A massive blowout in costs at Bubs Australia was due to $17 million in marketing and travel expenses, as well as $2 million spent on legal fees and another $3.6 million outlay on consulting charges, the infant formula company’s annual report shows.

The board, led by former King & Wood Mallesons partner Katrina Rathie, survived a push by the company’s founders to oust them, but at great cost. Other expenses, the report shows, included $3.5 million spent as part of getting approvals to export to the United States, and a $5.4 million increase in salaries and wages as a result of opening an office there and other resourcing to support the group’s growth strategies.