54

4,216

Substantial Shareholders

As at 15 March 2017

(a) From Twenty Largest holders of Quoted Equity Securities

Ordinary Shareholder

J P MORGAN NOMINEES AUSTRALIA LIMITED

HSBC CUSTODY NOMINEES (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

MR CLIVE ALAN RABIE

NATIONAL NOMINEES LIMITED

RBC INVESTOR SERVICES AUSTRALIA NOMINEES PTY LTD 

GREGORY JOHN WILKINSON

(b) As disclosed to ASX

Forager Funds Management Pty Ltd

Wilson Asset Management Group

Australian Ethical Investment Limited

Microequities Asset Management Pty Ltd

NovaPort Capital Pty Ltd

Number

Percentage

17,681,216

12,096,412

11,123,189

8,902,233

7,943,255

7,610,793

Ordinary 
Shares

8,400,600

7,890,215

7,428,465

5,689,261

5,670,500

15.61

10.68

9.82

7.86

7.01

6.72

Percentage

7.41

6.96

6.56

5.02

5.01

97

Additional Information as at 
15 March 2017 (Unaudited) (continued)

Principal Registered Office

Level 12, 65 Berry Street 
North Sydney NSW 2060 
Tel: (02) 9577 5000 
www.reckon.com

Principal Administration Office

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

Stock Exchange Listings

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

Auditors

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 
225 George Street 
Sydney NSW 2000

Company Secretary

Mr Myron Zlotnick

Annual General Meeting

The  Annual  General  Meeting  for  Reckon  Limited  will  be  held  on  Wednesday  24  May  2016  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.

98

Important Information – Corporate Notices

Security holders have the option as to how they 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  request  to  opt  in  to  receive  
TO RECEIVE ALL NOTICES 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”

• 

Follow the prompts to update your “Communications Options”

•  After you have updated 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).

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

99

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100