The Australian Finance Group Limited annual general meeting. My name is Tony Gill, and I am the Chair of AFG. Once again, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, I am unfortunately unable to attend in person today and I'm joining via teleconference. I will keep my address brief and extend my thanks to AFG Non-Executive Director Jane Muirsmith, who will take responsibility for the formal business of today's meeting following the Chair and CEO address. As a courtesy to all shareholders and guests present, please turn off or silence your mobile phone. It is past 9 A.M. We have a quorum present, and I declare the meeting open. Please ensure you have registered, and even if you are not a shareholder, have obtained a registration card. The meeting agenda will be as follows. Firstly, introductions and housekeeping, then an address by the Chair, the CEO's address, formal business, and finally, close.
In Perth, we are joined by Non-Executive Directors Brett McKeon, Craig Carter, Melanie Kiely, and Jane Muirsmith. Executive Director Malcolm Watkins and Non-Executive Director Greg Medcraft join us today via teleconference from Queensland and New South Wales. I would also like to introduce our CEO, David Bailey, our Company Secretary, Lisa Bevan, our CFO, Ben Jenkins, and our COO, John Sanger. We also welcome Fiona and Rosalind, representing Ernst & Young, the company's auditor. They are in attendance and will be available to take questions from shareholders. Tissot, representing our share registry, Link Market Services, is also in attendance. Are there any apologies to be noted? I think that is none. Before moving on to the formal part of the meeting, I will now provide a brief address and then invite David Bailey, our CEO, to address the meeting. The 2021 financial year saw another outstanding result for AFG.
Our story is one of growth. For the full year, AFG reported a net profit after tax of AUD 51.3 million, an increase of 35% on financial year 2020. Driven by record demand for the services of our network of brokers, our combined residential and commercial loan book has grown 8% over the year and is now sitting at AUD 175.7 billion. Country learns to live with COVID and continues to gradually open up. There will no doubt be challenges, but the broader economy should return to a more normal footing, and we expect the momentum in our business to continue. As we move into the new year, volume remains strong. AFG is a capital light business with a strong and liquid AUD 282 million balance sheet.
Combined with the cash flow capabilities of our trail book, the company is delivering positive returns for our shareholders and delivered full-year dividends up 32% to AUD 0.133 per share. This represented a 5% fully franked yield. In 2021, AFG made a strategic investment in Neobank Volt. After only 4 months, a white label product and a personal finance manager app were developed and released to a pilot group of AFG brokers. I look forward to the successes that will come from this collaboration. It will further position AFG at the technological forefront of the mortgage market to serve our brokers and customers. Today, I would like to formally introduce you to our newest board member, Greg Medcraft. Having spent 7 years as chairman of the industry regulator, ASIC, and many years stewarding the Australian Securitisation Forum, Greg is a highly respected professional.
His extensive experience across the financial sector will be invaluable to AFG. Greg joined the AFG board as a Non-Executive Director in September, and I look forward to his appointment being ratified at today's meeting. Finally, I would like to extend my appreciation to those of you able to attend our meeting in person or online today, and for all shareholders who have taken the time to participate in today's meeting through the proxy voting process. I would also like to thank AFG staff, our brokers, and my fellow board members for their support during what has been another extraordinary year. I will now hand over to our CEO, David Bailey.
Thank you, Tony. I would also like to extend my thanks to all, to you all for your participation in today's meeting. Once again, I'm very pleased to be reporting another highly successful year for AFG. Our brokers have experienced record demand for their services, and they have risen to the challenge. With more than 3,050 brokers in our network, our full-year results demonstrated strong growth across the board. Residential settlements were AUD 43.6 billion, an increase of 28% on the prior year. AFG Home Loans settled AUD 3.4 billion, an increase of 10%, and AFG Securities settlements in the second half were up 80% on the same period last year. Commercial settlements were AUD 2.3 billion, and our asset finance business settlements were up 14% for the year to AUD 611 million.
For our commercial division, FY 2021 has been a tale of two halves. The commercial lending market was the hardest hit by the COVID restrictions in the first half of the year. However, activity has since increased and commercial settlements were up 23% in the second half. Our investment in Thinktank continues to deliver value with white label settlements of AUD 130 million. The return of activity in the commercial market will also benefit our investment in Thinktank. We issued three RMBS transactions for the year and have made strategic investments to grow our business. Turning to our current trading, I will start with our residential broking division. More than AUD 24 billion in home loan finance was lodged for the first three months of the new financial year.
This is almost AUD 6 billion more than the same period last year, a 33% increase. Residential lodgements in October were up 36% on the same time last year to a record AUD 9.2 billion. AFG Home Loans lodgements were up 57%, and AFG Securities lodgements were 148% higher than October 2020. Positive growth in residential volumes were recorded in all states despite various lockdowns and restrictions. Our purposeful slowing of AFG Securities activity in response to COVID-19 uncertainty are well documented. We did reactivate lending in the second half, and as a result of our securities lending was up strongly in the corresponding period last year.
Maintaining that trend of growth, AFG Securities lodgements increased to a record AUD 388 million in October 2021. Fueled by a once in a generation funding free kick in the form of the Term Funding Facility, ADIs aggressively sought market share with highly competitive fixed rate offers. Like other non-bank financial institutions, AFG Securities felt that impact. The addressable market for AFG Securities is now expected to increase as fixed rate products ultimately become less attractive to borrowers. As indicated at the time of our FY 2021 results, we commenced looking to increase the focus on our higher margin AFG Securities products this financial year.
This has seen lodgments of AFG Securities higher margin products increase to AUD 103 million for the month of October, which compares exceptionally well to the AUD 10 million in October 2020. The increase has been achieved by considered credit expansion as well as expanding the product offering, and importantly, will support the long-term net interest margin of AFG Securities as these loans begin to settle. We see our AFG Securities loan book as being at the commencement of its growth phase. Notwithstanding higher runoff rates industry-wide, our growth is well above system. We've recently executed a third warehouse with a 2-year tenure, and our largest warehouse has been extended to December 2022, providing certainty of funding. We are very pleased with the momentum of this part of our business.
While continuing to invest and grow our core, our diversification strategy has been further expanded. As Tony mentioned, in May, AFG invested in Neobank Volt to provide AFG with further white label funding opportunities and access to market leading banking-as-a-service tools. With a product already underway, the banking-as-a-service tools will form an important part of ensuring our brokers and their customers have the best opportunity to participate in the benefits of open banking as it builds across the marketplace. The 2021 year also saw AFG begin the reporting of ESG metrics. Recognizing the important role we as a company play in our community with our brokers, customers, and our staff, I'm very proud this year to be able to demonstrate the progress we have made around ESG. This year, we undertook the first measure of the company's carbon footprint.
From this starting point, our challenge is now to develop consistent, accountable, and transparent internal practices to reduce avoidable greenhouse gas emissions where possible, and to examine opportunities to offset unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions to address our impact on the environment. Our initiatives around furthering the support of women in broking are gaining momentum, and we remain focused on ensuring our lending panel provides access to finance for those whose needs may not be met by traditional banking sector. As one of Australia's largest networks of mortgage brokers, we see firsthand the importance of a place to call home. In June this year, we were delighted to announce a landmark sponsorship agreement. AFG is now the principal partner of Foyer Foundation.
Foyers operate nationally and are integrated learning and accommodation settings that provide young Australians experiencing disadvantage with a pathway to education, training, and employment founded on access to stable and secure housing. One aspect of our support is a quarterly grant program called the AFG Independence Fund. Having often overcome family, housing, and financial challenges, young people living at Foyers are not always able to afford the tools and resources required to enter the workforce or complete their studies. The AFG Independence Fund provides direct support for their education, employment, and wellbeing. Our commitment to ESG remains strong, and I look forward to providing the market with an update as we progress. Looking ahead, most are predicting interest rates will begin to rise from their historic lows. A rising interest rate environment drives further broker inquiry. Mortgage brokers are the dominant channel for home loans in this country.
59% of mortgages written through, are written through a broker. With access to government-supported funding having ceased, the majors are now once again raising interest rates, leveling the playing field for competition from the non-major lenders, including AFG Securities. The role of a mortgage broker will only become more important to consumers as they look to navigate the ever-changing lending environment. In addition, with borders opening up, expats, working tourists, and overseas students are expected to return to the country, and there will likely be a lift in immigration. These factors will support the strength of the residential mortgage market. AFG's business model has demonstrated resilience through the cycle, and we will look to continue to expand opportunities for distribution and high-margin securitized lending through investments. Finally, AFG remains well-positioned to continue to support our customers, our broker network, and our lending partners.
Our diversified income streams will continue to drive and deliver shareholder value. I extend my thanks to AFG staff and our brokers, and thank you for your continued support of our company. I look forward to another successful year for AFG. I'd now like to hand over to Jane Muirsmith to conduct the formal business of the meeting.
Thanks, David, and good morning to everyone here, and good afternoon to those over east. Before I open the floor to questions, I'd like to outline the voting procedures. Further to note nine of the explanatory notes of the notice of meeting, in the interests of equitably representing the views of shareholders and in accordance with the ASX Corporate Governance Council's corporate governance principles and recommendations, we intend to call a poll in relation to each of the resolutions considered at this meeting. The poll will be conducted at the end of the meeting. Each person who's signed in today, you will have received either a yellow voting card, a blue one, or a red one. If you're holding a yellow voting card, you may vote and ask questions.
If you're holding a blue card, you may ask questions but can't vote, and red cards are for visitors who may neither ask questions nor vote. I will outline the poll procedures prior to conducting the poll. The results of the poll will be released to the ASX after the votes have been counted. We refer you to the notice of meeting for details of voting exclusions and copies of the notice are available here today. The proxy results for each resolution, which have also been released to the market prior to this meeting, will be shown on the screen behind me. To the extent that open proxy votes are held by the chair of the meeting, those proxies will be cast in favor of the resolution.
With regard to questions, please state your name and whether you are a shareholder in your own right, an attorney, proxy, or corporate representative of a shareholder. You will be invited to ask questions now or as we discuss each of the resolutions at the end of the formal part of the meeting. I will now open the floor to any questions. Okay, so we don't have any, so I'll move on to the formal proceedings of the meeting. I've been advised by our company secretary that the notice of meeting has been properly circulated and if there are no objections, I will take the notice of meeting as read. I've received confirmation that the presentation materials for today's AGM have been lodged with the ASX in accordance with the listing rules.
Any directed proxies that are not voted on a poll at the meeting will default to the chair of the meeting, who is required to vote those proxies as directed. Any undirected proxies that default to the chair of the meeting will be voted in favor of the resolutions, including where the resolutions are connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of key management personnel. A copy of the minutes of the last AGM of the company held on the 27th of November 2020 are available at this meeting if any shareholders wish to inspect them. Moving on to the first item on today's agenda relates to the financial report of the company for the financial year ended 30 June 2021, together with the director's report and the auditor's report. It is not necessary to formally pass the 2021 financial reports.
However, as shareholders have gathered here today, it is a convenient time to ask shareholders whether they wish to address any matters in those documents. I invite shareholders to comment or ask questions on the reports, and questions may also be asked of the auditors in relation to the conduct of the audit, the content of the audit report, accounting policies adopted by the company, and the independence of the auditor in carrying out the audit. If any shareholder has a question or comment, please raise your yellow or blue card. No yellow or blue cards. As there are no further questions, we will move on to the next item of business. As I advised earlier, we will conduct a poll in relation to each of the resolutions considered at this meeting. Entitled to vote on this poll are holding yellow voting cards.
Once you've finished marking your card, please place it in one of the ballot boxes circulating the room after all resolutions have been read. If there are any aspects regarding the voting on which you are uncertain, please don't hesitate to ask the Link staff who will be circulating the ballot boxes after reading all the resolutions. I now refer to item two of the agenda, re the reelection of Malcolm Watkins as director. As stated in the notice of meeting, a director, other than the managing director, must retire from office no later than the longer of the third AGM or three years following that director's last election or appointment. Retiring directors are eligible for reelection. Malcolm Watkins was last elected as a director at the 2018 AGM. Mr.
Watkins retires, and being eligible, offers himself for reelection to the board. All directors' details are set out in the directors' report on pages 19 and 20 of the 2021 annual report and on pages 5, 6 and 7 of the notice of meeting, so I will not repeat those details. I move the following resolution, that Malcolm Watkins, who retires as a director of the company in accordance with rule 8.1 E of the company's constitution and being eligible, be re-elected as a director of the company. The proxies received for item 2 are displayed on the screen and show a majority in favor of the resolution. Are there any questions or comments? I will now put the resolution to a poll. Please complete your voting card for this resolution. I now refer to item 3 of the agenda, the election of director.
As stated in the notice of meeting, a director other than the managing director must retire from office no later than the longer of the third AGM or three years following that director's last election or appointment. Retiring directors are eligible for re-election. Craig Carter was last elected as a director at the 2018 AGM. Mr. Carter retires and being eligible, offers himself for re-election to the board. All directors' details are set out in the directors' report on pages 19 and 20 of the 2021 annual report and at page 5, 6 and 7 of the notice of meeting, so I will not repeat those details.
We now move to item 3, and I move the following resolution, that Craig Carter, who retires as a director of the company in accordance with rule 8.1 E of the company's constitution and being eligible, be re-elected as a director of the company. The proxies received for item 3 are displayed on the screen and show a majority in favor of the resolution. Are there any questions or comments? If there's no questions, I will put the resolution to a poll. Please complete your voting card for this resolution. I now refer to item 4 of the agenda, the election of director. Greg Medcraft was appointed to the board on the 15th of September 2021 to fill a casual vacancy. In accordance with the company's constitution, Mr.
Medcraft will hold office until the conclusion of the 2021 AGM and being eligible, offers himself for election to the board. All directors' details are set out in the directors' report on pages 19 and 20 of the 2021 annual report and at pages 5, 6 and 7 of the notice of meeting, so I will not repeat those details. We now move to item 4, and I move the following resolution, that Greg Medcraft, who retires as a director of the company in accordance with rule 8.1D of the company's constitution and being eligible, be elected as a director of the company. The proxies received for item 4 are displayed on the screen and show a majority in favor of the resolution. Are there any questions or comments? If there's no questions, I will now put the resolution to a poll.
Please complete your voting card for this resolution. We now move to item five on the items of business, the adoption of the remuneration report for the financial year end 30 June 2021. Under the Corporations Act 2001, listed companies are required to include, as part of their directors' report, a remuneration report which includes specified information. The directors have prepared a remuneration report for the period ending 30 June 2021, and it is included on pages 27 to 41 of the 2021 annual report, which has been made available to all shareholders. Corporations Act also requires companies to put to shareholders a non-binding vote to enable shareholders to voice their opinion on matters included in the remuneration report.
I remind key management personnel and their associated parties that voting exclusions apply to this resolution of the Corporations Act and excluded parties should not vote. I now move the resolution that the remuneration report for the year end 30 June 2021 be adopted. The proxies received for resolution 5 are displayed on the screen and show a majority in favor of the resolution. Are there any questions or comments? If there are no questions, I will now put the resolution to a poll. Please complete your voting card for this resolution. Okay, I'll move now on to item number 6, which is the grant of 2020-2022 LTI awards to Executive Director Malcolm Watkins.
The company is seeking approval for the proposed award of performance rights under the company's long-term incentive plan to Malcolm Watkins, Executive Director, pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 10.14, which requires the company to obtain shareholder approval in order to issue securities, which includes the issue of performance rights to a director under an employee incentive scheme. In addition, under sections 200B and 200E of the Corporations Act, the company is seeking shareholder approval for the pro rata vesting of performance rights to Malcolm Watkins in the event of cessation of his employment in limited circumstances under the terms of the company's long-term incentive plan.
I draw your attention to the voting exclusions applicable to item 6, as detailed in the voting exclusion statement at page 4 of the notice of meeting, and remind you that excluded parties should not vote. I now move the resolution at item 6, that approval be given for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.14 and Sections 200B and 200E of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, to grant 11,017 performance rights to Executive Director Malcolm Watkins under the company's long-term incentive plan, as set out in the explanatory notes accompanying the 2021 AGM notice of meeting. The proxies received for item 6 are displayed on the screen and show a majority in favor of the resolution. Are there any questions or comments? If there are no questions, I shall now put the resolution to a poll.
Please complete your voting card for this resolution. I now refer to item 7 on the agenda, which is the increase in the non-executive director fee pool. The company is seeking approval pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 10.17 and the company's constitution to increase the maximum aggregate amount of directors' fees per annum that may be paid by the company to its non-executive directors by AUD 250,000 to AUD 1,250,000 per annum. I draw your attention to the voting exclusions applicable to item 7 as detailed in the voting exclusion statement at page 4 of the notice of meeting, and remind you that excluding parties should not vote. I now move the resolution at item 7.
That for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.17 and Rule 8.3A of the company's constitution, the maximum aggregate amount of directors' fees that may be paid to the company's non-executive directors per annum is increased by AUD 250,000 from AUD 1 million per annum to AUD 1.25 million per annum. The proxies received for item seven are displayed on the screen and show a majority in favor of the resolution. Are there any questions or comments? If there are no questions, I will now put the resolution to a poll. Please complete your voting card for this resolution. I now refer to item eight on the agenda, proportional takeover approval provisions. This item of business involves the reinsertion of the proportional takeover provisions contained in Rule 6 of the company's constitution.
Under the Corporations Act, shareholder approval must be sought for the reinsertion of the proportional takeover provisions every 3 years. I now move the resolution at item 8, that the proportional takeover approval provisions contained in Rule 6 of the constitution of the company, as last approved by shareholders, be reinserted for a further period of 3 years from the date of the meeting convened by this notice of meeting. The proxies received for item 8 are displayed on the screen and show a majority in favor of the resolution. Are there any questions or comments? If there are no questions, I'll move to put the resolution to a poll. Please complete your voting card for this resolution. Now that all resolutions have been read, please ensure you have properly completed your voting card and kindly lodge your voting cards in the ballot boxes circulating the room.
All right, thank you for that. It appears now that all persons have now voted. Rather than adjourn the meeting, I will ask the share registry and our company secretary to calculate the poll results and to announce them to the ASX when that is completed. That concludes the formal business of the AGM. I now invite shareholders with yellow or blue cards who may ask questions or comments to ask them now. Everyone's quiet. Oh, we have a question. Okay.
I'd just like to congratulate the board and the executives and staff on having a fantastic year and keep it up.