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OnTheMarket

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FY2019 Annual Report · OnTheMarket
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Annual Report 
and  Consolidated 
Financial Statements 

for the year ended 31 January 2019

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Background and origins 

Overview

Highlights 
Chairman’s Statement 

Strategic Report
Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report 
Financial Review and Key Performance Indicators 
Risk Management and Principal Risks 

Governance

Board of Directors 
Directors’ Report 

•  Corporate Governance Statement 

Directors’ Remuneration Report 
 Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of OnTheMarket plc 

Financial Statements

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 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
Company Information 

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14-15

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Background and origins 

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(“OTM”  or 

the 
OnTheMarket  plc 
“Company”) is the UK’s agent-backed 
residential  property  portal  provider. 
The  business  aims  to  provide  an 
alternative to its competitors, offering 
property-seekers  a  “go  to”  premier 
search experience, charging property 
fair  prices, 
advertisers  sustainably 
creating 
for  all 
shareholders  and  being  a  rewarding 
place to work for its people.

long-term 

value 

OnTheMarket  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.

The  ordinary  share  capital  of  OTM  was  successfully 
admitted  to  AIM  on  the  London  Stock  Exchange  on 
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 OnTheMarket. 

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.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

1

Overview
 10 0 million

 Instant  property  alert  emails 
sent in May 2019. Across 2018, 
Rightmove  sent  an  average  of 
65 million alerts per month 

 30

 Average leads per £100 in May 
2019  based  on  an  ARPA  of 
£337  per  month.   In  FY  2018, 
Rightmove provided on average 
17  leads  per  month  per  £100, 
down from 28 leads in FY 2015 

2

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 Strong first year of 
operational performance

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Highlights

Operational and strategic highlights

 ●  Conversion of agents from free to paying contracts 
is  underway  and  new  agents  are  being  recruited 
directly  to  paying  contracts.  A  total  of  almost  1,000 
branches  have  been  signed  under  paying  contracts 
since conversion commenced, with an average ARPA2 
of £337 per month.

 ● Of 

these  new  contracts,  57%  are 

long-term 
commitments  of  three  or  fi ve  years  with  shares  and 
the  majority  of  the  balance  are  on  1  year  contracts 
with an option to convert to a longer-term contract with 
shares.

 ● The  ongoing  growth  in  paying  contracts  is  key  to  the 
Group’s transition into profi tability and is supported by:

 ●

 ●

 ●

 ●

 Growing  property  stock: As  at  3  June  2019, 
the portal displayed over 650,000 UK residential 
property  listings,  already  approximately  65% 
of  Rightmove’s3  and  over  83%  of  Zoopla’s3. 
in  agent  branches  on 
Continued  growth 
OnTheMarket.com  remains  key  to  our  strategy 
and future success;

 Growing  consumer  traffi c:  In  May  2019,  a 
record 25.4m visits were made to the portal, up 
8% from the previous record in January 2019;

 Growing consumer engagement: In the month 
of May 2019, more than 1m people were using 
our property alerts service and over 100m instant 
alert emails were sent. Across 2018, Rightmove 
sent an average of 65m instant alert emails per 
month to over 2m people.

 Growing  leads  to  agents:  In  May  2019,  the 
Group’s average leads per UK residential property 
advertiser rose to 102 per month. Based on their 
most  recently  published  information,  Zoopla’s 
average  per  month  fell  to  92  (H1  2018)  and 
Rightmove’s fell to 171 (FY 2018);

 ●

 ●

 Improving  value  for  money:  Based  upon  an 
ARPA of £337, in May 2019 the Group provided 
an  average  of  30  leads  per  £100.  In  FY  2018, 
Rightmove  provided  on  average  17  leads  per 
month per £100, down from 28 leads in FY 2015. 
The Board is particularly pleased with this as it 
highlights the signifi cant value we are providing 
to our customers; and

 Matching Rightmove’s core agent products: 
In  March  2019  we  began  rolling  out  products 
which  support  agents’  operations  within  the 
listing  fee  and  provide  them  with  additional 
advertising opportunities at extra cost.

 ● Preparatory work to extend our offering to new home 

developers has begun.

 ● The  Group  continues  to  evaluate  opportunities  to 
acquire businesses, particularly in the area of property 
technology,  which  can  offer  solutions  to  current 
business problems faced by its agent customers.

 ● With  revenues  broadly  covering  operational  costs 
before  marketing  expenditure  and  growing,  a  cash 
balance at 31 May 2019 of £10.2m and the continued 
support of agents, we are well placed to deliver long-
term value to shareholders.

 Financial highlights and KPIs 

 ● As at 31 January and 31 May 2019, OnTheMarket had 
signed  listing  agreements  with  UK  estate  and  letting 
agents  with  more  than  12,500  offi ces.  This  refl  ects 
continued  recruitment  of  new  agents  on  free  trials  or 
straight to paying contracts, offset by agents who have 
been removed from the portal following the end of their 
free trial periods.

 ● ARPA  £130 (2018: £198), refl  ecting the strategy to grow 
rapidly  through  free  short-term  introductory  trial  offers. 
Average  branch  numbers  listed  at  OnTheMarket.com 
9,460 (2018: 5,694), visits4 158.9m (2018: 77.3m).

OnTheMarket  plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Highlights
Continued

 ● Group revenue of £14.2m (20185: £13.6m).

 ● Administrative  expenses  of  £27.8m  (20185:  £9.7m) 
after advertising expenditure of £14.9m (2018: £2.2m) 
as  the  Group  invested  capital  raised  in  increased 
marketing and expansion of the team, in line with the 
new growth strategy. The Group is pleased to report 
that  its  marketing  spend  during  the  year  was  more 
effi cient  than  originally  envisaged  and  expects  to 
continue this trend in the future.

 ● Adjusted  operating  loss6  £13.6m  (2018:  adjusted 

operating profi t6 £3.9m). 

 ● Operating  loss  of  £14.5m  (2018:  £10.8m)  which 
includes £0.9m (2018: £14.7m) of specifi c professional 
fees, share-based payments and non-recurring items.

 ● Loss  after  tax  attributable  to  shareholders  £14.5m 

(2018: £12.1m). 

 ● Cash  balance  at  31  January  2019  £15.7m 

(2018: £3.2m).

2   Average  revenue  per  property  advertiser,  being  revenues  due  from 
property  advertisers  for  a  period  divided  by  the  average  number  of 
property  advertisers  for  that  period.  ARPA  presented  herein  is  the 
average of the monthly ARPAs for the year. 

 3   Rightmove, in its 2018 Annual Report, stated that it had “1 million UK 
residential properties”.  As at 3 June 2019, Zoopla stated on its website 
that it was listing 562,144 UK residential sales properties and 225,592 
UK  residential  lettings  properties,  totalling  787,736  properties  -  down 
from 822,250 as at 3 July 2018. 

 4   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.

5   Revenues and administrative expenses for the year ended 31 January 
2018 have been restated under IFRS 15. Further information is set out 
in note 2.5.

6   Adjusted operating loss / profi t is defi ned as operating loss / profi t before 
fi nance  costs,  taxation,  share-based  payments,  specifi c  professional 
fees 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 loss / profi t. Please see the Financial Review 
and Key Performance Indicators for a reconciliation of operating loss to 
adjusted operating loss.

4
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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019
OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Chairman’s Statement

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I  am  pleased  to  be  reporting  on  a 
period of strong operational progress 
following  our  successful  AIM  listing 
and fundraising on 9 February 2018. 

The  fundraising  and  listing  on  AIM  was  part  of  a 
transformational strategy intended to 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.

investment  of  proceeds 

The 
from  our  £30m  AIM 
fundraising in marketing expenditure and team expansion 
has  enabled  us  to  achieve  success  against  our  own 
internal key operational performance targets:

Agent offi ces under listing contracts 
than  7,000  since 
up  by  more 
Admission,  with  over  12,500  as  at 
31  January 2019

Traffi c  to  the  portal  in  the  year 
to  31  January  2019  was  158.9m 
visits, compared with 77.3m in the 
prior year

Key  sales-force  and  IT  recruitment 
ahead  of   plan,  with  team  numbers 
increased since Admission from 15 
to  50  and  21  to  58  respectively  by 
31 January 2019

2018  was  a  year  spent  investing  in  the  growth  of 
OnTheMarket.com  and  in  positioning  the  business
to create a strong, credible alternative to Rightmove and 
Zoopla.

Governance

The Company has adapted well to being a listed company, 
retaining  its  entrepreneurial  culture  and  pro-agent  ethos 
whilst embracing the corporate governance challenges that 
are part of life within a publicly listed company.

Current trading

Since  the  year  end  we  have  increasingly  engaged  with 
agents to convert those who joined us on an introductory 
free trial to paying customers. That process will continue 
throughout the year ahead and with the continued support 
of agents we are well placed to deliver long-term value to 
shareholders. Further details on progress to date are set 
out in the Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report.

Our team of colleagues remain highly focused to continue 
to build upon our strong growth to date.

I  would  again  like  to  thank  all  of  my  colleagues,  team 
members and shareholders for their continued hard work 
and  support.  Many  challenges  remain  before  us,  but 
with  the  continued  commitment  of  all  our  stakeholders 
I  am  confi dent  that  we  can  achieve  our  aim.  That  is  to 
provide  an  agent-backed  alternative  residential  property 
portal , offering property-seekers a “go to” premier search 
experience, charging property advertisers sustainably fair 
prices, creating long-term value for all shareholders and 
being a rewarding place for our people to work and thrive.

Christopher Bell
Non-Executive Chairman

 12 June 2019

OnTheMarket  plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Strategic 
 Report

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Chief Executive Officer’s Report

S

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I  am  pleased  to  report  that  OnTheMarket,  the  UK’s  agent-backed  residential 
property portal provider, has delivered a strong, successful first year of operational 
progress since its admission to AIM on 9 February 2018 alongside a capital raise 
of £30 million (gross). 

As a challenger business and brand, OnTheMarket aims 
to  become  an  alternative  to  Rightmove  and  Zoopla  by 
providing  the  property-seeking  public  with  an  excellent 
agent-backed portal and by providing its agent investors 
and  customers  with  listing  and  support  services  and  a 
commitment to sustainably fair pricing.

In our fi rst year as a listed business, we have vigorously 
pursued the transformational growth strategy we had set 
out  in  our  Admission  Document,  delivering  disciplined 
rapid  expansion  while  investing  to  generate  long-term 
benefi t and value for our customers, for our consumers, 
for our shareholders and for our people.

OnTheMarket is already indisputably established as one 
of  the  leading  portals  and  as  a  go-to  destination  for  the 
most serious property-seekers in the market.

Operational  KPIs  in  terms  of  growth  in  agent  offi ces, 
consumer  visits  to  our  portal  and  leads  to  our  agent 
customers have met or exceeded internal expectations and 
have been achieved with lower-than-planned cash burn.

We have already achieved much to close the gap between 
OnTheMarket and the previous effective duopoly and we 
have every intention  of fi rst matching and then bettering 
their current core services and products  to create a viable 
alternative for agents and property -seekers alike.

Leveraging our unique agent-backed 
business model

At Admission, OnTheMarket was 70% owned by over two 
thousand agent fi rms. The majority of agent shareholders 
committed to new 5 year listing agreements and to enter 
lock-in arrangements to retain the majority of their shares 
for 5 years post Admission.

It has been an objective to broaden agent ownership still 
further  and  as  at  the  date  of  these  accounts,  1.7m  new 
shares  have  been  issued  to  agents  signing  long-term 
listing  agreements,  although  not  all  shares  contracted 
to  be  issued  under  long-term  paying  listing  agreements 

signed  have  been  issued  to  date  as  share  issues  lag 
contract commencement.  

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  that 
OnTheMarket.com  is  uniquely  positioned  to  create  an 
alternative  to  the  leading  incumbent  portals.  One  of  the 
strongest examples of agent support to create competitive 
advantage is the “New & exclusive” feature: OnTheMarket 
receives listings for thousands of new-to-market properties 
every month from its agents to display 24 hours or more 
before they are on Rightmove or Zoopla.

Accelerating the growth in classic 
network effects

In  a  two-sided  network,  the  pillars  of  our  strategy  in 
2018/19 have been a rapid build of our agent customer/
shareholder  base,  a  strong  marketing  campaign  to 
increase  consumer  traction  and  leads  and  a  substantial 
investment  in  building  the  team,  particularly  in  sales, 
customer relations and IT.

Building the agent branch base and 
property listings

A  key  priority  in  2018/2019  has  been  the  rapid  building 
of  our  agent  branch  base  and  property  listings  and  our 
progress has been very strong.

As  at  31  May  2019,  OnTheMarket  had  signed  listing 
agreements with UK estate and letting agents with more 
than  12,500  offi ces  –  an  increase  of  over  7,000  offi ces 
since  Admission.  This  refl  ects  continued  recruitment  of 
new agents on free trials or straight to paying contracts, 
offset  by agents who have been removed from the portal 
following the end of their free trial periods.

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OnTheMarket  plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

7

 
Chief Executive Officer’s Report 
Continued

As at 3 June 2019, the portal displayed over 650,000 UK 
residential property listings, already over 83% of Zoopla’s 
(which  have  fallen  from  822,250  as  at  3  July  2018  to 
787,736  as  at  3  June  2019)  and  approximately  65%  of 
Rightmove’s. In its 2018 Annual Report, Rightmove stated 
it had 1 million UK residential properties.

The  growth  in  our  agency  branch  base  post-Admission 
was almost exclusively achieved by offering free listings 
under  short-term  introductory  trial  offers,  with  a  view  to 
converting  these  to  full-tariff  contracts  in  2019/20  when 
agents  have  had  the  opportunity  to  assess  the  value  of 
our  offering.  Over  6,500  agent  branches  have  joined 
OnTheMarket.com on such short-term offers.

growth 

Continued 
on 
OnTheMarket.com  remains  a  priority  and  is  key  to  our 
future strategy and success.

branches 

agent 

in 

Conversion of agents from 
introductory trial offers to paying 
contracts underway

 The  conversion  of  agents  from  free  listing  to  paying 
contracts  is  underway  and  new  agents  are  being 
recruited  directly  to  paying  contracts.  A  total  of  almost 
1,000 branches have been signed under paying contracts 
since conversion commenced, with an average ARPA of 
£337 per month. Of these new contracts, 57% are long-
term commitments of three or fi ve years with shares to list 
all their available properties and actively to promote the 
OnTheMarket.com brand. The majority of the balance are 
on 1 year contracts with an option to convert to a longer-
term contract with shares. 

The  ongoing  growth  in  paying  contracts  is  key  to  the 
Group’s transition into profi tability . The conversion process 
is using a range of offers which, for selected agents, include 
long-term  agreements  which  will  be  accompanied  by 
share issuance. The Directors believe that attractive equity 
incentives  can  be  provided  to  new  property  advertisers 
joining  OnTheMarket.com  whilst  at 
time 
enhancing  value  substantially  for  existing  shareholders. 
Such equity issuance enables agents to support the only 
major agent-backed portal with a view to creating a fairly-
priced alternative to Rightmove and Zoopla and to share in 
any increase in the value of the Company. 

the  same 

The shares issued to agents are typically subject to lock-in 
arrangements to ensure that new shareholders’ interests 
are closely aligned with those of all other agent investors 
and with the success of the Group. 

8

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

The Group has authority remaining to issue up to a further 
34.7   million  Ordinary  Shares  to  recruit  new  property 
advertisers, and the issuance of these shares is expected 
to result in both direct and indirect revenue growth. 

Marketing to build property-seeker 
traffic and engagement and to 
increase value to agents

With the capital raised at Admission, the Group has been 
able  to  deploy  signifi cant  and  increasing  funds  to  multi-
channel marketing. The Company has taken a disciplined 
approach to the building of its advertising investment to 
ensure optimal value.

In addition to ramping up our advertising on paid search 
and  other  digital  marketing,  we  have  been  able  to 
conduct  our  heaviest  national  TV  advertising  since  our 
launch  period  in  2015. A  new  TV  advertising  campaign 
was  introduced  in  September  2018  and  ran  in  the  key 
period  from  Boxing  Day,  through  the  month  of  January 
and beyond into 2019.

In addition, we ran national radio and poster advertising, 
with our biggest ever monthly budget in January 2019.

A key theme of these advertising campaigns is the “New & 
exclusive” properties which many of our agents choose to 
list at OnTheMarket.com in advance of listing on Rightmove 
or Zoopla. The Directors believe this gives OnTheMarket 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 the highest quality leads.

Combined with our growth in agents and property listings, 
the investment in marketing has also led to a substantial 
increase in visitor traffi c to OnTheMarket.com, generating 
substantially  greater  value  to  our  agent  investors  and 
customers through a higher volume of high-quality leads.

In  May  2019  a  record  25.4  million  visits  were  made  to 
the portal, up 8% on January 2019’s seasonal high and 
previous monthly record. 

 Leads  to  agent  customers  also  reached  record  monthly 
levels  in  May  2019  with  an  average  of  102  leads  per 
advertiser per month , despite the uncertainty surrounding 
the  UK  residential  property  market .  Based  on  its  last 
published  half-year  report  as  ZPG  plc  (H1  2018), 
Zoopla  delivered  an  average  of  92  leads  per  advertiser 
per  month  for  that  period,  down  from  136  in  FY  2015 

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Chief Executive Officer’s Report 
Continued

(the  year  that  OnTheMarket.com  was  launched).  In  FY 
2018, Rightmove delivered an average of 171 leads per 
advertiser per month, down from 210 in FY 2015. 

In  2018  Rightmove  provided  on  average  17  leads  per 
month per £100 of advertiser spend, down from 28 leads 
in  FY  2015.  Based  upon  an   average  monthly  fee  per 
advertiser  of  £3 37,  in  May  2019  the  Group  provided  an 
average  of  3 0  leads  per  £100  of  advertiser  spend.  The 
Board is particularly pleased with this as it highlights the 
signifi cant value we are providing to our customers.

In  June  2018,   4  months  after  our  Admission  to  AIM,  a 
YouGov survey of all adults recorded our prompted brand 
awareness  at  19%.  Amongst  active  property-seekers, 
being  those  surveyed  who  had  moved  within  the  prior 
5  months  or  who  were  actively  looking  to  move,  our 
prompted brand awareness was 27%.

Following  the  investment  in  marketing  detailed  above, 
including the new TV campaign, in May 2019 our prompted 
brand  awareness  has  risen  dramatically  to  35%  for  all 
adults and to 47% for active property-seekers.

We  have   invested  in  continuously  improving  the  quality 
of  the  user  experience  on  the  portal   and   consumer 
engagement  has  continued  to  grow.  In  May  2019 
OnTheMarket sent over 100 million instant property alert 
emails  to  its  registered  users.  This  compares  with  781 
million instant alert emails sent by Rightmove across the 
whole of 2018, an average of 65 million per month. 

A key reason for the most serious property-seekers in the 
market  to  sign  up  for  an  alert  with  OnTheMarket  is  that 
they  will  be  fi rst  to  see  any  relevant  “New  &  exclusive” 
properties:  OnTheMarket  displays  thousands  of  new 
properties  every  month  24  hours  or  more  before  they 
are on Rightmove or Zoopla. Our sales team continue to 
engage with our agent customers and as a result of this 
we  are  seeing  hundreds  of  new  branches  each  month 
signing up to our “New and exclusive” programme. 

On 5 September 2018, we announced an agreement with 
Facebook that  our UK agents’ home rental property listings 
would  be  available  to  view  on  Facebook  Marketplace. 
The Facebook Marketplace integration has been another 
productive example of how we have been increasing the 
exposure of our agents’ properties for the benefi t of our 
agent customers and the property-seeking public alike. 

Investing to build the team to deliver 
in the short term and the long term

The greater fi nancial 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.

 “Combined with our growth in agents 
and  property  listings,  the  investment 
in  marketing  has  also   led  to  a 
substantial  increase  in  visitor  traffic 
to  OnTheMarket.com,  generating 
substantially greater value to our agent 
investors  and  customers  through  a 
higher volume of high-quality leads.” 

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At  Admission  on  9  February  2018,  the  fi eld  sales  team 
numbered 15 employees. As at 31 January 2019 this had 
been  increased  to  50.  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 and 
new customer agents during the period of rapid growth. 

The  sales  team  has  progressively  broadened  its  focus  to 
engage with customers to seek to increase the number of 
agents prepared to adopt “New & exclusive” for their new 
instructions as well as increase property alert sign-ups. In 
addition, the team continues to focus on the value delivered 
to customers as the short-term introductory contracts come 
to  an  end  and  we  explore  with  them  the  opportunities  to 
convert to paying contracts.

Likewise,  as  at  31  January  2019,  the  IT  team  had  been 
increased from 21 to 58.

The  enlarged  team  is  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.

The  success  of  the  rapid  but  controlled  growth  in  the 
organisation  has  depended  on  a  culture  of  disciplined 
inclusion  and  empowerment.  This  refl  ects  the  powerful 
combination  of  entrepreneurial  spirit  and  seasoned 
management  within  the  leadership  team  and  across  the 
business.

 Creating new products and services 
for our property advertisers 

In addition to the core property and agency listing service, 
the two market-leading UK property portals offer a variety 

OnTheMarket  plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

9

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Chief Executive Officer’s Report 
Continued

of  paid-for  additional  consumer-facing  promotion  and 
branding  products,  as  well  as  a  variety  of  back-offi ce 
products for agents and new homes developers. 

The new homes market is our initial  focus and  preparatory 
work  has  been  initiated  to  enable  us  to  address  th is  
opportunit y in the current year.

The  Company  aims  fi rst  to  match  and  then  to  better 
the  core  set  of  agent  products  and  services  of  its 
competitors,  ranging  from  advertising  products  to  a  full 
set of intelligence-based services to enable them to track 
their performance locally and nationally across a range of 
valuable measures.

I am pleased to report that after much preparatory work 
in the year ended January 2019 the Company has since 
launched  the  fi rst  phase  of  its  back-offi ce  service  to 
its  agents  in  the  form  of  a  “Market Appraisal  Guide”  to 
support  agents  with  intelligence  and  branded  materials 
for appraisal meetings with clients.

I  am  equally  pleased  to  report  that  OnTheMarket  has 
recently  launched  a  range  of  value-adding  products  to 
enable  agents  to  boost  the  visibility  of  their  brand  and 
their  listings  on  the  portal.  These  products,  including 
enhanced  property  presentation  and  banners  on  our 
portal  and  property  alerts,  are  bought  separately  from 
the  contractual  listing  fee.  Further  revenue-generating 
products will be released later this year. 

A Market Intelligence Report product is currently in beta 
testing and is expected to be ready for release shortly.

Additionally, the Group continues to evaluate opportunities 
to acquire businesses, particularly in the area of property 
technology, which can offer solutions to current business 
problems faced by its agent customers.

Broadening our advertiser base

The  Company’s  growth  strategy  will  in  due  course 
address the wider property market, including new home 
developers  and  the  commercial  and  overseas  property 
markets.  We  will  also  offer  non-property  advertisers  the 
opportunity  to  promote  themselves  and  their  products 
and services to our very large and growing audience of 
active and engaged property-seekers.

Responding positively to market 
conditions

The  Directors  believe  that  the  UK  agency  market  has 
continued  to  be  under  pressure  from  the  uncertainty 
caused by a number of economic and political factors.

Nevertheless,  the  volume  of  housing  transactions  at  a 
national level remained resilient throughout 2018, broadly 
in  line  with  the  5-year  average,  and  house  prices  at  a 
national  level  have  also  continued  to  increase,  albeit 
modestly and with some strong regional differences.

In 2019, many industry bodies have reported a slow start 
to the year with agents’ property for sale stocks down on 
last year. 

Overall UK agent offi ce numbers, including hybrid agents, 
have not reduced signifi cantly, indicating that competition 
in  the  market  for  agency  services  remains  strong,  with 
downward pressures on commission rates.

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. 

for  agents 

The  Directors  believe  that  these  market  developments 
provide  a  strong  rationale 
to  support 
OnTheMarket,  which  provides   substantially  fair  pricing 
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.

10

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

*  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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 With a clear vision and direction of travel, our outlook is 
therefore  positive.  Our  progress  to  date  and  the  clear 
support  for  an  agent-backed  portal  give  us  confi dence 
that  we  can  continue  to  build  on  this  strong  start  and 
develop  a  market-leading,  agent-backed  alternative  to 
Rightmove and Zoopla. Agents have demonstrated their 
support  and have begun converting to, or signing up for, 
paying contracts, predominantly long-term in nature. 

 Agents  provide  the  core  content  that  any  successful 
property  portal  requires.  With  the  continued  support  of 
agents  we  are  therefore  well  placed  to  deliver  long-term 
value to shareholders.

Group  revenues  are  now  broadly  covering  operational 
costs  before  marketing  expenditure  and  growing  and 
at  31   May  2019  we  had  a  cash  balance  of  £10.2m. The 
ongoing  growth  in  paying  contracts  is  key  to  our  future 
success  and  remains  our  focus.  We  will  look  to  support 
this by offering the range of products and services agents 
require, increasing further the value for money we provide 
them and aligning many of them with the long-term interests 
of the Company as shareholders. 

Such  a  strong  year  of  delivery  could  not  have  been 
achieved  without  an  outstanding  team  across  all  areas 
of  the  business.  I  thank  my  exceptionally  committed 
colleagues for all their hard work and I welcome all those 
new employees who have recently joined us.

Ian Springett 
Ian Springett 
Chief Executive Offi cer
Chief Executive Offi cer

 12 June 2019
12 June 2019

Chief Executive Officer’s Report 
Continued

 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. 

 The  hearing  of  the  appeal  took  place  on  27  November 
2018  for  three  days.  I  am  pleased  to  report  that  in 
January  2019  the  Court  of  Appeal  unanimously  and 
comprehensively dismissed Gascoigne Halman’s appeal 
and  issued  judgment  in  favour  of  Agents’  Mutual  with 
regard  to  all  the  competition  issues  in  its  proceedings 
against Gascoigne Halman. 

Whilst  the  residual  non -competition  issues  relating  to 
our claim remain to be resolved, OnTheMarket emerges 
from this stage of the litigation stronger and as committed 
as  ever  to  injecting  much   needed  competition  into  the 
property  portals  market,  which  had  previously  been 
heavily  dominated  by  two  large  groups.  The  litigation 
proceedings are now focused on the recovery of material 
costs  and  damages  suffered  by  the  Group  due  to 
Gascoigne Halman’s breach of contract.

Outlook

I am proud of what the Group has achieved this year.

As  the  UK’s  agent-backed  residential  property  portal 
provider,  the  Group’s  strategy  to  build  strong  network 
effects  and  deliver  increasing  value  to  our  agents  is 
working.

The  investment  in  marketing  has  led  to  a  substantial 
increase in visitor traffi c to OnTheMarket.com, generating 
erating 
greater value to our customers through a greater volume 
volume 
of high-quality leads. 

We  have  benefi ted  from  growing  agent  support  since 
since 
Admission.  We  are  positioned  to  continue  our  growth 
growth 
in  agent  offi ces  listing  and  in  agent  fi rms  converting  to 
ting  to 
tracts.
becoming investors alongside long-term paying contracts.

The  investment  in  expanding  the  team  has  provided 
ovided 
OnTheMarket with a workforce with the talent, motivation 
ivation 
and  capacity  to  deliver  a  fi rst-class  product  and  service 
service 
to  both  property-advertising  agent  customers  and 
s  and 
property -seeking consumers. 

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OnTheMarket  plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

11

 
Financial Review and Key Performance Indicators

During the year ended 31 January 2019 and following Admission and the associated 
capital  raise  on  9  February  2018,  the  Group  implemented  its  transformational 
growth strategy.

As  a  result,  throughout  the  year  we  saw  an  increase  in 
agents  listing,  almost  exclusively  under  free,  short-term 
introductory trial offers. Some agents, however, received 
shares  in  OnTheMarket  and  entered  long-term  paying 
listing  agreements.  Together  with  other  market  factors, 
this led to an increase in revenues. Prior year fi gures for 
revenue and administrative expenses have been restated 
under IFRS 15 as further set out in note 2.5.

The Group delivered revenue of £14.2m in the year ended 
31 January 2019, refl  ecting a 4% increase (2018: £13.6m), 
and an adjusted operating loss of £13.6m (2018: adjusted 
operating profi t £3.9m). This loss refl  ected the investment 
of capital raised in increased marketing expenditure and 
expansion of the team.

At  31  January  2019  the  Group  had  net  cash  of  £15.7m 
(2018: £3.2m) .  It had £10.2m of net cash at 31 May 2019. 

The  reported  operating  loss  of  the  Group  was  £14.5m 
(2018: £10.8m) and is further analysed as follows: 

Group operational KPIs were as follows:

 ● ARPA  £130  (2018:  £198),  refl  ecting  the  strategy  to 
grow  rapidly  through  free  short-term  introductory 
trial offers; 

 ● average branches listing 9,460 (2018: 5,694); 

 ● visits 158.9m (2018: 77.3m); and

 ● as  at  31  January  2019,  OnTheMarket  had  signed 
listing agreements with UK estate and letting agents 
with  more  than  12,500  offi ces  –  an  increase  of  over 
7,000 offi ces since Admission.

The  Group’s  fi nancial  performance  is  presented  in  the 
Consolidated  Income  Statement  on  page  31 .  The  loss 
for the year attributable to the owners of the Group was 
£14.5m (2018: £12.1m).

Administrative expenses in 2019 increased to £27.8m (2018: 
£9.7m) as the Group invested capital raised at Admission in 
increased marketing expenditure and expansion of the team, 
in line with the new growth strategy. Marketing expenditure 
was £14.9m (2018: £2.2m).

Reconciliation of operating loss to adjusted operating (loss)/profi t:

Operating loss

Adjustments for:

Professional fees (note 6)

Agent recruitment charges (note 6)

Share-based management incentives (note 22)

Adjusted operating profi t

The loss per share in the year was 24.02p (2018: 34.03p).

2019
£’000

(14,544)

597

565

(257)

(13,639)

2018
£’000

(10,839)

1,436

-

13,290

3,887

12

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 Financial Review and Key Performance Indicators 
Continued

Professional  fees  of  £0.6m  (net  of  costs  of  £0.2m 
awarded)  were  incurred  in  the  year  (2018:  £1.4m  net  of 
costs  of  £1.2m  awarded,  in  relation  to  the  litigation  with 
Gascoigne Halman Limited and  Admission  (see note 6).

An  agent  recruitment  charge  of  £0.6m  was  incurred  in 
relation  to  share-based  charges  arising  on  the  issue  of 
shares  to  agents  in  return  for  committing  to  long-term 
listing  agreements,  in  line  with  the  Group’s  strategy  to 
grow the agent shareholder base.

During the year there arose a non-cash credit of £0.3m in 
relation to share option awards made to employees (2018: 
non-cash  charge  of  £13.3m).  Further  details  on  options 
awarded, exercised and forfeited are set out in note 22.

Receivables  increased  to  £3. 3m  as  at  31  January 
2019  (2018:  £ 0.6m)  mainly  as  a  result  of  prepayments 
recognised  for  agent  shares  issued.  Details  on  the 
accounting treatment are set out in note 2.16. 

Trade  and  other  payables  as  at  the  year-end  increased 
to £4.  7m (2018: £3.0m) mainly as a result of an increase 
in  trade  payables  including  payables  resulting  from 
increased advertising expenditure. 

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The  Group  currently  incurs  losses  and  its  strategy  to 
achieve profi tability is based upon increasing the number 
of  paying  customer  agents,  primarily  through  converting 
those  agents  who  joined  on  an  introductory  free  trial  to 
paying customers.

At the end of the year, the Statement of Financial Position 
showed  total  assets  of  £2 3.0m  (2018:  £7.4m)  and  total 
equity  of  £17.3m  (2018:  £(9.7)m).  The  increase  refl  ects 
the  capital  raise  of  £30m  (gross)  that  completed  on 
9  February 2018. At the same time all outstanding long-
term  borrowings  (£11.3m  at  31  January  2018)  were 
extinguished under a debt for equity swap.

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 their properties were removed from 
the portal some time ago. Under IFRS 15 these amounts 
are  not  recognised  as  revenues.  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  2019,  net  unrecovered  cash  amounted  to 
approximately £6.8m.

Key Performance Indicators 

ARPA
(2018: £198)

Offices 
an increase of over 7,000

£130 

12,500 

Visits to 
OnTheMarket.com
(2018: 77.3m)

Average branches 
listing 
(2018: 5,694)

9,460 

158.9m 

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OnTheMarket  plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

13

 
 
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:

Commercial

Risk

Description

Monitoring and mitigation

Competitive portal 
industry

Changes to the UK 
residential property 
market

Conversion of agents 
to paying contracts

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.

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.

The  Group’s  strategy  is  to  offer  free  listings 
under  short-term  introductory  trial  offers  to 
agents with a view to converting these to full-
tariff  contracts  when  the  value  of  the  offering 
has  been  demonstrated.  The  Group  may  be 
unable to convert agents to full-tariff contracts 
in the numbers or at the speed it wishes due to 
a range of factors, which may reduce revenues 
and customer numbers.

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.

•   Offering competitive pricing and value for money.
the  brand  and  profi le  of 
•   Strengthening 
OnTheMarket.com  and  increasing  consumer 
traffi c 
to  provide 
increasing value to customers.

through  marketing  spend 

•   Maintaining  strong  agent  support 

through 
shareholdings,  fair  pricing  and  developing  new 
and value added products and services.

•   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 
to  provide 
increasing value to customers.

through  marketing  spend 

•   Continuing to invest in marketing and people to 
provide  a  fi rst  class  portal  service  to  property-
advertising customers and the property-seeking 
public.

•   The 

commitment 

to 

charging  property-

advertisers sustainably fair prices.

•   Monitoring  and  developing  the  value  of  the 
to  property-advertising  customers, 
offering 
seeking to increase leads through investment in 
marketing,  increasing  the  number  of  properties 
listed  on  the  portal  and  widening  distribution 
channels.

•   Developing  new  products  and  services  to  offer 
greater value to property-advertising customers.

•   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.

14

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Risk Management and Principal Risks
Continued

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Description

Monitoring and mitigation

A  strong  brand  and  reputation  are  vital  to  the 
Group’s  growth  strategies.  Brand  strength  and 
awareness are 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.

•   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.

Reputational

Risk

Brand strength

Human resources

Employees

IT/Data

Security breaches

Data

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 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.

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.

Legal

Litigation

Agents’  Mutual  Ltd  is  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.

•   Instilling a strong team culture within the Group.
•   Management  has  signifi cant  experience 

building 
members.

teams  and 

integrating  new 

in 
team 

•   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  web  app 

security threats.

•   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  Competition Appeal Tribunal  handed  down 

judgment in the Group’s favour. 

•   The  Court  of  Appeal  unanimously  upheld  the 

Competition Appeal Tribunal’s judgment.

•   Following  the  Court  of  Appeal  ruling,  Connells 
Ltd  (which  owns  Gascoigne  Halman  Ltd)  has 
been joined in the action as 2nd defendant.

•   The  Company  continues  to  take  expert  legal 
advice  to  recover  legal  costs  incurred  and  to 
seek damages for breach of contract. 

•   The Company takes expert legal advice as required 

in relation to any other potential litigation.

On behalf of the Board
Ian Springett – Chief Executive Offi cer
12 June 2019

OnTheMarket  plc  Annual Report and  Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Governance

“The Company has adapted well to 
being a listed company, retaining 
its entrepreneurial culture and pro-
agent ethos whilst embracing the 
corporate governance challenges 
that are part of life within a publicly 
listed company.”

Christopher Bell, Non-Executive Chairman

16

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Board of  Directors
year ended 31 January 2019

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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  the Audit  Committee,  the  Nominations  Committee,  the 
Remuneration  Committee  and  the  Responsible  Gambling 
Committee. 

Helen joined Agents’ Mutual in August 2013, having previously 
been  Sales  &  Marketing  Director  and  part  of  the  founding 
management 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. 

He  is  Non-Executive  Chairman  of  three  other  AIM-listed 
companies,  at  all  of  which  he  serves  on  key  governance 
committees. He took both XL Media plc and TechFinancials, 
Inc  to  market  and  has  since  May  2018  chaired  Team17 
Group plc. Chris was Chairman of Gaming Realms plc from 
October 2017 until his resignation in June 2018.

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   demutualisation  in  preparation  for 
admission to AIM and the associated capital raise. 

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. He 
served as Independent Non-Executive Director at Southern 
Water from September 2018 to February 2019.

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 sale in December 2017.

He  also  served,  from  2009  to  2014,  as  a  Non-Executive 
Director  of  Umeme  Limited,  the  privatised  national  power 
distribution  company  of  Uganda,  which  was  listed  on  the 
Uganda  and  Nairobi  Securities  Exchanges  in  2012.  Ian 
established and chaired Umeme’s Audit Committee.

Prior  to  this,  he  was  a  senior  audit  partner  with  Ernst  & 
Young  London  until  2009,  specialising  in  FTSE-listed  and 
multinational companies.

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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17

Directors’ Report
year ended 31 January 2019

The Directors present their report together with the fi nancial 
statements for the year ended 31 January 2019.

Directors’ third party indemnity 
provisions

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  for  agents  to  showcase 
their clients’ properties and the best property search experience 
for property-seeking consumers.

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

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 believes in valuing a diverse workforce. It is our 
policy  to  provide  employment  equality  to  all,  irrespective 
of:  gender,  sexual  orientation,  race,  ethnic  or  national 
origins, nationality, colour, disability, gender reassignment, 
religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy 
and  maternity  or  age.  All  job  applicants,  employees  and 
others who work for us will be treated fairly and will not be 
discriminated against on any of the above grounds.

Results and dividends

Going concern

An analysis of the Group’s performance is contained within 
the  Strategic  Report.  The  Group’s  income  statement  is  set 
out on page  31 and shows the result for the year.

No  dividends  were  proposed  or  paid  (2018:  £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:

C Beattie
I Springett
H Whiteley
C Bell
I Francis

Political and charitable donations

The  Group  made  no  charitable  donations  during  the  year 
(2018: £nil).

Directors’ interests

The  present  membership  of  the  Board,  together  with 
biographies on each, is set out on page  17 .

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

The  Group  made  a  loss  after  tax  for  the  year  of  £14,500k 
(2018: £12,092k) and as at 31 January 2019 the Group had 
a net cash balance of £15,673k (2018: £3,174k). At 31 May 
2019 the Group had a net cash balance of £10,164k.

The Group currently incurs losses albeit that revenues almost 
cover fi xed costs and are growing. The Group’s strategy to 
achieve profi tability is based upon increasing the number of 
paying customer agents, primarily through converting those 
agents  who  joined  on  an  introductory  free  trial  to  paying 
customers.

The  Directors  have  prepared  and  reviewed  the  Group’s 
cash  forecast  and  projections  for  the  next  12  months  in 
light of the experience of conversions to date, among other 
factors.  They  have  also  conducted  sensitivity  analyses 
and  considered  scenarios  where  future  conversions  fall 
below  the  rate  and  number  expected,  together  with  the 
mitigating  actions  they  may  take  in  such  circumstances, 
such as a reduction in budgeted discretionary expenditure, 
a signifi cant proportion of which relates to advertising and 
marketing  cost  that  can  be  reduced  materially  at  short 
notice.

Based upon these projections and analyses the Directors have 
a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate fi nancial 
resources  to  continue  its  operations  for  the  foreseeable  future 
and to be able to meet its debts as and when they fall due. 

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

18

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Directors’ Report
Continued

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Future developments

The Directors have discussed the future developments for 
the  business  within  the  Strategic  Report  on  page   11,  in 
accordance with Section 414C of the Companies Act 2006.

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

The  Board  is  committed  to  effective  and  robust  corporate 
governance  and  has  progressed  the  Company’s  corporate 
governance since Admission.

The  Board  has  agreed  to  apply  the  QCA  Code.  The 
disclosures required by the QCA Code can be found at the 
company’s  website,  https://plc.onthemarket.com.  The  QCA 
Code is available from the QCA website, www.theqca.com.

The Board

The  full  biographies  of  the  Directors  can  be  found  on 
page  17. At the date of this report, the Board comprises three 
Executive Directors and two Non-Executive Directors, one of 
which is the Non-Executive Chairman.

 Christopher Bell - Non-Executive Chairman - Joined 
October 2017

 Ian  Springett 
Joined July 2017

 Clive  Beattie 
Joined July 2017

-  Chief  Executive  Offi cer 

- 

-  Chief  Financial  Offi cer 

- 

 Helen Fiona Whiteley - Commercial Director - Joined 
July 2017

 Ian  Raymond  Francis  -  Non-Executive  Director  - 
Joined October 2017

The  Chairman  and  the  CEO  have  separate  and  clearly 
defi ned  roles.  The  Chairman  is  responsible  for  overseeing 
the  Board  and  the  CEO  is  responsible  for  implementing 
the  stated  strategy  of  the  Company  and  for  its  operational 
performance.

The  Chairman  is  committed  to  ensuring  that  the  Board 
comprises suffi cient Non-Executive Directors to establish an 
independent oversight which is challenging and constructive 
in its operation. The Board believes that the Non-Executive 
Directors are of suffi cient experience and quality to bring an 
expert and objective dimension to the Board. The Company 
ensures that the Non-Executive Directors are enabled to call 
on specialist external advice where necessary.

Directors  are  expected  to  attend  Board  and  Committee 
meetings and to devote enough time to the Company and its 
business in order to fulfi l their duties as Directors.

Non-Executive Directors/Board 
independence

The Company has two independent Non-Executive Directors, 
Christopher Bell (Non-Executive Chairman) and Ian Francis, 
who  provide  an  important  contribution  to  its  strategic 
development.

The Non-Executive Chairman acquired 30,303 shares in the 
Company in the placing which occurred 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 meetings

The Board meets on a regular basis throughout the calendar 
year and as required on an ad hoc basis with a mandate to 
consider  strategy,  operational  and  fi nancial  performance 
and  internal  controls.  In  advance  of  each  meeting,  the 
Chairman  sets  the  agenda,  with  the  assistance  of  the 

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19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Report
Continued

Company Secretary. Directors are provided with appropriate and timely information, including board papers distributed in 
advance of the meetings. Those papers include reports from the executive team and other operational heads.

The Company Secretary produces full minutes of each meeting, including a log of actions to be taken. The Chairman then follows 
up on each action at the next meeting, or before if appropriate.

Director

Position

Christopher Bell Non -Executive 

Chairman

Ian Raymond 
Francis 

Non-Executive 
Director

Ian Springett

Clive Beattie

Chief Executive 
Offi cer

Chief Financial 
Offi cer

Helen Fiona 
Whiteley

Commercial
Director

Board

Committee

Max possible 
attendance

Meetings 
attended Nomination

Audit  Remuneration

Agent
Recruitment 

11

11

11

11

11

10

11

11

11

11

4

4

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

Matters reserved for the Board

The Remuneration Committee 

Matters reserved for the decision of the Board include:

 ●  Strategy and management 

 ●  Structure and capital 

 ●  Financial reporting and controls 

 ●  Risk management and internal controls 

 ●  Bank facilities, guarantees and indemnities 

 ●  Communication with shareholders 

 ●  Board membership and other appointments 

 ●   Remuneration,  employee  benefi ts  and  employee 

issues 

 ●  Delegation of authority 

 ●  Corporate governance matters 

 ●  Policies 

Committees

The Board has in place Audit, Nomination and Remuneration 
Committees, which comply with the stated terms of reference 
for  each  committee.  The  Company  also  has  an  Agent 
 Directors’  Remuneration 
Recruitment  Committee.  The 
Report can be found on pages  23 to  24.

The  Remuneration  Committee  is  chaired  by  Christopher 
Bell  and  Ian  Francis  is  the  other  member.    Meetings  are 
held  at  least  once  a  year.  The  Remuneration  Committee 
is  responsible  for  advising  on  the  remuneration  policy  for 
Directors and Senior Management only. 

responsibility 

The  Remuneration  Committee  has 
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.

The Audit Committee

Ian Francis chairs the Audit Committee and Christopher Bell 
is  the  other  member.  The  Audit  Committee  meets  at  least 
twice a year.

The  Audit  Committee  has  the  primary  responsibility  for 
ensuring  that  the  fi nancial  performance  of  the  Group  is 
properly measured, reported on and monitored. 

20

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Directors’ Report
Continued

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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 Nomination Committee

Christopher  Bell  chairs  the  Nomination  Committee.  Ian 
Francis  and  Ian  Springett  are  the  other  members  of  this 
committee. 

Nomination  Committee  meetings  are  held  as  required 
and  provide  a  formal  and  transparent  procedure  to  the 
appointments of new directors to the Board. 

The Agent Recruitment Committee

The  Board  has  also  established  an  Agent  Recruitment 
Committee,  comprising  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  issues 
of  Agent  Recruitment  Shares.  The  Agent  Recruitment 
Committee approves the Group strategy in relation to share 
issues to agents, approves guidelines for such share issues 
and is required to pre-approve issues to agents over a certain 
threshold. 

Election and re-election of the 
Directors

All  of  the  Directors  retired  and  were  re-elected  at  the 
Company’s annual general meeting in July 2018. Accordingly 
none  are  retiring  and  standing  for  re-election  at  this  year’s 
annual general meeting.

Support for Directors

Each  Director  has  access  to  the  advice  and  support  of 
the  Company  Secretary,  who  ensures  compliance  with 
the  Board’s  procedures  and  advice  as  to  applicable  rules 
and  regulations.  The  Company  also  provides  professional 
training for the Directors where necessary (at the Company’s 
expense).

Internal control

The  Board  is  ultimately  responsible  for  maintaining  the 
Company’s risk framework system of internal control and for 
reviewing the effectiveness of such system. No system can 
be perfect but the Board considers the Company’s systems 
manage  risks  appropriately  in  order  that  the  Company  can 
achieve its business objectives.

Board evaluation

The  focus  of  Board  activity  is  on  the  review  of  progress 
being achieved by the management team against a clearly 
expressed  growth  strategy  with  published  KPIs  which 
are  well  understood  by  stakeholders.  The  Board  has 
established  a  Remuneration  Committee  comprising  the 
Chairman and the Non-Executive Director which meets at 
least  once  in  each  calendar  year.  This  committee,  in  the 
course  of  its  work,  reviews  the  performance  of  individual 
Directors  and  senior  managers  and  the  workings  of  the 
Board  and  its  committees,  in  consultation  with  the  Chief 
Executive  Offi cer.  The  committee  is  also  the  primary 
forum  within  which  Board  development  is  discussed. 
The  Nomination  Committee,  comprising  the  Chairman, 
the  Non-Executive  Director  and  the  Chief  Executive 
Offi cer,  is  the  formal  decision-making  body  in  relation  to 
Board  appointments,  composition  and  resourcing.  The 
Nomination Committee meets as required.

The  Chairman  takes  overall  responsibility  for  evaluation  of 
the Board and its progress against its stated strategy.

Corporate culture 

The  Board  places  signifi cant  importance  on  the  promotion 
of  ethical  values  and  good  behaviour  within  the  Company 
and takes ultimate responsibility for ensuring that these are 
promoted  and  maintained  throughout  the  organisation  and 
that  they  guide  the  Company’s  business  objectives  and 
strategy. 

The  central  role  that  sound  ethical  values  and  behaviour 
play  within  the  Company  is  enshrined  in  the  Employee 
Handbook,  which  promotes  this  culture  through  all  aspects 
of the business, from initial recruitment and hiring to career 
advancement.  The  Employee  Handbook  also  sets  out  the 
Company’s  requirements  and  policies  on  such  matters  as 
whistleblowing,  communication  and  general  conduct  of 
employees.

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Directors’ Report
Continued

Relations with shareholders

The  Board  considers  it  important  to  maintain  an  open 
dialogue  with  the  Company’s  shareholders  and  to  keep 
those shareholders fully informed of the strategy, operational 
developments and prospects.

The  Company  keeps  investors  informed  of  its  progress 
through  announcements  and  updates  as  to  fi nancial  and 
operational matters.

The executives meet with shareholders on formal roadshows 
after  publication  of  interim  and  preliminary  fi nal  results  and 
hold  ad  hoc  meetings  with  shareholders  during  the  course 
of the year.

Annual General Meeting

The AGM will be held at 1 Wood Street, London EC2V 7WS 
on 16 July 2019 at  09:30 . The Notice of AGM, setting out the 
resolutions  proposed,  is  contained  in  a  separate  document 
and  is  available  on  the  Company’s  website  https://plc.
onthemarket.com/investors.

On behalf of the Board

Ian Springett 
Chief Executive Offi cer

12  June 2019

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Directors’ Remuneration Report
year ended 31 January 2019

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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 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

responsibility 

for 
The  Remuneration  Committee  has 
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 £793k (2018: £535k).

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

Previous Salary 
(£’000)

New Salary 
(£’000)

170

170

170

250

200

190

There  were  no  changes 
Non-Executive Directors.

to 

the 

rates  of 

fees 

for

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 £nil (2018: £81k).

Pensions

Contributions made to Directors’ pensions in the year were 
£3k (2018: £1k). 

Share incentive

No  share  options  were  exercised  by  the  Directors  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 

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23

 
 
 
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Continued

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:

Salary &  
fees 
£’000 

Bonus 
£’000 

2019 

Total 

£’000 

2018

Total

£’000

190 
250 
200 

640 

100 
53 

153 

793 
3 

796 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

190 
250 
200 

640 

100 
53 

153 

793 
3 

796 

162
204
204

570

32
14

46

616
1

617

Executive Directors:
C Beattie 
I Springett 
H Whiteley 

Non-Executive Directors:
C Bell 
I Francis 

Total remuneration before pension contributions 
Pension contributions 

Total remuneration 

Changes to Board members

There have been no changes to the board members in the year.

Directors’ interests

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

OnTheMarket plc ordinary shares of £0.002:

2019 

2018

Shares 

Options 

No. 

30,303 
96,969 
90,909 
30,303 
– 

No. 

151,515 
3,466,367 
1,733,184 
– 
– 

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 

248,484 

5,351,066

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

 12 June 2019

24

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Directors’ Responsibilities Statement
year ended 31 January 2019

G
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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.

in  accordance  with 

Company  law  requires  the  Directors  to  prepare  Group  and 
Company fi nancial statements for each fi nancial year. Under 
that  law,  the  Directors  are  required  under  the AIM  rules  of 
the London Stock Exchange to prepare the Group fi nancial 
statements 
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  United  Kingdom 
Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Practice  (United  Kingdom 
Accounting  Standards  and  applicable  law),  –  UK  Generally 
including 
Accepted  Accounting  Practice  (“UK  GAAP”), 
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 
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 
accordance with IFRSs adopted by the EU; and

in 

 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.

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25

 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of  
OnTheMarket plc
year ended 31 January 2019

Opinion

the  Consolidated 

We have audited the fi nancial statements of OnTheMarket 
plc  (the  “parent  company”)  and  its  subsidiaries  (the 
“group”)  for  the  year  ended  31  January  2019  which 
Income  Statement, 
comprise 
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  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  their  preparation  is 
applicable  law  and  International  Financial  Reporting 
Standards  (IFRSs)  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union 
and, as regards the parent company fi nancial statements, 
as  applied  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Companies Act 2006.

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 2019 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  IFRSs  as 
adopted  by  the  European  Union  and  as  applied  in 
accordance with the Companies Act 2006; 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  as  applied  to 
SME listed entities 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 
the  fi nancial 
accounting 
the  preparation  of 
statements is not appropriate; or

in 

 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.

Key audit matters

Key  audit  matters  are  those  matters  that,  in  our 
professional  judgment,  were  of  most  signifi cance  in 
our  audit  of  the  group  and  parent  company  fi nancial 
statements  of  the  current  period  and  include  the  most 
signifi cant  assessed  risks  of  material  misstatement 
(whether or not due to fraud) we identifi ed, including those 
which had the greatest effect on the overall audit strategy, 
the allocation of resources in the audit and directing the 
efforts  of  the  engagement  team.  These  matters  were 
addressed  in  the  context  of  our  audit  of  the  group  and 
parent  company  fi nancial  statements  as  a  whole,  and 
in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a 
separate opinion on these matters. 

Group key audit matters

Going concern 

Risk

As  disclosed  in  Note  2.4,  the  Group  is  in  the  process 
of  converting  agents  on  free  contracts  and  signing  up 
new  agents  to  the  OnTheMarket  portal.  The  forecasted 
revenues  from  these  agents,  together  with  forecast 
the  most  signifi cant 
discretionary  expenditure,  are 
assumptions in assessing the Group’s ability to continue 
as  a  going  concern.  The  calculations  supporting  the 

26

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of OnTheMarket plc
Continued

G
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assessment  require  management  to  make  subjective 
judgments.  The  calculations  are  based  on  estimates 
of  future  performance  and  are  key  to  assessing  the 
suitability of the basis adopted for the preparation of the 
fi nancial statements. We have therefore spent signifi cant 
audit effort, including the time of senior members of our 
audit team, in assessing the appropriateness of the going 
concern assumption. 

 Performing  an  assessment  of 
trade  receivable 
recoverability  at  31  January  2019  and  31  January 
2018  to  confi rm  revenue  had  not  been  recognised 
in  respect  of  trade  receivables  for  arrangements 
which do not meet the defi nition of a contract with a 
customer.

Parent company key audit matters 

Response

Impairment of group receivables

fl  ow  model  and  discussing 

Our audit procedures included reviewing management’s 
cash 
the  model  with 
management.  We  confi rmed  the  opening  cash  position 
in  management’s  model  and  have  held  discussions 
with management in respect of the key assumptions. In 
particular  we  checked  the  current  revenue  run  rate  and 
reviewed  forecast  expenditure  and  performed  our  own 
sensitivity  analysis  to  further  challenge  management’s 
assumptions.  We  also  challenged  management’s  ability 
to  be  able  to  reduce  discretionary  expenditure  at  short 
notice if necessary.  

Revenue recognition

Risk

As at 1 February 2018 IFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts 
with customers” became effective for the Group. IFRS  15 
requires  the  group  to  assess  whether  the  fi ve-point 
revenue  recognition  criteria  set  out  by  IFRS  15  has 
been  met.  As  disclosed  in  Note  2.5,  this  has  impacted 
the treatment of revenue recognised where payment by 
agents  is  considered  not  to  be  probable.  On  this  basis 
there  is  signifi cant  risk  associated  with  determining 
whether  revenue  has  been  recognised  in  respect  of 
arrangements  which  do  not  meet  the  defi nition  of  a 
contract with a customer. 

Response

Our  audit  procedures  to  address  the  risk  of  material 
misstatement relating to revenue recognition included:

 Performing  a  review  of  management’s  transition 
calculations  at  31  January  2018  and  calculations 
performed  at  31  January  2019  for  arrangements 
which  were  not  deemed  to  meet  the  defi nition  of  a 
contract under IFRS 15.

Risk

As  disclosed  in  Note  16,  the  company  has  a  group 
receivable with a carrying value of £28.2m at 31 January 
2019.  Under  IFRS  9,  management  must  calculate  an 
expected credit loss provision in respect of this balance. 
There  is  signifi cant  measurement  uncertainty  involved 
assessing the forecasts and probabilities assigned to this 
calculation. As a result the valuation of group receivables 
was  signifi cant  to  our  audit  of  the  parent  company 
fi nancial statements. 

Response

Our  audit  procedures  included  reviewing  the  signifi cant 
assumptions  within  management’s  expected  credit  loss 
calculation and considering their appropriateness in light 
of  management’s  forecasts  in  relation  to  the  underlying 
subsidiary. 

Our application of materiality

When  establishing  our  overall  audit  strategy,  we  set 
certain  thresholds  which  help  us  to  determine  the 
nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures. When 
evaluating  whether  the  effects  of  misstatements,  both 
individually  and  on  the  fi nancial  statements  as  a  whole, 
could reasonably infl  uence the economic decisions of the 
users we take into account the qualitative nature and the 
size of the misstatements. During planning materiality for 
the group fi nancial statements as a whole was calculated 
as £700,000 which was not signifi cantly changed during 
the  course  of  our  audit.  We  also  applied  a  lower  level 
of  fi nancial  statement  materiality  of  £335,000  for  our 
work  performed  over  turnover.  Materiality  for  the  parent 
company fi nancial statements as a whole was calculated 
as  £354,000,  which  was  not  signifi cantly  changed 
during the course of our audit. We agreed with the Audit 
Committee  that  we  would  report  to  them  all  unadjusted 
differences  in  excess  of  £5,000,  as  well  as  differences 
below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting 
on qualitative grounds. 

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

27

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of OnTheMarket plc
Continued

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  or  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’ remuneration specifi ed 
by law are not made; or

 we  have  not  received  all 
explanations we require for our audit.

the 

information  and 

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities 
Statement  set  out  on  page  2 5,  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.

An overview of the scope of our audit

Our audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of 
the group and its control environment and assessing the 
risks of material misstatement. The fi nancial statements 
were  audited  on  a  consolidated  basis  using  group 
materiality.  The  scope  of  our  audit  covered  100%  of 
both consolidated profi t before tax and consolidated net 
assets. 

Other information

The  directors  are  responsible  for  the  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.  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.

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.

28

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Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of OnTheMarket plc
Continued

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Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit 
of the financial 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.

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

Third Floor
One London Square
Cross Lanes
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 1UN

 12  June 2019

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

29

 
Financial 
Statements

30

OnTheMarket  Annual Report and Accounts 2019

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i

F
n
a
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c
a

i

l

S
t
a
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e
m
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t
s

Consolidated Income Statement
year ended 31 January 2019

Revenue 
Administrative expenses 

Operating (loss)/profi t before specifi c professional fees, share-based 
payments and non-recurring items 
Specifi c professional fees, share-based payments and non-recurring items:
Share-based management incentive 
Professional fees net of compensation received 
Share-based agent recruitment charges 

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.

2019 

£’000 

14,172 
(27,811) 

2018
(restated)
£’000

13,553
(9,666)

(13,639) 

3,887

257 
(597) 
(565) 

(14,544) 
85 
(35) 

(14,494) 
(6) 

(13,290)
(1,436)
–

(10,839)
2
(1,233)

(12,070)
(22)

(14,500) 

(12,092)

Pence 
(24.02) 

Pence
(34.03)

Notes 

4 
5 

22 
6 
6 

7 
9 
10 

11 

12 

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  39 to  65 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of  Financial Position
at 31 January 2019 

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 ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 

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

TOTAL EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT 

Notes 

13 
14 

16 

17 
18 
21 

18 
21 

23 

2019 
£’000 

130 
3,948 

4,078 

3, 286 
15,673 

18, 959 

2 3,037 

(4, 730) 
– 
(776) 
(6) 

(5, 512) 

– 
(233) 

(233) 

2018
£’000

18
3,654

3,672

553
3,174

3,727

7,399

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

(5,454)

(11,256)
(354)

(11,610)

(5, 745) 

(17,064)

17,292 

(9,665)

123 
40,6 98 
(71) 
111 
(23,5 69) 

17,292 

71
–
(71)
(252)
(9,413)

(9,665)

The notes on pages  39 to  65 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  12 June 2019 
and are signed on its behalf by:

Clive Beattie  
Chief Financial Offi cer

32

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Company Statement of  Financial Position
at 31 January 2019

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ASSETS
Non-current assets
Investments in subsidiaries 
Current assets
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

TOTAL ASSETS 

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings   
Current tax   

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings   

TOTAL LIABILITIES 

NET ASSETS 

EQUITY
Share capital 
Share premium 
Other reserve 
Retained earnings 

TOTAL EQUITY 

Company Reg. No. 10887621

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2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

15 

16 

17 
18 

– 

–

28,221 
15,107 

43,328 

23,389
–

23,389

(222) 
– 
(6) 

(228) 

(82)
(512)
(22)

(616)

18 

– 

(11,256)

23 

(228) 

(11,872)

43,100 

11,517

123 
40,6 98 
111 
2,1 68 

43,100 

71
–
(252)
11,698

11,517

The Company’s loss and total comprehensive income for the year was £4,754k (2018: profi t of £91k).

The notes on pages  39 to  65 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  12 June 2019 
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 2019

33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of  Changes in Equity
year ended 31 January 2019

Share 
capital 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

Share-
based 
payment 
£’000 

Other 
reserves 
£’000 

Merger  Retained 
earnings 
reserve 
£’000 
£’000 

Total
equity
£’000

Balance as at 1 February 2017 
Loss for the fi nancial period 

Total comprehensive expense 
for the period 

Transactions with owners:
Share options issued 
Transfer to retained earnings 
Legal fees on Admission and placing 

Balance as at 31 January 2018 

Balance as at 1 February 2018 
Loss for the fi nancial period 

Total comprehensive expense for 
the period 
Transactions with owners:
Shares issued for placing 
Shares issued for agent recruitment 
shares   
Shares issued to extinguish loan 
notes 
Legal and professional fees on 
placing shares issued 
Transfer to share premium 
Agent recruitment share-based 
payment 
 Share-based payment charge on 
employee options 
Transfer to retained earnings 

71 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

71 

71 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

36 

29,964 

2 

1,8 95 

14 

10,905 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

(1,814) 
(252) 

– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

11,678 
(11,678) 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

344 
(344) 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
(252) 

(252) 

(252) 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
252 

111 

– 
– 

(71) 
– 

(8,999) 
(12,092) 

(8,999)
(12,092)

– 

(12,092) 

(12,092)

– 
– 
– 

– 
11,678 
– 

11,678
–
(252)

(71) 

(9,413) 

(9,665)

(71) 
– 

(9,413) 
(14,500) 

(9,665)
(14,500)

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

(14,500) 

(14,500)

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
344 

30,000

1,8 97

10,919

(1,814)
–

111

344
–

Balance as at 31 January 2019 

123 

40,6 98 

– 

111 

(71) 

(23,5 69) 

17,292

Share capital

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

Share premium

Share premium represents the difference between the issue price and 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.

34

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Consolidated Statement of  Changes in Equity
Continued

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Other reserves

Other reserves represent costs incurred for shares issued in the placing on Admission and the issue of agent recruitment 
shares.

Retained earnings

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

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.

The notes on pages  39 to  65 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

35

 
Company Statement of  Changes in Equity
year ended 31 January 2019

Share 
capital 
£’000 

  Share-based
payment 
reserve 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

Other 
reserves 
£’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 Admission and 
placing   
IAS 27 adjustment1 

Balance as at 31 January 2018 
Provision on Group receivables 
arising on transition to IFRS 9 
Loss for the fi nancial period 

Total comprehensive income 
for the period 
Transactions with owners:
Shares issued for placing 
Shares issued for agent 
recruitment   
Shares issued to extinguish 
loan notes 
Legal and professional fees on 
placing shares issued 
Transfer to share premium 
 Agent recruitment 
share-based payment 
Share-based payment charge 
on employee options 
Transfer to retained earnings 

– 
– 

– 

71 
– 
– 

– 
– 

71 

– 
– 

– 

36 

2 

14 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

29,964 

1,8 95 

10,905 

(1,814) 
(252) 

– 

– 
– 

Balance as at 31 January 2019 

123 

40,6 98 

– 
– 

– 

– 
11,678 
(11,678) 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

344 
(344) 

– 

Total
equity
£’000

–
91 

91

71
11,678
–

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
91 

91 

– 
– 
11,678 

(252) 
– 

(252) 

– 
(71) 

(252)
(71)

11,698 

11,517

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
252 

111 

– 
– 

(5,120) 
(4,754) 

(5,120)
(4,754)

(4,754) 

(4,754)

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
344 

30,000

1,8 97

10,919

(1,814)
–

111

344
–

111 

2,1 68 

43,100

1  

 In the circumstances of a group reorganisation as was undertaken in the prior year, 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 and 
opposite debit entry is recognised against equity.

Share capital

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

Share premium

Share premium represents the difference between the issue price and the par value of ordinary shares issued by the Company. 

36

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Company Statement of  Changes in Equity
Continued

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Share-based payment reserve

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

Other reserves

Other reserves represent costs incurred for shares issued in the placing on Admission and the issue of agent recruitment 
shares.

Retained earnings

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

The notes on pages  39 to  65 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

37

 
Consolidated Statement of  Cash Flows
year ended 31 January 2019

Cash fl ows from operating activities
Loss for the year after income tax 
Adjustments for:
Income tax   
Finance income 
Finance expense 
Amortisation  
Depreciation  
Agent recruitment expense 
(Profi t)/loss on disposal of FA 
Share-based payment 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

(14,500) 

(12,092)

6 
(85) 
35 
1,856 
33 
342 
(9) 
344 

22
(2)
1,233
1,440
27
–
–
11,678

Operating cash fl ows before movements in working capital 

(11,978) 

2,306

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables 
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables 
Increase in provisions 
Tax paid  

Net cash (used in)/generated from operating activities 

Cash fl ows from investing activities 
Finance income received 
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 expense paid 
Proceeds from issue of shares 
Repayment of borrowings 
Expenses incurred for share listing 

Net cash generated from/(used in) 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

(1,224) 
1,591 
(601) 
(22) 

(12,234) 

85 
(2,150) 
(155) 
19 

(2,2 01) 

(35) 
30,000 
(1,217) 
(1,814) 

2 6,934 

12,499 
3,174 

15,673 

3,156
(2,980)
1,612
–

4,094

2
(1,538)
(1)
1

(1,53 6)

(1,395)
–
–
(252)

(1,64 7)

911
2,263

3,174

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  39 to  65 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

38

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
year ended 31 January 2019

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.

2. Summary of significant 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.

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 effects are disclosed in note 3.

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. 

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.

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

39

 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

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 Group:

 ●   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;

 ●   disclosure of share-based payment expense charge to profi t or loss, reconciliation of opening and closing number and 

weighted average exercise price of share options and how the fair value of options granted was measured; 

 ●   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 are publicly available from 
Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff, CF14 3OZ.

2.4  Going concern

The Group made a loss after tax for the year of £14,500k (2018: £12,092k) and as at 31 January 2019 the Group had a net 
cash balance of £15,673k (2018: £3,174k). At 31 May 2019 the Group had a net cash balance of £10,164k.

The Group currently incurs losses albeit that revenues almost cover fi xed costs and are growing. The Group’s strategy to 
achieve  profi tability  is  based  upon  increasing  the  number  of  paying  customer  agents,  primarily  through  converting  those 
agents who joined on an introductory free trial to paying customers.

The Directors have prepared and reviewed the Group’s cash forecast and projections for the next 12 months in light of the 
experience  of  conversions  to  date,  among  other  factors.  They  have  also  conducted  sensitivity  analyses  and  considered 
scenarios where future conversions fall below the rate and number expected, together with the mitigating actions they may 
take  in  such  circumstances,  such  as  a  reduction  in  budgeted  discretionary  expenditure,  a  signifi cant  proportion  of  which 
relates to advertising and marketing cost that can be reduced materially at short notice.

Based  upon  these  projections  and  analyses  the  Directors  have  a  reasonable  expectation  that  the  Group  has  adequate 
fi nancial resources to continue its operations for the foreseeable future and to be able to meet its debts as and when they fall 
due. 

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

40

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

2.5  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 February 2018.

- 

 Annual Improvements to IFRS standards 2014-2016 cycle was issued on 8 December 2016 and addresses the following 
amendments: 

- 

- 

- 

 IFRS 1 “First time adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards” deleted the short-term exemptions 
dealing with IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures, IAS 19 Employee Benefi ts and IFRS 10 Consolidated 
Financial Statements. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018. The 
reliefs provided are no longer applicable and had been available to the Group for reporting periods that have now 
passed. 

 IFRS 12 “Disclosure of interest in other entities” clarifi es that entities are not exempt from all of the disclosure 
requirements in IFRS 12 when entities have been classifi ed as held for sale or as discontinued operations. The 
amendment is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017. No changes have been made in 
respect of this amendment as it does not apply to the Group.

 IAS 28 “Investments in associates and joint ventures” provides a choice of accounting for investments in joint 
ventures and associates at fair value or using the equity method. The amendment is effective for annual periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2018. No changes have been made in respect of this amendment as it does not 
apply to the Group.

- 

- 

 IFRS  2,  “Classifi cation  and  measurement  of  share-based  payment  transactions”,  provides  requirements  on  the 
accounting  for:  the  effects  of  vesting  and  non-vesting  conditions  on  the  measurement  of  cash-settled  share-based 
payments;  share-based  payment  transactions  with  a  net  settlement  feature  for  withholding  tax  obligations;  and  a 
modifi cation to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment that changes the classifi cation of the transaction 
from cash-settled to equity-settled. The standard is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2018. The Group has implemented the standard and no retrospective adjustments were made. 

 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. 

 Under IAS 39, an “incurred loss” model previously applied to the Group’s intercompany loans. However, IFRS 9 requires 
a  liability  to  be  recognised  for  the  weighted  average  expected  payments  due  from  the  Company’s  subsidiary  when 
the subsidiary does not have suffi cient accessible highly liquid resources to repay the loan at the reporting date. On 
transition to IFRS 9 the modifi ed retrospective application method has been applied and the opening intercompany loan 
has been recalculated to refl  ect the expected credit losses impairment model. Prior years are not restated.

 The application of IFRS 9 has not changed the measurement of the Group’s fi nancial liabilities or the Group’s accounting 
policies for the recognition or derecognition of fi nancial instruments, other than the Company’s recognition of a provision 
for  expected  credit  losses  on  amounts  due  from  its  subsidiary  undertakings.  No  material  impact  was  identifi ed  on 
transition to IFRS 9 for applying the expected credit losses model to trade and other receivables.

 Notes 2.12, 3, 16 and 19 contain further information with respect to the adoption of IFRS 9, the Group’s policies under 
IFRS 9 and the expected credit loss on amounts due to the Company from its subsidiary undertakings. 

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

- 

 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 offers its agents 5-year listing agreements. 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 no longer have access to the portal. 

 The year to 31 January 2019 was the fi rst period in which the Group was required to prepare fi nancial statements 
under  IFRS  15,  “Revenue  from  contracts  with  customers”.  Previously  under  IAS  18  all  amounts  due  under 
contracts with customers were included as revenues and a corresponding bad debt expense was recognised 
within administrative expenses in respect of amounts due from agents. 

 Under IFRS 15 these amounts are no longer recognised within revenues or administrative expenses as it is not 
probable that the Group will collect the revenue it is entitled to on the due date. This therefore does not constitute 
a contract. The prior period comparatives have been restated on the same basis to aid comparison. 

As originally stated 31 January 2018 
IFRS 15 adjustment 

Year to 31 January 2018 (restated) 

As if recognised under IAS 18 at 31 January 2019 
IFRS 15 adjustment 

Year to 31 January 2019 

 Administrative 
expenses 
£’000 

Revenue 
£’000 

Operating 
loss 
£’000

16,046 
(2,493) 

13,553 

16,634 
(2,462) 

14,172 

(12,159) 
2,493 

(9,666) 

(30,273) 
2,462 

27,811 

10,839
–

10,839

14,544
–

14,544

New standards, amendments and interpretations not yet adopted

- 

 Annual  improvements  to  IFRS  standards  2015-2017  cycle  was  issued  on  12  December  2017  and  addresses  the 
following amendments: 

- 

- 

- 

- 

 IFRS 3 “Business combinations” clarifi es that an acquirer is to remeasure the fair value of previously held interests 
at acquisition date. 

 IFRS 11 “Joint arrangements” states that when a party subsequently obtains joint control, it must not remeasure 
its previously held interest. 

 IAS 12 “Income taxes” applies to income tax consequences of dividends recognised on or after the beginning of 
the earliest comparative period presented. 

 IAS  23  “Borrowing  costs”  clarifi es  that  once  a  qualifying  asset  funded  through  specifi c  borrowings  becomes 
ready for its intended use or sale, the rate applied on those borrowings is included in the determination of the 
capitalisation rate applied to general borrowings. 

42

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

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t
s

 The above amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019 and are not expected to have 
a material impact on the Group’s fi nancial statements. 

- 

 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 have reviewed all lease contracts 
and concluded that 39 motor vehicles leases would be affected by IFRS 16. The cumulative catch up method will be 
taken, together with the practical expedients to apply a single discount rate to a portfolio of leases with reasonably 
similar characteristics and to exclude leases from the calculation where the lease term ends within 12 months of the 
date of initial application. The fi nancial impact applying the catch up method will be to recognise opening balances as 
at 1 February 2019 as follows: 

Non-current assets
Property, plant & equipment 

Current liabilities
Lease liability 

Non-current liabilities
Lease liability 

At 
1 February 
2019 
(under 
IAS 17) 
£’000 

IFRS 16 
adjustment 

At
1 February
2019
(adjusted)

£’000 

£’000

130 

447 

577

– 

– 

(182) 

(182)

(265) 

(265) 

2.6  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.

2.7  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

2.8 

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.

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43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued
Continued

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, the Group has 
the intention to complete the development, probable future economic benefi ts will occur, the Group has the required funds 
to complete the development and when the Group 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 1-4 years.

2.9 

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.

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.

2.10  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.

2.11  Financial instruments

Recognition of fi nancial instruments
Financial assets and fi nancial liabilities are recognised when the Group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the 
instrument.

Financial assets

Initial and subsequent measurement of fi nancial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and in hand and other short-term deposits held by the Group with maturities 
of less than three months.

44

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Continued

Trade, Group and other receivables

Trade receivables are initially measured at their transaction price. Group and other receivables are initially measured at fair 
value plus transaction costs.  

Financial liabilities and equity
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classifi ed according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered 
into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after deducting all of 
its liabilities.

Initial and subsequent measurement of fi nancial liabilities

Trade, Group and other payables

Trade, Group and other payables are initially measured at fair value net of direct transaction costs and subsequently measured 
at amortised cost.

Equity instruments

Equity instruments issued by the Group are recorded at fair value on initial recognition net of transaction costs. 

Derecognition of fi nancial assets (including write-offs) and fi nancial liabilities
A fi nancial asset (or part thereof) is derecognised when the contractual rights to cash fl  ows expire or are settled, or when the 
contractual rights to receive the cash fl  ows of the fi nancial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are 
transferred to another party. 

When there is no reasonable expectation of recovering a fi nancial asset it is derecognised (“written off”).

The gain or loss on derecognition of fi nancial assets measured at amortised cost is recognised in profi t or loss.

A fi nancial liability (or part thereof) is derecognised when the obligation specifi ed in the contract is discharged, cancelled or 
expires.

Any difference between the carrying amount of a fi nancial liability (or part thereof) that is derecognised and the consideration 
paid is recognised in profi t or loss.

2.12  Impairment of fi nancial assets
An impairment loss is recognised for the expected credit losses on fi nancial assets when there is an increased probability that 
the counterparty will be unable to settle an instrument’s contractual cash fl  ows on the contractual due dates, a reduction in 
the amounts expected to be recovered, or both. The probability of default and expected amounts recoverable are assessed 
using reasonable and supportable past and forward-looking information that is available without undue cost or effort. The 
expected credit loss is a probability-weighted amount determined from a range of outcomes and takes into account the time 
value of money.

For trade receivables, material expected credit losses are measured by applying an expected loss rate to the gross carrying 
amount. The expected loss rate comprises the risk of a default occurring and the expected cash fl  ows on default based on 
the aging of the receivable. 

For intercompany loans that are repayable on demand, expected credit losses are based on the assumption that repayment 
of the loan is demanded at the reporting date. If the subsidiary does not have suffi cient accessible highly liquid assets in 
order to repay the loan if demanded at the reporting date, an expected credit loss is calculated. This is calculated based on 
the expected cash fl  ows arising from the subsidiary, discounted using an effective interest rate, and weighted for probability 
likelihood variations in cash fl  ows. 

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45

 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

2.13  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.

2.14  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 on which they are taxable or deductible differs between tax law and their accounting treatment.

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 (i.e. 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.

2.15  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.

46

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Continued

2.16  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. 

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.

The Group issues shares to key agents who commit to long-term listing agreements, in line with its strategy to grow the agent 
shareholder base. Shares are issued in return for payment of the nominal share value in cash and, in some cases, in return 
for share premium in non-cash consideration relating to the long-term listing agreements signed. 

Upon contract commencement an agent recruitment share reserve is credited (shown within other reserves in the fi nancial 
statements) and a prepayment created, based on the value of the shares, which is then amortised over the life of the contract. 

2.17  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.

2.18  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. The transaction 
price, bring the monthly listing fee, does not include any other elements e.g. no incentives or free periods. There is only one 
performance obligation therefore. Revenue is recognised evenly over the life of the contract. Amounts are billed monthly in 
advance and released to the income statement over the period of access to the portal. Details on the application of IFRS 15 
have been included in note 2.5.

Within one reporting segment, there is only one major service provision line. All revenue relates to services transferred over 
time, namely a period of one month, as the Group invoices on a monthly basis. Sales are billed monthly in advance and 
predominantly collected via direct debit. At the end of the year, one month of deferred income is outstanding.  

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47

 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

2.19  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. 

Revenue recognition

A material number of customers have for some time been defaulting on the payment terms of their contracts. Management 
have made judgements as to whether there is any current intention to pay by these customers and, where there is judged not 
to be, the contract is deemed not to meet the contract recognition criteria under IFRS 15 and hence the amounts due are not 
included within revenues or administrative expenses.

Impairment of development costs

Development costs are recognised in respect of the online property portal. These costs are not considered to be impaired 
due  to  the  ongoing  economic  benefi t  obtained  from  the  portal.  In  determining  that  ongoing  economic  benefi t  is  obtained 
management make judgements about the ability to generate revenues and profi ts from the portal under existing contracts, 
many of which are long-term, as well as judgements about the growth of future revenues and profi ts from new paying agent 
customers.

Impairment of Company receivables

The  Company  has  intercompany  loans  to  its  subsidiary Agents’  Mutual  Limited  which  are  repayable  on  demand. As  the 
subsidiary did not have suffi cient highly liquid resources to repay the loans at 31 January 2019, an expected credit loss is 
calculated under IFRS 9.

The  calculation  is  based  upon  the  expectation  that Agents’  Mutual  Limited  will  trade  profi tably  in  the  future  and  that  this 
will allow it to repay the loans in time. Forecast cash fl  ows under a range of possible outcomes are discounted to derive a 
probability-weighted present value for the loan based upon the time taken to repay the outstanding amount in full. These 
calculations rely on management judgements as to the future cash fl  ow forecasts, the probability weightings assigned and the 
effective discount rate applied. Further details on the impairment provision are set out in note 16.

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). Within the one reporting segment, there is only one major service provision line. All revenue relates to 
services transferred over time, namely a period of one month, as the Group invoices on a monthly basis. Sales are billed 
monthly in advance and payments are recognised as deferred income. The Group has no contract assets but has contract 
liabilities of £1,126k at 31 January 2019 (2018: £1,042k) in respect of deferred income. 

All revenue is generated in the UK for this service.

48

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

5. Expenses by nature

Expenses are comprised of:

Depreciation  
Amortisation  
Staff costs (note 8) 
Operating lease expense - property 
Operating lease expense - other 
Advertising expenditure 
Other administrative expenses 

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2019 
£’000 

33 
1,856 
6,136 
664 
177 
14,905 
4,040 

27,811 

2018
(restated)
£’000

27
1,440
3,416
397
113
2,199
2,073

9,665

6. Specific professional fees, share-based payments and non-recurring items

Professional fees 
Compensation 
Agent recruitment charges 

2019 
£’000 

797 
(200) 
565 

1,162 

2018
£’000

2,679
(1,243)
–

1,436

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

Agent recruitment charges relate to share-based charges arising on the issue of shares to agents in return for committing to 
long-term listing agreements, in line with the Group’s strategy to grow the agent shareholder base.

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49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

7.  Operating loss

Operating loss is stated after charging: 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Gain on disposal 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 losses / (gains) 
Audit fees payable to the Company’s auditor 
- audit of Group fi nancial statements 
- audit related assurance services 

Other fees payables to the Company’s auditor: 

- taxation compliance services 
- corporate fi nance transaction services 
- all other services not covered above 

2019 
£’000 

33 
9 
1,856 
664 
177 
344 
10 

80 
8 

14 
67 
42 

2018
£’000

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

55
–

58
–
68

In addition to the above fees paid to the Company’s auditor there is a further £nil for other services (2018: £46k) which is 
disclosed within other reserves.

8. Employees and Directors

Group   

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

2019 
£’000 

6,727 
824 
63 

7,614 

The amounts above include £1,478k (2018: £1,092k) of staff costs that have been capitalised to intangible assets.

Company 

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

2019 
£’000 

153 
19 
1 

173 

2018
£’000

3,999
497
11

4,507

2018
£’000

46
–
–

46

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

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

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Number 

2018
Number

2 
72 
31 

105 

1
40
20

61

The Non-Executive Directors were the only employees in the Company as they had service contracts during the year:

Directors’ remuneration 
Group   

Aggregate emoluments 
Pension contributions 
Share-based payments 

Highest paid Director 
Group   

Aggregate emoluments 

2019 
£’000 

793 
3 
– 

796 

2019  
£’000 

250 

2018
£’000

616
1
7,724

8,341

2018
£’000

204

Key management personnel compensation

Key  management  personnel  are  those  persons  having  authority  and  responsibility  for  planning,  directing  and  controlling 
the activities of the Group. The Group considers the Directors to be the only key management personnel. As well as the 
e molu  ments  above  the  Group  paid  employers  national  insurance  contributions  of  £103k  (2018:  £49k)  due  in  respect  of 
the Directors. 

9. Finance income

Finance income:
Other interest receivable 

10.  Finance expense

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

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

85 

2

2019 
£’000  

29 
6 

35 

2018
£’000

1,230
3

1,233

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

6 

6 

– 

– 

6 

22

22

–

–

22

Factors affecting tax charge for the year
The tax assessed for the year is different from the effective rate of corporation tax as explained below:

Loss before taxation 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

(14,500) 

(12,070)

Loss before taxation multiplied by the effective rate of corporation tax 19% (2018: 19.18%) 

(2,755) 

(2,315)

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 
Losses carried forward 

Tax expense  

476 
54 
(257) 
(310) 
2,798 

6 

539
2,549
(1,032)
281
–

22

The Finance Act 2016 was enacted during the prior 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% (2018: 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 £14,726k (2018: £8,798k) for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised.

The Group has been implementing its 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 Group’s strategic plans, 
circumstances with respect to recoverability of the deferred tax asset in relation to losses carried forward 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 £385k (2018: £412k).

The Group has not recognised a deferred tax liability arising on non-current asset timing differences of £58k (2018: £95k) due 
to the availability of tax losses to extinguish this liability. 

52

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Continued

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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 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

(14,500) 

(12,092)

(14,500) 

(12,092)

No. 

No.

60,371,132 

35,530,263

As the Group made a loss for the year there is no dilutive effect. Instruments that would dilute earnings per share have not 
been included as these are anti-dilutive. 

13.  Property, plant and equipment

Group   

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 

Cost: 
At 1 February 2018 
Additions 
Disposals 

At 31 January 2019 

Depreciation: 
At 1 February 2018 
Charge for the year 
Disposals 

At 31 January 2019 

Net book value: 
At 31 January 2019 

Fixtures,
fi ttings and 
equipment
£’000

116
1
(1)

116

71
27

98

18

116
155
(16)

255

98
33
(6)

125

130

Depreciation is included within administrative expenses in the income statement.

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

53

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

14.  Intangible assets

Group   

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 

Cost: 
At 1 February 2018 
Additions – internally developed 

At 31 January 2019 

Amortisation: 
At 1 February 2018 
Charge for the year 

At 31 January 2019 

Net book value: 
At 31 January 2019 

Development
costs
£’000

5,062
1,538

6,600

1,506
1,440

2,946

3,654

6,600
2,150

8,750

2,946
1,856

4,802

3,948

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 
At 31 January 2019 

Subsidiary
undertakings
£’000

–
–

–

–

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Continued

The Company has the following investments in subsidiary undertakings:

Agents’ Mutual Limited 

On The Market (Europe) Limited 

Class of  
  shares held1 

Principal  Ownership
2019

activity 

Member  Online property 
  portal services  

Ordinary 

Dormant 

100%

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.

16. 

Trade and other receivables

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

Group  
2019 
£’000 

368 
– 
 330 
2,588 

3, 286 

Company 
2019 
£’000 

– 
28,178 
– 
43 

28,221 

Group 
2018 
£’000 

Company
2018
£’000

433 
– 
59 
61 

553 

–
23,366
–
23

23,389

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

Included within prepayments is £1.3m in relation to prepaid agent recruitment share-based payment charges (2018: nil). Of 
this, £0.95m is not due to be recognised in the income statement until the year to 31 January 2021 or after.

Impairment of Company receivables from subsidiaries

The Company’s group receivables represent trading balances and loan amounts advanced to other Group companies with no 
fi xed repayment dates. Under IFRS 9 the fair value of this intercompany receivable repayable on demand to the Company by 
Agents’ Mutual Limited is considered impaired as Agents’ Mutual Limited did not have suffi cient liquid resources at 31 January 
2019 to repay the loan in full. The impairment loss in the Company’s accounts is based upon the 12-month expected credit 
losses methodology under IFRS 9 and is calculated as set out in note 2.12. See also note 19.

Upon transition to IFRS 9 an impairment of £5,120k was included within the Company’s opening retained earnings.

Following an impairment review as at 31 January 2019, the provision has been adjusted to £9,123k. The credit risk is not 
deemed to have increased signifi cantly but the larger provision refl  ects the larger intercompany receivable (£37,301k before 
impairment). This provision is included within the Company’s loss for the period, however it is fully eliminated on Consolidation 
and has no impact on the Group’s reported fi nancial performance for the year or fi nancial position at the balance sheet date.

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55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

17.  Trade and other payables

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

18.  Borrowings

Current borrowings 
Accrued loan interest 

Non-current borrowings 
Loan notes   

Group 
2019 
£’000 

Company 
2019 
£’000 

Group 
2018 
£’000 

Company
2018
£’000

1,580 
 471 
21 
2,658 

4, 730 

2 
199 
1 
20 

222 

317 
637 
– 
2,003 

2,957 

1
5
–
76

82

Group 
2019 
£’000 

Company 
2019 
£’000 

Group 
2018 
£’000 

Company
2018
£’000

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1,217 

512

11,256 

12,473 

11,256

11,768

On Admission to AIM, 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. Details of the terms and 
conditions attached to the loan notes held at 31 January 2018 are disclosed in the prior year annual report.

Reconciliation of liabilities arising from fi nancing activities:

Accrued loan interest 
Loan notes   

31 January 
2018 
£’000 

1,217 
11,256 

12,473 

Cash 
fl ows 
£’000 

(1,217) 
– 

(1,217) 

Non-cash  31 January
2019
£’000

fl ows 
£’000 

– 
(11,256) 

(11,256) 

–
–

–

19. 

Financial instruments and financial 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.

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Continued

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; and

liquidity 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. 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.

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

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total fi nancial assets 

  Financial assets measured 
at amortised cost

2019 
£’000 

516 
15,673 

16,189 

2018
£’000

492
3,174

3,666

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57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings - accrued interest 
Accrued expenses 

Non-current liabilities 
Borrowings   

Total fi nancial assets 

Capital risk management

Financial liabilities held
at amortised cost

2019 
£’000 

1,601 
– 
1,532 

– 

3,133 

2018
£’000

317
1,217
961

11,256

13,751

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.

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.

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

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 

2019 
£’000 

83 
72 
40 
46 
127 

368 

2019 
% 

23% 
20% 
11% 
12% 
35% 

2018 
£’000 

146 
49 
45 
49 
144 

433 

2018
%

34%
11%
10%
11%
33%

The year to 31 January 2019 was the fi rst period in which the Group was required to prepare fi nancial statements under 
IFRS 15, “Revenue from contracts with customers”. Previously under IAS 18 all amounts due under contracts with customers 
were included as revenues and a corresponding bad debt expense was recognised within administrative expenses in respect 
of  amounts  due  from  agents  in  breach  of  the  payment  obligations  within  their  listing  agreements,  subject  to  a  review  of 
recoverability by management. Under IFRS 15 these amounts are no longer recognised within revenues or administrative 
expenses.

The total value of debts past due but not impaired is £285k (2018: £287k). Expected loss rate on balances less than 120 days 
gives rise to an immaterial loss allowances provision. The expected loss rate on balances greater than 120 days is considered 
to be 0%. This is because the balance relates to VAT due from HMRC on bad debts written off in previous periods. 

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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:

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Accrued expenses 

2018 
Trade and other payables 
Accrued loan interest 
Borrowings   
Accrued expenses 

Carrying  
amount  
£’000 

6 months 
or less 
£’000 

6-12 
months 
£’000 

1 year
 or more
£’000

1,601 
1,532 

3,133 

1,601 
1,532 

3,133 

– 
– 

– 

–
–

–

Carrying  
amount  
£’000 

6 months 
or less 
£’000 

6-12 
months 
£’000 

1 year
 or more
£’000

317 
1,217 
11,256 
961 

13,751 

317 
1,217 
– 
961 

2,495 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

–
–
11,256
–

11,256

All fi nancial liabilities are denominated in Sterling.

The borrowings consisted of loan notes which were long-term in nature, however these were extinguished during the current 
year by way of a share issue.

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. 

Impairment of Company fi nancial assets

The Company’s Group receivables represent trading balances and amounts advanced to other Group companies with no 
fi xed repayment dates.

The Company determines that credit risk has increased signifi cantly when:

 there  are  signifi cant  actual  or  expected  changes  in  the  operating  results  of  the  Group  entity,  including  declining 
revenues, profi tability or liquidity management problems; or

 there are existing or forecast adverse changes to the business, fi nancial or economic conditions that may impact the 
Group entity’s ability to meet its debt obligations.

The Company has determined that there is no increased credit risk with respect to the intercompany loan to Agents’ Mutual. 
Management believes the strong operational progress in the business means its future fi nancial prospects are less risky and 
it is judged to be more likely now to generate future profi ts to allow it to repay the loan then before. As such the expected 
credit losses have been calculated under the 12-month expected credit losses methodology. Note 16 details the impairment 
provision applied.

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59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

20.  Deferred income tax – Group and Company

Asset 
At 1 February 
Charge to income statement 

At 31 January 

21.  Provisions

At 1 February 2018 
Exercise of share options 
Grant of share options 
Revaluation   

At 31 January 2019 

Disclosed as:
Current liability 
Non-current liability 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

– 
– 

– 

–
–

–

 Social security 
on share
 options  
granted
£’000

1,612
(2)
19
(620)

1,009

2018
£’000

1,258
354

1,612

2019 
£’000 

776 
233 

1,009 

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. This is calculated based on the options disclosed in note 22 in respect 
of the management incentive share option plan and the employee share option scheme.

22.  Share-based payments

The Group issued agent recruitment shares during the year. 960,293 ordinary shares were granted. Fair value was determined 
in accordance with the accounting policy set out in note 2.16. The weighted average fair value of shares granted was £1.74. 

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

The  options  issued  during  the  prior  and  the  current  year  under  the  management  incentive  plan  and  the  employee  share 
scheme were issued at a nil strike price. As a result, the Black-Scholes  model was 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 or the date of grant. 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.

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Continued

For the options issued under the Company Share Option Plan during the current year, the Black Scholes method was used 
to value share options. Expected volatility was determined by reference to historic share prices. The valuation model inputs 
used to determine the fair value at the grant date, are as follows: 

Grant date

Expiry date

Share price at grant date

Strike price

Expected volatility

Dividend yield

Risk-free interest rate

Fair value at grant date

20/11/2018

20/11/2028

£1.15

£1.65

58.11%

0%

1.44%

£0.69

The grant by the Company of options over its equity instruments to the employees of subsidiary undertakings in the Group 
is treated as an intragroup loan. 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 debtors, with a corresponding credit to equity.

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, its employee share scheme and its Company 
Share Option Plan. The unexercised options at the end of the year are stated below:

Grant date of option

Expiry

Granted 15 September 2017

Granted 19 September 2017

Granted 10 October 2017

Granted 20 November 2018

Granted 4 December 2018

Outstanding at 31 January

2027

2027

2027

2028

2028

Option exercise
per share

Fair value

£

nil

nil

nil

1.65

nil

£

1.48

1.48

1.48

0.69

1.13

2019

Number

2018

Number

7,940,842

7,950,842

512,953

39,998

742,913

42,424

526,043

78,178

–

–

9,279,130

8,555,063

The value of employee services provided of £344k (2018: £11,678k) has been charged to the income statement.

Management Incentive Plan

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

Opening at 1 February 
Granted  
Exercised 

Outstanding at 31 January 

Exercisable at 31 January 

  Weighted  
average 
exercise 
price 
£

2019 
Number 

7,799,327 
– 
(10,000) 

7,789,327 

6,056,143 

–
–
–

–

–

OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

61

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

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 Background and 
origins at the start of these accounts), a further 10% after the second anniversary and the remainder after the fi fth anniversary. 
The remaining 6,056,143 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 in the year to 31 January 2018.

Employee share scheme

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

Opening at 1 February 
Granted in the period 
Forfeited in the period 

Outstanding at 31 January 

Exercisable at 31 January 

  Weighted  

average
exercise 
price
£

–
–

–

–

2019 
Number 

755,736 
42,424 
(51,270) 

746,890 

– 

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 forfeited should the employee leave. 

Company Share Option Plan

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

Granted in the period 
Forfeited in the period 

Outstanding at 31 January 

Exercisable at 31 January 

  Weighted
average
exercise
price
£

2019 
Number 

746,671 
(3,758) 

742,913 

– 

1.65
1.65

1.65

–

These share options expire 10 years after the date of grant. Share options granted under this scheme have an exercise price 
of £1.65 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  all  share-based  payment  schemes  except  the 
Company Share Option Plan. A provision has been recognised at 13.8% for a total credit of £601k (2018: expense of £1,612k).

62

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Continued

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

Opening Ordinary shares of £0.002 each 
Issued in the year 

Closing Ordinary shares of £0.002 each 

Ordinary shares of £0.002 each 

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£’000 

344 
(601) 

257 

2018

£’000

11,678
1,612

13,290

2019 
No. 

2018
No.

35,530,263 
25,963,348 

2
35,530,261

61,493,611 

35,530,263

2019 
£’000 

123 

2018
£’000

71

All issued shares are fully paid. The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time 
and are entitled to one vote per ordinary share at general meetings of the Company.

There is no additional share capital authorised for further share issues.  

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

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. 

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. 

Effective on Admission, the Company issued 6,821,237 ordinary shares to the loan note holders on a £ for £ basis equivalent 
to their loan note holdings. The loan notes were extinguished by this issue. 

The Company issued 757,203 ordinary shares on 31 May 2018, 29,392 ordinary shares on 31 July 2018, 47,761 ordinary 
shares on 8 October 2018 and 125,937 ordinary shares on 21 December 2018 to specifi c agents in exchange for a long-term 
contract to advertise all of their UK residential sales and letting properties on OnTheMarket.com. These shares were granted 
for non-cash consideration. The shares are accounted for as set out in note 2.16.

Share option scheme

At the year end, there were a total of 9,279,130 (2018: 8,555,063) 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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63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

565 
– 

565 

172 
273 

445 

1,010 

432
–

432

11
–

11

443

25.  Retirement benefit schemes

Defi ned contribution schemes
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 (2018: £nil) were outstanding. 

Contributions payable by the Group for the year 

26.  Controlling parties

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

27.  Related party relationships and transactions

2019 
£’000 

60 

2018
£’000

11

Some directors of Agents’ Mutual during the year were also, for the short period until 12 February 2018 when they resigned 
following Admission,  directors  or  partners  of  estate  agency  fi rms  who  are  shareholders  and  also  subscribe  for  services 
supplied by the Group. Listing fee income for the period in the year during which they were directors of Agents’ Mutual of £46k 
was received from such shareholders (2018: £1,417k). Although the agents are now shareholders of the Group, given the 
percentage shareholding owned by each agent, the fact that the agents are no longer represented on any Group company 
board and the fact the shares are listed and therefore that the Group is no longer wholly owned by agents, these agents are 
no longer considered to be related parties. None of these shareholders received preferential rates in the year. 

At the year end, following the issue, effective on Admission, of ordinary shares of £0.002 each at £1.65 per share to the loan 
note holders which extinguished the loan notes and the settlement of loan interest in cash, £nil (2018: £5,194k) of the Group’s 
loan note instruments were held by such shareholders and these instruments had interest due of £nil (2018: £650k).

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Continued

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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 £587k (2018: £478k) and at the year end the Group owed £68k (2018: £56k).

28.  Post balance sheet events

There have been no post balance sheet events. 

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65

 
Company Information

Directors 

Company Secretary 

Company number 

Registered offi ce  

Auditor   

Nominated adviser  
and joint broker   

Joint broker 

Solicitor  

Registrars 

 C Beattie
I Springett
H Whiteley
C Bell
I Francis 

R Almond

10887621

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

 RSM UK Audit LLP
Chartered Accountants
Third Floor, One London Square
Cross Lanes
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 1UN

Zeus Capital Limited
 82 King Street
Manchester
M2 4WQ

 Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited
Bond Street House
14 Clifford Street
London
W1S 4JU

 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

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OnTheMarket plc  Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements 2019

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Background and origins 

Overview

Highlights 
Chairman’s Statement 

Strategic Report
Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report 
Financial Review and Key Performance Indicators 
Risk Management and Principal Risks 

Governance

Board of Directors 
Directors’ Report 

•  Corporate Governance Statement 

Directors’ Remuneration Report 
 Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of OnTheMarket plc 

Financial Statements

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 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
Company Information 

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5

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12-13
14-15

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18-22
 19-22 
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 26-29

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36-37
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Annual Report 
and  Consolidated 
Financial Statements 

for the year ended 31 January 2019

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