Trustee and Custodial Services

Overview

BoardRoom’s newest offering of In-house trustee services via Pillar Custodial Services Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of BoardRoom Pty Ltd) is a locally delivered solution with market-leading global capabilities for Employee Share Plan Management.

At Pillar Custodial Services, we understand that a well-structured Employee Share Plan (ESP) can be a powerful tool for aligning your employees’ interests with long-term business success. That is why we have launched our Employee Share Plan Trust Service – a flexible, secure, and fully compliant solution designed to manage your company’s share plans under one roof with precision and integrity.

Companies can use an Employee Share Trust to acquire or issue shares to be held for the benefit of employees in the share plans. The Employee Share Trust can be used primarily as a vehicle to hold securities allocated and/or forfeited by participants of current employee share plans and recycled for future obligations of the plans. Pillar Custodial Services can assist the company in maximising plan efficiency, tax effectiveness and meet compliance obligations of the Company via a correctly structured Employee Share Plan Trust.

Whether you are a growing start-up or an established corporation, our tailored trust solutions will help you manage your share plan seamlessly.

What We Offer

Pillar Custodial Services has launched with a core offering tailored for both listed and unlisted Australian companies operating employee share plans, whether locally or with global reach.

Designed to meet the growing demand for more agile, compliant, and responsive fiduciary services, the initial service offering includes:

Establishment & Administration of Employee Share Plan Trusts​

• Setup and ongoing management of Employee Share Plan Trusts
• Seamless integration with BoardRoom’s existing plan administration platform

Custodial & Trustee Services​

• Secure custody of shares and plan assets
• Support for both domestic and cross-border structures
• Transparent, independent trustee services
• Distributions, dividend handling, and voting management

Regulatory Compliance & Reporting​

• Full compliance with ASIC, ATO, and Corporations Act requirements
• Enhanced Trust reporting and audit-ready documentation
• Preparation of Trust Financial statements and tax returns
• Governance oversight aligned to local and international regulatory frameworks

The service will focus on meeting the unique needs of companies navigating everything from straightforward local employee share plans to complex, multi-jurisdictional equity programs.

The Value of an “Under One Roof” Solution

Bringing trustee services in-house is about more than control – it is about delivering efficiency, expertise and excellence.

With BoardRoom now offering plan administration and trustee services through a unified structure, clients will benefit from:

• Direct access to a specialised trustee team with deep legal, tax, regulatory, and compliance knowledge
• Streamlined processes and faster response times
• Enhanced reporting
• Improved cost certainty and quality assurance

Why Choose Pillar Custodial Services?

Establishing an Employee Share Trust through Pillar Custodial Services offers companies a wide range of tangible benefits:

• Enhanced Governance: Maintain independent oversight with a regulated trustee entity
• Tax Efficiency: Structure share plans for optimal tax outcomes for both the business and employees
• Operational Simplicity: Centralise equity administration and reduce manual handling
• Compliance Assurance: Meet all reporting and disclosure obligations with minimal internal overhead
• Plan Flexibility: Manage multiple plans under one trust structure
• Talent Retention: Strengthen employee engagement by facilitating structured, long-term incentive plans via an employee share trust

Companies choose to engage Employee Share Plan Trust Services for strategic, legal, and operational reasons:

• Regulatory Requirements: Trustee specialists will ensure the trust deeds are updated promptly to meet changing and evolving regulatory landscape in Employee Share trusts
• Reputation and Integrity: Having an independent and licensed trustee assures employees and shareholders
• Expertise: Trustee professionals have deep experience in navigating share plan complexities, both locally and internationally
• Risk Mitigation: Entrusting responsibilities to professionals reduces corporate liability and administrative risk

By working with Pillar Custodial Services, companies can focus on growing their business while ensuring their equity schemes remain compliant and effective.

Who Is This For?

• Public & Private Companies issuing shares or options to employees
• Start-ups & Scale-ups wanting to incentivise early-stage talent
• Legal, Financial & HR Advisors seeking a reliable trustee partner for their clients’ plans

What is Next with Pillar Custodial Services?

Pillar Custodial’s capabilities will expand to include:

• Nominee services for unlisted clients
• Custody solutions
• Escrow arrangements to support broader corporate actions and governance events

Partner With Us

With Trustee Services now embedded within our broader Employee Share Plan offering, BoardRoom is better positioned than ever to deliver an end-to-end solution that meets the needs of companies at every stage of their equity journey locally and globally. Gain peace of mind knowing employee share trust is managed by a regulated, independent trustee so the integrity of your trust is never compromised.

Get Started Today

Let us help you build a culture of ownership and performance.

Contact Pillar Custodial Services Pty Ltd today to discuss your Employee Share Plan Trust needs.

About Pillar Custodial Services

Pillar Custodial Services Pty Ltd (ABN 37 097 300 377) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BoardRoom Pty Ltd and operates under Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) 338301. We are a specialist provider of independent custodial and trustee solutions, committed to supporting our clients with trusted, compliant, and value-driven services.

Our mission is to deliver high-quality custodial and trustee services that enable our clients to meet their growth and governance objectives across Australia. We work with a wide range of clients and corporate entities, delivering tailored solutions with a strong emphasis on compliance and integrity.

Pillar Custodial Services Pty Ltd is a member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), ensuring that we maintain the highest standards of service and accountability.