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OnTheMarket

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FY2018 Annual Report · OnTheMarket
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OnTheMarket plc Annual Report and  
Consolidated Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 January 2018

Contents

 Corporate Governance Statement 

 Financial Review and Key Performance Indicators 
 Risk Management and Principal Risks 

1
At a glance 
2
Overview 
3
Chairman’s Statement 
Strategic Report 
4-11
4-6
	 •	 Chief	Executive	Officer’s	Report	
7-8
  • 
9-11
  • 
12
Board of Directors 
13-16
Directors’ Report 
14-16
  • 
Directors’ Remuneration Report 
17-19
Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 
20
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of OnTheMarket plc  21-23
Consolidated Income Statement 
24
25
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 
26
Company Statement of Financial Position 
27
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 
28
Company Statement of Changes in Equity 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 
29
30-53
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
54
Company Information 

At a glance: 
year ended 31 January 2018

OnTheMarket plc (“OTM” or the “Company”) is the 
parent company of Agents’ Mutual Limited (“Agents’ 
Mutual”), which owns and operates the UK online 
residential property portal OnTheMarket.com.

Agents’  Mutual  was  formed  in  January  2013  by 
several leading estate and lettings agents to create 
a new residential property portal as a challenger to 
the  two  existing  major  portal  groups,  Rightmove 
plc and ZPG plc. 

Agents’ Mutual was born from widespread agent 
dissatisfaction  with  the  growing  imbalance  of 
power  between  agents  and  the  two  existing 
major portal groups. Both groups were felt to be 
using their strong positions relative to their agent 
customers  to  impose  signifi cant  price  increases 
for their portal services.

The Agents’ Mutual proposition, for a portal owned 
by  agents  which  would  offer  a  premier  search 
service 
to  property-seeking  consumers  whilst 
charging fair prices to agents, quickly found support 
among a very wide group of leading independent 
agents  across  the  UK.  These  agent  fi rms  were 
prepared to fund the venture by way of loan note 
subscriptions and to commit to list with the portal 
once it went live.

The  portal  launched  in  January  2015  as  the  fi rst 
major  new  market  entrant  since  2008,  with  the 
properties of 4,600 estate agent branches.

Agents  provide  the  majority  of  income  for  the 
property  portals  and  also  supply  their  essential 
and most valuable content - the property listings. 
As  a  portal  with  signifi cant  agent  support,  the 
Directors  believe  OnTheMarket.com  is  uniquely 
positioned  to  create  an  alternative  to  the  leading 
incumbent  portals.  The  Directors  believe  that 
with  their  invaluable  database  of  active  property 
vendors and property-seekers, agents are able to 
proactively support the portal and create valuable 
competitive advantage for it.

The  Company’s  senior  management  has  signifi cant 
industry  experience  and  expertise.  Led  by  Ian 
Springett, Chief Executive Offi cer, it includes the team 
responsible  for  founding  and,  until  2008  following 
its sale to Daily Mail & General Trust plc, managing 
PrimeLocation.  In  addition,  many  of  the  Group’s1 
employees  have  previously  worked  for  other  UK 
property portals.

Admission to AIM

to 

the  Alternative 

the  London  Stock  Exchange 

The ordinary share capital of OTM was successfully 
admitted 
Investment  Market 
(“AIM”)  on 
of 
9  February  2018  (“Admission”).  Through  a  placing 
to investors, £30m (gross) of new equity capital was 
raised on Admission to fund the further growth of the 
OnTheMarket.com portal.

At  Admission  agents  owned  approximately  70  per 
cent. of the issued share capital.

OTM is incorporated in England & Wales and has its 
registered offi ce in the UK.

1)  The Group is OTM and its subsidiary undertakings as set out in note 15 to these fi nancial statements.

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

1

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Overview: 
year ended 31 January 2018

Financial highlights and KPIs 
 Group revenue £16.0m2 (2017: £17.8m). 

 Adjusted operating profi t3 £3.9m (2017: £2.3m).

 Operating loss of £10.8m (2017: £1.2m) 
which includes £14.7m (2017: £3.5m) of 
exceptional items.

 Loss after tax attributable to shareholders 
£12.1m (2017: £4.0m).

 Cash of £3.2m as at 31 January 2018 (£2.3m 
at 31 January 2017).

 ARPA4 £235 (2017: £235), average branch 
numbers listed at OnTheMarket.com 5,694 
(2017: 6,306), visits5 77.3m (2017: 85.0m).

Operational and strategic 
highlights

 In February 2017, the hearing of Agents’ 
Mutual and Gascoigne Halman Limited took 
place before the Competition Appeal Tribunal 
(see page 6).

 In July 2017, the Competition Appeal 
Tribunal ruled in favour of Agents’ Mutual 
against Gascoigne Halman Limited on all 
competition issues: 

 the One Other Portal rule6 was upheld as 
lawful and enforceable; and

 Agents’ Mutual was awarded £1.2m as an 
interim payment towards litigation costs.

 New Board members were appointed in 
preparation for admission to AIM alongside a 
capital raise.

Post period end highlights 

 On 9 February 2018, OTM was admitted to 
trading on AIM and raised £30m of capital to 
support the launch of a transformational growth 
strategy.

 The majority of Agents’ Mutual members 
committed to new 5-year listing agreements 
from Admission and to enter lock-in 
arrangements to retain the majority of their 
shares for 5 years.

 As of 25 May 2018, OTM had signed listing 
agreements with UK estate and letting agents 
with more than 8,500 offi ces – up by more than 
54% since admission to AIM.

 Traffi c to the portal in the current fi nancial year 
to end May was 42.2m visits, compared with 
21.9m in the same period in 2017.

 National TV advertising ran on prime time 
channels in May 2018.

 The Company rolled-out its fi rst outdoor 
advertising campaign with over 1,500 sites in 
London in May 2018.

 By 31 May 2018 the fi eld sales team had more 
than doubled to 32 since Admission and the IT 
team had grown from 21 to 40.

 Many agents are choosing to advertise their 
new-to-market listings at OnTheMarket.com 
before releasing them to other portals.

 Revenues include an amount of £2.5m in respect of bad debts which are 
charged as an expense within administrative expenses (2017: £2.2m).

advertisers for that period. ARPA presented herein is the average of the 
monthly ARPAs for the year.

2) 

3) 

 Adjusted operating profi t is defi ned as operating profi t before fi nance costs, 
taxation, share based payments and exceptional or non-recurring items. This 
is an alternative performance measure and should not be considered an 
alternative to IFRS measures, such as revenue or operating profi t. Please 
see page 4 for a reconciliation of operating loss to adjusted operating profi t.

5) 

6) 

4) 

 Average revenue per property advertiser, being revenues due from 
property advertisers for a period divided by the average number of property 

2

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

 Visits comprise individual sessions on OnTheMarket.com’s web based portal 
or mobile applications by users for the period indicated as measured by 
Google Analytics.

 The One Other Portal rule is a provision included in Agents’ Mutual’s original 
listing agreements whereby agents committed to list their properties on 
OnTheMarket.com and contractually agreed to using a maximum of one 
other competing portal.

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Current trading

Our start to the year following our listing, whilst covering 
a  short  period  of  time,  has  proven  to  be  encouraging 
with  agent  customer  recruitment,  visits  to  our  site  and 
conversion  of  traffi c  to  positive  property  leads  for  our 
agent  customers  being  all  ahead  of  our  own  internal 
expectations.

Our  team  of  colleagues  are  highly  focused  to  continue 
to build upon our strong start to life as a listed company.

I  would  also  like  to  thank  all  of  my  colleagues,  team 
members and shareholders for their continued hard work 
and support.

Christopher Bell – Non-Executive Chairman

6 June 2018

Chairman’s Statement: 
year ended 31 January 2018

I  am  pleased  to  be  making  my  inaugural  statement  as 
Non-Executive  Chairman  following  our  successful  AIM 
listing and fundraising on 9 February 2018.

During  2017  we  completed  our  strategic 
review, 
concluding  that  a  successful  fund  raise  and  listing  on 
AIM would enable the Company to accelerate its growth 
and  enhance  its  position  as  a  serious  challenger  to  the 
duopoly  UK  property  portals  Zoopla  and  Rightmove  by 
offering  a  more  responsive  and  better  value  option  to 
agents and property-seeking consumers alike.

The  Board  is  grateful  for  all  the  resolute  support  from 
Agents’  Mutual’s  members,  provided  from  launch  and 
through the strategic review, including the conversion of 
all member interests and loan notes into shareholdings of 
the Company.

Our  £30m AIM  fundraising  is  already  being  put  to  good 
work  by  our  team  and  is  enabling  us  to  achieve  early 
success  against  our  own  internal  key  performance 
targets:

 agent  offi ces  under  listing  contracts  up  by  more 
than  3,000  since  Admission,  with  over  8,500  as  at 
25 May 2018;

 traffi c to the portal in the current fi nancial year to end 
May  was  42.2m  visits,  compared  with  21.9m  in  the 
same period in 2017; and

 key  sales-force  and  IT  recruitment  ahead  of  plan, 
with team numbers increased since Admission from 
15 to 32 and 21 to 40 respectively by 31 May 2018. 

2017 was a year spent reviewing our strategic direction 
which resulted post year end in a successful fundraising 
and listing on AIM.

Consequently 2017 proved to be a year of consolidation 
and preparation in order to have a strong springboard to 
challenge  the  UK  digital  property  portal  market  during 
2018, enabling us to accelerate growth and positioning us 
to deliver shareholder value thereafter.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

3

 
 
 
Strategic Report: 
year ended 31 January 2018

Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report

I am pleased to report on OTM’s fi rst year end results. The demutualisation of Agents’ Mutual and the formation of OTM as 
its holding company represented a transformational step in the development of the OnTheMarket.com portal, preparing the 
Group for admission to AIM and securing new capital. A great deal of work had been done by Agents’ Mutual in developing 
the portal and my thanks go to the Agents’ Mutual directors who stood down after Admission for their dedication and support.

I am also grateful to the Agents’ Mutual members who provided the funding and support to develop OnTheMarket.com from 
scratch and who also supported the new strategy for the next phase of the portal’s development. Ongoing agent support 
for OnTheMarket.com remains a key pillar of our strategy. As well as voting overwhelmingly in support of the new strategy, 
including dropping the One Other Portal rule for new contracts, relaxing rules restricting the Group’s target markets and 
converting the loan note holdings into equity on Admission, we are delighted to have had the majority of the members 
commit to entering new fi ve year listing agreements and lock-in arrangements to retain the majority of their shares for fi ve 
years. My fellow directors and I look forward to serving them as both customers and shareholders of the Group and greatly 
value their continued support.

The Group delivered revenue of £16.0m in the year ended 31 January 2018, refl ecting a 10% decrease compared to 2017, 
and adjusted operating profi t of £3.9m (2017: £2.3m), an increase of 67%. The reported operating loss of the Group was 
£10.8m (2017: £1.2m) and is further analysed as follows: 

Reconciliation of operating loss to adjusted operating profi t
Operating loss

Adjustments for:

Exceptional and non-recurring items (note 6)

Share based payment charge and related social security (note 22)

Adjusted operating profi t

2018
£’000
(10,839)

1,436

13,290

3,887

2017
£’000
(1,182)

3,506

-

2,324

This refl ected a busy corporate agenda and extremely limited resources. We ended the year with cash of £3.2m.

Strategy and current trading

The Group’s growth strategy remains the same as that detailed in our Admission Document, namely to increase support 
for an agent-backed portal further through competitive pricing for property advertisers, a premier search experience for 
property-seeking  consumers  and  the  targeted  use  of  equity  incentivisation  to  recruit  key  agents  as  customers  on  long 
term contracts. In addition, the Directors believe that the funds raised will allow for signifi cant marketing spend to raise 
brand  awareness  as  well  as  team  expansion  to  provide  enhanced  sales,  sales  support,  customer  engagement  and  IT 
development and support functions.

Following Admission, the Group no longer requires the One Other Portal rule in new listing agreements. The Directors 
believe that by offering listing agreements which do not include this rule the Group will be able to attract a number of agents 
who want to list on all three portals.

To  diversify  the  Group’s  customer  base,  it  will  also  expand  the  offering  to  the  new  home  developer  and  online  agent 
markets  and  commercial  and  overseas  property  advertisers. Additionally,  it  will  look  to  develop  and  offer  value  added 
products to property advertisers and to target revenues from third party advertisers seeking to promote their goods and 
services to the property-seeking consumers viewing properties at OnTheMarket.com.

4

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Strategic Report: continued

Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report (continued)

The Directors believe it is in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and property-seekers that the Group seeks 
a broader coverage of the property market and benefi ts from these additional revenue streams by providing products our 
customers want.

Building the agency branch base

A key part of the Group’s growth strategy involves the rapid building of its agency branch base. As of 25 May 2018, OTM 
has signed listing agreements with UK estate and letting agents with more than 8,500 offi ces, up by more than 54% since 
admission to AIM.

The  growth  in  our  agency  branch  base  to  date  has  been  predominantly  from  offering  free  listings  under  short  term 
introductory  trial  offers,  with  a  view  to  converting  these  to  full  tariff  contracts  when  the  value  of  our  offering  has  been 
demonstrated. Hereafter, the Group intends to use more equity incentivisation to encourage agents to join as shareholders 
in return for committing to long term paying contracts. At Admission, OTM had authority to issue 36.3 million shares for this 
purpose, of which substantially all remain available to deploy.

Increasing the marketing spend

With the capital raised at Admission, the Group has been able to deploy signifi cant funds to marketing.

In addition to spend on digital marketing channels, the Group has been able to conduct its heaviest national TV advertising 
in May 2018 since the launch period in 2015. A trial of out of home poster advertising in London was also initiated. A key 
theme of these advertising campaigns is the “New & exclusive” properties, whereby many agents choose to list their new 
instructions on OnTheMarket.com in advance of listing on other portals. The Directors believe this gives OTM a competitive 
advantage as this has been shown to hold a signifi cant appeal to active property-seeking consumers, who are the key 
target group as they in turn provide listing agents with high quality leads.

Building the team

The greater resources available to the Group have also been deployed in expanding the team, in particular the sales and 
customer relations team and the IT team.

At  admission  on  9  February  2018,  the  fi eld  sales  team  numbered  15  employees.  As  at  31  May  2018  this  had  been 
increased to 32. This signifi cant expansion in sales and customer relations support enables us to rapidly and effectively 
recruit new agents whilst implementing and maintaining the expected levels of service for existing customer agents during 
the period of rapid growth.

Likewise, as at 31 May 2018, the IT team had been increased from 21 to 40. The enlarged team is initially focused on 
technical support for on-boarding agents and property data, specifying and delivering new products for consumers and 
customers and the continuous improvement of existing products.

Market developments

The Directors believe that the UK agency market is under pressure from a number of factors. Reduced transaction volumes 
and slower house price growth, whilst not leading to a noticeable reduction in agent offi ce numbers, has, the Directors 
believe, led to a reduction in agent commissions.

This has been exacerbated by the growth in online agents operating an upfront fi xed fee business model which has had a 
detrimental impact on commissions as well as market share for traditional agents. 

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

5

Strategic Report: continued

Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report (continued)

Against this backdrop, independent agents’ portal costs have continued to rise signifi cantly. Some portals are competing 
with their agent customers for cross-sell revenues. The Directors believe that these market developments provide a strong 
rationale for agents to support OnTheMarket.com, which provides a competitively priced service and increasing value as 
we deliver on our strategy, including increasing website traffi c amongst the property-seeking public and growing the volume 
of quality enquiries from these property-seekers to the agents listing at OnTheMarket.com. 

Litigation

In  July  2017,  judgment  was  handed  down  by  the  Competition Appeal Tribunal  in  favour  of Agents’  Mutual  and  against 
Gascoigne Halman Limited on all competition issues: the One Other Portal rule was upheld as lawful and enforceable and 
Agents’ Mutual was awarded £1.2m as an interim payment towards its litigation costs.

In December 2017, having had an application to appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal refused, Gascoigne Halman 
Ltd was granted leave to appeal the judgment of the Competition Appeal Tribunal at the Court of Appeal. Should an appeal 
proceed, and having taken appropriate legal advice, the Directors remain confi dent that the judgment of the Competition 
Appeal Tribunal will be upheld.

In addition, during the year ended 31 January 2017 a further deposit of £450,000 was required to be made to court in 
respect of litigation between Agents’ Mutual and Moginie James Ltd. Following the settlement of this case this deposit was 
repaid to Agents’ Mutual in February 2017.

Outlook

The  Group  has  benefi tted  from  growing  agent  support  since  Admission  and  is  well  positioned  to  continue  its 
growth  in  agent  offi ces  listing.  The  investment  in  marketing  has  led  to  a  substantial  increase  in  visitor  traffi c  to 
OnTheMarket.com, generating greater value to our customers through more high quality leads. The investment in team 
expansion  has  provided  the  Group  with  a  workforce  with  the  capability,  motivation  and  capacity  to  deliver  a  fi rst  class 
product and service to both property-advertising agent customers and property-seeking consumers. The Group’s outlook 
is therefore positive with continued signifi cant growth expected in agent offi ces under listing agreements and in traffi c to 
OnTheMarket.com. 

Finally, I thank my colleagues for all their hard work and commitment to date and I welcome all those new employees who 
have recently joined us.

Ian Springett – Chief Executive Offi cer

6 June 2018

6

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Strategic Report: continued

Financial Review and Key Performance Indicators

During the year ended 31 January 2018 a number of factors meant that it was diffi cult to make progress prior to admission 
to AIM, which occurred post year end on 9 February 2018. These factors included:

  a lack of fi nancial resources;

  a diversion of resource to the litigation with Gascoigne Halman Limited; and

  a focus on the Group restructuring and investment of time in planning for Admission.

These factors, and the publicity around them, meant the ability to recruit new agents effectively ceased until Admission and 
the associated capital raise, which together marked the beginning of a new chapter in the development of OnTheMarket.com.

As a result, throughout the year we saw a small decline in agents listing as those on shorter term contracts did not re-join, 
and new agents could not be recruited, pending Admission. Together with other market factors, this led to a reduction in 
revenues to £16.0m compared to the prior year (£17.8m).

Group operational KPIs were as follows:

  ARPA £235 (2017: £235);

  average branches listing 5,694 (2017: 6,306); and

  visits 77.3m (2017: 85.0m).

At 31 January the Group had cash of £3.2m (2017: £2.3m).

The Group’s fi nancial performance is presented in the Consolidated Income Statement on page 24. Adjusted operating 
profi t for the year was £3.9m (2017: £2.3m). The loss for the year attributable to the owners of the Group was £12.1m 
(2017: £4.0m).

The Group has a number of customers who are not paying their contractually committed listing fees. The majority of these 
chose to breach the One Other Portal rule in their listing agreements and left the portal some time ago. In 2018 a bad debt 
expense of £2.5m (2017: £2.2m) was recognised and included within administrative expenses. It is the intention of the 
Company to engage with these customers in due course, to seek either payment of both fees outstanding and further fees 
as they fall due or to reach a compromise position such that historic debts are held in abeyance and potentially waived 
in the future in return for entering, and honouring, a new long term listing agreement with the Company. As at 31 January 
2018, should all arrears have been recovered, this would have amounted to approximately £5.9m.

Administrative expenses in 2018 fell to £12.2m (2017: £15.5m), with a reduction in marketing spend due to limited resources 
the primary factor.

The loss for the year includes fi nance costs of £1.2m (2017: £1.4m). Finance expense arose from interest on loan notes 
issued by the Group. The loan notes were converted to ordinary shares in the Company post year end upon admission of 
the Company to AIM on 9 February 2018. Accrued interest owed to loan note holders was paid in full in cash immediately 
following Admission.

Exceptional costs of £1.4m (net of costs of £1.2m awarded) were incurred in the year (2017: £3.5m). These related to the 
litigation with Gascoigne Halman Limited, the demutualisation and the admission to AIM.

During the year there arose a non-cash charge of £13.3m in relation to share option awards made to employees. Under the 
terms of a management agreement with Agents’ Mutual that was fi rst established in 2013 and revised in 2016, the founding 
management team were entitled to 18% of the fully diluted share capital of the Company at the point of the restructuring in 
September 2017. This entitlement was fulfi lled by the issue of 7,799,327 nil cost share options. A further 763,008 nil cost 
options were issued to other Group employees, of which 7,272 were forfeited in the period.

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

7

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Strategic Report: continued

Financial Review and Key Performance Indicators (continued)

At the end of the year, the Statement of Financial Position showed total assets of £7.4m (2017: £9.6m) and total equity of 
£(9.7)m (2017: £(9.0)m). The negative reserves as at 31 January 2018 were extinguished post year end, on 9 February 
2018, through a £30m capital raise by way of a placing of ordinary shares in the Company, together with the conversion of 
loan notes into ordinary shares in the Company, on Admission.

Group restructuring

On 27 July 2017, the Company was incorporated under the name On The Market (Europe) Limited. On 2 August 2017, the 
Company changed its name to On The Market Limited.

On  13  September  2017,  the  Group  was  restructured  such  that  the  Company  became  the  holding  company  of Agents’ 
Mutual,  a  company  limited  by  guarantee,  in  exchange  for  35,530,261  ordinary  shares  of  £0.002  in  the  Company.  The 
Company has accounted for this transaction using merger accounting, so these consolidated fi nancial statements present 
the Group fi nancial information for this reporting period and for the comparative reporting period as if the Group has always 
been in existence.

In December 2017, the Company re-registered as a public limited company under the name of OnTheMarket plc.

8

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Strategic Report: continued

Risk Management and Principal Risks

The Board assumes responsibility for risk management and the effective and appropriate delegation of responsibilities in 
this regard. Risks and risk management are subject to regular review by the Board.

The key risks, other than fi nancial risks discussed in note 19, that the Group is exposed to include:

Category

Risk

Description

Mitigation

Commercial

Competitive portal 
industry

The UK property portal market includes 
large, established and well-resourced 
competitors, as well as new and 
potential new entrants looking to disrupt 
the market with new and evolving 
business models. Competition from 
these, or the reversal in trends such as 
the move to online digital advertising, 
may impact the Group’s ability to retain 
its customers or to win new customers.

Recruitment 
of agents as 
shareholders

The Group’s policy of issuing shares 
to estate agents in return for listing 
contracts to generate a signifi cant and 
dispersed share owning estate agency 
paying customer base may not be 
successful or may give rise to greater 
than anticipated dilution.

Changes to the UK 
residential property 
market

The Group derives its revenues from the 
UK residential property market, and the 
Group’s principal business is to derive 
revenues from customers, which include 
estate agents, letting agents and, in 
future, new home developers, who pay 
listing fees to market their property 
listings and services on the Group’s 
online portal OnTheMarket.com. As 
such, the Group may be adversely 
affected by factors outside its control, 
which may reduce the advertising spend 
of its customers, and/or by changes 
in the United Kingdom’s residential 
property market, which may cause a 
lower volume of property transactions 
and/or a lower number of estate agents, 
letting agents and new home developers 
seeking to use the Group’s services.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Offering competitive pricing and value 
for money.
 Strengthening the brand and profi le 
of OnTheMarket.com and increasing 
consumer traffi c through marketing 
spend to provide increasing value to 
customers.
 Maintaining strong agent support 
through shareholdings, fair pricing 
and developing new and value added 
products and services.

 Investment in marketing and growth in 
traffi c to the OnTheMarket.com portal 
provides reassurance on value for 
money to paying customers.
 Growth in agents listing underpins 
the longer term success of 
OnTheMarket.com.
 Offering competitive pricing to provide 
an incentive for agents to support the 
Company’s longer term success.

 Offering competitive pricing and value 
for money to provide a lower cost 
marketing channel to customers if their 
markets and revenues are weak.
 Adopting revenue models that do not 
depend directly on volumes or prices in 
the underlying customer markets.
 Strengthening the brand and profi le 
of OnTheMarket.com and increasing 
consumer traffi c through marketing 
spend to provide increasing value to 
customers.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

9

Strategic Report: continued

Risk Management and Principal Risks (continued)

Category

Risk

Description

Mitigation

Legal

Litigation

Reputational

Brand strength

Human 
resources

Employees

IT/Data

Security breaches

Agents’ Mutual Ltd has been party to 
litigation with Gascoigne Halman Ltd, 
an estate agent in the North West of 
England, in relation to an agreement 
between the Company and Gascoigne 
Halman Ltd under which Gascoigne 
Halman Ltd agreed to become a member 
of Agents’ Mutual Ltd and to list certain 
of its properties at OnTheMarket.com. 
Gascoigne Halman Ltd has been granted 
leave to appeal to the Appeal Court.

A strong brand and reputation is vital 
to the Group’s growth strategies. 
Brand strength and awareness is 
important to drive end user traffi c on 
OnTheMarket.com which in turn should 
underpin the retention and recruitment 
of advertising customers. Any damage 
to the Group’s brand might reduce traffi c 
and deter customers from joining or from 
renewing contracts.

The Group’s operations are dependent 
on the experience, skills and knowledge 
of its executive offi cers and on its ability 
to attract and retain talented employees. 
Should key employees leave the Group, 
or should the Group be unable to recruit 
new staff with the required capabilities, it 
may be unable to deliver its strategy for 
growth.

The Group’s information technology 
systems may be impacted by breaches of 
security or may fail, or the transmission 
of property listings data from agents may 
be disrupted or impaired, with material 
negative consequences for the Group.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

 The Competition Appeal Tribunal 
handed down judgment in the Group’s 
favour. 
 The Company continues to take expert 
legal advice to defend its position in 
relation to the possible appeal hearing 
and any other potential litigation.

 Investment in brand development 
through marketing spend.
 Regular risk review and oversight from 
the Board and senior management.
 Instilling a culture based on ethical 
behaviour and commitment to the 
customer and website users throughout 
the workforce.

 Instilling a strong team culture within 
the Group.
 Management has signifi cant experience 
in building teams and integrating new 
team members.
 Providing competitive compensation 
packages, which vest over time to 
encourage retention.

 Maintenance of up to date security 
measures and regular review.
 Regular security testing of IT systems.
 Provision of appropriate staff training 
and access levels.
 Testing of builds against the latest 
Open Web Application Security Project 
web app security risks.

10

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Strategic Report: continued

Risk Management and Principal Risks (continued)

Category

Risk

Data

Description

Mitigation

The Group processes personal 
data as part of its business. 
There is a risk that this data 
could become public if there 
were a security breach at the 
Group or third party service 
providers in respect of such 
data and the Group could face 
liability under data protection 
laws.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 All infrastructure, devices and 
laptops that touch personal data are 
encrypted in transit and at rest.
 The Company’s email and document 
storage are encrypted in transit and 
at rest.
 Personal information is anonymised 
and pseudonymised where 
reasonably needed.
 Staff are trained on handling personal 
information.

 OnTheMarket has policies, 
procedures, and security in place to 
protect personal data in accordance 
with applicable data protection laws 
including GDPR.
 OnTheMarket has an ongoing 
programme of security by design.

The General
 Data Protection 
Regulation 
(“GDPR”)

GDPR came into force on 25 
May 2018. Failure to comply 
with GDPR could result in 
the Group being liable under 
GDPR, including for fi nes.

On behalf of the Board

Ian Springett – Chief Executive Offi cer

6 June 2018

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

11

Board of Directors:
year ended 31 January 2018

Christopher Bell – Non-Executive Chairman

Helen Whiteley – Commercial Director

Christopher  joined  OnTheMarket  as  its  Non-Executive 
Chairman in October 2017 as the Group prepared for its 
proposed placing and admission to AIM. Christopher has 
considerable  listed  board  experience  across  a  range  of 
sectors.  He  has,  since  2015,  been  Senior  Independent 
Director  for The  Rank  Group  Plc,  where  he  also  serves 
on  both  the  Audit  Committee  and  the  Nominations 
Committee. 

is  Non-Executive  Chairman  of 

He 
two  AIM-listed 
companies,  XL  Media  plc  and  TechFinancials,  Inc, 
both  of  which  he  took  to  market  and  at  both  of  which 
he  serves  on  key  governance  committees.  He  is  also  a 
Non-Executive Director at AIM-listed Gaming Realms plc. 

Christopher joined Ladbroke Group plc in 1991, becoming 
Managing Director of its Racing Division in 1995. In 2000, 
he  became  Chief  Executive  of  Ladbrokes  Worldwide 
and joined the Board of the rebranded Hilton Group plc, 
becoming  Chief  Executive  of  Ladbrokes  plc,  following 
the  sale  of  the  Hilton  International  Hotel  division,  until 
2010.  He  has  also  served  as  Non-Executive  Director 
at  Spirit  Pub  Company  plc  (from  2011  to  2015)  and  as 
Senior  Independent  Director  at  Quintain  Estates  and 
Development  plc  (from  2010  to  2015).  Prior  to  joining 
Ladbrokes plc (formerly Hilton Group plc and Ladbrokes 
Group  plc),  Christopher  held  senior  marketing  positions 
at Allied Lyons plc.

Ian Springett – Chief Executive Offi cer

Ian  joined  the  business  in April  2013  as  founding  CEO. 
After  holding  a  number  of  senior  banking  roles  over 
15 years within NatWest Group, the last fi ve years of which 
as  Managing  Director  of  Lombard  Bank,  Ian  founded 
PrimeLocation.com in 2000 and, as Chief Executive, led 
its  growth  and  ultimate  sale  to  Daily  Mail  and  General 
Trust  plc  in  2006.  He  remained  with  the  business  until 
2008, when he left to pursue other interests. 

From 2012, he worked with the agent founders of Agents’ 
Mutual to develop its strategy and proposition and led the 
recruitment of the broader group of agents who provided 
funding for the venture in early 2014. Ian has driven the 
successful  launch  and  growth  of  the  OnTheMarket.com 
business and led its recent demutualisation in preparation 
for Admission to AIM and the associated capital raise.

12

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

the 

founding  management 

joined  Agents’  Mutual 

Helen 
in  August  2013, 
having  previously  been  Sales  &  Marketing  Director 
and  part  of 
team  at 
PrimeLocation.com. Helen began her career at Citibank 
and  later  joined  Lombard  Bank,  where,  as  Marketing 
Director,  she  developed  the  Lombard  Direct  brand  with 
national  TV,  press  and  direct  marketing  campaigns  to 
achieve  a  market-leading  position.  Helen  has  been 
central  to  the  planning,  development  and  growth  of 
OnTheMarket.com, with responsibility for sales, member 
relations and marketing. 

Clive Beattie – Chief Financial Offi cer

Clive joined the business in March 2017. Having qualifi ed 
as a chartered accountant with PriceWaterhouse he spent 
12 years working in investment banking with UBS before 
working  six  years  at  ThruVision,  a  security  technology 
business,  initially  as  CFO  and  then  also  as  CEO.  Clive 
then spent three years as CEO/CFO at Croft Associates, 
a business specialising in containers for the transport and 
disposal of radioactive materials.

Ian Francis – Non-Executive Director

Ian joined OnTheMarket as a Non-Executive Director in 
October 2017 as the Company prepared for its proposed 
placing  and  admission  to AIM.  Ian  has  extensive  listed 
board  experience  both  from  his  executive  career  as 
a  senior  audit  partner  with  Ernst  &  Young  and  from  his 
subsequent  roles  at  Umeme  Limited  and  at  Paysafe 
Group  plc.  He  was  appointed  to  the  board  of  Paysafe 
Group plc (previously Optimal Payments plc) in 2010 as a 
Non-Executive  Director  and  served  as  Chairman  of  the 
Audit Committee until its acquisition in December 2017.

Prior to this, he was a senior audit partner with Ernst & 
Young  London  until  2009,  specialising  in  FTSE-listed 
and  multinational  companies.  He  also  served  as  a 
Non-Executive Director of Umeme Limited, the privatised 
national  power  distribution  company  of  Uganda,  from 
2009  to  2014.  Ian  established  and  chaired  Umeme’s 
Audit  Committee.  Ian  is  also  an  active  mentor  at  Board 
Mentoring,  supporting  executive  and  non-executive 
directors stepping into new situations and roles.

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Directors’ Report:
year ended 31 January 2018

The  Directors  present  their  report  together  with  the 
fi nancial statements for the year ended 31 January 2018.

Principal activities

The principal activity of OnTheMarket plc (the “Company”) 
during  the  period  was  that  of  a  holding  company.  The 
principal activity of the subsidiaries (which together with 
the Company form the “Group”) in the year under review 
was  that  of  providing  online  property  portal  services  to 
businesses  in  the  estate  and  lettings  agency  industry 
under the trading name of OnTheMarket.com. In operating 
the  OnTheMarket.com  website  and  associated  apps, 
the  Group  seeks  to  provide  the  best  online  advertising 
environment 
their  clients’ 
properties  and  the  best  property  search  experience  for 
property-seeking consumers.

to  showcase 

for  agents 

The Directors consider the principal place of business to 
be 2-6 Boundary Row, London, SE1 8HP.

Results and dividends

An analysis of the Group’s performance is contained within 
the  Strategic  Report.  The  Group’s  income  statement  is 
set out on page 24 and shows the result for the year.

No  dividends  were  proposed  or  paid  (2017:  £nil)  to  the 
holders of ordinary shares during the year.

Directors

The Directors who held offi ce during the year and up to 
the date of signature of the fi nancial statements were as 
follows:

(appointed 27 July 2017)
C Beattie 
I Springett 
(appointed 27 July 2017)
H Whiteley  (appointed 27 July 2017)
C Bell 
I Francis 

(appointed 24 October 2017)
 (appointed 24 October 2017)

Political and charitable donations

The Group made no charitable donations during the year 
(2017: £nil).

Directors’ interests

The  present  membership  of  the  Board,  together  with 
biographies on each, is set out on page 12.

All  of  these  Directors  served  during  the  year.  Directors’ 
interests  in  shares  in  the  Company  are  set  out  in  the 
Directors’ remuneration report.

Directors’ third party indemnity provisions

The  Group  maintains  appropriate  insurance  to  cover 
directors’  and  offi cers’  liability.  The  Group  provides  an 
indemnity in respect of all the Group’s directors. Neither 
the insurance nor the indemnity provides cover where the 
Director has acted fraudulently or dishonestly.

Employees

The Group is an equal opportunities employer and no job 
applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment 
on  the  grounds  of  age,  sex,  marital  status,  sexual 
orientation, race, colour, religion or belief.

It  is  the  policy  of  the  Group  that  individuals  with 
disabilities, whether registered or not, should receive full 
and fair consideration for all job vacancies for which they 
are suitable applicants. Employees who become disabled 
during  their  working  life  will  be  retained  in  employment 
whenever  possible  and  will  be  given  help  with  any 
rehabilitation and retraining.

Going concern

On 9 February 2018, the Company’s entire issued share 
capital  was  admitted  to  trading  on  AIM  at  the  London 
Stock  Exchange.  By  way  of  a  placing  associated  with 
admission  to  AIM,  the  Company  raised  £30m  (gross) 
through the issue of 18,181,818 ordinary shares at £1.65 
each.  Additionally  all  outstanding  loan  notes  issued  by 
the  Company  were  converted  at  that  date  into  ordinary 
shares on a £ for £ basis.

In  the  light  of  this,  the  Directors  consider  the  going 
concern  basis  to  be  appropriate  to  the  preparation  of 
these fi nancial statements.

Future developments

The  Directors  have  discussed  the  future  developments 
for  the  business  within  the  Strategic  Report  on  page  6, 
in  accordance  with  Section  414C  of  the  Companies Act 
2016.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

13

 
Directors’ Report: continued

Financial instruments

The  Group’s  risk  management  policies  in  relation  to 
fi nancial  instruments  are  set  out  in  note  19  to  these 
consolidated fi nancial statements.

Independent auditors

A  resolution  to  reappoint  RSM  UK Audit  LLP,  Chartered 
Accountants, as auditor will be put to the shareholders at 
the annual general meeting.

Statement of disclosure to auditors

We, the Directors of the Company and Group, who held 
offi ce  at  the  date  of  the  approval  of  these  consolidated 
fi nancial statements as set out above, each confi rm so far 
as we are aware, that:

 there  is  no  relevant  audit  information  of  which  the 
Group’s auditor is unaware; and

 we  have  taken  all  the  steps  that  we  ought  to  have 
taken as Directors in order to make ourselves aware 
of any relevant audit information and to establish that 
the Group’s auditor is aware of that information.

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  the  maintenance  and 
integrity of the corporate and fi nancial information included 
on  the  Company’s  website.  Legislation  in  the  United 
Kingdom  governing  the  preparation  and  dissemination 
of  fi nancial  statements  may  differ  from  legislation  in 
other jurisdictions.

Corporate Governance Statement

Compliance

The Directors recognise the importance of sound corporate 
governance and have complied post-Admission with the 
Quoted  Companies  Alliance’s  Corporate  Governance 
Guidelines,  to  the  extent  appropriate  for  a  company  of 
OTM’s nature and size.

The Corporate Governance Guidelines were devised by 
the Quoted Companies Alliance (“QCA”), in consultation 
with  a  number  of  signifi cant  institutional  small  company 
investors,  as  an  alternative  corporate  governance  code 
applicable  to  AIM  companies.  An  alternative  code  was 
proposed because the QCA considers the UK Corporate 
Governance  Code 
for  many 
AIM companies.

inappropriate 

to  be 

The  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines  state  that,  “The 
purpose of good corporate governance is to ensure that 
the  company  is  managed  in  an  effi cient,  effective  and 
entrepreneurial manner for the benefi t of all shareholders 
over the longer term”.

The  Board  of  Directors  meets  regularly  throughout 
the  year  to  review  the  Group’s  strategy  and  oversee 
the  Group’s  progress  towards  its  goals.  The  Board 
has  established  an  Audit  Committee,  a  Remuneration 
Committee,  a  Nomination  Committee  and  an  Agent 
Recruitment Committee.

The Board

The  Board  comprises  fi ve  directors,  made  up  of  three 
Executive  Directors  and  two  Non-Executive  Directors, 
refl ecting a blend of different experience and backgrounds. 
The Board also has the services of a Company Secretary.

The Board is responsible for the overall performance of 
the Group, which includes the broad strategic direction, 
performance  and  the  framework  of  internal  controls  of 
the Group.

The policies and strategies of the Group are formulated 
by  the  Board  and  the  detailed  considerations  about  the 
day-to-day operations are delegated to an executive team 
under the leadership of the Executive Directors.

The  Board  regularly  monitors  the  implementation  of 
strategy and policy decisions to ensure that the operation 
of  the  Group  is  at  all  times  in  line  with  the  Group’s 
objectives.

The Board has regular contact with its advisers to keep 
up to date with corporate governance matters. The Chief 
Financial Offi cer and the Company Secretary ensure that 
Board procedures are followed and that applicable rules 
and regulations are complied with. The Group purchases 
appropriate  insurance  cover  in  respect  of  legal  action 
against its Directors.

The  Chairman’s  main  function  is  to  manage  the  Board 
so  that  the  Group  is  run  in  the  best  interests  of  its 
stakeholders.  It  is  also  the  Chairman’s  responsibility  to 
ensure the Board’s integrity and effectiveness.

14

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Directors’ Report: continued

Corporate Governance Statement (continued)

The Chief Executive Offi cer is responsible for the running 
of the Group’s businesses. Each Executive Director has 
their  own  sphere  of  responsibility.  Decisions  relating  to 
strategy, major contracts, acquisitions and certain internal 
controls, for example, are taken at Board level.

The  Audit  Committee  has  the  primary  responsibility  for 
ensuring  that  the  fi nancial  performance  of  the  Group 
is  properly  measured,  reported  on  and  monitored.  In 
this  fi nancial  year,  it  discharged  its  responsibilities  by 
reviewing:

Non-Executive Directors/Board independence

two 

The  Company  has 
independent  Non-Executive 
Directors,  Christopher  Bell  (Non-Executive  Chairman) 
and Ian Francis, who provide an important contribution to 
its  strategic  development.  The  Non-Executive  Directors 
are  both  treated  as  independent,  having  regard  to  the 
guidance in the Quoted Companies Alliance’s Corporate 
Governance.

The Non-Executive Chairman acquired 30,303 shares in 
the Company in the placing which occurred after the year 
end on 9 February 2018. However, due to the small size 
of  this  shareholding,  the  Directors  do  not  consider  that 
this impacts on the Chairman’s independence.

Board committees

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Christopher 
Bell  and  its  other  member  is  Ian  Francis.  It  will  meet 
at  least  twice  a  year  and  is  responsible  for  advising 
on  the  remuneration  policy  for  Directors  and  senior 
management only.

The  Remuneration  Committee  has  responsibility  for 
determining,  within  agreed  terms  of  reference,  the 
Group’s policy on the remuneration of senior executives 
and  specifi c  remuneration  packages 
for  Executive 
Directors including pension payments and compensation 
rights. It is also responsible for making recommendations 
for grants of options to Directors and senior management 
under the Group’s share based plans. 

The  remuneration  of  Non-Executive  Directors  is  a 
matter for the Board. No Director may be involved in any 
discussions as to their own remuneration. Details of the 
level and composition of the Directors’ remuneration are 
disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration report.

Audit Committee

The  Audit  Committee  has  Ian  Francis  as  chairman, 
and  Christopher  Bell  is  the  other  member.  The  Audit 
Committee will meet at least twice a year.

 the Group’s draft fi nancial statements prior to Board 
approval and reviewing the external auditor’s detailed 
reports thereon;

 the  appropriateness  of 
policies;

the  Group’s  accounting 

 the  potential 
statements of certain events and risks;

impact  on 

the  Group’s  fi nancial 

 the external auditor’s plan for the audit of the Group’s 
accounts,  which  included  key  areas  of  audit  focus, 
key risks and the proposed audit fee;

 the processes for identifying the risks to the business 
and managing those risks; and

 its terms of reference.

The  Audit  Committee  makes  recommendations  to  the 
Board on the appointment, re-appointment and removal of 
the external auditor. In making the recommendation on the 
annual re-appointment of the external auditor, it monitors 
the relationship to assess independence, objectivity and 
cost effectiveness of the external auditor. It is responsible 
for ensuring that an appropriate relationship between the 
Group and the external auditors is maintained, including 
reviewing non-audit services and fees. 

The Directors meet regularly with the external auditor for 
the purpose of discussing matters relating to the fi nancial 
reporting and internal controls of the Group. Furthermore, 
the  Audit  Committee’s  chairman  meets  the  external 
auditors  to  discuss  matters  relating  to  the  Committee’s 
remit and any issues arising from the audit.

Nomination Committee

The  Nomination  Committee  has  Christopher  Bell  as 
chairman and provides a formal, rigorous and transparent 
procedure  for  the  appointment  of  new  directors  to 
the Board. 

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

15

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Relations with shareholders

is  committed 

The  Board 
to  maintaining  good 
communications  with  shareholders  and  provides  a 
website  at  plc.onthemarket.com/investors  for  up-to-date 
information on the Group.

The  AGM  is  an  opportunity  for  the  Group  to  meet  and 
communicate with its investors and for them to raise with 
the  Board  any  issues  or  concerns  they  may  have.  The 
Group  dispatches  the  Notice  of  AGM  at  least  21  days 
before  the  meeting.  Shareholders  receive  electronic 
communication unless they elect otherwise.

On behalf of the Board

Ian Springett – Chief Executive Offi cer

6 June 2018

Directors’ Report: continued

Corporate Governance Statement (continued)

The Nomination Committee will meet at least once a year. 
Ian Francis and Ian Springett are the other members of 
the Nomination Committee.

Agent Recruitment Committee

The  Board  has  also  established  an  Agent  Recruitment 
Committee, comprising of any one of the Non-Executive 
Directors and any two of the Executive Directors, in order 
to ensure that there is appropriate oversight of any future 
issues  of  Agent  Recruitment  Shares.  Accordingly,  any 
proposed  issue  of  Agent  Recruitment  Shares  to  new 
agents will need to be approved by the Agent Recruitment 
Committee. 

No  meetings  of  the  various  Board  committees  were 
held  during  the  year  to  31  January  2018  as  these  were 
established  for  implementation  post  Admission  of  the 
Company to AIM. 

Internal control

The  Board  acknowledges  that  it  is  responsible  for  the 
Group’s  system  of  internal  control  and  for  reviewing  its 
effectiveness.  Such  a  system  is  designed  to  manage 
rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business 
objectives  and  can  only  provide  reasonable  and  not 
absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.

The  Board  has  established  clear  operating  procedures 
and responsibility structures. These procedures include:

 monthly  fi nancial  reporting  against  budget  and  the 
prior year;

 day-to-day fi nancial control of operations;

 annual budgeting and forecasting; and

 the monitoring and assessment of risk.

16

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Directors’ Remuneration Report: 
year ended 31 January 2018

As an AIM listed company, the Company is not required to comply with Schedule 8 of the Companies Act. However, in 
accordance with AIM notice 36 the Company has provided, in the Directors’ remuneration report, the necessary disclosure 
of the Directors’ remuneration earned in respect of the fi nancial year by each Director of the Company acting in such a 
capacity during the fi nancial year. The Directors also feel it is appropriate to provide the following information to shareholders.

Remuneration Committee

The remuneration of each Executive Director is determined by the Remuneration Committee. It is chaired by Christopher 
Bell and its other member is Ian Francis. The Remuneration Committee will meet at least twice a year.

The  Committee  seeks  input  from  the  Chief  Executive  Offi cer.  The  Committee  refers  to  external  evidence  of  pay  and 
employment conditions in other companies and is free to seek advice from external advisers.

Policy on remuneration of Directors

The Remuneration Committee has responsibility for determining, within agreed terms of reference, the Group’s policy on 
the remuneration of senior executives and specifi c remuneration packages for the Executive Directors including pension 
payments and compensation rights. It is also responsible for making recommendations for grants of options under Company 
share option plans.

The remuneration of Non-Executive Directors is a matter for the Board. It consists of fees for their services in connection 
with Board and Committee meetings. No Director may be involved in any discussions as to their own remuneration.

The  remuneration  policy  is  designed  to  shape  the  Company’s  remuneration  strategy  for  the  future,  ensuring  that  the 
structure and levels of executive remuneration continue to remain appropriate for the Company. The policy aims to:

 pay competitive salaries to aid recruitment, retention and motivation being refl ective of the executive’s experience and 
importance to the Group;

 pay annual bonuses to incentivise the delivery of stretching short-term business targets whilst maintaining an element 
of variability allowing fl exible control of the cost base and being able to respond to market conditions; and

 provide long-term share incentive plans designed to incentivise long-term value creation, reward execution of strategy, 
align Directors’ interests with the long-term interests of investors and promote retention.

The main remuneration components are:

Basic salary or fees

Basic salary or fees for each Director are determined taking into account the performance of the individual and information 
from independent sources on the rates of salary and fees for similar posts. The salaries and fees paid to Directors by the 
Group were £535k (2017: £170k).

With effect from 1 February 2018, and based upon a review by the Remuneration Committee of performance and of rates 
for similar posts, Executive Directors’ salaries were amended as follows:

Director  

I Springett 
H Whiteley 
C Beattie 

There were no changes to the rates of fees for Non-Executive Directors.

Previous Salary  
(£’000) 

New Salary
(£’000)

170 
170 
170 

250
200
190

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Remuneration Report: continued

Bonus

The  Company  has  a  formal  bonus  scheme  which  was  effective  for  the  Executive  Directors.  Bonuses  were  paid  to  the 
Executive Directors by the Group of £81k (2017: £17k).

Pensions

Contributions made to Directors’ pensions in the year were £1k (2017: £nil).

Share incentive

Under the terms of a management agreement with Agents’ Mutual, that was fi rst established in 2013 and revised in 2016, 
the founding management team were entitled to 18% of the fully diluted share capital of the Company at the point of the 
restructuring in September 2017. This entitlement was fulfi lled by the issue of nil cost share options, of which 5,199,551 
were  issued  to  certain  Executive  Directors. A  further  151,515  nil  cost  options  were  issued  to  Clive  Beattie,  the  Chief 
Financial Offi cer.

No share options were exercised during the period.

Company policy on contracts of service

The  Executive  Directors  of  the  Company  do  not  have  a  notice  period  in  excess  of  12  months  under  the  terms  of  their 
service  contracts. Their  service  contracts  contain  no  provisions  for  pre-determined  compensation  on  termination  which 
exceeds 12 months’ salary and benefi ts in kind. Non-Executive Directors do not have service contracts with the Company, 
but have letters of appointment which can be terminated on 3 months’ notice.

Company policy on external appointments

The Company recognises that its Directors are likely to be invited to become non-executive directors of other companies 
and that exposure to such non-executive duties can broaden their experience and knowledge, which will benefi t the Group. 
Executive  and  Non-Executive  Directors  are  therefore,  subject  to  approval  of  the  Company’s  Board,  allowed  to  accept 
non-executive appointments, as long as these are not with competing companies and are not likely to lead to confl icts of 
interest. Executive and Non-Executive Directors are allowed to retain the fees paid.

Directors’ emoluments

The fi gures below represent emoluments earned by Directors from the Group during the fi nancial year:

Executive Directors:
C Beattie 
I Springett 
H Whiteley 

Non-Executive Directors:
C Bell 
I Francis 

Total remuneration before pension contributions 

Pension contributions 

Total remuneration 

18

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

Salary & 
fees 
£’000 

Bonus 
£’000 

2018 
Total 
£’000 

2017
Total
£’000

149 
170 
170 

489 

32 
14 
46 
535 

1 

536 

13 
34 
34 

81 

– 
– 
– 
81 

– 

81 

162 
204 
204 

570 

32 
14 
46 
616 

1 

617 

–
187
–

187

–
–
–
187

–

187

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Directors’ Remuneration Report: continued

Changes to Board members

During the year, the Company, OnTheMarket plc, was incorporated and all the following Directors joined the Board during 
the year:

 C Beattie 
 I Springett 
 H Whiteley 
 C Bell 
 I Francis 

(appointed 27 July 2017)
(appointed 27 July 2017)
(appointed 27 July 2017)
(appointed 24 October 2017)
(appointed 24 October 2017)

Directors’ interests

The interests of the Directors and their spouses in the shares of the Company were as follows:

2018 

Shares 
No. 

30,303 
96,969 
90,909 
30,303 
– 

Options 
No. 

151,515 
3,466,367 
1,733,184 
– 
– 

248,484 

5,351,066 

2017

Shares 
No. 

Options
No.

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

–
–
–
–
–

–

C Beattie 
I Springett 
H Whiteley 
C Bell 
I Francis 

No dividends were paid to the Directors during the year.

On behalf of the Board

Christopher Bell – Non-Executive Chairman

6 June 2018

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Responsibilities Statement: 
year ended 31 January 2018

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  keeping  adequate 
accounting records that are suffi cient to show and explain 
the  Company’s  and  Group’s  transactions  and  disclose 
with reasonable accuracy at any time the fi nancial position 
of  the  Company  and  Group  and  enable  them  to  ensure 
that the fi nancial statements comply with the Companies 
Act  2006.  They  have  a  general  responsibility  for  taking 
such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard 
the assets of the Company and Group and to prevent and 
detect fraud and other irregularities.

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  the  maintenance 
and  integrity  of  the  corporate  and  fi nancial  information 
included on the OnTheMarket plc website.

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic 
Report,  the  Directors’  Report  and  the  consolidated 
fi nancial  statements  in  accordance  with  applicable  law 
and regulations.

Company  law  requires  the  Directors  to  prepare  Group 
and  Company  fi nancial  statements  for  each  fi nancial 
year.  Under  that  law,  the  Directors  have  elected  to 
prepare  the  Group  fi nancial  statements  in  accordance 
with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) 
as  adopted  by  the  European  Union  (“EU”),  and  have 
elected  to  prepare  the  Company  fi nancial  statements  in 
accordance with UK Accounting Standards and applicable 
law  –  UK  Generally Accepted Accounting  Practice  (“UK 
GAAP”),  including  Financial  Reporting  Standard  101: 
Reduced Disclosure Framework (“FRS 101”).

The Group fi nancial statements are required by law and 
IFRS  adopted  by  the  EU  to  present  fairly  the  fi nancial 
position  and  performance  of  the  Group;  the  Companies 
Act 2006 provides in relation to such fi nancial statements 
that references in the relevant part of that Act to fi nancial 
statements giving a true and fair view are references to 
their achieving a fair presentation.

Under  company  law,  the  Directors  must  not  approve  the 
consolidated fi nancial statements unless they are satisfi ed 
that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 
Company and Group and of the profi t or loss of the Group 
for that period. In preparing each of the Group and Company 
fi nancial statements, the Directors are required to:

 select  suitable  accounting  policies  and  then  apply 
them consistently;

 make judgements and accounting estimates that are 
reasonable and prudent;

 state whether they have been prepared in accordance 
with IFRSs adopted by the EU; and

 prepare the fi nancial statements on the going concern 
basis  unless  it  is  inappropriate  to  presume  that  the 
Group and the Company will continue in business.

20

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of 
OnTheMarket plc:
year ended 31 January 2018

Opinion

the  consolidated 

the  fi nancial  statements  of 
We  have  audited 
OnTheMarket  plc  (the  “parent  company”)  and 
its 
subsidiaries (the “Group”) for the year ended 31 January 
income 
2018  which  comprise 
statement, 
the  consolidated  and  parent  company 
statement  of  fi nancial  position,  the  consolidated  and 
parent  company  statement  of  changes  in  equity,  the 
consolidated  statement  of  cash  fl ows  and  notes  to  the 
fi nancial  statements,  including  a  summary  of  signifi cant 
accounting  policies.  The  fi nancial  reporting  framework 
that  has  been  applied  in  the  preparation  of  the  Group 
fi nancial  statements  is  applicable  law  and  International 
Financial  Reporting  Standards  (“IFRSs”)  as  adopted  by 
the  European  Union.  The  fi nancial  reporting  framework 
that  has  been  applied  in  the  preparation  of  the  parent 
company  fi nancial  statements  is  applicable  law  and 
United  Kingdom  Accounting  Standards  including  FRS 
101  “Reduced  Disclosure  Framework”  (United  Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion:

 the fi nancial statements give a true and fair view of 
the state of the Group’s and of the parent company’s 
affairs as at 31 January 2018 and of the Group’s loss 
for the year then ended;

 the  Group  fi nancial  statements  have  been  properly 
prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRSs  as  adopted  by 
the European Union;

 the parent company fi nancial statements have been 
properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

 the  fi nancial  statements  have  been  prepared  in 
accordance with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable 
law.  Our  responsibilities  under  those  standards  are 
further  described  in  the Auditor’s  responsibilities  for  the 
audit  of  the  fi nancial  statements  section  of  our  report. 
We  are  independent  of  the  Group  and  parent  company 
in  accordance  with  the  ethical  requirements  that  are 
relevant  to  our  audit  of  the  fi nancial  statements  in  the 

UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have 
fulfi lled  our  other  ethical  responsibilities  in  accordance 
with  these  requirements.  We  believe  that  the  audit 
evidence we have obtained is suffi cient and appropriate 
to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

We  have  nothing  to  report  in  respect  of  the  following 
matters  in  relation  to  which  the  ISAs  (UK)  require  us  to 
report to you where:

 the  Directors’  use  of  the  going  concern  basis 
of  accounting  in  the  preparation  of  the  fi nancial 
statements is not appropriate; or 

 the  Directors  have  not  disclosed  in  the  fi nancial 
statements  any  identifi ed  material  uncertainties  that 
may cast signifi cant doubt about the Group’s or the 
parent  company’s  ability  to  continue  to  adopt  the 
going concern basis of accounting for a period of at 
least twelve months from the date when the fi nancial 
statements are authorised for issue.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included 
in the annual report, other than the fi nancial statements 
and  our  auditor’s  report  thereon.  The  Directors  are 
responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the 
fi nancial statements does not cover the other information 
and,  except  to  the  extent  otherwise  explicitly  stated  in 
our  report,  we  do  not  express  any  form  of  assurance 
conclusion thereon.

In  connection  with  our  audit  of  the  fi nancial  statements, 
our  responsibility  is  to  read  the  other  information  and, 
in  doing  so,  consider  whether  the  other  information  is 
materially inconsistent with the fi nancial statements or our 
knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to 
be materially misstated. 

If  we  identify  such  material  inconsistencies  or  apparent 
material  misstatements,  we  are  required  to  determine 
whether there is a material misstatement in the fi nancial 
statements  or  a  material  misstatement  of  the  other 
information.  If,  based  on  the  work  we  have  performed, 
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.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of OnTheMarket plc: continued

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006

In  our  opinion,  based  on  the  work  undertaken  in  the 
course of the audit:

 the information given in the Strategic Report and the 
Directors’ Report for the fi nancial year for which the 
fi nancial  statements  are  prepared  is  consistent  with 
the fi nancial statements; and 

 the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have 
been  prepared  in  accordance  with  applicable  legal 
requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by 
exception

In  the  light  of  the  knowledge  and  understanding  of  the 
Group  and  the  parent  company  and  their  environment 
obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identifi ed 
material  misstatements  in  the  Strategic  Report  and  the 
Directors’ Report.

We  have  nothing  to  report  in  respect  of  the  following 
matters  in  relation  to  which  the  Companies  Act  2006 
requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

 adequate accounting records have not been kept by 
the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit 
have not been received from branches not visited by 
us; or

 the  parent  company  fi nancial  statements  are  not  in 
agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

 certain  disclosures  of  directors’ 
specifi ed by law are not made; or

remuneration 

 we  have  not  received  all  the  information  and 
explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of Directors

As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities 
Statement  set  out  on  page  20,  the  Directors  are 
responsible for the preparation of the fi nancial statements 
and for being satisfi ed that they give a true and fair view 
and  for  such  internal  control  as  the  Directors  determine 
is  necessary  to  enable  the  preparation  of  fi nancial 
statements  that  are  free  from  material  misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error. 

In  preparing  the  fi nancial  statements,  the  Directors  are 
responsible  for  assessing  the  Group’s  and  the  parent 
company’s  ability  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 the parent company or to cease operations, or have no 
realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the 

fi nancial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the fi nancial statements as a whole are 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 ISAs (UK) 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 
infl uence  the  economic  decisions  of  users  taken  on  the 
basis of these fi nancial statements.

A  further  description  of  our  responsibilities  for  the  audit 
of  the  fi nancial  statements  is  located  on  the  Financial 
Reporting  Council’s  website  at:  http://www.frc.org.uk/
auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our 
auditor’s report.

22

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of OnTheMarket plc: continued

Use of our report

This  report  is  made  solely  to  the  company’s  members, 
as  a  body,  in  accordance  with  Chapter  3  of  Part  16  of 
the  Companies  Act  2006.  Our  audit  work  has  been 
undertaken  so  that  we  might  state  to  the  company’s 
members  those  matters  we  are  required  to  state  to 
them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To 
the  fullest  extent  permitted  by  law,  we  do  not  accept  or 
assume responsibility to anyone other than the company 
and  the  company’s  members  as  a  body,  for  our  audit 
work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Colin Roberts (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of RSM UK Audit LLP, Statutory Auditor

Chartered Accountants

25 Farringdon Street

London

EC4A 4AB

6 June 2018

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

23

Consolidated Income Statement: 
year ended 31 January 2018

Revenue 
Administrative expenses 

Operating profi t before non-recurring items 
Exceptional and non-recurring items:
Share-based management incentive 
Professional fees 

Operating loss 
Finance income 
Finance expense 

Loss before income tax 
Income tax   

Loss and total comprehensive income for the year 
attributable to owners of the parent 

Loss per share from continuing operations 

Basic and diluted 

The operating loss arises from the Group’s continuing operations.

Notes 

4 
5 

22 
6 

7 
9 
10 

11 

12 

2018 
£’000 

16,046 
(12,159) 

2017
£’000

17,831
(15,507)

3,887 

2,324

(13,290) 
(1,436) 

(10,839) 
2 
(1,233) 

(12,070) 
(22) 

–
(3,506)

(1,182)
2
(1,353)

(2,533)
(1,486)

(12,092) 

(4,019)

Pence 

(34.03) 

Pence

(11.31)

There  is  no  recognised  income  or  expense  for  the  year  other  than  the  loss  shown  above  and  therefore  no  separate 
statement of other comprehensive income has been presented.

The notes on pages 30 to 53 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

24

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Consolidated Statement of Financial Position: 
at 31 January 2018

Company Reg. No. 10887621

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 
Intangible assets 

Current assets
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

TOTAL ASSETS 

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings   
Provisions 
Current tax   

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings   
Provisions 

TOTAL LIABILITIES 

NET LIABILITIES 

EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT
Share capital 
Merger reserve 
Other reserve 
Retained earnings 

TOTAL EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT 

Notes 

13 
14 

16 

17 
18 
21 

18 
21 

23 

2018 
£’000 

18 
3,654 

3,672 

553 
3,174 

3,727 

7,399 

(2,957) 
(1,217) 
(1,258) 
(22) 

(5,454) 

2017
£’000

45
3,556

3,601

3,709
2,263

5,972

9,573

(5,937)
(1,379)
–
–

(7,316)

(11,256) 
(354) 

(11,256)
–

(11,610) 

(11,256)

(17,064) 

(18,572)

(9,665) 

(8,999)

71 
(71) 
(252) 
(9,413) 

(9,665) 

71
(71)
–
(8,999)

(8,999)

The notes on pages 30 to 53 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

These consolidated fi nancial statements are approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 6 June 2018 
and are signed on its behalf by:

Clive Beattie – Chief Financial Offi cer

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

25

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Statement of Financial Position: 
at 31 January 2018

Company Reg. No. 10887621

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Investments in subsidiaries 

Current assets
Trade and other receivables 

TOTAL ASSETS 

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings   
Current tax   

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings   

TOTAL LIABILITIES 

NET ASSETS 

EQUITY
Share capital 
Other reserve 
Retained earnings 

TOTAL EQUITY 

Notes 

15 

16 

17 
18 

18 

23 

2018
£’000

–

23,389

23,389

(82)
(512)
(22)

(616)

(11,256)

(11,872)

11,517

71
(252)
11,698

11,517

The Company’s profi t and total comprehensive income for the year was £91k (2017: £nil).

The notes on pages 30 to 53 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

These consolidated fi nancial statements are approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 6 June 2018 
and are signed on its behalf by:

Clive Beattie – Chief Financial Offi cer

26

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity: 
year ended 31 January 2018

  Share-based
payment 
reserve 
£’000 

Share 
capital 
£’000 

Merger 
reserve 
£’000 

Other 
reserve 
£’000 

Balance as at 1 February 2016 
Loss for the fi nancial year 

Total comprehensive expense 
for the year   

Balance as at 31 January 2017 
Loss for the fi nancial year 

Total comprehensive expense 
for the year   
Transactions with owners:
Share options issued 
Transfer to retained earnings 
Legal fees on after date 
share issue   

71 

– 

71 

– 

– 
– 

– 

Balance as at 31 January 2018 

71 

Share capital

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

11,678 
(11,678) 

– 

– 

(71) 
– 

– 

(71) 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

(71) 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

(252) 

(252) 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

(4,980) 
(4,019) 

Total
equity
£’000

(4,980)
(4,019)

(4,019) 

(4,019)

(8,999) 
(12,092) 

(8,999)
(12,092)

(12,092) 

(12,092)

– 
11,678 

– 

(9,413) 

11,678
–

(252)

(9,665)

Share capital represents the par value of ordinary shares issued by the Company.

Share-based payment reserve

Share-based  payment  reserve  represents  the  cumulative  share-based  payment  expense  for  the  Group’s  share  option 
schemes.

Merger reserve

Merger reserve represents the difference between the cost of the investment in a subsidiary undertaking and the equity of 
that subsidiary acquired, on consolidation.

Other reserve

Other  reserve  represents  costs  incurred  for  a  share  issue  that  took  place  after  the  year  end  (note  28). This  reserve  is 
expected to transfer to share premium on the after date share issue.

Retained earnings

Retained earnings represent the cumulative profi t and loss net of distributions to owners.

The notes on pages 30 to 53 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Statement of Changes in Equity: 
year ended 31 January 2018

  Share-based
payment 
reserve 
£’000 

Share 
capital 
£’000 

Other 
reserve 
£’000 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

Balance as at 27 July 2017 
Profi t for the fi nancial period 

Total comprehensive income for the period 
Transactions with owners:
Issue of ordinary shares 
Share options issued 
Transfer to retained earnings 
Legal fees on after date share issue 
IAS 27 adjustment1 

Balance as at 31 January 2018 

– 
– 

– 

71 
– 
– 
– 
– 

71 

– 
– 

– 

– 
11,678 
(11,678) 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
(252) 
– 

(252) 

– 
91 

91 

– 
– 
11,678 
– 
(71) 

11,698 

Total
equity
£’000

–
91

91

71
11,678
–
(252)
(71)

11,517

1 

 In the circumstances of a group reorganisation as has been undertaken in the period under review, IAS 27 requires that the newly formed parent company 
accounts for its interest in the original parent company at cost and it requires that cost to be measured at the carrying amount of its share of the equity 
items shown in the separate fi nancial statements of the original parent at the date of the reorganisation. Since the original parent, Agents’ Mutual, had 
negative equity at the relevant date, the investment was valued at £nil. In order to record the shares issued to effect the reorganisation at their nominal 
value (£71k) an equal opposite debit entry is recognised against equity.

Share capital

Share capital represents the par value of ordinary shares issued by the Company.

Share-based payment reserve

Share-based  payment  reserve  represents  the  cumulative  share-based  payment  expense  for  the  Group’s  share  option 
schemes.

Other reserve

Other  reserve  represents  costs  incurred  for  a  share  issue  that  took  place  after  the  year  end  (note  28). This  reserve  is 
expected to transfer to share premium on the after date share issue.

Retained earnings

Retained earnings represent the cumulative profi t and loss net of distributions to owners.

The notes on pages 30 to 53 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

28

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows: 
year ended 31 January 2018

Cash fl ows from operating activities
Loss for the year after income tax 
Adjustments for:
Income tax   
Finance income 
Finance expense 
Amortisation  
Depreciation  
Impairment of investment 
Share based payment 

Operating cash fl ows before movements in working capital 

Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables 
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables 
Increase in provisions 

Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities 

Cash fl ows from investing activities
Acquisition of intangible assets 
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash fl ows from fi nancing activities
Finance income received 
Finance expense paid 
Issue of loan notes 
Expenses incurred for share listing 

Net cash (used in)/generated from fi nancing activities 

Net movement in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 

Cash and cash equivalents

2018 
£’000 

2017
£’000

(12,092) 

(4,019)

22 
(2) 
1,233 
1,440 
27 
– 
11,678 

2,306 

3,156 
(2,980) 
1,612 

4,094 

(1,538) 
(1) 
1 

(1,538) 

2 
(1,395) 
- 
(252) 

(1,645) 

911 
2,263 

3,174 

1,486
(2)
1,353
939
29
1
–

(213)

(3,071)
3,029
-

(255)

(1,621)
(2)
-

(1,623)

2
(939)
1,516
-

579

(1,299)
3,562

2,263

For the purposes of the statement of cash fl ows, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and in hand. This is 
consistent with the presentation in the Statement of Financial Position.

The notes on pages 30 to 53 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

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29

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: 
year ended 31 January 2018

1.  General information

The principal activity of the Company is that of a holding company. The principal activity for the Group continued to be that 
of providing online property portal services to businesses in the estate and lettings agency industry under the trading name 
of OnTheMarket.com.

The Company is a public company limited by shares and it is incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its 
registered offi ce is PO Box 450, 155-157 High Street, Aldershot, GU11 9FZ.

On 27 July 2017, the Company was incorporated under the name On The Market (Europe) Limited. On 2 August 2017, the 
Company changed its name to On The Market Limited. In December 2017, the Company re-registered as a public limited 
company under the name of OnTheMarket plc.

2.  Summary of signifi cant accounting policies

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated fi nancial statements are set out below. 
They have, unless otherwise stated, been applied consistently to all periods presented.

2.1  Basis of preparation

These consolidated fi nancial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and IFRS Interpretation Committee interpretations (“IFRS IC”) as adopted by the 
European Union and with the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

The  consolidated  fi nancial  statements  comprise  an  income  statement,  a  statement  of  fi nancial  position,  a  statement 
of  changes  in  equity,  a  statement  of  cash  fl ows  and  notes.  Income  and  expenses,  excluding  the  components  of  other 
comprehensive income, are recognised in the statement of profi t or loss. Other comprehensive income is recognised in the 
statement of comprehensive income and comprises items of income and expenses (including reclassifi cation adjustments) 
that are not recognised in the statement of profi t or loss, as required or permitted by IFRS. Reclassifi cation adjustments 
are amounts reclassifi ed to profi t or loss in the current period that were recognised in other comprehensive income in the 
current or previous periods. Transactions with the owners of the Group in their capacity as owners are recognised in the 
statement of changes in equity.

The Group presents the statement of profi t or loss using the classifi cation by function of expenses. The Group believes this 
method provides more useful information to the users of its fi nancial statements as it better refl ects the way operations are 
run from a business point of view. The statement of fi nancial position format is based on a current /non-current distinction.

All of the consolidated comparative fi gures relate to the subsidiary only, because the holding company was not formed until 
27 July 2017. This is because the fi nancial statements have been prepared under the principles of merger accounting. 
The share capital shown in the comparative consolidated statement of fi nancial position represents the share capital of the 
Company, even though the Company was not yet formed at 31 January 2017, because merger accounting assumes that 
the Group entities have been combined throughout the current and comparative periods.

Measurement bases

The consolidated fi nancial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Historical cost is generally 
based on the fair value of the consideration given in exchange for assets.

The  preparation  of  the  consolidated  fi nancial  statements  in  compliance  with  adopted  IFRS  requires  the  use  of  certain 
critical accounting estimates and management judgements in applying the accounting policies. The signifi cant estimates 
and judgements that have been made and their effect is disclosed in note 3.

30

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

2.2  Basis of consolidation

The consolidated fi nancial statements incorporate those of OnTheMarket plc and all of its subsidiaries (i.e. entities that the 
Group controls through its power to govern the fi nancial and operating policies so as to obtain economic benefi ts). These 
are adjusted, where appropriate, to conform to Group accounting policies. 

The  acquisition  of Agents’  Mutual  Limited  and  On The  Market  (Europe)  Limited  (formerly  On The  Market  Limited)  (the 
“subsidiary undertakings”) occurred as a group reconstruction on 13 September 2017. As this business combination is 
a  combination  of  entities  under  common  control,  it  therefore  falls  outside  of  the  scope  of  IFRS  3.  In  this  context,  the 
Directors have elected to account for the acquisition using the approach to merger accounting set out in UK GAAP, FRS 
102 Section 19.

The consolidated fi nancial statements merge the fi nancial statements of the subsidiary undertakings as if they had been 
combined throughout the current and comparative accounting period. Assets and liabilities have not been fair valued on 
acquisition and the difference between the nominal value of the new shares issued by the Company for the acquisition 
of  Agents’  Mutual  Limited  has  been  refl ected  in  the  merger  reserve  in  the  consolidated  fi nancial  statements.  Where 
necessary, adjustments have been made to the accounting policies of Agents’ Mutual Limited in order to achieve uniformity 
of accounting policies in the combining entities.

All  intra-group  transactions,  balances  and  unrealised  gains  on  transactions  between  Group  companies  are  eliminated 
on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the 
asset transferred.

2.3  Reduced disclosures

The  fi gures  presented  in  relation  to  the  Company’s  solus  fi nancial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with 
FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (“FRS 101”).

In accordance with FRS 101 the following exemptions from the requirements of IFRS have been applied in the preparation 
of  the  Company  fi nancial  statements  and,  where  relevant,  equivalent  disclosures  have  been  made  in  the  consolidated 
fi nancial statements of the Company:

 presentation of a Company Cash Flow Statement and related notes;

 disclosure of the objectives, policies and processes for managing capital;

 inclusion of an explicit and unreserved statement of compliance with IFRS;

 disclosure of Company key management compensation;

 disclosure of the categories of fi nancial instrument and nature and extent of risks arising on these fi nancial instruments;

 related party disclosures in respect of two or more wholly owned members of the Group; and

 disclosure of the future impact of new International Financial Reporting Standards in issue but not yet effective at the 
reporting date.

The fi nancial statements of the Company are consolidated within these fi nancial statements which  will be publicly available 
from Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff, CF14 3OZ following their approval by shareholders.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

2.4  Company statement of comprehensive income

As permitted by s408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company has not presented its own statement of comprehensive 
income.  The  Company’s  profi t  and  total  comprehensive  income  for  the  period  from  incorporation  on  27  July  2017  to 
31 January 2018 was £91k.

2.5  Going concern

The Group made a loss after tax for the year of £12,092k (2017: £4,019k), and as at 31 January 2018 the Group had a net 
cash balance of £3,174k (2017: £2,263k). 

On  9  February  2018,  the  Company’s  entire  issued  share  capital  was  admitted  to  trading  on AIM  at  the  London  Stock 
Exchange. By way of a placing associated with Admission to AIM, the Company raised £30m (gross) through the issue of 
18,181,818 ordinary shares of £0.002 at £1.65 each. 

In the light of this, the Directors consider the going concern basis to be appropriate to the preparation on these fi nancial 
statements.

2.6  Adoption of new and revised standards and interpretations

Application of new and amended standards 

For the preparation of these consolidated fi nancial statements, the following new or amended standards are mandatory for 
the fi rst time for the fi nancial year beginning 1 January 2017.

Amendments  to  IAS  7,  “Disclosure  Initiative”  (issued  in  January  2016)  -  The  amendments  require  entities  to  provide 
information that enables users of fi nancial statements to evaluate changes in liabilities arising from the entity’s fi nancing 
activities.  The  effect  of  the  amendments  on  the  Group’s  consolidated  fi nancial  statements  has  been  the  inclusion  of 
additional disclosures in note 18. 

New standards, amendments and interpretations not yet adopted

 IFRS 9, “Financial instruments”, addresses the classifi cation, measurement and recognition of fi nancial assets and 
fi nancial liabilities. It replaces the guidance in IAS 39 that relates to the classifi cation and measurement of fi nancial 
instruments. IFRS 9 is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018. An expected credit 
losses model replaces the incurred loss impairment model used in IAS 39. The Directors anticipate that this will not 
impact on the bad debt provision in the year to 31 January 2018, but it is not yet possible to quantify the fi nancial 
impact for future periods. The Group is working towards the implementation of IFRS 9 for the year ended 31 January 
2019. It anticipates that the classifi cation and measurement basis for its fi nancial assets and liabilities will be largely 
unchanged by adoption of IFRS 9. 

 IFRS 15, “Revenue from contracts with customers”, deals with revenue recognition and establishes principles for 
reporting  useful  information  to  users  of  fi nancial  statements  about  the  nature,  amount,  timing  and  uncertainty  of 
revenue and cash fl ows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. Revenue is recognised when a customer 
obtains control of a good or service and thus has the ability to direct the use and obtain the benefi ts from the good 
or service. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018. The Group is working 
towards the implementation of IFRS 15 for the year ended 31 January 2019. As this work is ongoing the Directors 
are not able to quantify yet the impact of any changes to revenue recognition that may be necessary. The profi le of 
cash receipts is not affected by this standard.

32

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

 IFRS 16, “Leases”, addresses the defi nition of a lease, recognition and measurement of leases, and it establishes 
principles for reporting useful information to users of fi nancial statements about the leasing activities of both lessees 
and lessors. A key change arising from IFRS 16 is that almost all operating leases will be accounted for on balance 
sheet for lessees. The standard replaces IAS 17, “Leases”, and related interpretations. The standard is effective 
for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019, and earlier application is permitted, subject to the entity 
adopting IFRS 15, ‘Revenue from contracts with customers’, at the same time. The Directors are in the process of 
reviewing contracts to identify any additional lease arrangements that would need to be recognised under IFRS 16, 
however, they have not yet calculated the fi nancial impact of the standard.

2.7  Functional and presentation currency

The consolidated fi nancial statements are presented in ‘Pounds Sterling’, rounded to the nearest thousand (£’000), which 
is also the Group’s functional currency.

2.8  Property, plant and equipment

All  property,  plant  and  equipment  are  stated  at  historical  cost  less  accumulated  depreciation  and  any  accumulated 
impairment losses. Depreciation is calculated using an appropriate method to allocate their cost amounts to their residual 
values over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Fixtures, fi ttings and equipment 

Straight line 4 years

2.9 

Intangible assets

In  accordance  with  IAS  38,  “Intangible Assets”,  expenditure  incurred  on  research  and  development  is  distinguished  as 
relating to a research phase or to a development phase.

Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.

An  internally  generated  intangible  asset  arising  from  the  development  and  enhancement  of  the  online  platform, 
OnTheMarket.com,  and  associated  applications  is  recognised  when  the  development  has  been  deemed  technically 
feasible, that the Group has the intention to complete the development, that probable future economic benefi ts will occur, 
that the Group has the required funds to complete the development and has the ability to measure the expenditure on the 
development reliably.

The amount initially recognised for internally generated intangible assets is the sum of the directly attributable expenditure 
incurred from the date when the intangible asset fi rst meets the recognition criteria defi ned above.

Capitalisation  ceases  when  the  asset  is  brought  into  use.  Where  no  internally  generated  asset  can  be  recognised, 
development expenditure is recognised in the income statement in the period in which it is incurred.

Subsequent  to  initial  recognition,  internally  generated  assets  are  reported  at  cost  less  accumulated  amortisation  and 
impairment losses. Amortisation is charged on a straight-line basis over 4 years from when the asset is fi rst brought into 
use. The current intangible assets will be fully amortised in the next 2-4 years.

2.10  Impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

At each year end date, the carrying amounts of assets are reviewed to determine whether there is any indication that those 
assets  have  suffered  an  impairment  loss.  If  any  such  indication  exists,  the  recoverable  amount  of  the  asset  is  estimated 
in  order  to  determine  the  extent  of  the  impairment  loss  (if  any).  Where  the  asset  does  not  generate  cash  fl ows  that  are 
independent from other assets, the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs is estimated.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

33

 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

2.10  Impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (continued)

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying 
amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as 
an expense immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is 
treated as a revaluation decrease.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased 
to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying 
amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) 
in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately as profi t, unless the relevant asset is carried at a 
revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

2.11  Investments in subsidiaries

The  investment  in  the  Company’s  subsidiary  undertakings  is  stated  at  cost  less  any  impairment.  Where  management 
identify uncertainty over these investments, the investment is impaired to an estimate of its net realisable value.

2.12  Financial instruments

Recognition, initial measurement and de-recognition

The Group recognises a fi nancial asset or a fi nancial liability in the consolidated statement of fi nancial position when, and 
only when, it becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. On initial recognition, the Group recognises 
all fi nancial assets and fi nancial liabilities at fair value. The fair value of a fi nancial asset / liability on initial recognition 
is  normally  represented  by  the  transaction  price. The  transaction  price  for  fi nancial  assets  /  liabilities  other  than  those 
classifi ed at fair value through profi t or loss includes the transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition 
/ issue of the fi nancial instrument. Transaction costs incurred on acquisition of a fi nancial asset and issue of a fi nancial 
liability classifi ed at fair value through profi t or loss are expensed immediately.

Classifi cation and subsequent measurement of fi nancial assets

For  the  purpose  of  subsequent  measurement  fi nancial  assets,  other  than  those  designated  and  effective  as  hedging 
instruments, are classifi ed into the following categories upon initial recognition:

 loans and receivables; and

 fi nancial assets at fair value through profi t or loss.

For the years that ended on 31 January 2018 and 2017, the Group did not classify any fi nancial assets at fair value through 
profi t or loss.

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative fi nancial assets with fi xed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an 
active market. Assets that the Group intends to sell immediately or in the near term cannot be classifi ed in this category. 
These assets are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method (except for short-term receivables where 
interest is immaterial) minus any reduction for impairment or uncollectability.

Typically trade and other receivables, bank balances and cash are classifi ed in this category.

34

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  comprise  cash  on  hand  and  demand  deposits,  together  with  other  short-term,  highly  liquid 
investments maturing within 90 days from the date of acquisition that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash 
and which are subject to an insignifi cant risk of changes in value.

Classifi cation and subsequent measurement of fi nancial liabilities

Subsequent measurement of fi nancial liabilities depends on how they have been categorised on initial recognition. The 
Group classifi es fi nancial liabilities under the following category:

Other fi nancial liabilities

The Group’s liabilities fall into this category. These liabilities are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 

Typically,  trade  and  other  payables  and  borrowings  are  classifi ed  in  this  category.  Items  classifi ed  within  trade  and  other 
payables are not usually remeasured, as the obligation is known with a high degree of certainty and settlement is short-term.

Derecognition of fi nancial liabilities

A fi nancial liability is removed from the Group’s statement of fi nancial position only when the liability is discharged, cancelled 
or expired (i.e. extinguished). The difference between the carrying amount of the fi nancial liability derecognised and the 
consideration paid is recognised in profi t or loss.

2.13  Impairment of fi nancial assets

Financial assets not carried at fair value through profi t or loss are assessed at each reporting date to determine whether 
there is evidence that they are impaired. A fi nancial asset is impaired if there is evidence that a loss event has occurred 
after the initial recognition of the asset and that the loss event had a negative effect on the estimated future cash fl ows of 
that asset that can be estimated reliably.

An impairment loss in respect of a fi nancial asset measured at amortised cost is calculated as the difference between 
its carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash fl ows discounted at the asset’s original effective 
interest rate.

Interest on the impaired asset continues to be recognised through the unwinding of the discount. When a subsequent event 
causes the amount of impairment loss to decrease, the decrease in impairment loss is reversed through profi t or loss.

The carrying amounts of the Group’s non-fi nancial assets, other than inventories and deferred tax assets are reviewed 
at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, then the 
asset’s recoverable amount is estimated.

2.14  Share capital

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

2.15  Income taxes

Tax currently payable is calculated using the tax rates in force or substantively enacted at the reporting date. Taxable profi t 
differs from accounting profi t either because some income and expenses are never taxable or deductible, or because the 
time pattern that they are taxable or deductible differs between tax law and their accounting treatment.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

35

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

Using the statement of fi nancial position liability method, deferred tax is recognised in respect of all temporary differences 
between the carrying value of assets and liabilities in the consolidated statement of fi nancial position and the corresponding 
tax  base,  with  the  exception  of  temporary  differences  arising  from  goodwill  or  from  the  initial  recognition  (other  than  in  a 
business combination) of assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profi t nor the accounting profi t.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realised or the liability 
is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

Deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that the Group considers that it is probable (ie more likely than not) 
that there will be suffi cient taxable profi ts available for the asset to be utilised within the same tax jurisdiction.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset only when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities, they relate to the same tax authority and the Group’s intention is to settle the amounts on a net basis.

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in profi t or loss, except if it arises 
from transactions or events that are recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this case, the tax is 
recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively. Where tax arises from the initial accounting 
for a business combination, it is included in the accounting for the business combination.

Since  the  Group  is  able  to  control  the  timing  of  the  reversal  of  the  temporary  difference  associated  with  interests  in 
subsidiaries,  associates  and  joint  arrangements,  a  deferred  tax  liability  is  recognised  only  when  it  is  probable  that  the 
temporary difference will reverse in the foreseeable future mainly because of a dividend distribution.

2.16  Employee benefi ts

Defi ned contribution plans

The Group pays fi xed percentage contributions into independent entities in relation to plans and insurances for individual 
employees.  The  Group  has  no  legal  or  constructive  obligations  to  pay  contributions  in  addition  to  its  fi xed  percentage 
contributions, which are recognised as an expense in the period that related employee services are received.

Short-term employee benefi ts

Short-term employee benefi ts, including holiday entitlement, are current liabilities included in pension and other employee 
obligations, measured at the undiscounted amount that the Group expects to pay as a result of the unused entitlement.

2.17  Share-based payments

The Group operates equity-settled share-based remuneration plans for its employees. All goods and services received in 
exchange for the grant of any share-based payment are measured at their fair values.

Where employees are rewarded using share-based payments, the fair value of employees’ services is determined indirectly 
by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted. This fair value is appraised at the grant date and excludes 
the impact of non-market vesting conditions (for example profi tability and sales growth targets and performance conditions).

All share-based remuneration is ultimately recognised as an expense in profi t or loss with a corresponding increase to 
equity. If vesting periods or other vesting conditions apply, the expense is allocated over the vesting period, based on the 
best available estimate of the number of share options expected to vest. 

36

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

Non-market  vesting  conditions  are  included  in  assumptions  about  the  number  of  options  that  are  expected  to  become 
exercisable. Estimates are subsequently revised if there is any indication that the number of share options expected to 
vest differs from previous estimates. Any adjustment to cumulative share-based compensation resulting from a revision is 
recognised in the current period.

The number of vested options ultimately exercised by holders does not impact the expense recorded in any period. Upon 
exercise of share options, the proceeds received, net of any directly attributable transaction costs, are allocated to share 
capital up to the nominal (or par) value of the shares issued with any excess being recorded as share premium.

The social security contributions payable in connection with the grant of the share options are considered an integral part 
of the grant itself and the charge will be treated as a cash-settled transaction.

2.18  Provisions

Where, at the reporting date, the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event and it is 
probable that the Group will settle the obligation, a provision is made in the statement of fi nancial position. Provisions are 
made using best estimates of the amount required to settle the obligation. Changes in estimates are refl ected in profi t or 
loss in the period they arise. Provisions for social security on share options granted are measured using the fair value of 
the expected number of share options to be exercised at the applicable tax rate in use at the measurement date.

2.19  Revenue

Revenue  represents  income  for  the  sales  of  services,  net  of  discounts  and  rebates,  to  external  customers  at  invoice 
value less value added tax. Revenue represents listing fees in respect of the property portal OnTheMarket.com. Revenue 
is  recognised  evenly  over  the  life  of  the  contract. Amounts  are  billed  monthly  in  advance  and  released  to  the  income 
statement as the services are provided and the risks and rewards of listing have been transferred to the customer.

2.20  Exceptional items

Exceptional items are disclosed separately in the fi nancial statements where it is necessary to do so to provide further 
understanding of the fi nancial performance of the Group. They are items that are material, either because of their size or 
their nature, or that are non-recurring, and are presented within the line items to which they best relate.

2.21  Leased assets

Operating leases – Group as lessee

All leases are operating leases. Payments on operating lease agreements are recognised as an expense on a straight-line 
basis over the lease term. Associated costs, such as maintenance and insurance, are expensed as incurred.

3.  Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The  preparation  of  the  consolidated  fi nancial  statements  requires  management  to  make  judgements,  estimates  and 
assumptions concerning the future which impact the application of accounting policies and reported amounts of assets, 
liabilities,  income  and  expenses.  The  accounting  estimates  resulting  from  these  judgements  and  assumptions  seldom 
equal the actual results but are based on historical experiences and future expectations. 

Bad debt provisions

Provisions are made relating to all overdue receivable balances save for those which from experience are expected to be 
recovered in the short term. The overdue receivables that the Company provides for arise primarily from agent customers 
under contract but in arrears. 

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

37

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

Share based payment charge

In  relation  to  equity-settled  remuneration  schemes,  employee  services  received,  and  the  corresponding  increase  in 
liabilities, are measured by reference to the fair value of the liability at the date of grant. Where there are vesting conditions 
that require ongoing service as an employee the charge is apportioned over the vesting period. The fair value of share 
options is estimated by using appropriate valuation models on the date of grant, which are based on certain assumptions. 
For options awarded with an exercise price of £nil, the fair value is deemed to be the share price at the date of grant. In 
the absence of a publicly quoted market price at the date of grant, this value is based upon the Directors’ judgement of the 
appropriate share price, taking into account relevant factors both at, and arising after, the grant date (note 22).

4.  Revenue and segmental information

The  Group  has  determined  that  the  Chief  Executive  Offi cer  (“CEO”)  is  the  chief  operating  decision  maker.  Monthly 
management numbers are reported and issued to the CEO, which are used to assess the performance of the business.

The  Group  has  determined  it  has  only  one  reportable  segment,  namely  the  provision  of  access  to  its  online  portal 
OnTheMarket.com (listing fees).

All revenue is generated in the UK for this service.

5.  Expenses by nature

Expenses are comprised of:

Depreciation  
Amortisation  
Staff costs (note 8) 
Operating lease expense – property 
Operating lease expense – other 
Bad debt expense 
Other administrative expenses 

6.  Exceptional costs

Professional fees 
Compensation 

2018 
£’000 

27 
1,440 
3,416 
397 
113 
2,492 
4,274 

2017
£’000

29
939
3,264
392
118
2,219
8,546

12,159 

15,507

2018 
£’000 

2,679 
(1,243) 

1,436 

2017
£’000

3,506
–

3,506

Professional fees incurred during the current and prior years were in relation to the Group’s restructuring and preparation 
for admission to AIM and the capital raise by way of an associated placing, as well as to ongoing litigation. Compensation 
received  during  the  current  year  was  in  respect  of  ongoing  litigation. These  costs  relate  to  one  off  events  that  are  not 
expected to be recurring, they have therefore been classifi ed as exceptional.

38

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

7.  Operating loss

Operating loss is stated after charging:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment  
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Operating lease expense – property 
Operating lease expense – other 
Share based payment expense (note 22) 
Foreign exchange (gains)/losses 
Audit fees payable to the Company’s auditor:
– audit of Group fi nancial statements 
Other fees payables to the Company’s auditor:

– taxation compliance services 
– all other services not covered above 

2018 
£’000 

2017
£’000

27 
1,440 
397 
113 
11,678 
(2) 

55 

58 
68 

29
939
392
118
–
11

49

31
25

In addition to the above fees paid to the Company’s auditor there is a further £46k for other services (2017: £nil) which is 
disclosed within other reserves.

8.  Employees and Directors

Group   

Staff costs (including Directors) comprise:
Wages and salaries 
Social security costs 
Pension  

2018 
£’000 

3,999 
497 
11 

4,507 

2017
£’000

3,889
464
–

4,353

The amounts above include £1,092k (2017: £1,089k) of staff costs that have been capitalised to intangible assets.

Company 

Staff costs (including Directors) comprise:
Wages and salaries 

Group    

The average monthly number of persons employed by the Group during the year was:
Non-Executive Directors 
Marketing, sales and administration 
IT 

The only employees of the Company during the period were the Directors.

2018 
£’000 

2017
£’000

46 

–

2018 
Number 

2017
Number

1 
40 
20 

61 

–
42
22

64

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

Directors’ remuneration 
Group   

Aggregate emoluments 
Pension contributions 
Share based payments 

Highest paid Director 
Group and Company 

Aggregate emoluments 

2018 
£’000 

616 
1 
7,724 

8,341 

2018 
£’000 

204 

2017
£’000

187
–
–

187

2017
£’000

187

Key management personnel compensation

Key management personnel are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling 
the  activities  of  the  Group.  In  the  prior  year,  with  the  board  of Agents’  Mutual  comprising  representatives  from  certain 
members  as  non-executive  directors  save  for  Ian  Springett,  who  was  appointed  to  the  board  as  an  executive  director 
during the year, the key management was deemed to include certain senior managers also. Following the appointment 
of the Executive and Non-Executive Directors to the Board of OTM, the Group considers the Directors to be the only key 
management personnel.  

9.  Finance income

Finance income:
Other interest receivable 

10.  Finance expense

Interest arising on:
Interest payable on loan notes 
Other interest payable 

2018 
£’000 

2017
£’000

2 

2

2018 
£’000 

1,230 
3 

1,233 

2017
£’000

1,349
4

1,353

40

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

11.  Income tax

Current tax:
UK corporation tax on income for year 

Total current tax 

Deferred tax:
Origination and reversal of timing difference 

Total deferred tax 

Income tax charge 

Factors affecting tax charge for the year

2018 
£’000 

2017
£’000

22 

22 

– 

– 

22 

–

–

1,486

1,486

1,486

The tax assessed for the year is different to the effective rate of corporation tax as explained below: 

Loss before taxation 

2018 
£’000 

2017
£’000

(12,070) 

(2,533)

Loss before taxation multiplied by the effective rate of corporation tax 19.18% (2017: 20%) 

 (2,315) 

(507)

Effects of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 
Share based payment not deductible for tax purposes 
Deferred tax not recognised 
Capital allowances in excess of depreciation 
Write down of deferred tax asset 

Tax expense  

539 
2,549 
(1,032) 
281 
– 

22 

5
–
477
25
1,486

1,486

The Finance Act 2016 was enacted during the period. The Finance Act 2016 includes provisions to reduce the main rate 
of corporation tax to 17% from 1 April 2020. Deferred tax is measured at 17% (2017: 17%) as this is the materially correct 
rate at which deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to unwind. The subsidiary, Agents’ Mutual, has trading losses 
available for carry forward of £8,798k (2017: £11,031k) for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised.

The Group has been developing new strategic plans for the long term development of the business. These plans envisage 
a period of strong growth in the future, underpinned by signifi cant initial investment. As a result of the change to the Group’s 
strategic plans, circumstances with respect to recoverability of the deferred tax asset in relation to losses carried forwards 
in the foreseeable future remain uncertain. Consequently no deferred tax asset has been recognised. The Group has also 
not recognised a deferred tax asset arising on the share based payment charge of £2,426k (2017: £nil).

The  Group  has  not  recognised  a  deferred  tax  liability  arising  on  non-current  asset  timing  differences  of  £560k  (2017: 
£805k) due to the availability of tax losses to extinguish this liability.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

12.  Earnings per share

Numerators: Earnings attributable to equity
Loss for the year from continuing operations attributable to owners of the Company 

Total basic earnings and diluted earnings 

Denominators: Weighted average number of equity shares
Basic and diluted 

As the Group made a loss for the year there is no dilutive effect.

13.  Property, plant and equipment

Group   

Cost:
At 1 February 2016 
Additions 

At 31 January 2017 

Depreciation:
At 1 February 2016 
Charge for the year 

At 31 January 2017 

Net book value:
At 31 January 2017 

Cost:
At 1 February 2017 
Additions 
Disposals 

At 31 January 2018 

Depreciation:
At 1 February 2017 
Charge for the year 

At 31 January 2018 

Net book value:
At 31 January 2018 

2018 
£’000 

(12,092) 

(12,092) 

2017
£’000

(4,019)

(4,019)

No. 

No.

35,530,263 

35,530,263

Fixtures,
fi ttings and
equipment
£’000

114
2

116

42
29

71

45

116
1
(1)

116

71
27

98

18

Depreciation is included within administrative expenses in the income statement.

42

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

14.  Intangible assets

Group   

Cost:
At 1 February 2016 
Additions – internally developed 

At 31 January 2017 

Amortisation:
At 1 February 2016 
Charge for the year 

At 31 January 2017 

Net book value:
At 31 January 2017 

Cost:
At 1 February 2017 
Additions – internally developed 

At 31 January 2018 

Amortisation:
At 1 February 2017 
Charge for the year 

At 31 January 2018 

Net book value:
At 31 January 2018 

  Development
costs
£’000

3,441
1,621

5,062

567
939

1,506

3,556

5,062
1,538

6,600

1,506
1,440

2,946

3,654

Amortisation is included within administrative expenses in the income statement.

The development costs relate to those costs incurred in relation to the development of the Group’s online property portal, 
OnTheMarket.com. The development costs capitalised above are amortised over a period of 4 years which represents the 
period over which the Directors expect the Group to consume the asset’s future economic benefi ts. The development costs 
are amortised from the point at which the asset is ready for use within the business.

15.  Investments in subsidiaries

Company 

At 27 July 2017 
Additions 

At 31 January 2018 

Subsidiary
  undertakings
£’000

–
–

–

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

43

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

The Company has the following investments in subsidiary undertakings:

Agents’ Mutual Limited 

On The Market (Europe) Limited 

Class of  
  shares held1 

Principal 
activity 

Ownership
2018

Member  Online property  

100%

Ordinary 

portal services
Dormant 

100%

1  Agents’ Mutual Limited is a company limited by guarantee and has no shares. The Company owns the only member interest in Agents’ Mutual Limited.

All the above subsidiary undertakings share the same registered offi ce as the Company.

On The Market (Europe) Limited is a subsidiary of Agents’ Mutual Limited.

On 13 September 2017, the Company acquired 100% of Agents’ Mutual Limited by becoming the sole member of this 
company limited by guarantee. Shares in OnTheMarket plc were issued in consideration for this acquisition. 

16.  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables 
Amounts due from Group undertakings 
Other receivables 
Prepayments and accrued income 

Group 
2018 
£’000 

Company 
2018 
£’000 

433 
– 
59 
61 

553 

– 
23,366 
– 
23 

23,389 

Group 
2017 
£’000 

408 
– 
3,257 
44 

3,709 

Company
2017
£’000

–
–
–
–

–

The Group trade receivables are stated after deductions of provisions for bad and doubtful debts amounting to £1,616k 
(2017: £1,500k). 

The aged analysis of trade receivables is shown in note 19. 

17.  Trade and other payables

Current liabilities
Trade payables 
Social security and other taxes 
Other payables 
Accruals and deferred income 

Group 
2018 
£’000 

Company 
2018 
£’000 

Group 
2017 
£’000 

Company
2017
£’000

317 
637 
– 
2,003 

2,957 

1 
5 
– 
76 

82 

972 
292 
– 
4,673 

5,937 

–
–
–
–

–

44

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

18.  Borrowings

Current borrowings
Accrued loan interest 
Non-current borrowings
Loan notes    

Group 
2018 
£’000 

Company 
2018 
£’000 

Group 
2017 
£’000 

Company
2017
£’000

1,217 

512 

1,379 

11,256 

12,473 

11,256 

11,768 

11,256 

12,635 

–

–

–

The fair value of the Group and Company’s borrowings is the same as their book value stated above. The loan is initially 
accounted for at fair value, but is thereafter shown at amortised cost.

The Group and Company re-issued a loan note instrument during the year of £10,000k of which £7,947k (2017: £7,947k) 
was drawn at the year end and which bears interest at 15% with a 30 June 2020 maturity date. The re-issue took place as 
part of a group reconstruction and extinguished a loan note in the subsidiary, Agents’ Mutual Limited, in exchange for a loan 
note with the same conditions in OnTheMarket plc. Interest does not accrue on loan notes in default.

The Group and Company re-issued a loan note instrument during the year of £10,000k of which £2,511k (2017: £2,511k) 
was drawn at the year end and which bears interest at 10% with a 30 June 2020 maturity date. The re-issue took place as 
part of a group reconstruction and extinguished a loan note in the subsidiary, Agents’ Mutual Limited, in exchange for a loan 
note with the same conditions in OnTheMarket plc. Interest does not accrue on loan notes in default.

The Group and Company re-issued a loan note instrument during the year of £10,000k of which £798k (2017: £798k) was 
drawn at the year end and which bears interest at 7% with a 30 June 2020 maturity date. The re-issue took place as part of 
a group reconstruction and extinguished a loan note in the subsidiary, Agents’ Mutual Limited, in exchange for a loan note 
with the same conditions in OnTheMarket plc. Interest does not accrue on loan notes in default.

There are provisions in the loan note agreements that allow for early repayment in certain circumstances and provisions 
whereby  the  loan  notes  must  be  converted  to  shares  at  par  in  the  event  of  the  Company  listing. The  loan  notes  were 
extinguished after the year end by way of such a share issue (see note 28).

The Directors have assessed that all loans are held at fair value. These interest rates are fi xed and the Company and 
Group are therefore not exposed to changes in interest rates in respect of these liabilities.

Reconciliation of liabilities arising from fi nancing activities:

Accrued loan interest 
Loan notes   

31 January 
2017 
£’000 

1,379 
11,256 

12,635 

Cash 
fl ows 
£’000 

(1,392) 
– 

(1,392) 

Non-cash 
fl ows 
£’000 

31 January
2018
£’000

1,230 
– 

1,230 

1,217
11,256

12,473

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

19.  Financial instruments and fi nancial risks

Financial risks

The Board has overall responsibility for the determination of the Group’s risk management objectives and policies and, 
whilst retaining ultimate responsibility for them, it has delegated the authority for designing and operating processes that 
ensure the effective implementation of the objectives and policies to the CEO. The Board receives monthly reports from 
the fi nance function through which it reviews the effectiveness of the processes put in place and the appropriateness of 
the objectives and policies it sets.

The overall objective of the Board is to set policies that seek to reduce risk as far as possible without unduly affecting the 
Group’s competitiveness and fl exibility. Further details regarding these policies are set out below:

The Group is exposed through its operations to the following fi nancial risks:

 credit risk;

 liquidity risk; and

 interest rate risk.

In common with all other businesses, the Group is exposed to risks that arise from its use of fi nancial instruments. This 
note describes the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for managing those risks and the methods used to measure 
them from previous periods unless otherwise stated in this note.

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of fi nancial loss to the Group if a counterparty to a fi nancial instrument fails to meet its contractual 
obligations.

The Group is exposed to credit risk primarily on its trade receivables, which are spread over a range of customers. There 
are no specifi c concentrations of credit risk. The maximum credit risk exposure relating to fi nancial assets is represented 
by their carrying value at the statement of fi nancial position date.

The Group assesses the risk associated with its customers based on its own experience with the customer before entering 
into binding contracts and, where considered necessary, the use of independent credit rating agency reports. The risk is 
mitigated further by requesting advance payment from customers. Each customer account is reviewed on an on-going 
basis based on available information and payment history.

The credit risk on liquid funds is limited as the funds are held at banks with high credit ratings assigned by international 
credit rating agencies.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk arises from the Group’s management of working capital and the fi nance charges and principal repayments on 
its debt instruments. It is the risk that the Group will encounter diffi culty in meeting its fi nancial obligations as they fall due.

In order to maintain liquidity to ensure that suffi cient funds are available for ongoing operations and future developments, 
the Group monitors forecast cash infl ows and outfl ows on a monthly basis.

46

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

Fair value interest rate risk

The Group’s exposure to changes in interest rate risk relates primarily to interest bearing fi nancial liabilities. Interest rate 
risk is managed by the Group. All borrowing is approved by the Board to ensure that it is conducted at the most competitive 
rates available to it at fi xed rates where possible to reduce unknown exposure.

The Directors have not prepared sensitivity analysis in relation to interest rates as all interest rates are currently defi ned and 
not subject to change. Interest rates are fi xed and movements in market interest rates may make this policy advantageous 
or disadvantageous. After the year end, the loan notes were extinguished by a share issue (note 28).

The fi nancial assets and liabilities of the Group are as follows:

Loans and receivables  

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total fi nancial assets 

Other liabilities held at amortised cost  

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings – accrued interest 
Non-current liabilities 
Borrowings   

Total fi nancial liabilities 

Capital risk management

2018 
£’000 

492 
3,174 

3,666 

2018 
£’000 

1,278 
1,217 

2017
£’000

3,665
2,263

5,928

2017
£’000

4,504
1,379

11,256 

13,751 

11,256

17,139

Management considers capital to be the carrying amount of equity. The Group manages its capital to ensure its obligations 
are adequately provided for, while maximising the return to shareholders through the effective management of its resources 
and to ensure that loan notes are repaid when due.

The Group’s objective when managing capital is to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern. The Group meets 
its objective by aiming to achieve growth which will generate regular and increasing returns to its shareholders.

Financial assets

Details of fi nancial assets are included in note 16, but fi nancial assets exclude prepayments and statutory taxes receivable.

Cash at bank, included in cash and cash equivalents, is with institutions with credit ratings of A or better.

250074 OnTheMarket AR 30-end.indd   47

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

The following table shows an aged analysis of trade receivables for the Group.

0 – 30 days   
31 – 60 days  
61 – 90 days  
91 – 120 days 
Over 120 days 

2018 
£’000 

146 
49 
45 
49 
144 

433 

2018 
% 

34% 
11% 
1 1% 
11% 
33% 

2017 
£’000 

150 
48 
48 
44 
118 

408 

2017
%

36%
12%
12%
11%
29%

The Group reviews trade receivables balances on a routine basis and makes provision for any amounts where it believes 
the receivable is likely to be uncollectable. In 2018, bad debt expense was £2,492k (2017: £2,219k) and the year-end bad 
debt provision was £1,616k (2017: £1,500k).

The following table shows a reconciliation of the bad debt provision for the Group:

Bad debts provision at 1 February 
Debts recovered so no longer requiring provision 
Decrease in existing provision due to write off 
Additional provision recognised for new bad debts 

Bad debts provision at 31 January  

2018 
£’000 

1,500 
(477) 
(2,376) 
2,969 

1,616 

2017
£’000

868
(444)
(1,587)
2,663

1,500

The total value of debts past due but not impaired is £433k (2017: £408k). All overdue debt has been provided for subject 
to an estimated recovery amount, based on historical trends and knowledge of the customer.

Financial liabilities

The following is an analysis of the maturities of the fi nancial liabilities in the Statement of Financial Position, excluding 
amounts owed in relation to statutory taxes:

2018
Trade and other payables 
Accrued loan interest 
Borrowings   

Carrying 
amount 
£’000 

6 months 
or less 
£’000 

6-12 
months 
£’000 

1 year
or more
£’000

1,278 
1,217 
11,256 

13,751 

1,278 
1,217 
– 

2,495 

– 
– 
– 

– 

–
–
11,256

11,256

48

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

2017
Trade and other payables 
Accrued loan interest 
Borrowings   

Carrying 
amount 
£’000 

6 months 
or less 
£’000 

6-12 
months 
£’000 

1 year
or more
£’000

4,504 
1,379 
11,256 

17,139 

4,504 
1,379 
– 

5,883 

– 
– 
– 

– 

–
–
11,256

11,256

All fi nancial liabilities are denominated in Sterling.

The borrowings consist of loan notes which are long term in nature, however these were extinguished after the year end 
by way of a share issue (note 28).

Fair values of fi nancial assets and liabilities

The fair value of the Group’s fi nancial assets and liabilities are not materially different from their book values and therefore 
the Directors consider no hierarchical analysis is necessary.

20.  Deferred income tax – Group and Company

Asset
At 1 February 
Charge to income statement 

At 31 January 

21.  Provisions
 Social security on share options granted  

At 1 February 2017 
Grant of share options 

At 31 January 2018 

Disclosed as:
Current liability 
Non-current liability 

2018 
£’000 

– 
– 

– 

2018 
£’000 

1,258 
354 

1,612 

2017
£’000

1,486
(1,486)

–

£’000

–
1,612

1,612

2017
£’000

–
–

–

The provision for social security on share options granted relates to the social security charges that will be incurred by the 
Group when the share options are exercised.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

22.  Share based payments

The Group operates management and employee equity settled share schemes under which nil cost options over its shares 
were awarded to employees. 

The Company generally considers the Black-Scholes method to value share options when issued. However, the options 
issued during the year were issued at a nil strike price. As a result, the Black-Scholes model is not appropriate. Accordingly, 
these options were fair valued by reference to the closing share price of the shares on the day of admission to AIM, which 
took place after the year end (note 28). The fair value is charged to the profi t and loss account over the vesting period 
related to ongoing employment. Where there is no such vesting period the charge is recognised in full on grant.

The  grant  by  the  Company  of  options  over  its  equity  instruments  to  the  employees  of  subsidiary  undertakings  in  the 
Group is treated as a capital contribution. The fair value of employee services received, measured by reference to the 
grant date fair value, is recognised over the relevant period as an increase to investment in subsidiary undertakings, with 
a corresponding credit to equity, unless an agreement has been made for the subsidiary undertaking to reimburse the 
Company for the fair value of options granted.

Employer’s National Insurance Contributions are accrued, where applicable, at a rate of 13.8%. The amount accrued is 
based on the market value of the shares at the period end after deducting the exercise price of the share option, adjusted 
to account for any vesting period related to ongoing employment.

The  Company  has  granted  share  options  under  its  Management  Incentive  Plan  and  its  employee  share  scheme.  The 
unexercised options at the end of the year are stated below:

Grant date of option 

Granted 15 September 2017 
Granted 19 September 2017 
Granted 10 October 2017 

Outstanding at 31 January 

 Option exercise 
  price per share 
£ 

Expiry 

2027 
2027 
2027 

nil 
nil 
nil 

2018 
Number 

7,950,842 
526,043 
78,178 

8,555,063 

2017
Number

–
–
–

–

The estimated fair values of these share options is £1.48 per share. The value of employee services provided of £11,678k 
(2017: £nil) has been charged to the income statement.

Management Incentive Plan

Further details of the management incentive share option plan are as follows:

Granted in the period and outstanding at 31 January 

Exercisable at 31 January 

Weighted
average
2018  exercise price
£

Number 

7,799,327 

6,066,143 

nil

nil

These share options expire 10 years after the date of grant. Share options granted under this scheme have a nil exercise 
price. 1,733,184 options are exercisable as to 10% after the fi rst anniversary of Admission (as described in note 28), a 
further 10% after the second anniversary and the remainder after the fi fth anniversary. The remaining 6,066,143 options 
are exercisable immediately, however any shares arising from exercise are subject to a restriction on sale such that shares 
deriving from up to 10% of the options are available to be sold after the fi rst anniversary of the Admission, a further 10% 
after the second anniversary and the remainder after the fi fth anniversary. The fair value of all these options is charged to 
the profi t and loss account in full this year.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

Employee share scheme

Further details of the employee share option plan are as follows:

Granted in the period 
Forfeited in the period 

Outstanding at 31 January 

Exercisable at 31 January 

Weighted
average
2018   exercise price
£

Number 

763,008 
7,272 

755,736 

– 

 nil
 nil

 nil

–

These share options expire 10 years after the date of grant. Share options granted under this scheme have a nil exercise 
price and vest 3 years after the date of grant. The fair value of these share options is charged to the profi t and loss account 
over the vesting period. The share options are forfeit should the employee leave.

National Insurance Contributions

National insurance contributions are payable by the Group in respect of share based payment schemes. A provision has 
been recognised at 13.8% for a total expense of £1,612k (2017: £nil) (note 21).

The following have been expensed to the consolidated income statement:

Share based payment charge  
Employer’s social security on share options 

23.  Share capital

Share capital issued and fully paid 

Ordinary shares of £0.002 each 

Ordinary shares of £0.002 each 

On incorporation, the Company issued 2 ordinary shares of £0.002 each at par. 

2018 
£’000 

11,678 
1,612 

13,290 

2017
£’000

–
–

–

2018 
No. 

2017
No.

35,530,263 

35,530,263

2018 
£’000 

71 

2017
£’000

71

In September 2017, the Company issued 35,530,261 ordinary shares of £0.002 each at par. This issue was in exchange 
for the member interests in the subsidiary undertaking, Agents’ Mutual, as part of a group reconstruction. 

Share option scheme

At the year end, there were a total of 8,555,063 (2017: nil) share options under the Company’s share option plans (note 
22), which on exercise can be settled either by the issue of ordinary shares or by market purchases of existing shares.

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51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

24.  Leases

Operating leases

At year end, the Group had the following future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases for each 
of the following periods:

Land and buildings:

Not later than one year 
Later than one year and not later than fi ve years 

Other:

Not later than one year 
Later than one year and not later than fi ve years 

25.  Retirement benefi t schemes

Defi ned contribution schemes

2018 
£’000 

2017
£’000

432 
– 

432 

11
– 

11 

443 

423
70

493

11

60

553

The Group operates defi ned contribution pension schemes. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of 
the Group in independently administered funds. The cost charged represents contributions payable by the Group to the 
funds. At the balance sheet date contributions of £nil (2017: £nil) were outstanding.

Contributions payable by the Group for the year 

26.  Controlling parties

2018 
£’000 

11 

2017
£’000

–

The Directors do not consider there to be a single immediate or ultimate controlling party.

27.  Related party relationships and transactions

Some directors of Agents’ Mutual during the year were also directors or partners of estate agency fi rms who are shareholders 
and also subscribe for services supplied by the Group. Listing fee income of £1,417k was received from such shareholders 
in the year (2017: £1,452k). None of these shareholders received preferential rates in the year. At the year end, £5,194k 
(2017: £5,128k) of the Group’s loan note instruments were held by such shareholders and these instruments had interest 
due of £650k (2017: £789k).

In the ordinary course of business the Group has entered into transactions with Whiteleys Chartered Certifi ed Accountants, 
a  company  controlled  by  a  direct  relation  of  Helen  Whiteley,  an  Executive  Director  of  the  Group.  Whiteleys  Chartered 
Certifi ed Accountants provides an outsourced fi nance function to the Group. During the year, the Group purchased services 
amounting to £478k (2017: £401k) and at the year end the Group owed £56k (2017: £49k).

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: continued

28.  Post balance sheet events

On  9  February  2018,  the  Company’s  entire  issued  share  capital  was  admitted  to  trading  on AIM  at  the  London  Stock 
Exchange.

By way of a placing associated with admission to AIM, the Company raised £30m (gross) through the issue of 18,181,818 
ordinary shares at £1.65 each.

In addition, effective on Admission, the Company issued 6,821,237 ordinary shares of £0.002 each at £1.65 per share to the 
loan note holders on a £ for £ basis equivalent to their loan note holdings. The loan notes were extinguished by this issue.

Accrued loan interest was settled in cash from the placing proceeds immediately following Admission.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

53

Company Information

Directors 

C Beattie 
I Springett 
H Whiteley 
C Bell 
I Francis 

(appointed 27 July 2017)
(appointed 27 July 2017)
(appointed 27 July 2017)
(appointed 24 October 2017)
(appointed 24 October 2017)

Company Secretary 

R Almond 

(appointed 27 December 2017)

Company number 

10887621

Registered offi ce 

Auditor 

Nominated adviser  
and joint broker 

Joint broker 

Solicitor 

Registrars 

PO Box 450
155-157 High Street
Aldershot
England
GU11 9FZ

RSM UK Audit LLP
Chartered Accountants
25 Farringdon Street
London
EC4A 4AB

Zeus Capital Limited
82 King Street
Manchester
M2 4WQ

Stockdale Securities Limited
100 Wood Street
London
EC2V 7AN

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
One Wood Street
London
EC2V 7WS

Link Market Services Limited
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
BR3 4TU

Website 

plc.onthemarket.com/investors

54

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2018

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Contents

At a glance 

Overview 

Chairman’s Statement 

Strategic Report 

	 •	 Chief	Executive	Officer’s	Report	

  • 

 Financial Review and Key Performance Indicators 

  • 

 Risk Management and Principal Risks 

Board of Directors 

Directors’ Report 

  • 

 Corporate Governance Statement 

Directors’ Remuneration Report 

Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 

Consolidated Income Statement 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

Company Statement of Financial Position 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

Company Statement of Changes in Equity 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of OnTheMarket plc  21-23

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 

30-53

Company Information 

1

2

3

4-11

4-6

7-8

9-11

12

13-16

14-16

17-19

20

24

25

26

27

28

29

54

OnTheMarket plc Annual Report and  

Consolidated Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 January 2018