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Purplebricks Group plc

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FY2019 Annual Report · Purplebricks Group plc
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Purplebricks Group plc
Annual Report
2019

A leading hybrid real 
estate agent focused on 
becoming the only place 
customers go to buy, sell 
and let their homes. 

Based in the UK, we also 
operate in Canada and are 
invested in homeday.de in 
Germany.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

3

 
INDEX

Strategic report

Chairman’s statement 

Business model 

Chief Executive’s statement 

Financial review 

Principal risks and uncertainties 

Governance

Directors’ report 

Our board 

Corporate governance statement 

Financial statements

Independent auditor’s report 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Consolidated statement of f inancial position 

Company statement of f inancial position 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

Company statement of changes in equity 

Consolidated statement of cash flows 

Company statement of cash flows 

Notes to the f inancial statements 

Company information 

6

 8

10

14

20

22

24

27 

29

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

86

4 
4 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019
Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
HIGHLIGHTS

FINANCIAL

Revenue
£136.5 million

(FY 2018: £87.8 million1)

Revenue growth  
55% 

(FY 2018: 101%1)

Gross margin up by 
200 bps to
58.5% 

(FY 2018: 56.5%1)

Operating loss of 
£(52.3) million

(FY 2018: £(27.8) million1)

Adjusted EBITDA2 
£(43.1) million

(FY 2018: (£22.6)million1)

Cash at end of year 
£62.8 million 

(FY 2018: £152.8m)

OPERATIONAL

UK hybrid 
market share3 of 
76%

(April 2018: 73%)

Completed
£10.4 billion 
of UK property,
(FY 2018: £9.7 billion)

STRATEGIC 

3.5x more sales
than the number two 
UK estate agent4
(FY 2018: 3.1x)

UK average revenue 
per instruction6 up 
6%

Saving customers
£77 million5
in commission 

Canadian business 
acquired in July 2018, 
contributed revenue of 
£23.7 million

In May 2019, the Company announced the closure of its Australian business and in July 2019 the withdrawal f rom the US 

following a strategic review. 

On 7 May 2019, Michael Bruce stepped down, and Vic Darvey was appointed CEO.

1   FY 2018 numbers have been restated under IFRS 15 throughout.

2  The underlying performance of the Group is monitored internally using a variety of statutory and alternative performance measures (“APMs”), which are 

not def ined within IFRS. Such measures should be considered alongside the equivalent IFRS measures. For full def initions and reconciliations of APMs, 

please refer to note 5 to the f inancial statements.

3  Source: Rightmove

4  Source: TwentyCi data 

5  Fees paid to Purplebricks vs typical commission of 1.3% plus VAT

6  Average revenue per instruction equates to total sales revenue divided by the number of published instructions

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

5

 
Strategic Report

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

A year of strong 
revenue growth despite 
operational challenges.

Having recently celebrated our fifth anniversary since launching in the UK, there 

are many things as true today as they were then – that the provision of good 

customer service, greater transparency, better technology and a low, fair, fixed 

fee underpinned by operational efficiency will enable us to build a sustainable, 

profitable business.

Going forward, there is considerable headroom to further disrupt the traditional 

real estate agency markets in both the UK and Canada. Building on our brand and 

operational strengths, we will make targeted investments that enable us to better 

exceed the needs and demands of sellers, buyers and renters across our business. 

In FY 2019, Group revenue was up by 55% to £136.5 million (FY 2018: 

£87.8 million). Despite the soft property market and consumer uncertainty 

caused by Brexit, the UK performed well with revenue up 21% year-on-

year. Canada contributed £23.7 million of revenue in its f irst nine months of 

ownership. Our Australian and US businesses contributed £22.7 million of 

revenue in aggregate (FY 2018: £13.4 million). As discussed below, both the 

Australian and US businesses will be closed in FY 2020. Despite this strong 

revenue performance, operating losses increased to £52.3 million (FY 

2028: £27.8 million), driven by £52.9 million of operating losses incurred 

in Australia and the US. 

Cash at the year-end was £62.8 million (30 April 2018: £152.8 million) 

giving signif icant f irepower to execute our strategy and improve 

our customer offering over the medium term. Our decision to 

exit the Australian and US markets is expected to signif icantly 

reduce cash burn going forward. 

For further discussion of f inancial performance and the 

position of the Group, please refer to the Chief Financial 

Off icer’s report. 

6 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Strategic Report

Board 

Governance overview 

The Board is focused on driving the Group’s mission to 

The Company has been through a number of signif icant 

deliver an excellent customer experience through world-class 

strategic and management changes during the last f inancial 

technology and service. Our focus going forward is to ensure 

year and progress on the Corporate Governance agenda has 

that the Group’s ambitions are managed against risks, with 

therefore been slower than hoped, but the Board remains 

sustainable growth at the heart of our business. 

committed to achieving high standards in this area, and 

expects that the current simplif ication of the Group will 

In May 2019, Michael Bruce announced he was stepping down 

help to focus efforts. As a fast-growing and relatively young 

as Chief Executive Off icer and as a Director. As well as being a 

business, we are aware that as we grow we need to maintain a 

co-founder of the business, Michael’s vision, passion and energy 

governance inf rastructure that is appropriate for our increasing 

were the driving forces behind our success and the Company 

size and prof ile. The Company has adopted the Quoted 

becoming the UK’s leading hybrid estate agent. Michael leaves 

Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code (“QCA Code”) 

with our thanks and best wishes for the future. Subsequent 

and is accordingly committed to complying with the QCA 

to Michael stepping down, the Bruce family disposed of its 

Code or providing a clear explanation of any areas in which the 

remaining 14% stake in the Company to Axel Springer, giving 

Company’s governance structures and practices differ f rom the 

that business a 26.6% holding in Purplebricks. 

expectations set by the QCA Code. 

The Board appointed Vic Darvey as Chief Executive Off icer 

Distribution policy 

in May 2019 to lead the business for the next phase of 

development. Vic had joined the business in January 

Due to the evolution of our business, the Board has concluded 

2019 as Chief Operating Off icer and brings more than 

that it would be premature to consider returning capital to 

20 years’ experience of leading successful high growth, 

investors at this time as we continue to focus our f inancial 

customer-focused disruptive technology and data driven 

resources on exploiting the many opportunities we see to 

businesses. Vic has a clear vision of the priorities we need to 

realise our potential. As our strategy and f inancial performance 

address to take the Company forward, and this is laid out in his 

develop, we will look to move to a progressive dividend policy in 

statement below. 

Strategy

future years. The Company has retained losses of £85.7m within 

its reserves, and in order to make a distribution it may be 

possible in future to make an application to convert non-

distributable reserves to distributable reserves. 

After the end of the f inancial year, the Board made the diff icult 

but important decisions to close the Group’s operations in 

Australia and to withdraw f rom the US. The rationale for these 

decisions is discussed in the Chief Executive’s statement, with 

an estimate of closing costs included in the Chief Financial 

Off icer’s review. Our focus going forward is on our prof itable 

UK business and well-established Canadian operations to drive 

Paul Pindar Chairman 

their full potential.

29 August 2019

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

7

 
Strategic Report

BUSINESS MODEL

A hybrid estate agent, 
such as Purplebricks, has a 
differentiated, technology-led  
proposition supported by a 
team of highly-skilled and 
knowledgeable home-based 
Local Property Experts. 

This allows us to deliver an 

exceptionally personalised experience 

to customers looking to buy, sell or let 

a property, while also offering pricing 

transparency and low, fixed fees.

We are the most positively reviewed 

estate agent in the UK with nearly 

67,000 independent reviews on 

Trustpilot and have also recently been 

awarded the Gold Service Standard 

Award by Feefo. 

We offer our customers an unrivalled service experience in both 

the UK and Canada by:

 „ building on our market-leading technology that enables 

Local Property Experts to be more productive and deliver a 

more convenient, transparent and cost-effective service for 

our customers;

 „ selecting and training LPEs who embrace our culture and 

core values and who have the desire and motivation to build 

their own business alongside ours; 

 „ creating marketing and advertising that engages and 

drives consumers to want to book a f ree valuation f rom 

Purplebricks and ensures that our messaging is clear, 

transparent and consistent;

 „ building on our customer service and product offering by 

introducing new features, products and services that are 

relevant to our customers’ needs throughout their journey; 

 „ focusing on attracting and retaining the best talent in the 

industry to provide a great customer experience; and 

 „ building a strong and sustainable business, which is 

respected by all stakeholders for its professional conduct and 

delivering on its commitments to customers. 

Local Property Experts (“LPEs”)

Our business model offers LPEs, who are typically experienced 

real estate agents, the opportunity of operating and growing 

their own independent business under the Purplebricks 

brand. In the UK, the most experienced LPEs are designated 

as Territory Owners (“TOs”), who have a direct contractual 

relationship with Purplebricks and are licensed to use 

Purplebricks’ intellectual property and are responsible for the 

activity of a number of LPEs in their territory. 

8 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Strategic Report

LPEs play a key role in the Purplebricks model as they are 

a f ree valuation f rom Purplebricks and ensure that our 

responsible for providing services to customers on behalf of 

messaging is clear and transparent. We work hard to develop 

the Group, including valuing the property, preparing an online 

and grow our brand and have made good progress, with our UK 

advertisement including photographs of the property, and 

prompted brand awareness at 96% and 24% where we operate 

attending viewings if required by the customer. Our LPEs aren’t 

outside of Quebec in only seven months since introducing the 

based in branches which means they can be on hand 7 days a 

Purplebricks brand into Canada. 

week, outside of the 9 to 5, to help at every step of the process 

f rom the initial valuation of the property all the way through to 

In FY 2019, we continued to evolve our “Commisery” campaign 

completion. 

focussing on the misery a person feels when they have paid 

signif icant commission and have got nothing more for it, 

One of the key factors in delivering our business model is 

taking the message further across more channels. Going 

getting the footprint of LPEs right in each of our markets, 

forward, we will focus more on customer service outcomes to 

so that they and the Purplebricks business as a whole can 

demonstrate greater social proof of our offering.

maximise productivity. We continue to tier our LPEs in the UK 

which has enabled us to better identify training needs and 

Our above the line marketing is complemented by brand and 

where necessary make changes to the balance of LPEs. 

generic pay-per-click activity which is predominantly provided 

We are proud to have secured some of the best people in our 

way to drive more activity amongst sellers and to test and 

industry who are entrepreneurial and ambitious to grow their 

ref ine marketing campaigns with digital platforms such as 

local market and to be part of a business that is changing 

Rightmove in the UK and YouTube, which is expected to drive 

by Google and Bing. We use social media in a targeted 

the way people think about real estate agents and estate 

further brand consideration. 

agency. They are passionate about providing great customer 

experiences, selling their homes and saving them money. 

In addition to paid marketing activities, we focus on eff iciencies 

In Canada, Representatives in Quebec (where we operate a 

our key messages are resonating with consumers. Our User 

for-sale-by-owner model providing home owners with the best 

Experience (‘UX’) specialists have proved invaluable at helping 

visibility and support to sell their home) and Local Realtors 

us achieve greater conversions across our website and through 

in our valuation conversion funnel and we adapt to ensure that 

in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are equally as dedicated to 

the “book a valuation” funnel. 

supporting our customers through their property transaction 

and gaining successful customer outcomes. 

Central Property Teams 

Build on our market leading technology 

Our Central Property Teams are based in each of our markets 

and play an important part in generating sales opportunities, 

Our technology enables us to convert consumer interest 

providing post-instruction support and ensuring great 

generated by our marketing-driven brand awareness into 

customer outcomes at every opportunity. 

valuations and a decision to instruct. 

Bringing together talented LPEs and industry-leading 

Ancillary services 

technology is the foundation on which the Purplebricks 

During our interactions we are able to offer customers relevant 

business was created. We are proud of our technology and 

additional products and services that complement their 

the work we are doing to introduce new and innovative 

journey of selling, buying or letting. We develop and test new 

features that set us apart f rom the industry. We strive to make 

and smarter ways of supporting our customers with much 

our processes more integrated, convenient, effective and 

more convenient, easy, accessible, stress f ree and cost-effective 

transparent. We have already revolutionised the way sellers 

products and services. 

and buyers communicate throughout the sales process and 

are building on developing real time solutions that bring more 

People and culture 

information to customers and ever more transparency to the 

home buying process. 

We continue to build an industry-leading culture at 

Purplebricks and focus on attracting and retaining the best 

We also look to drive LPE productivity. Technology 

talent in the market. Moving forward, we need to make sure 

developments also enable us to integrate with carefully 

that we have the right mix of capabilities in the business with 

selected partners so that we can provide our customers with 

an appropriate balance of real estate and digital talent. 

products relevant to them at the right time in their sales 

journey and at the same time drive additional revenue streams 

We have created a strong brand advocacy within our growing 

through cross-sell opportunities. 

business and amongst our customers. Despite a strong desire 

to grow their business, our people have a tremendous degree 

Create engaging marketing and advertising 

of camaraderie, togetherness and a collective brand advocacy 

that is extremely hard to replicate. The foundations begin 

Marketing has always been a central element of the 

for everyone with the recruitment programme and training 

Purplebricks strategy. We are committed to creating marketing 

methodology and continue through the heart of the business. 

programmes that engage with consumers to want to book 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

9

 
Strategic Report

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT

We have a strong and 
differentiated business model, 
clear brand leadership, and have 
set out a clear path to becoming 
the only place customers go to 
buy, sell and let their homes -  
unlocking further prof itable 
market share.

Purplebricks has grown rapidly over the last five years 

to become the largest UK estate agent, with clear 

brand leadership, an innovative business model and 

disruptive economics. Whilst the last 12 months 

have seen challenging trading conditions 

what’s become really clear is that we have a 

strong and differentiated business model 

that is hard to replicate. 

10  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Strategic Report

Brand leadership

great rating of 9.5 out of 10. To further reinforce our feedback 

capabilities, we have also launched a second review service 

We have clear brand leadership in the UK, with awareness 

with Feefo and I am pleased to say that we have achieved a 

currently at 96%7 and a brand that is more familiar to UK 

consistently high score of 4.7/5 and also winning their coveted 

consumers than any other estate agent brand. Our brand 

‘Gold Trusted Service’ award in 2019 for maintaining a score of 

strength has been further validated this year with Purplebricks 

more than 4.5/5 over the previous 12 months.

being named the 13th most relevant brand in the UK in the 

annual Superbrands® insight survey. This is an incredible 

Technology

achievement for such a nascent brand, being considered 

alongside other leading consumer brands including Google, 

We have a differentiated, technology-led proposition driving 

Amazon, Netflix and PayPal. 

Customer value proposition

clear business model advantages and we believe there 

are signif icant opportunities for us to scale. As consumer 

expectations continue to evolve, fuelled by the adoption of 5G, 

we anticipate that the hybrid model will continue to displace 

Purplebricks has an effective model which is a clear “category 

traditional agents. Our aim being to drive higher attachment 

killer” and we remain hugely focused on becoming “the only 

rates of products in basket, higher engagement through the 

place customers go to buy, sell and let their homes”. We have 

My Purplebricks app and opportunities to create longer lifetime 

an unrivalled value proposition in the marketplace that offers 

value through Purplebricks Plus. 

consumers the opportunity to sell their homes for a fair, f ixed 

fee. We are always available, when most high street agents 

As we unlock the next wave of growth, we will be focusing 

still stick to off ice hours. Our technology provides complete 

on three areas of product development that will continue to 

transparency to the entire buying and selling experience 

extend our market leadership while using data and technology 

enabling viewings to be booked instantly online and offers 

to reset the service standards of the industry: 

to be made and accepted f rom the palm of your hand 

around the clock. 

 „ Re-accelerate core growth by delivering rapid innovation of 

the customer journey;

Purplebricks’ revolutionary process of buying and selling has 

enabled a market-leading position in the UK in terms of the 

 „ Increase LPE productivity by delivering greater automation 

total properties we represent on the market and the speed 

and eff iciency; and

at which we sell them. We also enjoy signif icant market 

share in Quebec.

Moving forward, we are fully focused on creating a more 

 „ Start building the foundations of a real-time, mobile-enabled 

estate agent of the future.

dynamic customer experience based on real-time analytics, 

Rapid expansion into international markets over the last few 

artif icial intelligence and Smart CRM delivering a best-in-class 

years has been distracting and the product and technology 

experience. This will enable end-to-end service excellence for 

teams have been stretched to the limit. However, recent 

customers and greater automation and eff iciency for our Local 

decisions to exit both the Australian and US markets have given 

Property Experts (“LPEs”).

People and culture

us the opportunity to refocus on our flagship markets of the UK 

and Canada. There is a huge focus on continuing to take share 

f rom incumbent traditional operators and extend our market 

leadership. However, there is also a recognition that we need 

We have a stand-out culture at Purplebricks and, as we have 

to do things differently, none more so than in product and 

grown, we have distilled the best elements of our customer 

technology. 

service ethos into our Purple Promises:

 „ We focus on people, not just property;
 „ We go the extra mile for every customer, every time;
 „ We treat everybody fairly and with respect; and
 „ If we say we will do something, we do it.

We continue to focus on attracting and retaining the best 

talent in the category and moving forward, we need to make 

sure that we have the right mix of capabilities in the business 

with an appropriate balance of real estate and digital talent. 

Our sharp focus on talent is reflected in the feedback we 

receive f rom customers, and we are proud that we remain the 

most positively reviewed estate agent in the UK with nearly 

67,000 independent reviews on Trustpilot with an excellent or 

7  Source: The Nursery, March 2019

We will be moving to more agile ways of working, instilling 

strong product principles and an enduring product vision 

that lays strong foundations for a data-enabled and digitally-

enhanced estate agent of the future. 

Strength of balance sheet

Following our f ifth anniversary since launch in April 2019, we 

are now beginning our second phase of growth, and it will be 

characterised by a more optimal allocation of capital and a 

laser focus on operational excellence. Withdrawing f rom the 

Australian and US markets will signif icantly reduce operational 

losses and we expect to remain in a position of positive cash 

generation across the UK and Canada combined this year. This 

will be supported by clear, consistent, operational metrics.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

11

 
Strategic Report

UK 

Canada 

In the UK, we grew the number of instructions and revenue 

On 6 July 2018, we completed the acquisition of DuProprio, a 

generated despite the market slowing and a number of 

leading hybrid real estate business in Canada with a signif icant 

traditional estate agents reporting a reduction in activity and a 

market share in Quebec and impressive revenue growth in 

decrease in their revenues.

the other provinces in which it operates. The acquisition by 

Purplebricks is expected to accelerate these opportunities 

We were delighted that once again independent analysis f rom 

by enhancing the customer experience through its market-

the leading, whole of market, industry data specialists TwentyCi 

leading model and technology, capitalising on an extensive 

resulted in a number of positive conclusions about our key 

buy-side revenue opportunity and introducing aspects of the 

customer performance metrics for the year ending April 2019: 

Purplebricks business model to operate alongside the highly 

 „ We sold more homes: Purplebricks sold Subject to Contract 

(“SSTC”) 3.5x more properties than the next largest UK estate 

We will be disciplined in building on the momentum of this 

agent (FY 2018: 3.1 times)

established business with three initial areas of focus:

successful digital service offered by DuProprio. 

 „ Highest conversion: Purplebricks had the highest level of 

 „ Continue to automate the experience through technology 

conversion to SSTC and the lowest withdrawn level of the top 

and process improvements;

20 estate agency brands in the UK

 „ Sold faster: Purplebricks sold (SSTC) properties faster than 

 „ Maintain 20% market share in Quebec; and

the top 10 largest estate agency brands in the UK – at an 

 „ Increase brand awareness and market penetration in the 

average of 52 days

remainder of Canada having rebranded to Purplebricks f rom 

 „ Secure best price: compared to the top 50 largest traditional 

estate agency brands whose average instruction price is 

The business continues to be led by the existing, highly 

between £250,000-£300,000, Purplebricks achieved sales 

experienced, management team in place at the time of the 

ComFree in early 2019.

that are £9,000 higher on average

 „ Number one at selling houses: 77% of listings sold 

(completed, exchanged or SSTC) within 12 months to April 

acquisition.

Australia 

2019; 56% of listings are sold within two months 

During the two and a half years that Purplebricks operated 

in Australia, market conditions became increasingly 

 „ Largest market share: Purplebricks lists more properties 

challenging. Despite changes to the business model and the 

than any other agent brand on homes up to £1 million, which 

continued hard work and dedication of the team there, we 

represents 96.5% of the entire market 

failed to gain the scale needed to succeed. Given the market 

outlook, and size of the ultimate opportunity, the Board took 

In FY 2019, our average revenue per instruction increased to 

the decision in May 2019 to run down and close the business, 

£1,243 (FY 2018: £1,168), and we expect that to be higher in 

which will be completed by 31 December 2019. A reduced team 

the next f inancial year as we continue to look at optimising 

is in place to ensure a professional wind down of the business 

attachment rates for ancillary products and other adjacency 

and to ensure we continue to deliver great outcomes for our 

opportunities.

remaining customers. 

We remain optimistic about the potential of our UK business 

US 

and we believe that there are signif icant opportunities to 

extend our market leadership.

12  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Having launched in the US in September 2017, we expanded 

rapidly into a total of seven states within a year. Each state 

required a signif icant investment in marketing to underpin the 

brand. Having not seen the revenue growth we had expected, 

in early May 2019 we put the US business under strategic 

review, to examine the feasibility of delivering growth in a more 

effective and cost-eff icient manner. Having reviewed a number 

of alternative business models, the outcome of the strategic 

review was that while there remains a signif icant opportunity 

to disrupt the US market, it would take substantially more 

management time and resources than the Company is able 

to commit at this time. Therefore, a decision was taken to 

withdraw f rom the US and either sell or close the business. 

Strategic Report

Most importantly, our people 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our 

incredibly talented people across all our markets in 

what has been a challenging year – f rom the external 

macro environment to a number of signif icant internal 

changes. My thanks in particular to our colleagues in 

Australia and the US, who have remained highly professional 

and, without exception, always focused on delivering great 

outcomes for our customers throughout a very diff icult period 

for the business. 

GENDER BREAKDOWN OF OUR 

BOARD, SENIOR MANAGEMENT 

AND ALL EMPLOYEES AT  

30 APRIL 2019 

Vic Darvey Chief Executive Off icer 

29 August 2019

Board membership

0% female

FY 2019:  0 | 7 

Senior management

22% female

FY 2019:  2 | 7 

All employees

46% female

FY 2019:  198 | 233 

Female

Male

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

13

 
 
Strategic Report

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Despite market headwinds, our 
teams have driven increasingly 
prof itable growth in the UK 
market. Year-end cash of 
£62.8m provides flexibility and 
strength to generate signif icant 
shareholder value going forward.

The 2019 financial year provided further 

confirmation of the strength of the increasingly 

profitable UK business, where revenue increased 

by 21% to £90.1 million and adjusted EBITDA by 

65% to £10.2 million. This is against a backdrop 

of declining new listings coming to market 

and a competitive landscape where key 

traditional players are experiencing 

a notable shrinkage in their sales 

businesses. Group operating 

losses increased from £27.8m to 

£52.3m, arising entirely from  

non-UK operations.   

14  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Strategic Report

Last year was a year of contrasting halves f rom an international 

though IFRS 15 had been applied at the time. A reconciliation 

perspective. The year started with signif icant investment across 

between IFRS 15 and IAS 18 is given in note 31 to the f inancial 

our international markets to drive awareness and consideration 

statements. 

in what were challenging market conditions in both Australia 

and the US. The effectiveness and returns obtained f rom this 

During the year, revenue for the Group increased by 55% to 

marketing spend was challenged as the second half progressed 

£136.5 million (FY 2018: £87.8 million). Stripping out revenue 

and led to decisions taken post year-end to close our Australian 

f rom the Canadian acquisition would have resulted in growth 

business and more recently our US operations following an 

of 29%. Gross prof it increased by 61% to £79.9 million (FY 

in-depth strategic review. In total, our operating losses in those 

2018: £49.6 million), giving a gross prof it margin of 58.5%, an 

markets were £52.9 million. In contrast, Canada, acquired in 

improvement of 200bps. Investment in building our brand in 

July 2018, progressed in line with management expectations 

the US and establishing the Australian business led to a Group 

including the launch in January 2019 of an enhanced marketing 

operating loss of £52.3 million (FY 2018 loss: £27.8 million). 

programme, along with a rebranding to Purplebricks 

outside of Quebec. 

The business is supported by a robust balance sheet with 

a strong cash position. As funding has been raised f rom 

The Group adopted IFRS 15 Revenue f rom Contracts with 

shareholders, to date the Group has f inanced its expansion 

Customers in the current year, and has applied the fully 

without taking on debt. The Group had a cash balance at 30 

retrospective approach permissible under the accounting 

April 2019 of £62.8 million (30 April 2018: £152.8 million). 

standard, which required us to restate comparatives as 

GROUP 

Extract of Consolidated statement of Comprehensive Income

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Gross profit margin (%)

Administrative expenses

Marketing costs

Share of results of Joint Venture

Operating loss

Group Alternative Performance Measures2

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted operating loss

Adjusted operating costs

UK

Extract of consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Gross profit margin (%)

Administrative expenses

Marketing costs

Operating loss

FY 2019 
£m

136.5

(56.6)

79.9

58.5%

(61.0)

(70.7)

(0.5)

(52.3)

FY 2019 
£m

(43.1)

(48.0)

(51.7)

FY 2019 
£m

90.1

(33.3)

56.8

63.0%

(24.8)

(26.7)

5.3

Restated1  
FY 2018 
£m

87.8

(38.2)

49.6

56.5%

(35.3)

(42.1)

-

(27.8)

Restated1  
FY 2018 
£m

(22.6)

(24.3)

(30.0)

Restated1  
FY 2018 
£m

74.4

(31.3)

43.1

57.9%

(19.5)

(21.4)

2.2

1   See note 31

2  The underlying performance of the Group is monitored internally using a variety of statutory and alternative performance measures (“APMs”), which are 

not def ined within IFRS. Such measures should be considered alongside the equivalent IFRS measures. For full def initions and reconciliations of APMs, 

please refer to note 5 to the f inancial statements.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

15

 
Strategic Report

KPIs 

The Directors use key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess performance of the business against the Group’s strategy. The 

strategy is built around: eff iciently attracting good quality customers to our website; gaining market share; and providing 

customers with choice to enable revenue per instruction to increase. Cost-effective marketing and a controllable operating cost 

base are the ingredients to a sustainably prof itable business.

NEW USERS

AVERAGE REVENUE PER 
INSTRUCTION

COST PER INSTRUCTION

MARKETING AS A 
PERCENTAGE OF SALES

represents the number of 

represents total marketing 

new unique visitors to the 

equates to total sales revenue 

costs, including portal costs, 

represents the total 

website in the year.

divided by the number of 

divided by instructions.

marketing costs, including 

published instructions

portal costs, as a percentage 

of total revenue.

UK alternative performance measures2

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating costs

UK KPIs

New users

Instructions

Average revenue per instruction

Cost per instruction

Marketing as a % sales

FY 2019 
£m

10.2

7.4

(19.8)

Restated1  
FY 2018 
£m

6.2

4.6

(15.5)

FY 2019

FY 2018

Change (%)

13,488,000

13,820,000

69,892

£1,243

£382

29.6%

64,376

£1,168

£332

28.8%

(2.4)%

8.6%

6.4%

15.1%

80bps

UK revenue increased by 21% during the year, driven by a 9% 

Adjusted operating costs (see def inition above) were up 28% 

increase in the number of instructions and a 6% increase in 

to £19.8 million (FY 2018: £15.5 million). At this time last year, 

average revenue per instruction to £1,243 (FY 2018: £1,168). 

we noted an increased level of inf rastructure investment to 

meet the demands of a higher volume, regulatory changes 

Revenue was split 56:44 between instruction and ancillary 

and technology enhancements. The £4.3 million year-on-year 

revenue respectively (FY 2018: 57:43). We have seen a further 

increase being as a result of the full year costs of additional 

shift towards a greater proportion of ancillary revenue as we 

headcount added over the previous year across key value-

successfully sell more products to our customers. 

driving areas of the business such as technology, marketing 

and customer service along with continued investment in 

The majority of cost of sales is represented by the earnings of 

those areas as well as in compliance functions. 

self-employed LPEs. UK Gross prof it margin for the year was 

63.0% up 510bps f rom the prior year. 230bps of the increase 

Marketing costs were £26.7 million (FY 2018: £21.4 million), 

can be attributable to a change in November 2017 of the UK 

an increase of 24.8% over the prior year, reflecting 

deferred payment provider, resulting in costs of £1.7 million 

continued investment in the UK brand and customer 

being recognised within f inance costs, rather than within cost 

acquisition. Marketing cost per instruction (“CPI”) was £382 up 

of sales as was previously the case. A further 210bps of the 

f rom £332, which reflected an unsustainable level of marketing 

increase is attributable to £1.6 million of outsourced property 

spend f rom several online competitors along with substantial 

management fees being recorded in cost of sales in FY 2018, 

reductions in commission f rom traditional f irms necessitating 

whereas the work is now being undertaken in house so the cost 

a higher than normal level of communication of our value 

is recorded in administrative expenses. 

proposition in a shrinking market. Overall marketing costs are 

expected to fall in FY 2020.

1   See note 31 

2  The underlying performance of the Group is monitored internally using a variety of statutory and alternative performance measures (“APMs”), which are 

not def ined within IFRS. Such measures should be considered alongside the equivalent IFRS measures. For full def initions and reconciliations of APMs, 

please refer to note 5 to the f inancial statements

16  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Adjusted EBITDA for the year (see def inition above) was up by 65% to £10.2 million (FY 2018: £6.2 million). 

Depreciation and amortisation was £2.3 million up f rom £1.6 million, predominantly reflecting a function of the increase in capitalised 

development costs f rom prior years. Despite these cost increases, operating prof it has improved strongly in the year. 

Share-based payment charge was £2.1 million down £0.3 million on the prior year. Options have been granted historically to align the 

objectives of key employees with the performance of the Group. 

Strategic Report

Canada from 6 July 2018

Canada alternative performance measures2

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted operating loss

Canada KPIs8

Instructions

Average revenue per instruction

Cost per instruction

Marketing as a % sales

FY 2019 
£m

(2.1)

(2.8)

FY 2019

FY 2018

Change (%)

From 6.7.18

6.7.17 - 30.4.18

29,112

£776

£253

31.1%

31,020

£671

£132

18.5%

(6.2)%

15.6%

91.7%

12.6ppt

For the period of ownership f rom 6 July 2018, our Canadian businesses performed in line with management expectations and 

generated revenue of £23.7 million and a gross prof it of £12.6 million, giving a gross prof it margin of 53.2%. Although the number of 

instructions won in the period of ownership were 6% down on the equivalent period in the prior year, average revenue per instruction 

was 16% higher. Cost per instruction increased f rom £132 to £253 as marketing spend was increased signif icantly, including to support 

a rebrand to Purplebricks outside of Quebec. 

Marketing costs were £7.4 million as we increased the typical level of spend to support faster growth and the rebranding in January 

to Purplebricks outside of Quebec. While it is too early to conclude on the results and effectiveness of the exercise, early data points 

show an improving trajectory. Further detail will be provided when our f irst half results for FY 2020 are released. Overall marketing 

spend in FY 2019 increased f rom the prior year when the business was under previous ownership. Over the short to medium term, it is 

expected that marketing costs will moderate as a percentage of revenue as the new brand identity is established. The operating loss 

was £3.2 million.

Australia

Extract of consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Gross profit margin (%)

Administrative expenses

Marketing costs

Operating loss

Australia alternative performance measures2

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted operating loss

1   See note 31 

FY 2019 
£m

11.4

(7.4)

4.0

35.1%

(10.7)

(12.1)

(18.8)

FY 2019 
£m

(17.9)

(17.9)

Restated1  
FY 2018 
£m

11.9

(6.4)

5.5

46.2%

(7.3)

(11.4)

(13.2)

Restated1  
FY 2018 
£m

(12.5)

(12.6)

2  The underlying performance of the Group is monitored internally using a variety of statutory and alternative performance measures (“APMs”), which are 

not def ined within IFRS. Such measures should be considered alongside the equivalent IFRS measures. For full def initions and reconciliations of APMs, 

please refer to note 5 to the f inancial statements

8.  The FY 2018 KPI information is for a period before the business was acquired by the Group, however has been included for comparability.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

17

 
Strategic Report

Australia KPIs

New users

Instructions

Average revenue per instruction

Cost per instruction

Marketing as a % sales

FY 2019

831,000

3,648

£3,026

£3,309

106%

FY 2018

851,000

4,544

£3,170

£2,533

96%

Change (%)

(2.4)%

(19.7)%

(4.5)%

30.6%

10ppt

In the face of increasingly diff icult market conditions as the year progressed, we changed the management team and business 

model. Post year-end, the Board concluded that the prospective returns f rom Australia were no longer suff icient to justify continued 

investment and took the decision to exit the market in May 2019. A focused, results-orientated team are on the ground implementing 

our exit strategy, which is based around an orderly process where we stand by our key obligations and help customers successfully sell 

their properties.

Investments and loans made to the end of FY 2019 were £40.8 million, and with the decision to close our Australian business, we expect 

total losses and closure costs of between £6 million to £8 million in FY 2020.

US

Extract of consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Gross profit margin (%)

Administrative expenses

Marketing costs

Operating loss

US alternative performance measures2

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted operating profit

US KPIs

Instructions

Average revenue per instruction

Cost per instruction

Marketing as a % sales

FY 2019 
£m

11.3

(4.8)

6.5

57.5%

(16.1)

(24.5)

(34.1)

FY 2019 
£m

(33.1)

(33.2)

Restated1  
FY 2018 
£m

1.6

(0.6)

1.0

62.5%

(8.4)

(9.4)

(16.8)

Restated1  
FY 2018 
£m

(16.3)

(16.3)

FY 2019

FY 2018

Change (%)

2,987 

£3,956 

£8,201 

217% 

724 

£2,851 

£8,917

588% 

313%

38.8%

8.0%

(371)ppt

While US revenue for the year grew more than 600%, operating losses increased to £34.1 million, more than doubling over the year 

reflecting a substantial increase in marketing spend and the establishment of an East Coast off ice. 

Post year-end, following a period under strategic review to examine the feasibility of delivering the next phase of growth in a more 

effective and cost-eff icient manner, a decision to withdraw f rom the US was made in July 2019. Investments and loans made to the end 

of FY 2019 were £53.1 million, and while it is a very recent decision, we expect total losses and closure costs of between £4 million to £6 

million in FY 2020.

1   See note 31

2  The underlying performance of the Group is monitored internally using a variety of statutory and alternative performance measures (“APMs”), which are 

not def ined within IFRS. Such measures should be considered alongside the equivalent IFRS measures. For full def initions and reconciliations of APMs, 

please refer to note 5 to the f inancial statements

18  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Strategic Report

Material transactions and exceptional items 

rate. As the UK and Canadian businesses move to prof itability 

in the future this effective tax rate is expected to move to a 

Given the outlook in those markets, investments made to 

more normalised rate.

date in both Australia and the US, including intercompany 

receivable balances, £93.9 million in aggregate, were 

fully impaired as at 30 April 2019. This is reflected in the 

Statement of financial position

stand-alone parent company and does not impact Group 

The Group has a strong f inancial position to support its 

results. No exceptional items were identif ied for the year to 30 

continued growth, including a cash balance of £62.8 million 

April 2018. 

(30 April 2018: £152.8 million) and no debt. As funding has been 

raised f rom shareholders to date, the Group has no debt. Net 

In January 2019, the Company invested £11.3 million for a 

assets of £103.7 million were £46.5 million lower than the 

12.9% stake in Homeday.de in Germany as part of a strategic 

comparable f igure (30 April 2018: £150.2 million) mostly as a 

investment alongside Axel Springer. 

result of a lower year end cash balance partially mitigated by 

higher levels of goodwill and intangible assets arising f rom 

The acquisition of the Canadian businesses in July 2018 and 

acquisitions.

the agreed minority investment in Homeday.de in Germany 

mark new milestones for the Group. Both deals back existing 

Cash flow

management teams, with local knowledge and proven 

track records. 

Discontinued operations 

Operating cash flow, which represents cash generated f rom, 

or consumed by operations, after marketing expenditure 

but before f ixed asset expenditure was an outflow of 

£49.1 million (FY 2018: £16.3 million), of which £51.0 million 

All of the Group’s activities were continuing throughout FY 2019 

was consumed in funding adjusted EBITDA losses in Australia 

and FY 2018, although post year end the Group announced it 

and the US. Technology expenditure that is eligible for 

was closing its Australian business and more recently its US 

capitalisation, other capital expenditure and f inance income/

operations. 

Tax 

The Group reports a net tax credit of £1.1 million (FY 2018: 

£0.9 million charge). The tax credit includes a £1.0 million 

expenditure accounted for a further outflow of £3.7 million 

(FY 2018: £3.5 million). Cash spent on acquiring our Canadian 

business and share of Homeday.de was £38.5 million (FY 2018: 

£nil). Total cash outflow for the year was £90.3 million (FY 2018: 

£82.0 million inflow, benef iting f rom £102 million share issues). 

deferred tax credit relating to the recognition of previously 

Approved and signed on behalf of the Board

unrecognised UK deferred tax assets, as the UK business now 

expects to make suff icient taxable prof its to utilise these 

deductions; and deferred tax assets arising during the year 

in Canada. The overall credit position is also enhanced by a 

current tax credit of £0.3 million for repayable research and 

development tax credits. No tax impact is recognised in relation 

to the losses in the US and Australia and therefore the Group’s 

effective tax rate differs signif icantly f rom the statutory tax 

James Davies Chief Financial Off icer 

29 August 2019

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

19

 
Strategic Report

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES 

Risk management is an important part of the management process for the 

Group. Assessing the nature of risks faced, the magnitude of the risk presented 

to business performance and the manner in which the risk may be mitigated is 

critical for the business for the long term. 

The most signif icant risks facing the business are set out below: 

Risk

Potential impact

Mitigation

Change

Economic

People

As an estate agency the Group’s fortunes are closely linked with those of the housing market and the 

The Group closely monitors market conditions and the broader economies in which we operate, and believes 

broader economy as a whole in the countries in which we operate. Economic uncertainty, such as that 

the outlook for the UK property market remains positive, despite the continuing uncertainties stemming f rom 

created in the UK by Brexit, can adversely affect the Group’s performance. 

.

the result of the EU referendum. Our cost base is relatively flexible and able to react quickly and effectively to 

changes in market conditions.

An experienced and knowledgeable workforce (including our network of independent Local Property 

Providing our people with relevant training, great rewards, effective marketing and an effective software 

Experts) is required to service customer’s needs and drive forward the business. The market for skilled staff 

platform is a key priority for the business. Recruiting and developing new employees, when required, is 

and independent contractors remains competitive and a failure to recruit and retain the right people could 

undertaken by experienced staff to ensure the correct calibre of individual is identif ied. 

impact on the Group’s ability to succeed.  

Reputation

for a potential customer seeking to instruct the Group. As such, a failure to either deliver a professional 

fair price and monitors its customer feedback, both direct and through third party providers, on a real time 

Reading positive references f rom existing customers is an important part of the decision-making process 

The Group strives to maintain its reputation for being a trusted estate agency service provided at a f ixed 

service to existing customers or elicit positive reviews could impact our ability to grow.  

daily basis. 

Financial

Competition

Cyber security 

and data  

protection

International 

risk

Legal/ 

regulatory

Inaccurate f inancial information may result in sub-optimal decisions being taken by management and 

The systems of internal controls deployed within the Group are designed to prevent f inancial loss. Controls 

staff. Inadequate internal controls may fail to prevent the Group suffering a f inancial loss.  

are strongest in areas where management considers the potential exposure to the Group of material loss or 

misstatement to be at its greatest, such as revenue recognition and cash collection. Processes to improve 

internal controls and reviews are in place to improve as the business develops. 

The success of The Group is dependent on maintaining scale through market share whilst operating in a 

To counter the threat of competitors seeking to win business f rom us, the Group aims to invest in technology 

competitive sector where there are many alternatives for the customer and the potential for new entrants.  

and marketing to ensure that the Group maintains its position as the market leader in the estate agency sector. 

A security breach could cause signif icant operational disruption and/or data loss. A loss of control over 

The Group monitors the resilience of its information systems and other facilities on an ongoing basis introducing 

data could result in private or commercially sensitive data being made available to unauthorised parties 

updates and upgrades as appropriate. A GDPR working group operates closely with our operational business 

and the subsequent reputational impacts could cause a f inancial loss. GDPR legislation prescribes 

teams in order to embed compliance into all relevant processes. External advice is sought as appropriate. 

strict requirements regarding the safeguarding of the personal data of customers and other individuals 

with whom the Group operates. Non-compliance with GDPR legislation can lead to signif icant 

f inancial penalties.

In order for The Group to deliver its strategy in international markets we require appropriate knowledge and 

The Group continues to provide control and support as we wind down our operations in the US and Australia, 

a relevant, affordable business model.  

and external advisers have been engaged as necessary. Our Canadian operations are well established and are 

overseen by the Group management team.

As a disruptive business with prominence in its sector, the Group faces the challenge of an evolving legal 

The Group reviews upcoming legislation and compliance and has constituted a Compliance SteerCo to oversee 

and regulatory environment and failure to ensure legal, regulatory and ethical compliance would impact 

and prioritise compliance requirements. The Audit Committee and the Board are regularly appraised of the 

the reputation and operations of the Group. Regulators may impose signif icant f ines for non-compliance. 

Group’s legal and regulatory challenges.

Change

course of the last calendar year. As a result the Group faces an increased risk of loss of talent, knowledge 

needed to deliver that strategy. 

The Group has experienced signif icant change in leadership, structure and geographical footprint over the 

The Group continues to focus on both the appropriate strategy for its new model and the key roles that are 

and experience, and also potentially litigation. 

 Risks which have been assessed as more signif icant year on year 

 Risks which have been assessed as less signif icant year on year

Risks where signif icance is unchanged year on year

20  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
 
Strategic Report

Environmental risk

As a digital business, the impact of our owned operations on 

society and the environment is small in comparison to that of 

other businesses of similar size. With respect specif ically to 

Greenhouse gas emissions, for FY 2019 the Company was below 

the size required to report its emissions, but will do so in time 

as it continues to grow. 

Economic

People

Financial

Competition

Cyber security 

and data  

protection

International 

risk

Legal/ 

regulatory

Risk

Potential impact

Mitigation

Change

As an estate agency the Group’s fortunes are closely linked with those of the housing market and the 

The Group closely monitors market conditions and the broader economies in which we operate, and believes 

broader economy as a whole in the countries in which we operate. Economic uncertainty, such as that 

the outlook for the UK property market remains positive, despite the continuing uncertainties stemming f rom 

created in the UK by Brexit, can adversely affect the Group’s performance. 

.

the result of the EU referendum. Our cost base is relatively flexible and able to react quickly and effectively to 

changes in market conditions.

An experienced and knowledgeable workforce (including our network of independent Local Property 

Providing our people with relevant training, great rewards, effective marketing and an effective software 

Experts) is required to service customer’s needs and drive forward the business. The market for skilled staff 

platform is a key priority for the business. Recruiting and developing new employees, when required, is 

and independent contractors remains competitive and a failure to recruit and retain the right people could 

undertaken by experienced staff to ensure the correct calibre of individual is identif ied. 

impact on the Group’s ability to succeed.  

Reputation

for a potential customer seeking to instruct the Group. As such, a failure to either deliver a professional 

fair price and monitors its customer feedback, both direct and through third party providers, on a real time 

Reading positive references f rom existing customers is an important part of the decision-making process 

The Group strives to maintain its reputation for being a trusted estate agency service provided at a f ixed 

service to existing customers or elicit positive reviews could impact our ability to grow.  

daily basis. 

Inaccurate f inancial information may result in sub-optimal decisions being taken by management and 

The systems of internal controls deployed within the Group are designed to prevent f inancial loss. Controls 

staff. Inadequate internal controls may fail to prevent the Group suffering a f inancial loss.  

are strongest in areas where management considers the potential exposure to the Group of material loss or 

misstatement to be at its greatest, such as revenue recognition and cash collection. Processes to improve 

internal controls and reviews are in place to improve as the business develops. 

The success of The Group is dependent on maintaining scale through market share whilst operating in a 

To counter the threat of competitors seeking to win business f rom us, the Group aims to invest in technology 

competitive sector where there are many alternatives for the customer and the potential for new entrants.  

and marketing to ensure that the Group maintains its position as the market leader in the estate agency sector. 

A security breach could cause signif icant operational disruption and/or data loss. A loss of control over 

The Group monitors the resilience of its information systems and other facilities on an ongoing basis introducing 

data could result in private or commercially sensitive data being made available to unauthorised parties 

updates and upgrades as appropriate. A GDPR working group operates closely with our operational business 

and the subsequent reputational impacts could cause a f inancial loss. GDPR legislation prescribes 

teams in order to embed compliance into all relevant processes. External advice is sought as appropriate. 

strict requirements regarding the safeguarding of the personal data of customers and other individuals 

with whom the Group operates. Non-compliance with GDPR legislation can lead to signif icant 

f inancial penalties.

In order for The Group to deliver its strategy in international markets we require appropriate knowledge and 

The Group continues to provide control and support as we wind down our operations in the US and Australia, 

a relevant, affordable business model.  

and external advisers have been engaged as necessary. Our Canadian operations are well established and are 

overseen by the Group management team.

As a disruptive business with prominence in its sector, the Group faces the challenge of an evolving legal 

The Group reviews upcoming legislation and compliance and has constituted a Compliance SteerCo to oversee 

and regulatory environment and failure to ensure legal, regulatory and ethical compliance would impact 

and prioritise compliance requirements. The Audit Committee and the Board are regularly appraised of the 

the reputation and operations of the Group. Regulators may impose signif icant f ines for non-compliance. 

Group’s legal and regulatory challenges.

Change

course of the last calendar year. As a result the Group faces an increased risk of loss of talent, knowledge 

needed to deliver that strategy. 

The Group has experienced signif icant change in leadership, structure and geographical footprint over the 

The Group continues to focus on both the appropriate strategy for its new model and the key roles that are 

and experience, and also potentially litigation. 

The strategic report on pages 6 to 21 was authorised by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by: 

Vic Darvey Chief Executive Off icer 

James Davies Chief Financial Off icer 

29 August 2019

29 August 2019

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

21

 
Governance

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The future funding arrangements in respect of the Group’s 

joint venture Homeday have been amended post year end. See 

note 19 for further details.

The directors present their annual 

Research and development

report on the affairs of the Group, 

together with the financial statements 

and auditor’s report for the year ended 

30 April 2019. 

The corporate governance statement set out on page 27 forms 

part of this report.

Business review 

During FY19 the Groups development of its web based IT 

platform continued in order to increase the services available 

to customers. Total expenditure in the period recognised in the 

income statement was £3,455,000 with a further £2,606,000 

capitalised (2018: expenditure of £759,000 and capitalisation of 

£2,292,000).

Dividend 

No dividends were paid in the year and there are none 

recommended (FY 2018: £nil).

Matters included in the strategic report and Chief Financial 
Officer’s report 

Political donations 

A comprehensive analysis of the Group’s future developments 

The Company and Group made no political donations during 

is contained in the strategic report and Chief Executive’s 

the year and proposes to maintain this policy.

statement. The business review, details of the Group’s 

performance and KPIs are set out in the Chief Executive’s 

Employees 

statement and Chief Financial Off icer’s report. Principal risks 

and uncertainties are presented on pages 20 and 21.

The Group’s policy of providing employees with information 

about the Group has continued and regular meetings are held 

Financial risk management objectives and policies 

between management and employees to allow exchanges 

of information and ideas. As the Group grows, the Group 

The Group uses f inancial instruments, comprising cash, invoice 

continues to consider ways to encourage the involvement of 

factoring and various items such as trade debtors and trade 

employees in the Group’s performance. 

creditors that arise directly f rom operations. The main risks 

arising f rom the Group’s f inancial instruments are liquidity risk, 

The Group gives every consideration to applications for 

interest rate risk, credit risk and foreign currency risk. Detailed 

employment by disabled persons where the requirements of 

information regarding the Group’s exposure to f inancial risks 

the job may be adequately f illed by a disabled person. Where 

as well as the f inancial risk management strategy employed in 

existing employees become disabled, it is the Group’s policy 

order to reduce these risks is set out in note 26 to the f inancial 

wherever practicable to provide continuing employment under 

statements. 

Going concern

similar terms and conditions and to provide training, career 

development and promotion wherever appropriate. 

In adopting a going concern basis for the preparation of the 

Subsidiaries 

f inancial statements, the Directors have made appropriate 

Information about the subsidiaries is provided at note 18 to the 

enquiries and have considered the Group’s business activities, 

f inancial statements. 

cash flows and liquidity position as set out on pages 8 and 9 

and in note 26 to the f inancial statements, and the Group’s 

Investor relations

principal risks and uncertainties as set out on pages 20 and 21.

Based on the Group’s forecasts, the Directors are satisf ied 

shareholders lies with the Chairman, while the Board as a 

that the Company, and the Group as a whole, have adequate 

whole is committed to maintaining good communications 

resources to continue in operational existence for the 

with the market based on the mutual understanding of 

foreseeable future. Accordingly, the f inancial statements have 

objectives. To cement that commitment, during the year 

been prepared on the going concern basis.

the company appointed its f irst Head of Investor Relations, 

Primary responsibility for effective communication with 

Please see further detail in note 2.3

Post balance sheet events 

On 7 May 2019, Vic Darvey was appointed Chief Executive 

Off icer following the resignation of Michael Bruce. On the same 

date, Purplebricks announced that it was closing its Australian 

business, and on 3 July 2019, it was announced that the 

Company was withdrawing f rom the US market. Further details 

of these actions are provided in the Chief Executive’s statement 

and in note 30. 

with a view to establishing a structured programme of 

communications with existing and potential investors 

and analysts.

The Chairman, Chief Executive Off icer and Chief Financial 

Off icer have regular dialogue with institutional shareholders 

in order to develop an understanding of their views, which is 

communicated back to, and discussed with, the Board. The 

Head of Investor Relations also provides regular reports to 

the Board on related matters, issues of concern to investors, 

and analyst’s views and opinions. The company endeavours to 

answer all queries raised by shareholders promptly.

22  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Governance

Presentations given to analysts and investors covering the 

point of contact for shareholders should they feel that 

annual and interim results, along with all results and other 

any concerns are not being addressed properly through 

regulatory announcements as well as further information for 

the normal channels. He may be contacted through the 

investors, are included on the investor relations section of the 

Company Secretary.

Company’s website at www.purplebricksplc.com. Additional 

shareholder information is also set out on page 84.

Shareholders are also encouraged to participate in the 

Company’s annual general meeting, at which the Chairman 

Shareholders are able to contact the Company through the 

will present the key highlights of the Group’s performance. The 

Company Secretary or Head of Investor Relations. Mike Wroe, 

Board will be available at the annual general meeting to 

our Senior Independent Director, serves as an additional 

answer questions f rom shareholders. 

Substantial shareholdings 

At 9 July 2019, the Company had been notif ied in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the FCA, or was aware, 

that the following held, or were benef icially interested in, 3% or more of the voting rights in the Company’s shares at that date: 

Shareholder name

Axel Springer SE

Woodford Investment Management Ltd

Merian Global Investors*

Toscafund Asset Management

Paul Pindar and wife

*Formerly known as Old Mutual Global Investors (UK) Ltd

Number of shares

% shareholding

81,384,638

59,002,549

50,862,083

31, 960,727

10,827,227

26.57%

19.26%

16.60%

10.43%

3.53%

Following his resignation as a director on 7 May 2019, Michael Bruce disposed of his shareholding in full to Axel Springer SE.

Directors and directors’ interests 

The directors who held off ice during the f inancial year are 

Vic Darvey was appointed as Chief Executive Off icer and as a 

director of the Company on 7 May 2019.

set out below: 

Adrian Blair1

Michael Bruce (resigned 7 May 2019)

James Davies

Nick Discombe1 (resigned 31 May 2018)

Simon Downing1

Paul Pindar1

William Whitehorn* (resigned 30 June 2018)

Andreas Wiele1

Michael Wroe1

Shares held and outstanding share awards

Details of shares held and options to purchase Ordinary shares in the Company granted to the executive directors are set out 

below. Details of share-based payments are included in note 10 to the f inancial statements. The share price was 133.4p on 30 April 2019. 

Director Name

Description

Outstanding 
Interest at  
1 May 2018

Options  
Granted  
During the  
year

Options  
Exercised  
During the  
year

Outstanding  
interest 
at 30 April  
2019

Shares held

Adrian Blair

-

-

Michael Bruce2

EMI unapproved options

James Davies

CSOP

Simon Downing

Paul Pindar3

-

-

2,430,551

1,000,000

-

-

-

-

500,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

33,675

2,430,551

33,386,072

1,500,000  -

-

-

133,500

10,827,227

Vic Darvey was granted an award over 700,000 shares under the Companies Employee Share Option Plan on 7 January 2019 whilst he 

was the Group’s Chief Operating Off icer.

1   Denotes non-executive directors

2  Michael Bruce’s shareholding includes those of his wife.

3  Paul Pindar’s shareholding includes those of his wife.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  23

 
Governance

OUR BOARD

Non-executive Chairman  
Paul Pindar 

Paul joined Capita plc in 1987, initially as Finance Director, then 

Managing Director in 1991 and Chief Executive in 1999. He was 

the third-longest serving FTSE 100 CEO when he stood 

down in 2014.

He joined Capita after advising on the £0.3 million 

management buyout (MBO) while working for 3i Group 

plc. When he joined Capita, it had 33 employees and annual 

revenue of £1.3 million. When he left the business in February 

2014, Capita had more than 62,000 employees and a market 

capitalisation of £7.5 billion.

Since June 2014 he has served as Chairman of Independent 

Clinical Services following its acquisition by TowerBrook. Since 

September 2017, Paul has been non-executive Chairman of 

Literacy Capital plc and is also Chairman of Bookmark Reading 

Charity’s Corporate Partnership Board. Paul was also an early 

investor in Purplebricks.

Chief Executive Officer 
Vic Darvey

Vic is a digital leader with more than 20 years’ experience 

successfully scaling a number of international consumer 

brands, most recently as Managing Director of 

MoneySupermarket.com. He has held leadership roles across 

a number of highly competitive and disruptive businesses, 

including LastMinute.com. Vic joined Purplebricks in January 

2019 as Group Chief Operating Off icer and brings a proven 

record of technology delivery and leadership of cutting-edge 

data-led, customer-focused, commercial innovation. Vic was 

appointed Group Chief Executive Off icer on 7 May 2019.

Chief Financial Officer  
James Davies 

James joined Purplebricks in May 2017 f rom William Hill plc, 

having been Chief Financial Off icer of its digital business since 

2015. Prior to this, James was a divisional Chief Financial Off icer 

at Kingf isher plc and was deputy to the Group Finance Director 

of UBM plc for three years. Before this, James spent f ive years 

in the UK M&A team at Deutsche Bank and eight years in the 

technology team at Close Brothers Corporate Finance. James 

started his career within the TMT team at Deloitte in London 

where he qualif ied as a chartered accountant.

24  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Governance

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director  
Michael Wroe 

Adrian joined Just Eat f rom Spotify, where as Director of 

European Business Development his team forged pioneering 

partnerships between the music streaming and mobile device 

Mike Wroe is the former Group Chief Financial Off icer of Just 

industries. Prior to that he spent six years at Google Inc. in a 

Eat plc and was part of the team that led the transformation of 

number of senior commercial roles across California and 

Just Eat f rom a 40-person, venture-backed start-up, through 

London including Head of eCommerce Partnerships, where 

its IPO and transition into becoming a highly successful 

his team helped thousands of businesses improve their ROI 

public business. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant 

f rom AdWords. Before that, Adrian was Head of Business 

with Deloitte & Touche, Mike has held over 20 years’ Senior 

Development at Ask Jeeves Inc., where he developed a 

Executive experience across a range of both listed and private 

network of over 10,000 aff iliate websites, helping Ask become a 

ecommerce, services and technology businesses with a track 

household name in the UK prior to its $1.85bn sale to IAC.

record of delivering results in both high growth and rapid 

change environments.

Adrian chairs the Nomination Committee and is a member of 

the Audit and Remuneration Committees.

Mike is the Company’s senior independent non-executive 

director and chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of 

the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Independent Non-Executive Director  
Simon Downing 

Independent Non-Executive Director  
Adrian Blair 

Simon joined the Board in April 2018 and is the founder 

and Executive Chairman of Civica Group Limited, a leading 

international provider of specialist software and digital 

Adrian joined the Board in April 2018 and is CEO of Receipt 

solutions. Simon led the business through its flotation on 

Bank, a high growth global Fintech business backed by Insight 

AIM in 2004, and its subsequent growth and international 

Ventures. Until 2018, he was Global Chief Operating Off icer 

expansion, completing 25 acquisitions as part of the group 

at Just Eat plc, where he was responsible for all commercial 

expansion. In July 2017, Civica was sold to Partners Group 

operations in the UK and 12 international markets. He was 

for £1.06 billion and had grown to over 4,000 employees and 

instrumental over seven years in building Just Eat into one of 

operations in nine countries.

the most successful technology companies in Europe. He was 

part of the team that led Just Eat through its listing on the 

Simon is currently Chairman of Edenhouse Solutions, a 

London Stock Exchange in 2014, since when the company has 

specialist SAP support and consultancy business, and is a 

created c.£1bn of shareholder value per year, culminating in 

Non-executive Director at AdvisorPlus Business Solutions and 

promotion to the FTSE 100 in December 2017. 

Datum Datacentres.

In addition to his role at Civica and other board appointments, 

Simon is a Senior Adviser to OMERS Private Equity, which 

has in excess of CAD $11 billion of private equity assets under 

management. He is also a past winner of the EY UK Technology 

and IT Services Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Simon chairs the Remuneration Committee and is a member 

of the Audit and Nomination Committees. 

Non-Executive Director  
Andreas Wiele 

Dr Andreas Wiele studied law at Dijon, Salzburg and Munich 

Universities. He worked f irst of all as an editor at “Hamburger 

Morgenpost”, before he became assistant to the chairman of 

the Gruner + Jahr management board in 1988. In 1990 he took 

over responsibility for the “Capital” project at the Prisma Presse 

publishing company in Paris, where he became publishing 

manager of “Capital” and “Geo” in 1991.

In 1994, he moved to New York to join Gruner + Jahr USA 

Publishing, initially as senior vice-president and general 

manager of “Family Circle” and “McCall’s” and f rom 1997 

onwards as executive vice-president and chief operating off icer 

for the publishing company as a whole.

In 2000, Dr Andreas Wiele was appointed member of the 

Executive Board of Axel Springer SE as President of the BILD 

Group and Magazines, in 2014 President Classif ieds Media and 

CEO Axel Springer Digital and Axel Springer Digital Ventures.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  25

 
Governance

Attendance at Board meetings

Participation of Board and Committee members at meetings (and calls) as compared with the number of meetings held:

Board

Audit3

Remuneration3, 4

Nomination3, 5

Attendance

Paul Pindar

Michael Bruce

James Davies

Mike Wroe

Adrian Blair

Simon Downing

Andreas Wiele

Nick Discombe1

Will Whitehorn2

Key

   Board (10 meetings)

   Audit Committee (2 meetings)

   Remuneration Committee (10 meeting)

   Nomination Committee (1 meeting)

90%6

100%

100%

90% 7

100%

100%

80%

100%

-

3.  Committee memberships were ref reshed on 19 September 2018.

4.  There were 10 remuneration committee meetings held during the year, 

seven of which were convened to grant options. It is anticipated that 

there will be fewer meetings held in FY 2020.

5.  Given that four new directors were appointed in FY 2018, it was felt that 

only one nomination committee meeting was necessary in FY 2019.

   Board or committee member not present

6.  Paul Pindar was prevented f rom attending a Board Meeting due to 

   Non-Committee member invited to attend part or all of a meeting 

(although no part of a Remuneration Committee meeting during 

which time their remuneration was discussed)

Notes 

1.  Stepped down f rom the Board on 31 May 2018.

2.  Stepped down f rom the Board on 30 June 2018.

an urgent family matter. Full Board materials were issued to him and 

he briefed other Board members before the meeting and received a 

debrief shortly after the Board meeting.

7.  Mike Wroe was unable to attend a Board meeting as he was out of the 

country at the time. Full Board materials were issued to him and he 

passed on his comments to the Chairman ahead of the meeting.

Research and development 

The Group undertakes a continuous programme of 

they are satisf ied that they give a true and fair view of the state 

of affairs and prof it or loss of the Company and Group for that 

period. In preparing these f inancial statements, the directors 

development as part of its commitment to lead change in the 

are required to: 

real estate industry. Development expenditure is capitalised 

only when the end product is technically and commercially 

 „ select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

feasible and when suff icient resource is available to complete 

consistently; 

the development, as disclosed in note 2.17 to the f inancial 

statements. All other research and development expenditure 

 „ make judgements and accounting estimates that are 

is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income as an 

reasonable and prudent;

expense as disclosed in note 8 to the f inancial statements.

D&O insurance provisions 

 „ state whether applicable IFRSs have been followed, subject 

to any material departures disclosed and explained in the 

f inancial statements; and

The Company has a qualifying indemnity insurance policy in 

respect of Directors’ and Off icers’ liability insurance policy, 

 „ prepare the f inancial statements on the going concern basis 

which covers Directors and off icers of the Company defending 

unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will 

civil proceedings brought against them in their capacity as 

continue in business.

Directors or off icers of the Company. 

Statement of directors’ responsibilities 

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 

records that are suff icient to show and explain the company’s 

transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any 

The directors are responsible for preparing the strategic 

time the f inancial position of the company and enable them 

report and directors’ report and the f inancial statements in 

to ensure that the f inancial statements comply with the 

accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding 

the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable 

Company law requires the directors to prepare f inancial 

steps for the prevention and detection of f raud and other 

statements for each f inancial year. Under that law the directors 

irregularities.

have elected to prepare the f inancial statements in accordance 

with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 

adopted by the European Union. Under company law the 

directors must not approve the f inancial statements unless 

26  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The directors are responsible for the maintenance and 

integrity of the corporate and f inancial information included 

Auditor 

on the Company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom 

Following a formal tender process concluded in September 

governing the preparation and dissemination of f inancial 

2018, Deloitte LLP was appointed by shareholders as the 

statements may differ f rom legislation in other jurisdictions.

Group’s statutory auditor at the Company’s Annual General 

Governance

Meeting in October 2018.

Deloitte LLP have expressed their willingness to continue in 

off ice as auditor and a resolution to reappoint them will be 

proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Disclosure of information to auditor

The directors conf irm that:

 „ so far as each director is aware, there is no relevant audit 

information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; and 

 „ the directors have taken all the steps that they ought to 

have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware 

of any relevant audit information and to establish that the 

Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

While the Company is going through a period of signif icant 

Nomination Committee 

challenge and change, the Board is committed to achieving 

high standards of corporate governance, integrity and 

The Nomination Committee is chaired by Adrian Blair and 

business ethics. 

its other members are Mike Wroe and Simon Downing. The 

Nomination Committee assists the Board in discharging its 

The Company has adopted the Quoted Companies Alliance 

responsibilities relating to the composition of the Board, 

Corporate Governance Code and is accordingly committed to 

performance of Board members, induction of new directors, 

complying with the QCA Code or providing a clear explanation 

appointment of committee members and succession planning 

of any areas in which the Company’s governance structures 

for senior management. The Nomination Committee is 

and practices differ f rom the expectations set by the QCA Code. 

responsible for evaluating the balance of skills, knowledge, 

In accordance with best practice, the Board has established 

composition of the Board, retirements and appointments of 

an audit committee, a remuneration committee and a 

additional and replacement directors and makes appropriate 

diversity and experience on the Board, the size, structure and 

nomination committee.

recommendations to the Board on such matters. The 

Nomination Committee prepares a description of the role 

The control environment of the company has developed 

and capabilities required for a particular appointment. The 

as the business has grown over the last 5 years. The 

Nomination Committee meets at least twice a year and 

effectiveness of the control environment is monitored 

otherwise as required.

as the business evolves including in respect of overseas 

operations. The Board is committed to continuous monitoring 

Remuneration Committee 

of the effectiveness of this environment, and to make further 

investment where required in order to target a best practice 

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Simon Downing 

control environment. Information regarding the Company’s 

and its other members are Mike Wroe and Adrian Blair. The 

compliance with the 10 principles of the QCA code is set out on 

Remuneration Committee reviews the performance of the 

our investor website purplebricksplc.com

Executive Directors and senior management and makes 

Audit Committee 

recommendations to the Board on matters relating to their 

remuneration and terms of employment. The Remuneration 

Committee also makes recommendations to the Board 

The Audit Committee is chaired by Mike Wroe, and its other 

on proposals for the granting of share options and other 

members are Simon Downing and Adrian Blair. The Audit 

equity incentives pursuant to any share option scheme or 

Committee has primary responsibility for monitoring the 

equity incentive scheme in operation f rom time to time. The 

quality of internal controls and ensuring that the f inancial 

remuneration and terms and conditions of appointment of the 

performance of the Company is properly measured and 

Non-executive Directors of the Company are set by the Board.

reported on. It receives and reviews reports f rom the 

Company’s management relating to the interim and annual 

The Non-Executive directors do not have any personal interest 

accounts and the accounting and internal control systems in 

in the matters to be decided by the committee, or any potential 

use throughout the Company. The Audit Committee meets 

conflicts of interest arising f rom cross-directorships or day to 

at least three times a year and has unrestricted access to the 

day involvement in the running of the Company. The Executive 

Company’s auditor.

directors and other senior personnel may be invited to attend 

meetings when appropriate to provide advice. However, no 

director will be present or take part in discussions concerning 

their remuneration.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  27

 
Financial statements

Remuneration policy 

criteria. Whilst the Company does not have a specif ic human 

rights policy, it does have statements on Equal Opportunities, 

The Company’s policy is that the remuneration package of 

Modern Slavery and Anti-bribery that adhere to internationally 

the Executive Directors should be suff iciently competitive 

agreed human rights principles.

to attract, retain and motivate those directors to achieve the 

Company’s objectives without making excessive payments.

Environment 

Basic salary and benef its 

Purplebricks Group plc is committed to minimising the 

environmental impact of its business operations and seeks to 

Base salaries will be reviewed annually by the Remuneration 

actively manage its carbon footprint. As an online business with 

Committee, and adjusted where appropriate to 

reflect performance, changed responsibilities and/or 

market conditions.

Service contracts and letters of appointment 

very limited physical inf rastructure and a marketing model 

that is largely paperless, the Company has a much-reduced 

environmental impact as compared to traditional real estate 

agencies. As a relatively new and fast-growing company we will 

be constantly reviewing our business model and operations 

to limit the impact we and our customers make in the course 

The Company’s policy is for all of the Executive Directors 

of our business in areas such as energy eff iciency, waste, 

to have twelve month rolling service contracts. All Non-

recycling, emissions, transport and printing.

Executive Directors are salaried. They are not eligible for 

bonuses, pension benef its, share options or other benef its, 

Health and safety 

save where compulsory by law. The Directors are indemnif ied 

to the full extent permitted by statute. Executive and Non-

The effective management of health and safety across 

Executive Directors Remuneration is detailed in note 9 to the 

our business is an integral part of our broader business 

f inancial statements.

Long term equity incentive plan 

administration requirements. As the business grows we are 

committed to ensuring appropriate assessment and suitable 

control of the health and safety risks arising f rom our work 

activities for our employees, our customers and our partners.

During the year, grants of options were made to senior 

management (including Executive Directors), staff, and a 

Charitable and philanthropic activity 

number of LPEs’ companies to align their interests ever more 

closely with those of shareholders.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Equality, diversity and rights 

An important part of the Company’s culture and ethos is to 

give back to the public and local communities in which we 

operate through the commitment of time, resources and 

fundraising activities. Our employees are active in raising 

money or supporting fundraising activities for a wide range of 

causes both local and national.

Purplebricks Group plc maintains a strong commitment to 

equality and opportunity in our employment policies and 

Any member of staff can nominate a local project for support 

practices in the workplace. Through our recruitment and 

by the Purplebricks Foundation Committee. The f inal 

selection processes we seek to attract and retain a diverse 

projects are chosen by the Foundation Committee, made 

and talented workforce. As prescribed by law, we commit that 

up of members of the management team. The Foundation 

no existing or potential employee will receive less favourable 

Committee meets periodically.

treatment due to their race, creed, nationality, colour, ethnic 

origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender reassignment, marital 

This directors’ report was approved and signed on behalf 

status, membership of a trade union, disability, or any other 

of the Board 

Vic Darvey Director 

James Davies Director 

29 August 2019

29 August 2019

28  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Auditor’s report

Independent auditor’s report to 
the members of Purplebricks 
Group Plc

Report on the audit of the financial statements

OPINION

In our opinion:

 „ the f inancial statements of Purplebricks Group plc (the 

‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) give 

a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the 

parent company’s affairs as at 30 April 2019 and of the 

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 f inancial 

statements section of our report. 

Group’s loss for the year then ended;

We are independent of the Group and the parent company 

in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant 

 „ the Group f inancial statements have been properly 

to our audit of the f inancial statements in the UK, including 

prepared in accordance with International Financial 

the Financial Reporting Council’s (the ‘FRC’s’) Ethical 

Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 

Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have fulf illed 

European Union;

our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these 

requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have 

 „ the parent company f inancial statements have been 

obtained is suff icient and appropriate to provide a basis for 

properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 

our opinion. 

the European Union and as applied in accordance with the 

provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and

 „ the f inancial statements have been prepared in accordance 

with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

We have audited the f inancial statements which comprise:

 „ the consolidated statement of comprehensive income;
 „ the consolidated and parent company balance sheets;
 „ the consolidated and parent company statements of 

changes in equity;

 „ the consolidated and parent company cash flow statements;
 „ the statement of accounting policies; and
 „ the related notes 1 to 31.

The f inancial reporting f ramework that has been applied in 

their preparation is applicable law and IFRSs as adopted by the 

European Union and, as regards the parent company f inancial 

statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the 

Companies Act 2006.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  29

 
Auditor’s Report

SUMMARY OF OUR AUDIT APPROACH

Key audit matters

The key audit matters that we identif ied in the current year were:
 „ Valuation of deferred income relating to instruction revenue in the UK and Australia;
 „ Accounting for the acquisition of DuProprio; and
 „ Impairment of investments and intercompany receivables held by the parent company. 

Materiality

The materiality that we used for the Group f inancial statements was £2,025,000 which was determined on 

the basis of 1.5% of Group revenue.

Scoping

The group audit team performed a full scope audit of the parent company and an audit of specif ied 

account balances for US based operations, which together represented 73% of Group revenue, 57% of 

Group loss before tax and 64% of Group net assets. 

We also requested component auditors perform specif ied audit procedures on certain account balances 

and transactions for the Australian and Canadian operations which represented 25% of Group revenue, 

40% of Group loss before tax, and 33% of Group net assets. The remaining components were subject to 

analytical procedures by the group audit team. 

The overall scope of our audit resulted in us performing audit procedures over 98% of Group revenue, 97% 

of Group loss before tax, and 97% of Group net assets. 

First year audit  
transition

The year ended 30 April 2019 is our f irst as auditor of the Group. We were appointed as auditors on 19 

October 2018, having been independent since prior to 1 May 2018, and commenced our transition f rom the 

date of appointment. The transition has included: 
 „ establishing a detailed audit transition plan; 
 „ holding a Group audit planning meeting with our component audit teams; 
 „ performing Group audit team oversight, including visits where considered necessary, to components 

throughout the transition process; 

 „ reviewing the previous Group auditor’s audit f ile; and 
 „ reviewing historic accounting policies and accounting judgements through discussion with 

management and review and challenge of management’s papers and supporting documentation. 

This process built our understanding of the Group which informed our risk assessment process, f rom which 

we identif ied the risks of material misstatement to the Group’s f inancial statements. 

We presented our audit plan and transition observations to the Group’s senior management and to 

the Audit Committee throughout the transition process, including issuing a transition update report in 

December 2018 and a transition report and audit plan in April 2019.

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO GOING CONCERN

We are required by ISAs (UK) to report in respect of the following matters where:
 „ the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in preparation of the f inancial statements is 

not appropriate; or 

We have nothing 

to report in 

respect of 

 „ the directors have not disclosed in the f inancial statements any identif ied material uncertainties that 

these matters. 

may cast signif icant 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 f rom the date when the f inancial 

statements are authorised for issue. 

KEY AUDIT MATTERS

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most signif icance in our audit of the f inancial 

statements of the current period and include the most signif icant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to 

f raud) that we identif ied. These matters included 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 f inancial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, 

and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

30  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Auditor’s report

Last year the previous auditor’s report contained three key audit matters which are not included in our report this year: valuation of 

intangible assets, recoverability of deferred tax assets and completeness of equity transactions.  We have assessed each of these items 

during the course of the audit, and concluded that these were not key audit matters in the current period.  The other key audit matter 

in the previous auditor’s report was revenue recognition. We have included a revenue recognition key audit matter in the current year, 

and this is focussed on the valuation of deferred income.

Valuation of deferred income relating to instruction revenue in the UK and Australia

Key audit 

Following the adoption of IFRS 15 in the period, the Group was required to reassess how revenue for 

matter description

instruction services should be recognised. This has resulted in instruction revenue being recognised using a 

measure of performance under IFRS 15, compared to primarily being recognised at a point in time under IAS 

18. The impact of this is disclosed in note 2.4.1 and note 31 to the f inancial statements. 

There are two key judgements made in determining the revenue recognition for instruction revenue, being 

the period over which to recognise revenue and the measure of performance used to determine when the 

performance obligations have been met. 

Judgement has been used to determine the period over which to recognise instruction revenue, which 

has been disclosed as a key source of estimation uncertainty in note 3.4 to the f inancial statements. The 

performance measure over which revenue is recognised is based on the expected time taken f rom 

instruction of a new property until the point at which a sale completes. This expectation is set with reference 

to historical experience.

The measure of performance used has been determined on a portfolio basis, using the average time taken 

for a property sale to complete, which is described in the accounting policies section in pages 44 to 47. 

The methodology employed for UK instruction revenues assumes that the housing market will continue 

to operate in a steady state. Given the uncertainty created by the decision for the UK to exit the European 

Union, industry analysts are concerned that this may lead to a slow down in the UK housing market, which 

could increase the time it takes for properties to sell. An increase in the time it takes for properties to sell 

would lead to a reduction in instruction revenues recognised as the fees would be spread over a longer 

period, resulting in more revenue deferred into the next f inancial year.

Refer to notes 2.4.1, 6 and 21 for the Group accounting policy, management’s consideration of critical 

accounting judgements and disclosure note respectively.

How the scope 

of our audit 

For the UK component, our procedures involved:
 „ assessing the design, implementation and testing of operating effectiveness of key IT controls over key 

responded to the 

systems used to retain sales information; 

key audit matter

 „ using internal data analytics specialists who analysed the underlying data used to calculate the average 

period taken to sell a property in the UK; and

 „ developing an independent expectation of the value of deferred income, and using this to recalculate the 

value of revenue to be deferred at 30 April 2019. 

For the other components, our procedures involved:
 „ assessing the design and implementation of management review controls used in relation to the 

judgement taken in determining the period over which to defer revenue, and the appropriateness of the 

measure of the performance used; 

 „ working with internal data analytics specialists who analysed the underlying data used to calculate the 

average period taken to sell a property in the US and Australia;

 „ Challenging the appropriateness of the measure of performance used in Canada by comparing this to 

alternative measures of performance; and

 „ Recalculating the value of the deferred income balance. 

Key observations

Based on our work we are satisf ied that the accounting for deferred income is in line with accounting 

standards and is materially appropriate. 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

31

 
Auditor’s Report

Accounting for the acquisition of DuProprio

Key audit 

This is a new key audit matter for 2019 following the acquisition of DuProprio, an established Canadian 

matter description

business, which completed in July 2018. The Purchase Price Allocation (“PPA”) in respect of an acquisition is 

inherently judgemental. There is a risk that if management use inappropriate methodologies or assumptions 

within the PPA exercise, the intangible assets will be misstated. We have included the key audit matter in 

our audit report due to the quantum of the balance, its highly judgemental nature, and the fact that it had a 

substantial impact on our overall audit strategy. 

DuProprio was acquired for £30.9 million in cash. The excess of consideration over the fair value of net assets 

acquired has resulted in the recognition of £1.7 million customer contract intangibles, £13.6 million for the 

DuProprio brand, £2.9 million in relation to internally generated IT intangibles and £13.0m of goodwill being 

recognised on the Group balance sheet. 

Refer to the notes 2.18, 3.1 and 15a for the Group accounting policy, management’s consideration of critical 

accounting judgements and disclosure note respectively.

How the scope 

of our audit 

responded to the 

Our procedures involved:
 „ assessing the design and implementation of the key controls over acquisition accounting;
 „ using internal specialists to review the methodology and assumptions employed by management’s 

key audit matter

experts in calculating the fair value of the intangibles and considering the completeness of 

intangibles identif ied;

 „ obtaining the underlying cash flow forecasts, discussing them with management, and challenging the 

reasonableness and consistency of the underlying forecasts;

 „ agreeing the value of consideration payable to contractual agreements and to bank statements; and
 „ reviewing the associated disclosures to ensure that they are in accordance with IFRS 3.

In addition to the above, during the measurement period, we considered whether the Group’s retrospective 

adjustments to the provisional amounts recognised at the acquisition date to reflect new information 

obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date were reflected in the 

valuation. We also challenged the appropriateness of any change to goodwill or the income statement.

Key observations

We concur that the acquisition has been appropriately accounted for under IFRS 3 and that the assumptions 

and methodology used in valuing the identif ied intangible assets are reasonable. 

Impairment of investments and intercompany receivables held by the parent company

Key audit 

In February 2019, the Group issued a trading update that stated that the performance of the Australian and 

matter description

US businesses performance was behind expectations. Subsequent to this, on the 7 May 2019, the Group 

conf irmed it was to close its operations in Australia and scale back its operations in the US. This represents 

an indicator of impairment under IAS 36.

At 30 April 2019, before recognising any impairment, the parent company held investments in and loans 

receivable f rom its Australian subsidiary of £40.8 million and its US subsidiary of £53.1 million. Of these 

balances, impairment charges of £40.8 million and £53.1 million were recorded for Australia and the US 

respectively following the completion of management’s assessment of the recoverable amount of each 

business. As a result of the performance of the Australian and US businesses, and the level of additional 

funding that would have been required had the decision not been made to close each component, 

management fully impaired the investment and receivable balances. This judgement was made because 

insuff icient future cash flows are expected in order to recover the carrying value of these investments in and 

receivables f rom these entities.  

The Board took the decision to close the Australian business on 7 May 2019, and to close the US business 

on 2 July 2019. The indicators of impairment existed at the balance sheet date, therefore no changes were 

required to the conclusions reached above following the completion of the strategic reviews of both the 

Australian and US operations on the basis that the receivable and investments balances were fully impaired. 

Refer to notes 2.12, 3.2 and 16 for the Group accounting policy, management’s consideration of critical 

accounting judgements and disclosure note respectively.

32  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Auditor’s report

How the scope 

of our audit 

Our procedures involved:
 „ assessing the design and implementation of the controls around the impairment review process and 

responded to the 

management’s forecasting process;

key audit matter

 „ auditing the clerical accuracy of management’s impairment model;
 „ considering the appropriateness of the key inputs to the model, including long term growth rates, 

discount rates and period over which future cash flows will be generated; 

 „ assessing whether any additional provisions are required as part of the assessment of expected credit 

losses on intercompany receivables in line with the requirements of IFRS 9; and

 „ reviewing the disclosures made in relation to key sources of estimation uncertainty (IAS 1) and assessing 

whether the relevant disclosure requirements of IAS 36 have been complied with. 

Key observations

Based on the work performed, we concur with the Directors’ conclusions that the carrying value of the 

investments in and receivables f rom the US and Australian business should be impaired in full. 

We concur that the disclosures made in the f inancial statements are appropriate. 

OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY

We def ine materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the f inancial statements that makes it probable that the economic 

decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality both in planning the scope of our 

audit work and in evaluating the results of our work. 

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the f inancial statements as a whole as follows:

Group f inancial statements

Parent company f inancial statements

Materiality

Materiality has been set at £2,025,000 for the 

Materiality has been set at £1,570,000 for the current 

current year. In 2018, the previous auditor used a 

year. In 2018, the previous auditor used a materiality 

materiality of £1,395,000.

of £1,046,000.

Basis for  

determining 

materiality

We set materiality for the current year at 

The materiality for the Purplebricks Group plc (the 

1.5% of revenue.

partner company) audit was capped at 78% of group 

materiality on the basis of the relative size of this 

In 2018 the previous auditor set materiality on the 

component to the group as a whole. This represents 

same basis. 

1.8% of revenues generated by the company. 

Rationale for  

We consider revenue to be the most appropriate 

The UK business is the largest trading component 

the benchmark  

benchmark. The Group remains loss making due 

of the Group. We consider revenue to be the most 

applied

the ongoing investments in new markets and 

appropriate benchmark due to the high levels of 

therefore revenue was considered to be the most 

growth achieved in the period. The Directors also 

representative benchmark to use. The Directors 

deem revenue growth to be their key indicator 

also deem revenue growth to be one of their 

when assessing the performance of the company 

key indicator when assessing the performance 

and the components of the Group.

of the Group.

We set performance materiality for the Group at £1,215,000 which represents 60% of our materiality. We use performance materiality to 

determine the extent of our testing; it is lower than materiality to reflect our assessment of the risk of errors remaining undetected by 

our sample testing and uncorrected in the f inancial statements. In determining performance materiality we considered the quality of 

the control environment and whether we were able to rely on controls; the market announcements amending revenue expectations 

that have been issued in the last 12 months; and the signif icant changes in the Group as they focus on simplifying the strategy.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the Committee all audit differences in excess of £101,000, as well 

as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. In 2018, the previous auditor 

communicated all audit differences above £69,750. We also report to the Audit Committee on disclosure matters that we identif ied 

when assessing the overall presentation of the f inancial statements.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT

Our group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Group and its environment, including group-wide controls, and 

assessing the risks of material misstatement at the group level. Based on that assessment, we focused our group audit scope on the 

consolidation at the parent company level (it being the main trading business in the UK) and the Group’s overseas business segments 

in the US, Australia and Canada.

The overall scope of our audit resulted in us performing audit procedures over 98% of Group revenue, 97% of Group loss before tax, and 

97% of Group net assets.  

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  33

 
Auditor’s Report

Canada 

The Canadian component accounts for over 17% of the Group’s revenue and was subject to an audit of specif ied account balances and 

transactions determined by the group audit team using a component materiality of £1.1 million. The component auditor in Canada, 

who was directed and supervised by the group audit team, performed the audit of the Canada component. 

Australia

The Australian component accounts for over 8% of the Group’s revenue and was subject to specif ied audit procedures determined 

by the group audit team using a component materiality of £0.8 million. The component auditor in Australia, who were directed and 

supervised by the group audit team, performed the audit of the Australian component. 

US

The US component accounts for over 8% of the Group’s revenue and was subject to an audit of specif ied account balances and 

transactions determined by the group audit team using a component materiality of £0.8 million. The audit work on the US component 

was performed by the group audit team. 

Parent company and consolidation

The parent company accounts for over 65% of the Group’s revenue and was subject to a full scope audit using component materiality 

of £1.57 million, which was performed by the group audit team. At the parent company level we also tested the consolidation process 

and carried out analytical procedures to conf irm our conclusion that there were no signif icant risks of material misstatement in the 

aggregated f inancial information of the remaining components not subject to audit or audit of specif ied account balances. 

The group audit team follows a programme of planned visits to the auditors of each of the signif icant components of the Group not 

audited by the group audit team. In years when we do not visit a signif icant component, we will include the component audit team in 

our team brief ing, discuss their risk assessment and review documentation of the f indings f rom their work and joining the component 

audit close meetings by telephone. In the current year, the group audit partner visited the Canadian component auditor. 

OTHER INFORMATION

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information 

We have nothing 

included in the annual report, other than the f inancial statements and our auditor’s report thereon.

Our opinion on the f inancial 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.

to report in 

respect of 

these matters.

In connection with our audit of the f inancial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information 

and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the f inancial 

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 f inancial 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. 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTORS

As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the f inancial 

statements and for being satisf ied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is 

necessary to enable the preparation of f inancial statements that are f ree f rom material misstatement, whether due to f raud or error.

In preparing the f inancial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s and the parent company’s ability 

to continue as a going concern, disclosing as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of 

accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic 

alternative but to do so.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the f inancial statements as a whole are f ree f rom material 

misstatement, whether due to f raud 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 f rom f raud or error and are considered material if, individually or 

in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these 

f inancial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the f inancial statements is located on the FRC’s website at: www.f rc.org.

uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

34  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Auditor’s report

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements

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 f inancial year for which the f inancial statements are 

prepared is consistent with the f inancial statements; and

 „ the strategic report and the directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and of the parent company and their environment obtained in the 

course of the audit, we have not identif ied any material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report.

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION

Adequacy of explanations received and accounting records

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:

 „ we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
 „ adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our 

audit have not been received f rom branches not visited by us; or

 „ the parent company f inancial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns. 

Directors’ remuneration

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are also required to report if in our opinion certain disclosures of 

directors’ remuneration have not been made.

We have nothing 

to report in 

respect of 

these matters. 

We have nothing 

to report in 

respect of 

these matters. 

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.

Andrew Halls FCA (Senior statutory auditor)

For and on behalf of Deloitte LLP

Statutory Auditor

Birmingham, UK

29 August 2019

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  35

 
Financial statements

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2019

Revenue

Cost of Sales

Gross profit

Administrative and establishment expenses

Marketing costs

Share of results of joint venture

Loss from operating activities

Finance income

Finance expense

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation

Taxation on loss on ordinary activities

Loss for the year 

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive loss

Earnings per share

Basic and diluted loss per share

Note

6

 8

13

14

 11

2019
£000

136,513

(56,626)

79,887

(61,016)

(70,650)

(536)

(52,315)

817

(4,456)

(55,954)

Restated1
2018
£000

87,787

(38,208)

49,579

(35,195)

(42,142)

- 

(27,758)

292

(1,724)

(29,190)

1,093

(887)

(54,861)

(30,077)

(95)

(95)

(54,956)

(490)

(490)

(30,567)

 12

(18p)

(11p)

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these f inancial statements. 

All losses and other comprehensive income relate to continuing operations and are attributable to equity shareholders of the parent. 

1   See note 2.2

36  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 

AT 30 APRIL 2019

Non-current assets

Goodwill

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investment in joint venture

Deferred tax asset

Current assets

Tax receivable

Trade and other receivables

Derivative financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

Total Assets

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred income

Derivative financial instruments

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Share Capital

Share premium

Share-based payments reserve

Foreign exchange reserve

Retained earnings

Total Equity

Note

15

16

17

19

 11

 20

 22

 21

 21

 22

 11

 23

 24

 25

 25

Financial statements

Restated1  
2018
£000

Restated1  
2017
£000

2019
£000

19,486

21,887

1,960

10,713

7,120

61,166 

1,163

27,446

10

62,767

91,386 

2,606

4,434

1,054

- 

3,068

11,162 

306

19,192

- 

152,846

172,344 

152,552 

183,506 

(24,960)

(19,348)

- 

(44,308)

(16,300)

(16,842)

(44)

(33,186)

47,078 

139,158 

108,244

150,320

(4,519)

103,725 

3,031

177,352

8,605

(469)

(84,794)

103,725 

(142)

150,178 

3,019

176,400

4,545

(374)

(33,412)

150,178 

2,606

2,757

718

-

3,087

9,168

-

11,258

-

71,330

82,588

91,756

(7,859)

(9,370)

(104)

(17,333)

65,255

74,423

(244)

74,179

2,705

74,901

1,669

116

(5,212)

74,179

These f inancial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 29 August 2019 and were signed on 

its behalf by:

Vic Darvey Director

James Davies Director

Company registration number 08047368  

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these f inancial statements.

1   See note 2.2

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 

AT 30 APRIL 2019

Non-current assets

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investment in subsidiaries

Investment in jointly controlled entities

Deferred tax asset

Current assets

Tax receivable

Trade and other receivables

Derivative financial instruments

Cash and other cash equivalents

Total Assets

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred income

Derivative financial instruments

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities, being net assets 

Equity

Share Capital

Share premium

Share-based payments reserve

Retained earnings

Total Equity

Note

16

17

18

19

11

20

22

21

21

22

23

24

25

2019
£000

4,362

812

31,874

11,249

6,139

54,436

296

19,178

10

57,617

77,101

Restated1  
2018
£000

Restated1  
2017
£000

3,565

743

22,150

-

2,893

29,351

306

30,931

-

149,684

180,921

1,614

564

3,574

-

2,893

8,645

-

17,419

-

69,941

87,360

131,537

210,272

96,005

(13,582)

(14,702)

-

(28,284)

(9,427)

(13,498)

(44)

(22,969)

48,817

157,952

103,253

187,303

3,031

177,352

8,605

(85,735)

103,253

3,019

176,400

4,545

3,339

187,303

(6,996)

(8,470)

(104)

(15,570)

71,790

80,435

2,705

74,901

1,669

1,160

80,435

The Company reported a loss for the f inancial year ended 30 April 2019 of £92,554,000 (2018: prof it of £302,000 (restated1))

These f inancial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 29 August 2019 and were signed on 

its behalf by:

Company registration number 08047368  

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these f inancial statements.

Vic Darvey Director

James Davies Director

1   See note 2.2

38  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2019

Financial statements

Share-based 
payment 
reserve

Foreign  
exchange 
reserve

Retained 
Earnings

£000

£000

Total 
Equity

£000

At 1 May 2018 - Restated1 

Exercise of options

Tax in respect of share options

Share-based payment charge

Transactions with owners

Loss for the year

Exchange differences on translation of 
foreign operations

Total comprehensive loss

Share 
Capital

£000

Share 
Premium

£000

3,019

176,400

12

-

-

12

-

-

-

952

-

-

952

-

-

-

£000

4,545

(203)

-

4,263

4,060

-

-

-

(374)

(33,412)

150,178

-

-

-

-

-

203

3,276

-

3,479

964

3,276

4,263

8,503

(54,861)

(54,861)

(95)

-

(95)

(95)

(54,861)

(54,956)

At 30 April 2019

3,031

177,352

8,605

(469)

(84,794)

103,725

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2018

At 1 May 2017 as previously reported

Effect of initial adoption of IFRS 152 

At 1 May 2017 restated 

Issue of shares

Cost of share issue charged to share 
premium account

Exercise of options

Tax in respect of share options

Share-based payment charge

Transactions with owners

Loss for the year

Exchange differences on translation of 
foreign operations

Total comprehensive loss

Share 
Capital

Share 
Premium

Share-based 
payment 
reserve

£000

2,705

-

2,705

278

-

36

-

-

314

-

-

-

£000

74,901

-

74,901

99,722

(650)

2,427

-

-

101,499

-

-

-

£000

1,669

-

1,669

-

-

(582)

-

3,458

2,876

-

-

-

Foreign  
exchange 
reserve

£000

116

-

116

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Restated1  
Retained 
Earnings

Restated1  
Total 
Equity

£000

(3,984)

(1,228)

(5,212)

-

-

582

1,295

-

1,877

£000

75,407

(1,228)

74,179

100,000

(650)

2,463

1,295

3,458

106,566

(30,077)

(30,077)

(490)

-

(490)

(490)

(30,077)

(30,567)

At 30 April 2018 - Restated

3,019

176,400

4,545

(374)

(33,412)

150,178

1   See note 2.2

2  See note 31

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  39

 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2019

At 1 May 2018

Exercise of options

Tax in respect of share options

Share-based payment charge

Transactions with owners

Loss for the year

Total comprehensive loss

Share 
Capital

Share 
Premium

£000

3,019

£000

176,400

12

-

-

12

-

-

952

-

-

952

-

-

Share-based 
payment 
reserve

Retained 
Earnings

£000

4,545

(203)

-

4,263

4,060

£000

3,339

203

3,277

-

3,480

Total  
Equity

£000

187,303

964

3,277

4,263

8,504

-

-

(92,554)

(92,554)

(92,554)

(92,554)

At 30 April 2019

3,031

177,352

8,605

(85,735)

103,253

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2018 

At 1 May 2017 as previously reported

Effect of initial adoption of IFRS 152 

At 1 May 2017 restated

Issue of shares

Cost of share issue charged to share premium account

Exercise of options

Tax in respect of share options

Share-based payment charge

Transactions with owners

Profit for the year

Total comprehensive loss

Share-based  
payment 
reserve

Restated1 
Retained 
Earnings

Restated1 
Total Equity

Share 
Capital

Share 
Premium

£000

2,705

£000

74,901

£000

1,669

2,705

74,901

1,669

278

-

36

-

-

99,722

(650)

2,427

-

-

314

101,499

-

-

-

-

-

-

(582)

-

3,458

2,876

-

-

£000

2,194

(1,034)

1,160

-

-

582

1,295

-

1,877

302

302

£000

81,469

(1,034)

80,435

100,000

(650)

2,463

1,295

3,458

106,566

302

302

At 30 April 2018

3,019

176,400

4,545

3,339

187,303

1   See note 2.2

2  See note 31

40  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2019

Note

16

17

10

13

14

22

11

Loss for the year after taxation

Adjustments for:

Amortisation of intangible assets

Depreciation

Share-based payment charge

Interest income

Interest expense

Fair value movement in respect of derivatives

Share of result of joint venture

Taxation

Operating cash outflow before changes in working capital

Movement in trade and other receivables

Movement in trade and other payables

Movement in deferred income

Cash utilised in operations

Taxation paid

Interest paid

Financial statements

2019
£000

(54,861)

3,704 

 822 

 4,263 

 (763)

50 

(54)

 536 

(1,093)

 (47,396)

(6,573)

4,944 

1,024 

 (48,001)

(1,036)

(50)

Restated1  
2018
£000

 (30,077)

1,256 

 425 

3,458 

 (232)

 - 

(60)

 - 

 906 

 (24,324)

(7,934)

8,441 

7,473 

 (16,344)

 - 

 - 

Net cash outflow from operating activities

 (49,087)

 (16,344)

Investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Development expenditure capitalised

Purchase of intangible assets

Interest income

Investment in joint venture

Acquisition of subsidiary net of cash acquired

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Financing activities

Proceeds from issue of shares

Costs of issue of shares

Net cash inflow from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Effect of foreign exchange rates

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

17

16

16

19

15a

23

(1,146)

(2,606)

 (671)

 763 

 (11,249)

 (27,290)

 (761)

(2,292)

 (641)

 232 

 - 

 - 

 (42,199)

(3,462)

 964 

 - 

 964 

 (90,322)

 243 

 152,846 

 102,462 

 (650)

 101,812 

 82,006 

 (490)

 71,330 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

 62,767 

152,846 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these f inancial statements.

1   See note 2.2

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2019

(Loss) / profit for the year after taxation

Adjustments for:

Amortisation of intangible assets

Impairment of investments in subsidiaries and intercompany receivables 

Depreciation

Share-based payment charge 

Interest income

Fair value movement in respect of derivatives

Taxation

Operating cash inflow before changes in working capital

Movement in trade and other receivables

Movement in trade and other payables

Movement in deferred income

Cash inflow from operations

Taxation received 

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Development expenditure capitalised

Purchase of intangible assets

Acquisition of jointly controlled entity

Loans to subsidiaries

Interest income

Investment in subsidiaries 

Acquisition of subsidiary

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Financing activities

Proceeds from issue of shares

Costs of issue of shares

Net cash inflow from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Note

16

18

17

22

17

16

16

19

18

18

23

2019
£000

(92,554)

1,903

96,919

399

2,830

(760)

(54)

(182)

8,501

(3,262)

4,154

1,203

10,596

223

10,819

(468)

(2,606)

(94)

(11,249)

(59,251)

760

-

(30,942)

Restated1  
2018
£000

302

975

-

313

2,369

(235)

(60)

989

4,653

(3,190)

6,538

922

8,923

-

8,923

(491)

(2,292)

(633)

-

(9,793)

235

(18,018)

-

(103,850)

(30,992)

964

-

964

(92,067)

149,684

102,462

(650)

101,812

79,743

69,941

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

57,617

149,684

1   See note 2.2

42  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Financial statements

The consolidated f inancial statements incorporate the results 

and f inancial position of the Company and entities controlled 

by the Company (its subsidiaries) made up to 30 April each 

year. Control is achieved when the Company:

1. General information

 „ has the power over the investee;

Purplebricks Group plc (the Company) is a public company 

limited by shares which is listed on the Alternative Investment 

Market of the London Stock Exchange. The company is 

incorporated in the United Kingdom and registered in England 

and Wales. The address of the Company’s registered off ice is 

Suite 7, First Floor, Cranmore Place, Cranmore Drive, Shirley, 

Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4RZ. The Company is primarily 

involved in the estate agency business.

On 2 July 2018 the Group acquired 100% of the share capital 

of 9059-2114 Quebec Inc., which heads a group of companies 

operating one of Canada’s leading commission-f ree real estate 

brands, DuProprio, giving the Group an established presence in 

a new market.

For the year ending 30 April 2019 the following subsidiaries 

of the Company were entitled to exemption f rom audit 

under s479A of the Companies Act 2006 relating to 

subsidiary companies.

Subsidiary Name: BFL Property Management Limited 

Companies House Registration Number: 06734084 

The principal activities of the Company and its subsidiaries (the 

Group) and the nature of the Group’s operations are set out in 

the strategic report on pages 6 to 21.

These f inancial statements are presented in British Pounds, 

which is the currency of the primary economic environment in 

which the Company operates and are rounded to the nearest 

£000. Foreign operations are included in accordance with the 

policies set out in note 2.

2. Summary of significant 
accounting policies

2.1 BASIS OF PREPARATION AND CONSOLIDATION

 „ is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns f rom its 

involvement with the investee; and

 „ has the ability to use its power to affects its returns.

 „ The Company reassesses whether or not it controls an 

investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are 

changes to one or more of the three elements of control 

listed above.

Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Company 

obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the 

Company loses control of the subsidiary. Specif ically, the results 

of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are 

included in prof it or loss f rom the date the Company gains 

control until the date when the Company ceases to control 

the subsidiary.

Prof it or loss and each component of other comprehensive 

income are attributed to the owners of the Company and to the 

non-controlling interests. Total comprehensive income of the 

subsidiaries is attributed to the owners of the Company and to 

the non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-

controlling interests having a def icit balance.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the f inancial 

statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies 

used into line with the Group’s accounting policies.

All intragroup assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses 

and cash flows relating to transactions between the members 

of the Group are eliminated on consolidation.

Prof it or loss and each component of other comprehensive 

income are attributable to the owners of the Company. Total 

comprehensive income of the subsidiaries is attributable to the 

owners of the Company.

Accounting policies of subsidiaries which differ f rom Group 

accounting policies are adjusted on consolidation. All intra-

group transactions, balances, income and expenses are 

The Group and Company f inancial statements have been 

eliminated on consolidation. 

prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 

Standards (IFRS Standards). The f inancial statements have also 

2.2 RESTATEMENT 

been prepared in accordance with IFRS Standards adopted 

by the European Union and therefore the Group f inancial 

statements comply with Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulation.

The Company has taken advantage of section 408 of the 

Companies Act and not included its own income statement in 

Following the adoption of IFRS 15 Revenue f rom Contracts 

with Customers, the Group has restated the statement of 

comprehensive income, the statement of f inancial position, 

the statement of cash flows and the statement of changes in 

equity. More information of the impact of this are set out in 

these f inancial statements.

notes 2.4.1 and note 31. 

The consolidated f inancial statements have been prepared 

Prior period error

under the historical cost convention as modif ied by f inancial 

instruments recognised at fair value.

In the current period, the Group and Company has reclassif ied 

cash flows relating to interest income in the statement of cash 

flows. In the prior period, this cash flow was reflected within 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  43

 
Financial statements

cash flow f rom f inancing activities. As interest income arises on 

on a net basis, after deducting fees. As no cash flows arise f rom 

funds held on deposit, this is presented within cash flow f rom 

these transactions, because the costs charged by the factor are 

investing activities. 

deducted f rom the gross payment, the cash flows have been 

removed f rom the statement of cash flows. 

In addition to this, the Group and Company has reclassif ied 

cash flows relating to debt factoring f inance costs in the 

In the current period the company has reclassif ied cash flows 

statement of cash flows. In the prior period, these cash 

in respect of loans to subsidiaries in the statement of cash 

flows had been presented within cash flows f rom f inancing 

flows. In the prior period, these cash flows were presented 

activities. Receivables are sold at a discount to face value on 

within cash flows resulting f rom movements in trade and other 

non-recourse terms, with the discount representing the costs 

receivables and payables.

charged by the factor. The factor settles the debt to the Group 

Extract from statements of cash flows

GROUP 2018

COMPANY 2018

Operating cash (outflow)/inflow before changes in working capital previously reported

Increase in the loss before tax due to adoption of IFRS 15 (see note 31)

Decrease due to removing the adjustment for debt factoring finance costs

Operating cash (outflow)/inflow before changes in working capital (restated)

Cash flows from investing activities previously reported

Reclassification of interest income from cash flows from financing activities

Reclassification of loans to subsidiaries

Cash flows from investing activities (restated)

Cash flows from financing activities previously reported

Increase due to removal of cash outflows from debt factoring finance costs

Reclassification of interest income to cash flows from investing activities

Cash Flows from financing activities (restated)

£000

(19,589)

(3,011)

(1,724)

(24,324)

(3,694)

232

-

(3,462)

100,320

1,724

(232)

101,812

£000

8,351

(1,974)

(1,724)

4,653

(21,434)

235

(9,793)

(30,992)

100,323

1,724

(235)

101,812

2.3 GOING CONCERN

An explanation of how the Group has applied IFRS 15, including 

the judgements taken in the application of the standard, is 

The f inancial statements have been prepared on the going 

set out below. 

concern basis. The directors have prepared a monthly forecast 

to August 2020, which on the basis of the assumptions made, 

IFRS 15 establishes a comprehensive f ramework for 

shows that the Group and parent company can operate with 

determining whether, how much and when revenue is 

its existing resources. The Group’s forecasts and projections, 

recognised. It has replaced IAS 18 Revenue. As the overall 

taking account of reasonably possible changes in trading 

value of the adjustments on adoption of IFRS 15 to the Group’s 

performance that may arise as a result of current economic 

previously reported results is signif icant, in order to ensure 

conditions and other risks faced by the Group show that the 

comparability of current period reported results against the 

parent is likely to continue being cash generative during the 

restated results of comparative periods, the Group has adopted 

year ending April 2020 and to August 2020, partially offsetting 

the standard using the fully retrospective method, with the 

net cash consumption by the Group’s international operations 

effect of initially applying the standard recognised at the 

and by the costs of closing the Group’s US and Australia 

beginning of the comparative period, ie 1 May 2017. 

business as set out in note 30.

Accordingly, the information presented for the year to 30 April 

Accordingly, the directors believe that it is appropriate to 

2018 has been restated. 

adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the 

f inancial statements.

 „ The effect of initially applying this standard mainly 

2.4 NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ADOPTED IN THE 
YEAR

2.4.1 Implementation of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts 
with Customers

Revenue recognition

arises f rom:

 „ later recognition of instruction fee revenue, and associated 

cost of sales, following identif ication of the relevant 

performance obligations and when and how revenue relating 

to these is allocated and recognised,

 „ earlier recognition of revenue f rom Conveyancing 

referrals and Brokerage activities, and associated cost of 

The Group has adopted IFRS 15 Revenue f rom Contracts with 

sales, following assessment of the relevant performance 

Customers in these f inancial statements. 

obligations and when and how revenue relating to these is 

recognised. 

Please see the tables set out at note 31 for further information.

44  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Financial statements

Table 1 summarises the impact of transition to IFRS 15 on 

The Group has taken the judgement that all of the services 

retained earnings at 1 May 2017.

which are provided in exchange for the instruction fee and, 

where relevant, fees for additional services, represent a single 

Tables 2a and 2b summarise the impact of adopting IFRS 15 on 

Performance Obligation which is the provision of estate agency 

the Group’s previously reported statement of comprehensive 

services. The reason for this is that the service of listing for 

income for the year ended 30 April 2018.

sale and these additional services are highly interrelated, are 

dependent on each other and cannot be purchased separately 

Tables 3a, 3b and 3c summarise the impact of adopting IFRS 

by customers, or purchased at all unless those customers have 

15 on the Group’s previously reported statement of f inancial 

instructed the Group to list their property for sale. 

position for the years ended 30 April 2018 and 30 April 2017.

Table 4 summarises the impact of adopting IFRS 15 on the 

for each contract of this type is attributable to this single 

Group’s previously reported earnings per share for the year 

Performance Obligation and is recognised as the services as a 

Although the services are priced separately, the overall revenue 

ended 30 April 2018.

whole are provided. Revenue is recognised on an output basis 

over time, as the estate agency services are performed. This 

Table 5 summarises the impact of adopting IFRS 15 on the 

method reflects the fact that the customer receives benef it 

Group’s previously reported brokerage and lettings revenue for 

f rom the Group’s performance as the service is provided to the 

the year ended 30 April 2018.

customer. The Group has assessed that the starting point for 

provision of service is the customer’s instruction to the Group, 

Table 6 summarises the impact of adopting IFRS 15 on the 

and the ending point is either the completion of sale or the 

Group’s previously reported consolidated statement of cash 

customer’s decision to withdraw f rom sale. 

flows for the year ended 30 April 2018.

Tables 7a and 7b summarise the impact of transition to IFRS 15 

revenue f rom instructions is the length of the period over 

on the Company statement of f inancial position as at 30 April 

which estate agency services are performed. The Group utilises 

A key estimate within the Group’s accounting policy for 

2018 and 30 April 2017.

analysis of historical data to ascertain the length this period, 

which covers both a marketing period and a post sales support 

The details of the new signif icant accounting policies and 

period. If the length of the average service period increased by 

the nature of the changes to previous accounting policies in 

5%, then there would be a corresponding decrease in revenue 

relation to the Group’s various services are set out below. Under 

of £0.7 million for the year to 30 April 2019. 

IFRS 15, revenue is recognised when control of the services 

passes to the customer. The Group is required to use 

Costs associated with Instructions revenue include 

judgement in determining the timing of the transfer of control 

commissions paid to the Group’s LPEs. This commission is due 

– at a point in time or over time – for each service type.

at listing of the advertisement for sale. Therefore, these costs 

are prepaid over the average service period. These costs are 

Contracts with customers 

reported within prepayments. 

The Group has identif ied the following signif icant categories of 

Australian Model 

contracts with customers: 

 „ Instructions (“a”)
 „ Conveyancing (“b”)
 „ Brokerage (“c”) 
 „ Lettings – landlord setup services (“d”) 
 „ Lettings – monthly management services (“e”) 

The adjustments arising on the adoption of IFRS 15 in respect 

of categories “a” and “b” are set out in the tables at the end of 

this note. As the adjustments arising on categories “c”, “d” and 

“e” are not material, they have been presented together in an 

“Other” category in these tables. 

Instructions (“a”)

The Group is entitled to an instruction fee at the point at 

which a property is listed for sale. The Group offers a number 

of additional services to customers who list their properties 

for sale, including accompanied viewings and premium portal 

listings, which are typically charged for at the same time as 

the instruction. Most services (for example, advice on property 

sales strategy) are provided before the listing of the property 

advertisement. Some services (for example post sales support) 

are only provided to those customers who accept an offer for 

their property. 

During the year ended 30 April 2019, the Group’s Australian 

business has introduced a revised business model under which 

the instruction fee is split into two elements. These elements 

are (i) an upf ront fee, which is non-refundable and which is 

recognised over time on an input basis, and (ii) a success fee, 

which is due only on settlement of a successful sale of the 

property. Each fee is in respect of the performance obligation 

to provide estate agency services. 

Variable consideration in respect of the success fee is 

recognised over time on an input basis as the Group fulf ils 

its performance obligation, over the expected service period, 

at the fair value of expected consideration receivable. The 

expected fair value of consideration received is estimated 

based on historical experience. The Group monitors the rate 

of sales of properties marketed at each reporting date, in 

order to restrict the revenue recognised under this method 

to an amount at which it is highly probable that reversal 

will not occur. 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  45

 
Financial statements

US Model

for the Group to recognise as revenue only the referral fee 

earned f rom the third party partner, which is the customer 

During the year ended 30 April 2019, the Group US business 

of the Group. 

introduced a revised business model under which the up f ront 

instruction fee is no longer required, with payment due only on 

settlement of a successful sale of the property. The success fee 

is recognised when a sale is unconditionally agreed.

Previous accounting policy and impact of adoption of IFRS 15

Under the Group’s previous accounting policy, conveyancing 

referral fees were recognised at the completion of the property 

Previous accounting policy and impact of adoption of IFRS 15

sales that would give rise to them, ie when the receipt of each 

individual fee due became certain. 

Under the Group’s previous accounting policy, instruction 

fees were recognised as the Group’s obligations were 

Therefore, on adoption of IFRS 15, the amount of reported 

completed. Instruction fee revenue was allocated to 

accrued income has increased, and the amount of reported 

obligations occurring before listing and obligations after 

revenue has also increased. The amount of accrued cost 

listing. A signif icant proportion of the obligations, based on an 

of sales, which will become payable on completion of the 

assessment using an input method occurred prior to listing, 

transaction and which are reported within accruals, has 

and therefore a signif icant portion of the total transaction price 

increased. The impact of the relevant adjustments is shown 

was recognised at or before listing. 

within the tables below. 

Therefore, on adoption of IFRS 15, the amount of reported 

The impact on reported revenue for the year ended 30 April 

deferred income in respect of instruction fees has increased, 

2018 is show in the table below. 

and the amount of reported revenue has decreased. The 

amount of prepaid cost of sales recognised as an asset in the 

statement of f inancial position has increased, and the amount 

of reported costs of sales has decreased. The impact of the 

relevant adjustments is shown within the tables below. The 

impact on reported revenue the year ended 30 April 2018 is 

show in the table below. 

Year ended 30 April 2018

Instruction revenue as previously reported

Impact of adoption of IFRS 15

Instruction revenue as restated

Conveyancing (“b”)

£000

66,597

(6,301)

60,296

Year ended 30 April 2018

Conveyancing revenue as previously reported

Impact of adoption of IFRS 15

Instruction revenue as restated

£000

15,414

152

15,566

Brokerage (“c”)

The Group also provides, in the US and in parts of Canada, 

Buyside brokerage and Escrow services. These services are 

provided to customers who are both sellers and buyers of 

residential properties, with the performance obligation in each 

case being to assist the customer in bringing the transition to 

a successful conclusion. Revenue, in the form of commission, 

becomes due in respect of these transactions on successful 

Where the Group introduces sellers and buyers of properties 

completion of a property sale. 

to one of the Group’s third party partners for conveyancing 

services, the Group earns commission for these referrals, which 

Customers receive benef it f rom the Group’s services as 

is due at completion of the property transaction. 

they are performed over time between an instruction to act 

on the customer’s behalf and completion of the property 

In respect of Conveyancing revenue, the Group’s Performance 

transaction. Therefore revenue in respect of these services is 

Obligation is to make the referral to the Group’s third party 

recognised under IFRS 15 over time on a straight line basis 

partners. Following that referral, the involvement of the Group 

as the Group fulf ils its performance obligation. Revenue is 

in the conveyancing process is incidental. 

recognised at the fair value of the expected consideration 

which will be receivable, taking into account historical 

Therefore, the Group recognises revenue on completion of its 

transaction completion rates. The fair value of consideration 

Performance Obligation, at the point of referral. Revenue is 

is a key estimate and therefore the Group monitors the rate 

recognised at the expected value of the consideration which 

of sales of properties marketed at each reporting date, in 

will become due at completion as determined at the point of 

order to restrict the revenue recognised under this method 

referral, calculated by reference to historical data in respect of 

to an amount at which it is highly probable that reversal 

sale completion rates. The Group monitors the conversion of 

will not occur. 

cases referred at each reporting date, in order to restrict the 

revenue recognised under this method to an amount at which 

it is highly probable that reversal will not occur. 

As part of the Group’s work on the adoption of IFRS 15, 

the Group’s relationship with its customers in respect of 

Conveyancing revenue has been re-assessed with a view to 

conf irming whether the Group is principal or agent in the 

underlying transactions. The Group’s view remains that, as 

previously, it is acting as an agent of the third party partner 

which contracts directly with the seller of the property and 

which invoices that seller directly. Therefore it is appropriate 

Previous accounting policy and impact of adoption of IFRS 15

Under the Group’s previous accounting policy, brokerage and 

escrow fees were recognised at completion of the underlying 

property sales. 

Therefore, on adoption of IFRS 15, the amount of reported 

accrued income has increased, and the amount of reported 

revenue has also increased. The amount of accrued cost 

of sales, which will become payable on completion of the 

46  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Financial statements

transaction and which are reported within accruals, has 

In respect of fees charged to landlords in exchange for the 

increased. The impact of the relevant adjustments is shown 

ongoing management of their rental properties the Group’s 

within the tables below .

performance obligation is to provide management services 

over a period of time. There is no change under IFRS 15 to the 

The impact on reported revenue for the year ended 30 April 

Group’s previous accounting policy of recognising these fees 

2018 is show within “other” revenue in table 5 in note 31. 

over the period of the tenancy. 

Lettings landlord setup services (d) 

2.4.2 IMPLEMENTATION OF IFRS 9 

In respect of contracts with prospective landlords to list 

Financial Instruments

their property to let, the Group’s performance obligation is 

to provide a series of services aimed at identifying a suitable 

The Group adopted IFRS 9 Financial Instruments on 1 May 2018. 

tenant for the landlord’s property. These services include 

preparation of an advertisement to let and later support 

The adoption of IFRS 9 has had no impact on the 

services. Fees charged to landlords in exchange for identifying 

Group’s statement of f inancial position or results as 

a tenant for their rental property become due to the Group at 

previously disclosed. 

tenant move in. 

The change of moving f rom a historical credit loss model to an 

The Group has taken the judgement that all elements of the 

expected credit loss model for calculating bad debt provisions 

advertisement service and other support services provided 

had no material impact on the f inancial statements.

represent a single Performance Obligation related to the 

identif ication of a suitable tenant who then moves into the 

2.5 FUNCTIONAL AND PRESENTATION CURRENCY

property. This Performance Obligation is the provision of 

Landlord Setup Services. The Group has taken the judgement 

The individual f inancial statements of each group company 

that an expected value of consideration which will become 

are presented in the currency of the primary economic 

due for the Services can be determined using historical data 

environment in which it operates (its functional currency). For 

regarding the proportion of successful tenant move ins and 

the purposes of the consolidated f inancial statements, the 

therefore that revenue can be reliably estimated before 

results and f inancial position of each group company are 

tenant move in. 

expressed in GBP, which is the functional currency of the 

Company, and the presentation currency for the Group.

All revenue is therefore attributable to this single Performance 

Obligation. This revenue is recognised over time on a straight 

2.6 FOREIGN CURRENCIES

line basis between the instruction to list the property to let and 

tenant move in, as the customer receives the benef its of the 

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary 

Landlord Setup Services are performed. 

items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included 

Costs associated with Landlord Setup Services revenue include 

arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items carried 

commissions paid to the Group’s Local Lettings Experts 

at fair value are included in the income statement for the 

(“LLEs”). This commission is due at tenant application, which 

period except for differences arising on the retranslation of 

is towards the end of the process. Therefore, these costs are 

non-monetary items in respect of which gains and losses are 

accrued over the period over which Landlord Setup Services are 

recognised directly in equity. For such non-monetary items, 

provided. These costs are reported within deferred income. 

any exchange component of that gain or loss is also recognised 

in the income statement for the period. Exchange differences 

Previous accounting policy and impact of adoption of IFRS 15

directly in equity. 

Under the Group’s previous accounting policy, Landlord 

Setup fees were recognised only at tenant move in when 

consideration in respect of each individual contract 

became certain. 

Therefore, on adoption of IFRS 15, the amount of reported 

accrued income has increased, and the amount of reported 

revenue has increased. The impact of the relevant adjustments 

revenue for the year ended 30 April 2018 is shown within 

“Other” revenue in table 5 in note 31. 

Lettings monthly management services (e) 

The Group also enters into contracts with landlords to 

provide rent collection and other tenant management 

services. Fees charged to landlords in exchange for the ongoing 

management of their rental properties become due to the 

Group monthly in arrears over the period of the tenancy. 

2.7 FOREIGN EXCHANGE ON CONSOLIDATION

On consolidation, assets and liabilities of undertakings whose 

functional currency is other than sterling are translated into 

sterling at the year end exchange rates. The results of these 

undertakings are translated into sterling at average rates 

of exchange for the year. Exchange differences arising on 

retranslation are recognised through other comprehensive 

income in the foreign exchange reserve.

2.8 SEGMENTAL REPORTING

The Group trade is managed as a single division, providing 

services relating to the sale and letting of properties. However, 

management report to the Board, being the Chief Operating 

Decision Maker, using geographical segments being UK, 

Australia, USA and Canada. The f inancial information 

reviewed by the Board is materially the same as that reported 

under IFRS. 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  47

 
Financial statements

2.9 PENSION BENEFITS

The Group operates def ined contribution pension 

Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost of property, plant 

and equipment less the estimated residual value on a straight-

line basis over the expected useful economic life of the assets 

arrangements and accounts for employer pension contribution 

concerned. Estimated residual values are revised annually.

expenses on an accruals basis.

2.10 TAXATION

Current tax

The useful lives over which these assets are depreciated are:

 „ Computer equipment – over 3 years
 „ Motor vehicles – over 3 years
 „ Fixtures and f ittings – over 5 years

Tax expense recognised in prof it or loss comprises the sum 

of deferred tax and current tax not recognised in other 

2.12 INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

comprehensive income or directly in equity. Current income tax 

assets and liabilities comprise those obligations to, or claims 

The Company’s investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost 

f rom, f iscal authorities relating to the current or prior reporting 

less any provision for impairment.

periods that remain unpaid at the reporting date. Current tax 

is payable on taxable prof it, which differs f rom prof it or loss in 

2.13 JOINT VENTURES

the f inancial statements. Calculation of current tax is based on 

tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively 

Under IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements, investments in joint 

enacted by the end of the reporting period. Repayable tax 

arrangements are classif ied as either joint operations or joint 

credits relating to research and development expenditure 

ventures. The classif ication depends on the contractual rights 

arising under the HMRC R&D regime for small and medium 

and obligations of each investor rather than the legal structure 

sized businesses are recognised within current tax. 

of the joint arrangement. During the year the Group has 

entered into a joint venture in respect of Homeday as described 

Deferred tax

earlier in the report.

Deferred income taxes are calculated using the liability method 

The Group’s interests in joint ventures are accounted for using 

on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of 

the equity method, after initially being recognised at cost in 

assets and liabilities and their tax bases. However, deferred 

the consolidated balance sheet.

tax is not provided on the initial recognition of goodwill or 

on the initial recognition of an asset or liability unless the 

Under the equity method of accounting, investments are 

related transaction is a business combination or affects tax or 

initially recognised at cost and adjusted thereafter to recognise 

accounting prof it on initial recognition. Deferred tax assets and 

the group’s share of the post-acquisition prof its or losses of the 

liabilities are calculated, without discounting, at tax rates and 

investee in prof it or loss, and the Group’s share of movements 

laws that are expected to apply to their respective period of 

in other comprehensive income of the investee in other 

realisation, provided those rates are enacted or substantively 

comprehensive income. Dividends received or receivable f rom 

enacted by the end of the reporting period.

associates and joint ventures are recognised as a reduction in 

the carrying amount of the investment.

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it 

is foreseeable that the underlying tax loss or deductible 

When the Group’s share of losses in an equity-accounted 

temporary difference will be able to be utilised against future 

investment equals or exceeds its interest in the entity, 

taxable income. This is assessed based on the Group’s forecast 

including any other unsecured long-term receivables, the 

of future operating results, adjusted for signif icant non-taxable 

Group does not recognise further losses, unless it has incurred 

income and expenses and specif ic limits on the use of any 

obligations or made payments on behalf of the other entity.

unused tax loss or credit. 

Unrealised gains on transactions between the group and its 

Deferred tax liabilities are always provided for in full, deferred 

associates and joint ventures are eliminated to the extent of 

tax assets and liabilities are offset only when the Group has a 

the Group’s interest in these entities. Unrealised losses are 

right and intention to set off current tax assets and liabilities 

also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an 

f rom the same taxation authority. Changes in deferred tax 

impairment of the asset transferred. 

assets or liabilities are recognised as a component of tax 

income or expense in prof it or loss, except where they relate 

The carrying amount of equity-accounted investments, which 

to items that are recognised in other comprehensive income 

are held at cost in the Company, is tested for impairment in 

or directly in equity, in which case the related deferred tax 

accordance with the policy described in note 2.19. 

is also recognised in other comprehensive income or equity, 

respectively.

2.14 BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND GOODWILL 

2.11 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Acquisitions of subsidiaries are accounted for using the 

Property, plant and equipment are held at cost less 

accumulated depreciation and impairment charges.

acquisition method. The consideration transferred in a business 

combination is measured at fair value, which is calculated as 

the sum of the acquisition-date fair values of assets transferred 

by the Group, liabilities incurred by the Group to the former 

owners of the acquiree and the equity interest issued by the 

48  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Financial statements

Group in exchange for control of the acquiree. Acquisition-

All other leases are treated as operating leases. Payments 

related costs are recognised in the income statement 

under operating lease agreements are recognised as an 

as incurred. 

expense on a straight line basis over the period of the 

lease. Associated costs, such as maintenance and insurance, are 

At the acquisition date, the identif iable assets acquired and 

expensed as incurred. The Group does not act as a lessor.

the liabilities assumed are recognised at their fair value at the 

acquisition date, except that:

See Note 4 for a description of the new leasing standard IFRS 16 

which will be adopted in next year’s f inancial statements. 

 „ deferred tax assets or liabilities and assets or liabilities 

related to employee benef it arrangements are recognised 

2.16 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

and measured in accordance with IAS 12 Income Taxes and 

IAS 19 Employee Benef its respectively;

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand together 

 „ liabilities or equity instruments related to share-based 

subject to any risk of changes in value. 

payment arrangements of the acquiree or share-based 

payment arrangements of the Group entered into to replace 

2.17 INTERNALLY DEVELOPED INTANGIBLE ASSETS

with other short-term, highly liquid deposits which are not 

share-based payment arrangements of the acquiree are 

measured in accordance with IFRS 2 Share-Based Payments 

Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense 

at the acquisition date (see below); and

in the period in which it is incurred and is only incurred in 

 „ assets (or disposal groups) that are classif ied as held for sale 

in accordance with IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale 

An internally generated intangible asset arising f rom the 

and Discontinued Operations are measured in accordance 

Group’s development activity is recognised in the statement 

with that Standard. 

of f inancial position when the Group can demonstrate 

respect of the Group’s software platform.

If the initial accounting for a business combination is 

the following:

incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the 

 „ the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so 

combination occurs, the Group reports provisional amounts 

that it will be available for use or sale. 

for the items for which the accounting is incomplete. Those 

provisional amounts are adjusted during the measurement 

 „ its intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it. 

period (see above), or additional assets or liabilities are 

recognised, to reflect new information obtained about facts 

 „ its ability to use or sell the intangible asset. 

and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, 

if known, would have affected the amounts recognised as 

 „ how the intangible asset will generate probable future 

of that date.

economic benef its. 

Goodwill is measured as the excess fair value of the 

 „ the availability of adequate technical, f inancial and other 

consideration transferred over the fair value of the identif iable 

resources to complete the development and to use or sell the 

net assets acquired. If the total of consideration transferred, 

intangible asset. 

and previously held interest measured at fair value, is less than 

the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the 

 „ its ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to 

difference is recognised directly in prof it or loss as a bargain 

the intangible asset during its development. 

purchase gain.

Goodwill is separately disclosed as an intangible asset and 

intangible assets is the sum of the expenditure incurred f rom 

is not amortised but tested for impairment annually and 

the date when the intangible asset f irst meets the recognition 

when there are any indications that its carrying value is 

criteria listed above. Where no internally-generated intangible 

not recoverable. As such, goodwill is stated at cost less any 

asset can be recognised, development expenditure is 

provision for impairment in value. For impairment testing 

recognised in prof it or loss in the period in which it is incurred.

The amount initially recognised for internally-generated 

purposes, goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units 

(‘CGUs’). If a subsidiary undertaking is subsequently sold, 

Subsequent to initial recognition, internally-generated 

goodwill arising on acquisition is taken into account in 

intangible assets are reported at cost less accumulated 

determining the prof it or loss on sale.

amortisation and accumulated impairment losses, on the same 

2.15 LEASES

In accordance with IAS 17, the economic ownership of a leased 

asset is transferred to the lessee if the lessee bears substantially 

all the risks and rewards related to the ownership of the 

leased asset. The related asset is recognised at the time of the 

inception of the lease at the fair value of the leased asset or, if 

lower, the present value of the lease payments plus incidental 

payments, if any to be borne by the lessee. 

basis as intangible assets that are acquired separately.

The useful lives over which these assets are amortised are:

 „ Computer software – straight line over 3 years
 „ Capitalised software – straight line over 3 years
 „ Amortisation is included within administrative expenses.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  49

 
Financial statements

2.18 INTANGIBLE ASSETS ACQUIRED IN A BUSINESS 
COMBINATION

Financial assets

Intangible assets acquired in a business combination and 

amortised cost using the effective interest method, less 

recognised separately f rom goodwill are initially recognised 

provision for impairment. The Group’s trade and other 

at their fair value at the acquisition date (which is regarded as 

receivables fall into this category of f inancial instruments. 

The Group has f inancial assets which are measured at 

their cost). See note 15 for details of such acquisitions.

Subsequent to initial recognition, intangible assets acquired 

expected credit losses on trade receivables are by reference to 

in a business combination are reported at cost if appropriate 

past default experience of the debtors and an analysis of the 

less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment 

debtors’ current f inancial position, adjusted for factors that 

losses, on the same basis as intangible assets that are 

are specif ic to the debtors, general economic conditions of 

The Group applies the IFRS 9 expected credit loss model. The 

acquired separately.

the industry in which the debtors operate and an assessment 

of both the current as well as the forecast conditions at the 

 „ The useful lives over which these assets are amortised are:

reporting date.

 „ customer relationships – straight line over 5 years

For trade and other receivables, the amount of credit loss 

 „ patents and trademarks – straight line over 18 months

amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows 

is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying 

 „ certain intangible assets, such as brands, are deemed to have 

rate. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced and the 

an indef inite life, held at cost and not amortised but rather 

amount of the loss is recognised in prof it or loss. 

discounted at the f inancial asset’s original effective interest 

tested annually for impairment.

2.19 IMPAIRMENT

If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss 

decreases, the reversal of the previously recognised impairment 

loss is recognised in prof it or loss. 

The carrying amount of the Group’s assets including 

property, plant and equipment and intangibles is reviewed 

Impairment testing of trade receivables is described in note 20. 

at each year end date to determine whether there is any 

indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, the 

Credit risk management - Sale of receivables

asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. An impairment 

loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount of an 

Receivables f rom customers who elect to pay later for services 

asset or its cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable 

rather than pay up-f ront are initially recognised at the 

amount. Impairment losses are recognised in prof it or loss. 

transaction price, which is approximate to fair value under a 

held for sale business model. 

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying 

amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to 

In order to manage both liquidity requirements and credit 

the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that 

risk in the UK and Australia, the Group operates committed 

the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying 

facilities with a third party f inance house, whereby customer 

amount that would have been determined had no impairment 

receivables in respect of customers who utilise the Group‘s 

loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) 

“pay later” option are sold immediately to the f inance 

in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised 

house. The receivables are sold at a discount to face value on 

in prof it or loss where it relates to an amount charged to 

non-recourse terms, and the discount retained by the f inance 

prof it or loss. 

2.20 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

house represents its fee for administering the collection 

of receivables. There are thresholds built into the facility 

agreement which allow the fee/discount to be revised upwards 

or downwards on a prospective only basis (i.e. in relation to 

Financial assets and f inancial liabilities are recognised in the 

the sale of receivables arising in the future) if actual credit and 

Group’s balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the 

funding cost experience differs signif icantly f rom the initial 

contractual provisions of the instrument.

assumptions that were used to set the fee. 

Financial assets and f inancial liabilities are initially measured 

At the point of sale of receivables to the factor the difference 

at fair value. Transaction costs that are directly attributable 

between fair value and sale price is charged to the income 

to the acquisition or issue of f inancial assets and f inancial 

statement as f inance expense. Receivables due f rom the 

liabilities (other than f inancial assets and f inancial liabilities 

factor are measured at amortised cost under a held to collect 

at fair value through prof it or loss) are added to or deducted 

business model and assessed for impairment under the 

f rom the fair value of the f inancial assets or f inancial liabilities, 

expected loss model. 

as appropriate, on initial recognition. Transaction costs directly 

attributable to the acquisition of f inancial assets or f inancial 

Outside of the UK and Australia, the Group does not sell on its 

liabilities at fair value through prof it or loss are recognised 

receivables and therefore bears credit risk and needs to assess 

immediately in prof it or loss. See note 26 for further details. 

expected credit losses. 

Credit risk refers to the risk that the counterparty will default 

on its contractual obligations resulting in f inancial loss to the 

Group. The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its 

50  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Financial statements

trade receivables. As discussed under “Sale of Receivables” 

2.21 SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

above, credit risk is managed in the UK via a non-recourse 

receivable sale arrangement and a similar arrangement applies 

The Group operates an equity settled share option programme 

in Australia. In the US, at present the Group manages “pay 

which allows employees and LPEs to acquire shares of the 

later” receivables itself by monitoring the aggregate amount 

Company. The fair value of options granted is recognised as 

and duration of exposure to any one customer.

an income statement expense with a corresponding increase 

in equity. The fair value is measured using the Black-Scholes 

The credit risk on liquid funds is minimised because the 

model at grant date. The expense is allocated over the vesting 

counterparties are UK banks with high credit-ratings assigned 

period of each tranche of options granted. The relevant 

by international credit-rating agencies.

deferred tax amount is calculated at each reporting date over 

the vesting period equivalent to the expected tax deduction on 

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplif ied approach to measuring 

future exercise, and is recognised if appropriate (see deferred 

expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss 

tax accounting policy note). Expense in respect of options 

allowance for all trade receivables which are not subject to the 

granted to employees of subsidiaries of the Company is debited 

receivable sale arrangement. 

to the cost of investment of the subsidiary by which they are 

employed. An element of the share-based payment cost of UK 

Trade receivables across the Group have been assessed with 

based employees who perform Group roles is allocated to and 

regard to credit risk characteristics which vary f rom country to 

recharged to the overseas entities, on a similar basis to salary 

country and according to the nature of the counterparty. The 

and other related costs. 

Group also considers days past due in making this assessment 

as well as historical credit losses experienced within over a 

2.22 SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS RESERVE

period of 12 months before 30 April 2019. 

The expected loss rates derived f rom the assessment described 

recognised in prof it or loss in relation to equity-settled options, 

above are adjusted to reflect current and forward-looking 

net of transfers of charge on exercise of options to the prof it 

information affecting the ability of the customers to settle the 

and loss reserve.

This comprises the cumulative share-based payment charge 

receivables. 

Financial liabilities and equity

Debt and equity instruments are classif ied as either f inancial 

liabilities or as equity in accordance with the substance of the 

contractual arrangement.

Equity instruments

An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual 

interest in the assets of the Company after deducting all of 

its liabilities. Equity instruments issued by the Company are 

recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. The 

only equity instrument applicable to the Company is its issued 

share capital.

Derivative financial instruments

The Group uses derivative f inancial instruments to manage its 

exposure to foreign exchange rate risk via foreign exchange 

forward contracts. Further details of derivative f inancial 

instruments are disclosed in note 22.

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date 

a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently 

remeasured to their fair value at each balance sheet date. The 

resulting gain or loss is recognised in prof it or loss immediately.

A derivative with a positive fair value is recognised as a 

f inancial asset whereas a derivative with a negative fair value 

is recognised as a f inancial liability. A derivative is presented as 

a non-current asset or a non-current liability if the remaining 

maturity of the instrument is more than 12 months and it is 

not expected to be realised or settled within 12 months. Other 

derivatives are presented as current assets or current liabilities.

3. Critical accounting estimates 
and judgements

In the application of the Group’s accounting policies, the 

directors are required to make judgements (other than those 

involving estimations) that have a signif icant impact on the 

amounts recognised and to make estimates and assumptions 

about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are 

not readily apparent f rom other sources. The estimates and 

associated assumptions are based on historical experience and 

other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results 

may differ f rom these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed 

on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are 

recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the 

revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision 

and future periods if the revision affects both current and 

future periods.

Estimates

The key assumptions concerning the future, and other key 

sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting period that 

may have a signif icant risk of causing a material adjustment to 

the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next 

f inancial year, are discussed below.

3.1 MEASUREMENT OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS 

The Group recognises an intangible asset in respect of software 

developed in house. This software is a key part of the Group’s 

operating model and value proposition. Management are 

required to estimate the time and related value attributable 

to the element of the development team that relates to 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019 

51

 
Financial statements

developing intangible assets which meet the criteria for 

of the forecast period taken into account and the scale of the 

capitalisation in IAS 38. Because the amounts spent on the 

downside reduction applied, at the extreme, the amount of the 

development team are material, a signif icant change in this 

recognised deferred tax asset could range f rom 0% to 100% of 

estimate could have a signif icant effect on the value of costs 

the balance recognised being £7,120,000. 

capitalised. The impact of a change to this estimate could 

result, at the most extreme, in a -7% or +5% change to adjusted 

3.4 REVENUE RECOGNITION

operating costs for this year ended. Further details are included 

at note 16. 

3.2 IMPAIRMENT

In relation to instruction revenue which is recognised over time, 

the Group estimates the average period taken f rom instruction 

to completion. This estimate directly impacts the period over 

which revenue is recognised. 

Determining whether the carrying value of goodwill, 

investments or intercompany balances are below their 

The terms of the UK’s departure f rom the EU following the 

recoverable value and therefore impaired requires an 

referendum in 2016 (‘Brexit’) remain uncertain, and could have 

estimation of the value in use of the cash-generating units to 

an impact on the UK property market. This could impact the 

which value has been allocated. The value in use calculation 

time taken to sell properties in the UK market, which would 

requires the entity to estimate the future cash flows expected 

impact the timing of revenue recognition for the Group. Due 

to arise f rom the cash-generating unit and to apply a 

to the uncertainty of the impact of Brexit on the wider UK 

suitable discount rate in order to calculate present value. The 

economy, it is impractical to determine the impact on the 

assumptions and sensitivities applied by management in 

timing of revenue recognition in the UK business at the date of 

determining whether there is any impairment are set out in 

this report.

notes 15, 16 and 20.

Judgements

3.3 MEASUREMENT OF DEFERRED TAX ASSETS

The Group has potential deferred tax assets, principally in the 

involving estimations (which are presented separately above), 

form of tax losses and potential tax deductions relating to the 

that the directors have made in the process of applying the 

exercise of share-based payments, but deferred tax assets 

Group’s accounting policies and that have the most signif icant 

are only recognised to the extent it is probable that suff icient 

effect on the amounts recognised in f inancial statements.

The following are the critical judgements, apart f rom those 

future taxable income will be available against which the 

losses and deductions can be utilised. The issue of estimation 

3.5 REVENUE RECOGNITION

in respect of deferred tax assets, therefore, relates to the 

uncertainty inherent in forecasting future taxable prof its in 

The Group provides services for instruction fees, including 

each territory. The decision to recognise deferred tax assets, has 

fees receivable up f ront and fees receivable at completion of 

been made after taking into account forecasts of future taxable 

sale. The Group has taken a judgement that under IFRS 15 the 

prof its sensitised for downside risk. If our view of future taxable 

performance obligation relating to these fees is discharged 

prof its were to change materially in future, either positively 

over time (between instruction and completion) rather than 

or negatively, then this could have a material impact on the 

at a point in time. Further detail is set out in the revenue 

income statement credit or charge. Depending on the length 

recognition policy above.

4. New and revised IFRSs in issue but not yet effective

At the date of authorisation of these f inancial statements, certain new standards, amendments and interpretations to existing 

standards have been issued but are not yet effective and have not been applied early by the Group. Management anticipates that the 

following pronouncements relevant to the Group’s operations will be adopted in the Group’s accounting policies for the f irst period 

beginning after the effective date of the pronouncement, once adopted by the EU:

Amendments to IFRS 9

Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation 

Amendments to IAS 28

Long-term Interests in Associates and Joint Ventures 

Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2015 - 2017 Cycle

Amendments to IFRS 3 Business Combinations, IFRS 11 Joint 
Arrangements, IAS 12 Income Taxes and IAS 23 Borrowing Costs

Amendments to IAS 19 Employee Benefits

Plan Amendment, Curtailment or Settlement

IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements and IAS 28 (amendments)

Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its 
Associate or Joint Venture

IFRIC 23

IFRS 16

Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments

Leases

52  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Financial statements

IFRS 16 Leases (effective 1 January 2019)

Nature of change 

is set out below. The Group believes that these measures, 

which are not considered to be a substitute for or superior to 

IFRS measures, provide stakeholders with helpful additional 

information on the underlying performance of the Group. 

IFRS 16 was issued in January 2016. It will result in almost 

all leases being recognised on the balance sheet by lessees, 

Adjusted EBITDA 

as the distinction between operating and f inance leases 

is removed. Under the new standard, an asset (the right to 

Def inition 

use the leased item) and a f inancial liability to pay rentals 

are recognised on the balance sheet, and lease expense is 

Prof it or loss f rom operating activities, adding back 

reclassif ied f rom operating expenditure to depreciation and 

depreciation, amortisation and share-based payment charges 

f inance cost. The only exceptions to this change in method are 

and non-recurring costs. 

for short-term and low-value leases.

Impact 

Relevance to strategy 

The adjusted measure is considered relevant to assessing the 

The Group has reviewed its current leasing arrangements in 

underlying performance of the Group against its strategy and 

light of the new lease accounting rules in IFRS 16. The standard 

plans. The rationale for excluding certain items is as follows: 

will affect the accounting for the Group’s operating leases. As at 

the reporting date, the Group has non-cancellable operating 

 „ Depreciation: a non cash item which fluctuates depending 

lease commitments of £4.3m, principally in relation to land and 

on the timing of capital investment. We believe that 

buildings (see note 28). Of these commitments, approximately 

a measure which removes this volatility improves 

£0.1m relate to short-term leases or to low value leases which 

comparability of the Group’s results period on period. 

will both be recognised on a straight-line basis as expense in 

prof it or loss. 

 „ Amortisation: a non cash item which varies depending on 

the timing of and nature of acquisitions, and on the timing of 

For the remaining lease commitments, the Group expects to 

and extent of investment in internally generated intangibles 

recognise right-of-use assets of approximately £1.3m on 1 May 

such as software. We believe that a measure which removes 

2019 and lease liabilities of £1.3m. No signif icant impact on 

this volatility improves comparability of the Group’s results 

recognised deferred tax is expected. Overall net assets will not 

period on period. 

be signif icantly affected, however net current assets will be 

around £0.4m lower due to the presentation of a portion of the 

 „ Share-based payment charges: a non cash item which 

liability as a current liability. 

The Group expects that net prof it after tax will not be 

signif icantly affected. Adjusted EBITDA used to measure 

segment results is expected to increase by approximately 

£0.5m, as the operating lease payments were included in 

adjusted EBITDA, but the depreciation of the right-of-use 

varies signif icantly depending on the share price at the 

date of grants under the Group’s share option schemes, 

and depending on the assumptions used in valuing these 

awards as they are granted. We believe that a measure which 

removes this volatility improves comparability of the Group’s 

results period on period and also improves comparability 

with other companies which typically do not operate similar 

assets and interest on the lease liability are excluded f rom this 

share-based payment schemes. 

measure. Operating cash flows will increase, and f inancing 

cash flows decrease, by offsetting amounts of approximately 

 „ Non-recurring costs: a one-off item which exists only in a 

£0.5m as repayment of the principal portion of the lease 

liabilities will be classif ied as cash flows f rom f inancing 

single accounting period. We believe adjusting for such non-

recurring items improves comparability period on period. 

activities. 

Mandatory application date / date of adoption by Group

Reconciliation 

Please see segmental reporting in note 7. 

The Group will apply the standard f rom 1 May 2019. The Group 

intends to apply the cumulative catch-up approach and 

Adjusted operating costs 

will not restate comparative amounts for the year prior to 

f irst adoption. Right-of-use assets for property leases will be 

Def inition

measured on transition as if the new rules had always been 

applied. All other right-of-use assets will be measured at the 

Adjusted operating costs are administrative and establishment 

amount of the lease liability on adoption.

expenses, adjusted by adding back depreciation, amortisation 

and share-based payment charges and non-recurring costs. 

5. Alternative performance 
measures

The Group makes use of a number of alternative 

performance measures in assessing the performance of the 

business. The def inition of and relevance of each of these 

Relevance to strategy 

The adjusted measure is considered relevant to assessing the 

underlying performance of the Group against its strategy and 

plans. The rationale for excluding depreciation, amortisation, 

share-based payments charges and non-recurring costs f rom 

this measure is consistent with that set out above in the 

“Adjusted EBITDA” section.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  53

 
Financial statements

Reconciliation 

GROUP

Administrative expenses

Depreciation & amortisation 

Share-based payment charge

Non-recurring costs

Adjusted operating costs

UK

Administrative expenses

Depreciation & amortisation 

Share-based payment charge

Non-recurring costs

2019 
£m

(24.7)

2.3

2.1

0.5

2018 
£m

(19.5)

1.6

2.4

-

Adjusted operating costs

(19.8)

(15.5)

Adjusted operating profit/loss 

Def inition 

Prof it or loss f rom operating activities, adding back share-

based payment charges. 

Relevance to strategy 

The adjusted measure is considered relevant to assessing 

the underlying performance of the Group against its strategy 

and plans. The rationale for excluding share-based payments 

charges f rom this measure is consistent with that set out above 

in the “Adjusted EBITDA” section.

Reconciliation 

GROUP

Operating loss

Share-based payment charge

Adjusted operating loss

UK

Operating profit

Share-based payment charge

Adjusted operating profit

CANADA

Operating profit

Share-based payment charge

Adjusted operating loss

AUSTRALIA

Operating profit

Share-based payment charge

Adjusted operating loss

2019 
£m

(52.3)

4.3

(48.0)

2019 
£m

5.3

2.1

7.4

2019 
£m

(3.2)

0.4

(2.8)

2019 
£m

(18.8)

0.9

(17.9)

2018 
£m

(27.8)

3.5

(24.3)

2018 
£m

2.2

2.4

4.6

2018 
£m

-

-

-

2018 
£m

(13.2)

0.6

(12.6)

54  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

2019 
£m

(61.0)

4.5

4.3

0.5

2018 
£m

(35.2)

1.7

3.5

-

US

Operating profit

Share-based payment charge

Adjusted operating loss

2019 
£m

(34.1)

0.9

(33.2)

2018 
£m

(16.8)

0.5

(16.3)

Like-for-like UK gross profit margin 

(51.7)

(30.0)

Def inition

Gross margin adjusting for signif icant items which are not 

directly comparable period on period. 

Relevance to strategy 

Gross prof it margin of the UK operating segment under IFRS in 

FY 19 is not directly comparable to gross prof it margin in FY 18 

due to commercial changes in the business model which affect 

both the level of costs in the business and where these are 

recognised within the income statement. 

The adjustments made to gross prof it are in respect of: 

I.  costs relating to the former deferred payment provider, 

which were recognised in FY 18 in cost of sales – deferred 

payment provider costs under the new commercial 

arrangement are recognised as f inance costs. 

II. costs relating to an outsourced property management 

service within the Lettings business recognised in FY 18 

as cost of sales – these activities are now undertaken by 

an in-house team, the costs of which are presented within 

administrative expenses. 

The table below sets out the calculation of gross prof it 

margin under IFRS and as adjusted in the “like-for-like UK 

gross prof it margin” alternative performance measure. The 

alternative performance measure is considered a helpful 

additional measure as it provides insight into underlying 

performance between FY 18 and FY 19 on a more comparable 

basis. Adjustment has been made to FY 18 only to achieve this 

comparability. 

Reconciliation

UK Gross Profit Margin under IFRS

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Gross profit margin 

Like-for-like UK Gross 
Profit Margin

Revenue

Cost of sales

Deferred payment provider costs

Lettings outsourced property 
management service

FY 19 
£’000

90,125

(33,338)

56,787

63.0%

FY 19 
£’000

90,125

(33,338)

-

-

FY 18 
£’000

74,353

(31,276)

43,077

57.9%

FY 18 
£’000

74,353

(31,276)

1,662

1,555

Like-for-like cost of sales

(33,338)

(28,059)

Like-for-like gross profit

Like-for-like gross profit margin

56,787

63.0%

46,294

62.3%

Group revenue growth excluding Canada 

6. Revenue

Group revenue growth excluding Canada, which is not 

def ined in IFRS, is a measure which is used by the board and 

management for planning and reporting. 

Revenue by contract type

Def inition 

Total revenue for the year excluding revenue f rom the Canada 

operating segment, which arose in the year by acquisition, 

divided by total revenue for the prior year. 

Relevance to strategy 

Instructions

Conveyancing

Other

Total revenue

7. Segmental reporting

Financial statements

2019

£000

83,404

19,877

33,232

136,513

Restated1  
2018

£000

60,296

15,566

11,925

87,787

The measure allows year on year comparison of the revenue 

generating performance in the current year of operating 

The Group trade is managed as a single division, providing 

segments which existed in the prior year, without the effect of 

services relating to the sale and letting of properties, however 

acquisitions in the year. 

Reconciliation 

Total Revenue for FY 19

Revenue arising from Canada acquisition

Revenue for FY 19 excluding Canada

Revenue for FY 18

Group revenue growth excluding Canada

FY 19 
£m

136.5

(23.7)

112.8

87.8

28.5%

management report to the Board including the CODM using 

geographical segments. The f inancial information reviewed 

by the board is materially the same as that reported under 

IFRS and falls under the four geographic locations: the UK, 

Australia, the US and Canada. During the year, no customer 

contributed 10% or more of the Group’s revenues (2018: none).

The following is an analysis of the Group’s revenue and results 

by reporting segment:

Year ended 30 April 2019

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Gross profit margin (%)

Administrative expenses

Marketing expenses

Share of results of joint venture

Operating profit/(loss)

Depreciation & amortisation

Share-based payments

Non-recurring acquisition costs

Adjusted EBITDA

US

£’000

Canada

Consolidation Consolidated

£’000

£’000 

£’000

Arising on 

UK

Australia

£’000

90,126

£’000

 11,375 

 11,333 

 23,679 

(33,339)

(7,377)

(4,858)

(11,052)

56,787

63%

(24,748)

(26,708)

 - 

5,331

2,334

2,098

467

3,998

35%

(10,721)

(12,071)

 - 

6,475

57%

(16,105)

(24,497)

 - 

12,627

53%

(8,478)

(7,374)

 - 

(18,794)

(34,127)

(3,225)

57

862

 - 

71

943

 - 

768

360

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

(964)

 - 

(536)

(1,500)

1,302

 - 

 - 

 136,513 

(56,626)

79,887

59%

(61,016)

(70,650)

(536)

(52,315)

4,532

4,263

467

10,230

(17,875)

(33,113)

(2,097)

(198)

(43,053)

Year ended 30 April 2018 - Restated1 

UK

Australia

£’000

£’000

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Gross profit margin (%)

Administrative expenses

Marketing expenses

Operating profit/(loss)

Depreciation & amortisation

Share-based payments

Adjusted EBITDA

1   See note 2.2

 74,352 

(31,275)

43,077

58%

(19,487)

(21,387)

2,203

1,601

2,369

6,173

US

£’000

1,556 

 (527)

1,029 

66%

(8,402)

(9,400)

(16,773)

22 

 496 

 11,879 

(6,406)

5,473

46%

(7,306)

(11,355)

(13,188)

58 

 593 

(12,537)

(16,255)

Consolidated

£’000

 87,787 

(38,208)

49,579

56%

(35,195)

(42,142)

(27,758)

1,681 

3,458

(22,619)

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  55

 
 
 
Financial statements

Non current assets

UK

Australia

US

Canada

Consolidation adjustments

Total

Total assets

UK

Australia

US

Canada

Consolidation adjustments

Total

Total liabilities

UK

Australia

US

Canada

Consolidation adjustments

Total

8. Loss from operating activities

Loss f rom operating activities for the year has been arrived at after charging:

Auditor’s remuneration:

Audit of group financial statements

Audit of subsidiaries

Amounts received by auditors and their associates in respect of:

Current statutory auditor:

Services related to corporate finance transactions earned prior to appointment as statutory auditor

Former statutory auditor:

Amounts received by auditors and their associates in respect of:

Taxation compliance

Taxation advisory

Taxation legal services

Bad Debt expense

Foreign Exchange (gains)/losses

Depreciation and other amounts written off PPE:

Owned, in respect of continuing activities

Amortisation of development costs

Amortisation of software

Amortisation of other intangibles

Aggregate charge against income in respect of research & development costs not eligible for capitalisation

Rentals payable under plant and machinery operating leases

Leasehold property rentals

1   See note 2.2

56  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

2019

£’000

77,184

141

164

4,485

(20,808)

61,166

228,935

5,016

4,558

9,918

(95,875)

152,552

28,115

32,617

49,003

7,231

(68,139)

48,827

Restated1  
2018

£’000

29,469

139

90

-

(18,536)

11,162

211,892

3,835

3,326

-

(35,547)

183,506

24,429

12,645

12,109

-

(15,855)

33,328

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

135

45

36

-

-

-

988

(516)

822

1,713

461

1,530

3,455

62

1,291

85

17

-

30

110

7

-

-

425

936

39

281

759

55

569

 
 
 
 
The aggregate charge in respect of research and development represents the total cost incurred during the year, less amounts 

capitalised in accordance with IAS 38: Intangible Assets. Amounts capitalised are shown in note 16.

Deloitte LLP became the Group’s statutory auditor for the year ended 30 April 2019. Grant Thornton LLP was the Group auditor for the 

year ended 30 April 2018. Total fees payable to Deloitte in the current f inancial year were £216,000. Auditor’s remuneration for the year 

ended 30 April 2018 was paid to Grant Thornton LLP.

Financial statements

9. Staff costs

The average number of persons employed by the Group during 

Sales & Marketing

the year was as follows:

Technical

Administration

The aggregate payroll costs of the persons employed by the 

Wages and salaries

Group, including the directors, were as follows: 

Social security

Pension

Share-based payment charge

The average number of persons employed by the Company 

Sales & Marketing

during the year was as follows:

Technical

Administration

The aggregate payroll costs of the persons employed by the 

Wages and salaries

Company, including the directors, were as follows:

Social security

Pension

Share-based payment charge

The following table provides details of remuneration paid to 

Salaries or fees, including bonus

directors of the Company.

Employers national insurance

Share-based payment charge

2019 
no.

911

144

186

1,241

2019 
£’000

30,779

2,562

602

4,263

38,206

2019 
no.

337

84

44

465

2019 
£’000

11,278

1,455

202

2,098

15,033

2019 
£’000

732

91

438

1,261

2018 
no.

376

99

94

569

2018 
£’000

18,936

1,771

71

2,458

23,236

2018 
no.

261

77

48

386

2018 
£’000

9,149

1,166

71

1,404

11,790

2018 
£’000

477

59

651

1,187

The highest paid director received remuneration of £688,000 (2018: £811,000) during the year. 

No director had a material interest in any contract in relation to the business of the Group. 

No director exercised share options during the current or preceding f inancial year.  

In addition to the 9 directors (2018: 10), 18 senior management (2018: 9) are also considered to be key management personnel. 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  57

 
 
Financial statements

The following table provides details of remuneration paid to key management personnel, being 27 individuals (2018: 19 individuals):

Salaries or fees, including bonuses and employers national insurance

Share-based payment charge

The remuneration of the Directors for the years ended 2019 and 2018 was as follows:

2019 
£’000

3,962

1,002

4,964

2018 
£’000

1,835

1,410

3,245

Year ended 30 April 2019

Executive directors

M Bruce

J Davies

Non- executive directors

P Pindar

N Discombe

W Whitehorn

A Blair

S Downing

M Wroe

Total

Short-term  
employee 
benefits

Post 
employment 
benefits

Share-based  
payments 
charge

£’000s

£’000s

£’000s

Total

£’000s

250

273

30

3

5

56

56

61

734

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

1

2

23

415

-

-

-

-

-

-

273

688

30

3

5

57

56

62

438

1,174

Michael Bruce stepped down f rom his role as an executive director of the group on 7 May 2019. His termination payments will be 

disclosed in the f inancial statements for the year ended 30 April 2020.

 Year ended 30 April 2018

Executive directors

M Bruce

J Davies

N Cartwright

Non- executive directors

P Pindar

N Discombe

W Whitehorn

Total

Short-term  
employee 
benefits

Post 
employment 
benefits

Share-based  
payments 
charge

£’000s

£’000s

£’000s

Total

£’000s

150

199

38

30

30

30

477

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

38

612

1

-

-

-

188

811

39

30

30

30

651

1,128

10. Share-based payments

The Company operates an HMRC approved executive 

management incentive plan (EMI), an employee share 

ownership plan (ESOP) and a licensee share option plan (LSOP). 

Under these approved plans, a total of 19 schemes have been 

granted, of which a total of 18 schemes are currently operating.

The vesting conditions for schemes 1, 2 and 4 are based on 

length of service, with 25% of the options vesting on or after 

the 12 month anniversary of the employee’s start date, and 

a further 6.25% vesting every three months thereafter so 

that options vest in full on the 48 month anniversary of the 

employee or licensee’s start date.

The vesting conditions for schemes 6 to 19 are based on 

future service f rom the date of grant, with between 25% 

and 33% of the options vesting on or after either the 12 or 24 

month anniversary of the grant, and a further vesting every 

three months thereafter so that options vest in full on the 48 

month anniversary of the date of grant to the employee or 

the licensee. 

58  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
 
 
Financial statements

The Company also operates an unapproved executive incentive plan (Scheme 5). The vesting conditions are based on length of service 

with 25% of the options vesting on or after the 12 month anniversary of the employee’s start date and a further 6.25% vesting every 

three months thereafter so that options vest in full on the 48 month anniversary of the employee’s start date. 

Performance conditions in respect of each scheme relate to length of service. 

Details of the total number of shares under option at the period end and conditions on qualif ication and exercise are set out below: 

Grant date 

Sch No

Type of 
scheme

No. of option 
holders

09.01.2015

10.07.2015

10.08.2015

06.11.2015

29.06.2016

05.12.2016

04.01.2017

05.03.2017

29.06.2017

06.09.2017

19.12.2017

05.03.2018

24.07.2018

02.08.2018

03.09.2018

20.11.2018

07.01.2019

23.01.2019

1

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

EMI

EMI

EMI

EMI

ESOP/LSOP

ESOP/LSOP

ESOP

ESOP/LSOP

ESOP/LSOP

ESOP/LSOP

ESOP/LSOP

ESOP/LSOP

ESOP/LSOP

ESOP

ESOP

ESOP

ESOP/LSOP

ESOP

1

3

8

4

60

155

2

100

2

27

67

18

118

1

2

4

112

1

No. of 
options 

48,721

201,090

138,056

3,361,660

2,355,650

2,322,258

387,500

1,562,502

1,400,000

403,000

1,986,400

402,500

2,882,500

500,000

225,000

375,000

2,775,000

500,000

Exercise Price 

Earliest 
exercise date

Remaining  
contractual life

£0.01

£0.13

£0.13

£0.01

£1.29

£1.25

£1.40

£3.10

£3.05

£4.69

£3.79

£4.15

£2.81

£2.87

£2.95

£1.73

£1.65

£1.59

09.01.2015

10.07.2015

10.08.2015

06.11.2016

29.06.2017

05.12.2017

04.01.2018

05.03.2018

29.06.2018

06.09.2018

19.12.2018

05.03.2019

24.07.2019

02.08.2020

03.09.2020

20.11.2022

07.01.2020

23.01.2020

see below

see below

see below

see below

7.2 years

7.6 years

7.7 years

7.9 years

8.2 years

8.4 years

8.6 years

8.9 years

9.2 years

9.3 years

9.3 years

9.6 years

9.7 years

9.7 years

1,247,338 share options were exercised during the period (2018: 3,472,967) 

The number and weighted average exercise price of share options are as follows:

Outstanding at start of period

Granted during the period

Exercised during the period 

Lapsed during the period

Outstanding at end of period 

Exercisable at end of period 

30 April 2019

30 April 2019

30 April 2018

30 April 2018

Weighted average 
exercise price 

Number of options 

Weighted average 
exercise price 

Number of options 

£1.85

£2.26

£0.77

£2.24

£1.97

£1.16

20,072,961

7,519,500

(1,247,338)

(4,518,285)

21,826,838

7,241,657

£1.04

£3.79

£0.71

£1.60

£1.85

£0.70

19,715,516

5,418,000

(3,472,967)

(1,587,588)

20,072,961

3,932,788

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of options was £2.20.  

The weighted average remaining contractual life of the options is 8.2 years (2018: 8.5 years)

Options outstanding at 30 April 2019 for schemes 1 and 5 have an exercise price of £0.01 (30 April 2018: £0.01). The weighted average 

remaining contractual life of the options is 6.5 years (30 April 2018: 7.5years). 

Options outstanding at 30 April 2019 for schemes 2 and 4 have an exercise price of £0.13 (30 April 2018: £0.13). The weighted average 

remaining contractual life of the options is 6.1 years (30 April 2018: 7.1 years). 

Fair value assumptions in respect of share-based payments

The fair value of services received in return for share options granted is measured by reference to the fair value of share options 

granted. The estimate of fair value is measured using the Black-Scholes model. Details of the fair value of share options granted in the 

period and the prior period, together with the assumptions used in determining the fair value are summarised below. 

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  59

 
 
 
Financial statements

Weighted average share price at the date of grant 

Weighted average exercise price 

Weighted average contractual life (years) 

Weighted average expected volatility 

Weighted average risk free interest rate 

Total fair value of options granted (£’000)

30 April 2019

30 April 2018

£2.26

£2.26

10

36.3%

1.5%

£3,824

£4.08

£3.78

10

31.5%

1.5%

£6,776

The volatility assumption, measured at the standard deviation of expected share price movements, is based on a review of the Group’s 

own historical volatility and of volatility used by listed companies in the same sector. 

Charge to consolidated statement of comprehensive income

The charge to consolidated statement of comprehensive income, included within administrative expenses, comprises; 

Share-based payment charge 

Credit to consolidated statement of changes in equity

Tax credit with respect to share-based payments

11. Taxation

Current tax credit/(charge) - Group

Current year

Adjustments in respect of prior years

R&D tax credit relating to prior years

Total current tax

Deferred tax credit - Group

Current year

Adjustments in respect of prior year

Total deferred tax

Total credit/(charge) for the year

Reconciliation of effective tax rate

30 April 2019

30 April 2018

£’000

4,263

£’000

3,458

30 April 2019

30 April 2018

£’000

(3,276)

£’000

(1,295)

2019

£’000

 (199)

 (37)

 296 

 60 

 1,033 

 - 

 1,033 

 1,093 

2018

£’000

 (1,053)

 (242)

 306 

 (989)

 63 

 39 

 102 

 (887)

The tax credit/(charge) for the period differs f rom the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK during the year of 19% (FY 2018: 

19%). The differences are explained below. The tax reconciliation for the prior year has been re-analysed to amalgamate certain items to 

give a better understanding of key factors affecting the tax position.

60  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
 
 
 
 
Loss before taxation

Less share of loss of post-tax earnings of equity accounted investments

Loss before taxation of equity accounted investments

Tax calculated at UK corporate tax rate of 19% (FY 18: 19%)

Effects of:

Differences between UK and non-UK corporate tax rates

Non-deductible and non-taxable items

Utilisation of previously unrecognised deferred tax assets

Other changes in unrecognised deferred tax assets

Changes in tax rates

Deferred tax prior year adjustment

Current tax prior year adjustment

R&D tax credit relating to prior years

Total credit/(charge) for the year

Financial statements

2019

£’000

 (55,954)

 536 

 (55,418)

 10,529 

 3,201 

 (329)

 205 

 (12,772)

 - 

 - 

 (37)

 296 

 1,093 

Restated1 
2018

£’000

 (29,190)

 - 

 (29,190)

 5,546 

 1,743 

 (281)

 64 

 (7,907)

 (155)

 39 

 (242)

 306 

 (887)

UK: The UK corporation tax rate for the year was 19% (FY 18: 19%). A reduction in the rate to 17% f rom 1 April 2020 has been substantively 

enacted. Additionally, new legislation which will restrict the use of brought forward losses has been substantively enacted in the 

UK. Whilst it is not expected that this legislation will affect the ability to use brought forward UK tax losses, it may extend the period 

over which they can be utilised. 

Deferred tax assets / liabilities are measured at the rate at which they are expected to reverse or be used. 

Other changes in unrecognised deferred tax assets primarily reflects non-recognition of deferred tax assets in respect of losses made 

in the USA and Australia.

Tax included in changes in equity 

GROUP

Deferred tax

Current tax

Total tax credit

2019

£’000

 3,013 

 263 

 3,276 

2018

£’000

 - 

 1,295 

 1,295 

The tax credits to equity represent the use as current year deductions, or recognition as deferred tax assets, of tax deductions related 

to share option schemes, which are in excess of related income statement expenses. 

Recognised deferred tax assets and liabilities 

GROUP

Assets

Liabilities

Net deferred tax assets

2019

£’000

 7,120 

 (4,519)

 2,601 

2018

£’000

 3,068 

 (142)

 2,926 

1   See note 31

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  61

 
Financial statements

GROUP 2019

At 1 May

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Included in the income statement

Included in equity

Currency variations

At 30 April

GROUP 2018

At 1 May

Included in the income statement

Currency variations

At 30 April

ASSETS

Fixed asset 
timing  
differences

Other  
timing  
differences

Share-based 
payments

Tax losses

£’000

3,068

305

(163)

2,900

(14)

6,096

£’000

£’000

£’000

-

74

(56)

-

-

18

-

736

113

1

850

-

(39)

195

-

-

156

ASSETS

Fixed asset 
timing  
differences

Other  
timing  
differences

Share-based 
payments

Tax losses

£’000

3,020

67

(19)

3,068

£’000

£’000

£’000

19

(19)

-

-

-

-

-

-

48

(48)

-

-

ASSETS

COMPANY 2019

Fixed asset 
timing  
differences

Other  
timing  
differences

Share-based 
payments

Tax losses

LIABILITIES

Fixed asset  
timing 
differences

£’000

(142)

(4,738)

321

-

40

(4,519)

LIABILITIES

Fixed asset  
timing 
differences

£’000

(244)

102

-

(142)

LIABILITIES

Fixed asset  
timing 
differences

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

At 1 May

Included in the income statement

Included in equity

Currency variations

At 30 April

£’000

 2,893 

 (619)

 2,900 

-

 5,174 

 - 

 11 

-

-

 11 

 - 

 736 

 113 

1

 850 

 - 

-

-

-

 - 

 - 

 104 

-

-

 104 

ASSETS

COMPANY 2018

Fixed asset 
timing  
differences

Other  
timing  
differences

Share-based 
payments

Tax losses

At 1 May

Included in the income statement

At 30 April

£’000

 2,836 

 57 

 2,893 

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

 38 

 (38)

 - 

 19 

 (19)

 - 

 - 

-

 - 

 - 

-

 - 

LIABILITIES

Fixed asset  
timing 
differences

Total

£’000

2,926

(4,398)

1,033

3,013

27

2,601

Total

£’000

2,843

102

(19)

2,926

Total

£’000

 2,893 

 232 

 3,013 

1

 6,139 

Total

£’000

 2,893 

 - 

 2,893 

A proportion of the total potential deferred tax assets in the UK, Australia and the US have not been recognised due to insuff icient 

certainty that there will be relevant prof its available in the near future to utilise them. The unrecognised element of these deferred tax 

elements is given below. 

The value of the future deduction for share-based payments (options) is dependent on the share price at the point of exercise, 

therefore its value is highly uncertain. A signif icant proportion of the value of any future credit for the recognition or use of these 

unrecognised deferred tax assets would be taken to equity, rather than to the Income statement.

62  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Unrecognised deferred tax assets

GROUP

2019

Restated1  
2018

Gross Value

Unrecognised  
Tax value

Gross Value

Unrecognised  
Tax value

Financial statements

Tax losses

Share-based payments

Fixed asset timing differences

Other timing differences

COMPANY

Tax losses

Share-based payments

Fixed asset timing differences

Other timing differences

12. Earnings per share

Loss £’000

Weighted average number of shares (‘000)

Loss per share (£)

£’000

89,937

-

24

1,810

91,771

2019

Gross Value

Unrecognised  
Tax value

£’000

£’000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

£’000

22,282

-

5

402

22,689

£’000

50,257

19,442

520

4,350

74,569

£’000

11,316

3,305

90

891

15,602

Restated1  
2018

Gross Value

Unrecognised  
Tax value

£’000

18,214

19,442

507

3,007

41,170

£’000

3,096

3,305

86

511

6,998

BASIC AND DILUTED

2019

(54,861)

303,090

(0.18)

Restated1  
2018

(30,077)

273,072

(0.11)

Diluted loss per share is equal to the basic loss per share as a result of the Group recording a loss for the year, which cannot be diluted.

The table below reconciles the weighted average number of shares (‘000):

Weighted average number of shares 2018

Weighted average issue of new shares and exercise of options

Weighted average number of shares 2019

273,072

30,018

303,090

In addition to the above, there are 21,826,838 share options which could have a dilutive potential, but as these shares are anti-dilutive 

they have not been included in the weighted average number of shares used to calculate the diluted loss per share. 

13. Finance income 

Interest income

Fair value gains in respect of derivatives

Finance income

1   See note 31

2019

£’000

 763 

 54 

 817

2018

£’000

 232 

 60 

292

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  63

 
Financial statements

14. Finance expense

Interest expense

Loss on factored receivables

Finance expense

15. Goodwill 

Cost

At 1 May & 30 April 2018

Acquisition of subsidiary

As at 30 April 2019

Carrying amount:

At 30 April 2019

At 30 April 2018

2019

£’000

 50

 4,406

 4,456

DuProprio

£’000

-

16,880

16,880

16,880

-

BFL

£’000

2,606

-

2,606

2,606

2,606

2018

£’000

-

 1,724

 1,724

Group

£’000

2,606

16,880

19,486

19,486

2,606

Please refer to note 18 for details of the impairment assessments performed in respect of the carrying amount of goodwill.

15a Acquisition of subsidiary

On 6 July 2018, the Group obtained control of 1005 9059-2114 Quebec Inc. by acquiring 100% of its issued share capital. This company 

heads a group of companies operating as DuProprio, which owns and operates one of Canada’s leading commission f ree real estate 

service networks as an online offering with similar aspects to Purplebricks. Goodwill of £16,880,000 arose on the acquisition. 

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Other assets

Property, plant and equipment 

Customer relationships

DuProprio brand

Proprietary technology

Deferred income tax liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred revenues

Total identifiable net assets

Goodwill

Total consideration

Satisfied by:

Cash

Net cash outflow arising on acquisition:

Cash consideration

Less: cash and cash equivalents acquired

Net cash outflow

£’000

 2,356 

 3,652 

678 

582 

 1,730 

13,266 

 2,884 

 (4,829)

 (4,111)

 (2,146)

14,062

16,880 

30,942 

30,942 

30,942 

 (3,652)

27,290 

DuProprio contributed £23.7 million revenue and £3.2 million to the Group’s loss for the period between the date of acquisition and the 

reporting date. If the acquisition of DuProprio had been completed on the f irst day of the f inancial year, Group revenues would have 

been £142.3 million and loss for the year £55.7 million. 

64  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
 
16. Intangible assets

GROUP

Internally 
generated 
intangible

Capitalised 
Software

Patents and 
trademark

Customer 
relationships

Proprietary 
Tech

Brand

Other

Total

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

Financial statements

Cost

Balance at 1 May 2017

Addition

Internally developed

Balance at 30 April 2018

Addition

Acquisition of subsidiary

Internally developed

Balance at 30 April 2019

Amortisation

Balance at 1 May 2017

Amortisation for the year

Balance at 30 April 2018

Amortisation for the year

Balance at 30 April 2019

Net carrying value

Balance at 30 April 2019

Balance at 30 April 2018

1,936 

 - 

2,292 

4,228 

 - 

 - 

2,606 

6,834 

(513)

(936)

 (1,449)

 (1,713)

 (3,162)

3,672 

2,779 

193 

641 

 - 

834 

217 

 - 

 - 

100 

 - 

 - 

100 

 - 

 - 

 - 

1,051 

100 

 (6)

(67)

(73)

(27)

(100)

 (3)

(39)

(42)

(461)

(503)

548 

792 

1,071 

 - 

 - 

1,071 

 - 

1,730 

 - 

2,801 

(21)

(214)

(235)

(499)

(734)

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2,884 

 13,266 

 - 

- 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

454 

 - 

 - 

2,884 

 13,266 

454 

 - 

 - 

 - 

(791)

(791)

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

 - 

 - 

 - 

(213)

(213)

241 

 - 

3,300 

641 

2,292 

6,233 

671 

17,880 

2,606 

27,390 

(543)

 (1,256)

 (1,799)

 (3,704)

 (5,503)

21,887 

4,434 

 - 

27 

2,067 

836 

2,093 

 13,266 

 - 

- 

The internally generated intangible asset relates to capitalised development costs in respect of the customer facing Purplebricks 

software platform. The intangible asset in respect of brand acquired has been deemed to have an indef inite life and is tested annually 

for impairment. All other intangible assets are amortised over their useful economic lives. Indef inite-lived intangible assets comprise 

those trademarks for which there is no foreseeable limit to the period over which they are expected to generate net cash inflows. These 

are considered to have an indef inite life, given the strength and durability of our brands and the level of marketing support. The 

nature of the industry we operate in is such that brand obsolescence is not common, if appropriately supported by advertising and 

marketing spend.

In the case of the internally developed intangible asset, amortisation is charged on a straight line basis over three years. The useful 

economic life of the customer relationships is f ive years. Capitalised software is amortised over three years on a straight line basis. The 

remaining useful lives of each asset are in keeping with the amortisation policy.  

COMPANY

Balance at 1 May 2017

Addition

Internally developed

Balance at 30 April 2018

Addition

Internally developed

Balance at 30 April 2019

Amortisation

Balance at 1 May 2017

Amortisation for the year

Balance at 30 April 2018

Amortisation for the year

Balance at 30 April 2019

Net carrying value

Balance at 30 April 2019

Balance at 30 April 2018

Internally generated 
intangible

£’000

1,936

-

2,292

4,228

-

2,606

6,834

(513)

(936)

(1,449)

(1,713)

(3,162)

3,672

2,779

Capitalised  
Software

£’000

194

634

-

828

94

-

922

(3)

(39)

(42)

(190)

(232)

690

786

Total

£’000

2,130

634

2,292

5,056

94

2,606

7,756

(516)

(975)

(1,491)

(1,903)

(3,394)

4,362

3,565

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Computer 
equipment

Furniture 
& fittings

Motor 
vehicles

Leasehold 
Improvements

Total

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

680

490

1,170

429

659

-

2,258

(199)

(309)

(508)

(597)

-

(1,105)

1,153

662

264

271

535

136

319

(25)

965

(48)

(109)

(157)

(184)

25

(316)

649

378

22

-

22

-

-

(12)

10

(1)

(7)

(8)

(14)

12

(10)

-

14

-

-

-

17

168

-

185

-

-

-

(27)

-

(27)

158

-

Computer  
equipment

£’000

Furniture  
& fittings

£’000

640

282

922

355

1,277

(194)

(263)

(457)

(305)

(762)

515

465

154

210

364

113

477

(36)

(50)

(86)

(94)

(180)

297

278

966

761

1,727

582

1,146

(37)

3,418

(248)

(425)

(673)

(822)

37

(1,458)

1,960

1,054

Total

£’000

794

492

1,286

468

1,754

(230)

(313)

(543)

(399)

(942)

812

743

Financial statements

17. Property, plant and equipment

GROUP

Cost

Balance at 1 May 2017

Additions

Balance at 30 April 2018

Recognised on acquisition of subsidiary (see note 15a)

Additions

Disposals

Balance as 30 April 2019

Depreciation

Balance at 1 May 2017

Charge for the year

Balance at 30 April 2018

Charge for the year

Accumulated depreciation on disposal

Balance as 30 April 2019

Net book value

At 30 April 2019

At 30 April 2018

COMPANY

Cost

Balance at 1 May 2017

Additions

Balance at 1 May 2018

Additions

Balance as 30 April 2019

Depreciation

Balance at 1 May 2017

Charge for the year 

Balance at 1 May 2018

Charge for the year

Balance as 30 April 2019

Net book value

At 30 April 2019

At 30 April 2018

66  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

18. Investment in subsidiaries

COMPANY

Cost

1 May 2018

Acquisitions

Share-based payment charge in respect of employees of subsidiaries

At 30 April 2019

Impairment charge for the year

Charge arising in the year

At 30 April 2019

Carrying amount

At 30 April 2019

At 30 April 2018

Financial statements

£’000

22,150

30,942

1,433

54,525

(22,651)

(22,651)

31,874

22,150

The Group consists of a Parent Company, Purplebricks Group 

BFL 

plc, incorporated in the UK and a number of subsidiaries held 

directly by Purplebricks Group plc, which operate and are 

The acquisition of BFL Property Management Limited (“BFL”) 

incorporated around the world.

in March 2017 gave rise to a cost of investment in the company 

balance sheet of £3.6 million, and a goodwill amount in the 

The Company holds 100% of the share capital and voting rights 

consolidated balance sheet of £2.6 million. As required by 

in respect of all subsidiaries.

Impairment Review

IAS 36, the carrying value of indef inite lived assets is tested 

annually for impairment. This assessment has been performed 

at the current reporting date for both the cost of investment in 

BFL and for goodwill relating to BFL on a value in use basis. 

Australia and US – assessment of carrying value of cost of 

investment in the Company statement of f inancial position

BFL trading since acquisition has been in line with 

expectations at the time of acquisition, and as anticipated 

During the year, the performance of the Group’s operations in 

the Lettings business of Purplebricks Group plc has benef ited 

Australia and the United States was below expectation. After 

f rom the expertise acquired with BFL. Over time, contracts 

the year end, following strategic reviews, as set out earlier in 

with landlords held by BFL have been replaced as they 

the annual report, a decision was made to close operations in 

naturally come to an end with contracts with Purplebricks 

Australia, and in the US, each to be effected in FY 20. 

Group plc. Therefore, part of the value of the acquired business 

is now at 30 April 2019 represented by synergies within the 

The closure of the Australian operations is expected to result 

Group, rather than purely in contracts held by the acquired 

in a net cash outflow during FY 20. Therefore, the cost of 

company. No new contracts are currently being entered into in 

investment in the Australian business and the intercompany 

the name of BFL. 

receivables due f rom Australia have been impaired to zero 

in the accounts of Purplebricks Group plc, on a fair value less 

BFL - assessment of carrying value of goodwill in the 

costs of disposal basis. This has resulted in an impairment 

consolidated statement of f inancial position 

charge in the company of £40,837,000 including £10,832,000 in 

respect of cost of investment. This impairment has no effect on 

The goodwill arising on the acquisition of BFL has been 

the consolidated accounts. 

allocated to the cash generating unit represented by the 

Group’s UK lettings business as a whole. This is because 

The carrying value of US assets has been assessed on 

following the integration of BFL staff into the wider UK lettings 

a value in use basis. Forecasts for FY 20 indicate a cash 

business, the activity in lettings relating to BFL cannot be 

outflow. At the balance sheet date, cashflow forecasts for 

distinguished f rom the wider lettings business. 

beyond FY 21 were subject to signif icant uncertainty. Therefore, 

management have taken the decision to impair in full all 

The recoverable amount of the UK lettings business is 

investment and intercompany receivable balances as at 30 

determined f rom the value in use calculation which uses 

April 2019. This has resulted in an impairment charge in the 

cashflow projections based on f inancial budgets approved by 

company of £53,082,000 including £8,819,000 in respect of 

the directors covering a f ive year period, revenue growth rate of 

cost of investment. This impairment has no effect on the 

5% and a pre-tax discount rate of 8.5%. Cashflows beyond that 

consolidated accounts.

f ive year period have been extrapolated using a steady growth 

rate of 2.5%. This rate does not exceed the average long-term 

growth rate for the relevant markets.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  67

 
Financial statements

The discounted cash flow calculation prepared in respect of 

Trading since acquisition has been in line with expectations 

the UK lettings business based on historical trends within this 

at the time of acquisition. Management have prepared a 

business indicates signif icant headroom over the carrying value 

fair value calculation based on a revenue multiple valuation 

of goodwill attributable to the BFL CGU. The key assumptions 

approach. This multiple, as well as estimates of costs of 

within this calculation include the rate of revenue growth and 

disposal, has been based on historical experience. This 

the discount rate. This calculation indicates a recoverable value 

approach indicates a recoverable value of £33.5 million, 

of £12,524,000 for this CGU, and headroom over the carrying 

indicating headroom over the carrying value of cost of 

value of goodwill of £9,918,000.

investment of £2.5 million, and (adjusting for underlying net 

assets of the Canada business) over carrying value of goodwill 

A change in discount rate of 1.0% has an effect of 

attributable to the Canada CGU and brand value of £1.3 million. 

less than £2.0m on the DCF valuation and still shows 

signif icant headroom. 

Sensitivity analysis performed has included assessment of the 

impact of using an alternative revenue multiple and effects of 

A change in revenue growth rate of 5.0% has an effect of less 

a change in foreign exchange rates. This analysis indicates that 

than £0.5m on the DCF valuation. 

conditions which would require an impairment of goodwill 

and other indef inite lived intangible assets are an increase in 

BFL - assessment of carrying value of cost of investment in 

foreign exchange rate of 4% or decrease in revenue multiple of 

the Company statement of f inancial position

4%, which are not considered to be likely. 

In assessing the carrying value of cost of investment, a 

The Group consists of a Parent Company, Purplebricks Group 

discounted cash flow calculation has been prepared which 

plc, incorporated in the UK and a number of subsidiaries held 

takes into account only contracts held by BFL and not the 

directly by Purplebricks Group plc, which operate and are 

synergies in the wider Group. 

incorporated around the world.

£’000

8,819

10,832

3,000

22,651

44,263

30,005

74,268

96,919

Due to the reduction in the size of the business conducted 

Summary of Company level impairments

within BFL since acquisition as a result of the partial transfer 

of trade as described above, and as this transfer of trade is 

expected to continue in future years, the cash flow forecasts 

Impairment of investments

indicate that a partial impairment of the cost of investment is 

required. This impairment amounts to £3.0m. This impairment 

results f rom management decisions taken as to the operation 

of the wider Lettings business rather than resulting f rom lower 

than expected performance of BFL post acquisition. 

US

Australia

BFL

Assumptions within this calculation include the rate of revenue 

growth and the discount rate. 

US

Australia

Impairment of intercompany balances

A change in discount rate of 1.0% has an effect of less than 

£0.1m on the DCF valuation. 

A change in contract loss rate of 5.0% has an effect of less than 

£0.2m on the DCF valuation. 

The expected future continued transfer out of BFL contracts 

may well lead to a further impairment of cost of investment 

in BFL in future periods. Management will continue to review 

the carrying value of BFL at future reporting dates in order to 

assess whether a further impairment has become necessary. 

Canada - assessment of carrying value of cost of investment 

in the Company statement of f inancial position and goodwill 

in the consolidated statement of f inancial position

The acquisition of the Canada based DuProprio business during 

the year gave rise to a cost of investment in the company 

balance sheet of £30,942,000, and a goodwill amount in the 

consolidated balance sheet of £16,880,000 and other intangible 

assets with indef inite lives totalling £13,266,000. As required 

by IAS 36, the carrying value of goodwill is tested annually 

for impairment. This assessment has been performed 

at the current reporting date on a fair value less costs of 

disposal basis. 

68  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

The Company holds 100% of the share capital and voting rights in respect of all subsidiaries, which are listed below.

Name of subsidiary 

Country of 
incorporation

Country of operation 

Nature of business 

Registered 
office

Financial statements

BFL Property Management Limited 

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Residential lettings 

Purplebricks Australia Pty Limited

Purplebricks Franchising Pty Limited

Australia

Australia

Australia

Real estate agency 

Australia

Real estate agency

Purplebricks Services Pty Limited 

Australia 

Australia 

Real estate agency

Mein Foxton Pty Ltd 

Hendra Pepper Pty Ltd 

Folkestone Mein Pty Ltd 

Pepper Mein Pty Ltd 

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Real estate agency

Australia

Real estate agency

Australia

Real estate agency

Australia

Real estate agency

Purplebricks New Zealand Limited 

New Zealand

New Zealand

Dormant

Purplebricks Inc

Centerpoint Closing Services LLC

Purplebricks Title Agency Inc 

9059-2114 Quebec Inc

ByTheOwner Inc / DuProprio Inc

DP Immobilier Quebec Inc

CF Real Estate Ontario Inc

CF Real Estate Max Inc

Comfree - Commission Free Realty Inc

CF Real Estate First Inc

CF Real Estate Maritimes Inc

8495122 Canada Inc

VR Estate Inc

Registered off ice

USA

USA

USA

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

USA

USA

USA

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

Real estate agency

(1)

(2)

(2)

(3)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(4)

(5)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(7)

(7)

(7)

(7)

(7)

(7)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(1)  Suite 7, Cranmore Place, Cranmore Drive, Shirley, West Midlands B90 4RZ, United Kingdom

(2)  Level 1 372 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia

(3)  The Executive Centre (Perth) Pty Ltd, Level 25, 108 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000

(4)  97b Orakei Road, Remuera, Auckland, 1050 , New Zealand

(5)  400 Spectrum Center Drive, Ste. 360, Irvine, California 92618

(6)  875 Concourse Parkway, Ste. 135, Maitland, Florida 32751

(7)  300 - 8389 ave Sous-le-Vent, Lévis (Québec) G6X 1K7, Canada

(8)  4000 - 1 Place Ville-Marie, Montréal (Québec) H3B-4M4 Canada

(9)  Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, 1700-242 Hargrave Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  69

 
Financial statements

19. Investment in jointly controlled entity

Opening Balance as at 1 May 2018

Additions

At 30 April 2019

Share of Result of joint venture

Opening Balance as at 1 May 2018

Share of result for the year

At 30 April 2019

Carrying amount:

At 30 April 2019

At 30 April 2018

GROUP
£’000

 - 

 11,249 

 11,249 

-

(536)

(536)

 10,713 

 - 

COMPANY
£’000

 - 

 11,249 

 11,249 

-

-

-

11,249

-

On 20 December 2018 PBG plc purchased 50% 

Post year end, the Joint Venture Agreement, the Investment 

of the share capital of Einhundertsiebte “Media” 

Agreement and the Shareholders’ Agreement were amended 

Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft bmH (“JV HoldCo”), 

and restated in August 2019 to reflect the progress made by 

a company incorporated in Germany which holds a 

Homeday. Under the amended Investment Agreement, JV 

25.88% investment in Homeday GbmH, another company 

HoldCo provided a convertible loan to Homeday of €10m, 

incorporated in Germany, f rom Funfundachtzigste “Media” 

funded equally by Purplebricks and Axel Springer. Under the 

Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, a wholly owned 

amended Joint Venture Agreement Purplebricks has the right, 

subsidiary of Axel Springer SE. The other 50% shareholding 

at its discretion, to provide further capital and loan funding 

continues to be held by the Axel Springer group. 

to Homeday through JV HoldCo. Should Purplebricks choose 

not to participate in further funding of Homeday through JV 

Purplebricks and Axel Springer operate JV HoldCo as a joint 

HoldCo, its share in JV HoldCo and thus indirectly in Homeday 

venture under a joint venture agreement. Consideration for the 

may decrease if its joint venture partner decides to make 

purchase was £11,249,000.

further investments in Homeday through JV HoldCo on its 

own. The same applies if both, Purplebricks and its joint 

Based in Berlin, Homeday operates homeday.de, a transaction-

venture partner, choose not to participate in further funding 

based digital real estate platform in Germany that brings 

of Homeday through JV HoldCo and other shareholders of 

customers together with experienced brokers and supports 

Homeday decide to make further investments in Homeday.

them in buying and selling property. Following the investment, 

Dr. Andreas Wiele, President Classif ieds Media Axel Springer SE, 

Under the amended Shareholders’ Agreement, Put and Call 

and James Davies, CFO of Purplebricks, have each taken a seat 

options exist between JV HoldCo and the other shareholders 

on the Advisory Board of Homeday. 

of Homeday which may require or allow JV HoldCo to acquire 

shares held by the other shareholders, for consideration to be 

The Group’s holding in JV HoldCo is accounted for under the 

determined with reference to the performance of Homeday in 

equity method. 

future periods leading up to the exercise dates of the options in 

2021 and 2024. Under the amended Joint Venture Agreement 

Axel Springer has the right to increase its investment in JV 

Purplebricks has the right, at its discretion, to provide further 

Holdco beyond 50% by acquiring shares f rom Purplebricks 

funding to JV HoldCo to put JV HoldCo in a position to meet its 

at def ined points up to 2023 for variable consideration which 

purchase price payment obligations resulting f rom the Put and 

is based on the future performance of Homeday GmbH or a 

Call options. Should Purplebricks choose not to participate in 

return on investment for Purplebricks. 

such further funding of Homeday through JV HoldCo, its share 

in JV HoldCo and thus indirectly in Homeday may decrease if 

JV HoldCo and the other shareholders of Homeday 

its joint venture partner decides to make further investments in 

have entered into an Investment Agreement and a 

Homeday via JV HoldCo on its own.

Shareholders’ Agreement. 

As at 30 April 2019, Purplebricks had a potential obligation 

whether Purplebricks will decide to make any further 

under the Investment Agreement, conditional on the 

investments, no range of potential purchase prices is provided 

As it is not suff iciently possible at this stage to determine 

future performance of Homeday, to provide further capital 

at this stage.

and loan funding to Homeday of up to EUR 20 million in 

2019. Purplebricks had the option to settle this potential future 

As a start up entity, Homeday is currently loss making 

liability either in cash or by the issue of a variable number of 

as the business makes signif icant investments in 

new shares in Purplebricks Group plc.

marketing. Homeday forecasts to become prof itable as these 

investments translate into activity and revenue growth. Trading 

of Homeday has been in line with expectations at the time of 

acquisition. 

70  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Financial statements

The registered off ice of Einhundertsiebte “Media” 

The registered off ice of Homeday GbmH is 

Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft bmH is Axel-Springer-

Prinzessinnenstrasse 26, 10969, Berlin, Germany

Strasse 65, 10888, Berlin, Germany

20. Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables

Amount owed by group undertakings

Prepayments

Accrued income

GROUP

COMPANY

2019

£’000

 6,163 

 - 

 11,562 

 9,721 

 27,446 

Restated1  
2018

£’000

4,258

-

8,502

6,432

19,192

2019

£’000

563

1,389

9,040

8,186

19,178

Restated1  
2018

£’000

2,010

16,407

6,227

6,287

30,931

In order to manage both liquidity requirements and credit 

the Group. During the current f inancial year, both the level of 

risk in the UK and Australia, the Group operates committed 

trading outside of the UK, and the changes in business model 

facilities with a third party f inance house. Further detail is set 

used in the US and Australian markets (see note 2.4.1) has 

out in the accounting policy detailed in note 2.20. 

changed the credit loss prof ile of the Group, such that a credit 

loss provision has become necessary as at 30 April 2019. 

Outside of the UK and Australia, the Group does not sell on its 

receivables and therefore bears credit risk and needs to assess 

As the Group recognises accrued income at the expected value 

expected credit losses. 

of consideration receivable, no credit loss provision against 

accrued income is considered necessary. 

As the level of business conducted in the US and in Australia 

in the prior year was relatively low, and as at 30 April 2018, no 

Amounts owed by group undertakings to the Company bear 

trade receivables were overdue, no credit loss provision was 

interest at 3.75% above LIBOR and are repayable upon demand 

held at a Group or Company level at that date. Based on the 

by the Company. See further detail in respect of these amounts 

experience of operating in these markets, and the business 

as provided in note 27.

model operated at the date of transition to IFRS 9, no credit 

loss provision was created at this date on adoption of IFRS 

The movement in loss allowances for trade receivables during 

9, which requires the use of an expected loss model rather 

the year was as follows:

than the incurred loss model which was previously used by 

Opening loss allowance at 1 May 2018

Increase in loan loss allowance recognised in profit or loss during the year

Receivables written off during the year as uncollectible

Loss allowance at 30 April 2019

GROUP

£’000

-

988

(123)

865

GROUP 

As at 30 April 2019 

Gross carrying amount

Loss allowance

Net carrying amount

Expected loss rate

1   See note 31

Current

0-30 days 
past 
due

31-60 days  
past  
due

60+days  
past 
due

£’000

3,846

-

3,846

0.0%

£’000

£’000

850

-

850

0.0%

729

(80)

649

11.0%

£’000

1,603

(785)

818

49.0%

COMPANY

£’000

-

242

(123)

119

Total

£’000

7,028

(865)

6,163

12.3%

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  71

 
Financial statements

GROUP 

As at 30 April 2018 

Gross carrying amount

Loss allowance

Net carrying amount

Expected loss rate

COMPANY 

As at 30 April 2019

Gross carrying amount

Loss allowance

Net carrying amount

Expected loss rate

COMPANY 

As at 30 April 2018 

Gross carrying amount

Loss allowance

Net carrying amount

Expected loss rate

Summary of movements in accrued income

Balance at 1 May 2018

Revenue recognised prior to invoice

Amounts invoiced

Balance at 30 April 2019

21. Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Other taxation and social security

Other creditors

Accruals

Deferred income

Current

£’000

4,258

-

4,258

0.0%

0-30 days 
past 
due

31-60 days  
past  
due

60+days  
past 
due

£’000

£’000

£’000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Current

0-30 days 
past 
due

31-60 days  
past  
due

60+days  
past 
due

Total

£’000

4,258

-

4,258

0.0%

Total

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

401

-

401

0.0%

Current

£’000

2,010

-

2,010

0.0%

5

-

5

9

-

9

267

(119)

148

0.0%

0.0%

44.6% 

0-30 days 
past 
due

31-60 days  
past  
due

60+days  
past 
due

£’000

£’000

£’000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

682

(119)

563

17.4%

Total

£’000

,2,010

-

2,010

0.0%

GROUP  
£’000

6,432

(13,299)

16,588

9,721

COMPANY  
£’000

6,287

(14,108)

16,007

8,186

GROUP

COMPANY

2019

£’000

11,326

2,345

163

11,126

24,960

19,348

44,308

Restated1  
2018

£’000

8,206

2,038

-

6,056

16,300

16,842

33,142

2019

£’000

7,054

886

60

5,582

13,582

14,702

28,284

Restated1  
2018

£’000

3,378

1,988

-

4,061

9,427

13,498

22,925

All trade and other payables are short-term. The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates 

to their fair value.

1   See note 2.2

72  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Summary of movements in deferred income

Balance at 1 May 2018

Payments received

Revenue recognised net of refunds

Balance at 30 April 2019

Financial statements

GROUP  
£’000

16,842

85,909

(83,403)

19,348

COMPANY  
£’000

13,498

52,177

(50,973)

14,702

22. Derivative financial instruments

The Group enters into contracts for foreign exchange forwards in order to secure a protected AUS:GBP and USD:GBP exchange rate in 

respect of the Group’s requirement to fund net cash outflows in these currencies. 

Foreign exchange forward contracts - carried at fair value  
through profit or loss 

Liability at start of period

Gain in movement in fair value through profit or loss

Asset / (liability) at end of period

Of which; less than 1 year

 GROUP AND COMPANY

2019

£’000

(44)

54

10

10

2018

£’000

(104)

60

(44)

(44)

Notional amounts at 30 April 2019: £13,604,000 (20 April 2018 £3,936,000). Outstanding forward contracts mature at various dates up to 

seven months after the balance sheet date (2018 : at various dates up to six months after the balance sheet date).

Further details of derivative f inancial instruments are provided in 26.

23. Share capital

Allotted, issued and fully paid:

Class:

Ordinary

Number

Nominal value

303,090,347

£0.01

2019

£’000

3,031

3,031

2018

£’000

3,019

3,019

During the year the Company issued a total of 1,247,338 shares of £0.01p each at par, for total consideration of £964,000. (2018: 

31,242,098 shares of £0.01p each at par, for total consideration of £102,463,000.)

The table below summarises the movements of the number of shares at the beginning and end of the period: 

Ordinary shares at 1 May 2018

Shares issued during the period

Ordinary shares at 30 April 2019

Ordinary shares

 301,843,009 

 1,247,338 

 303,090,347 

1   See note 2.2

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  73

 
Financial statements

24. Share premium

Balance at 1 May 2017

Premium arising on issue of equity shares

Cost of share issue

Premium arising on exercise of share options

Balance at 30 April 2018 and 1 May 2018

Premium arising on exercise of share options

Balance at 30 April 2019

£’000

74,901

99,722

(650)

2,427

176,400

952

177,352

25. Reserves

26. Financial instruments 

Share-based payment reserve
The share-based payment reserve represents all current and 

Capital risk management 

prior period share-based payment charges less the exercise of 

Capital management objectives are to ensure the Company’s 

share options. 

ability to continue as a going concern and to provide a return 

to shareholders.

Retained earnings
Retained earnings includes all current and prior period retained 

prof its and losses. 

Share premium
The amount paid to the Company by shareholders, in cash 

The capital structure of the Company currently consists of 

cash and equity attributable to equity holders of the Company, 

comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings as 

disclosed in the statement of changes in equity. The Company’s 

Audit Committee reviews the capital structure as part of its 

or other consideration, over and above the nominal value of 

risk analysis. As part of this review, the Committee considers 

shares issued to them.

the cost of capital and the risks associated with each class 

Foreign exchange reserve
The foreign exchange reserve records exchange differences 

The Company is not subject to externally imposed capital 

of capital. 

arising f rom the translation of the f inancial statements of 

requirements.

foreign operations. Upon disposal of foreign operations, the 

related accumulated exchange differences are recycled to the 

Principal financial instruments

income statement. 

The principal f inancial instruments used by the Group, f rom 

which f inancial instrument risk arises, are as follows:
 „ Cash and cash equivalents
 „ Trade and other receivables
 „ Trade and other payables
 „ Derivative f inancial instruments 

The Group held the following f inancial assets at each reporting date:

GROUP

COMPANY

2019

£’000

6,163

-

9,721

62,767

78,651

Restated1  
2018

£’000

4,258

-

6,432

152,846

163,536

2019

£’000

563

1,389

8,186

57,617

67,755

Restated1  
2018

£’000

2,010

16,407

6,287

149,684

174,388

Financial assets held at amortised cost: 

Trade and other receivables

Amounts owed by group undertakings

Accrued income

Cash and cash equivalents 

1   See note 2.2

74  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Financial assets held at fair value through profit and loss: 

Derivative financial instruments 

The Group held the following f inancial liabilities at each reporting date:

Financial liabilities held at amortised cost: 

Trade payables 

Other creditors 

Accruals 

Financial liabilities held at fair value through profit and loss: 

Derivative financial instruments 

Financial statements

GROUP

COMPANY

2019

£’000

Restated1  
2018

£’000

2019

£’000

Restated1  
2018

£’000

10

-

10

-

78,661

163,536

67,765

174,388

GROUP

COMPANY

2019

£’000

11,326

163

11,126

22,615

Restated1  
2018

£’000

8,206

-

6,056

14,262

2019

£’000

7,054

60

5,582

12,696

Restated1  
2018

£’000

3,378

-

4,061

7,439

GROUP

COMPANY

2019

£’000

-

22,615

Restated1  
2018

£’000

44

14,306

2019

£’000

-

12,696

Restated1  
2018

£’000

44

7,483

Fair value of financial instruments

Financial risk management

Carrying value of the instruments in the f inancial assets and 

f inancial liabilities tables approximates to their fair value.

During the year it was the policy of the Group to enter 

into USD and AUD forward foreign exchange contracts to 

manage currency risk in relation to the Group’s cash funding 

requirements for its US and Australian subsidiaries. Derivatives 

were not designated in hedge relationships.

The Group uses the following hierarchy for determining 

and disclosing the fair value of f inancial instruments by 

valuation technique:

Level 1: quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for 

identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: other techniques for which all inputs which have a 

signif icant effect on the recorded fair value are observable, 

either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3: techniques which use inputs which have a signif icant 

effect on the recorded fair value that are not based on 

observable market data.

All derivative f inancial instruments are level 2. During each 

of the reporting periods, there were no transfers between 

valuation levels.

The Group is exposed through its operations to the following 

f inancial risks:
 „ Liquidity risk
 „ Interest rate risk
 „ Credit risk
 „ Foreign currency risk

The Group’s policies for f inancial risk management are 

outlined below.

Liquidity risk management

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet 

its f inancial obligations as they fall due. The Group manages 

liquidity risk by maintaining adequate cash reserves and by 

monitoring forecast and actual cash flows to ensure cash is 

available to meet f inancial liabilities as they fall due. Suff icient 

cash is retained in immediate access accounts whilst cash 

which is surplus to short term requirements is deposited in 

notice accounts. Sensitivities are applied to cash forecasts to 

ensure the Company has early warning of any manifestation of 

liquidity risk. 

The following is an analysis of the contractual undiscounted 

cash flows payable under f inancial liabilities excluding 

derivatives which are disclosed in note 22. The table includes 

principal only cash flows in respect of trade and other payables. 

1   See note 31

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  75

 
Financial statements

Trade and other payables

GROUP

COMPANY

Trade payables, other creditors and accruals due within one month 

Trade payables, other creditors and accruals due within three months

Trade payables, other creditors and accruals 

2019

£’000

16,961

5,654

22,615

Restated1 
2018

£’000

10,696

3,566

14,262

2019

£’000

9,522

3,174

12,696

Restated1 
2018

£’000

5,579

1,860

7,439

Interest rate sensitivity analysis

In the US, at present the Group manages “pay later” receivables 

itself by monitoring the aggregate amount and duration of 

Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the future cash 

exposure to any one customer. As amounts due f rom each 

flows of a f inancial instrument will fluctuate due to changes 

individual customer are small, there is no concentration of 

in market rates. At the year end date there was no material 

credit risk. 

exposure to movement in interest rates. 

Credit risk management

The credit risk on liquid funds is minimised because the 

counterparties are UK banks with high credit-ratings assigned 

by international credit-rating agencies.

Credit risk refers to the risk that the counterparty will default 

on its contractual obligations resulting in f inancial loss to the 

Foreign currency risk management

Group. The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its 

trade receivables. 

A signif icant part of the Group’s transactions are carried out 

in pound sterling (GBP). Exposures to currency exchange 

Trade receivables across the Group have been assessed with 

rates arise f rom the Group’s trading activity carried out by 

regard to credit risk characteristics which vary f rom country to 

its overseas operations, which is primarily denominated in 

country and according to the nature of the counterparty. The 

Australian dollars (AUD), US dollars (USD) and Canadian dollars 

Group also considers days past due in making this assessment 

(CAD). The Company holds AUD, USD and CAD denominated 

as well as historical credit losses experienced within over a 

loans with its respective subsidiaries arising f rom intercompany 

period of 12 month before 30 April 2019. 

funding arrangements. 

The expected loss rates derived f rom this assessment are 

To mitigate the Group’s exposure to foreign currency 

adjusted to reflect current and forward-looking information 

transaction risk, planned non-GBP funding requirements in 

affecting the ability of the customers to settle the receivables. 

relation to its non-UK subsidiaries are monitored and forward 

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplif ied approach to measuring 

those expected cashflows. The Group does not enter into 

expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss 

forward exchange rate contracts to mitigate the exposure to 

allowance for all trade receivables which are not subject to the 

foreign currency translation risk on the carrying value of its 

receivable sale arrangement described below.

non-GBP loan receivables. The loans carry a commercial rate 

foreign exchange contracts are entered into in relation to 

In order to manage both liquidity requirements and credit 

risk in relation to the f inancial statements of its overseas 

of interest. Additionally, the Group does not hedge translation 

risk in the UK and Australia, the Group operates committed 

subsidiaries.

facilities with a third party f inance house, whereby customer 

receivables in respect of customers who utilise the Group‘s “pay 

Foreign currency denominated f inancial assets and liabilities 

later” option are sold immediately to the f inance house. The 

which expose the Group to currency risk are disclosed in the 

Group has assessed the credit risk of the counterparty as 

table below. The sensitivity of prof it in regards to the Group’s 

low. See note 2.20 for further details.

f inancial assets and f inancial liabilities and the AUD/GBP, USD/

Outside of the UK and Australia, the Group does not sell on its 

receivables and therefore bears credit risk and needs to assess 

The table below sets out assets and liabilities held in foreign 

GBP and CAD/GBP exchange rates is also disclosed.

expected credit losses. 

currencies and the impact in GBP of changes in the respective 

foreign exchange rates. The assumed percentage changes 

in AUD/GBP, USD/GBP and CAD/GBP exchange rate are 

determined based on historical market volatility and estimates 

of potential future volatility.

1   See note 31

76  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
30 April 2019

 Trade and other receivables 

 Cash and cash equivalents 

 Trade and other payables 

30 April 2018

 Trade and other receivables 

 Cash and cash equivalents 

 Trade and other payables 

Financial statements

AUD

$’000

3,875

2,434

(4,241)

2,068

AUD

$’000

2,668

2,064

(5,255)

(523)

USD

$’000

1,662

2,909

(5,433)

(862)

USD

$’000

1,311

1,881

(5,426)

(2,234)

CAD

AUD

US

CAD

$’000 +/- 10% (£’000) +/- 7% (£’000) +/- 10% (£’000)

386

114

(583)

(83)

6,759

1,988

(10,204)

(1,457)

209

132

(229)

112

AUD

89

156

(292)

(47)

US

+/- 9% (£’000) +/- 11% (£’000)

132

102

(259)

(25)

105

150

(434)

(179)

Exposures to foreign exchange rates vary during the year depending on the volume of overseas transactions. Nonetheless, the analysis 

above is considered to be representative of the group’s exposure to currency risk as at 30 April 2019 

27. Related party transactions

Related party transactions occur as a result of funding provided to the wholly owned subsidiaries for the purposes of marketing and 

support f rom the UK.

Company - balances with subsidiary undertakings

Trade Receivables

As at 30 April 2019

As at 30 April 2018

Purplebricks Australia PTY Limited

Provision

Purplebricks Inc.

Provision

BFL Property Management Limited

DuProprio Inc.

£’000

30,005

(30,005)

44,263

(44,263)

192

1,197

1,389

£’000

7,348

-

8,550

-

509

-

16,407

During the year Purplebricks Group plc lent £22,657,000 

Other related party transactions

to Purplebricks Australia PTY Limited (2018 : £51,000) and 

£35,713,000 to Purplebricks Inc (2018 : £8,550,000). During the 

Directors’ remuneration and key management personnel 

year the Company provided management services to Canada 

disclosures can be found in note 9.

which have been recharged in the period. Movements in the 

balance with BFL relate to intragroup cash sweeps.

On 21 December 2018, Michael Bruce, Chief Executive Off icer, 

purchased 167,925 shares in the Company; Simon Downing, 

The background to the provisions held against intercompany 

Non‐Executive Director, purchased 133,500 shares in the 

balances is set out in note 18. 

On 20 December 2018 PBG plc purchased 50% 

Company; and Adrian Blair, Non‐Executive Director, purchased 

33,675 shares in the Company, in each case at £1.48 per share. 

of the share capital of Einhundertsiebte “Media” 

Axel Springer SE, an entity closely associated with Dr. Andreas 

Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft bmH (“JV HoldCo”), 

Wiele, Non‐executive Director, purchased 3,000,000 shares in 

a company incorporated in Germany which holds a 

the Company on 9 July 2018 at £3.07 per share and 43,662,417 

25.88% investment in Homeday GbmH, another company 

shares on 3 June 2019 at £1.00 per share.

incorporated in Germany, f rom Funfundachtzigste “Media” 

Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, a wholly owned 

Michael Bruce sold 4,444,444 shares in the Company on 25 

subsidiary of Axel Springer SE. The other 50% shareholding 

April 2018 at 360p per share.

continues to be held by the Axel Springer group. 

Purplebricks and Axel Springer operate JV HoldCo as a joint 

Michael Bruce, received a salary f rom the company of £11,000 

During the year Isabel Bruce, a person closely associated with 

venture under a joint venture agreement. Consideration for the 

(FY 2018: £41,000) 

purchase was £11,249,000. See note 19 for further information.

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  77

 
 
Financial statements

28. Commitments

As at 30 April 2019, Purplebricks had a potential obligation under its Investment Agreement with Homeday, conditional on the 

future performance of Homeday, to provide further capital and loan funding to Homeday of up to EUR 20 million in 2019. See note 

19 for further details. Capital commitments, approved by the Board and existing at 30 April 2019 amounted to £nil (2018:£nil). Total 

commitments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

GROUP

Payable:

Within one year

In the second to fifth years

After five years

COMPANY

Payable:

Within one year

In the second to fifth years

After five years

2019

Land and 
buildings

£’000

1,474

2,503

340

4,317

2019

Land and 
buildings

£’000

490

1,010

3

1,503

Other

£’000

62

112

-

174

Other

£’000

24

19

-

43

2018

Land and  
buildings

£’000

697

1,349

-

2,046

2018

Land and  
buildings

£’000

403

1,009

-

1,412

Other

£’000

48

43

-

91

Other

£’000

28

23

-

51

Operating leases relate to land, buildings and other assets, such as vehicles and IT equipment, used to support the operational 

requirements of the Company.

29. Ultimate controlling party

There is no ultimate controlling party as no one investor has a 

majority shareholding.

a reasonable degree of accuracy, the principal uncertainty in 

measuring net closure costs relates to the quantum of revenue 

and associated costs. Given the uncertainty around these 

factors, the Group currently estimates net closure costs in the 

range of £6 million – £8 million.

30. Post balance sheet event

Closure of overseas operations

On 7 May 2019, the Group announced that it had chosen to 

exit the Australian market and put the Australian business 

into an orderly run-down with immediate effect, pending 

closure. Since 8 May 2019, no new instructions have been 

taken in Australia and the business is focused on settling sales 

for customers under existing instructions, implementing an 

orderly reduction in staff numbers and curtailing relationships 

with suppliers and contractors. The run-down process 

remains ongoing. 

Through the run-down process, the Group is monitoring 

Australian “net closure costs” which it def ines as revenue 

earned since 8 May 2019, net of costs of serving existing 

customers, exiting supplier and contractor relationships, 

employee costs, customer refunds costs and other associated 

closure costs. Whilst employee costs and the costs of exiting 

supplier and contractor relationships can be estimated with 

78  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

The Group also announced on 3 July 2019, that it has chosen 

to cease investment in the US. This will result in a closure of 

the business via an orderly run-down, or a sale of all or part of 

the US operation if a suitable purchaser is identif ied. No new 

instructions will be taken by the business f rom 3 July 2019. The 

US workforce is being rationalised and the core remaining 

team will be focused on selling properties which are listed and 

curtailing relationships with suppliers and contractors, with 

close oversight f rom the Group. Since the decision to cease 

investment is a recent one, the closure costs are yet to be fully 

quantif ied and depend on various factors. However, initial 

preliminary estimates indicate that net closure costs of the US 

business will be between £4 million - £6 million.

The Australia and US operations represent in their entirety the 

segments as disclosed in note 7.

Other than normal accruals for services rendered and goods 

received, no specif ic provision for closure costs has been made 

in the f inancial statements for the year ended 30 April 2019. 

 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Homeday

Compliance

As set out in note 19, as at 30 April 2019, Purplebricks had 

The Company is currently engaged in discussion with HMRC 

a potential obligation to its joint venture Homeday GmbH 

following an Anti Money Laundering (AML) compliance 

under an Investment Agreement, conditional on the 

inspection during the year, f rom which a number of f indings 

future performance of Homeday, to provide further capital 

were noted in relation to non compliance with certain aspects 

and loan funding to Homeday of up to EUR 20 million in 

of this legislation. At the balance sheet date and the date of 

2019. Purplebricks had the option to settle this potential 

this annual report the Company is unable to reliably estimate 

future liability either in cash or by the issue of new shares in 

the f inancial impact of these f indings and related ongoing 

Purplebricks Group plc.

discussions, therefore in accordance with IAS 37.14 herewith 

discloses a contingent liability in respect of these matters.  

Post year end, the Joint Venture Agreement, the Investment 

Agreement and the Shareholders’ Agreement were amended 

The Company or its subsidiaries are not involved currently in 

and restated in August 2019 to reflect the progress made by 

any legal, arbitration or governmental proceedings, including 

Homeday. Under the amended Investment Agreement, JV 

the aforementioned discussion with HMRC, which may have, 

HoldCo provided a convertible loan to Homeday of €10m, 

or have had in the 12 months preceding the date of this report, 

funded equally by Purplebricks and Axel Springer. Under the 

a material effect on the f inancial position or prof itability of the 

amended Joint Venture Agreement Purplebricks has the right, 

Company and its subsidiaries.

at its discretion, to provide further capital and loan funding 

to Homeday through JV HoldCo. Further detail is set out 

in note 19. 

31. Revenue recognition – transition to IFRS 15

Table 1 Impact of transition to IFRS 15 on retained earnings at 1 May 2017

Retained earnings as previously stated

Increase in deferred income relating to estate agency services

Increase in accrued income relating to conveyancing services

Increase in prepaid expenses relating to estate agency services

Increase in accrued expenses relating to conveyancing services

Other effects of the implementation of IFRS 15

Retained earnings as restated

£000

(3,984)

(7,055)

3,015

3,288

(504)

29

(5,211)

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  79

 
UK

AUS

USA

Canada

As restated 
under IFRS 15

Financial statements

Table 2a Condensed statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 30 April 2018  

IFRS 15 adjustments by geographical segment

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross Profit

Administrative and establishment expenses

Marketing costs

Loss from operating activities

Finance income

Finance expense 

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation

Under 
previous 
accounting 
policies
£’000

93,697

(41,107)

52,590

(35,195)

(42,142)

(24,747)

60

(1,492)

(26,179)

£’000

(3,765)

1,791

(1,974)

-

-

£’000

(1,661)

880

(781)

-

-

£’000

(484)

228

(256)

-

-

(1,974)

(781)

(256)

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,974)

(781)

(256)

Taxation on loss on ordinary activities

(887)

-

-

-

Loss for the period

(27,066)

(1,974)

(781)

(256)

Items that may subsequently be reclassified to profit and loss 

Exchange differences on translation of 
foreign operations

Total other comprehensive income

(490)

(490)

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total comprehensive loss

(27,556)

(1,974)

(781)

(256)

£’000

£’000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

87,787

(38,208)

49,579

(35,195)

(42,142)

(27,758)

60

(1,492)

(29,190)

(887)

(30,077)

(490)

(490)

(30,567)

Table 2b  

Condensed statement of comprehensive income for the 

year ended 30 April 2018  

IFRS 15 adjustments by contract type

Under 
previous  
accounting 
policies

Instructions Conveyancing

Other

As restated  
under IFRS 15

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross Profit

Administrative and establishment expenses

Marketing costs

Loss from operating activities

Finance income

Finance expense 

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation

Taxation on loss on ordinary activities

Loss for the period

Items that may subsequently be reclassified to profit and loss

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive profit/(loss)

£000

93,697

(41,107)

52,590

(35,195)

(42,142)

(24,747)

60

(1,492)

(26,179)

(887)

(27,066)

(490)

(490)

£000

(6,301)

3,013

(3,288)

-

-

(3,288)

-

-

(3,288)

-

(3,288)

-

-

(27,556)

(3,288)

£000

£000

£000

153

(26)

127

-

-

127

-

-

127

-

127

-

-

127

238

(88)

150

-

-

150

-

-

150

-

150

-

-

87,787

(38,208)

49,579

(35,195)

(42,142)

(27,758)

60

(1,492)

(29,190)

(887)

(30,077)

(490)

(490)

150

(30,567)

80  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Table 3a Condensed statement of f inancial position as at 

30 April 2017 - IFRS 15 adjustments by contract type

Under 
previous 
accounting 
policies

Instructions Conveyancing

Other

As restated 
under IFRS 15

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Financial statements

Non-current assets

Goodwill 

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment 

Deferred tax asset

Current assets

Trade and other receivables

Cash and other cash equivalents

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred income

Derivative financial instruments

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Share capital 

Share premium

Share-based payments reserve

Foreign exchange reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

2,606

2,757

718

3,087

9,168

4,865

71,330

76,195

(7,301)

(2,307)

(104)

(9,712)

66,483

75,651

(244)

75,407

2,705

74,901

1,669

116

(3,984)

75,407

-

-

-

-

-

3,288

-

3,288

-

(7,063)

-

(7,063)

(3,775)

(3,775)

-

(3,775)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,105

-

3,105

(558)

-

-

(558)

2,547

2,547

-

2,547

-

-

-

-

(3,775)

(3,775)

2,547

2,547

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,606

2,757

718

3,087

9,168

11,258

71,330

82,588

(7,859)

(9,370)

(104)

(17,333)

65,255

74,423

(244)

74,179

2,705

74,901

1,669

116

(5,212)

74,179

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  81

 
Financial statements

Table 3b  

Condensed statement of f inancial position 

as at 30 April 2018 - IFRS 15 adjustments by 

geographical segment

Under 
previous 
accounting 
policies

UK

AUS

USA

Canada

As restated 
under IFRS 15

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Non-current assets

Goodwill 

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment 

Deferred tax asset

Current assets

Tax receivable

Trade and other receivables

Cash and other cash equivalents

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred income

Derivative financial instruments

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Share capital 

Share premium

Share-based payments reserve

Foreign exchange reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

2,606

4,434

1,054

3,068

11,162

306

9,380

152,846

162,532

(15,624)

(3,467)

(44)

(19,135)

143,397

154,559

(142)

154,417

3,019

176,400

4,545

(374)

(29,173)

154,417

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

8,406

-

8,406

(658)

(10,755)

-

(11,413)

(3,007)

(3,007)

-

(3,007)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,100

-

1,100

-

(2,076)

-

(2,076)

(976)

(976)

-

(976)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

306

-

306

(18)

(544)

-

(562)

(256)

(256)

-

(256)

-

-

-

-

(3,007)

(3,007)

(976)

(976)

(256)

(256)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,606

4,434

1,054

3,068

11,162

306

19,192

152,846

172,344

(16,300)

(16,842)

(44)

(33,186)

139,158

150,320

(142)

150,178

3,019

176,400

4,545

(374)

(33,412)

150,178

82  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Table 3c  

Condensed statement of f inancial position as at 30 April 

2018 - IFRS 15 adjustments by contract type

Under 
previous 
accounting 
policies

Instructions Conveyancing

Other

As restated 
under IFRS 15

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Financial statements

Non-current assets

Goodwill 

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment 

Deferred tax asset

Current assets

Tax receivable

Trade and other receivables

Cash and other cash equivalents

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred income

Derivative financial instruments

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Share capital 

Share premium

Share-based payments reserve

Foreign exchange reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

2,606

4,434

1,054

3,068

11,162

306

9,380

152,846

162,532

(15,624)

(3,467)

(44)

(19,135)

143,397

154,559

(142)

154,417

3,019

176,400

4,545

(374)

(29,173)

154,417

-

-

-

-

-

-

6,300

-

6,300

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,167

-

3,167

-

(530)

(13,356)

-

(13,356)

(7,056)

(7,056)

-

(7,056)

-

-

-

-

-

-

(530)

2,637

2,637

-

2,637

-

-

-

-

(7,056)

(7,056)

2,637

2,637

-

-

-

-

-

-

345

-

345

(146)

(19)

-

(165)

180

180

-

180

-

-

-

-

180

180

2,606

4,434

1,054

3,068

11,162

306

19,192

152,846

172,344

(16,300)

(16,842)

(44)

(33,186)

139,158

150,320

(142)

150,178

3,019

176,400

4,545

(374)

(33,412)

150,178

Table 4 Impact of the adoption of IFRS 15 on the Group’s reported earnings per share for the year ended 30 April 2018 

Earnings per share restated

Loss for the period (£000)

Weighted average number of shares

Loss per share (£)

Basic and diluted  
As previously stated

Increase in loss on  
adoption of IFRS 15

Basic and diluted  
As restated

(27,066)

273,072,000

(0.10)

(3,011)

-

(30,077)

273,072,000

(0.11)

Table 5 Impact of adoption of IFRS 15 on brokerage and lettings revenue for the year ended 30 April 2018 

Other revenue as previously reported

Impact of adoption of IFRS 15

£000

11,686

48

11,734

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  83

 
Financial statements

Table 6  

Impact of adoption of IFRS 15 on consolidated statement of cash flows for 

the year ended 30 April 2018 - IFRS 15 adjustments by contract type

Loss for the year after taxation

Operating cash outflow before changes in working capital

Movement in trade and other receivables

Movement in trade and other payables

Movement in deferred income

Net cash utilised in operating activities

Under 
previous  
accounting 
policies

£000

(27,066)

(19,589)

(4,515)

8,323

1,161

(14,620)

IFRS 15  
adjustments

Other 
restatements 
see note 2.2

As restated 

£000

(3,011)

(3,011)

(3,419)

118

6,312

-

£000

-

(1,724)

-

-

-

£000

(30,077)

(24,324)

(7,934)

8,441

7,473

(1,724)

(16,344)

Table 7a  

Company statement of f inancial position as at 30 April 

2018 - IFRS 15 adjustments by contract type

Under 
previous  
accounting 
policies

Instructions Conveyancing

Other

As restated 
under IFRS 15

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Non-current assets

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment 

Investment in subsidiaries 

Deferred tax asset

Current assets

Tax receivable

Trade and other receivables

Cash and other cash equivalents

3,565

743

22,150

2,893

29,351

306

22,524

149,684

172,514

-

-

-

-

-

8,128

-

8,128

Total assets

201,865

8,128

-

-

-

-

-

279

-

279

279

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred income

Derivative financial instruments

(8,767)

(2,743)

(44)

-

(530)

(10,736)

-

-

-

(11,554)

(10,736)

(530)

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities, being net assets

160,960

190,311

(2,608)

(2,608)

Equity

Share capital 

Share premium

Share-based payments reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

3,019

176,400

4,545

6,347

190,311

-

-

-

(2,608)

(2,608)

(251)

(251)

-

-

-

(251)

(251)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(130)

(19)

-

(149)

(149)

(149)

-

-

-

(149)

(149)

3,565

743

22,150

2,893

29,351

306

30,931

149,684

180,921

210,272

(9,427)

(13,498)

(44)

(22,969)

157,952

187,303

3,019

176,400

4,545

3,339

187,303

84  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

 
Table 7b  

Company statement of f inancial position as at 30 April 

2017 - IFRS 15 adjustments by contract type

Under 
previous  
accounting 
policies

Instructions Conveyancing

Other

As restated 
under IFRS 15

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Financial statements

Non-current assets

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment 

Investment in subsidiaries 

Deferred tax asset

Current assets

Tax receivable

Trade and other receivables

Cash and other cash equivalents

1,614

564

3,574

2,893

8,645

-

11,245

69,941

81,186

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,068

-

3,068

3,015

-

3,015

Total assets

89,831

3,068

3,015

-

-

-

-

-

-

91

-

91

91

(55)

-

-

1,614

564

3,574

2,893

8,645

-

17,419

69,941

87,360

96,005

(6,996)

(8,470)

(104)

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred income

Derivative financial instruments

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities, being net assets

Equity

Share capital 

Share premium

Share-based payments reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

(6,437)

(1,821)

(104)

(8,362)

72,824

81,469

2,705

74,901

1,669

2,194

81,469

-

(504)

(6,649)

-

-

-

(6,649)

(504)

(55)

(15,570)

(3,581)

(3,581)

-

-

-

(3,581)

(3,581)

2,511

2,511

-

-

-

2,511

2,511

36

36

-

-

-

36

36

71,790

80,435

2,705

74,901

1,669

1,160

80,435

Purplebricks Annual Report 2019  85

 
COMPANY INFORMATION

Directors

Paul Pindar, Chairman

Auditor 

Deloitte LLP, Four Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HZ

Vic Darvey, Chief Executive Off icer (appointed 7 May 2019)

James Davies, Chief Financial Off icer

Nominated advisor 

Adrian Blair

Simon Downing

Andreas Wiele

Mike Wroe

Registered off ice 

Suite 7, Cranmore Place, Cranmore Drive, Shirley, Solihull, West 

Midlands B90 4RZ 

United Kingdom

Registered number 

08047368

Zeus Capital Ltd, 10 Old Burlington Street, London W1S 3AG

Co-brokers 

Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Citigroup Centre, 33 Canada 

Square, London E14 5LB, 

Peel Hunt LLP, Moor House, 120 London Wall, London EC2Y 5ET

Solicitor 

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, 3 More London Riverside, 

London SE1 2AQ

Board members’ photography by Matt Leete. mattleete.com 

Cover: Customers, the Hamed family, Nottingham UK on their move day, spring ‘19 

Purplebricks is committed to the environmental issues reflected in this Annual Report. The cover is printed on Fedrigoni Symbol digital satin  

and the text pages on Condat digital silk which are FSC certif ied and ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) f rom a FSC chain-of-custody certif ied mill.  

Printed in the UK by PSW Paper & Print Ltd. 

www.fsc.org

FSC A000531

The mark of
responsible forestry

86  Purplebricks Annual Report 2019

Purplebricks Group plc, 

Suite 7, Cranmore Place, Cranmore Drive, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4RZ 

United Kingdom 

Company number 08047368

investors@purplebricks.com