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Hunter Hall boss agrees to pay cut

  •  
By Tim Stewart
  •  
2 minute read

Hunter Hall managing director David Deverall has voluntarily reduced his annual salary by 4 per cent as part of a renegotiated agreement between the company's board and its directors.

Mr Deverall's annual fixed salary remuneration package will fall from $450,000 to $434,000 effective 1 August 2014, according to a statement on the ASX website.

In addition, three non-executive directors, Wayne Hawkins, Naomi Edwards and Mark Forstmann have voluntarily reduced their salaries by 10 per cent for the year ending 2015.

As a result, the total non-executive director annual fixed salary package will fall from $225,000 to $202,500, effective 1 July 2014.

But Hunter Hall executive chairman Peter Hall, who voluntarily reduced his fixed amount remuneration in 2009 from $350,000 to $290,000, is set to receive a payrise.

"The net effect of the changes is that Mr Hall’s annual remuneration rises from $290,000 to $375,000, effective 6 April 2014," said the Hunter Hall statement.

Hunter Hall reported a half-year profit of $1.96 million on 26 February 2014, which was down 13.1 per cent on the previous corresponding period.

The 2012/2013 full-year profit saw after-tax profits fall to $4.8 million as a result of "falling funds under management".

Mr Deverall, who was appointed on 30 July 2012, put in place a three-pronged plan to renovate Hunter Hall's existing product range, add new products, and reduce costs.

On the last point, Hunter Hall reduced employee numbers in 2012/2013, closed two "unprofitable" funds, and outsourced its funds administration.

"As a result of these changes, the operating cost base of Hunter Hall reduced by approximately $1.5 million to $2 million on an annualised basis or 15-20 per cent," said Mr Deverall at the 2013 AGM.

"The full benefit of these  changes will be experienced in the 2014 financial year, during which we hope that ongoing operating expenses will be less than $10 million," he said.