ARN MEDIA LIMITED - Annual Report 2020

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HT&E LIMITED

ANNUAL REPORT 2020

HT&E owns one of Australia’s leading audio companies, ARN, providing the most complete audio experience for our listeners and the most comprehensive audio solutions for our partners. The Group also maintains a number of other investments, including a 25% interest in the secure messaging business, Soprano and outdoor assets in Hong Kong.

5.3m Radio audience reach (weekly)[* ]

2.6m Digital websites audience reach (monthly)[**]

1.9m iHeartRadio registered users (lifetime)[***]

81.3m

Streaming listening hours (+53% YoY)[****]

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Kyle & Jackie O KIIS 1065 Sydney

124%

podcast downloads[^^]

Source: GfK Radio Ratings, S8 2020, SMBAP, ARN AM/FM/DAB, Mon-Sun 5:30-12mn (cume), Commercial Radio Groups AM/FM/ DAB+, Mon-Sun 5:30-12mn, Mon-Fri 5:30-9am (share %), P10+, unless otherwise stated.

** Source: Google Analytics: Website Page Impressions, All Devices, Australia, station websites include KIIS Network, PG Network, Edge (not de-duped): Dec 2020).
*** Source: Adobe Analytics, iHeartRadio Australia Registration Data, Lifetime Users Dec 20.
**** Source: AdsWizz Audiometrix, Total Radio Streaming, Total Listening Hours 2020 v 2019.
^ Source: GfK Radio Ratings, S8 2020, SMBAP, M-S 5:30am-12mn, cume, ARN AM/FM/DAB+, P10+.
^^ Source: Megaphone Hosting Platform, 900k+ Australian Device Sample, December 2020 cf. January 2020.
^^^ Source: Australian Podcast Ranker.

CONTENTS

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We are everywhere our listeners are, providing the greatest breadth and depth of audio content in Australia.

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ARN’s stations broadcast across six metropolitan markets to over five million people each week. People engage via three core brands: The KIIS Network, The Pure Gold Network and The Edge. The Network also owns a 50% share of Perth’s Nova 93.7FM and Brisbane’s 97.3FM in a joint venture with Nova Entertainment and 50% of Canberra FM Radio (104.7FM and Mix106.3) in a joint venture with Southern Cross Austereo.

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iHeartRadio enables Australians to get more of what they love about radio whenever and wherever they want. With an expanded podcast offering, integrated promotion across ARN’s core radio assets and audience growth, it provides vast commercial partnership opportunities.

iHeartRadio is ARN’s free radio, music streaming and podcasting platform in the Australian market. It is the only digital music platform that combines podcasts, custom music and live radio, covering 1500 live radio stations across all ARN, NZME and iHeartMedia’s US stations. The platform also broadcasts live events, getting fans up close and personal with the artists they love and it has one of the largest podcast libraries in Australia.

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Pioneer of the highest quality innovation and premium connected on-the-go advertising solutions.

Cody Out-of-Home in Hong Kong, has a network of over 440 outdoor advertising panels including the major Hong Kong tunnels and iconic tram shelters on Hong Kong Island.

Creating ideas that change the way people feel about brands.

An independent creative company in which HT&E holds a 51% interest, Emotive makes ideas that live within advertising, entertainment and design. Part ad agency, part production company, part content distributor, Emotive is deliberately (un)structured so it can respond to client business issues or opportunities effectively, rather than default to ‘traditional comms’ as the answer.

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Intelligent and secure business mobile messaging software solutions for enterprises and governments worldwide.

Soprano Design is an independent software vendor in which HT&E holds a 25% stake. Through the diversification of the customer base along with a growing need for CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) solutions, we recognise a significant market growth opportunity. Soprano has nearly 4000 customers globally across APAC, EMEA, LATAM and the US ranging from large corporations to independent companies across Government, Healthcare, Finance, Education, Retail, Manufacturing and Logistics.

Delivering Our Strategy Chairman’s Report	02 04
Chief Executive Officer's Report	06
Response to COVID-19	08
Operating and Financial Review	10
Review of Operations Corporate Social Responsibility Board of Directors	14 16 20
Senior Management Team Corporate Governance Statement	22 24
Directors’ Report	24
Remuneration Report Auditor’s Independence Declaration	30 45
Consolidated Financial Statements Directors’ Declaration Independent Auditor’s Report Shareholder Information Corporate Directory	47 102 103 108 111

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

02 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Our vision is to enrich every Australian’s life through the medium of audio.

We aim to be Australia’s leading audio company by providing the most complete audio experience for our listeners and the most comprehensive audio solutions for our partners, using data-led insights to provide the platforms, content and interactions that deliver the entertainment and business results that our customers want.

Our single customer view brings together a full 360 degree audio experience which we call ARN’s Audiosphere. Across the Audiosphere we are investing in capability and product to ensure we achieve our ambition.

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ARN radio stations reaching Strong growth driven 5.3 million people each week[] by at home listening through smartphones Digital websites and smart speakers reaching 2.6 million Australians monthly[] #1 FM for Breakfast[] 1.9mm #1 Total Females[] #1 Grocery Buyers[][[^]]

#1 & #2 podcasts[^^^] #1 catch up radio podcast[^^^]

124% podcast downloads since the start of the year[^^^^]

1.9mm registered users (lifetime) 19% YoY[[^]]

$2.5m revenue across 14% 148 campaigns (2019: $50k) digital listening of ARN radio stations[[^^]] 225% YoY revenue across 532 campaigns

Commercial market share outperforming market every quarter since Q2 2019[***]

digital listening of ARN radio stations[[^^]]

revenue across 532 campaigns

OUR STRATEGY 03

Source: GfK Radio Ratings, S8 2020, SMBAP, M-S 5:30am-12mn, cume, ARN AM/FM/DAB+, P10+.

ARN’s Audiosphere

- Source: Google Analytics: Website Page Impressions, All Devices, Australia, station websites include KIIS Network, PG Network, Edge (not de-duped): Dec 2020).
*** Source: Commercial Radio Metro Ad Revenue 2020 Deloitte. ^ Source: Adobe Analytics, iHeartRadio Australia Registration Data, Lifetime Users Dec 20 (vs Dec 19).
^^ Source: Adswizz, Audiometrix, ARN Stations only, Total Listening Hours, Dec 2020 v Jan 2020.
^^^ Source: CRA and Triton, Australian Podcast Ranker: December 2020 of the participating publishers.
^^^^ Source: Megaphone Hosting Platform, 900k+ Australian Device Sample, December 2020 cf. January 2020.

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ARN Dynamic Audio is a world first dynamic ad product for broadcast radio delivering the personalisation of digital audio at the scale of broadcast radio, with significant demand from commercial partners.

ARN Roam is a mobile geo-based advertising solution across digital audio and display inventory. It targets people based on their specific location, either past or present and has delivered impactful results for our clients.

AdWave and PodWave offer 11 campaigns for increased scale and targeting brands like Coles, across digital audio by Toyota and McDonald’s. accessing the Adswizz Global Marketplace of Premium International Publishers. This improves efficacy for commercial partners.

11 campaigns for brands like Coles, Toyota and McDonald’s.

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ARN Neuro Lab is an

in-house neuroscience lab for evaluating and optimising advertising attention, engagement and impact.

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Podsights is the Jonesy & Amanda industry leader in 101.7 WSFM Sydney podcast advertising attribution, allowing advertisers to measure campaign performance.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

04 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

I am pleased to present this annual report of HT&E’s performance in 2020 during what has been a challenging year, like no other in the Company’s history.

No one could have anticipated the global pandemic. It has had a dramatic impact on our way of life, changed consumer behaviour, disrupted business models overnight, created significant advertiser uncertainty and resulted in widespread falls in global and local advertising revenues.

Against this backdrop, HT&E navigated the period well and has maintained its strategic focus during the year, strengthening our core Australian radio operations, investing in our digital audio growth strategy, and maximising shareholder value as we exited several non-core investments.

ARN remains the best performing audio company in Australia – both commercially and in ratings – delivering advertisers integrated, unique and engaging content from some of the world’s best talent, across radio, music streaming and podcasting.

ARN’s mission remains to deliver Australia’s most complete audio offering, to be everywhere our audiences want to be with the content they want to consume; and we have the brands, technology investments and talent to deliver on this for our listeners, advertisers and shareholders.

Financial position and capital management

HT&E’s business is very well capitalised, with $112.1 million net cash and access to over $250.0 million in funding.

The Board took the decision to suspend the dividend at the half year to preserve capital because of the uncertain economic outlook at that point. The Board has since taken the decision not to declare a full year dividend, recognising the level of inherent economic uncertainty attributable to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Net cash

$112.1m

HT&E’s business is very well capitalised.

Undrawn capacity

$252.1m

HT&E’s Board will be looking for further opportunities to maximise shareholder value.

Average buyback price

$1.44

Accretive share buyback recommenced. Boosting underlying returns for investors.

We recommenced the accretive share buyback in September following the release of the half year results and the improving ad market conditions, boosting underlying returns for investors.

HT&E acquired a 4.7% strategic interest in local outdoor advertising company, oOh!media, a business we know well, for $18.1 million at the height of the pandemic in the first half. At year end the stake was valued at $45.9 million. We are continuing to work with the business founder of Soprano, a growth business operating in the highly attractive CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) sector to maximise value for our 25% stake.

Australian Tax Office dispute

We are awaiting a response from the Australian Tax Office on our objections to the amended assessments received in 2018.

The Board remains confident of HT&E’s position and are prepared to pursue the New Zealand Branch dispute matter fully, through to litigation. The final resolution of this matter could take several years.

The year ahead

HT&E’s business remains well placed to emerge from 2020 in a strong position to capitalise on the exciting growth opportunity in digital audio. We have the benefit of a proven senior management team, world recognised broadcasters and a clear focus around creating the leading audio entertainment business in Australia.

We believe that there will be continued consolidation in media markets and with its deep media experience, HT&E’s Board will be looking for further opportunities to maximise shareholder value. Our investment in oOh!media demonstrates our understanding of the sector and we will continue to focus on the right opportunities for our business.

On behalf of the Directors, I would like to thank shareholders for their continued support over the past 12 months.

I would also like to thank our people for their dedication in 2020, particularly given the challenging conditions we faced. We have an exceptional team who have kept ARN at the forefront of what is a very competitive industry.

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HAMISH MCLENNAN CHAIRMAN

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

06 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

CEO’S REPORT

2020 financial result

2020 statutory revenue from

continuing operations was down 22% to $197.3 million on last year, due to economic impacts of COVID-19. Costs from continuing operations before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, and exceptional items were down 16% to $156.0 million as a result of cost control measures and lower variable cost of sales on reduced revenues. EBITDA from continuing operations before exceptional items was down 35% to $49.3 million.

HT&E COVID-19 response

The Company moved early to deal with the impacts of COVID-19, with the welfare of our people of paramount importance. The impact on operations from a working from home policy was managed effectively.

From early March and throughout the year, ARN’s technology investments ensured radio broadcasts were unaffected across all our metro markets, with all our people able to work from home efficiently. We maintained an ‘always on’ content approach, consistently delivering what audiences have come to expect from our brands.

HT&E implemented a range of cost control measures, including short term salary reductions for executive management and the Board, reduced work hours program for remaining people, and a freeze on marketing, travel, entertainment and discretionary costs.

During the height of the pandemic in Australia, $13.0 million in one-off cost measures were implemented in the second quarter that helped to protect our earnings and cash reserves while preserving the balance sheet.

With advertising spend significantly affected in both Australia and Hong Kong, revenue from continuing operations fell 29% in the first half, with EBITDA down 49%.

HT&E was able to access Federal Government funding for the first round of the JobKeeper stimulus program with a total benefit of $10.3 million excluded from the underlying financial results. This funding was critical in contributing liquidity to the business and protecting jobs in a period of significant volatility and uncertainty in advertising markets. With improved trading conditions, the Company was not eligible for ongoing financial support under the extended JobKeeper program.

An efficiency review conducted in the second half of 2019 set the business up well to manage through the pandemic. Cost management remains an ongoing focus for the business.

Our businesses

Australian Radio Network (ARN)

Despite disruption to daily routines, ARN experienced growth in total listening since the start of COVID-19 and commercial radio is now reaching over 5.3 million people weekly from breakfast to drive across the working week[1] .

Across COVID-19, with people spending more time at home and seeking companionship through the day, ARN saw overall growth in listening across all dayparts. With the easing of restrictions across the nation, listening behaviour has largely reverted to normal[2] . Increasing use of smartphones and smart speakers continues to drive digital listening with digital streaming of ARN radio stations experiencing a 14% increase in total listening across the year[3] . Regardless of how their daily routine has changed, our audience’s appetite for audio has not – they are consuming more radio to remain connected, are on digital to stay engaged, and are listening to podcasts to escape. As audiences engage for longer, it provides even greater opportunities for brands and due to the unique immediacy of radio, advertisers are able to adapt their campaigns in real-time, aligning messaging for consumers.

ARN maintained its #1 ratings position for the ninth consecutive survey, with the strategy of recruiting and retaining

CEO’S REPORT

the best talent continuing to deliver. The power of our talent to connect brands and consumers and drive commercial outcomes for clients has shone through in 2020. The Sydney duopoly strategy with KIIS and WSFM continues to deliver and KIIS 1065’s Kyle & Jackie O again dominated breakfast radio, finishing the year where they started, at #1FM, with WSFM’s Jonesy & Amanda following them, averaging the year as Sydney’s #2FM[4] . GOLD 104.3 in Melbourne is now established as the clear #1FM, along with The Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show. 40 years after the station launched, Perth’s 96FM rose to #1 in survey 7 off the back of a great breakfast show and clear music strategy[5] .

ARN is now the #1 podcast publisher in Australia after launching the iHeartRadio Podcast Network Australia in February 2020. The network delivered 124% more podcast downloads in December[6] and five of the top 10 podcasts in the country[7] . Our strategy of representing a broad spectrum of local and international publishers as the podcast market matures has allowed us to build internal capability while managing investment risk and returns.

ARN iHeartRadio’s long term licence and partnership with iHeartMedia, Inc. are key differentiators in the local market, providing access for listeners to stream live broadcast radio stations, the best of international and local podcasts, and allows the creation of custom Artist Radio stations, everywhere and on any device.

We continue to invest in our digital audio growth strategy expanding our data capabilities, our digital customer acquisition programme, and our content creation to attract new audiences. Digital revenue growth, excluding iNC and Conversant Media, was up 122% on last year and we expect to see continued strong growth in 2021.

Hong Kong Outdoor (Cody)

Our outdoor business Cody has had a challenging 18 months, with social unrest impacting advertiser confidence in the second half of 2019 and while protests in Hong Kong largely abated at the start of 2020, advertising markets did not have an opportunity to recover before the onset

of COVID-19. In-line with other markets around the globe, advertiser demand for outdoor advertising was significantly impacted by reduced footfall and commuter volumes caused by government enacted lockdowns to contain the virus.

Investments

Soprano

Soprano, an independent software vendor in which HT&E has held a 25% stake since 2001, had record revenue, gross margin and earnings growth. The company, with established operations in Europe, North & South America, Asia and Australia, provides CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) to enterprise customers.

Strong revenue and gross profit trajectory built over the past two to three years were maintained across COVID-19, with improvement in key customer metrics, including net revenue retention, message volumes, and failure rates.

Soprano has the potential to provide significant value beyond current book value and is non-core to the Company’s strategy. We will continue to work with the founder to explore options to maximise value for HT&E shareholders.

Emotive

Emotive, an independent creative company in which HT&E holds a 51% stake, grew revenues with an expanded service offering and new client base. In a challenging local advertising market, Emotive maintained good momentum winning a number of new strategic clients, including HelloFresh, Modibodi, Destination NSW, St Hugo Wine, Google and the University of Sydney, complementing long standing partnerships with companies such as Optus.

Thanks to our people

2020 was an incredibly challenging year as the lockdowns imposed by Governments across Australia tested our ability to operate, as well as impacting on our revenue. We asked a lot of our people who had to sacrifice pay and work longer hours for less, while many juggled additional personal and family responsibilities. Their innovation over this time is to be commended. Unfortunately, we did have

to let some of our valued people go and we wish them well in the future.

We are very proud of how our team responded to the challenges presented and that we continue to operate through COVID-19 with great efficiency. Our programming has not missed a beat as we provide our audiences with much needed relief from the health and economic crisis and our commercial teams have grown share by delivering first class solutions for our clients.

The management team is extremely grateful for the dedication and enthusiasm of everyone who responded so positively to the challenges the pandemic delivered in 2020.

2021 focus

What was achieved in 2020, given the impact of COVID-19, is a testament to HT&E’s leadership in the Australian audio market. In a year that has rewritten history, Australian audiences have made ARN and iHeartRadio podcast brands the number one choice for audio content, delivering consistency and certainty for our commercial clients.

I am confident that the momentum that we have built will continue in 2021. Our focus is on maintaining our #1 ratings position nationally and our dominance of audio entertainment in Australia. We believe that our proven strategy of retaining the best talent, and leveraging data, targeting and technology to grow share of the radio and audio advertising market will deliver increasing value for shareholders.

We anticipate further consolidation in the media industry in 2021 and our strong balance sheet means we have the ability to explore the right strategic opportunities for the business as they arise.

I would like to thank all our people for their significant contribution to the performance of the business in 2020.

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CIARAN DAVIS CEO & MANAGING DIRECTOR

1 Source: GfK Radio Ratings, S8 2020, SMBAP, M-S 5:30am-12mn, cume, ARN AM/FM/DAB+, P10+.

2 Source: GfK / CRA Pulse Study (May-June 2020), GfK Radio Ratings: S1 2020, S8 2020, SMBAP, M-S 5:30am-12mn, ARN, cume, P10+.

3 Source: Adswizz: ARN Stations, TLH, Dec 2020 v Jan 2020.

4 Source: GfK Radio Ratings: S1, S2, S6, S7, S8 2020 (averaged), S1, S8 2020, Sydney, M-F 5:30am-9am, Comm Radio Stns (FM), Sydney, share to all, P10+.

5 Source: GfK Radio Ratings: S7 2020 (Perth), S8 2020 (Melbourne), M-S 5:30-12mn, M-F 5:30am-9am, Comm Radio Stns (FM), share to all, P10+.

6 Source: Megaphone Hosting Platform, 900k+ Australian Device Sample, December 2020 cf. January 2020.

7 Source: CRA and Triton, Australian Podcast Ranker: December 2020 of the participating publishers.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

08 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

RESPONSE TO COVID–19

Despite cancellations and a fall in advertising during the initial COVID-19 lock downs, ARN continued to win commercial share with increased audio consumption during this time, reinforcing importance of trusted talent to both listeners and advertisers.

Strong fundamentals and well positioned for COVID-19 recovery

Audiences more engaged with radio and audio:

Radio consumption increased during COVID-19 across multiple platforms
Radio is enhancing the rise of digital audio formats
Importance of trusted talent to both listeners and advertisers reinforced
Record iHeartRadio growth; #1 podcast publisher in the country with revenues building

Financial performance improving after tough Q2

Q3 trading conditions improved relative to the previous quarter, with the radio market down 28.1%, whereby the radio market was down 46.6% in Q2 led by an initial three week period of cancellations during lockdown
Q4 trading was encouraging with total revenues only slightly down on the prior year with the improvement on the prior quarter assisted by the ease in COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne, with the radio market down 10.4%

Unlocking value for shareholders:

Investing in ARN’s digital audio capabilities
Strategic investment in oOh!media providing optionality
Soprano trading significantly improved with positive trajectory in key metrics
ARN winning commercial share, performing ahead of the market
Cost control measures taken early, with $13.0 million in one off savings in 2020 (excluding JobKeeper $10.3 million)
Strong balance sheet – Group net cash $112.1 million

ARN commercial radio weekly cumulative reach

5.3m*

The high level of client cancellations experienced in the weeks immediately following the national pandemic lockdown largely abated after the first few weeks, with radio consumption growing and playing

an important community role as our listeners craved engagement and a sense of normality in the isolating environment. Radio audiences were more engaged than pre-COVID-19. Our commercial teams were very active in the market implementing a “Combatting Corona” trade activity plan promoting the power of audio to advertising agencies and clients, reminding them of ARN’s great strengths – immediacy, trust, and cost effectiveness with increasing digital targeting capability.

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Total Radio Market Listening
Audience Reach
Pre-COVID-19 vs Current: Time of Day
8M
7M
6M
Breakfast Morning Afternoon Drive
(5.30am– (9am– (12pm– (4pm–
9am) 12pm) 4pm) 7pm)
S2–2020 S8–2020
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Source: GfK Radio Ratings, S8 2020, SMBAP, M-S 5:30am-12mn, cume, ARN AM/FM/DAB+, P10+.

Source: GfK Radio Ratings, S2 2020, S8 2020, SMBAP, Mon-Sun 5:30am – 12mn (cume), Commercial Radio Groups AM/FM/DAB+.

RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Since COVID-19 began impacting our business in March, we have responded quickly to ensure our stakeholders are supported and the resilience of the business is maintained.

Our response

The Company moved early to deal with the impacts of COVID-19.

After an initial three week period of cancellations, confidence in radio returned as it became clear that audiences were not switching off. The second wave in Victoria saw minimal cancellations.

Read more on page 06 and 10 (Chief Executive Officer’s Report and Operating Financial Review)

Our people

Made the health and happiness of our people a priority.

Read more on page 16 (Corporate Social Responsibility)

Our audiences and communities

Deepened engagement with our audiences like never-before and elevated community spirit:

Adapted on-air content; produced a brighter, more upbeat sound
Adapted online content; delivered regular COVID-related news updates on social media
2,500 care packages sent to doctors and nurses and 20 Melbourne hospitals from GOLD104.3’s Christian O’Connell and Coles
97.3FM’s state-wide Nutbush Dance Challenge getting Brisbane schools to join in on a feel-good activity

– Will & Woody and Ruffie Rustic Foods #helpinrufftimes campaign, bringing performances live from Woody’s front porch

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Our clients

Informed and innovated to meet clients’ changing needs:

Initiatives informing the market, including “Combatting Corona” audio intel packs, studies tapping into ARN’s Backstage Insights panel, and weekly on-air COVID-19 content updates
Monthly digital audio updates capturing audience movements
Flexible cancellation and trading terms, contributing to high client retention levels and positive revenue and share performance in H2

Our partners

iHeartPodcast Network Australia launched, providing a comprehensive commercial offering for advertisers, with podcasting listening up 124% since the pandemic was declared
Growing numbers of Australians used podcasts to connect with COVID-19 content like Australian comedian Nazeem Hussain’s Survivor’s Guide to Coronavirus
Understanding the power of audio to connect and entertain, ARN proudly partnered with Muru Music Health, an AI music tech platform that helps ward off the effects of brain ageing through the power of music, and Universal Music Australia to give the gift of music to 5,000 aged care and retirement village residents across the country

– Partnership with Podsights was expanded, allowing for best-in-class reporting and attribution capabilities to be able to prove the effectiveness of podcast advertising

Our financial position

Net cash (31 Dec 2020)

Read more on page 16 (Corporate Social Responsibility)

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Jase & PJ KIIS 1011 Melbourne

$112.1m

Read more on page 10 (Operating Financial Review)

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

10 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW

This Operating & Financial Review should be read in conjunction with the Chairman’s Report and the Chief Executive Officer’s Report.

Overview

Group revenue from continuing operations decreased $55.4 million on last year, with advertising spend in both Australia and Hong Kong significantly affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. The disposals of non-core businesses, The Roar and digital marketing business, iNC Digital Media, contributed to $8.9 million of the revenue decline.

In response to COVID-19, a range of temporary cost control measures were implemented from March 2020 to protect earnings and cash reserves. Resulting group earnings before exceptionals, interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from continuing operations decreased by $26.3 million to $49.3 million. Ignoring the effect of AASB 16 Leases (adopted 1 January 2019), EBITDA would have been down 45% to $32.7 million.

The statutory loss attributable to HT&E shareholders of $42.5 million represented a $28.3 million decrease from last year, impacted by exceptional items in the period of $57.9 million (net of tax), including non-cash impairments in ARN and Cody Outdoor of $64.3 million ($65.7 million before tax), redundancy costs of $1.0 million ($1.5 million before tax) part offset by government wage subsidies (including JobKeeper and the Hong Kong Government Employment Support Scheme) of $7.3 million ($10.2 million before tax) and a $4.8 million benefit from write-back of provisions related to a disposed joint venture.

ARN performing ahead of the market across the year

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0%
-5%
-10%
-15%
-20%
-25%
-30%
-35%
-40%
-45%
-50%
Q1 20 Q2 20 Q3 20 Q4 20
Market Growth ARN Revenue Growth
Growth (YoY)
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and deferrals following the government enforced lockdowns in March, with advertisers moving quickly to preserve capital in direct response to uncertainty created by the worsening pandemic. In Q3 2020, trading conditions improved relative to the previous quarter, with total ARN revenues down 22.5% on the prior year comparative period. This result was significantly ahead of the broader metro radio market, which was down over 28.1% for the quarter. Q4 2020 saw further improvement in general market conditions, with total advertising revenues only slightly down on the prior year, assisted by the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne. In Hong Kong, the impacts of COVID-19 were felt earlier, with advertising revenues at Hong Kong Outdoor (Cody) affected from the start of the period.

IMPACT OF COVID-19

The Group’s Business Continuity Plans were enacted following the government enforced lockdowns in March 2020, as well as the second wave of infections in Melbourne in August 2020, allowing Australian Radio Network (ARN) to broadcast unaffected and our people to work remotely without any business interruption. The safety of all our people is paramount, and the Company continues to monitor government advice closely. Refer to page 8 for further details on the Group’s response to COVID-19.

From a financial perspective, COVID-19 has resulted in widespread falls in global marketing and advertising activity, with all advertising sectors materially impacted. The Australian radio sector recorded a total market decline of over 25.2% in 2020 compared to 2019 (H1: –30.9%, H2: 19.1%)[1] , with ARN revenues in the first and second half declining 27.8% and 14.8% respectively. ARN experienced significant levels of client cancellations

1 Source: Commercial Radio Metro Ad Revenue 2020 Deloitte.

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW

Temporary cost control measures taken in response to COVID-19 amounted to savings over the 2020 financial year of $13.0 million, across a range of expenditure lines, including:

Marketing, travel, entertainment, new employee hires and other short-term cost control measures;

– Employee costs where staff agreed to work on reduced hours for five months, utilise excess annual leave and in some instances, staff have left the business; and

The Board & Executive KMP took a 20% pay cut for five months and agreed to forego all incentive payments for 2020.

The Company received the JobKeeper government subsidy, which provided cost relief of $10.3 million in addition to those measures previously outlined.

The Company was not eligible for ongoing financial support under the extended JobKeeper program from 28 September 2020 to 28 March 2021.

During the year, an impairment of $55.9 million was recorded in relation to ARN and $9.8 million in relation to Cody. This was reflective of the financial under performance of each business relative to the original forecast during the six months to 30 June 2020, and a downward revision to forecast cashflows in the short to medium term in response to uncertainty in advertising markets created by COVID-19 (refer to note 2.1, note 2.3 and note 5.4 to the consolidated financial statements for more information). Further, an increase in credit risk saw an increase in the expected credit losses in relation to trade receivables (refer to note 3.3 to the consolidated financial statements for more information), which improved in the second half.

The Group balance sheet remains very strong with net cash of $112.1 million and access to $252.1 million of undrawn debt facilities at 31 December 2020.

Group financial performance continues to improve after tough Q2. The business remains highly profitable and cash generative.

$112.1m Net cash

$21.0m Net cash flows before financing

Summary of financial performance

Summary of fnancial performance
AUD million1	2020	2019	Change
Revenue	197.3	252.7	(22%)
Other income	2.1	6.7	(69%)
Share of profts of associates	6.0	2.5	>100%
Costs	(156.0)	(186.2)	(16%)
EBITDA2	49.3	75.6	(35%)
Depreciation	(15.8)	(18.2)	(13%)
Amortisation	(1.0)	(0.6)	83%
EBIT3	32.5	56.9	(43%)
Net interest expense	(3.8)	(2.3)	67%
Proft before tax	28.7	54.6	(47%)
Tax expense	(10.3)	(16.1)	(36%)
Proft after tax	18.5	38.5	(52%)
Less: non-controllinginterests	(3.1)	(4.3)	(29%)
NPAT attributable to HT&E shareholders	15.4	34.2	(55%)
Exceptional items net of tax4	(57.9)	(48.4)	20%
NPAT attributable to HT&E shareholders	(42.5)	(14.2)	(>100%)
EBITDA margin	25.0%	29.9%
Underlying basic EPS (cents)	5.5	12.0
Fullyear dividendper share(cents)	–	8.6

Totals may not add due to rounding.
EBITDA from continuing operations and before exceptional items, represents the Group’s total segment result.
EBIT from continuing operations and before exceptional items.
Commentary on exceptional items is included on page 54 and in note 1.3 to the consolidated financial statements.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

12 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Impact of AASB 16 Leases on financial performance

In 2019 HT&E adopted AASB 16 Leases using the modified retrospective approach. Operating leases were capitalised onto HT&E’s balance sheet and recognised as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. Rental payments were effectively recharacterised as depreciation and financing costs.

Key financial impacts of the standard in 2020 include removal of rental costs of $16.6 million (2019: $15.7 million), mostly replaced with depreciation $12.6 million (2019: $14.0 million) and financing costs of $2.3 million (2019: $2.3 million). However, impact on net profit before tax (NPBT) is limited at $1.7 million (2019: $0.7 million), though future lease changes may bear a more significant impact.

The table below summarises the impact of AASB 16 Leases on the financial performance of the Group for the year.

Underlying drivers of performance

Group revenues were down $55.4 million, with advertising revenues across ARN and Cody adversely impacted by COVID-19. Despite the significant impact of COVID-19 on the financial performance of the Group, ARN is well positioned as the #1 metropolitan radio network in Australia[1] , with ratings successes continuing to deliver commercial share gains and audiences spending significantly more time listening to streaming radio throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period.

The disposal of The Roar and iNC Digital Media contributed to $8.9 million of the revenue decline, however had minimal impact on Group earnings.

Financial position

Group costs from continuing operations before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, and exceptional items were down 16% to $156.0 million, impacted by the previously outlined cost control measures, lower variable cost of sales on reduced revenues, the disposals of The Roar and iNC Digital Media and the simplification of management and operational structures between HT&E and ARN, which occurred in the second half of 2019.

The Group had net assets at 31 December 2020 of $492.2 million, which was down $37.7 million on prior year driven by non-cash impairments of $65.7 million and impact of COVID-19 on the financial results of the business, partly offset by equity gains on listed investments, write-back of provisions and the benefit of government subsidies.

During the period, the Group acquired a 4.7% interest in local outdoor advertising company, oOh!media Limited for $18.1 million. The Group continues to support oOh!media as a constructive long-term shareholder.

Segment earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from continuing operations and before exceptional items were down 35% from the corresponding period.

A matter pertaining to a financing arrangement involving the Company’s former New Zealand operations was settled with the ATO for an amount of $3.2 million. A provision of $3.0 million was previously made for this matter.

Depreciation and amortisation decreased from $18.8 million to $16.8 million. This resulted in EBIT from continuing operations and before exceptional items of $32.5 million compared with $56.9 million, a decrease of 43%.

The ATO Branch tax dispute is ongoing. The deposit of $50.7 million provided to the ATO in 2018, remains a non-current asset on the balance sheet, while the dispute processes are being completed. Consistent with prior year, the Company has recorded a provision in the balance sheet for uncertain tax treatment in relation to the Branch dispute of $30.0 million, with the amount reflecting probability-weighted estimate of the possible outcomes. The estimate may not reflect the final outcome. The non-current asset is further reduced by $16.7 million for the value of tax deductions on interest. Refer to note 4.1 to the consolidated financial statements for more information.

Resulting net profit after tax attributable to shareholders (NPAT) from continuing operations before exceptional items for the period was $15.4 million.

Pre-tax exceptional items comprise of non-recurring gains and losses arising during the period, including previously outlined non-cash impairments of $65.7 million, restructuring costs of $1.5 million, benefit of government wage subsidies of $10.7 million, and benefit of $4.8 million from write-back of provisions. Further details are included in note 1.3 to the consolidated financial statements.

Source: GfK Radio Ratings, S8 2020, SMBAP, ARN AM/FM/DAB, Mon-Sun 5:30-12mn (cume), Commercial Radio Groups AM/FM/DAB+, Mon-Sun 5:30-12mn, Mon-Fri 5:30-9am (share %), P10+, unless otherwise stated.

Impact of AASB 16 Leases on financial performance

AUD million1	2019 result without adoption of AASB 16 2020 result without adoption of AASB 16 2020 lease adjustment AASB 162 2020 as reported
Australian Radio Network	70.3 43.0 3.3 46.2
Hong Kong Outdoor	0.0 (5.4) 13.0 7.7
Investments and Corporate	(10.4) (4.9) 0.3 (4.6)
EBITDA3	59.9 32.7 16.6 49.3
Depreciation and amortisation	(4.8) (4.2) (12.6) (16.8)
Net interest expense	0.1 (1.5) (2.3) (3.8)
NPBT	55.2 27.0 1.7 28.7

Totals may not add due to rounding.
The lease adjustments have resulted in an improvement in EBITDA through a reduction in rental expense.
EBITDA from continuing operations and before exceptional items, represents the Group’s total segment result.

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW

Christian O’Connell GOLD104.3 Melbourne

Cash flow generation

Cash fow generation
AUD million1	2020 2019 Change $
Operating cash fows and lease payments2	28.9 31.3 (2.4)
Tax matter settlement3	(3.2) – (3.2)
Government subsidies	10.7 – 10.7
Investingcash fows4	(15.4) (9.6) (5.8)
Net free cash fow	21.0 21.7 (0.7)
Borrowings	3.3 – 3.3
Short-term deposits	(50.0) – (50.0)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(12.8) (22.8) 9.9
Other fnancing cash fows	(7.1) (16.4) 9.2
Cash at the beginning of the year	111.0 128.4 (17.4)
Efect of foreign exchange of theyear	(0.2) 0.0 (0.2)
Cash at end of year5	65.1 111.0 (45.9)
Short-term deposits	50.0 – 50.0
Bank loans	(2.9) – (2.9)
Net cash	112.1 111.0 1.2

Totals may not add due to rounding.
Operating cash flows, plus principal repayments on finance leases accounted for under AASB 16 Leases from 1 January 2019.
Refer to note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for further details on this tax matter.
Excluding amounts transferred to short-term deposits.
Excludes amounts held in short-term deposit with banking institutions.

Cash and capital management

The balance sheet remains strong with net cash of $112.1 million as at 31 December 2020.

The Group retains debt facilities with undrawn limits of $252.1 million, most of which expire in 2024 and are sufficient to cover any adverse outcome on the ongoing disputes with the ATO.

The on-market share buyback continued throughout the period, however at significantly reduced levels reflective of

the Company’s prudent approach to preserving capital in the current uncertain advertising market.

Operating cash flows and lease payments on a continuing basis were down $2.4 million on last year, with a reduction in tax instalments, tax refunds and government subsidies offset by decline in business performance in the period.

In the first half no interim dividend was declared, given the uncertainty in the operating environment and the need to maintain a strong balance sheet. Whilst trading conditions across the Group’s

Australian operations improved in the second half, the Company took the decision not to declare a full year dividend, recognising the level of inherent economic uncertainty attributable to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Group’s dividend policy, between 60% and 80% of net profit distributed in a normal year, reflects the profitable and highly cash generative nature of the Group. While suspended due to economic uncertainty from COVID-19, this will be revisited as trading conditions normalise.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

14 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

Australian Radio Network (ARN)

Growth in radio and audio listenership

Despite disruption to daily routines, ARN experienced growth in total listening across COVID-19, with ARN commercial radio now reaching 5.3 million people weekly from breakfast to drive.

During COVID-19, radio remained the ultimate companion medium demonstrated with listening increasing across all day parts, with breakfast and drive up 2% and 6% respectively, and mornings and afternoons experiencing significant growth, up 22% and 17% respectively, as people spent more time at home and sought companionship through the day. With the easing of restrictions across the nation, listening behaviour has now reverted to normal[1] . Increasing smartphone and smart speaker penetration continues to drive digital listening; and streaming of ARN radio stations experienced an increase of 14%[2] in total listening across the year.

New technologies offering exciting ways for radio content to be consumed, including smart speakers, saw a 60% uplift since the start of COVID-19.

ARN is uniquely placed to continue to build listenership given iHeartRadio is the only listening platform to deliver live radio, music streaming and podcasts all in the one place.

#1 ratings position maintained

ARN’s strategy of recruiting and retaining the best talent continues to pay off, delivering ARN its ninth consecutive #1 ratings position. The power of our talent to connect brands and consumers and drive commercial outcomes for clients has shone through in 2020.

The Sydney duopoly strategy with KIIS and WSFM continues to deliver. KIIS 1065’s Kyle and Jackie O, who are now in their 20th year of being on air together, continue to dominate Sydney breakfast radio, finishing the year where they started,

at #1FM, with WSFM’s Jonesy & Amanda following, averaging the year at #2FM[3] . GOLD104.3 in Melbourne is now established as the clear #1FM, along with The Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show. Perth’s 96FM rose to #1 in survey 7 off the back of a great breakfast show and clear music strategy[4] .

Adelaide’s strength in ratings continued across the year, and a new breakfast show with sporting legend Erin Phillips joining Soda on Mix102.3 delivers momentum for 2021.

Key priorities for the business in 2021 are improving ratings performance across 97.3FM Brisbane and KIIS101.1 Melbourne and maintaining our enviable network ratings position.

#1 podcast publisher in Australia

ARN is now the #1 podcast publisher in the country after launching the iHeartRadio Podcast Network Australia in February 2020. Driven by our careful content strategy and a growing consumer appetite, in December we published five of the top 10 podcasts in the country with podcast downloads reaching new listening highs, increasing by 124%[5] since the beginning of the year.

Our strategy of representing a broad spectrum of local and international publishers as the podcast market matures has allowed us to build internal capability while managing investment risk and returns.

1 Source: GfK Radio Pulse, June 2020, Mon-Sun 5.30am-12mn, Commercial Radio Audience (cume 000s), People 10+, unless otherwise stated. All comparisons are made with GfK Radio Ratings, S2 2020.
2 Source: Adswizz, Audiometrix, ARN Stations only, Total Listening Hours, Dec 2020 v Jan 2020.
3 Source: GfK Radio Ratings: S1, S2, S6, S7, S8 2020 (averaged), S1, S8 2020, Sydney, M-F 5:30am-9am, Comm Radio Stns (FM), Sydney, share to all, P10+.
4 Source: GfK Radio Ratings: S7 2020 (Perth), S8 2020 (Melbourne), M-S 5:30-12mn, M-F 5:30am-9am, Comm Radio Stns (FM), share to all, P10+.
5 Source: Megaphone Hosting Platform, 900K Australian Devices, ARN/iHR Podcast Growth, ave weekly downloads, Jan 20-Dec 20.
6 Source: https://www.iheartmedia.com/digital.

Radio remains the ultimate companion medium demonstrated with listening resilient across all day parts during COVID-19 and listener growth increasing year-on-year.

** 2% 14% in total Radio in ARN digital market listening YoY streaming YoY

Total Radio listener growth

Commercial Metro Radio Audience Cumulative Reach – All Day Parts[**]

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12,000
11,080
10,000
8,000
6,000
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Source: GfK Radio Ratings, Average of
Surveys 1-8, 2016-2019, Average of Surveys
1-2 &6-8 2020; Commercial Metro Radio
(AM/FM/DAB+), SMBAP, M-S-12mn-12mn,
cume reach ‘000s, P10+.
Source: Adswizz, Audiometrix, ARN
Stations only, Total Listening Hours,
Dec 2020 v Jan 2020.
Cume Reach 000’s
----- End of picture text -----*

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

Most complete audio offering for clients

ARN is able to leverage its audio expertise, to offer the full sphere of audio solutions to advertisers, with what we call the “ARN Audiosphere”, providing consistent and immediate opportunities for partnership and integration for brands across on-demand radio, music, digital, and podcasts.

We are developing innovative technology led products, such as Dynamic Audio. This product allows clients to deliver personalised audio messaging based on relevance and targeting characteristics across broadcast radio and digital formats. This is a world first innovation for broadcast radio and we are proud to have partnered with premium brands like Coles, Toyota and Mazda in the first few months of rollout. Further, we continue partnering with leaders in digital marketing technology, AdsWizz, to provide one-to-one targeted advertising that combines listener data with matched client content.

The growth of v-commerce (voice enabled transactions) fuelled by increased smart speaker penetration in Australian homes will present clear opportunities for new product developments into 2021.

iHeartRadio long term licence and partnership a key differentiator in the local market

Our digital platform for radio, music, and podcasts, provides access for listeners to stream live broadcast radio stations, allows them to listen to the best of international and local podcasts and create custom Artist Radio stations, everywhere and on any device.

HT&E has a unique long term licence with iHeartMedia, Inc. for the iHeartRadio platform which is the #1 streaming broadcast radio platform in the US, with six times the digital listening of the next largest commercial broadcast radio company[5] .

iHeartRadio is globally available on over 250 platforms and over 2,000 different connected devices including smart speakers, digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables, smartphones, virtual assistants, televisions and gaming consoles.

Digital investment and partnerships

Investments in our core technology stack, including onboarding Adobe Audience Manager, continued at pace during 2020. We are now fully integrated in the Adobe Platform which means we are able to offer clients premium targeting capability, combining their anonymised data and segments with our iHeartRadio first party data. This allows the advertiser to measure ROI by attributing advertising exposure data to actual sales data.

Hong Kong Outdoor (Cody)

Cody, our Hong Kong outdoor business had a challenging 18 months, with social unrest impacting advertiser confidence in the second half of 2019. While protests in Hong Kong largely abated at the start of 2020, advertising markets did not have an opportunity to recover before the onset of COVID-19. In-line with other markets around the globe, advertiser demand for outdoor advertising was significantly impacted by reduced pedestrian footfall and commuter volumes caused by government enacted lockdowns to contain the virus.

Cody continues to operate a good network of advertising contracts, including HK Tramways, Eastern and Western Harbour Tunnels, Tai Lam Tunnel and a number of smaller assets.

Investments

Soprano

Soprano, an independent software vendor in which HT&E has held a 25% stake since 2001, delivered record revenue, gross margin and earnings growth. The Company, with established operations in Europe, North & South America, Asia and Australia, provides CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) to enterprise customers through long term strategic partnerships with MNO’s (mobile Network Operators) and direct to clients.

The Soprano software provides a self-managed, enterprise grade solution to orchestrate secure interactions over SMS, MMS, email, Voice, RCS (Rich Communication Services), WhatsApp and SecureIP.

Soprano has recorded strong revenue

and gross profit trajectory over the past two to three years which was maintained across COVID-19, with improvement in all key customer metrics, including net revenue retention, message volumes, and failure rates.

Innovation and product development are key priorities of Soprano, with integrations into third party ERP, HR and CRM systems. The company’s growth strategy is focused on increasing usage by existing customers, upsell of products and services, acquiring new customers and MNO partners, innovating on the Soprano product and growth through mergers and acquisitions.

Emotive

Emotive, an independent creative company in which HT&E holds a 51% stake, grew revenues with an enhanced service offering and growing client base.

Emotive offers the full breadth of creative services, including production, content distribution, strategy, creative and design. In a challenging local advertising market, Emotive maintained good momentum through the business with the growth of a number of new strategic clients, including HelloFresh, Modibodi, Destination NSW, St Hugo Wine, Google and the University of Sydney, which complemented long standing partnerships with clients such as Optus.

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Erin Phillips & Soda Mix102.3 Adelaide

Importantly, we are on the US technology roadmap, and benefit from the learnings and expertise of over 200 developers working for the #1 audio company in the United States.

^ Source: Triton, Australian Podcast Ranker: November 2020.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

ANNUAL REPORT 2020

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Our people are our greatest asset

The success of the HT&E Group across 2020 is testament to the strength, resilience and hard work of all of our people. Our people are our most valuable asset, and the way they engage with our business and represent HT&E as part of the broader community is something of which we are most proud.

Over the years, we have worked hard to develop and provide a positive employment culture which was certainly tested by the challenges of 2020. Our focus on establishing an environment where people felt connected, were supported and given access to learning and development proved beneficial when operations became largely virtual. Our culture of support quickly translated into the virtual environment and ensured that both individually and collectively, our people were able to face evolving and complex challenges.

We emphasise a workplace where diversity and inclusion are not only accepted but truly embraced, and celebrate this in the content that we produce each day. We’re committed to supporting our chosen charities and encourage our people to give back generously to their communities with a volunteer day off given each year.

An unprecented year, giving back to the community

CSA delivered to the value of $10.3 million

Community Service Announcements (CSAs) are media inventory schedules dedicated to raising awareness to support a broad spectrum of charitable and community initiatives. Organisations that benefit from this airtime use it to drive awareness and funding for their programs, and engage people in their efforts.

HT&E and its group of companies are committed to giving back to the community that our people are a part of. Given the extraordinary year, it was more important than ever that we continued the community engagement work that we had established and that as individual situations changed, our people were able to either support or be supported as part of those efforts.

Across 2020, HT&E has been proud to support the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Foodbank Victoria, Australia Zoo, Beyond Blue, Australian Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Surf Lifesaving Australia, Cure Cancer Australia, batyr, Heart Kids, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and many more.

Community support has been driven through various means including:

The supply of media inventory to charitable and community-based initiatives (Community Service Announcements)

Radio and Digital CSAs worth $10.3 million was committed across 38,876 spots, 129 different organisations and 10 digital campaigns (3.9 million impressions).

Financial and employee engagement support for dedicated charities
Community engagement opportunities for employees
The response of our stations and shows through the content they produce and broadcast
Work experience programs

At Australian Radio Network (ARN), these works fall under our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, ARN Goodness.

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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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Dedicated financial and employee engagement

ARN is proud to partner with leading media charity, UnLtd. Through this program we continue to work with two charities that are aligned to our culture and vision – batyr and Musicians Making a Difference (MMAD).

Our efforts for these organisations are focused on fundraising and raising awareness of their work amongst our employees and the broader community. batyr is a ‘for purpose’ preventative mental health organisation, created and driven by young people, for young people. In 2020 we promoted their virtual batyr Ball to all staff and welcomed them to speak as part of our October Health & Wellness month, where they ran a virtual session sharing their observations of the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and provided actionable ways to support friends and family.

MMAD is an Australian charity that exists to change young lives through music. In 2020, we provided support to MMAD at the annual UnLtd Golf Day, reaching hundreds of senior and influential media executives, with the tournament raising over $140,000 for the charity partners.

Give back, it’s on us

All employees are encouraged to give back, by taking a ‘charity day’, devoting time and skills to a charity of their choice. While the conditions of 2020 made it more difficult for people to contribute in the ways they usually would, those who could, embraced the opportunity.

“ I used my ARN Charity Day in December and volunteered (with my teenage daughter) at The Salvation Army Street Level Mission in Surry Hills. We spent the day packing Christmas gifts for children from less fortunate backgrounds. It was a great way for us to connect with the community and give back to those that are less fortunate than us. It was also a really great bonding session for my daughter and I, and it was awesome to see what a great eye opener it was for her. We are so lucky at ARN to be given this day – more people should use it.”

Karen Harris, Sydney

558 staff completing 7,580 courses

Change Management Program completed by 62 leaders

New CRM implementation, training for

180

staff across 9 departments

36 senior leaders attended Australian Institute of Management courses to support and energise their teams through COVID-19

Thrive: empowering through our learning and development

As 2020 threw challenges our way, the involvement and engagement of our staff was paramount to stimulate productivity and maintain mental health.

ARN continued to offer a robust learning program, pivoting training to the virtual space.

A healthy workplace

We are committed to a workplace that embraces a healthy lifestyle and work life balance and for the first time in 2020, we dedicated an entire month to encouraging Health & Wellness across our business. The month comprised a calendar of virtual events across October, including live speaker sessions, podcasts, TED Talks, exercise sessions and much more, designed to empower and motivate staff to take control of their own mental and physical health. ARN also launched a digital radio station on iHeartRadio, THE GET UP, with staff curating a playlist of hits that uplift and energise them.

A culture of belonging

Diversity and Inclusion are not just words but woven deeply into the fabric of our culture. A compulsory Diversity and Inclusion learning module was created and rolled out across ARN in the fourth quarter of 2020, complimenting our existing Diversity and Inclusion framework.

Celebrating diversity

ARN continues to commit to Australia’s leading LGBTQIA+ celebrations – Mardi Gras (Sydney) and Midsumma (Melbourne). We amplify these major cultural events, not only through our own media channels, but manifesting within our workplace, ensuring our staff are represented and provided the opportunity to participate in the celebration.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

18 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Working anywhere, anytime

500+ staff shifted to working from home within 3 days

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March 2020 and with the health and well-being of our people being our number one priority, we responded by shifting the majority of our teams to a working from home environment.

ARN’s business continuity plans ensured that across the network, the technology and resources were in place to ensure that all staff, including on air talent and content teams, could work from home or at other appropriate locations should it be required. Bespoke broadcast kits with new equipment were made available for news teams and other announcers, and were distributed as needed. This ensured we were able to continue to inform and entertain our audiences as the pandemic continued to evolve.

The high level of service provided to our clients and partners was not compromised and, other than face-to-face meetings, there was very little difference in the way we continued to interact.

Due to the success of our working from home program, and because of the continued engagement and proven productivity of our people, we have a renewed flexibility arrangement in place. Employees, in consultation with their managers, can continue to work from home one to two days each week, enabling everyone to secure a balanced lifestyle between the office and home, reduce travel times and remain vigilant about biosecurity as the threat of COVID-19 remains in the community.

Our commitment extends far beyond our workplace, we bring our audiences along for the journey

With 2020 delivering unprecedented, and unforgiving challenges, our shows and talent continued to reach out and support the communities in which they broadcast each day.

GOLD104.3 Christian O’Connell’s Heroes Gold Bushfire Relief Fundraiser

In light of the tragic bushfires that swept across the nation early in 2020, Christian O’Connell and his team had a vision to help in any way they could. This culminated in the creation of a specially brewed beer – Heroes Gold – made in partnership with Hawkers, and whose sole purpose was to raise funds for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. The campaign was an undeniable success, tapping into the hearts of listeners, and leveraging the strength of radio to mobilise the community.

650 cases of Heroes Gold sold in its first three days; over 1,300 slabs sold through pre-order
64 x 50 litre kegs of Heroes Gold delivered
Over 5,000 pints of Heroes Gold poured in 29 pubs
Heroes Gold stocked in 73 Dan Murphy’s and 100 BWS stores
Pro-bono promotional support across numerous brands, including Dayco in the Adelaide 500

97.3FM Robin, Terry & Bob’s Nutbush Dance Party

When Graceville State School wrote in to Robin, Terry & Bob, asking if they could play Tina Turner’s “Nutbush City Limits” on air so their home-schooling students and parents could virtually unite together in a dance break during the pandemic lockdown, our breakfast show hosts went several steps further – inviting Queensland’s Education Minister Grace Grace MP, Channel 9 News, and broader Brisbane schools and listeners to take part, ultimately creating a movement of positivity and fun across the state.

Videos of students participating in The Nutbush submitted from 35 schools
Listeners across Brisbane Nutbushing at home, at work, at school and on the run
Multiple calls from schools and parents all over the city to share their excitement with the station after the event
Over 13,000 views of the highlights video on 97.3FM’s Facebook page

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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KIIS 1065 Kyle & Jackie O’s Toy Drive Kyle & Jackie O’s Toy Drive returned in 2020 to make sure the children at Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick had a magical Christmas.

With another incredibly generous $80,000 worth of toys donated from Toymate and with the help of Kyle & Jackie O, we were able to surprise hundreds of deserving children and their families with new toys for Christmas. The campaign kicked off with the live on-air donation, followed by the annual heart-warming video content piece capturing the excitement on the children’s faces.

WSFM’s Pure Gold Live 2020

WSFM’s Pure Gold Live concerts took place in February at the Sydney Coliseum Theatre.

Mix102.3 Flinders Foundation Wellness Centre opening

Before passing away from breast cancer in 2016, one of Kerry Briggs’ three final wishes was to create a cancer wellness centre where patients and their families could be supported through the trauma and upheaval of diagnosis. In a huge fundraising effort in 2019, Adelaide breakfast host Mark Soderstrom embarked on a multi-day marathon to break a Guinness World Record for The Longest Marathon on a fairground/theme park attraction – and through the huge acts of generosity from the people of Adelaide, helped to make Kerry’s final wish a reality, with the Flinders Foundation Wellness Centre finally opening in February 2020.

While we have hosted many Pure Gold Live events over the years, Jonesy & Amanda partnered with the venue and promoter to help support two charities in their time of need, around the 2020 Summer Bushfires, with the price of every ticket sold going to WIRES Australia and BlazeAid.

$100,000 was donated at the conclusion of the event, with each charity receiving $50,000.

GOLD104.3 Christian O’Connell’s Hospital Care Package

When Melbourne nurse Ebony sought help from The Christian O’Connell Show to get a small supply of Powerade for her dehydrated colleagues during the peak of the pandemic, listeners and Melbourne businesses quickly rallied together to support our frontline health workers, demonstrating the power of radio to unite and foster community spirit.

2,500 care packs, courtesy of Coles, sent to 22 hospitals
$5,000 donated from AIA
10,000 bottles of Powerade and Mt Franklin water donated from Coca Cola Australia
A coffee machine and fridge, donated from E&S to two hospitals in need
Thousands more donations from listeners across the Victorian state

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care packs, courtesy of
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HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

20 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Hamish McLennan Chairman of the Board and Non-executive Director (since 30 Oct 2018)

Hamish McLennan is an experienced media and marketing executive who brings unparalleled expertise to the Board, given the global roles he has held and his depth of understanding of the changing media landscape and the demands of advertisers. He has a proven track record as an outstanding leader across the media and advertising sectors.

Previous roles Hamish has held include Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ten Network Holdings from 2013 to 2015, Executive Vice President for News Corporation in Sydney and New York from 2012 and 2013 and Global Chairman and CEO of Young & Rubicam, a division of WPP, the world’s largest communications services group from 2006 to 2011.

Committees

Audit & Risk Remuneration, Nomination and Governance

Other Directorships and offices

Director of REA Group Ltd (Chairman), Rugby Australia Limited (Chairman), Magellan Financial Group Limited, Claim Central Pty Limited, Scientific Games Corporation (US company) and Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Fundraising Board).

Previous directorships of other Australian listed companies (last three years)

iProperty Group Pty Ltd (from 16 February 2016 to 6 February 2019) (delisted).

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Ciaran Davis

CEO & Managing Director (since 24 Aug 2016)

Ciaran Davis is responsible for the strategic and operational direction of the business. He has transformed a business with large debt and a declining asset portfolio centred on traditional publishing, into one of the most exciting media businesses in Australia today, with a strong balance sheet. Prior to becoming CEO of HT&E, Ciaran spent five years as CEO of ARN repositioning the business to become the number one metropolitan radio operator in Australia. He has 20 years’ media experience working in over 15 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Other Directorships and offices

Director of a number of HT&E subsidiaries and joint venture companies and The Australian Ireland Fund Ltd.

Previous directorships of other Australian listed companies (last three years)

Nil.

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Belinda Rowe

Non-executive Director (since 5 Feb 2019)

Belinda Rowe has worked across the marketing, communications and media industry in a number of global roles (most recently at Telefonica O2 UK a leading UK telecommunications company with 32 million customers leading their Brand and Marketing Communications). Belinda was one of the top global executives at Publicis Media, one of the largest media communications groups in the world. She has a strong understanding across international marketing, communication, media and digital having developed a business and digital transformation capability and successful client practice in her global role at ZenithOptimedia, part of Mojo – an iconic communications group. She also created a unique content marketing business across 32 markets within Publicis Media, advising on digital capabilities including programmatic, content, mobile, social and the application of data and technology.

Belinda was a key member of the Global Management Executive team of Publicis Media and ZenithOptimedia, as well as previously chairing the UK leadership team of CEOs of all the Publicis Media businesses. Prior to moving to the UK in 2009 she was CEO of ZenithOptimedia, for 10 years in Australia.

Committees

Audit & Risk Remuneration, Nomination and Governance

Other Directorships and offices

Director of Soprano Design Limited NSW Chair Advisory Board SecondBite Previous directorships of other Australian listed companies (last three years)

Nil.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Paul Connolly BComm, FCA

Non-executive Director (since 18 Oct 2012)

Paul Connolly has over 30 years’ experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, disposals, fundraisings and initial public offerings. Since 1991, Paul has been Chairman of Connolly Capital Limited, a Dublin-based corporate finance advisory firm focused on the telecom, media and technology sectors. He was a Director of Esat Telecommunications Limited, an Irish telecommunications company, from 1997 to 2000, and then a Director of Digicel Limited from 2000 to 2006, a Caribbean and Pacific based telecommunications Company – he continues to serve as a Senior Advisor to Digicel. In addition, he was a Director of Melita Cable PLC from 2007 to 2016 and a Director of Independent News & Media PLC from 2009 to 2018. From 1987 to 1991, he held the position of Financial Controller of Hibernia Meats Limited and prior to that, he worked with KPMG as an accountant.

Committees

Remuneration, Nomination and Governance (Chair) Audit & Risk

Other Directorships and offices

Chairman of private Irish companies Connolly Capital Ltd., Tetrarch Capital Ltd., FrameSpace Ltd., Business & Finance Ltd. (Irish business media group), Polaris Principal Navigator Ltd., UNICEF Ireland and a Director of Communicorp Group Ltd. (Irish Commercial radio group) as well as Chairman of Neon Century Ltd., (private UK company)

Previous directorships of other Australian listed companies (last three years)

Nil.

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Roger Amos FCA, FAICD

Non-executive Director (since 30 Nov 2018)

Roger Amos is an experienced non-executive Director with extensive finance and management experience. He is Chairman of Contango Asset Management Limited and a non-executive Director of 3P Learning Limited. He was formerly a non-executive Director at REA Group Ltd, where he was the Chairman of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and a member of its Human Resources Committee.

At 3P Learning Limited, he is the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee and a member of its Nominations and Remuneration Committee. Previously, he was a Director of Austar United Communications Limited and Enero Group Limited. He had a long and distinguished career with international accounting firm KPMG for 25 years as a partner in the Assurance and Risk Advisory Services Division. While with KPMG, he led the Australian team specialising in the information, communications and entertainment sectors and held a number of global roles.

Committees

Audit & Risk (Chair) Remuneration, Nomination and Governance

Other Directorships and offices

Director of Contango Asset Management Limited (Chairman), 3P Learning Limited and Governor of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation.

Previous directorships of other Australian listed companies (last three years)

Enero Group Limited (from 23 November 2010 to 18 October 2018) and REA Group Ltd (from 4 July 2006 to 17 December 2020).

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

22 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

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Ciaran Davis CEO & Managing Director (since 24 Aug 2016)

Refer to biography on page 20

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Andrew Nye BBus, CA Chief Financial Officer

In August 2019, Andrew Nye was appointed Chief Financial Officer of ARN, with dual responsibility for both ARN and HT&E. He joined HT&E in 2015 as General Manager of Finance and was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Adshel in 2017. At HT&E, Andrew was the operational finance lead across a period of significant corporate activity, including the demerger of NZME, disposal of Australian Regional Media and acquisition of Adshel. While at Adshel, Andrew was a member of the executive team, responsible for the development and execution of the strategic and operational plans of the company. Andrew led the finance team through the successful sale of Adshel to oOh!media in 2018.

Andrew is a Chartered Accountant and has a broad range of experience accumulated through a combination of commercial roles and over 11 years consulting at PwC. Andrew is a Director of a number of HT&E subsidiaries and joint venture entities.

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL REPORT

Will & Woody KIIS Network Drive	Corporate Governance Statement 24 Directors’ Report 24 Remuneration Report 30 Auditor’s Independence Declaration 45 About The Financial Statements 46 Consolidated Financial Statements Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 47 Consolidated Balance Sheet 48 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 49 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 50 Notes To The Consolidated Financial Statements 1. Group performance 1.1 Revenues 51 1.2 Expenses 53 1.3 Segment information 54 1.4 Earnings per share 56 2. Operating assets and liabilities 2.1 Intangible assets 57 2.2 Property, plant and equipment 62 2.3 Leases 64 2.4 Provisions 68		3. Capital management 3.1 Bank loans 70 3.2 Cash fow information 71 3.3 Financial risk management 72 3.4 Fair value measurements 75 3.5 Contributed equity 76 3.6 Share-based payments 77 3.7 Reserves and accumulated losses 79 3.8 Dividends 81 4. Taxation 4.1 Income tax and deferred tax 82 5. Group structure 5.1 Controlled entities 87 5.2 Interests in other entities 90 5.3 Shares in other corporations 91 5.4 Investments accounted for using the equity method 92 5.5 Parent entity fnancial information 95 5.6 Deed of cross guarantee 96 6. Other 6.1 Contingent liabilities 98 6.2 Remuneration of auditors 98 6.3 Related parties 99 6.4 Other signifcant accounting policies 100 6.5 Subsequent events 101
			Directors’ Declaration 102
			Independent Auditor’s Report 103
			Shareholder Information 108
			Corporate Directory 111

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The Board of HT&E endorses good corporate governance practices and oversees an organisation-wide commitment to high standards of legislative compliance and financial and ethical behaviour.

The Directors’ overriding objective is to increase shareholder value within an appropriate framework that protects the rights and enhances the interests of all shareholders and ensures the Company is properly managed.

The Company has considered the best practice recommendations established by the ASX Corporate Governance Council Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations 4th Edition, February 2019 and has complied with the ASX recommendations for the entire reporting period (unless otherwise indicated in the Company’s Corporate Governance Statement).

A description of how the Company’s main corporate governance practices and policies, together with the policies and charters referred to in it, is available on the Company’s website, www.htande.com.au/corporate-governance.

Your Directors present their report on the consolidated entity consisting of HT&E and the entities it controlled at the end of, or during, the year ended 31 December 2020. Throughout this report, the consolidated entity is also referred to as the Group.

The Directors of HT&E Limited during the financial year and up to the date of this report consisted of:

Hamish McLennan (Chairman) (appointed 30 October 2018)

Roger Amos (appointed 30 November 2018) Paul Connolly (appointed 18 October 2012) Ciaran Davis (CEO & Managing Director) (appointed 24 August 2016) Belinda Rowe (appointed 5 February 2019).

Details of the current Directors’ qualifications, experience and responsibilities are set out on pages 20 and 21.

Jeremy Child joined HT&E Limited in 2015 as Group Taxation Manager and took on the expanded role of Company Secretary in August 2019. He previously worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland (formerly ABN AMRO) dealing in a range of tax matters including advising on transactions, products, governance and managing tax audits. Jeremy also consulted at tax firms such as providing R&D advice with MJ&A and GST advice with PwC. Jeremy is a legal practitioner holding a BBus/LLB from UTS, a MSc from the Stockholm School of Economics and is an Associate of the Governance Institute of Australia.

HT&E is a leading media and entertainment company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange which operates audio and digital businesses in Australia as well as outdoor assets in Hong Kong.

HT&E owns Australian Radio Network (ARN), Australia’s leading metropolitan radio broadcaster and home to the national KIIS and Pure Gold networks and youth radio network The Edge. ARN also operates music, streaming and podcasting brand iHeartRadio, along with a content creation business Emotive.

HT&E also owns Cody Out-of-Home in Hong Kong, which has a network of over 440 outdoor advertising panels across major Hong Kong tunnels as well as the iconic tram shelters on Hong Kong Island.

Other HT&E investments included global provider of secure mobile messaging technology Soprano Design.

Dividends paid to owners of HT&E Limited during the financial year were as follows:

DIVIDENDS
	Cents	AUD	Date of
Type	per share	million	Payment
Final 2019	4.6	12.8	23 Mar 2020
No interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2020	-	-	-

The Directors have determined that no final dividend will be payable in respect of the year ended 31 December 2020.

The Group has been affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19 in both Australia and Hong Kong.

Refer to the Chairman’s Report, Chief Executive Officer’s Report, Response to COVID-19 and Operating & Financial Review for information on the underlying drivers of the results, financial position of the Group, its business strategies and prospects, as well as the business impacts of COVID-19. These are set out on pages 4 to 15.

The Directors have determined that it remains appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis taking into consideration the financial position of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2020, future payment obligations and available banking facilities.

In the opinion of the Directors, there were no significant changes in the state of affairs of the consolidated entity during the financial year under review not otherwise disclosed in this Directors’ Report or the consolidated financial statements.

Events occurring after balance date are outlined in note 6.5 to the consolidated financial statements.

Overall strategic direction and prospects are discussed in the Chairman’s and Chief Executive Officer’’s reports on pages 4 to 7 and the Operating & Financial Review on pages 10 to 15.

Further information as to likely developments in the operations of the consolidated entity and the expected results of those operations in subsequent financial years has not been included in this Directors’ Report because, in the opinion of the Directors, it would prejudice the interests of the consolidated entity.

The Board plays an active role in the setting and oversight of HT&E’s Risk Management Framework.

The Australian advertising industry is subject to inherent risks including, but not limited to, exposure to macroeconomic factors, technological and social changes impacting consumer behaviours and advertiser spending, market competition and impacts of changes in government regulations.

The process of identifying, monitoring and mitigating significant business risks under the Group’s Risk Management Framework is outlined in further detail in the Corporate Governance Statement which is available on the Company website, www.htande.com.au/corporate-governance.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The Group has identified a number of key business and financial risks which may impact on HT&E’s achievement of its strategic and financial objectives. They include, but are not limited to:

Risk	Description
Changes in metro radio	In Australia, the Group operates within the radio and digital advertising sectors. Any decline in radio
audience share	audience share could affect advertising revenue and financial results.
	The Group mitigates this risk by investing in its on-air talent and audio offering, which span across radio,
	music streaming, podcasting and events, in addition to the attraction and retention of experienced and
	high performing executives and employees.
Loss of key on-air talent	Recruiting and retaining the best on-air talent are integral to being able to maintain and grow
	audience share.
	Fixed term contracts are in place, with terms reviewed and contracts renewed with sufficient regularity
	to mitigate the risk of losing key on-air talent.
Changes in advertiser and/or	Remaining relevant to advertisers and consumers is critical to meeting the Group’s strategic objectives.
audience preferences	Changes in consumer preferences leading to audience fragmentation could over time, result in
	revenue declines.
	The Group remains focused on improving commercial revenue share through its “Defining Audio”
	commercial proposition, which was further strengthened in 2020 with the launch of ARN Dynamic
	Audio. The Group continues to invest in digital innovation, podcasting, streaming and data capabilities.
	Further, investment in capabilities include retaining experienced media executives, hiring proven on-air
	talent, participation in industry bodies, advertising and market research.
Timing of recovery from	The ability for the Group to execute its strategy is linked to ongoing economic stability in those markets
COVID-19 pandemic and	in which it operates. If economic conditions were to deteriorate, there could be a significant reduction in
other macroeconomic factors	Group revenues and earnings.
	During the year, advertising spend in both Australia and Hong Kong were significantly affected by the
	widespread economic impacts of COVID-19.
	In response to COVID-19, the Group implemented cost control measures, including accessing
	Government subsidies where eligible. The Group maintains a strong capital structure with sufficient
	undrawn facilities in place and will continue to monitor performance and market developments to
	reassess plans and strategies as required.
Tax matters	As previously disclosed, there are a number of open tax matters with the Australian Taxation Office, the
	outcomes of which have the potential to adversely impact earnings, cash flow and the Group’s strategy.
	Further details are provided in note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.
Loss of broadcasting	While considered unlikely, the loss of an Australian radio broadcasting licence would have a material
licence	impact on Group revenues and earnings.
	The Group has long-standing controls in place to minimise the risk of legislation compliance breaches.
Disruption of technology	There are a number of technology systems that are critical to the operations of the Group and
systems, security breaches	protection of privacy of data.
and data privacy	The Group continues to invest in cyber security and strengthening its IT Risk Management Framework to
	reduce the occurrence of outages, enable early detection of issues and mitigate operating and financial
	impacts. During the year we completed training on cyber security awareness for all staff and performed
	penetration testing on our key business systems and remediated any potential issues identified by
	the testing.

The Directors recognise the corporate social responsibilities of the Group, including the importance of environmental matters, occupational health and safety issues and diversity initiatives. The Directors are committed to compliance with all relevant laws and regulations to ensure the protection of the environment, the community and the health and safety of employees. The operations of the consolidated entity are not subject to any particular and significant environmental regulation under the laws of Australia or Hong Kong.

The Remuneration Report is set out on pages 30 to 44 and forms part of this Directors’ Report.

The number of meetings of the full Board of Directors and Board Committees held in the period each Director held office during the financial year and the number of those meetings attended by each Director in their capacity as a member of the Board or Board Committee were:

Committee were:
			Audit & Risk		Remuneration, Nomination
	Board of Directors			Committee	and Governance Committee
	Held	Attended	Held	Attended	Held	Attended
Hamish McLennan	16	16	6	6	3	3
Roger Amos	16	16	6	6	3	3
Paul Connolly	16	16	6	6	3	3
Ciaran Davis	16	16	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Belinda Rowe	16	16	6	6	3	3

Committees were formed for purposes including reviewing and approving the half-year and annual financial statements, 2019 Annual Report and 2020 Notice of Annual General Meeting. These meetings were attended as follows (Held/Attended): Hamish McLennan (3/3), Roger Amos (1/1) and Ciaran Davis (3/3).

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The Remuneration Report on pages 30 to 44 contains details of shareholdings of the Directors and Executive Key Management Personnel for the year ended 31 December 2020.

There were no unissued shares of HT&E Limited under option at 31 December 2020 and no shares issued during the financial year as a result of the exercise of options. No options have been granted since the end of the financial year.

The parent entity’s Constitution provides for an indemnity for officers of the Company against any liability incurred by an officer of the Company in their capacity as an officer. Under the Corporations Act 2001 , this indemnity does not extend to a liability to the parent entity or a related body corporate of the parent entity, a liability for a pecuniary penalty or compensation order under certain provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 or a liability that is owed to someone other than the parent entity or a related body corporate of the parent entity, which did not arise out of conduct in good faith.

An Access, Indemnity and Insurance Deed is also provided to each Director and officer who serves as a director or officer of the Company, a subsidiary or an associated entity. The deed is consistent with the Constitution and indemnifies these persons to the extent permitted by law for liabilities and legal costs incurred as a director of these entities (subject to some limitations).

The parent entity has paid for an insurance policy for the benefit of all persons who are or have been directors or officers of the parent entity or any other company in the consolidated entity against liabilities incurred during any one policy period. The insured persons include current and former directors, officers and company secretaries of the parent entity and any other company in the consolidated entity. The insurance policy specifically prohibits the disclosure of the nature of the liability covered and the premium paid.

No person has applied to the court under section 237 of the Corporations Act 2001 for leave to bring proceedings on behalf of the Company, or to intervene in any proceedings to which the Company is a party, for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the Company for all or part of those proceedings.

No proceedings have been brought or intervened in on behalf of the Company with leave of a court under section 237 of the Corporations Act 2001 .

The Group may decide to employ its auditors on assignments additional to their statutory audit duties where the auditor’s expertise and experience with the Group is important.

For the financial year, the Company’s auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, received or is due to receive $399,000 for the provision of nonaudit services. Full details of the amounts paid or payable to the auditors for audit and non-audit services provided during the financial year are set out in note 6.2 to the consolidated financial statements.

The Company auditor has provided the Directors with an Auditor’s Independence Declaration in relation to the audit, a copy of which is provided on page 45. The auditor has also confirmed to the Directors that it has in place independence quality control systems which support its assertions in relation to its professional and regulatory independence as auditor of the consolidated entity (including the requirements of APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants ).

The Audit & Risk Committee has reviewed the fees provided to the auditor for non-audit services in the context of APES 110, the requirements of the Audit & Risk Committee Charter, the Audit Firm Service Provider Policy and general corporate governance practices adopted by the consolidated entity.

Based on the above factors, the Audit & Risk Committee has no reason to believe that there has been any compromise in the independence of the auditor due to the provision of these non-audit services and has advised the Board accordingly.

In accordance with the advice of the Audit & Risk Committee, the Directors are therefore satisfied that the provision of non- audit services during the financial year by the auditor is compatible with the general standard of independence for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act 2001 and that the provision of non-audit services during the financial year did not compromise the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 .

A copy of the Auditor’s Independence Declaration, as required under section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 , is provided on page 45.

The Company is of a kind referred to in ASIC Corporations (Rounding in Financial/Directors’ Reports) Instrument 2016/191 issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, relating to the rounding off of amounts in this Directors’ Report and the financial report. Amounts in this Directors’ Report and the financial report have been rounded off to the nearest thousand dollars, or in certain cases to the nearest dollar, in accordance with that instrument.

This Directors’ Report is issued in accordance with a resolution of the Directors.

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Hamish McLennan Chairman

Sydney 24 February 2021

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

30 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

REMUNERATION REPORT

DEAR SHAREHOLDERS

On behalf of the Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee and the Board of Directors, I present HT&E’s Remuneration Report for 2020.

Part of the role of the Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee is to oversee HT&E’s remuneration policies and practices so they are consistent with and relevant to the achievement of the strategic goals of the Group. Amongst other objectives, the Committee is tasked with reviewing, and recommending to the Board, reward outcomes and any significant changes to remuneration arrangements for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Managing Director and other Executive Key Management Personnel (Executive KMP).

The Chairman’s and CEO & Managing Director’s reports outline the performance of the Group in 2020. HT&E’s statutory results finished below target, with advertising revenues across the Group materially affected by the economic impacts from the COVID-19 global pandemic. Against this challenging backdrop, the Group maintained its focus on strengthening core radio operations, delivering several key priorities for the year, including; maintaining ARN’s #1 ratings position, the successful launch of iHeart Podcast Network Australia, growing commercial radio revenue share to the highest levels in recent years, and a continued focus on cost management.

HT&E was able to access Federal Government funding for the first 6-month round of the JobKeeper stimulus program, with a total benefit of $10.3 million excluded from the underlying financial results. This funding was critical in contributing liquidity to the business and protecting jobs in a period of significant volatility and uncertainty in advertising markets.

With improved trading conditions, the Company was not eligible for ongoing financial support under the extended JobKeeper program.

A key part of HT&E’s cost management response to COVID-19 included Executive KMP and Non-executive Directors taking a 20% pay reduction for the period from May to September and foregoing all incentive payments in respect of 2020.

The remuneration outcomes set out below reflect this.

REMUNERATION APPROACH AND CHANGES FOR 2020

Limited changes were made to Executive KMP total fixed remuneration (TFR) and Non-executive Director remuneration in 2020. The only change made was in respect of the Chief Financial Officer who was awarded a fixed remuneration increase of 24% at the commencement of the year, reflective of an increase in responsibility.

The structure and financial metrics of the Group’s Total Incentive Plan (TIP) in 2020 remained consistent with last year’s plan. Targets are set annually for the following 12 months based on current year actual results and expected performance for the year ahead.

HT&E’s response to COVID-19 included Executive KMP and Non-executive Directors taking a 20% pay reduction for May to September and foregoing all incentives. During this time Executive KMP could use accrued annual leave to offset this reduction, maintaining TFR while generating immediate cost savings for the Group.

PERFORMANCE AND REMUNERATION OUTCOMES FOR 2020

As previously outlined, HT&E’s financial performance in 2020 was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic, and consequently Group performance fell short of threshold on all financial performance conditions;

Reported EBITDA before exceptional items and discontinued operations, of $49.3 million was down 35 per cent on 2019 and down 38
per cent behind target;
EPS on a post-tax basis, before exceptional items, of 5.5 cents was 58% per cent behind target; and
ROIC, calculated based on earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) and before exceptional items, of 8.0 percent, compared to target of 15.2 per cent.

Executive KMP met some or all of their personal key performance indicator (KPI’s) targets, however as a part of the Group’s cost management response to COVID-19, all Executive KMP incentives in respect of 2020 were foregone and consequently the portion of their non-financial TIP opportunity was not awarded, representing 25% of the target TIP opportunity.

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REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

REMUNERATION CHANGES FOR 2021

The Board has again reviewed the appropriateness of the TIP structure for 2021. Based on external feedback, shareholder support at the 2020 Annual General Meeting and our own assessment, we have concluded that the TIP structure remains the most effective mechanism to incentivise HT&E’s leadership. We have also concluded that the financial metrics continue to reflect the Board’s desire to see growth in earnings and returns.

The Board believes the TFR and TIP opportunity for 2021 continues to strongly align our management team with the interests of shareholders.

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Paul Connolly Chair of the Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

32 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

OUR DETAILED REMUNERATION REPORT

This Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2020 outlines key aspects of our remuneration policy and framework, and has been audited in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 .

Our Remuneration Report contains the following sections:

A. Who this report covers
B. Executive remuneration policy and framework, and the role of the Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee
C. How 2020 reward was linked to performance
D. Total remuneration for Executive KMP
E. Actual remuneration for 2020
F. Contractual arrangements with Executive KMP
G. Non-executive Director arrangements
H. Share-based remuneration
I. Non-executive Director and Executive KMP shareholdings
J. Other statutory disclosures.

A. WHO THIS REPORT COVERS

This report covers Key Management Personnel (KMP), comprising Executive Key Management Personnel (Executive KMP) and Nonexecutive Directors. No changes have occurred to KMP composition since 31 December 2020 up to the date of this report:

Name	Role
Executive KMP
Ciaran Davis	Chief Executive Officer (CEO & Managing Director)
Andrew Nye	Chief Financial Officer, HT&E and Australian Radio Network (CFO) (from 14 August 2019)
Non-executive Directors
Hamish McLennan	Non-executive Chairman
Roger Amos	Non-executive Director
Paul Connolly	Non-executive Director
Belinda Rowe	Non-executive Director (from 5 February2019)

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REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

B. EXECUTIVE REMUNERATION POLICY AND FRAMEWORK, AND THE ROLE OF THE REMUNERATION, NOMINATION AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

The Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee determines the remuneration policy and structure with the primary goal of attracting and retaining individuals capable of managing the Group’s operations in line with shareholder expectations. The executive packages are structured to:

be competitive in the market;
drive Executive KMP engagement;
provide an appropriate balance between short and long-term performance focus;
reward the achievement of financial and strategic objectives;
align executive reward with Company performance; and
create value for shareholders.

These principles were reflected in the remuneration framework for 2020, which is outlined below:

(I) TOTAL FIXED REMUNERATION (TFR)

TFR comprises base salary, retirement benefits and other remuneration related costs. The purpose of TFR is to recognise the capability and experience of the individual, and the scope and responsibility of the role.

As noted in the 2017 Remuneration Report, in 2017 The CEO & Managing Director offered to take a 15% reduction in base salary, which the Board accepted effective 1 January 2018. To ensure he remained incentivised to deliver outstanding results for shareholders, the Target Award Opportunity was adjusted upwards by the amount of TFR forgone, such that total compensation (TFR and TIP) would equate to what he could have earned in 2017 if targets had been met. This higher weighting of TIP to TFR benefits shareholders in two ways:

a greater proportion of the CEO & Managing Director’s total compensation is at risk and subject to performance outcomes. If performance targets are not met, a TFR cost reduction of 15% is achieved; and
if performance targets are achieved, a greater proportion of total compensation will be paid in shares, deferred over three years. This further aligns management and shareholder objectives.

The target remuneration mix for the CEO & Managing Director and CFO for 2020 is illustrated below:

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The TIP award opportunity for the CFO will be increased from 50% to 100% of TFR, resulting in a target remuneration mix of 50% / 50% for TFR and TIP in 2021.

The target remuneration mix for the CEO & Managing Director is unchanged for 2021.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

34 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

Retirement benefits

Retirement benefits are considered to be part of TFR and are delivered to Executive KMP in the form of statutory superannuation contributions to a number of different funds. Contributions made on behalf of executives are based on a percentage of fixed salary.

Other remuneration related costs

The Company may incur other remuneration related costs in respect of certain executives that are not regarded as part of the executive’s TFR. Typically, other payments are ancillary to the executive’s employment such as rental assistance or family travel in circumstances where the Company requires the executive to relocate. These costs include fringe benefits tax, if applicable.

(II) TOTAL INCENTIVE PLAN (TIP) OVERVIEW

The TIP provides eligible participants with the opportunity to receive cash and equity following an assessment against specified financial and non-financial performance conditions based on a one-year performance period. The following diagram illustrates the operation of the TIP for 2020, and the structure for 2021 follows the same pattern.

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----- Start of picture text -----

2020 2021 2022 2023
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(III) 2020 TIP: KEY TERMS

The following table outlines the key terms of the 2020 TIP.

Feature	Description
Eligibility	At the absolute discretion of the Board, the CEO & Managing Director and other Executive KMP are eligible
	to participate in the TIP.
Award opportunity	For the CEO & Managing Director, target award is 135.3% of fixed remuneration, reflecting the higher
	weighting of target award to fixed remuneration. The CFO’s target award opportunity for 2021 will be
	increased from 50% to 100% of fixed remuneration.
	Financial awards include incentive over and above the target award when results achieved are better than
	target. KPI awards are capped at 100% of the target opportunity. As a result, the maximum incentive is
	137.5% of the target award.
Performance period	The award is dependent on performance over a one-year performance period (the 2020 fnancial year).
	There is no opportunity for retesting.

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REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

Feature	Description
Performance measures	Financialperformance conditions (75%) Non-financialperformance conditions (25%)
	For the CEO & Managing Director and CFO, performance is measured based on Group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) (25%), Group earnings per share (EPS) (25%) and Group return on invested capital (ROIC) (25%), before exceptional items, per the table below. Performance is measured against specific metrics as determined for each participant at the commencement of the performance period. These metrics include: Group measures (e.g. business transformation or market share) and individual measures (e.g. leadership and development).
	The higher weighting of financial to non-financial metrics emphasises the importance the Board places on HT&E’s financial performance.
2020 incentive payout schedule	EBITDA and EPS ROIC
	EBITDA and EPS performance Percentage of target opportunity awarded ROIC performance Percentage of target opportunity awarded
	<95% of budget 0% Below threshold1 0%
	95% of budget 25% At threshold 25%
	>95% to <100% of budget Pro-rata between 25% and 100% Between threshold and budget Pro-rata between 25% and 100%
	100% of budget 100% At budget 100%
	>100% to <110% of budget Pro-rata between 100% and 150% Between budget and stretch Pro-rata between 100% and 150%
	At or above 110% of budget 150% At or above stretch 150%

The financial performance award schedule is designed to provide only limited awards where performance is below budget, with upside for performance above budget, up to a maximum cap of 150%.

Similarly, the non-financial performance award schedule was designed to limit awards below target. Upside will only be provided in exceptional circumstances at the absolute discretion of the Board.

EPS in 2020 was based on Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) attributable to owners of the parent as a percentage of weighted average number of shares on issue. ROIC in 2020 was based on EBIT as a percentage of adjusted total equity. Both measures were on a pre-exceptional items basis.

Form of award Awards under the TIP are granted to participants following the assessment of performance. To the extent that performance measures were met:

50% of awards were made in cash following the assessment of performance; and
50% of awards were granted in rights to acquire fully paid ordinary shares in the Company for nil consideration (rights).

Subject to the satisfaction of a one-year service period, vested rights will automatically convert to fully paid ordinary shares.

Participants will receive an additional allocation of fully paid ordinary shares at vesting equal to the dividends paid on vested rights over the performance and service periods.

Vested shares will be subject to a further two-year holding lock.

Equity allocation Equity is granted based on the face value of the rights. methodology

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

36 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

Feature	Description
Clawback	The Company may reduce unvested equity awards in certain circumstances such as gross misconduct,
	material misstatement or fraud. The Board may also reduce unvested awards to recover amounts where
	performance that led to payments being awarded is later determined to have been incorrectly measured
	or not sustained.
Treatment of awards on	Awards are forfeited for ‘bad’ leavers (e.g. resignation or termination for cause), while ‘good’ leavers (e.g.
cessation of employment	cessation of employment due to redundancy, total disablement or death) receive pro-rated awards
	based on the extent to whichperformance and service conditions are met.
Treatment of awards on	Participants receive pro-rated awards based on the extent to which performance and service conditions
change of control	are met.

(1) Threshold will be determined with reference to prior year ROIC, next 12-months expected earnings and forecast changes to capitalisation in the budget.

(IV) OTHER REMUNERATION ARRANGEMENTS, BOARD DISCRETION, AND CLAWBACK OF REMUNERATION Other remuneration arrangements will be entered into on an ‘as needs’ basis as determined by the Board. These may include retention and transaction/project completion incentives.

The Board retains the ultimate discretion regarding remuneration outcomes. The Board may make or cancel (claw back) awards where it sees fit to align with remuneration policy and /or Company strategic outcomes.

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REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

C. HOW 2020 REWARD WAS LINKED TO PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

The overall Company performance for 2020 is reflected in the performance measures below. 2020 and 2019 results reflect the adoption of AASB 16 Leases in 2019. 2018 results reflect the statutory results plus Adshel’s results for the period it was owned by HT&E. Earlier results reflect statutory results for the respective year.

	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Group EBITDA1	$49.3m	$75.6m	$105.5m	$118.4m	$90.9m
Net profit after tax before amortisation	$15.4m	$34.2m	$51.2m	$54.1m	$66.1m
(NPAT/NPATA)2
Weighted average number of shares outstanding3	279,530,868	283,605,019	307,528,973	307,696,348	200,039,379
Basic (NPAT/NPATA) EPS2 3(cents)	5.5	12.1	16.6	17.6	33.1
ROIC4	8.0%	14.0%	23.9%	13.4%	9.6%
Dividend paid to shareholders (cents per share)	4.6	8.0	79.0	7.0	nil
Increase/(decrease) in shareprice (%)5	9%	7%	22%	(34%)	(1%)

(1) Continuing operations before exceptional items. 2018 includes Adshel’s results for the period it was owned by HT&E. 2020 & 2019 includes impact of adoption of AASB 16 Leases .

(2) Continuing and discontinued operations before exceptional items and amortisation, attributable to HT&E shareholders. Results reflect Net Profit after Tax before Amortisation (NPATA) for 2016 and 2017 and NPAT for 2018 to 2020.

(3) Adjusted for treasury shares and share buyback in 2018 to 2020, share consolidation and bonus elements of the 2016 rights issues and placement.

(4) Based on EBIT from continuing operations before exceptional items for 2018 to 2020 and EBITA from continuing operations before exceptional items prior 2018.

(5) 2018 closing share price increased to reflect payment of special dividend. 2016 opening share price adjusted for the impact of NZME demerger, share consolidation, rights issues and placement.

PERFORMANCE AND IMPACT ON REMUNERATION

(I) 2020 TIP AWARD

HT&E’s continuing operations EBITDA, EPS and ROIC performance in 2020 were behind targets set at the beginning of the year, with advertising revenues and earnings across the Group materially impacted by the economic effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

A component (75%) of the 2020 TIP award was dependent on Group financial performance relative to target. Performance for the 2020 financial year is outlined in the table below:

2020 TIP financial
metrics	EBITDAperformance	EPSperformance	ROICperformance
Group: continuing	Between threshold and target;	Between target and maximum;	Between target and maximum;
operations	62.3% of target achieved	41.6% of target achieved	52.5% of target achieved

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

38 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

The chart below shows over the last three years, Group results used for TIP assessment as a percentage of targets, and the corresponding TIP component award outcome:

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HT&E’s performance for 2020 fell short of threshold on all financial performance conditions. Executive KMP met some or all of their personal KPI targets, with award outcomes for the CEO & Managing Director and CFO of 94% to 100%. However, as previously outlined, part of HT&E’s cost management response to COVID-19 included Executive KMP foregoing all incentive payments in respect of 2020, and therefore no TIP awards have been made.

The table below summarises the 2020 TIP outcomes:

	TIP awarded	TIP awarded	Total TIP		% of	% of
	(cash incentive)	(equity award)1	awarded	% of target	maximum	maximum
Executive KMP	$	$	$	achieved	achieved	forfeited
Ciaran Davis	–	–	–	–%	–%	100%
Andrew Nye	–	–	–	–%	–%	100%

(1) This differs from the accounting fair value of the equity award (included in section D), which is calculated in accordance with accounting standards and expensed over two financial years, covering both the performance and service periods.

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REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

D. TOTAL REMUNERATION FOR EXECUTIVE KMP

Details of the Executive KMP remuneration for 2020 and 2019 are set out in the table below. The remuneration in this table has been calculated in accordance with accounting standards and therefore differs from the information included in section E.

				Post-	Other
				employment	long-term	Share-based
		Short-term benefits		benefits	benefits	payments	Total
		Non-			Long	Fair value
	Cash salary	monetary	Cash	Super-	service	equity
	and fees1	benefits2	incentives3	annuation	leave4	awards5
Executive KMP	$	$	$	$	$	$	$
Ciaran Davis
2020	975,907	24,037	–	21,348	40,489	135,327	1,197,108
2019	976,489	33,143	155,250	20,767	34,683	497,111	1,717,443
Andrew Nye (from 14 August 2019)
2020	496,735	1,293	–	21,348	324	5,870	525,570
2019	152,949	–	9,844	10,305	87	5,452	178,637
Total
2020	1,472,642	25,330	–	42,696	40,813	141,197	1,722,678
2019	1,129,438	33,143	165,094	31,072	34,770	502,563	1,896,080

(1) Cash salary and fees include accrued annual leave paid out as part of salary.

(2) Non-monetary benefits typically include novated lease costs, car parking and associated fringe benefits tax.

(3) Cash incentive payments relate to cash TIP awards accrued for the relevant year and paid in the year following.

(4) Long service leave relates to amounts accrued during the year.

(5) The fair value is derived using the closing share price on the grant date.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

40 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

E. ACTUAL REMUNERATION FOR 2020

The following section sets out the value of remuneration which has been received by Executive KMP for the 2020 performance year.

For Executive KMP, the number of vesting 2019 rights was increased in accordance with the TIP Rules for dividends paid during 2020. For administrative purposes, vested 2018 rights were allocated to Executive KMP after the dividend paid in March 2020 and as a result 36,609 additional rights were issued which have also vested. Refer to the Reconciliation of Rights table included in Section H (II).

The figures in the following table are different to those shown in the accounting table in Section D because that table includes the apportioned accounting value for all vested TIP grants. It also includes accrued long service leave and non-monetary benefits provided in addition to an individual’s TFR.

The TIP values represent the cash portion (50%) of the total TIP awarded for each year. Vested TIP in 2019 is the value of the 2018 TIP grant as at 1 January 2020 which vested at the end of 2019, consistent with the 2019 Remuneration Report.

	TFR1	TIP	Vested TIP2	Total
Executive KMP	$	$	$	$
Ciaran Davis
2020	1,020,000	–	202,105	1,222,105
2019	1,020,000	155,250	1,117,844	2,293,094
Andrew Nye (from 14 August 2019)
2020	518,083	–	12,412	530,495
2019	163,254	9,844	–	173,098
Total
2020	1,538,083	–	214,517	1,752,600
2019	1,183,254	165,094	1,117,844	2,466,192

(1) TFR comprises base salary, retirement benefits and other remuneration related costs.

(2) Vested TIP in 2020 includes the shares in relation to 2019 TIP that have now vested valued at the share price as at vesting date.

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REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

F. CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH EXECUTIVE KMP

Remuneration and other terms of employment for Executive KMP are formalised in employment contracts. All Executive KMP are employed under contracts with substantially similar terms. The key elements of these employment contracts are summarised below:

Contract duration	Continuing
Notice by individual/Company	Employment may be terminated by either party. Notice periods vary according to
	contractual terms: CEO & Managing Director – 12 months and CFO – six months.
Termination of employment (for cause)	All contracts provide that employment may be terminated at any time without
	notice for serious misconduct.
Termination of employment (without cause)	Where employment is terminated by the Company, payment may be made in lieu
	of notice.
Redundancy	If the Company terminates the employment of an Executive KMP for reasons of
	redundancy, a redundancy payment would be paid depending on the length of
	their service. Benefits paid as defined by_Corporations Regulations 2001_Reg
	2D.2.02 cannot exceed 12 months base salary (average of past three years).
	Payments for redundancy and accrued leave entitlements are not subject to
	this cap.
Non-compete/restraint	Executive KMP are subject to non-compete provisions for the term of their
	notice period.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

42 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

G. NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ARRANGEMENTS

APPROACH

Non-executive Directors are provided with written agreements which outline the fees for their contribution as Directors. Fees reflect the demands which are made on, and the responsibilities of, the Directors. The Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee has the responsibility for reviewing and recommending the level of remuneration for Non-executive Directors in relation to Board and Committee duties.

Non-executive Directors are not eligible to participate in incentive programs or termination payments.

The annual fees provided to Non-executive Directors inclusive of superannuation are shown below:

		2020		2021
		$		$
Role	Chair fee1	Member fee	Chair fee1	Member fee
Board	284,700	85,000	284,700	85,000
Audit & Risk Committee	20,000	10,000	20,000	10,000
Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee	20,000	10,000	20,000	10,000

(1) The Board Chair does not receive Committee fees.

APPROVED FEE POOL

The Non-executive Director fee pool of $1,200,000 per annum was approved by shareholders at the 2015 Annual General Meeting. There was no change to the Non-executive Director fee pool in 2020 and none is expected for 2021.

As previously outlined, part of HT&E’s cost management response to COVID-19 included Non-executive Directors taking a 20% pay reduction for the period from May to September.

Details of the Non-executive Directors’ fees for 2020 and 2019 are set out in the table below:

	Fees	Superannuation	Total
Non-executive Directors	$	$	$
Hamish McLennan
2020	241,550	21,188	262,738
2019	263,933	20,767	284,700
Roger Amos
2020	96,271	9,146	105,417
2019	123,325	11,716	135,041
Paul Connolly
2020	96,271	9,146	105,417
2019	108,808	10,337	119,145
Belinda Rowe (from 5 February 2019)
2020	87,900	8,350	96,250
2019	75,543	7,613	83,156
Total
2020	521,992	47,830	569,822
2019	571,609	50,433	622,042

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REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

H. SHARE-BASED REMUNERATION

(I) TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SHARE-BASED REMUNERATION

2020 TIP Awards

Executive KMP received a grant of rights under the 2020 TIP, however these rights were not awarded following the decision by Executive KMP’s to forgo all incentives in respect of 2020 as part of HT&E’s cost management response to COVID-19.

The table below reflects nil rights awarded and that all rights in respect of the 2020 TIP have been forfeited.

						Value per
			Number	Number	Number	right at
	Grant	Vesting	of rights	of rights	of rights	grant date
Executive KMP	date1	date	granted	awarded	forfeited	$
Ciaran Davis	7 February 2020	1 January 2022	409,457	–	409,457	1.58
Andrew Nye	7 February2020	1 January2022	77,144	–	77,144	1.58

(1) The date on which the fair value of the TIP rights was calculated, being the deemed grant date of the rights for accounting purposes.

(II) RECONCILIATION OF RIGHTS

The table below shows a reconciliation of the number of rights held by each Executive KMP from the beginning to the end of the 2020 financial year:

financial year:
	Balance at	2018 TIP	2019 TIP			Balance at
	start of the	Exercised/	Exercised/		Dividend	end of the
Executive KMP	year	vested(1)	vested	Awarded	uplift	year
Ciaran Davis
Vested and exercisable	659,495	(696,104)	103,500	–	42,355(1)	109,246
Unvested	103,500	–	(103,500)	–	–	–
Total	762,995	(696,104)	–	–	42,355	109,246
Andrew Nye
Vested and exercisable	–	–	6,356	–	353	6,709
Unvested	6,356	–	(6,356)	–	–	–
Total	6,356	–	–	–	353	6,709
Total
Vested and exercisable	659,495	(696,104)	109,856	–	42,708	115,955
Unvested	109,856	–	(109,856)	–	–	–
Total	769,351	(696,104)	–	–	42,708	115,955

(1) For administrative purposes, vested 2018 rights were allocated to Executive KMP after the March 2020 dividend payment and as a result 36,609 additional rights were issued which have also vested.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

44 ANNUAL REPORT 2020

REMUNERATION REPORT (CONTINUED)

I. NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE KMP SHAREHOLDINGS

The number of shares in the Company held by each Non-executive Director and Executive KMP during the year including their related parties is summarised below:

parties is summarised below:
	Balance at	Granted during		Balance at
	start of the	the year as	Other changes	end of
	year	remuneration(1)	during theyear	theyear
Non-executive Directors
Hamish McLennan	73,000	–	–	73,000
Roger Amos	16,250	–	–	16,250
Paul Connolly	65,935	–	–	65,935
Belinda Rowe	–	–	–	–
Executive KMP
Ciaran Davis	420,134	140,528	–	560,662
Andrew Nye	50,476	–	–	50,476

(1) 103,919 of shares for the 2017 TIP release from the two-year holding period. For administrative purposes, vested 2018 rights were allocated to Executive KMP after the March 2020 dividend payment and as a result 36,609 additional rights were issued which have also vested.

J. OTHER STATUTORY DISCLOSURES

(I) LOANS GIVEN TO NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE KMP

There are no loans from the Company to the Non-executive Directors or Executive KMP.

(II) TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

$18,750 director fees received from Soprano Design Pty Limited by Belinda Rowe for services performed.

(III) SECURITIES TRADING POLICY AND GUIDELINES

The Company’s Securities Trading Policy and Guidelines is outlined in the Corporate Governance Statement, which can be found on the Company website. Under the policy, restricted persons, which include Executive KMP, are not permitted to hedge any options, rights or similar instruments prior to them becoming vested or otherwise tradable under the applicable plan.

(IV) V 20 AGM

The Company received more than 97% of ‘yes’ votes on its Remuneration Report for the 2019 financial year, and more than 98% of ‘yes’ votes to the granting of deferred rights to the CEO & Managing Director. No major remuneration related concerns were raised which required the Company’s attention during the 2020 financial year.

(V) EXTERNAL REMUNERATION CONSULTANTS

During 2020, HT&E did not receive advice from any external remuneration consultants.

All advice from remuneration consultants is carefully considered by the Remuneration, Nomination and Governance Committee.

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As lead auditor for the audit of HT&E Limited for the year ended 31 December 2020, I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:

(a) no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and

(b) no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

This declaration is in respect of HT&E Limited and the entities it controlled during the period.

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Louise King Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers

Sydney 24 February 2021

PricewaterhouseCoopers, ABN 52 780 433 757

One International Towers Sydney, Watermans Quay, Barangaroo, GPO BOX 2650, SYDNEY NSW 2001 T: +61 2 8266 0000, F: +61 2 8266 9999, www.pwc.com.au

Level 11, 1PSQ, 169 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150, PO Box 1155 Parramatta NSW 2124 T: +61 2 9659 2476, F: +61 2 8266 9999, www.pwc.com.au

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

The financial statements are for the consolidated entity consisting of HT&E Limited (Company) and its controlled entities (collectively the Group). The Company is a for profit company limited by ordinary shares, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. The ordinary shares are publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange.

The financial statements were authorised for issue, in accordance with a resolution of Directors, on 24 February 2021. The Directors have the power to amend and reissue the financial statements.

This general purpose financial report has been prepared in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 , Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and International Financial Reporting Standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

All new and amended Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the AASB that are relevant to the Group and effective for the current reporting period have been adopted. Refer to note 6.4 for further details.

The financial report is presented in Australian dollars which is the Company’s functional and presentation currency.

It has been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and certain classes of property, plant and equipment.

The Company presents reclassified comparative information, where required, for consistency with the current year’s presentation.

The Company is of a kind referred to in ASIC Corporations (Rounding in Financial/Directors’ Reports) Instrument 2016/191, issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, relating to the rounding off of amounts in the financial report. Amounts in the financial report have been rounded off in accordance with that Instrument to the nearest thousand dollars, or in certain cases, the nearest dollar.

The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities within the next and subsequent years can be found in the following notes:

Note 2.1 Intangible assets;
Note 2.3 Leases;
Note 4.1 Income tax and deferred tax; and
Note 5.4 Investments accounted for using the equity method.

The Directors and Management have assessed the impact of COVID-19 on the Group for year ending 31 December 2020, with focus on valuation of assets, recognition and measurement of liabilities and sources of estimation uncertainty. Further detail of this assessment is provided in the following notes to the financial statements:

Accounting for government subsidies and grants Note 1.1 Intangible assets Note 2.1 Leases Note 2.3 Receivables Note 3.3(B) Investments accounted for using the equity method Note 5.4

		2020	2019
	Note	$’000	$’000
Revenue	1.1	197,270	252,691
Other revenue and income	1.1	13,512	9,678
Total revenue and other income		210,782	262,369
Expenses before impairment, finance costs,	1.2	(153,100)	(205,906)
depreciation and amortisation
Impairment of intangible assets	2.1	(54,178)	–
Impairment of right-of-use assets	2.3	(7,093)	–
Associate impairment and joint venture related closure costs	5.4, 1.3	(4,394)	(5,423)
Finance costs	1.2	(4,519)	(4,760)
Depreciation and amortisation	1.2	(16,817)	(18,778)
Share of profits of associates and joint ventures accounted	5.4	5,998	2,527
for usingthe equitymethod
(Loss)/profit before income tax		(23,321)	30,029
Income tax expense	4.1	(15,778)	(39,879)
Loss for theyear		(39,099)	(9,850)
Other comprehensive income
Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss
Net exchange difference on translation of foreign operations	3.7	1,373	(56)
Reclassification of foreign currency translation reserve to profit and loss	3.7	(22)	–
Share of associate’s other comprehensive income	3.7	504	–
Item that will not be reclassified to profit or loss
Changes in the fair value of equity investments recorded at fair value through	5.3	19,473	–
other comprehensive income
Revaluation of freehold land and buildings	3.7	42	1,575
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		21,370	1,519
Total comprehensive income		(17,729)	(8,331)
Loss for the year is attributable to:
Owners of the parent entity		(42,501)	(14,195)
Non-controllinginterests		3,402	4,345
Loss for theyear		(39,099)	(9,850)
Total comprehensive income is attributable to:
Owners of the parent entity		(21,131)	(12,676)
Non-controllinginterests		3,402	4,345
		(17,729)	(8,331)
		Cents	Cents
Earnings per share
Basic/diluted earningsper share	1.4	(15.2)	(5.0)

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

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

		2020	2019
	Note	$’000	$’000
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	3.2	65,080	110,972
Short-term deposits	3.2	50,000	–
Receivables	3.3(B)	43,919	45,700
Tax assets	4.1	1,553	3,339
Other current assets		3,475	3,990
Total current assets		164,027	164,001
Non-current assets
Shares in other corporations	5.3	46,583	37,346
Investments accounted for using the equity method	5.4	51,320	17,314
Property, plant and equipment	2.2	19,080	22,132
Intangible assets	2.1	373,912	427,397
Right-of-use assets	2.3	31,172	51,003
Deposit of tax in dispute, net of provision	4.1	3,930	20,670
Other non-current assets		4,354	5,456
Total non-current assets		530,351	581,318
Total assets		694,378	745,319
Current liabilities
Payables		21,506	24,092
Contract liabilities	1.1	4,378	5,552
Lease liabilities	2.3	14,346	14,315
Provisions	2.4	4,973	12,817
Total current liabilities		45,203	56,776
Non-current liabilities
Bank loans	3.1	2,934	–
Lease liabilities	2.3	29,272	44,816
Provisions	2.4	4,768	5,184
Deferred tax liabilities	4.1	119,958	108,638
Total non-current liabilities		156,932	158,638
Total liabilities		202,135	215,414
Net assets		492,243	529,905
Equity
Contributed equity	3.5	1,480,752	1,483,685
Reserves	3.7	(23,203)	(43,743)
Accumulated losses	3.7	(1,001,357)	(946,536)
Total parent entity interest		456,192	493,406
Non-controllinginterests		36,051	36,499
Total equity		492,243	529,905

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

		2020	2019
	Note	$’000	$’000
Cash flows from operating activities
Receipts from customers (inclusive of GST)		218,025	285,908
Payments to suppliers and employees (inclusive of GST)		(177,889)	(221,173)
Government subsidies and grants		10,728	–
Dividends received		188	3,836
Interest received		934	2,069
Interest paid		(4,266)	(3,632)
Income taxes refunded/(paid)		6,257	(22,174)
Tax matter settlement	4.1	(3,200)	–
Net cash inflows from operatingactivities	3.2	50,777	44,834
Cash flows from investing activities
Payments for property, plant and equipment	2.2	(1,633)	(7,793)
Payments for software	2.1	(483)	(187)
Investment in joint venture		–	(500)
Increase in investment in shares in other corporations	5.3	(18,073)	–
Payments for short-term deposits		(50,000)	–
Loans from/(to) joint ventures		2,811	(1,788)
Net loans repaid by other entities		726	667
Dividends received from associate	5.4	1,250	–
Net cash outflows from investingactivities		(65,402)	(9,601)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings	3.1	3,265	–
Payments for borrowing costs		(33)	(262)
Principal elements of lease payments	2.3	(14,341)	(13,495)
Payments for treasury shares	3.7	(331)	(2,537)
Dividends paid to shareholders	3.8	(12,840)	(22,776)
Payments for share buyback	3.5	(2,933)	(8,870)
Netpayments to non-controllinginterests		(3,850)	(4,710)
Net cash outflows from financingactivities		(31,063)	(52,650)
Change in cash and cash equivalents		(45,688)	(17,417)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year		110,972	128,355
Effect of exchange rate changes		(204)	34
Cash and cash equivalents at end of theyear	3.2	65,080	110,972

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

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

						Non-
		Contributed		Accumulated		controlling	Total
		equity	Reserves	losses	Total	interests	equity
	Note	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000
Balance at 1 January 2019		1,492,555	(43,809)	(905,894)	542,852	36,864	579,716
Change in accounting policy
– lease accounting		–	–	(3,587)	(3,587)	–	(3,587)
Restated total equity at
beginningof theperiod		1,492,555	(43,809)	(909,481)	539,265	36,864	576,129
Loss for the period		–	–	(14,195)	(14,195)	4,345	(9,850)
Other comprehensive income		–	1,519	–	1,519	–	1,519
Share-based payments	3.7	–	523	–	523	–	523
Share buy-back	3.5	(8,870)	–	–	(8,870)	–	(8,870)
Dividends paid to shareholders	3.8	–	–	(22,776)	(22,776)	–	(22,776)
Transfers within equity	3.7	–	84	(84)	–	–	–
Treasury shares vested to employees	3.7	–	477	–	477	–	477
Acquisition of treasury shares	3.7	–	(2,537)	–	(2,537)	–	(2,537)
Transactions with non-controllinginterests		–	–	–	–	(4,710)	(4,710)
Balance at 31 December 2019		1,483,685	(43,743)	(946,536)	493,406	36,499	529,905
Balance at 1January2020		1,483,685	(43,743)	(946,536)	493,406	36,499	529,905
Loss for the period		–	–	(42,501)	(42,501)	3,402	(39,099)
Other comprehensive income		–	21,370	–	21,370	–	21,370
Share-based payments	3.7	–	(1,771)	–	(1,771)	–	(1,771)
Share buy-back	3.5	(2,933)	–	–	(2,933)	–	(2,933)
Dividends paid to shareholders	3.8	–	–	(12,840)	(12,840)	–	(12,840)
Transfers within equity	3.7	–	(520)	520	–	–	–
Treasury shares vested to employees	3.7	–	1,792	–	1,792	–	1,792
Acquisition of treasury shares	3.7	–	(331)	–	(331)	–	(331)
Transactions with non-controllinginterests		–	–	–	–	(3,850)	(3,850)
Balance at 31 December 2020		1,480,752	(23,203)	(1,001,357)	456,192	36,051	492,243

The Group initially applied AASB 16 Leases at 1 January 2019. Under the modified retrospective transition method chosen comparative information was not restated

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

		2020	2019
	Note	$’000	$’000
Revenue and other income
Broadcast revenue		160,603	202,034
Advertising revenue		30,575	43,738
Services revenue		5,983	6,861
Other revenue		109	58
Revenue		197,270	252,691
Gain on financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss		726	2,037
Dividend income		188	4,360
Government subsidies and grants	1.3	10,728	–
Other		1,145	787
Other income		12,787	7,184
Interest income		725	2,494
Total other revenue and income		13,512	9,678
Total revenue and other income		210,782	262,369

Revenue recognised in the year ended 31 December 2020 that was included in the contract liabilities balance as at 1 January 2020 is $5.6 million (2019: $10.8 million).

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The key revenue streams and policies are detailed below:

Under AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers , revenue is recognised when a customer obtains control of the goods or services. Determining the timing of the transfer of control requires judgement. The Group recognises revenue when control of the services or goods passes to the customer.

Revenue is recognised gross of rebates and agency commissions. Payment terms vary between 30 and 45 days from the invoice issue date.

issue date.
Type of
product/service	Segment	Nature and timing of satisfaction ofperformance obligations
Broadcast revenue	Australian	Revenue is recognised when each advertisement is aired per the contract terms.
	Radio Network
Advertising revenue	All	Revenue is recognised over time, on a prorated basis when the advertisement is
		displayed or published.
Services revenue	HK Outdoor	Includes production and installation revenue. Production and installation revenue,
		where it is a distinct service, is recognised by reference to stage of completion of the
		service.
Other revenue	All	Includes sponsorships, royalties and cleaning and maintenance revenue. Revenue is
		recognised when the service occurs.

The Group applies the practical expedient under AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers to expense contract acquisition costs as they are incurred, as the expected costs have an amortisation period of less than 12 months.

Contract assets relate primarily to the Group’s rights to consideration for work completed but not billed at each reporting date. Contract assets are transferred to receivables when the rights become unconditional. This usually occurs when the Group issues an invoice to a customer.

Contract liabilities primarily relate to consideration received in advance from customers, for which the performance obligation is yet to be satisfied.

Subsidies from relevant governments compensates the Group for employee benefits expense incurred and is recognised in profit or loss on a systematic basis in the period in which the expense is recognised.

During the period, Australian domiciled entities within the Group were eligible for the JobKeeper subsidy from the Australian government. This has been recorded within Other Income.

		2020	2019
	Note	$’000	$’000
Employee benefits expense		91,945	98,928
Production and distribution expense		14,967	21,083
Selling and marketing expense		28,806	39,253
Rental and occupancy expense		6,142	10,047
Professional fees		4,715	6,825
Repairs and maintenance costs		1,981	1,782
Travel and entertainment costs		1,104	2,894
Redundancies and associated costs	1.3	1,458	4,802
Loss on disposal of investment in joint venture	5.4	–	13,355
Loss on sale of business	1.3	350	1,508
Onerous contract provision adjustment	1.3, 2.4	(4,799)	–
Joint venture closure costs remeasurement	1.3	(350)	–
Other expenses		6,781	5,429
Total expenses before impairment, finance costs,
depreciation and amortisation		153,100	205,906
Interest – lease liabilities	2.3	2,275	2,343
Interest and finance charges		1,714	1,741
Borrowingcosts amortisation		530	676
Total finance costs		4,519	4,760
Depreciation – right-of-use assets	2.3	12,629	14,021
Depreciation – other assets	2.2	3,152	4,190
Amortisation	2.1	1,036	567
Total depreciation and amortisation		16,817	18,778

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The Group has identified its operating segments based on the internal reports reviewed by the Board of Directors and the senior management team in assessing performance and determining the allocation of resources. There are three reportable segments as follows:

Reportable segment	Principal activities
Australian Radio Network	Metropolitan radio networks, on-demand radio, streaming and podcasting (Australia)
HK Outdoor	Billboard, transit and other outdoor advertising (Hong Kong)
Digital Investments	Includes controlling interests in Emotive Pty Limited (creative agency) and equity accounted
	investments in Soprano Design Pty Limited (software vendor for secure messaging services)

The Directors and senior management team assess the performance of the operating segments based on a measure of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from continuing operations which excludes the effects of exceptional items such as gains or losses on disposals of businesses and restructuring related costs.

HT&E Events Pty Limited and Unbnd Group Pty Ltd are included in the Digital Investments segment in 2019. The Group’s investment in Unbnd Group Pty Ltd was disposed of on 19 September 2019, while HT&E Events Pty Limited was wound down in 2019.

During the period the Group’s 50% interest in Nova Entertainment (Perth) Pty Ltd became an associate (refer to note 5.4). The Group’s share of profits in Nova Entertainment (Perth) Pty Ltd is recorded in the Australian Radio Network segment.

The segment information provided to the Directors and senior management team for the year ended 31 December 2020 is as follows:

2020	Australian	HK	Digital		Group
$’000	Radio Network	Outdoor	Investments	Corporate	elimination	Total
Revenue from external customers	175,264	16,487	5,648	–	(129)	197,270
Share of profits of associate & joint ventures	2,737	–	3,261	–	–	5,998
Segment result	46,234	7,662	3,783	(8,343)	–	49,336
Segment assets	484,309	21,771	25,782	162,516	–	694,378
Segment liabilities	45,394	26,842	2,715	127,184	–	202,135
Reconciliation of segment result to loss before income tax
Segment result						49,336
Depreciation and amortisationA						(16,817)
Net finance costs						(3,794)
Government subsidies and grantsB						10,728
Impairment of intangible assetsC						(54,178)
Impairment of right-of-use assetsD						(7,093)
Associate impairmentE						(4,394)
Redundancies and associated costsF						(1,458)
Loss on sale of businessG						(350)
Onerous contract provision adjustmentH						4,799
Joint venture closure costs remeasurementI						350
Reclassification of foreign currencytranslation	reserve toprofit and loss on closure of foreign operations					(450)
Loss before income tax						(23,321)

Explanation of statutory adjustments

(A) Consists of depreciation of $15.8 million and amortisation of $1.0 million (refer to note 1.2).

(B) Refers to the Australian Government JobKeeper subsidy and Hong Kong Government Employment Support Scheme subsidy received by the Group during the period. Refer to note 1.1 for more information.

(C) Impairment of HK Outdoor ($2.7 million) and Australian Radio Network ($51.5 million) goodwill. Refer to note 2.1 for more information.

(D) Impairment of HK Outdoor right-of-use assets relating to Advertising Concession Agreements. Refer to note 2.3 for more information.

(E) Impairment of the Group's investment in Nova Entertainment (Perth) Pty Ltd. Refer to note 5.4 for more information.

(F) Restructuring costs associated with the Australian Radio Network resulting from a review of the Company’s operating model and senior management needs.

(G) Costs not deemed recoverable in relation to the disposal of The Roar Sports Media Pty Ltd, which was effective 31 January 2020.

(H) Adjustment of the provision for financial guarantee costs related to Unbnd Group Pty Ltd, a joint venture which was disposed on 19 September 2019.

(I) Remeasurement of final closure costs in relation to HT&E Events Pty Limited, which was wound down in 2019 following the decision to close Gfinity Esports Australia.

	Australian
2019	Radio	HK	Digital		Group
$’000	Network	Outdoor	Investments	Corporate	elimination	Total
Revenue from external customers	223,297	24,817	4,577	–	–	252,691
Share of profits of associate & joint ventures	–	–	2,527	–	–	2,527
Segment result	73,338	12,407	2,704	(12,812)	–	75,637
Segment assets	547,143	45,972	21,001	131,203	–	745,319
Segment liabilities	42,018	38,898	6,564	127,934	–	215,414
Reconciliation of segment result to profit before income tax
Segment result						75,637
Depreciation and amortisationA						(18,778)
Net finance costs						(2,266)
Joint venture impairment and related closure costsB						(5,423)
Loss on disposal of investment in joint ventureC						(13,355)
Loss on disposal of businessD						(1,508)
Redundancies and associated costsE						(4,802)
Dividend incomeF						524
Profit before income tax						30,029

Explanation of statutory adjustments

(A) Consists of depreciation of $18.2 million and amortisation of $0.6 million. Refer to note 1.2.

(B) Relates to impairment of the joint venture interest in HT&E Events Pty Limited ($685,000), write-down of loan to HT&E Events Pty Limited ($4,200,000) and costs relating to the funding of the business until the end of the year ($538,000), following the decision to close Gfinity Esports Australia in June 2019.

(C) Loss on disposal of investment in Unbnd Group Pty Ltd. Refer to note 5.4.

(D) Loss on disposal of assets attributable to The Roar Sports Media Pty Ltd, effective 31 January 2020.

(E) Restructuring costs associated with the Australian Radio Network and Corporate segments resulting from a review of the Company’s operating model and senior management needs following the sale of Adshel in 2018.

(F) Dividend income received from Digital Radio Broadcasting Sydney Pty Ltd, an entity the Group has an interest in.

The Group is domiciled in Australia and operates predominantly in Australia and Hong Kong. Revenue from external customers in Australia is $180.8 million (2019: $227.9 million) and in Asia is $16.5 million (2019: $24.8 million). Segment revenues are allocated based on the country in which the customer is located.

The total of non-current assets located in Australia is $514.7 million (2019: $545.2 million) and in Hong Kong is $15.7 million (2019: $36.1 million). Segment assets are allocated to countries based on where the assets are located.

Segment revenues and expenses comprise amounts that are directly attributable to a segment and the relevant portion that can be allocated on a reasonable basis. Corporate overheads, including centralised finance, legal and administrative costs, are not allocated against operating segments but rather are included above as unallocated amounts.

Segment revenues and results exclude transfers between segments. Such transfers are priced on an arm’s length basis and are eliminated on consolidation.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
(a) Reconciliation of earnings used in calculating earnings per share (EPS)
Loss attributable to owners of theparent entity	(42,501)	(14,195)
Loss attributable to owners of theparent entityused in calculatingbasic/diluted EPS	(42,501)	(14,195)
	Number	Number
(b) Weighted average number of shares
Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator in calculating basic EPS	279,590,599	284,497,535
Weighted average number of treasury shares	(59,730)	(892,515)
Adjusted for calculation of diluted EPS:
Unvested/unexercised rights	115,955	1,264,796
Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator in calculatingdiluted EPS	279,646,824	284,869,816

While rights have been issued to Executive Key Management Personnel (Executive KMP) under the 2019 Total Incentive Plan (TIP), there is no certainty these rights will vest, and if they do, it is the Company’s current intention to satisfy any rights by acquiring shares onmarket, consistent with recent practice.

Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing:
the net profit or loss attributable to owners 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 financial year.
Diluted earnings per share adjusts the figures used in the determination of basic earnings per share by taking into account:
the after-tax effect of interest and other financing costs associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares; and
the weighted average number of additional ordinary shares that would have been outstanding assuming the conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

2019			Radio
$’000	Goodwill	Software	licences	Brands	Total
Cost	55,100	3,564	375,284	1,945	435,893
Accumulated amortisation and impairment	–	(2,547)	(4,011)	(1,938)	(8,496)
Net book amount	55,100	1,017	371,273	7	427,397
Movements
Opening net book amount	55,081	1,361	371,614	1,529	429,585
Additions	–	187	–	–	187
Transfers and other adjustments	–	(390)	–	–	(390)
Amortisation	–	(34)	(341)	(192)	(567)
Sale of business(i)	–	(108)	–	(1,330)	(1,438)
Foreign exchange differences	19	1	–	–	20
Closingnet book amount	55,100	1,017	371,273	7	427,397
(i) Relates to the disposal of intangible assets of The Roar Sports Media Pty Ltd.
2020			Radio
$’000	Goodwill	Software	licences	Brands	Total
Cost	55,140	5,687	375,284	–	436,111
Accumulated amortisation and impairment	(54,650)	(3,305)	(4,244)	–	(62,199)
Net book amount	490	2,382	371,040	–	373,912
Movements
Opening net book amount	55,100	1,017	371,273	7	427,397
Additions	–	483	–	–	483
Disposals	–	–	–	(7)	(7)
Transfers and other adjustments	–	1,685	–	–	1,685
Amortisation	–	(803)	(233)	–	(1,036)
Impairment charge	(54,178)	–	–	–	(54,178)
Foreign exchange differences	(432)	–	–	–	(432)
Closingnet book amount	490	2,382	371,040	–	373,912

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

Summary of goodwill and other intangible assets

		Amortisation	Acquired or
Asset	Useful life	method	Internally generated
Goodwill	Indefinite	No amortisation	Acquired
Software	3-5 years	Straight-line basis	Internally generated
			and acquired
Radio licences (commercial)	Indefinite	No amortisation	Acquired
Radio licence (digital)	20 years	Straight-line basis	Acquired
Brands – other	Indefinite	No amortisation	Acquired

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the net identifiable assets of the acquired business at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortised but rather is subject to impairment testing as described below.

Costs incurred in developing systems and acquiring software and licences are capitalised to software. Costs capitalised include materials, services, payroll and payroll related costs of employees involved in development. Amortisation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the asset.

Commercial radio licences are accounted for as identifiable assets and are brought to account at cost. The Directors believe the licences have indefinite lives and accordingly, no amortisation has been provided against the carrying amount. The commercial radio licences held by the Group are renewable every five years under the provisions of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. The Directors understand that the revocation of a radio licence has never occurred in Australia and have no reason to believe the licences will not be renewed from time to time for the maximum period allowable under the Act and without imposition of any conditions. As a result, the radio licences have been assessed to have indefinite useful lives.

The digital radio licence is accounted for as an identifiable asset and is brought to account at cost. The licence is amortised over the term of the contract on a straight-line basis.

Brands are accounted for as identifiable assets and are brought to account at cost. The Directors have considered the geographic location, legal, technical and other commercial factors likely to impact the assets’ useful lives and consider that they have indefinite lives. Accordingly, no amortisation has been provided against the carrying amount for brands outside of Conversant Media.

==> picture [346 x 45] intentionally omitted <==

		2020		2019
		Other non-		Other non-
		amortising		amortising
	2020	intangible	2019	intangible
	Goodwill	assets	Goodwill	assets
Name of CGU	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000
Australian Radio Network	–	367,451	51,494	367,451
HK Outdoor	–	–	3,116	–
Emotive	490	–	490	–
Totalgoodwill and other non-amortisingintangible assets	490	367,451	55,100	367,451

A comprehensive impairment review was conducted at 31 December 2020. The recoverable amount of the Australian Radio Network CGU which includes indefinite life intangible assets was reviewed.

The recoverable amounts of the Australian Radio Network CGU was estimated based on value in use calculations, using management budgets and forecasts for a 5 year period, after adjusting for central overheads.

Due to the economic impacts associated with COVID-19, comprehensive impairment tests were conducted at 30 June 2020. The recoverable amount of each cash generating unit (CGU) that included goodwill or indefinite life intangible assets at 30 June 2020 was reviewed.

In the Australian Radio Network CGU, goodwill was fully impaired ($51,494,000) at 30 June 2020. In the HK Outdoor CGU, remaining goodwill was fully impaired ($2,684,000) and right-of-use assets related to advertising concession agreements were part impaired ($7,093,000) (refer to note 2.3).

The impairments recorded in Australian Radio Network and HK Outdoor CGU’s are the result of the financial underperformance of each business relative to the original forecast during the six months ended 30 June 2020, and a downward revision to forecast future cashflows in the short to medium term in response to uncertainty in advertising markets created by COVID-19.

The key assumptions for the impairment review as at 31 December 2020, used to calculate the recoverable amount are presented overleaf.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

Year 1 cash flows	Based on Board approved annual budget.
Years 2, 3, 4 and 5	Revenue forecasts are prepared based on management’s current assessment for each CGU, with
cash flows	consideration given to internal information and relevant external industry data and analysis. In general:
	 market growth in the Australian Radio Network CGU is forecast across the cash flow period. The
	revenue forecast assumes the Australian radio market will return to historical 2019 levels within the
	forecast period, and the Australian Radio Network CGU will gain some additional market share or
	reclaim lost market share through continued investment in content, marketing and operations;
	 market growth in the HK Outdoor CGU is forecast across the cash flow period. The revenue forecast
	assumes the HK Outdoor CGU will return to historical 2019 levels within the forecast period. Future
	yield growth in the existing asset base is also assumed; andi
	 expenses are forecast on a detailed basis, based on their nature. Variable costs are forecast to move in
	line with revenue movements. Personnel costs are forecast to move in line with headcount and
	adjusted for expected inflation. Other costs are forecast based on management expectations,
	considering existing contractual arrangements.
Terminal value cash flows	Cash flows are extrapolated at growth rates not exceeding the long-term average growth rate for the
	industry in which the CGU operates.

i All indefinite life intangible assets were fully impaired at 30 June 2020 for HK Outdoor CGU, and therefore no further impairment assessment is required. Refer to note 2.3 for impairment assessment on HK Outdoor right-of-use assets.

The discount rates (per annum) used reflect specific risks relating to the relevant segments and the countries in which they operate.

	Dec 2020	Dec 2020		Dec 2019	Dec 2019
	Post-tax	Pre-tax	Dec 2020	Post-tax	Pre-tax	Dec 2019
	discount	discount	Long-term	discount	discount	Long-term
Name of CGU	rate	rate	growth rate	rate	rate	growth rate
Australian Radio Network	10.0%	13.3%	2.0%	10.0%	13.6%	2.0%
HK Outdoor	11.2%	12.7%	2.0%	10.0%	12.4%	2.0%

No additional impairment was recognised for these CGUs in the 6 months to 31 December 2020.

The Group tests whether goodwill and other non-amortising intangible assets have suffered any impairment, in accordance with the accounting policy stated below. The recoverable amounts of cash generating units have been determined based on the higher of fair value less costs to sell, or value in use, calculations. These calculations require the use of assumptions. Refer below for details of these assumptions and the potential impact of changes to these assumptions.

Value in use calculations are highly sensitive to changes in certain key assumptions. With limited market-based data sources against which to benchmark key economic indicators on a forward-looking basis management has exercised judgement when determining the duration, severity and impact of the macroeconomic scenarios used by the Group. For the Australian Radio Network CGU, the carrying value is supported by value in use calculations.

The below illustrates how a reasonable possible change in estimate and assumptions can impact headroom. The headroom for the Australian Radio Network CGU would change by the following based on changes made in isolation to the key assumptions below:

			Long-term growth	Terminal	EBITDA
In $’000s	Discount Rate change		rate change	forecast	change
Name of CGU	+0.5%	-0.5%	+0.5% -0.5%	+1%	-1%
Australian Radio Network	(31,496)	35,705	26,279 (23,198)	4,311	(4,311)

Goodwill and intangible assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for impairment and whenever there is an indication that they may be impaired. Assets that are subject to amortisation are tested for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying amount may exceed its recoverable amount. An impairment charge is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell, and value in use. For the purpose of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash inflows which are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets (CGUs). Non-financial assets other than goodwill that suffer an impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each reporting date.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

2019	Freehold		Plant and
$’000	land	Buildings	equipment	Total
Cost or fair value	2,391	986	72,746	76,123
Accumulated depreciation and impairment	–	(49)	(59,014)	(59,063)
Capital works inprogress	–	–	5,072	5,072
Net book amount	2,391	937	18,804	22,132
Movements
Opening net book amount	1,083	588	14,979	16,650
Additions	–	–	7,793	7,793
Depreciation	–	(105)	(4,085)	(4,190)
Transfers and other adjustments	–	73	319	392
Disposal	–	–	(204)	(204)
Revaluation of freehold land and buildings	1,308	381	–	1,689
Foreign exchange differences	–	–	2	2
Closingnet book amount	2,391	937	18,804	22,132
2020	Freehold		Plant and
$’000	land	Buildings	equipment	Total
Cost or fair value	2,391	1,046	75,732	79,169
Accumulated depreciation and impairment	–	(93)	(61,840)	(61,933)
Capital works inprogress	–	–	1,844	1,844
Net book amount	2,391	953	15,736	19,080
Movements
Opening net book amount	2,391	937	18,804	22,132
Additions	–	–	1,881	1,881
Depreciation	–	(44)	(3,108)	(3,152)
Transfers and other adjustments	–	–	(1,685)	(1,685)
Disposal	–	–	(148)	(148)
Revaluation of freehold land and buildings	–	60	–	60
Foreign exchange differences	–	–	(8)	(8)
Closingnet book amount	2,391	953	15,736	19,080

The Group had capital commitments of $158,000 as at 31 December 2020 (2019: $nil).

Land and buildings are shown at fair value, based on periodic valuations by external independent valuers, less subsequent depreciation for buildings. Any accumulated depreciation at the date of revaluation is eliminated against the gross carrying amount of the asset and the net amount is restated to the revalued amount of the asset. Increases in the carrying amounts arising on revaluation of land and buildings are credited to asset revaluation reserve in equity. To the extent that the increase reverses a decrease previously recognised in the income statement, the increase is first recognised in the income statement. Decreases that reverse previous increases of the same asset are first charged against asset revaluation reserve directly in equity to the extent of the remaining reserve attributable to the asset; all other decreases are charged to the income statement.

Plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less depreciation. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the income statement during the financial period in which they are incurred.

Land is not depreciated. Depreciation on other assets is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their cost or revalued amounts, net of their residual values, over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

buildings: 20 years;
plant and equipment: 3-25 years; and

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed and adjusted, if appropriate, at each balance date. Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with carrying amount and are included in the income statement.

An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount. Assets that are subject to depreciation (amortisation) are tested for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying amount may exceed its recoverable amount. An impairment charge is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. Assets that suffer an impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each reporting date.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

As a lessee, the Group leases several assets including property, advertising spaces, motor vehicles and other equipment. The average lease term is 2.9 years (2019: 4.0 years)

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Property	19,843	23,788
Advertising concession agreements	11,023	26,632
Motor vehicle and other	306	583
Total right-of-use assets	31,172	51,003
Current	14,346	14,315
Non-current	29,272	44,816
Total lease liabilities	43,618	59,131

During the period, HK Outdoor Advertising concession agreement right-of-use assets were impaired by $7.1 million. Refer to section below for further information.

Additions to the right-of-use assets during the 2020 financial year were $0.6 million (2019: $15.9 million).

Whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the right-of-use asset carrying amount may exceed its recoverable amount, the Group applies judgement when testing whether right-of-use assets have suffered any impairment. An impairment charge is recognised for the amount by which the right-of-use asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. Right-of-use assets that suffer an impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each reporting date.

Lease liabilities by relevant maturity groupings[(i)] :

Lease liabilities by relevant maturity groupings(i):
	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Not later than 1 year	15,148	16,247
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years	19,923	33,997
Later than 5years	19,085	20,422
	54,156	70,666

(i) Maturity groupings based on the remaining period at the reporting date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.

The Group does not face a significant liquidity risk with regard to its lease liabilities. Lease liabilities are monitored within the Group’s treasury function.

The statement of profit or loss shows the following amounts relating to leases:

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Property	3,803	3,678
Advertising concession agreements	8,522	10,020
Motor vehicle and other	304	323
Depreciation charge of right-of-use assets	12,629	14,021
Interest expense on lease liabilities	2,275	2,343
Rental and occupancy expense relating to short-term leases	1,405	2,387
Rental and occupancy expense relating to variable lease payments not included in the	300	2,367
measurement of the lease liability

The total cash outflow for leases, inclusive of principal and interest was $16.6 million (2019: $15.8 million).

As at 30 June 2020, there were indications that the carrying amount of HK Outdoor Advertising Concession Agreements may exceed their recoverable amount, so an impairment test was performed. As a result of the testing performed, an impairment charge of $7.1 million was recognised for the 6 months ending 30 June 2020.

An impairment test was performed as at 31 December 2020, which determined no change in the impairment calculated at 30 June 2020.

The recoverable amount of the right-of-use assets were based on the discounted cash flow analysis over the contractual period for rightof-use assets, which takes into account the financial performance of specific advertising concession agreements as 31 December 2020.

Following the impairment in the period, the recoverable amount for the HK Outdoor right-of-use assets is in surplus of the carrying value. A reversal of impairment would not be appropriate as factors that give rise to the impairment as at 30 June 2020 continue to impact trading conditions. A 10% deterioration to cashflows across each year of the forecast period would result in a further impairment of approximately $0.2 million to the tram shelter contracts and no further impairment of the roadside contracts.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The Group leases various properties, advertising spaces, motor vehicles and other equipment. Rental contracts are typically made for fixed periods of 1 to 15 years, but may be in excess of 20 years and include extension options.

Contracts may contain both lease and non-lease components. The Group allocates the consideration in the contract to the lease and non-lease components based on their relative stand-alone prices.

Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of different terms and conditions. The lease agreements do not impose any covenants other than the security interests in the leased assets that are held by the lessor. Leased assets may not be used as security for borrowing purposes.

Assets and liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis. Lease liabilities include the net present value of the following lease payments:

fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), less any lease incentives receivable;
variable lease payment that are based on an index or a rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at the commencement date;
amounts expected to be payable by the Group under residual value guarantees;
the exercise price of a purchase option if the Group is reasonably certain to exercise that option; and
payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the lease term reflects the group exercising that option.

Lease payments to be made under reasonably certain extension options are also included in the measurement of the liability.

The lease liability excludes non-lease components including variable lease amounts which are not linked to a rate or index. These components are expensed as incurred.

The Group is exposed to potential future increases in variable lease payments based on an index or rate, which are not included in the lease liability until they take effect. When adjustments to lease payments based on an index or rate take effect, the lease liability is reassessed and adjusted against the right-of-use asset.

Lease payments are allocated between principal and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to profit or loss over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period.

The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease. If that rate cannot be readily determined, which is generally the case for leases in the Group, the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate is used, being the rate that the individual lessee would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment with similar terms, security and conditions.

To determine the incremental borrowing rate, the Group:

where possible, uses recent third-party financing received by the individual lessee as a starting point, adjusted to reflect changes in financing conditions since third-party financing was received;
uses a build-up approach that starts with a risk-free interest rate adjusted for credit risk for leases held by the Group, which does not have recent third-party financing; and
makes adjustments specific to the lease, e.g. term, country, currency and security.

Right-of-use assets are measured at cost comprising the following:

the amount of the initial measurement of lease liability;
any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, less any lease incentives received;
any initial direct costs; and
restoration costs.

Right-of-use assets are generally depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis. If the Group is reasonably certain to exercise a purchase option, the right-of-use asset is depreciated over the underlying asset’s useful life. While the Group revalues its land and buildings that are presented within property, plant and equipment, it has chosen not to do so for the right-of-use buildings held by the Group.

Extension and termination options are included in a number of property leases across the Group. These are used to maximise operational flexibility in terms of managing the assets used in the Group’s operations. The majority of extension and termination options held are exercisable only by the Group and not by the respective lessor.

In determining the lease term, management considers all facts and circumstances that create an economic incentive to exercise an extension option, or not exercise a termination option. Extension options (or periods after termination options) are only included in the lease term if the lease is reasonably certain to be extended (or not terminated).

Payments associated with short-term leases of equipment and vehicles and all leases of low-value assets are recognised on a straight-line basis as an expense in profit or loss. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of 12 months or less. Low-value assets comprise IT equipment and small items of office furniture.

Rental outgoings are treated as non-lease components and are recognised as expense in profit or loss. Other property expenses which do not transfer substantially all of the asset's economic benefits to the Group are recognised on a straight-line basis as expense in profit or loss.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Current
Employee benefits	4,433	4,920
Onerous contracts	–	4,897
Provision for uncertain tax treatment	–	3,000
Other	540	–
Total currentprovisions	4,973	12,817
Non-current
Employee benefits	1,072	1,191
Other	3,696	3,993
Total non-currentprovisions	4,768	5,184

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

		Provision for
	Onerous	uncertain tax
	contracts	treatment	Other	Total
2020	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000
Carrying amount at beginning of the year	4,897	3,000	3,993	11,890
Additional amounts recognised	–	–	649	649
Amounts used	(98)	(3,000)	(386)	(3,484)
Reversal	(4,799)	–	–	(4,799)
Foreign exchange differences	–	–	(20)	(20)
Carryingamount at end of theyear	–	–	4,236	4,236

The onerous contracts provision refers to financial guarantee costs related to Unbnd Group Pty Ltd, a joint venture which was sold on 19 September 2019. The financial guarantee remained undrawn upon expiry on 30 October 2020 which resulted in a $4.8 million adjustment to loss on disposal of investment in joint venture (refer to note 1.3).

The provision for uncertain tax treatment is in relation to a legacy financing arrangement (refer to note 4.1).

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and the amount has been reliably estimated.

Provisions are measured at the present value of management’s best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting period. The discount rate used to determine the present value is a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. The increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as interest expense.

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits, annual leave, and long service leave, in respect of employees’ services up to the reporting date expected to be settled wholly within 12 months from the reporting date are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when settled.

Liabilities for annual leave and long service leave not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months after the end of the reporting date are measured as the present value of expected future payments to be made. Consideration is given to expected future wage and salary levels, experience of employee departures and periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using market yields at the reporting date on corporate bonds rates with terms to maturity and currency that match, as closely as possible, the estimated future cash outflows. Remeasurements as a result of experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are recognised in profit or loss.

The obligations are presented as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet if the entity does not have an unconditional right to defer settlement for 12 months after the reporting period, regardless of when the actual settlement is expected to occur.

The onerous contracts provision represents contract where the expected economic benefit is lower than the cost for which the Group is currently committed under the terms of the contract. The minimal net obligation under the contract is provided for. The provision is calculated as the net of the estimated committed cost discounted to present value.

Where there is uncertainty over income tax treatments, the Group applies AASB Interpretation 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments to determine how to recognise and measure deferred and current income tax assets and liabilities (refer to note 4.1).

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

		2020	2019
	Note	$’000	$’000
Non-current bank loans
Bank loans – unsecured		2,934	–
Total non-current bank loans(i)		2,934	–
Net debt(i)
Non-current bank loans		2,934	–
Cash and cash equivalents	3.2	(65,080)	(110,972)
Short-term deposits	3.2	(50,000)	–
Net cash		(112,146)	(110,972)

(i) The drawn bank loan is denominated in Hong Kong dollars. The majority of the unsecured debt facility expires in January 2024.

The Group is focused on safeguarding its ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders, and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

In order to maintain an optimal capital structure, the Group may:

adjust dividends paid to shareholders;
return capital to shareholders;
issue new shares; or
sell assets to reduce debt.

	2020	2019
Entities in the Group have access to:	$’000	$’000
Loan facilities(i)
Unsecured bank loan facilities	258,384	259,146
Amount of facilityutilised(ii)	(6,260)	(9,150)
Amount of available facility	252,124	249,996
Overdraft facilities
Unsecured bank overdraft facilities	1,500	1,500
Amount of credit utilised	–	–
Amount of available credit	1,500	1,500

(i) Pertaining to the revolving cash advance facility.

(ii) Relating to bank loan and guarantees drawn.

Interest bearing liabilities are initially recognised at fair value less attributable transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost. Any difference between cost and redemption value is recognised in the income statement over the period of the borrowing on an effective interest basis.

Costs incurred in connection with the arrangement of borrowings are deferred and amortised over the period of the borrowing. These are shown as an asset in the balance sheet.

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Cash at end of the year, as shown in the statement of cash flows, comprises:
Cash at bank and on hand	65,080	110,972
The below reconciliation relates to both continued and discontinued operations.
Reconciliation of (loss)/profit for the year to net cash inflows/(outflows) from operating activities:
Loss for the year	(39,099)	(9,850)
Depreciation and amortisation	16,817	18,778
Borrowing costs amortisation	530	676
Share of profits of associate and joint ventures	(5,998)	(2,527)
Interest income from associate and joint venture	–	(71)
Other non-cash items	327	(224)
Impairment of intangible assets	54,178	–
Impairment of right-of-use assets	7,093	–
Joint venture impairment and related closure costs	4,394	5,423
Loss on disposal of investment in joint venture	–	13,355
Loss on disposal of business	–	1,508
Share-based payments expense	176	1,000
Gains on financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss	(726)	(2,037)
Net loss on sale of non-current assets	22	4
Provisions for uncertain tax treatments	–	33,000
Tax matter settlement	(3,200)	–
Changes in assets and liabilities net of effect of acquisitions and changes
in accounting policy:
Trade and other receivables	1,028	8,488
Prepayments	715	(2,693)
Change in current tax /deferred tax liabilities	22,036	(15,295)
Trade and otherpayables andprovision for employee benefits	(7,516)	(4,701)
Net cash inflows from operatingactivities	50,777	44,834

For the purposes of presentation on the statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and deposits held at call with financial institutions, net of bank overdrafts, with maturities 90 days or less.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk), credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Group’s overall financial risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the financial performance of the Group. The Group will use derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps to hedge certain risk exposures. The Group uses different methods to measure different types of risk to which it is exposed. These methods include sensitivity analysis in the case of interest rate and foreign exchange risk and ageing analysis for credit risk.

Financial risk management is carried out by the Group Treasury function under policies approved by the Board of Directors. The policies provide principles for overall risk management, as well as covering specific areas, such as interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, credit risk, use of derivative financial instruments and non-derivative financial instruments, and investment of excess liquidity.

Since 31 December 2019, COVID-19 has negatively affected world economies and financial markets and contributed to a decline in revenues across many industries, including media. Credit risk has increased while market risk has not changed materially from the prior period. Liquidity risk continues to be monitored through rolling forecasts of the Group’s expected cash flows and managed through maintenance of sufficient cash and committed credit facilities, which remain largely undrawn at the end of the reporting period.

As at 31 December 2020, the Group had $2.9 million of long-term borrowings outstanding, $65.1 million of cash and cash equivalents and $50 million in short-term deposits. The Group is exposed to interest rates risk through its cash and cash equivalents and short-term deposits balance. A change of +/- 1% per annum with all other variables being constant would impact equity and net profit by $0.8 million. The parent entity has no significant exposure to a change in interest rates.

Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions and recognised assets and liabilities that are denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s functional currency. Individual transactions are assessed, and forward exchange contracts are used to hedge the risk where deemed appropriate.

While the Group has assets and liabilities in multiple currencies, individual entities in the Group do not have a significant foreign exchange exposure to receivables or payables in currencies that are not their functional currency.

Price risk refers to the risk of a decline in the value of a security or a portfolio. While the Group does have equity investments in listed securities (refer to note 3.4), the Group is not exposed to significant price risk.

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. Group credit risk principally arises from customer receivables, cash and cash equivalents, short-term deposits with banks and financial institutions and financial guarantees (refer to note 6.1 for details).

For banks and financial institutions, the creditworthiness is assessed prior to entering into arrangements and approved by the Board.

For customer receivables, the maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the higher of the carrying value and fair value of each receivable. Risk control involves the assessment of the credit quality, taking into account financial position, past experience and other factors. The utilisation of credit limits is regularly monitored.

Where appropriate, the Group undertakes all of its transactions in foreign exchange contracts with financial institutions.

The Group applies the AASB 9 Financial Instruments simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses (ECL) which uses a lifetime expected loss allowance for all trade receivables and contract assets.

The economic impacts of COVID-19 have contributed to an increase in credit risk among customers and as such the expected credit loss provision matrix has been adjusted in the period to reflect the increased risk of impairment.

To measure the ECL, trade receivables and contract assets have been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics. The contract assets relate to unbilled work in progress and have substantially the same risk characteristics as the trade receivables for the same types of contracts. The Group has therefore concluded that the ECL rates for trade receivables are a reasonable approximation of the loss rates for the contract assets.

The carrying amount of receivables as at reporting date was as follows:

The carrying amount of receivables as at reporting date	was as follows:
		2020	2019
	Note	$’000	$’000
Trade receivables		41,239	44,155
Loss allowance		(585)	(550)
		40,654	43,605
Other receivables		3,265	2,095
Total receivables		43,919	45,700

The loss allowance determined for trade receivables as at 31 December 2019 and 2020 is as follows:

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Opening loss allowance as at 1 January	550	529
Expected credit losses recognised in profit or loss	130	96
Receivables written off as uncollectible	(95)	(75)
Closingloss allowance	585	550

The aging of trade receivables that were not impaired at the end of the reporting date was as follows:

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Current	37,419	41,181
Past due less than 1 month	2,863	1,471
Past due 1 to 3 months	370	814
Past due 3 to 6 months	187	456
Past due over 6 months	400	233
Trade receivables	41,239	44,155

Trade receivables are generally settled within 30 to 45 days and therefore classified as current. Trade receivables are recognised initially at the amount of consideration that is unconditional unless they contain significant financing components, when they are recognised at fair value. Due to their short-term nature, the carrying value represents fair value. The Group holds the trade receivables with the objective of collecting the contractual cash flows and therefore measures them subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Details about the group’s impairment policies and the calculation of the loss allowance are provided in note 3.3(B).

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

Prudent liquidity risk management implies maintaining sufficient cash and marketable securities, the availability of funding through an adequate amount of committed credit facilities and the ability to close out market positions. Due to the dynamic nature of the underlying business, Group Treasury aims at maintaining flexibility in funding by keeping committed credit lines available. Management monitors rolling forecasts of the Group’s liquidity reserve on the basis of expected cash flows.

The Group analyses financial liabilities, including interest to maturity, into relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining period at the reporting date to the contractual maturity date. Financial liabilities include trade and other payables and lease liabilities.

The contractual undiscounted cash flows attributed to trade and other payables amounted to $21,506,000 (2019: $24,092,000) which are all due within one year. This excludes any non-current amounts that do not meet the definition of a financial liability under Australian Accounting Standards.

The relevant maturity groupings for lease liabilities are detailed in note 2.3. Details of credit standby arrangements and loan facilities are included in note 3.1.

The Group measures and recognises the following assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis:

financial assets at fair value through profit or loss;
financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income; and
land and buildings.

AASB 13 Fair Value Measurement requires disclosure of fair value measurements by level of the following fair value measurement hierarchy:

level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and
level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

The following table presents the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities measured and recognised at fair value at 31 December 2019 and 2020:

31 December 2019 and 2020:
		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
2019	Note	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000
Recurring fair value measurements
Financial assets
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Shares in other corporations	5.3	–	–	37,346	37,346
Total financial assets		–	–	37,346	37,346
Non-financial assets
Freehold land and buildings
Freehold land	2.2	–	–	2,391	2,391
Buildings	2.2	–	–	937	937
Total non-financial assets		–	–	3,328	3,328
		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
2020	Note	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000
Recurring fair value measurements
Financial assets
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Shares in other corporations	5.3	–	–	688	688
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive
income
Shares in other corporations	5.3	45,895	–	–	45,895
Total financial assets		45,895	–	688	46,583
Non-financial assets
Freehold land and buildings
Freehold land	2.2	–	–	2,391	2,391
Buildings	2.2	–	–	953	953
Total non-financial assets		–	–	3,344	3,344

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The Group also has a number of assets and liabilities which are not measured at fair value, but for which fair values are disclosed in the notes.

The carrying amounts of trade receivables and payables are assumed to approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

The fair value of bank loans approximates the carrying amount.

During the period, the Group purchased shares in oOh!media Limited (OML), which are held at fair value through other comprehensive income. As OML is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), the fair value is determined by reference to the quoted price. Refer to note 5.3 for more information.

The level 3 inputs used by the Group are derived and evaluated as follows.

The fair value of lease liabilities disclosed in note 2.3 is estimated by discounting the minimum lease payments at the Group’s incremental borrowing rate. For the period ended 31 December 2020, the borrowing rates were determined to be between 3.4% and 5.2% per annum, depending on the type of lease.

If one or more of the significant inputs is not based on observable market data, the instrument is included in level 3. This is the case for shares in other corporations that are measured through profit and loss, which are valued using discount rates, forecast cash flows, EBITDA multiples estimated by management based on comparable transactions and industry data. Refer to note 5.3 for more information on the fair value measurement of shares in other corporations.

The Group obtains independent valuations at least every three to five years for its freehold land and buildings (classified as property, plant and equipment in note 2.2), less subsequent depreciation for buildings. This is considered sufficient regularity to ensure that the carrying amount does not differ materially from that which would be determined using fair value at the end of the reporting period. All resulting fair value estimates for properties are included in level 3.

During the year, a fair value gain of $0.7 million (2019: $2.0 million) was recorded in other income for shares in other corporations. There were no other material level 3 fair value movements during the year.

			2020	2019
			$’000	$’000
Issued andpaid upshare capital			1,480,752	1,483,685
	2020	2019	2020	2019
	Number shares	Number shares	$’000	$’000
Balance at beginning of the year	280,229,160	285,598,399	1,483,685	1,492,555
Share buy-back(i)	(2,032,893)	(5,369,239)	(2,933)	(8,870)
Balance at end of theyear	278,196,267	280,229,160	1,480,752	1,483,685

(i) During 2020, the Company purchased and cancelled on-market 2.0 million shares (2019: 5.4 million). The shares were acquired at an average price of $1.44 per share (2019: $1.65).

Ordinary shares entitle the holder to participate in dividends and the proceeds on winding up of the Company in proportion to the number of and amounts paid on the shares held.

On a show of hands, every holder of ordinary shares present at a meeting in person or by proxy, attorney or corporate representative is entitled to one vote, and upon a poll each share is entitled to one vote.

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.

	2020	2019
	Number of rights	Number of rights
As at 1 January	1,391,931	1,446,914
Awarded	–	189,099
Exercised	(1,348,187)	(327,400)
Other changes	72,211	83,318
Balance at end of theyear	115,955	1,391,931

Share rights outstanding at the end of the year have the following vesting date and weighted average fair value:

Incentiveplan Vesting date Weighted average fair value	Rights
	2020 2019
2018 TIP1, 2 1–Jan–20 $1.84 2019 TIP3 1-Jan-21 $1.60	– 1,190,966 115,955 200,965
Balance at end of theyear	115,955 1,391,931
	2020 2019
Weighted average remainingcontractual life of rights outstandingat end ofperiod	0.0year 0.1year

(1) The date on which the fair value of the 2018 TIP rights were calculated, is the deemed grant date of the rights for accounting purposes. An actual grant of rights was not made to the CEO & Managing Director until after shareholder approval had been received at the Annual General Meeting, and for all other Executive KMP on 13 February 2019. The 2018 TIP required that participants receive an additional allocation of shares at vesting equal to the dividends paid on vested rights over the performance and service period. 437,780 additional rights were issued to satisfy this requirement in respect of 2018.

(2) The 2018 TIP requires that participants receive an additional allocation of shares at vesting equal to the dividends paid on vested rights over the performance and service period. 83,318 additional rights were issued to satisfy this requirement in respect of 2019. This is disclosed in other changes in the 2019 reconciliation above.

(3) The date on which the fair value of the 2019 TIP rights were calculated, is the deemed grant date of the rights for accounting purposes. An actual grant of rights was not made to the CEO & Managing Director until after shareholder approval had been received at the Annual General Meeting, and for all other Executive KMP on 7 February 2020. The 2019 TIP required that participants receive an additional allocation of shares at vesting equal to the dividends paid on vested rights over the performance and service period. 6,099 additional rights were issued to satisfy this requirement in respect of 2019. This is disclosed in other changes in the 2020 reconciliation above.

Share-based payments expense related to the above tables for the year was $176,000 (2019: $1,000,000).

Further information of the rights granted to Executive KMP is contained in the Remuneration Report found on pages 30 to 44 of the Annual Report.

The TIP, encompassing the 2020 financial year, has not been awarded.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

Share-based compensation benefits are provided to employees via share-based payments as part of a Total Incentive Plan (TIP).

The fair value of rights granted under the TIP is recognised as an employee benefits expense with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and recognised over the period during which the employee becomes unconditionally entitled to the rights.

The fair value is derived using the closing share price on the grant date.

The fair value of the rights granted is adjusted to reflect any market vesting condition but excludes the impact of non-market vesting conditions. Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of rights that are expected to become exercisable. At each reporting date, the Group revises its estimate of the number of rights that are expected to become exercisable.

The employee benefits expense recognised each period takes into account the most recent estimate. The impact of the revision to the original estimates, is recognised in profit or loss with a corresponding adjustment to equity.

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Reserves
Asset revaluation reserve	2,403	2,361
Foreign currency translation reserve	1,810	(45)
Share-based payments reserve	8,131	10,422
Investment revaluation reserve	19,473	–
Transactions with non-controlling interests reserve	(53,283)	(53,283)
Treasuryshares reserve	(1,737)	(3,198)
Total reserves	(23,203)	(43,743)
Asset revaluation reserve
Balance at beginning of the year	2,361	786
Revaluation of freehold land and buildings	42	1,575
Balance at end of theyear	2,403	2,361
Foreign currency translation reserve
Balance at beginning of the year	(45)	11
Reclassification of foreign currency translation reserve to profit or loss	(22)	–
Net exchange difference on translation of foreign operations	1,373	(56)
Share of associates foreign exchange reserve	504	–
Balance at end of theyear	1,810	(45)
Share-based payments reserve
Balance at beginning of the year	10,422	9,829
Share-based payments expense	176	1,000
Transfers within equity	(520)	70
Treasury shares vested to employees	(1,792)	(477)
Other	(155)	–
Balance at end of theyear	8,131	10,422
Investment revaluation reserve
Fair value adjustment on financial assets	19,473	–
Balance at end of theyear	19,473	–
Transactions with non-controlling interests reserve
Balance at beginningof theyear	(53,283)	(53,283)
Balance at end of theyear	(53,283)	(53,283)
Treasury shares reserve
Balance at beginning of the year	(3,198)	(1,152)
Aquisition of treasury shares	(331)	(2,537)
Transfers within equity	–	14
Treasuryshares vested to employees	1,792	477
Balance at end of theyear	(1,737)	(3,198)

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

==> picture [279 x 33] intentionally omitted <==

The asset revaluation reserve is used to record increments and decrements on the revaluation of non-current assets, as described in note 2.2. The balance standing to the credit of the reserve may be used to satisfy the distribution of bonus shares to shareholders and is only available for the payment of cash dividends in limited circumstances as permitted by law. In the event of the sale of an asset, the revaluation surplus is transferred to accumulated losses.

Exchange differences arising on translation of any foreign controlled entities are recognised in other comprehensive income and the foreign currency translation reserve as described in note 6.4.

The share-based payments reserve is used to recognise the fair value of performance rights issued but not yet vested as described in note 3.6.

The investment revaluation reserve is used to recognise the fair value of shares in other entities that are measured at fair value through profit and loss. Refer to note 5.3 for more information.

The transactions with non-controlling interest reserve is used to record the differences described in note 5.2 which may arise as a result of transactions with non-controlling interests that do not result in a loss of control.

APN News & Media Employee Share Trust (Trust), a controlled entity, was established in 2017. The Trust purchased 261,401 (2019: 1,432,933) additional shares in the Company during the year. The number of shares which were issued to employees during the year was 925,558 (2019: 209,520). The total shareholding in the Company as at 31 December 2020 was 1,064,547 shares at an average price of $1.63 (2019: 1,728,704 shares at $1.85). This shareholding is disclosed as treasury shares and deducted from equity.

Performance rights that relate to the 2017 and 2018 TIP have vested and converted into shares; however, they have not been issued and remain in the Trust. Treasury shares for the 2019 TIP have been purchased; however, they have not vested yet and therefore remain in the Trust.

The treasury shares reserve is used to recognise the value of shares purchased by the Trust.

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Balance at beginning of the year	(946,536)	(905,894)
Change in accounting policy– lease accounting (i)	–	(3,587)
Restated total at beginning of the financial year	(946,536)	(909,481)
Loss attributable to owners of the parent entity	(42,501)	(14,195)
Transfer from reserves	520	(84)
Dividendspaid to shareholders	(12,840)	(22,776)
Balance at end of theyear	(1,001,357)	(946,536)

(i) The Group initially applied AASB 16 Leases at 1 January 2019. Under the modified retrospective transition method chosen comparative information was not restated

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2019 of 4.6 cents per share, fully franked, paid on	12,840	11,424
23 March 2020 (2018: 4.0 cents)
Paid in cash	12,840	11,424
The Directors have determined that no interim dividend will be payable (2019: 4.0 cents)	–	11,352
Paid in cash	–	11,352
Total dividends	12,840	22,776
Franking credits available for subsequent financial years at the 30% corporate tax rate after
allowingfor taxpayable in respect of the currentyear’sprofit and tax refunds	10,072	21,449
Dividends not recognised at year end
The Directors have determined that no final dividend will bepayable (2019: 4.6 cents)	–	12,891

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

==> picture [184 x 35] intentionally omitted <==

	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Current tax expense	13,744	9,482
Provisions for uncertain tax treatments	–	33,000
Deferred tax benefit/(expense)	(2,957)	502
Adjustment for current tax ofpriorperiods	4,991	(3,105)
Income tax expense	15,778	39,879
Income tax expense differs from the prima facie tax as follows:
Profit before income tax expense	(23,321)	30,029
Prima facie income tax at 30%	(6,996)	9,009
Difference in international tax treatments and rates	429	109
Provisions for uncertain tax treatments	–	33,000
Non-deductible impairment of intangible assets	16,253	–
Non-deductible right-of-use assets impairment	2,128	–
Unrecognised tax losses/(tax losses realised)	524	133
Share of profits of associates	(1,799)	(758)
Adjustment for current tax of prior periods	4,991	(3,105)
Other	248	1,491
Income tax expense	15,778	39,879

The Group is subject to income taxes in Australia and jurisdictions where it has foreign operations. Significant judgement is required in determining the provision for income taxes. There are certain transactions and calculations undertaken during the ordinary course of business for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The Group estimates its tax liabilities based on the Group’s understanding of the tax law. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact the current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities in the period in which such determination is made.

On 22 January 2018 and 1 May 2018, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued amended income tax assessments in relation to the previously disclosed New Zealand branch matter (involving the licensing of New Zealand mastheads by a New Zealand branch of an Australian HT&E Group entity). The New Zealand branch was closed as part of the demerger of NZME Limited on 29 June 2016.

The amended assessments are for the financial years ended 31 December 2009 to 31 December 2015 inclusive and HT&E has been advised the ATO intends to expand its position to the year ended 31 December 2016.

On 2 August 2018, the ATO determined its position on the application of penalties and interest. The ATO is seeking to apply penalties at the rate of 50% to the years 2009 to 2015.

HT&E has lodged objections with the ATO in 2018 regarding the assessments for the years ended 31 December 2009 to 31 December 2016 inclusive, and objections to the penalties and interest assessments. The ATO is yet to reach a decision on these objections.

In summary, the ATO’s position in relation to this matter involves $102.5 million of tax adjustments, plus $49 million of penalties, plus interest which has accrued to 31 December 2020 (and continues to accrue).

While these dispute processes are being completed, HT&E has deposited 50% of the tax in dispute with the ATO, in line with the 50:50 payment arrangement agreed with the ATO. The deposit, totalling $50.7 million, was paid in two instalments in 2018.

Interest consists of $27.5 million applied with the amended assessments and a further $28.3 million interest accrued to 31 December 2020, together totalling $55.8 million. Interest is deductible and claimed as the tax returns are submitted, with $10.6 million of interest expected to be deducted when the 31 December 2020 income tax return is submitted.

If the ATO is wholly successful in the dispute, the ATO should remit 50% of the interest from the date of the tax deposited in 2018. This remission of interest together with the tax deduction would reduce the net interest cost to approximately $29.1 million. If HT&E is wholly successful, the ATO should remit all of the interest accrued. At completion of the dispute, any remitted interest already deducted would be treated as assessable income and taxed in that future year.

The Company continues to consult with its advisers. The Company remains satisfied that its treatment of the New Zealand branch matter is consistent with relevant taxation legislation and will if necessary, contest the matter through litigation proceedings. The potential outcomes include resolution through litigation or settlement, which may involve no payment, or payment of either a portion or the entire amount at risk.

The ATO is also auditing other matters within the Group covering the financial years ended 31 December 2010 to 31 December 2013 inclusive.

One matter involved a financing arrangement related to the Company’s former New Zealand operations. This matter was settled with the ATO in November 2020 for an amount of $3.2 million. A provision of $3.0 million was previously made in 2019 for this matter.

A second matter involved a loan forgiveness that occurred in 2012. The ATO has issued an Initial Position Paper, indicating that it would apply the market value substitution rules to the loan forgiveness, with the tax adjustment being $5.8 million. Interest would also apply on any tax assessed. The ATO may also seek to impose penalties in respect of the taxes in dispute. HT&E disagrees with the position taken and is satisfied its treatment is consistent with relevant taxation legislation.

As at the date of this report, while there is no certainty, no further adjustments or disputes are anticipated to be raised by the ATO as a result of any matters under review in this audit.

AASB Interpretation 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments applies for annual reporting periods beginning from 1 January 2019 and clarifies the application of the recognition and measurement criteria where there is uncertainty over income tax treatments.

In respect of the New Zealand branch matter, given the range of possible outcomes and in light of recent correspondence and discussions with the ATO and consultation with the Company’s advisers, AASB Interpretation 23 has been applied using the sum of the probability-weighted amounts to predict the resolution of the uncertainty. A provision of $30.0 million has been recorded in respect of the New Zealand branch matter against the Deposit of Tax in Dispute, in line with the requirements of AASB Interpretation 23. This figure is unchanged from 31 December 2019 and is an estimate involving judgement of the probability-weighted amounts and may not reflect the final outcome.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

A $3.9 million non-current asset consists of the $50.7 million deposit of tax in dispute, reduced by the $30 million provision and further reduced by $16.7 million for the value of tax deductions on interest to 31 December 2020. If HT&E is wholly successful, the $30 million provision and tax deductions on interest would reverse.

In respect of the loan forgiveness matter, no tax provision has been recorded under AASB Interpretation 23.

Based on the tax return submitted for the year ended 31 December 2019, the Company has capital losses of $80.6 million (pre-tax). Assuming various rules are met, these capital losses should be available to shelter future capital gains. No deferred tax asset is recorded for these capital losses as they may only be utilised in the event of capital gains and cannot be applied against revenue income.

AASB Interpretation 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments explains how to recognise and measure deferred and current income tax assets and liabilities where there is uncertainty over a tax treatment. In particular, it discusses:

how to determine the appropriate unit of account, and that each uncertain tax treatment should be considered separately or together as a group, depending on which approach better predicts the resolution of the uncertainty;
that the entity should assume a tax authority will examine the uncertain tax treatments and have full knowledge of all related information, ie that detection risk should be ignored;
that the entity should reflect the effect of the uncertainty in its income tax accounting when it is not probable that the tax authorities will accept the treatment;
that the impact of the uncertainty should be measured using either the most likely amount or the expected value method, depending on which method best predicts the resolution of the uncertainty; and
that the judgements and estimates made must be reassessed whenever circumstances have changed or there is new information that affects the judgements.

While there are no new disclosure requirements, the Group used the guidance of this Interpretation to provide information about judgements and estimates made in relation to its existing tax in dispute matters.

	Balance	Recognised in	Recognised	Other	Balance
	1 Jan 19	profit or loss	in equity	movements	31 Dec 19
2019	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000
Employee benefits	1,834	(29)	–	–	1,805
Doubtful debts	159	6	–	–	165
Accruals/restructuring	2,534	909	–	–	3,443
Intangible assets	(110,686)	1,921	–	–	(108,765)
Depreciation	74	92	–	–	166
Right-of-use assets	–	1,262	(4,582)	(3,025)	(6,345)
Lease liabilities	–	(567)	5,529	3,025	7,987
Shares in other corporations	(6,414)	(1,916)	–	–	(8,330)
Other	2,525	(1,176)	(113)	–	1,236
	(109,974)	502	834	–	(108,638)
	Balance	Recognised in	Recognised	Other	Balance
	1 Jan 20	profit or loss	in equity	movements	31 Dec 20
2020	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000	$’000
Employee benefits	1,805	(217)	–	–	1,588
Doubtful debts	165	(15)	–	–	150
Accruals/restructuring	3,443	(1,185)	–	–	2,258
Intangible assets	(108,765)	(1,469)	–	–	(110,234)
Depreciation	166	(216)	–	–	(50)
Right-of-use assets	(6,345)	880	–	–	(5,465)
Lease liabilities	7,987	(774)	–	–	7,213
Investments accounted for using the equity method	–	1,276	–	(8,330)	(7,054)
Shares in other corporations	(8,330)	–	(8,344)	8,330	(8,344)
Other	1,236	(1,237)	(19)	–	(20)
	(108,638)	(2,957)	(8,363)	–	(119,958)

The Group has not recognised deferred tax assets of $5.6 million (2019: $4.1 million) in respect of HK Outdoor tax losses carried forward.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The income tax expense for the year is the tax payable on the current year’s taxable income based on the applicable 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 also adjusted for unused tax losses utilised in the year.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period in the countries where the Group’s subsidiaries and associates operate and generate taxable income. Management periodically evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation. It establishes provisions where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.

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 enacted tax rates applicable to 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.

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

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognised for temporary differences between the carrying amount and tax bases of investments in controlled entities where the parent entity is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that the differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future. Temporary differences in relation to indefinite life intangible assets are determined with reference to their respective capital gains tax bases in respect of assets for which capital gains tax will apply.

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

Current and deferred tax balances attributable to amounts recognised in other comprehensive income are also recognised in other comprehensive income.

The Company and its wholly-owned Australian controlled entities are part of a tax-consolidated group under Australian taxation law. HT&E Limited is the head entity in the tax-consolidated group. Entities within the tax-consolidated group have entered into a tax funding arrangement and a tax sharing agreement with the head entity. Under the terms of the tax funding arrangement, HT&E Limited and each of the other entities in the tax-consolidated group have agreed to pay (or receive) a tax equivalent payment to (or from) the head entity, based on the current tax liability or current tax asset of the entity. Each entity in the taxconsolidated group measures its current and deferred taxes as if it continued to be a separate taxable entity in its own right.

Judgement is required in relation to the recognition of carried forward tax losses as deferred tax assets. The Group assesses whether there will be sufficient future taxable profits to utilise the losses based on a range of factors, including forecast earnings and whether the unused tax losses resulted from identified causes which are unlikely to recur.

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of the following controlled entities in accordance with the accounting policy described in note 6.4.

the accounting policy described in note 6.4.
		Equity holding
	Country of incorporation/	2020	2019
Name of entity	establishment	%	%
5AD Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd1	Australia	100	100
Actraint No. 116 Pty. Limited1,3	Australia	–	100
Airplay Media Services Pty. Limited1,3	Australia	–	100
APN News & Media Employee Share Trust	Australia	100	100
ARN Adelaide Pty Ltd1	Australia	100	100
ARN Brisbane Pty Ltd1,2	Australia	100	100
ARN Broadcasting Pty Ltd1	Australia	100	100
ARN Communications Pty Ltd1,2	Australia	100	100
ARN Limited Partnership	Australia	100	100
ARN New Zealand Pty. Limited1,2	Australia	100	100
ARN Overseas Pty. Limited1,2	Australia	100	100
ARN Perth Pty Limited1	Australia	100	100
ARN South Australia Pty Limited1	Australia	100	100
ARN Superannuation Pty Ltd1,3	Australia	–	100
ARNSAT Pty Limited1,3	Australia	–	100
Australian Outdoor Pty Limited1,2,3	Australia	–	100
Australian Radio Network Pty Limited1,2	Australia	100	100
Australian Radio Network Sales Pty Ltd1,3	Australia	–	100
Biffin Pty. Limited1,2	Australia	100	100
Black Mountain Broadcasters Pty. Limited	Australia	50	50
Blue Mountains Broadcasters Pty Limited1	Australia	100	100
Brisbane FM Radio Pty Ltd	Australia	50	50
Buspak Advertising (Hong Kong) Limited	Hong Kong	100	100
C.R. Phillips Investments Pty Ltd1,3	Australia	–	100
Capital City Broadcasters Pty. Limited1	Australia	100	100
Cardcorp (Manufacturing) Pty. Limited3	Australia	–	100
Catalogue Central Pty Limited1	Australia	100	100
Central Coast Broadcasting Pty.1,3	Australia	–	100
Citysites Outdoor Advertising (Albert) Pty. Ltd.1,3	Australia	–	100
Citysites Outdoor Advertising (S. Aust.) Pty. Ltd.1,3	Australia	–	100
Citysites Outdoor Advertising (W Aust) Pty Ltd1,3	Australia	–	100
Citysites Outdoor Advertising Pty. Ltd.1,3	Australia	–	100
Cody Outdoor International (HK) Limited	Hong Kong	100	100
Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation Pty Ltd1,2	Australia	100	100
Conversant Media Pty Ltd1	Australia	100	100

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

Name of entity
Country of incorporation/
establishment

Equity holding

2020
%
2019
%

Covette Investments Pty Limited1,2
Australia
Double T Radio Pty Ltd1
Australia
Emotive Pty Limited
Australia
Evitome Pty Limited1
Australia
Farm Fantastic Pty Limited3
Australia
Gergdaam Capital Pty Limited1,2
Australia
Gulgong Pty. Limited1,2
Australia
Haswell Pty. Limited1,2
Australia
HT&E Braeside Pty Ltd3
Australia
HT&E Broadcasting (Regionals) Pty.1,2
Australia
HT&E Broadcasting Investments Pty Ltd1,3
Australia
HT&E Business Magazines Pty Ltd1,3
Australia
HT&E Digital Pty Ltd1
Australia
HT&E Finance Pty Limited1,2
Australia
HT&E International Pty Ltd1,2
Australia
HT&E Milperra Pty Ltd3
Australia
HT&E Online (Australia) Pty Ltd1
Australia
HT&E Operations Ltd1,2
Australia
iNC Network Australia Pty Ltd1,3
Australia
KAFM Broadcasters Proprietary Limited1,3
Australia
Level 3 Investments Pty Limited1
Australia
Level 4 Investments Pty Limited1,3
Australia
Lunchbox Investments Pty Ltd3
Australia
Media Tek Pty. Limited1,2,3
Australia
Melbourne F.M. Facilities Pty. Limited
Australia
Nathco Holdings Pty. Ltd.1,2,3
Australia
Perth Sign Company Pty Ltd1,3
Australia
Phillips Finance Pty Ltd1,3
Australia
Phillips Neon Pty Ltd1,3
Australia
Provincial Investments Pty. Ltd.1,3
Australia
Radio 96FM Perth Pty Limited1
Australia
RadioWise Pty Ltd1,3
Australia
Regmax Pty Limited1,3
Australia
Shelter Advertising Pty Ltd1,3
Australia
Southern State Broadcasters Pty. Limited1
Australia
Speedlink Services Pty Ltd1
Australia
Street Furniture (NSW) Pty Ltd1,3
Australia
SunCoastal F.M. Radio Pty. Ltd.1,3
Australia
Sydney FM Facilities Pty Ltd
Australia
The Internet Amusements Group Pty Limited1
Australia
The Level 3 Partnership
Australia
The Roar Sports Media Pty Ltd1
Australia
Tibbar Broadcasting Pty Limited1
Australia
Universal Radio Pty. Ltd.1,3
Australia
Urban Design Furniture Pty. Ltd.1,3
Australia

100
100
100
100
51
51
100
100
–
50
100
100
100
100
100
100
–
100
100
100
–
100
–
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
–
100
100
100
100
100
–
100
–
100
100
100
–
100
–
100
–
100
50
50
–
100
–
100
–
100
–
100
–
100
100
100
–
100
–
100
–
100
100
100
100
100
–
100
–
100
50
50
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
–
100
–
100

Name of entity Country of incorporation/ establishment	Equity holding
	2020 % 2019 %
Wesgo1,2 Australia West Sydney Radio Pty Ltd1,3 Australia Westat Research Pty Ltd1,3 Australia Wilson & Horton Australia Pty Ltd1 Australia Wilson & Horton Finance PtyLtd1,2 Australia	100 100 – 100 – 100 100 100 100 100

(1) These companies are parties to a deed of cross guarantee dated 28 April 2017 under which each company guarantees the debts of the others (Deed of Cross Guarantee). These companies represent a Closed Group for the purposes of ASIC Corporations (Wholly-owned Companies) Instrument 2016/785 and there are no other members of the Extended Closed Group.

(2) These wholly-owned entities have been relieved from the requirement to prepare a financial report and Directors’ report under ASIC Corporations (Wholly-owned Companies) Instrument 2016/785.

(3) This company was deregistered during the year.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

Set out below are the Group’s principal subsidiaries with material non-controlling interests. Unless otherwise stated, the subsidiaries as listed below have share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares, which are held directly by the Group, and the proportion of ownership interests held equals to the voting rights held by the Group.

Place of business and country of incorporation Name of entity	Ownership interest held by the Group Ownership interest held by non-controlling interests 2020 2019 2020 2019 Principal activities
Brisbane FM Radio PtyLtd Australia	50% 50% 50% 50% Commercial radio

Set out below is summarised financial information for each subsidiary that has non-controlling interests that are material to the Group. The amounts disclosed for each subsidiary are before inter-company eliminations.

The amounts disclosed for each subsidiary are before inter-company eliminations.
	Brisbane FM Radio Pty Ltd
	2020 $’000 2019 $’000
Summarised balance sheet Current assets Current liabilities	10,493 4,687 2,287 2,706
Current net assets	8,206 1,981
Non-current assets Non-current liabilities	67,474 67,464 46 44
Non-current net assets	67,428 67,420
Net assets	75,634 69,401
Accumulated non-controllinginterests	37,817 34,700
Summarised statement of comprehensive income Revenue	20,465 25,316
Profit for the period Other comprehensive income	6,235 8,390 – –
Total comprehensive income	6,235 8,390
Total comprehensive income allocated to non-controllinginterests	3,118 4,195
Dividendspaid to non-controllinginterests	– 4,100
Summarised statement of cash flows Net inflows from operating activities Net outflows from investing activities Net outflows from financingactivities	8,867 8,434 (14) (27) (8,837) (8,930)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	16 (523)

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

The effects of all transactions with non-controlling interests are recorded in equity if there is no change in control. Where there is a loss of control, any remaining interest in the entity is remeasured to fair value and a gain or loss is recognised in the income statement. Any losses are allocated to the non-controlling interests in subsidiaries even if the accumulated losses should exceed the non-controlling interests in the individual subsidiary’s equity.

		2020	2019
	Note	$’000	$’000
Shares in other corporations	3.4	46,583	37,346

The Group purchased shares in oOh!media Limited (OML) and designated the investment as fair value through other comprehensive income. The shares are not held for sale. The investment in OML was revalued to $45.9 million as at 31 December 2020, with a $19.5 million fair value gain net of tax, recognised in other comprehensive income. Refer to note 3.4 for more information on determining the fair value.

The Group’s historical investment in Nova 93.7 became an associate on 1 March 2020. Refer to note 5.4 for further details.

The remaining level 3 investments are not material to the Group.

Financial assets are initially measured at fair value, plus transaction costs. This excludes those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss which are initially measured at fair value. Subsequent measurement of financial assets is at fair value or amortised cost where certain criteria are met.

The Group’s loans and receivables (refer to note 3.3(B)) meet the requirements for measurement at amortised cost based on the purpose for which the assets and liabilities are held and the contractual terms.

Details about the group’s impairment policies and the calculation of the loss allowance are provided in note 3.3(B).

The Group’s investments in equity instruments are measured at fair value, determined in the manner described in note 3.4. At initial recognition, the Group can make an irrevocable election (on an instrument-by-instrument basis) to recognise gains and losses on equity instruments not held for trading, in other comprehensive income. Otherwise, all gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

		2020	2019
	Note	$’000	$’000
Shares in associate andjoint ventures		51,320	17,314
Total investments accounted for usingthe equitymethod		51,320	17,314
Share ofprofits of associate andjoint ventures	1.3	5,998	2,527

(1) Share of profits from joint ventures, included HT&E Events Pty Limited and Unbnd Group Pty Ltd, which were disposed in late 2019. The current year result includes Nova Entertainment (Perth) Pty Ltd, from 1 March 2020.

Set out below are the associate and joint ventures of the Group as at 31 December 2020. The entities listed below have share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares, which are held directly by the Group. The country of incorporation is also their principal place of business, and the proportion of ownership interest is the same as the proportion of voting rights held.

Name of entity Place of business/ country of incorporation	Ownership interest Consolidated carrying values
	2020 2019 Nature of relationship Measurement method 2020 $’000 2019 $’000
Soprano Design Pty Limited Australia Nova Entertainment (Perth) PtyLtd Australia	25% 25% Associate1 Equity method 19,829 17,314 50% 50% Associate2 Equitymethod 31,491 –

(1) Soprano Design Pty Limited specialises in the development and provision of world leading mobile messaging and wireless application infrastructure. The interest in this business was acquired in 2001.

(2) On 1 March 2020, Nova Entertainment (Perth) Pty Ltd, an FM radio station in Perth, became an associate of the Group. The Group’s interest in the entity was previously classified as an equity investment within Shares in Other Corporations

Below is a reconciliation of investments accounted for using the equity method:

Below is a reconciliation of investments accounted for using the equity method:
	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Carrying amount at the beginning of the financial year	17,314	18,829
Share of profit	5,998	2,527
Share of reserves	504	–
Dividend paid	(1,250)	–
Reclassification of associate from financial asset	35,959	–
Disposal	–	(4,320)
Impairment	(4,394)	–
Other	(2,811)	278
Total investments accounted for usingthe equitymethod	51,320	17,314

The Group holds a 50% interest in Nova Entertainment (Perth) Pty Ltd (Nova 93.7FM), which was established in 2002. This investment in Nova 93.7FM has historically been held as a financial asset with fair value remeasurements through profit or loss (refer to note 5.3).

During the period, management revisited the judgements and assumptions related to Nova 93.7FM and concluded that there had been a change in circumstances such that the Group now had significant influence over Nova 93.7FM and that the entity was an associate, effective from 1 March 2020. The Group’s current level of oversight and interest in Nova 93.7FM, subsequent to recent structural and organisational changes, has contributed to the change in circumstances.

Initial recognition of an associate is at cost. As an accounting policy, the Group has elected to use fair value as the deemed cost at 1 March 2020, the date Nova 93.7FM became an associate. The fair value, or deemed cost, of the associate at 1 March 2020 was $35,959,000. This amount was reclassed out of Shares in Other Corporations.

For the period ending June 2020, there were indications that the carrying amount of the Group’s investment in Nova 93.7FM may exceed its recoverable amount, so an impairment test was performed. As a result of the testing performed, an impairment charge of $4,394,000 was recognised in the period. Management have performed an impairment test as at 31 December 2020, which has indicated no further impairment loss should be recognised.

The recoverable amount of Nova 93.7FM was estimated based on a value in use calculation, using management budgets and forecasts for a 5 year period.

The cash flow assumptions are based on:

revenue forecasts, which consider internal information and relevant external industry data and analysis which include:
market growth across the cash flow period. The revenue forecast assumes the Australian Radio market will return to historical 2019 within the forecast period, and Nova 93.7FM will maintain market share or reclaim lost market share through continued investment in content, marketing and operations.
expense forecasts, which are prepared on a detailed basis based on their nature. Variable costs are forecast to move in line with revenue movements. Personnel costs are forecast to move in line with headcount and adjusted for expected inflation. Other costs are forecast based on management expectations, considering existing contractual arrangements.
growth rates for cash flows beyond 5 years, which are extrapolated at rates not exceeding the long-term average growth rate for the industry in which Nova 93.7FM operates.

At 31 December 2020 the carrying value of the Group’s investment in Nova 93.7FM equalled its value in use calculation. The impairment calculation is therefore sensitive to changes in certain key assumptions, with any negative change giving rise to a further impairment charge.

The below illustrates how a reasonable possible change in estimate and assumptions can impact headroom. The headroom for the Group’s investment in Nova 97.3FM would change by the following based on changes made in isolation to the key assumptions below:

In $’000s	Discount Rate change Long-term growth rate change Terminal EBITDA forecast change
	+0.5% -0.5% +0.5% -0.5% +1% -1%
Nova 97.3FM	(2,036) 2,308 1,714 (1,513) 264 (264)

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

Associates are all entities over which the Group has significant influence but not control or joint control. This is generally the case where the Group holds between 20% and 50% of the voting rights.

Investments in associates are accounted for in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method of accounting, after initially being recognised at cost. The Group’s investment in associates includes goodwill (net of any accumulated impairment loss) identified on acquisition.

The Group’s share of its associates’ post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in the income statement, and its share of postacquisition movements in other comprehensive income of the associate, is recognised in other comprehensive income. The cumulative post-acquisition movements are adjusted against the carrying amount of the investment. Dividends received from associates are recognised in the consolidated financial statements as a reduction in the carrying amount of the investment.

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

Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its associates are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the associates.

Under AASB 11 Joint Arrangements , investments in joint arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures depending on the contractual rights and obligations each investor has, rather than the legal structure of the joint arrangement.

The Group recognises its direct right to, and its share of, jointly held assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of joint operations.

The interest in a joint venture is accounted for using the equity method after initially being recognised at cost. Under the equity method, the Group’s share of the profits or losses of the joint venture is recognised in the income statement, and the share of post-acquisition other comprehensive income is recognised in other comprehensive income.

When the Group’s share of losses in a joint venture equals or exceeds its interests in the joint venture (which includes any longterm interests that, in substance, form part of the Group’s net investment in the joint venture), the Group does not recognise further losses, unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the joint venture.

Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its joint ventures are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the joint ventures. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

The individual financial statements for the parent entity show the following aggregate amounts:

The individual financial statements for the parent entity show the following aggregate amounts:
	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Balance sheet
Current assets	3,848	3,614
Total assets	1,392,925	1,414,651
Current liabilities	–	3,006
Total liabilities	930,612	795,907
Total equity	462,313	618,744
Contributed equity	1,480,752	1,483,685
Reserves
Share-based payments reserve	27,604	10,423
Retained earnings
Opening profit reserve	35,434	58,252
Dividendspaid to shareholders	(12,891)	(22,818)
Closing profit reserve	22,543	35,434
Brought forward loss reserve	(910,798)	(720,499)
Loss for theyear	(157,788)	(190,299)
Closingloss reserve	(1,068,586)	(910,798)
Total equity	462,313	618,744
(Loss)/profit for theyear	(157,788)	(190,299)
Total comprehensive income	(157,788)	(190,299)

Refer to note 6.1 for details.

The parent entity did not have any other contingent liabilities or any contractual commitments as at 31 December 2020 or 31 December 2019.

The financial information for the parent entity, HT&E Limited, has been prepared on the same basis as the consolidated financial statements, except for:

Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for at cost less impairment losses in the financial statements of the parent entity.

Dividends received from subsidiaries are recognised in the parent entity’s income statement when its right to receive the dividend is established.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

Companies in the Closed Group are party to a deed of cross guarantee dated 28 April 2017 under which each guarantees the debts of the others. These companies represent a Closed Group for the purposes of ASIC Corporations (Wholly-owned Companies) Instrument 2016/785 . The companies party to Deed of Cross Guarantee are detailed at note 6.1.

Set out below is the consolidated income statement and summary of movements in consolidated retained earnings for the year ended 31 December 2020 for the Closed Group:

31 December 2020 for the Closed Group:
	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Revenue	146,898	188,274
Other revenue and income	30,562	36,562
Expenses from operations before impairment, finance costs, depreciation and amortisation	(128,975)	(172,388)
Impairment of Group company investments	(19,237)	(5,423)
Goodwill and associate impairment	(55,888)	–
Finance costs	(3,069)	(10,464)
Depreciation and amortisation	(6,256)	(6,824)
Share ofprofits of associate andjoint ventures	5,998	2,527
Profit/(loss) before income tax	(29,967)	32,264
Income tax expense	(14,226)	(38,755)
Loss attributable to owners of theparent entity	(44,193)	(6,491)
Accumulated losses
Balance at beginning of the year	(1,062,058)	(1,030,485)
Change in accounting policy– lease accounting	–	(2,222)
Restated total at beginning of the financial year	(1,062,058)	(1,032,707)
Loss attributable to owners of the parent entity	(44,193)	(6,491)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(12,840)	(22,776)
Transfers between reserves	520	(84)
Balance at end of theyear	(1,118,571)	(1,062,058)

Set out below is the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 December 2020 for the Closed Group:

Set out below is the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 December 2020 for the Closed Group:
	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	61,023	107,218
Short-term deposits	50,000	–
Receivables	142,084	139,056
Tax assets	3,575	3,300
Other current assets	2,554	2,389
Total current assets	259,236	251,963
Non-current assets
Other financial assets	227,599	237,681
Investments accounted for using the equity method	51,320	17,314
Property, plant and equipment	17,158	20,125
Right-of-use assets	18,152	20,901
Intangible assets	297,181	347,640
Deposit of tax in dispute, net of provision	3,930	20,670
Other non-current assets	1,762	2,616
Total non-current assets	617,102	666,947
Total assets	876,338	918,910
Current liabilities
Payables	158,511	161,793
Contract liabilities	1,389	1,144
Lease liabilities	3,164	2,648
Provisions	4,454	12,315
Total current liabilities	167,518	177,900
Non-current liabilities
Lease liabilities	20,795	23,579
Provisions	4,456	4,850
Deferred tax liabilities	120,123	108,752
Total non-current liabilities	145,374	137,181
Total liabilities	312,892	315,081
Net assets	563,446	603,829
Equity
Contributed equity	1,480,752	1,483,685
Reserves	201,265	182,202
Accumulated losses	(1,118,571)	(1,062,058)
Totalparent entityinterest	563,446	603,829
Total equity	563,446	603,829

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The parent entity and all wholly-owned controlled entities have provided guarantees in respect of banking facilities. As at 31 December 2020, the facilities had been drawn to the extent of $6.3 million (2019: $9.1 million), of which $3.3 million of the balance pertains to bank guarantees.

During the year, the Company provided a financial guarantee in relation to Unbnd Group Pty Ltd (Unbnd), a joint venture which was disposed on 19 September 2019. The financial guarantee remained undrawn upon expiry on 30 October 2020 leaving the Group with $nil exposure as at 31 December 2020 (2019: $4,897,000). The amount was previously presented on the balance sheet as a provision (refer to note 2.4).

The Group did not have any other contingent liabilities and contractual commitments as at 31 December 2020 or 31 December 2019.

Claims for damages are made against the Group from time to time in the ordinary course of business. The Directors are not aware of any claim that is expected to result in material costs or damages.

During the year, the following fees were paid or payable for services provided by the auditor of the Group, its related practices, non-related audit firms and other professional advisory and consulting firms:

non-related audit firms and other professional advisory and consulting firms:
	2020	2019
	$’000	$’000
Remuneration for audit or review of the financial reports
PricewaterhouseCoopers – Australian firm	803	998
PricewaterhouseCoopers – overseas firm	86	83
Remuneration for other assurance services
PricewaterhouseCoopers – Australian firm	42	42
PricewaterhouseCoopers – overseas firm	8	8
Total audit and other assurance services	939	1,131
Remuneration for other services
PricewaterhouseCoopers – Australian firm
Tax services
Consulting and advice	237	382
Compliance	139	165
Other services	–	2
PricewaterhouseCoopers – overseas firm
Tax services
Compliance	23	29
Total non-audit services	399	578

	2020	2019
	$	$
Short-term employee benefits	2,019,964	3,332,309
Post-employment benefits	90,526	172,655
Other long-term benefits	40,813	63,287
Termination benefits	–	2,237,201
Share-basedpayments	141,197	834,522
	2,292,500	6,639,974

Detailed remuneration disclosures are provided in the Remuneration Report.

The aggregate amounts recognised in respect to the following types of transactions and each class of related party involved were as follows;

as follows;
		2020	2019
Type of transaction	Class of other relatedparty	$	$
Director fee with associate	Key management personnel(i)	400,000	–
Director fee with associate	Keymanagementpersonnel(ii)	18,750	–

(i) Directors fees received from Soprano Design Pty Limited by HT&E for services performed by Ciaran Davis and Jeff Howard

(ii) Directors fee received from Soprano Design Pty Limited by Belinda Rowe for services performed

There was $nil payable to related parties as at 31 December 2020 (2019: $nil).

There was $7.4 million in loans owing to related parties as at 31 December 2020. This relates to Nova Entertainment (Perth) Pty Ltd, which became an associate on 1 March 2020. The Group had loans amounting to $3.8 million with Nova Entertainment (Perth) Pty Ltd as at 31 December 2019.

There was $nil commitment to related parties as at 31 December 2020 (2019: $nil).

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets and liabilities of HT&E Limited and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group is exposed to, or has the rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power to direct the activities of the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

Inter-entity transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group entities are eliminated. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

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 (functional currency). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Australian dollars, which is HT&E Limited’s functional and presentation currency.

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

The results and financial position of all the Group entities that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

assets and liabilities are translated at the closing rate at the date of the balance sheet;
income and expenses are translated at average exchange rates for the year; and
all resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income.

On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation of any net investment in foreign entities, and of borrowings and other financial instruments designated as hedges of such investments, are recognised in other comprehensive income. When a foreign operation is sold or a partial disposal occurs, a proportionate share of such exchange differences is recognised in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on disposal.

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

Trade payables, including accruals not yet billed, are recognised when the Group becomes obliged to make future payments as a result of a purchase of assets or services. Trade payables are carried at amortised cost which is the fair value of the consideration to be paid in the future for goods and services received. Trade payables are unsecured and are generally settled within 30 to 45 days.

A payable is raised for the amount of any dividend declared, determined or publicly recommended by the Directors before or at the end of the financial year but not distributed at balance date.

A liability for short-term incentives is recognised in provisions when there is an expectation of settlement and at least one of the following conditions is met:

there are contracted terms in the relevant plan for determining the amount of the benefit;
the amounts to be paid are determined before the time of completion of the financial report; or
past practice gives clear evidence of the amount of the obligation.

Liabilities for short-term incentives are expected to be settled within 12 months and are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when they are settled.

The Group has applied AASB 2019-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – References to the Conceptual Framework for the first time for the reporting period commencing 1 January 2020. The Group has assessed that there is no material impact on the Group in the current period or prior periods.

There are no standards and interpretations that are not yet effective and that are expected to have a material impact on the Group in the current or future reporting periods and on foreseeable future transactions.

The Directors are not aware of any matter or circumstance that has arisen since the end of the financial year that has significantly affected or may significantly affect the Group’s operations, the results of those operations or the Group’s state of affairs in future financial years.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

In the Directors’ opinion:

(a) the financial statements and notes set out on pages 46 to 101 are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:
(i) complying with Accounting Standards, the Corporations Regulations 2001 and other mandatory professional reporting requirements; and
(ii) giving a true and fair view of the consolidated entity’s financial position as at 31 December 2020 and of its performance for the financial year ended on that date; and
(b) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable; and
(c) at the date of this declaration, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the members of the extended closed group identified in note 5.1 will be able to meet any obligations or liabilities to which they are, or may become, subject by virtue of the deed of cross guarantee described in note 5.6.

Page 46 of the Annual Report confirms that the financial statements also comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Directors, after receiving the declarations required to be made by the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer in accordance with section 295A of the Corporations Act 2001 .

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Hamish McLennan Chairman

Sydney 24 February 2021

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To the members of HT&E Limited

In our opinion:

The accompanying financial report of HT&E Limited (the Company) and its controlled entities (together the Group) is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 , including:

(a) giving a true and fair view of the Group's financial position as at 31 December 2020 and of its financial performance for the year then ended
(b) complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001 .

The Group financial report comprises:

the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 December 2020
the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year then ended
the consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year then ended
the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended
the notes to the consolidated financial statements, which include significant accounting policies and other explanatory information
the directors’ declaration.

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

We are independent of the Group in accordance with the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including Independence Standards) (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.

An audit is designed to provide reasonable assurance about whether the financial report is free from material misstatement. Misstatements may arise due to fraud or error. They are considered material if individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial report.

We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed enough work to be able to give an opinion on the financial report as a whole, taking into account the geographic and management structure of the Group, its accounting processes and controls and the industry in which it operates.

PricewaterhouseCoopers, ABN 52 780 433 757

One International Towers Sydney, Watermans Quay, Barangaroo, GPO BOX 2650, SYDNEY NSW 2001 T: +61 2 8266 0000, F: +61 2 8266 9999, www.pwc.com.au

Level 11, 1PSQ, 169 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150, PO Box 1155 Parramatta NSW 2124 T: +61 2 9659 2476, F: +61 2 8266 9999, www.pwc.com.au

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

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Materiality

For the purpose of our audit we used overall Group materiality of $2,120,000, which represents approximately 5% of the Group’s profit before tax adjusted for impairment of intangible assets, investments and right of use assets.
We applied this threshold, together with qualitative considerations, to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of misstatements on the financial report as a whole.
We chose Group profit before tax because in our view, it is an important financial statement metric used in assessing the performance of the Group. We adjusted this benchmark for impairment of intangible assets, investments and right of use assets to reflect the normal underlying performance of the Group.
We utilised a 5% threshold based on our professional judgement, noting it is within the range of commonly acceptable profit related thresholds for listed companies.

Audit Scope

Our audit focused on where the Group made subjective judgements; for example, significant accounting estimates involving assumptions and inherently uncertain future events.
The Group audit was aligned with the structure of the Group.
The nature, timing and extent of audit work required on each component of the Group was determined by the component's risk characteristics and financial significance to the Group and consideration whether sufficient evidence had been obtained for our opinion on the financial report as a whole. The audit work involved:
an audit of the Australian Radio Network financial information
specific risk focused audit procedures over Cody Outdoor International (HK) Limited financial information
specific risk focused analytical procedures at the Group level
further audit procedures at a Group level, including over the consolidation of the Group's reporting units and the preparation of the financial report.
For the work performed by other auditors (“component auditors”) of Cody Outdoor International (HK), Soprano Design Limited, Nova Entertainment (Perth) Pty Limited and Group Financial Services shared service centre operating under our instructions, we determined the level of involvement we needed to have in the audit work at those locations to be satisfied that sufficient audit evidence had been obtained. We communicated regularly with these component audit teams during the year through meetings and written instructions where appropriate.

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. The key audit 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. Further, any commentary on the outcomes of a particular audit procedure is made in that context. We communicated the key audit matters to the Audit and Risk Committee.

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Key audit matter

Taxation of New Zealand branch royalty income

(Refer to note 4)

In 2018, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) issued amended assessments with adjustments and determined a position on the application of penalties and interest relating to the licensing of New Zealand mastheads by a New Zealand branch of one of the Group’s Australian entities. The ATO has challenged the Group’s treatment of the royalty income received by the New Zealand branch in respect of the mastheads as being non-assessable, non-exempt income for Australian tax purposes. In summary, the ATO’s position in relation to this matter involves $102.5m of tax adjustments plus $49.0m of penalties plus interest which has accrued to 31 December 2020 (and continues to accrue). In that regard a deposit of $50.7m was paid to the ATO in 2018.

Interest consists of $27.5 million applied with the amended assessments and a further $28.3 million interest accrued to 31 December 2020, together totalling $55.8 million. If the ATO is wholly successful in the dispute, the ATO should remit 50% of the interest from the date of the tax deposited in 2018. This remission of interest together with the tax deduction would reduce the net interest cost to approximately $29.1 million.

The Group continues to consult with its advisers and is satisfied that its treatment is consistent with relevant tax legislation, that penalties should not apply and disagrees with the rate of penalties imposed.

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Our audit procedures included:

developed an understanding of and assessed the design of the key controls associated with the New Zealand branch tax matter and estimate of the provision recognised
examining correspondence between the Group and the ATO
examining correspondence between the Group and its external advisors and considering their independence and technical competence
together with PwC tax experts, considering the conclusions reached by the Group’s external advisors. This included interviewing the advisors and comparing their conclusions to supporting evidence
agreeing the Group’s potential tax exposure for the 31 December 2009 to 31 December 2016 tax years to the amounts in the amended assessments issued by the ATO for the respective tax years
recomputing the Group’s potential tax exposure for the 31 December 2016 tax year to the Agreement for Licence of Trademarks between Wilson & Horton Finance Pty Limited – New Zealand Branch and APN New Zealand Limited
assessing the sum of the probability-weighted amounts for the range of possible outcomes determined by the Group to estimate the resolution of the uncertain tax matter
assessing the reasonableness of the Group’s disclosure of the matter in the financial statements in light of the requirements of Australian Accounting Standards.

The Group has lodged objections with the ATO regarding the amended tax assessments and regarding the assessments of penalties and interest. The Group will if necessary, contest the matter through litigation proceedings.

Given the range of possible outcomes and in light of recent correspondence and discussions with the ATO and consultation with the Company’s advisers, AASB Interpretation 23 has been applied using the sum of the probability-weighted amounts to predict the resolution of the uncertainty. A provision of $30.0 million was recorded in respect of the New Zealand branch matter in the prior year against the Deposit of Tax in Dispute, in line with the requirements of AASB Interpretation 23. A $3.9 million deposit of tax in dispute, net of provision disclosed on the consolidated balance sheet consists of the $50.7 million deposit of tax in dispute, reduced by the $30 million provision and further reduced by the $16.7 million for the value of tax deductions on interest to 31 December 2020.

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

We considered this a key audit matter because of the significant judgement required by the Group in estimating the future outcome of the taxation authority’s assessment (which may include a court), the associated legal processes, and in estimating the provision and appropriate disclosure of the matter in the financial report.

Impairment of intangible assets

(Refer to note 2.1)

Due to the economic impacts associated with COVID-19 during the year, comprehensive impairment assessments were conducted by the Group at 30 June 2020. As a result, the Group impaired goodwill of $51.5 million and $2.7 million for the Australian Radio Network (ARN) cash generating unit (CGU) and HK Outdoor CGU respectively. The impairments recorded in Australian Radio Network and HK Outdoor CGU’s are the result of the financial underperformance of each business relative to the original forecast during the six months ended 30 June 2020, and a downward revision to forecast future cashflows in the short to medium term in response to uncertainty in advertising markets created by COVID-19.

At 31 December 2020, the Group performed an impairment assessment over the ARN CGU by:

calculating the ‘Value in Use’ for the CGU, using a discounted cash flow model (the model)
comparing the resulting ‘Value in Use’ to the CGU’s carrying value to determine the need for any impairment.

We considered this a key audit matter, because:

A significant impairment charge was recorded during the year
the $367.5m non amortising intangible assets as at 31 December 2020 are material
significant judgement is required by the Group in performing the impairment assessment, particularly in estimating:
forecasted future results of the business
long term growth rates
revenue forecasts

We performed the following procedures, amongst others, for the impairment assessments performed by the Group during the year:

developed an understanding of and assessed the design of the key controls associated with the identification of impairment indicators and the preparation of the discounted cash flow models used to assess the recoverable amount of the Group’s CGUs
evaluated key factors used in the Group’s approach to assess impairment including the methodology applied and the Group’s identification of CGUs
agreed forecast cash flows used in the impairment assessments to Board approved budgets
evaluated the Group’s historical ability to forecast future cash flows by comparing budgeted amounts to reported actual results for the past year
tested whether the discount rate reflected the risks of the CGU by comparing the discount rate to other comparable companies
compared the growth rates for revenue forecasts and longterm growth rates used in the CGU’s cash flow forecasts to independent industry forecasts and historical growth rates
compared the market capitalisation of the Group in comparison to the carrying value of its net assets and adjusted equity value
tested the mathematical accuracy of the impairment assessment
evaluated the reasonableness of the disclosures made in note 2.1, including those regarding the method of measurement, the estimation uncertainty and range of potential outcomes, in light of the requirements of Australian Accounting Standards.
discount rates applied to future cash flow forecasts in determining whether there are any impairment charges.

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report for the year ended 31 December 2020, 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.

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

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

In 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 have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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 the financial report.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial report is located at the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board website at: https://www.auasb.gov.au/admin/file/content102/c3/ar1_2020.pdf. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

We have audited the remuneration report included in pages 30 to 44 of the directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2020.

In our opinion, the remuneration report of HT&E Limited for the year ended 31 December 2020 complies with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001.

The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the remuneration report in accordance with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001 . Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the remuneration report, based on our audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards.

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PricewaterhouseCoopers

==> picture [75 x 34] intentionally omitted <==

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Louise King Partner

Sydney 24 February 2021

The following information is extracted from substantial shareholder notices received by the Company as at 17 February 2021:

	Number
Name	of shares
Allan Gray Australia Pty Ltd and its related bodies corporate	60,488,597
News Pty Limited and its related bodies corporate	41,823,884
Perpetual Limited and its related bodies corporate	37,115,083
Spheria Asset Management Pty Ltd	28,235,310
Commonwealth Bank of Australia and its related bodies corporate	17,439,039
Carol Australia Holdings PtyLimited and its related bodies corporate	15,741,965

The following information is extracted from the share register as at 17 February 2021:

Name	Number	% of
	of shares	total shares
HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited	96,778,442	34.8%
Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited	69,040,731	24.8%
News Pty Limited	41,303,132	14.8%
J P Morgan Nominees Australia Pty Limited	32,404,568	11.7%
National Nominees Limited	14,494,715	5.2%
BNP Paribas Nominees Pty Ltd	3,451,203	1.2%
BNP Paribas Noms Pty Ltd	3,300,308	1.2%
Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited – Colonial First State Inv a/c	1,727,000	0.6%
Pacific Custodians Pty Limited - HT1 Plans Ctrl a/c	1,240,940	0.4%
Pacific Custodians Pty Limited - APN Emp Share Tst a/c	960,628	0.4%
BNP Paribas Nominees Pty Ltd IOOF INSMT Mgmt Ltd DRP	350,000	0.1%
BNP Paribas Nominees Pty Ltd Hub24 Custodial Serv Ltd DRP	327,400	0.1%
EGREMNI Pty Ltd	212,255	0.1%
Mr Vincent Crowley	185,305	0.1%
Montorio Superannuation Nominees Pty Ltd	174,203	0.1%
S M & R W Brown Pty Ltd	165,140	0.1%
Buttonwood Nominees Pty Ltd	157,386	0.1%
Warrill Nominees Pty Ltd	153,104	0.1%
Bellino Pty Ltd	150,000	0.1%
Yvette Lamont	140,889	0.1%
Total	266,717,349	95.9%

	Number of	% of total	Number	% of
Holding	shareholders	shareholders	of shares	total shares
1 to 1,000	3,996	73.96	1,011,048	0.36
1,001 to 5,000	948	17.55	2,196,421	0.79
5,001 to 10,000	221	4.09	1,612,717	0.58
10,001 to 100,000	212	3.92	5,900,008	2.12
100,001 and over	26	0.48	267,476,073	96.15
Total	5,403	100.00	278,196,267	100.00

There were 2,380 holders of less than a marketable parcel.

The voting rights are governed by rule 16 of the Constitution. In summary, shareholders are entitled to vote in person or by proxy, attorney or corporate representative at any meeting of shareholders of the Company on:

a show of hands – one vote per shareholder; and
a poll – one vote per share.

There were no performance rights on issue at 31 December 2020 (2019: 200,965)

The relevant interest of each Director in the securities of the parent entity as at 17 February 2021 was:

	Number	Number
Director	of shares	of options
H McLennan	73,000	–
R Amos	16,250	–
P Connolly	65,935	–
C Davis	560,662	–
B Rowe	–	–

HT&E shares are listed on the ASX (code HT1).

Shareholders or investors with any enquiries concerning their shareholding, shareholder details, dividend information, or administrative matters, should direct their enquiries to the Share Registry. Contact details for the Share Registry appear on the Corporate Directory page in this Annual Report 2020.

Dividends to shareholders may be paid direct to any bank, building society or credit union account in Australia. Shareholders who wish to receive dividends by electronic transfer should advise the Share Registry.

The Company is obliged to deduct tax from unfranked or partially franked dividend payments to shareholders resident in Australia who have not supplied their TFN to the Share Registry. To avoid this deduction, you should advise the Share Registry of your TFN.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

Shareholders are encouraged to register their email address to receive dividend advices, notification of availability of annual reports, notices of meeting, access to online voting and other shareholder communications. To register, shareholders should go to www.linkmarketservices.com.au, log in to their shareholding through the Investor Centre and select the “All communication by email” option.

Other services available to shareholders at this website include: viewing details of their shareholdings, updating address details, updating bank details and obtaining a variety of registry forms.

Shareholders who have multiple issuer-sponsored holdings and wish to consolidate their separate shareholdings into one account should advise the Share Registry in writing.

Shareholders who are issuer sponsored should notify the Share Registry in writing of any change in either their name or registered address. If a change of name has occurred, it will be necessary to supply a certified copy of the relevant deed poll or marriage certificate. Shareholders sponsored by a broker (CHESS) should advise their broker of the amended details.

The Directors determined to suspend the DRP effective from 15 February 2018.

Shareholders may elect to participate in any future DRP for all or part of their shareholding. Shareholders wishing to participate in any future DRP should contact the Share Registry. Terms and conditions of the DRP, the DRP Guide and forms to apply for, vary or cancel participation in the DRP are also available on the Company’s website, www.htande.com.au.

The Annual Report is the most comprehensive publication with information for investors. Copies of the 2020 Annual Report may be obtained by contacting the Share Registry or on the Company’s website, www.htande.com.au. Other financial and relevant information, including press releases on financial results and Chairman’s addresses, are available from the corporate office in Sydney, or at the Company’s website, www.htande.com.au.

111

CORPORATE DIRECTORY

HT&E LIMITED ABN 95 008 637 643

Directors

Hamish McLennan (Chairman) Ciaran Davis (CEO & Managing Director) Roger Amos Paul Connolly Belinda Rowe

Company Secretary

Jeremy Child

Registered Office

3 Byfield St, Macquarie Park SYDNEY NSW 2113 Telephone: +61 2 8899 9900

Share Registry

Link Market Services Limited Level 12, 680 George Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Locked Bag A14 SYDNEY SOUTH NSW 1235

Auditors

PricewaterhouseCoopers One International Towers Sydney Watermans Quay BARANGAROO NSW 2000

Principal Bankers

Bank of Queensland Commonwealth Bank of Australia HSBC National Australia Bank Westpac Banking Corporation

Notice is given that the 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of HT&E Limited will be held on Thursday 6 May 2021 commencing at 9:00am.

Given COVID-19, the Company has determined not to allow Shareholders to physically attend the AGM. Prior to the AGM, the Company will publish a virtual meeting guide on the ASX and the Company’s website at https://investorcentre. htande.com.au outlining how Shareholders will be able to participate via the internet.

Telephone: +61 1300 553 550 Fax: +61 2 9287 0303 Email: [email protected] Website: www.linkmarketservices.com.au

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Monza Recycled contains 99% recycled fibre and is FSC® Mix Certified, which ensures that all virgin pulp is derived from well-managed forests and controlled sources. Monza Recycled is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill.

HT&E LIMITED AND CONTROLLED ENTITIES ABN 95 008 637 643

AI assistant

ARN MEDIA LIMITED — Annual Report 2020

64267_rns_2021-02-23_e3fcc6a5-0a83-4693-961b-9910c87bc72e.pdf

iHeartRadio enables Australians to get more of what they love about radio whenever and wherever they want. With an expanded podcast offering, integrated promotion across ARN’s core radio assets and audience growth, it provides vast commercial partnership opportunities.

Pioneer of the highest quality innovation and premium connected on-the-go advertising solutions.

Creating ideas that change the way people feel about brands.

Intelligent and secure business mobile messaging software solutions for enterprises and governments worldwide.

ARN’s Audiosphere

ARN Neuro Lab is an

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Financial position and capital management

Australian Tax Office dispute

The year ahead

CEO’S REPORT

2020 financial result

HT&E COVID-19 response

Our businesses

Hong Kong Outdoor (Cody)

Investments

Soprano

Emotive

Thanks to our people

2021 focus

RESPONSE TO COVID–19

Strong fundamentals and well positioned for COVID-19 recovery

Financial performance improving after tough Q2

Unlocking value for shareholders:

5.3m*

Our response

Our people

Our audiences and communities

Our clients

Our partners

Our financial position

$112.1m

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW

Overview

ARN performing ahead of the market across the year

IMPACT OF COVID-19

Summary of financial performance

Impact of AASB 16 Leases on financial performance

Underlying drivers of performance

Financial position

Cash flow generation

Cash and capital management

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

Australian Radio Network (ARN)

#1 ratings position maintained

#1 podcast publisher in Australia

Total Radio listener growth

iHeartRadio long term licence and partnership a key differentiator in the local market

Digital investment and partnerships

Hong Kong Outdoor (Cody)

Investments

Soprano

Soprano has recorded strong revenue

Emotive

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Our people are our greatest asset

An unprecented year, giving back to the community

Dedicated financial and employee engagement

Give back, it’s on us

Karen Harris, Sydney

180

Thrive: empowering through our learning and development

A healthy workplace

A culture of belonging

Celebrating diversity

Working anywhere, anytime

Our commitment extends far beyond our workplace, we bring our audiences along for the journey

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Committees

Other Directorships and offices

Previous directorships of other Australian listed companies (last three years)

Other Directorships and offices

Committees

Other Directorships and offices

Committees

Other Directorships and offices

Previous directorships of other Australian listed companies (last three years)

ARN MEDIA LIMITED Annual Report 2020