Quarterlytics / Communication Services / Advertising Agencies / Rightmove

Rightmove

rmv · LSE Communication Services
Claim this profile
Ticker rmv
Exchange LSE
Sector Communication Services
Industry Advertising Agencies
Employees 201-500
← All annual reports
FY2012 Annual Report · Rightmove
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
Rightmove plc annual report 2012

 Britain  
moves  
at
rightmove

Rightmove plc

Rightmove is the UK’s largest property portal.

Our aim is to be the place for all UK home hunters to find details  
of all properties available to buy or rent. The website provides an 
easy-to-use but sophisticated online property search. With the 
depth of information that it provides, home hunters can 
immediately identify a preferred property.
The service is directed at four key membership groups:
• estate agents
• lettings agents
• new homes developers
•  overseas homes agents offering properties outside the UK  
but interested in advertising to UK-based home hunters.

r i g h t m o v e . c o . u k   i s  
t h e   U K ’s   n u m b e r   o n e  
p r o p e r t y   w e b s i t e

Contents

Business review 

2  Highlights

Growing traffic
Page 8

Investing in 
relationships
Page 12

Corporate governance 

3   Key performance  

indicators

4  Chairman’s statement 6   Business and  
financial review

Continued 
product 
innovation
Page 10

Building  
brand 
awareness
Page 14

16 Directors and officers
18  Corporate social 
responsibility

20 Directors’ report 
23  Corporate governance

30 Remuneration report

45 Auditor’s report

Financial statements

46  Consolidated 
statement of 
comprehensive 
income 

47  Consolidated 

48  Company statement 
of financial position 

49  Consolidated 
statement of  
cash flows

statement of financial 
position

50  Company statement 

of cash flows

51  Consolidated 

statement of changes 
in shareholders’ equity

52  Company statement 

of changes in 
shareholders’ equity

53  Notes forming part  
of the financial 
statements
84  Advisers and 
shareholder 
information

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Highlights

• Revenue increased by 23% to £119.4m (2011: £97.0m)

• Underlying operating profit(1) increased by 26% to £87.5m (2011: £69.4m)

• Underlying operating margin(1) up to 73.3% (2011: 71.5%)

• Underlying basic earnings per share(1) up 31% to 65.7p (2011: 50.3p)

• Diluted earnings per share(2) up 40% to 59.2p (2011: 42.3p)

•  4.5m shares bought back during 2012 (2011: 4.4m) at an average price 

of £14.70 (2011: £11.10)

•  Final dividend of 14.0p (2011: 11.0p) making a total dividend of 23.0p  

for the year (2011: 18.0p), up 28%

•  Average revenue per advertiser (ARPA) up 19% to £529 per month  

(2011: £443 per month)

• Site traffic up 18% to 11.0bn pages (2011: 9.3bn pages)

Revenue

Profit

Dividend

+23%

Revenue up to £119.4m  
(2011: £97.0m)

+26%

Underlying operating profit(1) 
increased to £87.5m (2011: £69.4m)

+28%

Final dividend 14.0p 
Total dividend 23.0p

(1)  From continuing operations before share-based payments, NI on share-based incentives and no related adjustment for tax.
(2)  From continuing operations.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

2

 
 
 
Focus areas

Leading our market

Investing in technology

Supporting our customers

Building our brand

Key performance indicators

Market share

Number of advertisers

Page impressions

 82%

of the market share of the top 3 UK 
property websites by pages viewed, 
2% down on 2011

Source: Experian Hitwise and Rightmove:  
December 2012 and December 2011

 18,270

Total membership at end of 2012  
was 18,270 (2011: 18,276),  
flat year on year

Properties displayed

Enquiries

 1.1million 

properties on rightmove.co.uk  
at 31 December 2012  
unchanged since 2011

21.2  million

Enquiries up from 19.6 million  
in 2011

 11.0 billion

page impressions up from  
9.3 billion in 2011

Source: Rightmove

Average revenue  
per advertiser

£529

per month, up 19% on 2011

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman’s statement

Scott Forbes  
Chairman

I am pleased to present Rightmove plc’s results for the year 
ended 31 December 2012.

Online advertising is changing consumer behaviour  
across many markets and transforming the way businesses 
communicate with consumers. Rightmove has driven the 
transformation in online property advertising which has been 
a boon to home movers as they are the beneficiaries of 
greater and more timely access to better quality information. 
The pace of change is continuing with the rapid growth of the 
mobile internet, meaning that home movers now have instant 
access to information on Rightmove irrespective of whether 
they are at home, in the office or on the move. At the same 
time, online advertising has enabled property professionals  
to operate more cost effectively and improve their consumer 
reach at a time when housing transaction volumes have 
remained at around 60% of average historic levels.

I would like to express my thanks to our customers and also 
to our employees who continue to bring their skills and efforts 
to bear to make Rightmove the best place for home hunters 
to find their next home and for property advertisers to reach 
the widest possible audience.

The Board of Directors
30 April 2013 marks the end of Ed Williams’ 13 impressive 
years of accomplishment at the helm of Rightmove. It has 
been very much a business partnership with Nick McKittrick, 
currently Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director and 
successor to Ed as Chief Executive Officer. I speak on  
behalf of the Board and all employees when I say that we  
will miss Ed on both a personal and professional level and 
have greatly appreciated his valuable contributions to 
Rightmove’s success. 

Rightmove is proud that it continues to be at the forefront 

In Nick, we have a strong and experienced successor  

of online property advertising. In January 2013 Rightmove 
ranked as the sixth most popular website in the UK amongst 
global brands such as Google and Facebook, once again 
demonstrating that ‘Britain moves at Rightmove’. We are 
proud of the compelling value proposition that Rightmove  
and our brand creates for our customers. We will continue  
to offer an increasing number of brand building and property 
advertising options to help our customers take advantage  
of the internet’s ability to deliver advertising with unrivalled 
consumer reach at a fraction of historic cost levels. 

who joined Rightmove in 2000 along with Ed. A long  
standing member of the Board since March 2004, he  
became Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director in 2009. 
Congratulations also to fellow director Peter Brooks-Johnson 
and to Robyn Perriss for their long-standing achievements 
meriting appointment as Chief Operating Officer and Finance 
Director, respectively.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

4

A total of £86.8m was returned  
to shareholders through dividends 
and share buybacks, bringing the 
total returned since our flotation in 
2006 to £293m.

In 2012 we have undertaken a full external Board evaluation. 
The evaluation was interview based and covered strategy, 
organisation, culture and Board composition and 
effectiveness. The findings were presented at the December 
2012 Board meeting and further detail on this is shown  
on page 25.

Financial results
2012 set new records for revenue, profits and underlying basic 
earnings per share (EPS)(1). Underlying operating profit(1) was 
up 26% to £87.5m (2011: £69.4m) driven by strong organic 
revenue growth of 23% coupled with continued careful cost 
management. EPS was up 31% to 65.7p (2011: 50.3p)  
with the increase being helped by the repurchase of 4.5m 
(2011: 4.4m) shares. As at 31 December 2012 the cash 
position was £7.1m (2011: £21.8m).

Investors
Our investors have benefited from our strong performance 
and our clear and continued policy of returning all excess 
cash. Our cash conversion remains in excess of 100% of 
operating profit and in 2012 we returned a further £86.8m 
(2011: £65.1m) to shareholders through dividends and share 
buybacks. This brings the total returned to shareholders since 
our flotation in March 2006 to £293.0m.

Dividend
The Board previously announced that it would increase the 
interim dividend to 9.0p (H1 2011: 7.0p) per ordinary share, 
which was paid on 9 November 2012. Consistent with our 
policy of increasing the total dividend for the year broadly  
in line with underlying operating profits, the Board proposes 
to pay a final dividend of 14.0p (2011: 11.0p) per ordinary 
share for a total dividend for the year of 23.0p (2011: 18.0p), 
an increase of 28%. The final dividend, subject to shareholder 
approval, will be paid on 7 June 2013 to all shareholders on 
the register on 10 May 2013.

Outlook
With healthy growth in average spend per advertiser at  
the start of the year and assuming there is no significant 
deterioration in the UK housing market, the Board remains 
confident of continued growth in the business in 2013. 

Scott Forbes
Chairman

(1) From continuing operations before share-based payments, NI on share-based incentives and no related adjustment for tax.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business and financial review

Ed Williams  
Chief Executive Officer

Nick McKittrick  
Chief Operating Officer  
and Finance Director

Our position, at the heart of home moving, comes from a 
focus on providing the best internet platforms for buyers, 
sellers, tenants and landlords backed by more than a decade 
of investment in the Rightmove website and infrastructure, 
product innovation, continuous promotion of the Rightmove 
brand and actively supporting our property advertising clients.
The Rightmove business strategy is to focus on organic 
growth through serving property advertisers seeking to reach 
the largest audience of UK home movers. For our advertisers 
we want to be their largest source of high quality enquiries 
and, in the case of estate agents and lettings agents, an 
important element of their own service offering to home sellers 
and landlords. Our shareholders benefit from our clear and 
continued policy of promptly returning the cash generated  
by the business through dividends and share buybacks.
Revenue, profit and earnings per share (EPS) all rose 
significantly in 2012 compared to 2011, making it a record 
year on all of these metrics. The majority of the increase in 
revenue came from our existing customers spending more on 
advertising with us. The number of customers advertising on 
Rightmove ended the year unchanged, reflecting the stable 
nature of the current housing market and Rightmove’s high 
market penetration.

2012 results
Profit after tax(2) increased 36% to £62.6m (2011: £46.1m). 
Underlying operating profit(1) was up 26% to £87.5m 
(2011: £69.4m). Organic revenue growth drove overall 
revenue to £119.4m (2011: £97.0m) which is up £22.4m 
(23%) on the prior year, and with our underlying cost base(1) 
rising by only £4.2m (15%) we have again demonstrated the 
scalability and profitability of the Rightmove business model. 

What we do and the keys to success
Rightmove provides estate agents, lettings agents and new 
homes developers access to the largest audience of UK 
home movers by enabling them to advertise all of their 
properties on the rightmove.co.uk website and mobile 
platforms for a monthly subscription fee. Customers can also 
take advantage of a wide set of advertising products to better 
promote their properties, brand and proposition. Rightmove’s 
success comes from its market leading position with UK 
home movers and the value we add to our customers by 
giving them the ability to reach the largest audience of UK 
home movers.

We believe the foundations of our success come from:

• sustained investment in serving home movers
• sustained investment in our brand
• sustained support for our advertisers
• innovation in advertising products and internet platforms.

Sustained investment in serving home movers 
Home movers use Rightmove because it represents the 
easiest and most familiar way in which to view the best 
information about properties that are currently available on the 
market and those that have sold in the last 10 years. The ease 
of use and quality of information we provide to home movers 
results not just from the scale of our investment in our website 
and mobile apps but also from the experience we have built 
up over more than a decade.

We continuously invest in developing the most engaging 

website and apps for home movers, releasing over 2,500 
enhancements in 2012. Traffic grew by 18% with more than 
11.0 billion pages being viewed across all of our platforms 
during the year. We continue to be ranked in the top 10  
most popular websites in the UK and as high as sixth in 
January 2013 (behind Google, Facebook, YouTube, eBay  
and Amazon).

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

6

Rightmove’s strategy is to focus 
on organic growth through serving 
property advertisers seeking to 
reach the largest audience of UK 
home movers.

The continued rise in mobile access to the internet means  
that a third of Rightmove property searches are now regularly 
performed on mobile devices as millions of Britons have 
downloaded our popular apps. To support this growing  
trend in 2012 we launched an Android app, released major 
enhancements to our iPhone and iPad apps and are launching 
the latest version of our mobile website in early 2013. 

We also strive to deliver the best quality information to  
our audience. In 2012 we launched a unique facility which 
matches Land Registry sold prices with our catalogue of over 
two billion property images to help home movers with their 
research. We have also invested in a team of data quality 
experts to ensure the information on Rightmove is the most 
accurate available on any property portal.

We further enhanced our commercial property website 

during 2012 and with over 2 million commercial property 
searches per month we have established ourselves as the 
leading commercial property website in the UK with over 80% 
market share of traffic. Although small in the overall context of 
Rightmove revenues, this area provides an opportunity for 
further growth.

Sustained investment in our brand 
Our strong brand recognition with the public and the  
simplicity of the core service we provide have made Rightmove 
the public’s first choice to help them find their next home. 
Much of our success comes from the positive experience that 
home hunters have in using the services we provide. 

Nonetheless, we work hard to promote the brand in order 
to build on more than 10 years of investment. We continued 
with TV advertising in 2012 with campaigns running in six 
months of the year and into 2013. A new campaign, building 
on the ‘Britain Moves at Rightmove’ theme is to be launched 
in Spring 2013, reflecting the fact that the Rightmove website 
is a place where people dream (and daydream) about where 
they want to live. 

Recognising the changing way in which people consume 
media, we have used online videos to promote key features  
of Rightmove. The Market Intelligence campaign which ran in 
the second half of 2012 used interactive video, customised  
to a home mover’s postcode, to bring to life Rightmove’s 
property research tools.

We continue to receive around four out of five visits to our 

website from people typing in the ‘Rightmove’ name, using 
our mobile apps, responding to our email alerts, or using 
unpaid links from other sites. The remainder come from 
organic search.

Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter  
continue to be a successful way to promote Rightmove. 
‘Likes’, ‘Shares’ and ‘Retweets’ extend the reach of the 
Rightmove brand by over half a million users every month. 
This interaction is promoted both by close integration on the 
Rightmove site itself and bespoke social media campaigns 
such as the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ competition, which 
attracted over 50,000 entries.

Sustained support for our advertisers
The marketing of properties for sale and to rent is critical to 
the success of Rightmove’s own customers leading to our 
focus on providing them with the best way to advertise to  
UK home movers. 

Rightmove also devotes considerable effort to helping  
our customers be more successful in ways other than just 
advertising. Much of this is through individual day-to-day 
support and advice from our local and telephone-based 
account managers. Both 2012 and early 2013 have been 
notable for the number and range of other activities we have 
undertaken to help our customers to be more successful.
As tablet computing becomes more prevalent, more vendors 
expect agents to show that they understand the benefits new 
technology can bring through the tools they use, as well as by 
the information they provide. The Rightmove iPad presenter 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Growing 
traffic

rightmove.co.uk is now ranked as 
the 6th most popular UK website 
by page impressions.
(Source: Experian Hitwise, January 2013)

Mobile searches

30%

of Rightmove property 
searches are now performed 
on mobile devices.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

8

Business and financial review continued

Market share of top 3 UK property 
websites by pages viewed

82%

Source: Experian Hitwise and Rightmove, 
December 2012

Over £15m of our revenue  
in 2012 was from products 
launched in the last three years.

app helps agents present their marketing material in the 
homes of potential vendors using an iPad. The tool also helps 
larger customers ensure that their staff are using the latest 
version of the marketing material.

Rightmove launched the ‘Little Blue Book of property 
trends’ in 2012. This biannual publication brings together 
trends and expert opinion from a number of sources as a 
resource for all property professionals. We also continued  
our programme of free seminars to agents and developers 
and over the past four years have presented to over 9,500 
attendees across more than 100 locations.

Using Rightmove’s position at the heart of home moving  

in the UK, we have launched a series of reports for agents, 
allowing them to gather feedback on their service from their 
clients. We have also built the facility to enable agents to track 
their performance on this against their nearest competitors on 
an anonymous basis.

Innovation in advertising products
2012 saw the official launch of the Local Valuation Alert 
service. Advertisers taking this service can promote 
themselves directly to prospective sellers of homes and  
raise their brand awareness with a key local audience.  
The product made a significant contribution to revenue 
growth during 2012.

We also launched Agent Microsites for lettings agents and 
prepared for the launch of our Estate Agent Microsite product 
at the start of 2013. Agent Microsites operate in a similar way 
to eBay Shops. They allow our advertisers a high quality  
way to promote all aspects of their proposition, not just the 
properties they currently have available. This can include 

testimonials, profiles of members of staff as well as properties 
recently sold or rented. Through a Rightmove microsite an 
agent can significantly enhance the quality of its presentation 
to the Rightmove audience and, should they wish, also save 
themselves the cost of their own website by pointing their 
URL to the microsite.

In financial terms, 32% of our agents and new home 
developers spending is now on the enhanced advertising 
products that we started to introduce in 2007. Over the last 
two years we have seen spend on these products more than 
double. We expect to see the proportion of total spend 
accounted for by these and future similar products continue 
to rise in the coming years.

Whilst Rightmove’s main focus in terms of innovation is on 

property advertising products, 2012 also saw considerable 
development and commercial success for our data services 
business. Of particular note was the development, launch and 
widespread adoption of our service to surveyors, providing 
them with data on comparables (i.e. other properties which 
provide a reference point for property valuations).

Uncertainties, threats and risks
The Rightmove business model has proven remarkably 
resilient in the face of a depressed UK property market.  
The number of estate agents, lettings agents and new  
home developments is a major determinant of Rightmove’s 
revenues, and has remained stable from 2009 onwards. We 
do not believe the number of agents or developments is likely 
to decline further unless there is another material downturn in 
the market.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continued product 
innovation

During 2012 we launched our ‘Local Valuation Alert’ 
service allowing advertisers to promote themselves 
directly to prospective sellers of homes and raise 
their brand awareness with a key local audience. 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

10

Enhanced advertising products

32%

of our agents’ and developers’ 
spend is now on enhanced 
advertising products.

 
Business and financial review continued

Underlying operating profit and margin

Revenue

71.3

64.5

120

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

Margin 57.8

62.9

69.4

119.4

97.0

81.6

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

e
v
o
m
t
h
g
R

i

:
e
c
r
u
o
S

56.6

41.2

40.6

Underlying basic EPS

71.5

73.3

70

87.6

69.4

The ongoing growth of Rightmove 
revenue is expected to continue 
to be driven by existing customers 
increasing their spend.

y
r
a
n
d
r
o

e
r
a
h
s

29.6

39.8

50.3

23.7

20

30

40

50

60

i

65.7

r
e
p
e
c
n
e
P

10
0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

100

80

100

40.6

73.3

87.6

69.4

71.5

56.6

62.9

69.4

Underlying operating profit 
and margin

The ongoing growth of Rightmove revenues is expected  
to continue to be driven by existing customers increasing  
their spend on Rightmove. This, however, depends on 
Rightmove’s continued success in generating high quality 
enquiries, the continued shift of spend from offline to online, 
the competitive environment within the online sector and our 
80
ability to continue to innovate.
62.9
60

57.8
In April 2012 the Office of Fair Trading approved the 
41.2
40.6
40
merger of DMGT’s Digital Property Group (operator of the 
20
Find A Property and Prime Location websites) and Zoopla,  
0
a privately owned, private equity backed business. In 
2011
September, the new business closed the Find A Property 
website, having previously redirected its marketing focus to 
the Zoopla brand. At the start of 2013 DMGT also sold its 
remaining property website, Globrix, to the new business, 
which proceeded to close Globrix. The result is a single larger 
competitor. However, throughout 2012 Rightmove’s market 
Revenue
share was essentially unchanged.
62.9

Margin 57.8

2012

2008

2009

2008

2009

2010

41.2

57.8

m
£

s
n
o

20

40

60

i
l
l
i

0

100

Due to the simplicity of the Rightmove business, we 
believe that the risks relating to operational failures, financial 
and legal exposures, fraud, or from onerous commercial 
obligations or liabilities are limited. The business has few 
tangible assets and the major intellectual assets are 
embedded in the design of our website and our brand 
identity, recognition and reputation.
2012
2010

2009

2008

2011

2008

2009

m
£

s
n
o

80

40

20

60

i
l
l
i

0

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

120

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

Financial position

Underlying operating profit 
and margin

71.5

69.4

73.3

87.6

Revenue
Revenue(2) increased in 2012 by 23% to £119.4m 
(2011: £97.0m). Our Agency business was the largest 
contributor to the revenue growth with a year on year 
increase of £15.0m (2011: £13.6m). The majority of the 
growth has come from a combination of sales of additional 
advertising products and increases to core membership 
prices. Agency continues to be by far our largest business 
although its proportion of total revenue has declined slightly  
in the year to 77% (2011: 80%) reflecting the success of  
other business areas during the year.

2011

2012

Revenue from the New Homes business grew by 22% to 

69.4

56.6

2010

£20.6m (2011: £16.9m) despite a decline in development 
numbers. Growth was driven by the sale of additional 
advertising products including e-mail campaigns and by 
increases to core membership prices.

Underlying basic EPS

71.5

73.3

69.4

Notably other revenue grew to £6.4m (2011: £2.8m) due 
to a number of contract wins, including some one-off work, 
within our Data Services business. 

e
r
a
h
s

50

70

60

Underlying operating profit and margin

2010

2012

2011

Margin growth
20
The underlying operating margin(1) for the year increased  
10
from 71.5% to 73.3%. This has been driven by continued 
0
2011
strong revenue growth coupled with a lower percentage 
increase in underlying operating costs(1). Underlying operating 
costs(1) increased by £4.2m to £31.8m (2011: £27.6m)  
with £2.0m of the increase relating to salary costs due to  
a combination of an increased average headcount of 325 
Underlying operating profit and margin
(2011: 293), up 11% and wage inflation.

2008

2009

2010

2012

Underlying operating profit 
and margin

Underlying operating profit 
and margin

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

40

30

y
r
a
n
d
r
o

i

r
e
p
e
c
n
e
P

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Underlying operating profit 

Underlying operating margin

87.6

69.4

56.6

57.8

62.9

69.4

71.5

73.3

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

41.2

40.6

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investing in 
relationships

Our seminars aim to help our members 
to become more successful and to get 
more from their Rightmove membership.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

12

Seminars

9,500 customers

presented to in the last four years 
across more than 100 locations.

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

Revenue

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

Business and financial review continued

Revenue

Underlying operating profit(1)

Underlying basic EPS

119.4

97.0

81.6

71.3

64.5

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

87.5

69.4

56.6

41.2

40.6

e
r
a
h
s

y
r
a
n
d
r
o

i

r
e
p
e
c
n
e
P

70

60

50

40

30

20

10
0

e
v
o
m
t
h
g
R

i

:
e
c
r
u
o
S

39.8

29.6

23.7

65.7

Cash conversion was in excess 
of 100% of operating profit.

50.3

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Statement of financial position
The Group’s statement of financial position reflects total 
equity of £7.5m at 31 December 2012 (2011: £24.7m). The 
reduction in total equity of £17.2m is a function of us returning 
cash to shareholders in the form of share buybacks and 
dividends of £86.8m in excess of the profit after tax of 
£62.6m. This was offset by some cash benefits, in the form  
of proceeds on the exercise of share-based incentives and 
corresponding tax deductions taken directly to equity.
In line with stronger revenues, trade receivables in current 
assets increased by 22% to £16.0m (2011: £13.1m).  
Trade and other payables increased by £2.8m to £23.7m 
(2011: £20.9m) due to the timing of marketing and technology 
spend, coupled with an increase in deferred revenue.  
Our deferred tax asset, representing future tax benefits from 
share-based incentives, is lower at £9.7m (2011: £10.7m) due 
to a combination of share-based incentive exercises in the 
year and a reduction in the future tax rate from 25% to 23%.

Cash flow and net debt
Cash generated from operating activities was £86.1m 
(2011: £67.7m). Cash conversion was in excess of 100%  
of operating profit.

Tax payments increased to £14.6m (2011: £14.3m) and 
£0.1m (2011: £0.1m) was paid in relation to bank charges 
2010
and facility fees resulting in net cash from operating activities 
of £71.4m (2011: £53.3m).

2011

2012

Capital expenditure was £2.1m (2011: £0.5m). The higher 

expenditure in 2012 reflected increased investment in both 
hardware and software utilised in the running of our website 
and expenditure on our new office premises in Milton Keynes 
and the refurbishment of our London office. We continue to 
charge development costs directly to the income statement.
Proceeds of £3.0m (2011: £6.1m) were received on the 

exercise of share-based incentives.

Underlying operating profit 

and margin

69.4

56.6

71.5

69.4

87.6

73.3

57.8

41.2

62.9

40.6

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

Taxation
The consolidated tax rate from continuing operations for the 
Underlying operating profit 
year ended 31 December 2012 was 24.8% (2011: 26.6%). 
and margin
The effective tax rate was marginally higher than the enacted 
rate of 24.5% due to a reduction in the rate at which deferred 
87.6
tax is recognised and disallowable expenditure.
69.4

69.4

71.5

73.3

57.8

62.9

56.6

40.6

Share-based payments and national insurance
41.2
In accordance with IFRS 2, a non-cash charge of £2.4m 
(2011: £2.3m) is included in profit or loss representing  
the amortisation of the fair value of share-based incentives 
2011
granted, including Sharesave options, since 2006.

2012

2008

2009

2010

Employer’s NationaI Insurance (NI) is being accrued, where 
applicable, at a rate of 13.8% on the potential employee gain 
on share-based incentives granted. Based on a closing share 
price at 31 December 2012 of £14.36 in respect of the 
Underlying operating profit and margin
outstanding share-based incentives granted, together with 
the actual NI cost on share-based incentives exercised in the 
year, there is a charge of £2.0m (2011: £4.4m).
70
60

69.4

62.9

71.5

73.3

Underlying basic EPS

Margin 57.8

e
r
a
h
s

50

Net financial expenses
A net financial credit of £0.1m (2011: £0.1m) was recorded, 
being interest income on cash balances, offset by bank 
charges and fees in relation to our Barclays Bank Plc money 
market facility.

r
e
p
e
c
n
e
P

y
r
a
n
d
r
o

10
0

20

30

40

i

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

Earnings per share
Underlying basic EPS(1) increased by 31% to 65.7p 
(2011: 50.3p). Diluted EPS(2) increased by 40% to 59.2p 
(2011: 42.3p). The growth in EPS was helped by our share 
Underlying operating profit 
and margin
buyback programme which reduced the weighted average 
number of ordinary shares in issue to 102.0m (2011: 104.8m).

Underlying operating profit and margin

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

Underlying operating profit 

and margin

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Underlying operating profit 

Underlying operating margin

87.6

69.4

56.6

57.8

62.9

69.4

71.5

73.3

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

41.2

40.6

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Building brand 
awareness 

We use social media to engage 
directly with home movers and  
to build our brand.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

14

Social media use

Likes, Shares 
and Retweets  
extend the reach of the Rightmove 
brand by over half a million users 
every month. 

      Business and financial review continued

Revenue

71.3

64.5

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

Underlying operating profit and margin

Margin 57.8

62.9

69.4

71.5

73.3

Underlying basic EPS

119.4

97.0

81.6

87.6

69.4

56.6

41.2

40.6

39.8

29.6

23.7

e
r
a
h
s

y
r
a
n
d
r
o

i

r
e
p
e
c
n
e
P

70

60

50

40

30

20

10
0

65.7

50.3

e
v
o
m
t
h
g
R

i

:
e
c
r
u
o
S

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Most of our EPS increase has come 
from organic growth but it has also 
been helped by a reduced number  
of shares. 

Underlying operating profit 

and margin

Underlying operating profit 

and margin

69.4

56.6

71.5

69.4

87.6

73.3

57.8

41.2

62.9

40.6

87.6

69.4

69.4

71.5

73.3

57.8

62.9

56.6

41.2

40.6

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Underlying operating profit and margin

Margin 57.8

62.9

69.4

71.5

73.3

A total of £66.4m was invested during 2012 in the repurchase 
of our own shares (2011: £48.3m) whilst a further £20.4m 
was paid in dividends (2011: £16.8m). This brings the total 
returned to shareholders since our flotation in March 2006  
to £293.0m.

The Group entered into a 12 month agreement with 

Barclays Bank Plc for a £10.0m uncommitted money market 
loan on 6 February 2013. To date no amount has been drawn 
under this facility.

As a result of the cash movements noted above, net cash 
at 31 December 2012 was £7.1m (2011: £21.8m). The Board 
is confident that with the existing cash resources and banking 
facilities in place, the Group and the Company will remain 
cash positive and will have adequate resources to continue  
in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

The Board’s priorities for the usage of cash continue to  
be: investment in the business; payment of dividends; and  
Underlying basic EPS
the return of cash to shareholders via share buybacks. The 
Board believes that the future working capital and capital 
expenditure requirements of the business will continue to  
be low and that the business will be in a position to return 
surplus cash to shareholders during 2013 through a 
combination of dividends and share buybacks.

e
r
a
h
s

y
r
a
n
d
r
o

i

r
e
p
e
c
n
e
P

70

60

50

40

30

20

10
0

Current trading and outlook
The outlook for the UK online property advertising market 
continues to be positive, albeit tempered by a challenging UK 
housing market. The market for online advertising continues 
to grow and Rightmove is well positioned to benefit through 
increased adoption of its existing advertising products,  
further product innovation, pricing and market-leading  
brand awareness.

Activity across our website and mobile platforms has 
started the year strongly, with traffic up 20% on the same 
period in 2012. Overall advertiser numbers continue to be 
broadly flat and average spend per advertiser has started  
the year ahead of 2012 levels.

Subject to there being no further significant downturn  
in the UK housing market, the Board remains confident of 
making further progress in growing the business organically  
in 2013 and beyond.

Ed Williams 
Chief Executive Officer 

Nick McKittrick
Chief Operating Officer and  
Finance Director

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Underlying operating profit 

and margin

Underlying operating profit 

and margin

Underlying operating profit and margin

100

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
£

80

60

40

20

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

(1)  From continuing operations before share-based payments, NI on share-based incentives and no related adjustment for tax.
(2) From continuing operations.

Revenue

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

Underlying operating profit 

Underlying operating margin

87.6

69.4

56.6

57.8

62.9

69.4

71.5

73.3

41.2

40.6

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

100

80

60

40

20

0

s

n

o

i

l

l

i

m

£

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors and officers

Scott Forbes
Chairman
Scott was appointed Chairman of 
Rightmove in 2005. He is also the  
Chief Executive of Bridge Capital 
Advisors Ltd, which he founded in 
2007, and was a director of NetJets 
Management Ltd, a subsidiary of 
Berkshire Hathaway until October 
2009. Scott has over 30 years’ 
experience in operations, finance  
and mergers & acquisitions, which 
includes 15 years at Cendant 
Corporation, which was formerly  
the largest worldwide provider of 
residential property services. Scott 
established the Cendant international 
headquarters in London in 1999 and 
led this division as Group Managing 
Director until he joined Rightmove. 
(Appointed 13 July 2005.)

Jonathan Agnew
Non-executive Director
Jonathan joined the Board in 2006  
as Senior Independent Director. He is 
Chairman of The Cayenne Trust and 
Ashmore Global Opportunities. 
Jonathan was an investment banker  
for over 25 years, including being a 
Managing Director of Morgan Stanley 
and Group Chief Executive of Kleinwort 
Benson. He has been Chairman of 
Nationwide Building Society, Limit, 
Gerrard Group, LMS Capital and 
Beazley and has served on the Council 
of Lloyd’s. (Appointed 16 January 
2006.) (Chairman of the Remuneration 
Committee and a member of the  
Audit and Nomination Committees.)

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

16

Ed Williams
Chief Executive Officer
Ed joined Rightmove in 2000 as 
Managing Director at its inception.  
He is also a non-executive director  
of Trader Media Group, owner of the 
UK’s leading motoring website.  
His prior experience is in business 
strategy and IT consulting with 
McKinsey & Co, Accenture and 
JPMorgan. Ed has announced his 
retirement from the Board in April 2013. 
(Appointed 19 December 2000.)

Ashley Martin
Non-executive Director
Ashley joined Rightmove in 2009 as a 
non-executive director and also as 
Chairman of the Audit Committee, where 
he provides oversight of the financial 
reporting practices, internal control 
environment and compliance with the 
various listed company regulations. He is 
also a member of the Remuneration 
Committee. He qualified as a chartered 
accountant in 1981 and has a career in 
finance spanning 30 years. Ashley is 
currently Group Chief Financial Officer of 
The Engine Group, a private equity 
backed international marketing services 
group. He was previously Finance 
Director of Rok plc, the building services 
group, and Group Finance Director of the 
media services company, Tempus plc. 
(Appointed 11 June 2009.) (Chairman of 
the Audit Committee and member of the 
Remuneration Committee.)

Judy Vezmar
Non-executive Director
Judy joined Rightmove in 2006 as a 
non-executive director. She is Chief 
Executive Officer of LexisNexis 
International. LexisNexis®, part of the 
global media group Reed Elsevier PLC, 
is a leading worldwide provider of 
content-enabled workflow solutions 
designed specifically for professionals 
in the legal, risk management, 
corporate, government, law 
enforcement, accounting and 
academic markets. Judy is responsible 
for the International Group and their 
expansion of the range of successful 
solutions including online services to 
over 100 countries. She is based in 
London. (Appointed 16 January 2006.)  
(Member of the Audit, Remuneration 
and Nomination Committees.)

 
Nick McKittrick
Chief Operating Officer and  
Finance Director
Nick is a co-founding executive having 
joined Rightmove in 2000. He led the 
build of Rightmove’s original website 
and started the new homes, lettings 
and overseas businesses. In 2005,  
he became the Managing Director of 
rightmove.co.uk and in 2009 he was 
promoted to Chief Operating Officer 
and Finance Director. Before joining 
Rightmove he worked for Accenture  
for eight years in the technology 
consulting division. Following Ed 
Williams’ retirement in April 2013,  
Nick will step up to become Chief 
Executive Officer. (Appointed to the 
Board 5 March 2004.)

Peter Brooks-Johnson
Managing Director, rightmove.co.uk
Peter joined Rightmove in 2006 and 
developed the Home Information Packs 
proposition. His focus subsequently 
shifted to the operation of the 
rightmove.co.uk website. He then  
went on to lead, from the beginning  
of 2008, the estate agency business. 
Peter was promoted to the role of 
Managing Director of rightmove.co.uk 
on his appointment to the Board  
on 10 January 2011 and now leads  
the main operating business. Prior  
to joining Rightmove, Peter was  
a management consultant with 
Accenture and the Berkeley 
Partnership. Following Ed Williams’ 
retirement in April 2013, Peter will take 
over the role of Chief Operating Officer 
from Nick McKittrick. (Appointed to the 
Board 10 January 2011.)

Colin Kemp
Non-executive Director
Colin was appointed to the Board in 
2007. With over 30 years’ experience  
in high street retail banking, Colin has 
worked for Lloyds Banking Group 
companies since 1979. Between 
January 2005 and December 2007, 
Colin was Managing Director of Halifax 
Estate Agencies Limited and is currently 
the Managing Director of Telephone 
Banking for the Lloyds Banking Group, 
Retail Business. Colin is a Cranfield 
MBA and an Associate of the  
Chartered Institute of Marketing. 
(Appointed 3 July 2007.)

Robyn Perriss 
Company Secretary and  
Financial Controller
Robyn joined Rightmove in 2007  
and has day-to-day responsibility  
for the financial operations, based  
in Milton Keynes, as well as statutory 
reporting and treasury functions.  
She was formerly Group Financial 
Controller at the online media 
business, Trader Media Group. She 
qualified as a chartered accountant in 
South Africa with KPMG. Robyn was 
appointed as Company Secretary in 
April 2012 and following Ed Williams’ 
retirement on 30 April 2013, it is 
proposed that Robyn will be 
appointed Finance Director. 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate social responsibility

Our people
Our people are our most highly valued asset, they are  
critical to our success and our growth. We are proud of our 
people and the mixture of talent and experience that they 
bring. We depend on their skills and commitment to achieve  
our objectives.

Our cultural style is open and honest. We invest in 
ensuring that all employees understand Rightmove’s core 
values and goals. We achieve this through a combination of  
a rigorous selection process, including technical skills testing, 
an off-site residential course to ensure all ‘Rightmovers’ 
understand our core values, ongoing coaching and 
mentoring, and cross-functional team building events 
involving all employees. We encourage employee involvement 
and place emphasis on keeping employees informed of the 
Group’s activities via bi-monthly staff forums and business 
performance updates with senior management and quarterly 
sales conferences.

We continue to offer our Rightmover-led training academy, 

designed to provide a structured means for employees to 
expand and diversify their skills and knowledge and explore 
new ways of working with one another. Given the specialised 
technical nature of the work we do and the services we 
provide, we also support ongoing external professional 
development where appropriate.

During 2012, we introduced an employee recognition 
scheme, which is voted on by other employees and is an 
opportunity to nominate colleagues who have shown 
outstanding performance or are high achievers. Up to eight 
awards are presented every two months at our bi-monthly 
staff forums.

We offer employees a range of additional benefits, which 

have proved to be a useful retention tool. Rightmovers are 
made aware of these benefits through our induction process 
and intranet. In 2012 we placed particular emphasis on 
communicating the importance of saving for retirement and 
promoting the stakeholder pension plan we established in 
2008 as well as the option to save by salary exchange.  

47% of employees are now members of the pension plan.  
We did this by holding employee seminars and offering the 
opportunity for one to one briefings with external benefits 
advisers. We also offer private healthcare complemented by a 
cash back scheme. In November 2012, the Company’s fourth 
Sharesave contract matured, allowing employees to benefit 
from the success of the Group over the last three years. More 
than half of our employees currently participate in the 
Sharesave plan.

In March 2012, we moved to new offices in Milton Keynes, 
providing our employees with a workplace environment which 
is spacious, inspiring and fun. We also refurbished our 
London premises as part of our continued investment in 
employee wellbeing.

Rightmove has a strong commitment to equality of 
opportunity in all our employment policies, practices and 
procedures. We take a proactive approach throughout our 
recruitment and selection process to ensure that we attract, 
hire and retain a diverse and talented workforce and this is 
kept under close and regular scrutiny. No existing or potential 
employee will receive less favourable treatment due to their 
race, creed, nationality, colour, ethnic origin, age, religion or 
similar belief, connections with a national minority, sexual 
orientation, gender, gender reassignment, marital status, 
member or membership of a trade union, disability, or any 
other classification as prescribed by law.

We offer flexible working arrangements, supporting  

part-time working and reduced hours to allow our employees 
to balance their work and family commitments. In 2012, 6%  
of our employees worked flexible hours.

Charitable activity
We continue to encourage all our employees to devote time 
and fundraising efforts to charitable causes of particular 
importance to them as individuals. During 2012 many of  
our staff have been active in raising money or supporting 
fundraising activities across a wide range of charities for 
which Rightmove matched the donations raised. 

We have also set up charitable giving through the Charities 
Trust, a scheme that allows our employees to donate directly 
from their monthly salary to any charity or recognised good 
cause registered within the UK. This provides a tax efficient 
means of giving. 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

18

Environment
Rightmove actively considers its environmental impact  
and we are conscious of playing our part in tackling climate 
change. Since our operations are primarily office-based,  
the direct environmental impact is relatively low. Indeed 
Rightmove’s business reduces the overall environmental 
harm associated with a variety of aspects of the whole  
home hunting process. 

Traditional ways of finding a home tend to involve large 

amounts of paper and printing, whether in the form of 
newspaper advertising, property particulars mailed to 
applicants through the post or leaflet drops by agents. 
Rightmove reduces the need for print media and the 
environmental damage that goes with them. Rightmove takes 
care to design the layout of property particulars to reduce the 
total number of pages that need to be printed out in those 
cases where a home hunter does want a physical copy.

Enhanced information on properties also reduces the  
amount of time home hunters waste in visiting properties  
that rapidly turn out to be inappropriate. As a high proportion  
of viewings involve a car journey, any reduction in wasted 
viewings has an environmental benefit. Rightmove has 
worked hard to increase the number and size of photographs 
of each property and has introduced more comprehensive 
map searches and aerial photographs which help home 
hunters to identify the specific location of a property.  
The higher the quality of the information presented about 
properties, the less carbon footprint is generated by 
prospective buyers making wasted journeys.

The rightmove.co.uk website includes functionality for  
our customers to display Energy Performance Certificates 
which allow prospective buyers to evaluate the energy 
efficiency of a property they are considering buying and to 
identify opportunities to improve the energy efficiency once 
they have purchased the property.

As an internet-based Group with most staff employed in 

two office locations, we believe our own environmental 
footprint is small. We encourage our staff to take steps to 
address our environmental responsibilities. For instance,  
we continue to operate recycling schemes which were 
established in consultation with local authorities and recycling 
partners and when we moved to our new office in Milton 

Keynes, we removed all waste bins from desks, which 
encourages and increases the amount of recycling we do.  
We subsequently introduced this into the London office. 
As an operator of an online property portal, the main 

environmental impact is the power usage of our data centres. 
Our procurement policy is to purchase hardware with the  
best computational performance which uses the least 
electrical power. 

We encourage our employees to use alternatives to car  
travel, by promoting the use of public transport in particular 
when travelling between our two office locations and by 
encouraging participation in our Cycle to Work scheme. 

As an online business, our culture emphasises a paperless 

environment. We also recognise that our responsibilities do 
not stop just with how we operate internally – we encourage 
all our customers, business partners and suppliers not to 
unnecessarily print out emails sent by us in the signature of  
all our emails. We also continue to focus on streamlining 
processes and replacing paper-based services with online 
services and communications, wherever possible. Steps 
introduced in recent years include e-communications to 
shareholders, online customer membership forms and 
product documentation and email invoicing.

Health and safety
The Group considers the effective management of health and 
safety to be an integral part of managing its business. During 
2012, we continued our fire safety, first aid and work place 
safety training. The Group’s ongoing policy on health and 
safety is to provide adequate control of the health and safety 
risks arising from work activities, through further consultation 
with, and training of, employees, the provision and 
maintenance of plant and equipment, safe handling and  
use of all substances and the prevention of accidents and 
causes of ill health. 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ report

The directors submit their report together with the audited 
financial statements for Rightmove plc (the Company) and  
its subsidiary companies (the Group) for the year ended 
31 December 2012. The Company is domiciled in England 
(registered number 6426485).

Principal activities
The Group operates in the UK residential and commercial 
property industry connecting people to properties.
Its principal business is the operation of the  
rightmove.co.uk website, which is the UK’s largest  
residential property website. Its customers (estate agents, 
lettings agents, new homes developers and overseas  
homes agents and vendors) pay fees for the right to display 
properties on the Rightmove website, which provides home 
hunters with property details to search.

Further information on the Group’s activities within each 
segment during the year under review and of its prospects 
can be found in the Business and financial review on  
pages 6 to 15.

The following sections inclusive are incorporated by 
reference into the Directors’ report which have been drawn 
up and presented in accordance with and in reliance upon 
acceptable English company law and the liabilities of the 
directors in connection with the report shall be subject to  
the limitations and restrictions provided by such law:
• Business and financial review (pages 6 to 15)
• Directors and officers (pages 16 to 17)
• Corporate social responsibility (pages 18 to 19)
• Corporate governance (pages 23 to 29)
• Remuneration report (pages 30 to 44)

In compliance with the business review provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006, within the Business and financial 
review, principal risk factors are discussed under the section 
‘Uncertainties, threats and risks’ on page 9. Key performance 
indicators are given on page 3 and information on the likely 
developments of the Group under ‘Current trading and 
outlook’ on page 15.

Trading results
The Group’s underlying operating profit from continuing 
operations (before share-based payments and NI on  
share-based incentives) for the financial year was £87,533,000 
(2011: £69,362,000). Further information on the results for  
the Group is set out in the Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income on page 46 and the supporting Notes 
and also the Business and financial review on pages 6 to 15.

Dividend
An interim dividend of 9.0p (2011: 7.0p) per ordinary  
share was paid on 9 November 2012 to shareholders on  
the register of members at the close of business on 
12 October 2012. The directors are recommending a final 
dividend for the year of 14.0p (2011: 11.0p) per ordinary 
share, which together with the interim dividend of 9.0p, paid 
in respect of the half year period ended 30 June 2012, makes 
a total for the year of 23.0p (2011: 18.0p), amounting to 
£23,147,000 (2011: £18,551,000). Subject to shareholders’ 
approval at the Annual General Meeting on 8 May 2013, the 
final dividend will be paid on 7 June 2013 to shareholders  
on the register of members at the close of business on  
10 May 2013.

Share capital
The ordinary shares in issue (including 2,505,430 shares  
held in treasury) at the year end comprised 105,896,115 
(2011: 110,410,636) ordinary shares of £0.01 each, being 
£1,059,000 (2011: £1,104,000). The holders of ordinary 
shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time 
to time, and are entitled to one vote per share at general 
meetings of the Company. Movements in the Company’s 
share capital and reserves in the year are shown in Note 23 
and Note 24 to the financial statements. Information on the 
Group’s share-based incentive schemes is set out in Note 25 
to the financial statements. Details of the share-based 
incentive schemes for directors are set out in the 
Remuneration report on pages 30 to 44.

Share buyback
The Company’s share buyback programme continued  
during 2012. Of the 15% authority given by shareholders  
at the 2012 Annual General Meeting, a total of 4,514,521 
(2011: 4,350,798) ordinary shares of £0.01 each were 
purchased in the year to 31 December 2012, being 4.2% 
(2011: 3.9%) of the shares in issue (excluding shares held in 
treasury) at the time the authority was granted. The average 
price paid per share was £14.70 (2011: £11.10) with a total 
consideration paid (inclusive of all costs) of £66,826,000 
(2011: £48,626,000). Since the introduction of the new parent 
company in January 2008, a total of 26,009,293 shares have 
been purchased of which 2,505,430 have been transferred 
into treasury with the remainder having been cancelled.  
A resolution seeking to renew this authority will be put to 
shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 8 May 2013. 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

20

 
Shares held in trust
As at 31 December 2012, 3,404,029 (2011: 4,527,783) 
ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the Company were held by 
The Rightmove Employees’ Share Trust (EBT) for the benefit  
of Group employees. These shares had a nominal value at 
31 December 2012 of £34,000 (2011: £45,000) and a market 
value of £48,882,000 (2011: £56,326,000). The shares held 
by the EBT may be used to satisfy share-based incentives for  
the Group’s employee share plans. During the year 1,123,754 
(2011: 1,794,546) shares were transferred to Group 
employees following the exercise of share-based incentives. 
The terms of the EBT provide that dividends payable on 

the shares held by the EBT are waived.

Substantial shareholdings
As at the date of this report, the following beneficial interests 
in 3% or more of the Company’s issued ordinary share  
capital (excluding shares held in treasury) on behalf of the 
organisations shown in the table below, had been notified to 
the Company pursuant to Rule 5 of the Disclosure and 
Transparency Rules:

Shareholder 

Baillie Gifford & Co 

No. of shares 

8,615,294 

Marathon Asset Management LLP 

7,835,467 

Caledonia Investments Pty Ltd 

Standard Life Investments 

Axa Investment Managers SA 

BlackRock Inc 

Kames Capital 

Cantillon Capital Management 

Old Mutual Asset Management 

6,431,468 

6,339,692 

5,510,468 

5,421,782 

5,244,642 

4,408,924 

3,805,926 

The Rightmove Employees’ Share Trust  3,393,623 

%(1)

8.3

7.6

6.2

6.1

5.3

5.3

5.1

4.3

3.7

3.3

(1)  The above percentages are based upon the voting rights share capital (being 

the shares in issue less shares held in treasury) of 103,258,685.

Directors
The directors of the Company at the year end and as at the 
date of this report are named on pages 16 to 17 together with 
their profiles. 

The Articles of Association of the Company require 

directors to submit themselves for re-appointment where they 
have been a director at each of the preceding two Annual 
General Meetings and were not appointed or re-appointed  
by the Company at, or since, either such meeting. Following 
the changes to the UK Corporate Governance Code in 
September 2010, all directors who have served during the 
year and remain a director as at 31 December 2012 (other 
than Ed Williams) will retire and offer themselves for 
re-election at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Robyn Perriss will offer herself for election, this being her 

first Annual General Meeting following her proposed 
appointment as an executive director on 30 April 2013. 
The Board is satisfied that the directors retiring are 

qualified for re-appointment by virtue of their skills, experience 
and contribution to the Board. Nick McKittrick and Peter 
Brooks-Johnson have service agreements with the Company 
which can be terminated on 12 months notice. The 
appointments for the non-executive directors, Scott Forbes, 
Jonathan Agnew, Colin Kemp, Ashley Martin and Judy 
Vezmar can be terminated on three months notice.

The interests of the directors in the share capital of the 

Company at 31 December 2012, the directors’ total 
remuneration for the year and details of their service contracts 
and Letters of Appointment are set out in the Remuneration 
report on pages 30 to 44. At 31 December 2012 all of the 
executive directors were deemed to have a non-beneficial 
interest in 3,404,029 ordinary shares of £0.01 each held by 
the trustees of the EBT.

Supplier payment policy
The Group and Company’s policy concerning creditors is to 
agree payment terms with its suppliers, ensure the relevant 
terms of payment are included in contracts and to abide by 
those terms when it is satisfied that goods or services have 
been provided in accordance with the contracts. For the  
year to 31 December 2012, trade creditors represented  
29 days (2011: 11 days) of average daily purchases.  
The Group had £1,220,000 of trade payables at the year  
end (2011: £370,000).

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ report continued

Contractual arrangements
Due to the nature of the Group’s business activities, the 
Group maintains a small number of contractual arrangements 
with external providers of data, software, hardware, telephony 
and web-based services, which are essential to support the 
operation of all business segments. However, the loss of one 
of these arrangements due to supplier failure would not result 
in a critical business failure; as such services could be 
sourced from a number of other suppliers.

Auditor
Following the 2012 revision of the UK Corporate Governance 
Code by the Financial Reporting Council, the Group will be 
adopting best practice and is currently tendering its audit.
In accordance with section 489 of the Companies Act 
2006, separate resolutions for the appointment of auditors  
of the Group and for the Audit Committee to determine their 
remuneration will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual 
General Meeting.

Research and development
The Group undertakes research and development activity in 
order to develop new products and to continually improve the 
existing  property website. Further details are disclosed in 
Note 2 to the financial statements on page 55.

Charitable and political donations
The Group made charitable contributions of £8,000 
(2011: £3,000). Neither the Group nor the Company made 
any political donations during the year (2011: £nil).

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at 
the offices of UBS Limited at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London, 
EC2M 2PP on 8 May 2013 at 10am. The Notice of Annual 
General Meeting will be published in March 2013.

Audit information
So far as the directors in office at the date of signing of the 
report are aware, there is no relevant audit information of 
which the auditor is unaware and each such director has 
taken all reasonable steps to make themselves aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is 
aware of that information.

Responsibility statement of the directors in respect of 
the annual financial report
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:
•  the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the 
applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair 
view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or 
loss of the Company and the undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole; and 

The resolutions being proposed at the 2013 Annual 

•  the Directors’ report includes a fair review of the 

General Meeting are general in nature including the renewal for 
a further year of the limited authority of the directors to allot the 
unissued share capital of the Company and to issue shares for 
cash other than to existing shareholders. A resolution will also 
be proposed to renew the directors’ authority to purchase a 
proportion of the Company’s own shares.

One of the items of special business to be addressed at 
this Annual General Meeting relates to the requirement in the 
Companies (Shareholders’ Rights) Regulations 2009, which 
came into force on 3 August 2009, that all general meetings 
must be held on not less than 21 clear days’ notice unless 
shareholders approve a shorter notice period. At the 2012 
Annual General Meeting, a resolution was passed allowing 
the Company to call general meetings (other than Annual 
General Meetings) on not less than 14 clear days’ notice.  
As this authority will expire at the 2013 Annual General 
Meeting, a resolution will be proposed to renew this authority.

development and performance of the business and the 
position of the issuer and the undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description 
of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face. 

Signed by the Board:

Ed Williams 

Nick McKittrick

Chief Executive Officer 

 Chief Operating Officer and 
Finance Director

1 March 2013

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

22

Corporate governance

Statement of compliance
The UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code) sets out the 
principles and provisions relating to good governance of UK 
listed companies. In this section we set out how we have 
applied the principles and complied with the provisions of  
the 2010 Code during 2012. As a UK listed company, the 
Company is required to state whether it has complied with  
the provisions of the Code and where the provisions have  
not been complied with, to provide an explanation. 

The directors believe that the Company is compliant in  

all areas with one exception, which is explained below. 

The Board, the Board balance and independence
At the date of this report, the Board comprises eight  
directors including the Chairman (Scott Forbes), three 
executive directors (Ed Williams, Chief Executive Officer, 
Nick McKittrick, Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director 
and Peter Brooks-Johnson, Managing Director, rightmove.
co.uk) and four non-executive directors (Jonathan Agnew, 
who is the Senior Independent Director, Colin Kemp, 
Ashley Martin and Judy Vezmar).

As announced in November 2012, Ed Williams’ date  
of retirement is 30 April 2013. As part of the announced 
organisational changes Nick McKittrick will become Chief 
Executive Officer, Peter Brooks-Johnson will become Chief 
Operating Officer and it is proposed that Robyn Perriss will 
join the Board as Finance Director. Assuming an unchanged 
number of Board directors, Rightmove would then have 25% 
of Board members being female, two years ahead of the 
target of 25% female Board members by 2015 set out in  
our 2011 Annual Report. 

For each appointment the Board undertook a formal 
appointment process led by the Nomination Committee.

Having made substantial progress with gender diversity at 

Board level, the Board will focus further on the next level of 
senior management in order to develop potential within this 
team to step up to Board level at the appropriate time and to 
identify and develop potential within the wider organisation 
with a view to strengthening the female representation within 
the senior management team. In 2012, 13% of our senior 
management team were female.

The directors believe that the Board currently operates 
effectively and that there is an appropriate balance between 
the executive and non-executive directors and that all the 
non-executive directors are fully independent of management 
and independent in character and judgement. Consideration 
of the Board balance is kept under regular review by the 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Colin Kemp (non-executive director) is an employee of  
Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds Banking Group is a customer 
of Rightmove Group Limited. Until October 2009, Lloyds 
Banking Group owned Halifax Estate Agencies Ltd. Halifax 
Estate Agencies Ltd was a shareholder in Rightmove plc until 
May 2008. Therefore, in strict application of the Code, Colin 
Kemp is only considered to have been independent from 
October 2012. Nonetheless, the Board considers that Colin 
Kemp is independent in character and in particular continues 
to challenge rigorously the executive directors and the Board 
as a whole. As a result, the composition of the Board 
throughout the year under review was not in strict compliance 
with supporting principle B.1.2 of the Code in that at least half 
of the directors (excluding the Chairman) were not considered 
independent non-executive directors; although it is compliant 
as at 31 December 2012.

Ed Williams, Chief Executive Officer, is also a non-

executive director of Trader Media Group. His remuneration in 
relation to this role is set out in the Remuneration report on 
page 30 all of which has been donated directly to charities.

Neither the Chairman nor the other two executive directors 

hold any other non-executive directorships or commitments 
disclosable under the Code.

Biographical details of the directors at the date of this 
report and details of their committee membership appear  
on pages 16 and 17.

Directors’ remuneration
The principles and details of directors’ remuneration and 
contractual arrangements are contained in the Remuneration 
report on pages 30 to 44.

Re-election to the Board
Directors are appointed and may be removed in accordance 
with the Articles of Association of the Company and the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006. 

All directors are subject to election at the first Annual 

General Meeting following their appointment and to 
re-election at intervals of no more than three years in 
accordance with the Code and the Company’s Articles  
of Association. However all directors, with the exception of 
Ed Williams, will seek re-election at the 2013 Annual General 
Meeting, in accordance with the Code provision B.7.1. 

As disclosed in our stock exchange announcement in 
November 2012, Ed Williams has decided to retire from the 
Board with effect from 30 April 2013. 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance continued

Board and Committee membership and attendance
The membership of the Committees of the Board and 
attendance at Board and Committee meetings for the  
year under review are set out in the table below:

  Remuneration  

Audit  Nomination  

Board 

Committee 

Committee  Committee

Total meetings 

Scott Forbes  

Jonathan Agnew 

Peter Brooks-Johnson 

Colin Kemp  

Ashley Martin 

Nick McKittrick 

Judy Vezmar  

Ed Williams  

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

5 

(1)  

5 

N/A 

N/A 

5 

N/A 

5 

N/A  

4 

N/A 

4 

N/A 

(2) 

4 

N/A 

3 

N/A 

2

2

2

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2

N/A

(1)  The Remuneration Committee Chairman has requested that the Chairman of 

the Board attend the Remuneration Committee meetings.

(2) Colin Kemp is invited to attend Audit Committee meetings on a guest basis.

Any director’s absence from Board meetings or meetings  
of the Remuneration, Audit or Nomination Committees was 
previously agreed with the Chairman, the Chief Executive 
Officer or the Chairman of the relevant committee.

In addition to the above meetings, the Chairman conducts 

meetings with the non-executive directors without the 
executive directors being present when required. Jonathan 
Agnew, the Senior Independent Director, chaired a meeting  
of the Board at which the performance of the Chairman was 
also reviewed (without the presence of the Chairman).

Operation of the Board
The Board is responsible to shareholders for the overall 
direction and control of the Group. Its key task is to approve 
strategy, ensuring the successful implementation of projects 
and proposals and monitoring the operating performance of 
the Group in pursuit of its objectives in the interest of 
maximising long-term shareholder value. The Board has 
adopted a formal schedule of matters requiring specific 
approval. These include, amongst other things, the approval 
of the annual business plan, capital structure, dividend policy, 
acquisitions and disposals, appointment and removal of 
officers of the Company, approval of the Half Year and Full 
Year results, shareholder communication and responsibility 
for corporate governance and review of the Group’s risks and 
system of internal controls.

The Board receives meeting papers to allow sufficient time  
for detailed review and consideration of the documents 
beforehand. If any director has a concern about any aspect of 
the business conducted at any Board meeting, the Company 
Secretary shall discuss this with the director concerned and 
record their concern or comments in the Board minutes. The 
Board receives monthly management and financial reports on 
the operational and financial performance of the business 
setting out actual and forecast financial performance against 
approved budgets in addition to other key performance 
indicators. The Board also receives copies of broker reports 
and press releases relating to the Group. At least once a year 
the Chief Executive Officer and the senior management team 
present a strategic review and an annual plan to the Board for 
review and approval.

The Board normally schedules eight meetings each year 
although meetings can be scheduled at short notice at the 
request of any director, or if required. In addition to formal 
Board meetings, there is regular informal dialogue between  
all directors.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The posts of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are 
separate and there are clear written guidelines to support 
their division of responsibilities. The Chairman, Scott Forbes, 
is responsible for the effective conduct and leadership of the 
Board and for communication with shareholders. With the 
assistance of the Company Secretary, the Chairman monitors 
the information provided to the Board to ensure that it is 
sufficient, pertinent, timely and clear.

The Chief Executive Officer has day-to-day executive 

responsibility for the running of the Group, leading the 
executive and operational teams in developing strategies and 
delivering results against defined targets to enable the Group 
to meet its objectives.

Board training
The breadth of management, financial and listed company 
experience of the non-executive directors is described in the 
biographical details on pages 16 and 17 and demonstrates a 
range of business expertise that provides the right mix of skills 
and experience given the size of the Company. There are 
procedures in place for individual Board members to receive 
induction and training tailored to their individual needs and to 
seek the advice and services of independent professional 
advisers, at the Company’s expense, where specific expertise 
or training is required in furtherance of their duties. 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

24

 
 
 
The Articles of Association of the Company allow for a 
qualifying third party indemnity provision between the 
Company and its directors and officers, which remains in 
force at the date of this report. The Group has also arranged 
directors’ and officers’ insurance cover in respect of legal 
action against the directors.

The Group has set out written policies in compliance with  

a code of securities dealings in relation to the shares and 
equivalent to the Model Code published in the Listing Rules. 
The code applies to all directors, other persons discharging 
managerial responsibility and other relevant employees.

Company Secretary
All Board directors have access to independent advice on  
any matters relating to their responsibilities as directors and 
as members of the various committees of the Board at the 
Company’s expense.

Robyn Perriss, Financial Controller and Finance Director 

designate, was appointed as Company Secretary in 
April 2012 and is available to all directors and is responsible 
for ensuring that all Board procedures are complied with. 

The duties of the Company Secretary continue to grow 

with the increase in size of the Group’s activities and 
legislative changes. To assist in this area the Assistant 
Company Secretary coordinates and manages the provision 
of company secretarial services and share plans to the Group 
on behalf of Robyn Perriss. Other suitably qualified individuals 
currently act as secretary to the Audit, Nomination and 
Remuneration Committees to ensure that no conflicts of 
interest arise.

Board evaluation
The Board is committed to undertaking annual reviews of its 
own performance and also the performance of its committees 
and individual directors. For the past two years, the Board 
has undertaken a self-assessment. This year, Korn/Ferry 
International, an external firm of consultants, was appointed 
to undertake an independent review of the performance of 
the Board and its committees. The evaluation was undertaken 
by a series of confidential interviews with the directors and 
Company Secretary covering the areas of Board composition, 
governance, engagement and dynamic. The results of Phase 
One, being the operations of the Board today, were presented 
to the Board in December 2012.

Korn/Ferry International’s report concluded that the Board 
and its committees continue to operate effectively. It identified 
a small number of further actions to help support our 
commitment to continuous improvement with the main area 
of focus being to create additional opportunities for informal 
discussion of key aspects of the business between Board 
members.

Phase Two is to review in more detail the composition of 
the Board and the alignment of skills, expertise and experience 
with Rightmove’s medium term strategic agenda and will be 
completed in early 2013. 

At a meeting chaired by Jonathan Agnew, Senior 

Independent Director, (without the presence of the Chairman), 
the Board provided input into and reviewed the performance 
of the Chairman. 

Relations with shareholders
The Board is accountable to shareholders for the 
performance and activities of the Company and welcomes 
the opportunities to engage with shareholders.

Within the terms of the regulatory framework, the 

Company has conducted regular dialogue with institutional 
shareholders through ongoing meetings with institutional 
investors and research firms to discuss strategy, operating 
performance and financial performance. Contact in the UK  
is principally with the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief 
Operating Officer and Finance Director. The Chairman also 
participates in the USA bi-annual investor roadshows. 
Jonathan Agnew, Senior Independent Director, is also 
available to shareholders if they wish to supplement their 
communication or if contact through the normal channels  
is inappropriate.

The Board is kept informed of the views and opinions of 
those with an interest in the Company through reports from 
the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer and 
Finance Director, as well as reports from the Company’s joint 
brokers, UBS and Numis.

Shareholders are also kept up to date with the  
Group’s activities through the Annual and Half Year  
Reports and the investor relations section of its website, at 
www.rightmove.co.uk/investors, which provides details of all 
the directors, latest news, including financial results, investor 
presentations and Stock Exchange announcements. 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance continued

Conflicts of interest
In cases of doubt, the Chairman of the Board is responsible 
for determining whether a conflict of interest exists. 

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting is an opportunity for 
shareholders to vote on certain aspects of the Company’s 
business, and to ask questions of the directors, who will 
also be available for discussions with shareholders prior to 
and after the meeting. The Annual General Meeting will 
be held on 8 May 2013 at the offices of UBS Limited at 
1 Finsbury Avenue, London, EC2M 2PP.

The Company will arrange for the Annual Report and 
related papers to be available on the Company’s corporate 
website at www.rightmove.co.uk/investors or posted to 
shareholders (where requested) so as to allow at least 
20 working days for consideration before the Annual 
General Meeting. 

The Company also complies with the Code with the 
separation of all resolutions put to the vote of shareholders. 
The Company proactively encourages shareholders to vote  
at general meetings by providing electronic voting for 
shareholders who hold their shares through the Crest system 
and provides personalised proxy cards to ensure that all 
votes are clearly identifiable. The Company presently takes 
votes at general meetings on a show of hands on the grounds 
of practicality due to the limited number of shareholders in 
attendance. Votes are taken by a poll at any shareholder 
meeting where legally required. All proxy votes are counted 
and the level of proxy votes including abstentions lodged for 
each resolution are reported after each resolution and 
published on the Company’s website.

Board committees
The Board has established three principal committees, the 
Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee and the 
Nomination Committee, each of which operates within written 
terms of reference approved by the Board. No person other 
than a Committee member is entitled to attend the meetings 
of these Committees, except by invitation of the Chairman of 
that Committee. 

Remuneration committee
The Remuneration Committee’s principal responsibility is  
for setting, reviewing and recommending to the Board the 
remuneration policy and strategy to ensure that the 
Company’s executive directors and senior executives are 
properly incentivised and fairly rewarded for their individual 
contributions to the Company’s overall performance, having 
due regard to the interests of the shareholders and to the 
financial and commercial health of the Group. Full details of 
the Remuneration Committee’s responsibilities, and a report 
of its activities during the year, are set out in the Remuneration 
report on pages 30 to 44.

Nomination committee
The purpose of the Nomination Committee is to consider and 
make recommendations to the Board about the composition 
of the Board, including proposed appointees, and whether to 
fill any vacancies that arise or to change the number of Board 
members.

The Nomination Committee consists of Scott Forbes  
(who is also Chairman of the Board), Jonathan Agnew and 
Judy Vezmar as independent non-executive directors. The 
quorum for meetings of the Nomination Committee is two 
members. The Chairman of the Company may not chair the 
Nomination Committee in connection with any discussion 
about the appointment of his successor to the chairmanship  
of the Company. In these circumstances, the Senior 
Independent Director will take the chair. Appointments are for  
a period of up to three years, extendable by no more than two 
additional three-year periods, so long as members continue to 
be independent.
The Nomination Committee meets at such times as may  
be necessary and normally meets at least twice a year. 
The Nomination Committee’s terms of reference  

are available on the Company’s website,  
www.rightmove.co.uk/investors or by request from  
the Company Secretary.

During the year the Nomination Committee has:

• approved the organisation structure;
•  approved the plans for the succession of the executive 

directors and the senior management team;

•  agreed the process for the Board’s annual evaluation;
•  considered the diversity of the Board and agreed the policy 

regarding gender composition on the Board; and

•  conducted an annual review of its terms of reference. 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

26

The Nomination Committee is planning for Board succession, 
in response to the fact that the Chairman and three of the 
non-executive directors are currently in their third term of 
service to the Board. A plan will be implemented to ensure 
that any new appointments are tiered such that succession 
does not cause disruption to the business. The refreshment 
process will be flexible and fluid in order to maintain stability 
and continuity.   

Audit committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board in the discharge of its 
duties concerning the announcement of results, the Annual 
and Half Year Reports and the maintenance of an effective 
system of internal controls. It reviews the scope and planning 
of the audit and the auditor’s findings and considers the 
Group’s accounting policies and the compliance with those 
policies and applicable legal and accounting standards.

The Audit Committee has authority to investigate any areas 

of concern as to financial impropriety that arise and to obtain 
outside legal or other independent professional advice in 
connection therewith. The Audit Committee’s principal duties 
and terms of reference are available on the Company’s 
website, www.rightmove.co.uk/investors, or by request  
from the Company Secretary.

The Audit Committee consists of the three independent 
non-executive directors, Ashley Martin (who is Chairman),  
Judy Vezmar and Jonathan Agnew. Ashley Martin, who is 
currently Group Chief Financial Officer of The Engine Group 
and was previously the Finance Director of Rok plc and 
Tempus Group plc and, having relevant financial skills and 
experience, was appointed to the role of Audit Committee 
Chairman on his appointment to the Board in June 2009.

The quorum for meetings of the Audit Committee is two 
members. Appointments to the committee are for a period of  
up to three years, extendable by no more than two additional 
three-year periods, so long as members continue to be 
independent.

The Audit Committee meets at least four times a year and 

more often if necessary. Two of its meetings are prior to the 
announcement of the Half Year and Full Year results of the 
Group, when the external auditor is in attendance. The Chief 
Operating Officer and Finance Director and Financial Controller 
are normally invited to attend the meetings. Colin Kemp,  
non-executive director, is also invited to attend the meetings.

During the year the Audit Committee has, amongst  
other matters:
•  approved the appointment of the external auditor;
•  fixed their remuneration and reviewed the effectiveness of 

the external audit process;

•  considered the need for an internal audit function;
•  considered its responsibilities to safeguard the audit 

objectivity and independence as well as the needs of the 
business and reviewed a policy for non-audit project work; 
•  received the report from the external auditor on their review 
of the 2011 Full Year and reviewed the 2011 Annual Report; 

•  agreed the remit of the 2012 audit plan by the external 

auditor;

•  received the report from the external auditor on their  
review of the 2012 Half Year results and reviewed the  
2012 Half Year Report;

•  reviewed the Group’s treasury policy;
•  received the report from the external auditor on their  

review of the internal systems and controls;

•  reviewed the whistleblowing policy (which provides the 

procedure for staff to report any concerns that they may 
have independent of management about suspected 
misconduct without fear of retaliation); 

•  reviewed the bribery policy and procedures for compliance 

with the Bribery Act; 

•  conducted an annual review of its terms of reference;
•  approved a timetable for tendering the Group audit 

during 2013; 

•  received a presentation on the implementation of a new 

finance system; and

•  reviewed the outcomes of an external report covering 

website technology, infrastructure and people.

Given the simplicity of the organisational structure, the open 
and accountable culture with clear authority limits, the 
straightforward financial model and systems and the fact that 
the management team and Board conduct regular financial 
reviews, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board 
that an internal audit function was not currently appropriate 
for the business. This decision is kept under regular review.

The Audit Committee also discussed its responsibilities to 
safeguard the audit objectivity and independence as well as 
the needs of the business and agreed that it was practical in 
many cases for the auditor to be assigned to other non-audit 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance continued

project work due to their knowledge and expertise of the 
business. This would usually relate to corporate transaction 
advice and tax compliance. The Audit Committee agreed a 
policy that management be given authority to incur non-audit 
fees up to 50% of the annual agreed audit and tax fee in 
any financial year without the prior approval of the Audit 
Committee. In 2012 the non-audit fees were £17,000 in 
relation to other advisory services and were £11,000 in 
relation to tax compliance and advice and are fully disclosed 
in Note 6 of the financial statements.

Internal controls 
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s system of 
internal controls and has established a framework of financial 
and other controls, which is periodically reviewed in 
accordance with the Turnbull guidance for its effectiveness.

•  clearly defined policies for capital expenditure and 

investment exist, including appropriate authorisation levels, 
with larger capital projects, acquisitions and disposals 
requiring Board approval;

•  a comprehensive disaster recovery plan based upon 

co-hosting of the rightmove.co.uk website across three 
separate London locations, which is regularly tested  
and reviewed;

•  a treasury function which manages cash flow forecasts  
and cash on deposit and is responsible for monitoring 
compliance with banking agreements, where appropriate; 

•  a whistleblowing policy of which all employees are made 
aware, to enable concerns to be raised either with line 
management or, if appropriate, confidentially outside the  
line management structure; and

•  a bribery policy of which all employees are made aware,  

The Board has taken, and will continue to take, 

to ensure compliance with the Bribery Act.

appropriate measures to ensure that the chances of financial 
irregularities occurring are reduced as far as reasonably 
possible by continually seeking to improve the quality of 
information at all levels in the Group, fostering an open 
environment and ensuring that financial analysis is rigorously 
applied. Any system of internal control is designed to manage 
rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business 
objectives and can only provide reasonable and not absolute 
assurance against material misstatement or loss.

The Group’s management has established the procedures 

necessary to ensure that there is an ongoing process for 
identifying, evaluating and managing the significant risks to 
the Group. These procedures have been reviewed regularly 
and have been in place for the whole of the financial year 
ended 31 December 2012 and up to the date of the approval 
of the financial statements.

The key elements of the system of internal control are:
•  major commercial, strategic, competitive and financial risks 
are formally identified, quantified and assessed, discussed 
with the executive directors, after which they are considered 
by the Board; 

•  a comprehensive system of planning, budgeting and 

monitoring Group results. This includes monthly 
management reporting and monitoring of performance 
against both budgets and forecasts with explanations for  
all significant variances;

•  an organisational structure with clearly defined lines of 

responsibility and delegation of authority;

Through the procedures outlined above, the Board, with 
advice from the Audit Committee, has considered all 
significant aspects of internal control for the year and up  
to the date of this Annual Report. No significant failings or 
weaknesses were identified during this review. However,  
had there been any such failings or weaknesses, the Board 
confirms that necessary actions would have been taken to 
remedy them.

Going concern 
The Board is required under the Code to consider  
whether or not it is appropriate to adopt the going concern 
basis in preparing the Group and the parent Company 
financial statements.

As part of its normal business practice the Group  

prepares annual and longer term financial plans. In addition,  
a going concern paper was prepared and presented to the 
Audit Committee in February 2013, prior to it recommending 
the approval of the financial statements and notes to  
the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2012 to  
the Board.

After making enquiries, the Board has a reasonable 

expectation that the Group and the Company have adequate 
resources and banking facilities to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Board 
continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 
Annual Report and financial statements. Further information is 
provided in Note 1 to the financial statements. 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

28

Statement of directors’ responsibilities in respect of the 
Annual Report and financial statements 
The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report 
and the Group and parent Company financial statements in 
accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the directors to prepare Group and 
parent Company financial statements for each financial year. 
Under that law they are required to prepare the Group 
financial statements in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the EU and applicable law and have elected to prepare the 
parent Company financial statements on the same basis. 

Under company law the directors must not approve the 
financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give  
a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and 
parent Company and of their profit or loss for that period.  
In preparing each of the Group and parent Company financial 
statements, the directors are required to: 
•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

•  make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and 

prudent; 

•  state whether they have been prepared in accordance with 

IFRSs as adopted by the EU; and 

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

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

Under applicable law and regulations, the directors are 
also responsible for preparing a Directors’ Report, Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and Corporate Governance Statement 
that comply with that law and those regulations. 

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information included  
on the Company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing 
the preparation and dissemination of financial statements  
may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report

Jonathan Agnew
Non-executive Director

In line with the requirements of section 420 of the Companies 
Act 2006, the directors present the report on directors’ 
remuneration for Rightmove plc (the Company) and its 
subsidiary companies (the Group) for the year ended 
31 December 2012. This report sets out the policies under 
which executive and non-executive directors were 
remunerated and provides tables of information showing 
details of the remuneration and share interests of all the 
directors. In accordance with the requirements, the report 
provides the disclosure in two parts: information subject to 
audit and information that is not subject to audit. 

Shareholders will be provided with an opportunity to vote 
on the Remuneration Report as set out in this Annual Report 
at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to be held on 
8 May 2013.

Part I: Unaudited information
This part of the Remuneration Report is not subject to audit.

The Remuneration Committee

Terms of reference 
The primary role of the Remuneration Committee (hereinafter 
referred to as the Committee throughout this report) is to 
make recommendations to the Board as to the Company’s 
broad policy and framework for the remuneration of the 
executive directors, the Chairman of the Board and the 
Company Secretary. In accordance with the 2010 UK 
Corporate Governance Code (the Code), the Committee also 
recommends the structure and monitors the level of 
remuneration for the first layer of management below Board 
level. The Committee is also aware of, and advises on, the 
employee benefit structures throughout the Company and 
ensures that it is kept aware of any potential business risks 
arising from those remuneration arrangements. 

The Committee has formal terms of reference which are 
reviewed annually and updated as required. These are available 
on the Company’s website at www.rightmove.co.uk/investors 
or on request from the Company Secretary.

Membership
The following independent non-executive directors were 
members of the Committee during 2012 and continue to  
be members.

During 2012 the Committee met five times and the 

attendance is shown below:

Name of director 

Number of meetings attended

Jonathan Agnew (Chairman of the Committee) 

Ashley Martin  

Judy Vezmar 

5 out of 5 

 5 out of 5 

5 out of 5 

Only members of the Committee have the right to attend 
Committee meetings. The Chairman of the Committee  
has requested that the Chairman of the Board attend the 
meetings except during discussions relating to his own 
remuneration. Prior to April 2012, the Company Secretary 
acted as secretary of the Committee, the Human Resources 
Director has subsequently assumed this responsibility.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Executive Officer 

Designate, may also be invited to meetings and the 
Committee takes into consideration their recommendations 
regarding the remuneration of executive colleagues and the 
first layer of management below Board level. No director is 
involved in deciding their own remuneration.

The quorum for meetings of the Committee is two 
members. The Committee will meet at such times as may  
be necessary but will normally meet at least three times a year.

Advice 
As previously reported, in the latter part of 2010 and early 
2011, New Bridge Street (NBS), an Aon Hewitt company, 
was engaged by the Committee to review the Company’s 
policy on executive director remuneration.

The Committee and the Board considered that the 

Company had reached a point at which it was necessary that 
the remuneration practice should be brought closer into line 
with more standard practice among FTSE companies. The 
Committee commissioned an independent review by NBS  
to assist in its determination of an appropriate future 
remuneration framework for executive directors to apply from 
2011. The Committee has retained NBS as its appointed 
adviser since 2011 and NBS provided assistance, as 
required, during the year under review.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

30

During 2012 NBS also provided services to the Company in 
connection with the valuation of share-based incentives (as 
required by IFRS 2) and confirmed that, in its view, this service 
did not present a conflict of interest with the other services 
provided to the Committee.

2012 
In line with its remit, the following matters were considered  
by the Committee during the year:
•  approval of the 2011 Remuneration report and review of the 
voting on the report at the Annual General Meeting (AGM); 

•  approval of deferred share awards for the 2011 financial 

to reflect the performance driven culture of the Company. 
The Company will generally review market levels of 
remuneration for executive directors with the assistance  
of external, independent remuneration consultants and 
shareholder consultation every three years.

•  Having reviewed executive director remuneration against 

the market, every three years, further changes to 
remuneration should be made infrequently and those 
changes made each year should, in most instances, be 
directly linked to the policies applied to all employees 
(specifically with regard to cost of living rises in base salary 
and changes in benefits).

year under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan (DSP);

•  Executive directors should be principally rewarded for the 

•  setting of all performance measures for the 2012 bonus 

plan;

•  approval of awards under the Rightmove Performance 

Share Plan (PSP);

overall success of the business for which they have 
collective responsibility. The Company has key short-term, 
medium-term and long-term goals and executive directors 
should be incentivised against these goals. 

•  annual review of executive directors’ and senior managers’ 

•  Executives should not be able to gain significantly from 

base salaries;

•  agreeing the targets for the 2013 bonus plan;
•  agreeing the targets for the proposed PSP awards to be 

made in March 2013;

•  treatment of Ed Williams’ share-based incentives upon his 

retirement on 30 April 2013;

•  review of the Committee’s performance during the period; 

and

•  review of the Committee’s terms of reference. 

Remuneration policy
Rightmove’s remuneration policy is based on the belief that 
growth-orientated companies should reward executives with 
demonstrably lower than market base salaries and benefits 
and higher than market equity rewards contingent upon the 
achievement of challenging performance criteria.

The key principles of the Committee’s policy are as follows:

•  Remuneration arrangements should be simple to 

understand and administer. 

•  Remuneration arrangements should be designed to provide 
executive directors with the opportunity to receive a share in 
the future growth and development of the Company which 
is regarded as fair by both other employees and 
shareholders. This approach should allow the Company to 
attract and retain the dynamic, self-motivated individuals 
who are critical to the success of the business.

•  Executive directors should have below market levels of base 
salary, minimal benefits (and only benefits which are made 
available on the same basis to all Rightmove employees), 
and above market levels of variable pay potential. This 
arrangement is designed to best align the interests of the 
executive directors with the interests of shareholders and  

short-term successes which subsequently prove not to be 
consistent with growing the overall value of the business. 
Hence a majority of any bonus payable in relation to short-
term strategic goals is required to be taken in the form of 
shares in the Company which are deferred for a further two 
years after the bonus target has been achieved.

The Committee is mindful of the current wider concerns 
regarding executive remuneration and supportive of 
government proposals to bring more rigour and transparency 
to this area. The Committee’s approach already 
demonstrates a commitment to modest guaranteed rewards 
compared to market norms. Base salaries are below median 
compared to appropriate benchmarks and the average 
remuneration of employees in the business relative to the 
executive directors is at more modest multiples than those 
operated in many other FTSE 250 companies. Executive 
directors only receive the same additional benefits that are 
available to all employees. Neither employment contracts nor 
previous precedents suggest that the Company offers 
rewards for failure. No employment contract has a term 
greater than one year and clawback provisions are in place 
with regard to bonus and the PSP plans. To the extent that 
executive remuneration has been high or may continue to be 
so, this has been the result of the strong operating 
performance of the business and the high level of shareholder 
returns generated. As stated above, overall remuneration 
philosophy is for significantly lower than benchmark fixed 
remuneration and higher proportionate rewards for success. 
This appears to be in line with the government’s policies.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report continued

2012 Remuneration 
In early 2011 and as previously reported, the Committee 
approved a number of significant changes to the Company’s 
remuneration framework to ensure that it remains consistent 
with the Committee’s remuneration policy. In particular, base 
salaries are being adjusted to a more market competitive level 
(albeit a level that is still significantly below appropriate market 
median benchmarks) in order to ensure that the Company is 
able to recruit and retain high quality executives. At the same 
time as increasing base salaries, taking due account of the 
institutional investors’ views and the current executive pay 
environment, incentive opportunity is being moderated to 
provide a more balanced remuneration structure that is more 
reflective of typical FTSE 250 market practice albeit retaining 
a clear emphasis on variable pay given the Company’s 
growth orientated focus.

These changes, approved by shareholders at the 2011 
AGM, are being phased in over a three-year period to 2013. 
The second phase of these changes applied in 2012  
(as reported in last year’s Directors’ Remuneration Report) 
and, in summary, the 2012 pay arrangements comprised  
the following:
•  Base salaries of £318,240 for Ed Williams and Nick 

McKittrick, with Peter Brooks-Johnson’s salary set at 
£245,000 (these increases were each at 22.5% of salary). 
•  No pension provision for Nick McKittrick and Ed Williams. 
Peter Brooks-Johnson was appointed to the Board in 
January 2011 and was already a member of the stakeholder 
pension plan with the Company paying employer 
contributions of £3,000 per annum. 

•  An annual cash bonus of up to 55% of salary (reduced  

from 65% in 2011) and a DSP bonus of up to 95% of salary 
(reduced from 110% in 2011) for Ed Williams and Nick 
McKittrick. Peter Brooks-Johnson’s bonus potential for 
2012 was the same as for the other executive directors, 
compared to a 2011 cash bonus of up to 60% of salary  
and deferred share bonus of up to 100%. The bonus (both 
the cash and DSP elements) was determined by a mixture 
of underlying operating profit performance and key 
performance indicators relating to underlying drivers of 
long-term revenue growth.

•  A grant under the PSP of nil cost options or contingent 

shares worth up to 175% of salary to Ed Williams and to 
Nick McKittrick (200% of salary in 2011) and 150% of  
salary to Peter Brooks-Johnson (previously 125% of salary). 
Vesting of awards is subject to a mixture of earnings per 
share (EPS) growth (75% of the awards) and relative  
Total Shareholder Return (TSR) (25% of the awards) 
performance targets. 

When comparing performance against the 2012 bonus 
targets set, the Committee determined that 90% of the 
maximum achievable cash and DSP bonus should be paid  
to the executive directors. Accordingly, a cash bonus of 
£157,529 will be paid to Ed Williams and Nick McKittrick and 
£121,275 to Peter Brooks-Johnson after the announcement 
of the Full Year results for the year ended 31 December 2012. 
In addition an award of deferred shares in the Company worth 
85.5% of salary will be granted to Ed Williams, Nick McKittrick 
and Peter Brooks-Johnson under the DSP, which will be 
deferred until March 2015. The bonus payment reflects the 
increase in underlying operating profit in the period (maximum 
70% of the bonus opportunity) and performance against the 
Company’s key performance indicators (maximum 30% of the 
bonus opportunity) which included retention of all of 
Rightmove’s key customers and market share as measured 
by page impressions. The Committee believes the resulting 
bonus payment is appropriate in the context of the business 
performance which delivered 23% year on year growth in 
underlying operating profit.

2013 remuneration and details of the future 
remuneration framework 
As previously reported, during 2010, the Committee 
undertook a consultation process with major shareholders 
and investor bodies and, at the 2011 AGM, received 
widespread support for the introduction of its revised 
remuneration framework with 99.0% of the votes cast in 
favour of the Remuneration report. Consequently, the  
revised remuneration framework is being implemented and 
phased in over three years (2011-2013). The Committee 
reserves the right to revisit executive remuneration should  
the circumstances dictate but its intention is to implement 
these changes over three years with no further alterations  
to the remuneration framework during that time. 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

32

2013 is the third and final year of the phased changes. Full 
details of pay arrangements for 2013 are outlined on pages 
33 to 36. We propose to carry out a third party remuneration 
review during the second half of 2013, in advance of setting 
our remuneration policy for 2014 and beyond, which will be 
subject to a binding shareholder vote. This review will also 
consider changes in responsibilities following the retirement  
of Ed Williams and the consequent impact on executive 
director remuneration.

Base salary 
The Committee had previously agreed that Ed Williams and 
Nick McKittrick should have equal levels of base salary. It had 
also agreed that the market benchmark used to assess their 
pay should be consistent with this decision; hence the use of 
a benchmark which is based on the FTSE 250 median for the 
average pay for a chief executive office and a finance director. 
This approach to setting their pay was considered 
appropriate given the division of responsibilities operated by 
the two roles and the culture that exists within Rightmove.
As disclosed in the 2010 Remuneration report, the 

Committee had determined that the value of Ed Williams’ and 
Nick McKittrick’s fixed pay (salary plus benefits) should be 
adjusted so that by 2013 it is approximately 25% below the 
market benchmark. The third phased increase towards this 
target level applies in 2013. The previously agreed base 
salaries (of £360,000 each for 2013) were subject to review 
by the Committee to take account of any significant changes 
in Rightmove’s size and also basic inflation (where a market 
adjustment was applied at the same percentage rate as for 
other employees of 4% in 2012 and 3% in 2013). Therefore 
base salaries for Ed Williams and Nick McKittrick with effect 
from 1 January 2013 have been set at £385,632. The 
Committee is comfortable with this revised salary level on the 
basis that it increases the pre-set benchmark in line with the 
increases awarded over the same time period to the wider 
workforce at Rightmove. Whilst the Committee was mindful in 
setting the revised salary level that Rightmove has increased 
substantially in size since the current remuneration policy was 
set in late 2010 (almost doubling in terms of market 
capitalisation), now was not considered an appropriate time 
to more substantially adjust the pre-set benchmarks with this 
position set to be kept under review. 

The Committee had agreed that by the end of the 
implementation of the remuneration framework in 2013, 
Peter Brooks-Johnson’s salary should be 75% of Ed Williams’ 
and Nick McKittrick’s salaries and accordingly his salary has 
been increased to £289,224 with effect from 1 January 2013.
The current salaries for the executive directors with effect 

from 1 January 2013 are set out in the table below:

Executive directors(1) 

Ed Williams(2) 

Nick McKittrick 

Peter Brooks-Johnson 

Salary 

1 January 2013  

Salary 
31 December 2012

£385,632 

£385,632 

£289,224 

£318,240

£318,240

£245,000

(1)  The executive directors’ wages and salaries made up 9% of the Group’s 

wages and salaries cost in 2012.

(2)  Ed Williams’ salary is payable pro-rata through to his retirement on  

30 April 2013.

Pension and other benefits 
The Group operates a stakeholder pension plan for 
employees under which the employer contributes 6% of  
base salary (to a maximum of £3,000 each year) subject to 
the employee contributing a minimum of 3% of base salary. 
Ed Williams and Nick McKittrick voluntarily do not participate 
in this arrangement. Peter Brooks-Johnson is a member of 
the stakeholder pension plan and the Company contributes 
£3,000 per annum. The Company does not contribute to any 
personal pension arrangements.

The executive directors are enrolled in the Company’s 
private medical insurance scheme and receive life assurance 
cover equal to four times base salary. Additionally, 
Nick McKittrick is a member of the Company’s medical  
cash plan.

Annual performance-related bonus 
The Committee believes that the annual cash and DSP offer  
a competitive potential reward. As previously reported, it is, 
therefore, reducing the directors’ bonus potential as a 
percentage of salary over the three years (2011-2013) to 
ensure that the monetary value of the potential bonus is 
maintained broadly at the value as before the implementation 
of the new pay framework.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report continued

Consequently, concurrent with the salary increase outlined 
above, annual bonus potential for all executive directors in 
2013 will be reduced to 125% of salary (150% of salary in 
2012). The maximum bonus in 2013 will be made up of 50% 
of salary in cash and 75% of salary in deferred shares. 
Deferred shares will vest after two years and be potentially 
forfeitable during that period. The Committee has determined 
that Ed Williams will not be entitled to receive a bonus for 
2013 due to his retirement from the Company effective 
30 April 2013. 

The bonus will, as in previous years, be determined 
principally (70%) by underlying operating profit before  
tax performance with targets set in relation to a carefully 
considered business plan and requiring significant  
out-performance of that plan to trigger maximum payments. 
A significant portion of the bonus (30%) will be determined  
by reference to pre-set targets for key performance indicators 
relating to underlying drivers of long-term revenue growth.

Share awards
At flotation and in subsequent years, the Company awarded 
market value share options to executive directors and other 
selected employees designed to align the interests of 
employees with the long-term success of the business.  
As outlined in the 2010 Remuneration report however, the 
Committee believes that awards of performance shares are 
now more consistent with general FTSE practice and provide 
better alignment of executive reward to performance.

Consequently, following shareholder approval at the 2011 

AGM, the PSP was established. The PSP permits annual 
awards of nil cost options or contingent shares worth up to 
200% of salary. Nick McKittrick and Peter Brooks-Johnson 
will receive an annual award in 2013 of 150% of salary  
(2012: 175% for Nick McKittrick and 150% for Peter  
Brooks-Johnson). The Committee has determined that  
Ed Williams will not be entitled to an award due to his 
retirement from the Company effective 30 April 2013.

Shares will only vest in the event of prior satisfaction of a 
performance condition. The Committee has made clear in 
previous Remuneration reports that it believes EPS growth  
is the most appropriate type of performance condition for this 
particular business at this stage in its development (since it is 
the measure of profitability that is most closely aligned with 
shareholders’ interests and monitored on an ongoing basis 
within the business). It also recognises that a number of 
shareholders believe it important that relative TSR should also 
be a performance measure in order for there to be a clear 
alignment of executive and shareholder interests. Accordingly, 
the use of EPS and TSR in tandem is considered to provide  
a balanced approach to incentivising profitable growth at the 
same time as maximising returns for shareholders. 

Consistent with 2011 and 2012, PSP awards to  

executive directors under the PSP in 2013 will be subject  
to a mixture of EPS (75% of the awards) and relative TSR 
(25% of the awards) performance but with an EPS threshold 
of 22.5% growth (2012: 30% growth) at which awards are 
eligible to vest.

The 2013 targets are as follows:

Relative TSR condition 
The vesting schedule for the relative TSR element of executive 
directors’ 2013 PSP awards is set out below. It is consistent 
with the TSR condition used for previous grants under the 
share-based incentive schemes. Performance will be 
measured over three financial years.

TSR performance of the Company  
relative to the FTSE 250 Index(1) 

% of award vesting 

 (maximum 25%)

Less than the Index 

Equal to the Index 

25% higher than the Index 

0%

6.25%

25%

Intermediate performance 

Straight-line vesting

(1)  If the FTSE 250 Index’s TSR was 50% over the three-year performance 

period, then the Company’s TSR would have to be at least 75% for all 25%  
of the shares to vest.

EPS condition 
The Group’s EPS growth will be measured over a period of 
three financial years (2013-2015). The EPS figure used will be 
equivalent to the Group’s reported diluted underlying EPS but 
with a standard UK tax rate applied (Normalised EPS). 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following vesting schedule will apply for executive 
directors’ PSP awards to be granted in 2013:

Normalised EPS growth  
from 2013 to 2015(1) 

Less than 22.5% 

22.5% 

40% 

% of award vesting 

(maximum 75%)

0%

18.75%

75%

Between 22.5% and 40% 

Straight-line vesting

(1)  Assuming no change in the enacted UK corporation tax rate of 24% before 
the end of the three-year performance period, the benchmark Normalised 
EPS for the financial year 2012 from which these growth  
targets will be measured is 63.01p.

The Committee regards these targets as stretching, 
particularly as the 2012 EPS (the benchmark for the 2013 
award) is a record  level for the Company. The Committee is 
comfortable that these targets are consistent with Company 
strategy and with what the Board regards as an acceptable 
level of business risk.

The non-executive directors do not participate in, or 
benefit from, any of the Company’s share-based incentive or 
bonus plans except that Scott Forbes received pre-admission 
unapproved options in consideration for his work involved in 
the IPO and in accordance with his contractual agreement on 
appointment in 2005.

Executive directors are also eligible to participate in the 
Company’s employee HMRC Approved Sharesave Plan on 
the same terms as other employees. Nick McKittrick and 
Peter Brooks-Johnson both contribute the maximum 
amounts permitted under the plan, which commenced on 
1 November 2012 and which matures in November 2015. 
Details are included in the table on pages 38 to 41. 

Dilution
All existing executive share-based incentives can be satisfied 
from shares held in the Rightmove Employees’ Share Trust 
(EBT) and shares held in treasury. It is intended that the 2013 
share-based incentive awards would also be settled from 
shares currently held in the EBT or from shares held in 
treasury without any requirement to issue further shares.

Clawback
The Code provision states that companies should consider 
the introduction of ‘clawback’ provisions in ‘exceptional 
circumstances of misstatement or misconduct’. As previously 
reported, the Committee supports this provision and 
introduced relevant clawback clauses in the Group’s DSP  
and PSP rules.

Shareholding policy
To be consistent with best practice, a formal share ownership 
guideline applies for executive directors requiring them to 
retain at least half of any share awards vesting or exercised 
(after selling sufficient shares to meet the exercise price and 
to pay the tax due) until they have a Rightmove shareholding 
worth at least 200% of salary for the Chief Executive Office 
and 100% of salary for any other executive director. The value 
of the current shareholdings held by the executive directors 
as a percentage of base salary is shown in the table on 
page 44.

External appointments
With the approval of the Board in each case, executive 
directors may accept one external appointment as a 
non-executive director of another public company and retain 
any fees received.

Ed Williams is a non-executive director of Trader Media 
Group. In the year to 31 December 2012 he received fees  
of £30,000, which were donated directly to charity. 

Chairman’s and non-executive directors’ fees
In 2009, the Board decided to increase fees for the Chairman 
and non-executive directors in future years annually, directly  
in line with the basic level of pay rise received by employees 
within the business until such time as it was considered 
appropriate to conduct a wider review of non-executive 
director remuneration. Accordingly, the Board approved  
an increase to the annual fees payable to the Chairman and 
non-executive directors of 3%. With effect from 1 January 
2013 the Chairman is entitled to receive a fee of £111,405 per 
annum (2011: £108,160). The other non-executive directors 
are entitled to receive a basic fee of £44,562 per annum 
(2011: £43,264) and an additional £5,570 fee per annum 
(2011: £5,408) for the chairing of the Audit and Remuneration 
Committees. Jonathan Agnew is paid a further £5,570 fee per 
annum (2011: £5,408) as Senior Independent Director.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report continued

The non-executive directors’ fee levels are within the limits  
set by the Articles of Association of the Company. The current 
fee levels for the non-executive directors with effect from 
1 January 2013 are set out in the table below:

Fee 

year ended 

Increase 

1 January 2013  

31 December 2012 

in fee

Fee 

Scott Forbes 

£111,405 

£108,160 

Jonathan Agnew 

Colin Kemp 

Ashley Martin 

Judy Vezmar 

£55,702 

£44,562 

£50,132 

£44,562 

£54,080 

£43,264 

£48,672 

£43,264 

3%

3%

3%

3%

3%

Directors’ service contracts and non-executive  
directors’ terms of appointment
The Committee’s policy on service agreements for executive 
directors is that they should provide for 12 months’ notice of 
termination by the Company and by the executive. Any 
proposals for the early termination by the Company of the 
service agreements of directors or senior executives are 
considered by the Committee.

The service agreements for the executive directors  
(Ed Williams, Nick McKittrick and Peter Brooks-Johnson) 

allow for lawful termination of employment by making a 
payment in lieu of notice or by making phased payments  
over any remaining unexpired period of notice. The phased 
payments may be reduced if, and to the extent that, the 
executive finds an alternative remunerated position. 

Scott Forbes’ appointment may be terminated by either 
party giving to the other not less than three months’ notice  
in writing. The Company may also terminate by making a 
payment in lieu of notice. Scott Forbes is not contractually 
entitled to any other benefits on termination of his contract 
other than in relation to his share options as described in the 
table on page 41.

The Letters of Appointment of Jonathan Agnew, Colin 
Kemp, Ashley Martin and Judy Vezmar provide for a term of 
up to two three-year periods and a possible further three-year 
term (subject to re-election by shareholders and subject to 
the director remaining independent). The appointments may 
be terminated with a notice period of three months on either 
side and the Letters of Appointment set out the time 
commitments required to meet the expectations of their roles. 

Copies are available for inspection on request to the 

Company Secretary. 

Further details of all directors’ contracts and Letters of 

Appointment are summarised below:

Date of appointment 

Letter of Appointment(1) 

(months) 

at 1 March 2013

Date of contract/ 

Notice 

Length of service  

Executive directors

Ed Williams (Chief Executive Officer) 

19 December 2000 

7 February 2006 

Nick McKittrick(2) 

Peter Brooks-Johnson(3) 

Non-executive directors 

Scott Forbes (Chairman)  

5 March 2004 

7 February 2006 

10 January 2011 

22 February 2011 

13 July 2005 

21 February 2006 

Jonathan Agnew (Senior Independent Director) 

16 January 2006 

12 December 2005 

Colin Kemp   

Ashley Martin 

Judy Vezmar  

3 July 2007 

4 December 2007 

11 June 2009 

9 June 2009 

16 January 2006 

12 December 2005 

12 

12 

12 

12 years 2 months

8 years 11 months

2 years 1 month

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

7 years 7 months

7 years 2 months

5 years 7 months

3 years 8 months

7 years 2 months

(1)  The service contracts and the Letters of Appointment for all directors with the exception of Peter Brooks-Johnson (who was appointed to the Board on  
10 January 2011) were transferred from Rightmove Group Limited to Rightmove plc with effect from 28 January 2008 on completion of a Scheme of  
Arrangement under the Companies Act 1985.

(2)  Nick McKittrick joined the Group in December 2000 and was appointed to the Board on 5 March 2004. His service with the Group at the date of this report  

is 12 years and 2 months.

(3)  Peter Brooks-Johnson was appointed to the Board on 10 January 2011. His service with the Group at the date of this report is 7 years and 1 month.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

36

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ service contracts and non-executive directors’ 
terms of appointment continued

Retirement arrangements for Ed Williams
As previously described, due to Ed Williams’ retirement  
on 30 April 2013, the Committee has determined that he 
will not be entitled to receive a bonus for 2013 due to  
his service terminating prior to the end of the relevant 
performance period. He remains entitled to receive a  
bonus in respect of 2012. Additionally, in relation to his 
share-based incentives listed in the table on page 39 and 
using the discretion afforded to the Committee under the 
rules of the relevant plans, he will be treated as a ‘good 
leaver’. In respect of his DSP awards, this will result in these 
vesting in full on the normal vesting dates. In respect of his 
2011 PSP award, this will result in his award vesting in full 
on the normal vesting date (March 2014) based on the 
extent to which the performance targets are met over the 
performance period. In respect of his 2012 PSP award this 
will result in, following the application of a pro-rata reduction 
to reflect the proportion of the vesting period elapsed until 
the date of retirement, the award vesting in March 2015 to 
the extent to which the performance targets are met over 
the performance period. After applying the pro-rata 
reduction, the maximum proportion of the 2012 PSP award 
that will be eligible to vest is 36% of the original award. 
To the extent that any vested share options remain 

unexercised on retirement, Ed Williams will retain a  
12 month window within which the options may be 
exercised. There will be no other payments made in  
respect of Ed Williams’ retirement. 

Performance graph 
In 2012, the Company’s share price ended the year at 
£14.36 up 15% year on year (the FTSE 250 was up 23%). 
On a three-year basis the share price has nearly trebled 
and has significantly outperformed the FTSE 250 Index 
over that period as shown in the graphs at the bottom of 
this page.

The graph on the left below compares the TSR of 

Rightmove’s shares against the FTSE 250 Index for the period 
from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012. Specifically, it 
illustrates the value of £100 invested in Rightmove’s shares 
and in the FTSE 250 Index over that period. This index was 
chosen as the comparator because Rightmove is a current 
constituent of this index. It was used as a comparator in the 
performance condition applying to share options granted in 
2010 (50% TSR) and 25% of the PSP awards in 2011 and 
2012. It will also be used as the criteria applied to 25% of the 
PSP awards to be granted in 2013. 

The graph on the right below illustrates, for statutory 
purposes, the TSR of Rightmove’s shares against the FTSE 
250 Index for the five years to 31 December 2012. 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

TSR graph – 3 years

TSR graph – 5 years

i

e
v
o
m
t
h
g
R
o
t
d
e
s
a
b
e
R

£’s

560

520

480

440

400

360

320

280

240
200

160

120

191%
change

41%
change

0
1

n
a
J

0
1

r
p
A

0
1

l

u
J

0
1

t
c
O

1
1

n
a
J

1
1

r
p
A

1
1

l

u
J

1
1

t
c
O

2
1

n
a
J

2
1

r
p
A

2
1

l

u
J

2
1

t
c
O

2
1

c
e
D

i

e
v
o
m
t
h
g
R
o
t
d
e
s
a
b
e
R

£’s

560

520

480

440

400

360

320

280

240

200

160

120

80

40

226%
change

35%
change

8
0

n
a
J

8
0

r
p
A

8
0

l

u
J

8
0

t
c
O

8
0

c
e
D

9
0

r
p
A

9
0

l

u
J

9
0
p
e
S

9
0

c
e
D

0
1

r
a
M

0
1

n
u
J

0
1
p
e
S

0
1

c
e
D

1
1

r
a
M

1
1

n
u
J

1
1
p
e
S

1
1

c
e
D

2
1

r
a
M

2
1

n
u
J

2
1
p
e
S

2
1

c
e
D

Rightmove

FTSE 250

Source: Datastream

Rightmove

FTSE 250

Source: Datastream

9
0

n
a
J

9
0
b
e
F

9
0

r
a
M

9
0

r
p
A

9
0

y
a
M

9
0

n
u
J

9
0

l

u
J

9
0

g
u
A

9
0
p
e
S

9
0

t
c
O

9
0

v
o
N

9
0

c
e
D

0
1

n
a
J

0
1
b
e
F

0
1

r
a
M

0
1

r
p
A

0
1

y
a
M

0
1

n
u
J

0
1

l

u
J

0
1

g
u
A

0
1
p
e
S

0
1

t
c
O

0
1

v
o
N

1
1

c
e
D

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report continued

Part II: Audited information 

Directors’ remuneration
The remuneration of the directors of the Company during the year for time served as a director is as follows:

Executive directors

Ed Williams (Chief Executive Officer) 

Nick McKittrick 

Peter Brooks-Johnson 

Non-executive directors 

Scott Forbes (Chairman)  

Jonathan Agnew (Senior Independent Director) 

Colin Kemp(4)  

Ashley Martin 

Judy Vezmar  

Basic salary/ 

fees 

£ 

2012 cash  
bonus payable(1) 

Benefits in kind(2) 

£ 

£ 

2012 total 
£ 

2011 total(3) 

£

318,240 

318,240 

245,000 

108,160 

54,080 

43,264 

48,672 

43,264 

157,529 

157,529 

121,275 

1,576 

1,391 

4,185 

477,345 

477,160 

370,460 

430,233

430,233

323,921

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

108,160 

104,000

54,080 

43,264 

48,672 

43,264 

52,000

– 

46,800

41,600

(1)  Bonus relates to the accrued cash payment in respect of the Full Year results for the year ended 31 December 2012. In addition to the 2012 cash bonus noted 

above an award of deferred shares worth 85.5% of salary (year ended 31 December 2011: 110% of salary) will be granted to the executive directors under the DSP 
in March 2013 and vesting in 2015. The bonus payment reflects the increase in underlying operating profit and strong share price performance in the year,  
the measurement of website traffic and the retention of all of Rightmove’s key customers. The Committee believes the resulting bonus payment is appropriate in  
the context of the business performance against business targets and relative to prevailing market conditions in the property and media industries.

(2)  Benefits in kind for the executive directors relate to private medical insurance (all directors), pension contributions (Peter Brooks-Johnson) and the medical cash 

plan (Nick McKittrick). 

(3)  Additionally, on 2 March 2012, Ed Williams and Nick McKittrick were both awarded 20,183 deferred shares and Peter Brooks-Johnson 14,114 deferred shares 
under the DSP which vest in 2014. The monetary value of these awards was £286,000 and £200,000 respectively. The awards related to the bonus in respect  
of the Full Year results for the year ended 31 December 2011 and were calculated based upon a share price of £14.17. The awards are included in the table on 
pages 39 to 41.

(4)  Colin Kemp waived his fee in 2011.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

38

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share-based incentives held by the directors and not exercised as at 31 December 2012

  Share-based 
  incentives held 
1 January 
2012 

Date 
granted 

Granted 
in year 
net of 
forfeitures 

Exercise 
price 

Exercised 
in year 

Share 
price at 
date of 
exercise 

Share-based 
incentives held at
 31 December 
2012 

Vesting 

date(1) 

Expiry
date

Executive directors

Ed Williams  
(Chief Executive Officer)(1) 

14/3/2006 
(Approved) 

15/3/2006 

7,317 

– 

£4.10 

(Unapproved)  1,381,412 

– 

£3.35 

5/3/2009 
(Unapproved) 

1/10/2009 
(Sharesave) 

5/3/2010 
(Unapproved) 

5/3/2010 
(DSP) 

4/3/2011 
(DSP) 

4/5/2011 
(PSP) 

2/3/2012 
(DSP) 

2/3/2012 
(PSP) 

373,007(3) 

– 

£2.24 

2,135 

– 

£4.25 

130,474(6) 

– 

£6.66 

29,199 

–   £0.00 

49,289 

– 

£0.00 

– 

20,183(10)  £0.00 

– 

14,193(11)  £0.00 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Between 
  14/3/2009 & 

7,317(2)   14/3/2011  13/3/2016

Between 
  15/3/2009 & 
1,381,412(2)   15/3/2011  14/3/2016

373,007 

5/3/2012 

4/3/2019

2,135 

1/11/2012  30/4/2013

130,474 

5/3/2013 

4/3/2020

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

29,199 

4/3/2013 

3/3/2014

49,289 

4/3/2014 

3/3/2016

20,183 

2/3/2014 

1/3/2015

14,193 

2/3/2015 

1/3/2017

2,007,209 

39,205 

– 

£0.00 

(39,205)(7) 

£15.050 

– 

5/3/2012 

4/3/2013

Total 

  2,012,038 

34,376 

– 

(39,205) 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report continued

Share-based incentives held by the directors and not exercised as at 31 December 2012 continued

  Share-based 
  incentives held 
1 January 
2012 

Date 
granted 

Granted 
in year 

Exercise 
price 

Exercised 
in year 

Share 
price at 
date of 
exercise 

Share-based 
incentives held at
 31 December 
2012 

Vesting 

date(1) 

Expiry
date

Executive directors continued

Nick McKittrick  

14/3/2006  
(Approved) 

15/3/2006 
(Unapproved) 

10/10/2007 
(Unapproved) 

5/3/2009 
(Unapproved) 

1/10/2009 
(Sharesave) 

5/3/2010 
(Unapproved) 

5/3/2010 
(DSP) 

4/3/2011 
(DSP) 

4/5/2011 
(PSP) 

2/3/2012 
(DSP) 

2/3/2012 
(PSP) 

1/10/2012 
(Sharesave) 

6,000 

– 

£4.10 

– 

– 

6,000(2)   14/3/2011  13/3/2016

Between 
  14/3/2009 & 

Between 
  15/3/2009 & 

600,000 

– 

£3.35  (400,000)(2) 

£16.152 

200,000(2) 

 15/3/2011  14/3/2016

75,000(4) 

– 

£5.22 

279,755(3) 

– 

£2.24 

2,135 

– 

£4.25 

114,165(6) 

– 

£6.66 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

75,000 

15/3/2011  9/10/2017

279,755 

5/3/2012 

4/3/2019

2,135 

1/11/2012  30/4/2013

114,165 

5/3/2013 

4/3/2020

31,364 

– 

£0.00 

(31,364)(7) 

£16.152 

– 

5/3/2012 

4/3/2013

29,199 

–   £0.00 

49,289 

– 

£0.00 

– 

20,183(10)  £0.00 

– 

39,303(11)   £0.00 

– 

694(12) £12.95 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

29,199 

4/3/2013 

3/3/2014

49,289 

4/3/2014 

3/3/2016

20,183 

2/3/2014 

1/3/2015

39,303 

2/3/2015 

1/3/2017

694 

1/11/2015  30/4/2016

815,723 

Total 

  1,186,907 

60,180 

–  (431,364) 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

40

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share-based incentives held by the directors and not exercised as at 31 December 2012 continued

  Share-based 
  incentives held 
1 January 
2012 

Date 
granted 

Granted 
in year 

Exercise 
price 

Exercised 
in year 

Share 
price at 
date of 
exercise 

Share-based 
incentives held at
 31 December 
2012 

Vesting 

date(1) 

Expiry
date

Executive directors continued

Peter Brooks-Johnson 

14/3/2006 
(Approved) 

10/10/2007 
(Unapproved) 

5/3/2009 
(Unapproved) 

1/10/2009 
(Sharesave) 

5/3/2010 
(Unapproved) 

5/3/2010 
(DSP) 

4/3/2011 
(DSP) 

4/5/2011 
(PSP) 

2/3/2012 
(DSP) 

2/3/2012 
(PSP) 

1/10/2012 
(Sharesave) 

Non-executive director

Scott Forbes (Chairman) 

15/3/2006 
(Unapproved)  

2,439 

– 

£4.10 

75,000(4) 

– 

£5.22 

139,286(3) 

– 

£2.24 

2,135 

– 

£4.25 

52,553(6) 

– 

£6.66 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Between 
  14/3/2009 & 

2,439(2)   14/3/2011  13/3/2016

75,000 

15/3/2011  9/10/2017

139,286 

5/3/2012 

4/3/2019

2,135 

1/11/2012  30/4/2013

52,553 

5/3/2013 

  4/3/2020

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

34,821 

– 

£0.00 

(34,821)(7) 

£16.806 

– 

5/3/2012 

4/3/2013

18,393 

– 

£0.00 

23,697 

– 

£0.00 

– 

14,114(10)  £0.00 

– 

25,935(11)    £0.00 

– 

694(12) £12.95 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

18,393 

4/3/2013 

  3/3/2014

23,697 

4/3/2014 

  3/3/2016

14,114 

2/3/2014 

1/3/2015

25,935 

2/3/2015 

1/3/2017

694 

1/11/2015  30/4/2016

354,246 

Between 
  15/3/2007 & 

638,729 

– 

£3.35  (250,000)(5) 

£16.152 

388,729(5)   15/3/2009  14/3/2016

(1)  Details of the treatment of Ed Williams’ share-based incentives on his retirement on 30 April 2013 are set out on page 37

(2)  In March 2006, 1,981,412, 987,047 and 257,847 pre-admission options were granted to Ed Williams, Nick McKittrick and Peter Brooks-Johnson under the 
Rightmove Unapproved Executive Share Option Plan and 7,317 pre-admission options were granted to each of the executive directors under the Rightmove 
Approved Executive Share Option Plan. The options vested as to one third of the number of option shares on each of the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of  
the date of the option grant. 

 Of the 1,318,412 pre-admission unapproved options and 7,317 pre-admission approved options outstanding for Ed Williams as at 31 December 2012, all options 
have vested and are eligible for exercise.

 Nick McKittrick exercised 400,000 pre-admission unapproved options in August 2012 and sold all the shares immediately on exercise at a market value of 
£16.152 per share. Of the 200,000 pre-admission unapproved options and 6,000 pre-admission approved options outstanding for Nick McKittrick as at 
31 December 2012, all options have vested and are eligible for exercise.

 Of the 2,439 pre-admission approved options outstanding for Peter Brooks-Johnson as at 31 December 2012, all options have vested and are eligible  
for exercise. 

(3)  The options granted on 5 March 2009 were exercisable from 5 March 2012 at an exercise price of £2.24, subject to 100% TSR performance criteria based  

upon the performance of Rightmove’s shares against the FTSE 250 Index for the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011.

Total 

348,324 

40,743 

– 

(34,821) 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report continued

Share-based incentives held by the directors and not exercised as at 31 December 2012 continued

Relative TSR condition 

Less than the Index 
Equal to the Index 
25% higher than the Index 
Intermediate performance 

2009 options exercisable

0%
25%
100%
Straight-line vesting

 At the end of the performance period, Rightmove’s TSR was 661% compared to 71% for the FTSE 250 Index. As this level of outperformance was more than 
25%, these options vested in full from 5 March 2012.

(4)    The options granted on 10 October 2007 were exercisable from 15 March 2011 at an exercise price of £5.22 subject to the basic EPS per the audited 

consolidated financial statements for the Group for the year ended 31 December 2010 being not less than 30.0p. All options have vested.

(5)    Pre-admission unapproved options granted to Scott Forbes in March 2006 under the Rightmove Unapproved Executive Share Option Plan, vested as to one third 

of the number of option shares on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of the option grant. 

 Scott Forbes exercised 250,000 of the vested pre-admission unapproved options in August 2012 and sold all the shares immediately on exercise at a market 
value of £16.152 per share. All pre-admission options outstanding as at 31 December 2012 have vested and are eligible for exercise.

(6)    The options granted on 5 March 2010 are exercisable on 5 March 2013 at an exercise price of £6.66 subject to the following performance conditions:

 The vesting of 50% of the 2010 award will be dependent on a relative TSR performance criteria based upon the performance of Rightmove’s shares against the 
FTSE 250 Index for the period from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012.

 Relative TSR condition 

Less than the Index 
Equal to the Index 
25% higher than the Index 
Intermediate performance 

2010 options exercisable (maximum 50%)

0%
12.5%
50%
Straight-line vesting

 At the end of the performance period, Rightmove’s TSR was 191% compared to 41% for the FTSE 250 Index. As this level of outperformance is more than 25%, 
these options will vest in full from 5 March 2013.

 The vesting of 50% of the 2010 award will be dependent on the satisfaction of the Group’s Normalised EPS growth for the period 1 January 2010 to  
31 December 2012.

EPS condition 

2010 options exercisable up to 200% of salary  

2010 options exercisable over 200% of salary 

25% 
45% 
65% 
Intermediate performance 

0% 
In full 
– 
Straight-line vesting  

0%
0%
In full
Straight-line vesting 

 At the end of the performance period, Rightmove’s normalised EPS growth over the three-year period was 124% and these options will vest in full from  
5 March 2013.

(7)    On 5 March 2010, Ed Williams, Nick McKittrick and Peter Brooks-Johnson were awarded nil cost deferred shares under the DSP, which vested in full from  

5 March 2012. The closing share price on the date of grant was £6.77. 

Ed Williams exercised 39,205 deferred shares in April 2012 and sold all the shares immediately on exercise at a market value of £15.050 per share. 

Nick McKittrick exercised 31,364 deferred shares in August 2012 and sold all the shares immediately on exercise at a market value of £16.152 per share.

 Peter Brooks-Johnson exercised 34,821 deferred shares in August 2012 and sold 26,483 shares immediately on exercise at a market value of £16.806 per share 
and retained the balance of 8,338 shares in line with the shareholding policy outlined on page 35 of this report.

(8)   On 4 March 2011, Ed Williams, Nick McKittrick and Peter Brooks-Johnson were awarded deferred shares under the DSP, which vest in 2013. The closing share 

price on the date of grant was £9.59.

(9)   On 4 May 2011, Ed Williams, Nick McKittrick and Peter Brooks-Johnson were awarded 49,289, 49,289 and 23,697 shares respectively under the PSP, which vest 
in 2014 and are subject to a mixture of EPS (75% of the awards) and relative TSR (25% of the awards) performance with the greater weighting on EPS to reflect its 
particular relevance to the performance of the business. The closing share price on the date of grant was £10.39.

 The vesting schedule for the relative TSR element of executive directors’ 2011 PSP awards is set out below. It is consistent with the TSR condition used for 
previous grants under the share option scheme.  Performance will be measured over three financial years.

Relative TSR condition 

Less than the Index 
Equal to the Index 
25% higher than the Index 
Intermediate performance 

% of award vesting  (maximum 25%)

0%
6.25%
25%
Straight-line vesting

 Rightmove’s EPS growth will be measured over a period of three financial years (2011-2013). The EPS figure used will be equivalent to the Normalised EPS. 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

42

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share-based incentives held by the directors and not exercised as at 31 December 2012 continued

The following vesting schedule will apply for executive directors’ awards granted in 2011:

Normalised EPS growth from 2011 to 2013 

% of award vesting (maximum 75%)

Less than 25% 
25% 
50% 

  Between 25% and 50% 

0%
18.75%
75%
Straight-line vesting

 Assuming no change in the enacted corporation tax rate of 27% before the end of the three-year performance period, the benchmark Normalised EPS for the 
financial year 2010 from which these growth targets will be measured is 37.2p.

(10)  On 2 March 2012, Ed Williams, Nick McKittrick and Peter Brooks-Johnson were awarded 20,183, 20,183 and 14,114 deferred shares respectively under the 

DSP, which vest in 2014. The closing share price on the date of grant was £14.17.

(11)  On 2 March 2012, Ed Williams, Nick McKittrick and Peter Brooks-Johnson were awarded 39,303, 39,303 and 25,935 shares respectively under the PSP, which 
vest in 2015 and are subject to a mixture of EPS (75% of the awards) and relative TSR (25% of the awards) performance with the greater weighting on EPS to 
reflect its particular relevance to the performance of the business. The closing share price on the date of grant was £14.17. 25,110 of Ed Williams’ PSP shares 
have been forfeited in the current year in accordance with the retirement arrangements set out on page 37 under which the 2012 award will be pro-rated to reflect 
the proportion of the vesting period lapsed at the date of retirement.

 The vesting schedule for the relative TSR element of executive directors’ 2012 PSP awards is set out below. It is consistent with the TSR condition used for 
previous grants under the share option scheme. Performance will be measured over three financial years.

Relative TSR condition 

Less than the Index 
Equal to the Index 
25% higher than the Index 
Intermediate performance 

% of award vesting (maximum 25%)

0%
6.25%
25%
Straight-line vesting

 Rightmove’s EPS growth will be measured over a period of three financial years (2012-2014). The EPS figure used will be equivalent to the Normalised EPS. 

The following vesting schedule will apply for executive directors’ awards granted in 2012:

Normalised EPS growth from 2012 to 2014 

% of award vesting (maximum 75%)

Less than 25% 
25% 
50% 

  Between 25% and 50% 

0%
18.75%
75%
Straight-line vesting

 Assuming no change in the enacted corporation tax rate of 26% before the end of the three-year performance period, the benchmark Normalised EPS for the 
financial year 2011 from which these growth targets will be measured is 47.5p.

(12)   On 1 November 2012, Nick McKittrick and Peter Brooks-Johnson were granted 694 Sharesave options. The options vest in 2015 and have an exercise price  

of £12.95.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report continued

Directors’ interests in shares
The interests (both beneficial and family interests) of the directors in office at 31 December 2012 in the share capital of the 
Company were as follows:

Interests in 

Interests in 

ordinary shares of £0.01 

share-based incentives 

At  
31 December 2012 

At 
1 January 2012   31 December 2012 

At  

At 

1 January 2012 

Executive directors 

Ed Williams (Chief Executive Officer) 

111,783 

1,072,578 

2,007,209 

2,012,038

Nick McKittrick 

Peter Brooks-Johnson 

Non-executive directors 

Scott Forbes (Chairman) 

Jonathan Agnew (Senior Independent Director)  

Colin Kemp   

Ashley Martin 

Judy Vezmar  

129,000 

129,000 

815,723 

1,186,907

12,881 

4,543 

354,246 

348,324

619,300 

619,300 

388,729 

638,729

5,000 

– 

2,060 

16,343 

5,000 

– 

2,060 

16,343 

– 

– 

– 

– 

–

–

–

–

•  The Company’s shares in issue (including 2,505,430 shares held in treasury) as at 31 December 2012 comprised 105,896,115 (2011: 110,410,636) ordinary 

shares of £0.01 each.

•  The mid-market share price of the Company was £12.79 as at 3 January 2012 (the first day of trading in 2012) and was £14.36 as at 31 December 2012 (the 

last day of trading in 2012). The mid-market high and low share prices of the Company were £17.10 (21 August 2012) and £12.44 (3 January 2012) respectively 
in the year.

•  The executive directors are regarded as being interested, for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, in 3,404,029 (2011: 4,527,783) ordinary shares of £0.01 

each in the Company currently held by the EBT as they are, together with other employees, potential beneficiaries of the EBT.

•  The directors’ beneficial holdings represent 0.9% of the Company’s shares in issue as at 31 December 2012 (2011: 1.7%) (excluding shares held in treasury).
•  There have been no changes to the above interests between the year end and the date of this report.

The interests of the executive directors in office at 31 December 2012 in the share capital of the Company as a percentage of 
basic salary were as follows:

Number of 

Value of  

Basic salary 

shares held at 

Value of shares at 

shares as a %  

1 January 2013 

31 December 2012 

31 December 2012 

of basic salary

£385,632 

£385,632 

£289,224 

111,783 

129,000 

12,881 

1,605,204 

1,852,440 

184,971 

416

480

64

Executive directors 

Ed Williams (Chief Executive Officer) 

Nick McKittrick 

Peter Brooks-Johnson 

Jonathan Agnew
Chairman, Remuneration Committee

1 March 2013

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

44

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auditor’s report

Independent auditor’s report to the members of 
Rightmove plc 
We have audited the financial statements of Rightmove Plc for 
the year ended 31 December 2012 set out on pages 46 to 83. 
The financial reporting framework that has been applied in 
their preparation is applicable law and International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU and, as 
regards the parent Company financial statements, as applied 
in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. 
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. 

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditor 
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities 
Statement set out on page 29, the directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility 
is to audit, and express an opinion on, the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and 
International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland).  
Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing 
Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors. 

Scope of the audit of the financial statements 
A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements 
is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at 
www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate.

Opinion on financial statements 
In our opinion: 
•  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state 
of the Group’s and of the parent Company’s affairs as at  
31 December 2012 and of the Group’s profit for the year 
then ended; 

•  the Group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU;

•  the parent Company financial statements have been 

properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the EU and as applied in accordance with the provisions of 
the Companies Act 2006; and 

•  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance 
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and,  
as regards the group financial statements, Article 4 of the 
IAS Regulation. 

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the  
Companies Act 2006 
In our opinion: 
•  the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be 

audited has been properly prepared in accordance with  
the Companies Act 2006; 

•  the information given in the Directors’ Report for the 
financial year for which the financial statements are 
prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 
•  information given in the Corporate Governance Statement 
set out on pages 23 to 28 with respect to internal control 
and risk management systems in relation to financial 
reporting processes and about share capital structures  
is consistent with the financial statements. 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception 
We have nothing to report in respect of the following: 
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to 
you if, in our opinion: 
•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the 
parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have  
not been received from branches not visited by us; or 
•  the parent Company financial statements and the part of 

the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not  
in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 
•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by 

law are not made; or 

•  we have not received all the information and explanations 

we require for our audit; or

•  a Corporate Governance Statement has not been prepared 

by the Company. 

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review: 
•  the directors’ statement, set out on page 28, in relation to 

going concern; 

•  the part of the Corporate Governance Statement on pages 
23 to 28 relating to the Company’s compliance with the 
nine provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code 
specified for our review; and

•  certain elements of the report to shareholders by the Board 

on directors’ remuneration.

Stephen Wardell (Senior Statutory Auditor)  
for and on behalf of KPMG Audit Plc, Statutory Auditor 

Chartered Accountants 
Altius House
One North Fourth Street
Milton Keynes, MK9 1NE
1 March 2013 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

119,365 

(36,283) 

97,017

(34,350)

87,533 
(2,410) 
(2,041) 

69,362
(2,269)
(4,426)

83,082 

62,667

240 
(129) 

111 

182
(121)

61

83,193 
(20,642) 

62,728
(16,674)

62,551 

46,054

– 

62,551 

451

46,505

62,551 

46,505

61.30 
59.24 

61.30 
59.24 

20.00 
20,439 

44.37
42.71

43.94
42.29

16.00
16,777

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
for the year ended 31 December 2012

Continuing operations 
Revenue 

Administrative expenses 

Operating profit before share-based payments and NI  
on share-based incentives  
Share-based payments 
NI on share-based incentives 

Operating profit 

Financial income  
Financial expenses 

Net financial income  

Profit before tax 
Income tax expense 

Profit from continuing operations 

Discontinued operation 
Profit from discontinued operation (net of income tax) 

Profit for the year being total comprehensive income 

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent  

Earnings per share (pence) 
Basic 
Diluted   

Earnings per share – continuing operations (pence) 
Basic 
Diluted   

Dividends per share (pence) 
Total dividends 

Note 

5 

25 
25 

6 

8 
9 

10 

11 

12 
12 

12 
12 

13 
13 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

46

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of financial position
as at 31 December 2012

Non-current assets 
Property, plant and equipment  
Intangible assets  
Trade and other receivables 
Deferred tax assets 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets  

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Income tax payable 

Total current liabilities  

Non-current liabilities
Provisions 

Total non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets   

Equity 
Share capital  
Other reserves 
Retained earnings  

Total equity attributable to the equity holders of the parent 

Note 

14 
15 
11,17 
22 

17 
18 

19 

21 

23,24 
24 
24 

24 

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000  

1,757 
1,616 
1,674 
9,667 

1,120
1,320
1,667
10,684

14,714 

14,791

18,476 
7,082 

14,990
21,768

20,558 

36,758

40,272 

51,549

(23,738) 
(8,892) 

(20,874)
(6,021)

(32,630) 

(26,895)

(129) 

(129) 

–

–

(32,759) 

(26,895)

7,513 

24,654

1,059 
373 
6,081 

1,104
328
23,222

7,513 

24,654

The financial statements were approved by the Board of directors on 1 March 2013 and were signed on its behalf by:

Ed Williams 
Director 

Nick McKittrick
Director

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company statement of financial position
as at 31 December 2012

Non-current assets 
Investments   
Deferred tax assets 

Total non-current assets 

Total assets  

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 

Total current liabilities  

Net assets   

Equity 
Share capital  
Other reserves 
Retained earnings  

Total equity attributable to the equity holders of the parent 

Note 

16 
22 

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000  

540,928 
7,692 

540,094
8,373

548,620 

548,467

548,620 

548,467

19 

(21,181) 

(93,315)

(21,181) 

(93,315)

527,439 

455,152

1,059 
107,673 
418,707 

1,104
106,794
347,254

527,439 

455,152

23,24 
24 
24 

24 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of directors on 1 March 2013 and were signed on its behalf by:

Ed Williams 
Director 

Nick McKittrick
Director

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

48

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 December 2012

Cash flows from operating activities 
Profit for the year 

Adjustments for: 
Depreciation charges  
Amortisation charges  
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Loss on disposal of intangible assets 
Financial income  
Financial expenses 
Share-based payments  
Gain on sale of discontinued operation (net of income tax) 
Income tax expense 

Operating cash flow before changes in working capital 

Increase in trade and other receivables 
Increase in trade and other payables 
Increase in provisions 

Cash generated from operating activities 

Financial expenses paid 
Income taxes paid  

Net cash from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 
Interest received 
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 
Acquisition of intangible assets  
Disposal of discontinued operation (net of cash disposed of) 

Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 
Dividends paid  
Purchase of own shares for cancellation 
Share related expenses 
Proceeds on exercise of share-based incentives 

Net cash used in financing activities  

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents  
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January  

Note 

14 
15 

8 
9 
25 
11 
10 

21 

14 
15 
11 

13 
24 
24 
24 

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

62,551 

46,505

752 
327 
42 
1 
(240) 
129 
2,410 
– 
20,642 

661
279
68
26
(182)
121
2,269
(451)
16,674

86,614 

65,970

(3,501) 
2,879 
129 

(3,129)
4,870 
–

86,121 

67,711

(129) 
(14,618) 

(121)
(14,281)

71,374 

53,309

248 
(1,431) 
(624) 
– 

186
(361)
(162)
4,888

(1,807) 

4,551

(20,439) 
(66,359) 
(482) 
3,027 

(16,777)
(48,288)
(323)
6,148

(84,253) 

(59,240)

(14,686) 
21,768 

(1,380)
23,148

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 

18 

7,082 

21,768

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

155,761 

(5,991)

(160,197) 
565 
1,576 
(1,066) 

–
499
1,479
(1,880)

(3,361) 

(5,893)

90,641 

71,281

87,280 

65,388

(20,439) 
(66,359) 
(482) 

(16,777)
(48,288)
(323)

(87,280) 

(65,388)

– 
– 

– 

–
–

–

Company statement of cash flows
for the year ended 31 December 2012

Cash flows from operating activities 
Profit/(loss) for the year 

Adjustments for: 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Share-based payments 
Income tax credit 

Operating cash flow before changes in working capital 

Increase in trade and other payables 

Cash generated from operating activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 
Dividends paid 
Purchase of own shares for cancellation  
Share related expenses 

Net cash used in financing activities  

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents  
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 

Note 

24 

28 

25 

19 

13 
24 
24 

18 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity
for the year ended 31 December 2012

Share 

capital 

£000 

Note  

EBT 

shares 

reserve 

£000 

Treasury 

shares 

£000 

At 1 January 2011 

1,147 

(13,937) 

(11,917) 

Reverse 

Other 

acquisition 

reserves 

reserve 

£000 

147 

£000 

138 

Retained 

earnings 

£000 

Total 
equity  

£000

52,286 

27,864

Total comprehensive income 
Profit for the year 

Transactions with owners  
  recorded directly in equity 
Share-based payments  
Tax credit in respect of share-based  
incentives recognised directly  
in equity 

Dividends to shareholders 
Exercise of share-based incentives 
Cancellation of own shares 
Share related expenses 

25 

22 
13 
24 
24 
24 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
(43) 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
3,679 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
43 
– 

– 

46,505 

46,505

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

2,269 

2,269

7,271 
(16,777) 
2,469 
(48,288) 
(338) 

7,271
(16,777)
6,148
(48,288)
(338)

At 31 December 2011 

1,104 

(10,258) 

(11,917) 

190 

138 

45,397 

24,654

At 1 January 2012 

1,104 

(10,258) 

(11,917) 

190 

138 

45,397 

24,654

Total comprehensive income 
Profit for the year 

Transactions with owners  
  recorded directly in equity 
Share-based payments  
Tax credit in respect of share-based  
incentives recognised directly  
in equity 

Dividends to shareholders 
Exercise of share-based incentives 
Cancellation of own shares 
Share related expenses 

25 

22 
13 
24 
24 
24 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
(45) 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
2,347 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
45 
– 

– 

62,551 

62,551

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

2,410 

2,410

2,136 
(20,439) 
680 
(66,359) 
(467) 

2,136
(20,439)
3,027
(66,359)
(467)

At 31 December 2012 

1,059 

(7,911) 

(11,917) 

235 

138 

25,909 

7,513

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company statement of changes in shareholders’ equity
for the year ended 31 December 2012

Share 
capital 
£000 

Treasury 
shares 
£000 

Other 
reserves 
£000 

Note  

Reverse 
acquisition 
reserve 
£000 

Retained 
earnings 
£000 

Total 
equity  
£000

At 1 January 2011 

1,147 

(11,917) 

2,441 

103,520 

423,603 

518,794

Total comprehensive income 
Loss for the year 

Transactions with owners  
  recorded directly in equity 
Share-based payments  
Tax credit in respect of share-based incentives  

recognised directly in equity 

Capital contribution  
Dividends to shareholders  
Cancellation of own shares 
Share related expenses 

25 

22 
24 
13 
24 
24 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
(43) 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
790 
– 
43 
– 

– 

(5,991) 

(5,991)

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

1,479 

1,479

5,483 
– 
(16,777) 
(48,288) 
(338) 

5,483
790
(16,777)
(48,288)
(338)

At 31 December 2011 

1,104 

(11,917) 

3,274 

103,520 

359,171 

455,152

At 1 January 2012 

1,104 

(11,917) 

3,274 

103,520 

359,171 

455,152

Total comprehensive income 
Profit for the year 

Transactions with owners  
  recorded directly in equity 
Share-based payments  
Tax credit in respect of share-based incentives  

recognised directly in equity 

Capital contribution  
Dividends to shareholders  
Cancellation of own shares 
Share related expenses 

25 

22 
24 
13 
24 
24 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
(45) 
– 

– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 
834 
– 
45 
– 

– 

155,761 

155,761

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

1,576 

1,576

1,381 
– 
(20,439) 
(66,359) 
(467) 

1,381
834
(20,439)
(66,359)
(467)

At 31 December 2012 

1,059 

(11,917) 

4,153 

103,520 

430,624 

527,439

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes forming part of the financial statements

1 General information

Rightmove plc (the Company) is a company registered in England (Company no. 6426485) domiciled in the United Kingdom (UK). The 
consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the year ended 31 December 2012 comprise the Company and its interest 
in its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group). Its principal business is the operation of the rightmove.co.uk website, which has the 
largest audience of any UK property website.

The consolidated financial statements of the Group as at and for the year ended 31 December 2012 are available upon request to the 
Company Secretary from the Company’s registered office at Turnberry House, 30 Caldecotte Lake Drive, Caldecotte, Milton Keynes, MK7 8LE 
or are available on the investor relations website at www.rightmove.co.uk/investors.

Statement of compliance
The Group and Company financial statements have been prepared and approved by the Board of directors in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union (Adopted IFRSs) and issued by the International Accounting 
Standards Board (IASB).

The consolidated financial statements were authorised for issue by the Board of directors on 1 March 2013.

Basis of preparation
On publishing the Company financial statements here together with the Group financial statements, the Company is taking advantage of the 
exemption in s408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present its individual statement of comprehensive income and related notes that form 
a part of these approved financial statements.

On 21 June 2010 the Group disposed of its 66.7% shareholding in Holiday Lettings (Holdings) Limited (HLHL), which owned 100% of the 
shares in the trading entity Holiday Lettings Limited (HLL), (together referred to as the Holiday Lettings segment) to TripAdvisor Limited.  
The Holiday Lettings segment has been treated as a discontinued operation in the comparative year.

The accounting policies set out below have been consistently applied to both periods presented, unless otherwise stated.

The financial statements have been prepared on an historical cost basis.

Changes in accounting policies
The accounting policies applied by the Group in these consolidated financial statements are in accordance with Adopted IFRSs and  
are the same as those applied by the Group in its consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 31 December 2011.

There are no new standards or amendments to standards that are mandatory for the first time for the financial year beginning  
1 January 2012 that have an impact on the Group or Company financial statements.

Going concern
Throughout 2012, the Group was debt free, has continued to generate significant cash and has net cash balances of £7,082,000 at 
31 December 2012 (2011: £21,768,000).

The Group entered into a 12 month agreement with Barclays Bank Plc for a £10,000,000 uncommitted money market loan on  
6 February 2013. To date no amount has been drawn under this facility.

After making enquiries, the Board of directors has a reasonable expectation that the Group and the Company have adequate resources and 
banking facilities to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Board of directors continues to adopt the 
going concern basis in preparing the annual report and financial statements.

Further information regarding the Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance  
and position are set out in the Business and Financial Review on pages 6 to 15. The financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity 
position and borrowing facilities are described in the Financial Position on pages 11 to 15. In addition Note 4 to the financial statements 
includes the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital; its financial risk management objectives; details of its 
financial instruments and its exposures to credit risk and liquidity risk.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

1 General information continued

Capital structure
The Company was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 14 November 2007 under the Companies Act 1985 as a private 
company limited by shares with the name Rightmove Group Limited, registered no. 6426485. The Company was re-registered as a public 
limited company under the name Rightmove Group plc on 29 November 2007. On 28 January 2008 the Company became the holding 
company of Rightmove Group Limited (formerly Rightmove plc, Company no. 3997679) and its subsidiaries pursuant to a Scheme of 
Arrangement under s425 of the Companies Act 1985. The shares in the Company were admitted to trading on the Official List of the London 
Stock Exchange on 28 January 2008 and the Company immediately changed its name to Rightmove plc. Details of the share capital of the 
Company are disclosed in Note 23.

Basis of consolidation
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. Control exists when the Group has the power, directly or indirectly, to govern the financial 
and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. In assessing control, potential voting rights that are currently 
exercisable or convertible are taken into account. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial 
statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.

Judgements and estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with Adopted IFRSs requires management to make judgements, 
estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and 
expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be 
reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities 
that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from 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 and in any future periods, if applicable.

In particular, information about significant areas of estimation uncertainty and critical judgements in applying accounting policies that have the 
most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements is included in the following notes:

Note 22  
Note 25  

Deferred tax assets relating to the rate at which the asset will reverse and the recoverability of the asset
 Measurement of share-based payments relating to the inputs to the fair value models and the estimate of the  number of shares 
that will eventually be issued

2 Significant accounting policies

(a) Investments
Investments in subsidiaries are held at cost less any provision for impairment in the parent Company financial statements. 

(b) Intangible assets

(i) Goodwill
 All business combinations are accounted for by applying the purchase method. Goodwill that arises upon the acquisition of subsidiaries 
is included in intangible assets. In respect of business acquisitions that have occurred since 1 January 2004, goodwill represents the 
difference between the cost of the acquisition and the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired.

 In respect of acquisitions prior to this date, goodwill is included on the basis of its deemed cost, which represents the amount previously 
recorded under UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The classification and accounting treatment of business 
combinations that occurred prior to 1 January 2004 were not reconsidered in preparing the Group’s opening IFRS statement of financial 
position at 1 January 2004.

 Goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment. This applies to all 
goodwill arising both before and after 1 January 2004.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

54

 
 
 
 
 
2 Significant accounting policies continued

(ii) Research and development
 The Group undertakes research and development expenditure in view of developing new products and improving the existing property 
websites. Expenditure on research activities, undertaken with the prospect of gaining new technical knowledge and understanding, is 
recognised in profit or loss as incurred.

 Expenditure on development activities, whereby research findings are applied to a plan or design for the production of a new product or 
substantially enhanced website, is capitalised if the new product or the enhanced website is technically and commercially feasible and 
the Group has sufficient resources to complete development.

 The expenditure capitalised includes subcontractors and direct labour. Capitalised development expenditure is stated at cost less 
accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Subsequent expenditure on capitalised intangible assets is capitalised 
only when it increases the economic benefits embodied in the specific asset to which it relates. All other expenditure is expensed  
when incurred.

(iii) Computer software and licences
 Computer software and externally acquired software licences are capitalised and stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and 
impairment losses. Amortisation is charged from the date the asset is available for use. Amortisation is provided to write off the cost  
less the estimated residual value of the computer software or licence by equal annual instalments over its estimated useful economic life 
as follows:

Computer software 
Software licences 

20.0% – 33.3% per annum
20.0% – 33.3% per annum

(c) Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Depreciation is provided to write off 
the cost less the estimated residual value of property, plant and equipment by equal annual instalments over their estimated useful economic 
lives as follows:

Office equipment, fixtures & fittings 
Computer equipment 
Leasehold improvements 

20.0% per annum
20.0% – 33.3% per annum
remaining life of the lease

(d) Impairment
The carrying value of property, plant and equipment is reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of 
impairment. If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by 
which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount of non-financial assets is the greater of their fair 
value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value 
using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. For an 
asset that does not generate largely independent cash flows, the recoverable amount is determined for the cash generating unit to which the 
asset belongs.

Goodwill and intangible assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation but are tested for impairment annually and 
whenever there is an indication that they might be impaired. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the carrying value of 
the asset exceeds its recoverable amount.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

2 Significant accounting policies continued

Investments are assessed for possible impairment when there is an indication that the fair value of the investments may be below the 
Company’s carrying value. When such a condition is deemed to be other than temporary, the carrying value of the investment is written 
down to its fair value and the amount written off is included in profit or loss. In making the determination as to whether a decline is other  
than temporary, the Company considers such factors as the duration and extent of the decline, the investee’s financial performance and  
the Company’s ability and intention to retain its investment for a period that will be sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in the 
investment’s market value.

(e) Financial instruments
Trade receivables are recognised at fair value less any impairment loss. A provision for impairment of trade receivables is established when 
there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of receivables.

Inter-group balances and transactions, and any unrealised income and expenses arising from inter-group transactions, are eliminated in 
preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Trade payables are recognised at fair value. Trade payables are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to 
defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting date.

(f) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits with original maturities of three months or less. 

(g) Provisions
A provision is recognised if, as a result of a past event, the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation that can be estimated  
reliably and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation.

Provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessment of the 
time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost.

A provision is maintained in respect of lease dilapidations based on an estimated cost to make good per square foot multiplied by the floor 
area of each premise.

(h) Employee benefits

(i) Pensions
 The Group provides access to a stakeholder pension scheme (a defined contribution pension plan) into which employees may elect to 
contribute via salary exchange. Obligations for contributions to defined contribution pension plans are recognised as an employee benefit 
expense in profit or loss when they are due.

(ii) Employee share schemes
 The Group provides share-based incentive plans allowing executive directors and other selected senior management to acquire shares  
in the Company. An expense is recognised in profit or loss, with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period to which the 
employees become unconditionally entitled, on equity settled share-based incentive schemes granted after 7 November 2002 and  
which had not vested by 1 January 2005.

 Fair value is measured using either the Monte Carlo or Black Scholes pricing model as is most appropriate for each scheme. 
Measurement inputs include share price on measurement date, exercise price of the instrument, expected volatility (based on weighted 
average historic volatility adjusted for changes expected due to publicly available information), weighted average expected life of the 
instruments (based on historical experience and general option behaviour), expected dividends, and risk-free interest rates (based on 
government bonds). Service and non-market performance conditions attached to the awards are not taken into account in determining 
the fair value.

 For share-based incentive awards with non-vesting conditions, the grant date fair value of the share-based incentives is measured to 
reflect such conditions and there is no true-up for differences between expected and actual outcomes. When either the employee or the 
Company chooses not to meet the non-vesting condition, the failure to meet the non-vesting condition is treated as a cancellation and 
the cost that would have been recognised over the remainder of the vesting period is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

56

 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Significant accounting policies continued

(iii) Own shares held by The Rightmove Employees’ Share Trust (EBT)
 The EBT is treated as an agent of Rightmove Group Limited and as such EBT transactions are treated as being those of 
Rightmove Group Limited and are therefore reflected in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. In particular, at a consolidated 
level, the EBT’s purchases of shares in the Company are debited directly to equity.

(iv) National Insurance (NI) on share-based incentives
 Employer’s NI is accrued, where applicable, at a rate of 13.8%, which management expects to be the prevailing rate when share-based 
incentives are exercised. In the case of share options, it is provided on the difference between the share price at the reporting date and 
the average exercise price of share options. In the case of performance shares and deferred shares at nil cost, it is provided based on 
the share price at the reporting date.

(i) Treasury shares and shares purchased for cancellation
When share capital recognised as equity is repurchased, the amount of the consideration paid, including directly attributable costs, is 
recognised as a deduction from equity. Repurchased shares are either held in treasury or cancelled.

(j) Revenue
Revenue principally represents the amounts, excluding value added tax (VAT), receivable from customers in respect of properties advertised 
on Group websites. All revenue is recognised in the month to which it relates. Agency and overseas branches are billed in advance with  
net revenue deferred until the service commencement date. The VAT liability is recognised at the point of invoice. New homes developers  
are typically billed monthly in arrears. Where invoices are raised on other than a monthly basis, the amounts are recognised as deferred  
or accrued revenue and released to the income statement on a monthly basis in line with the provision of services as stipulated in the 
contract terms.

(k) Segmental reporting
An operating segment is a component of the Group that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, 
including revenues and expenses that relate to transactions with any of the Group’s other components. An operating segment’s operating 
results are reviewed regularly by the Group’s Chief Executive Officer to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and 
assess its performance and for which discrete financial information is available.

(l) Leases
Operating lease rentals are charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. Where cash is received in exchange 
for entering into a lease with rates above market value, this upfront payment is deferred and released on a straight-line basis over the lease 
term.

(m) Financial income and expenses
Financial income comprises interest receivable on cash balances, deposits and dividend income. Interest income is recognised as it accrues, 
using the effective interest method. Dividend income is recognised on the date that the Company’s right to receive payment is established.

Financial expenses comprise debt issue costs and bank charges and the unwinding of the discount on provisions.

(n) Taxation
Income tax on the results for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised in profit or loss except to the extent that 
it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the period net of any charge or credit posted directly to equity, using tax 
rates enacted or substantially enacted at the reporting date and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous periods.

Deferred tax is provided in respect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting 
purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. The following temporary differences are not provided for: the initial recognition of 
goodwill; the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit other than in a business combination and 
the differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future. The amount of 
deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax 
rates enacted or substantially enacted by the reporting date.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

2 Significant accounting policies continued

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can 
be utilised.

In accordance with IAS 12, the Group policy in relation to the recognition of deferred tax on share-based incentives is to include the income 
tax effect of the tax deduction in profit or loss to the value of the income tax charge on the cumulative IFRS 2 charge. The remainder of the 
income tax effect of the tax deduction is recognised in equity.

(o) Dividends
Dividends unpaid at the reporting date are only recognised as a liability (and deduction to equity) at that date to the extent that they are 
appropriately authorised and are no longer at the discretion of the Company. Unpaid dividends that do not meet these criteria are disclosed 
in the notes to the financial statements.

(p) Earnings per share
The Group presents basic, diluted and underlying earnings per share (EPS) data for its ordinary shares. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing 
the profit or loss attributable to equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the 
year, adjusted for own shares held. Diluted EPS is determined by adjusting the profit or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders and the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, adjusted for own shares held, for the effects of all potential dilutive instruments, 
which comprise share-based incentives granted to employees. The calculation of underlying EPS is disclosed in Note 12.

(q) Discontinued operations
A discontinued operation is a component of the Group’s business that represents a separate major line of business or geographical area  
of operations that has been disposed of, or is held for sale or distribution, or is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to resale. 
Classification as a discontinued operation occurs upon disposal or when the operation meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale,  
if earlier. When an operation is classified as a discontinued operation, the comparative statement of comprehensive income is restated as  
if the operation had been discontinued from the start of the comparative year.

3 IFRSs not yet applied

A number of new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations are not yet effective for the year ended 31 December 2012 and 
have not been applied in preparing these consolidated financial statements. None of these are expected to have a significant effect on the 
consolidated financial statements of the Group.

4 Financial risk management

Overview
The Group has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:
credit	risk
•	
•	
liquidity	risk
•	 market	risk
•	

operational	risk

This note presents information about the Group and Company’s exposure to each of the above risks, the Group’s objectives, policies and 
processes for measuring and managing risk and the Group’s management of capital. Further quantitative disclosures are included throughout 
these consolidated financial statements.

The Board of directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Group’s risk management framework. The primary 
method by which risks are monitored and managed by the Group is through the monthly Executive Management Board, where any 
significant new risks or change in status to existing risks will be discussed and actions taken as appropriate.

The Group’s risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the Group, to set appropriate risk limits and 
controls and to monitor risks and adherence to limits. Risk management policies and systems are reviewed regularly to reflect changes in 
market conditions and the Group’s activities. The Group, through its training and management standards and procedures, aims to develop a 
disciplined and constructive control environment in which all employees understand their roles and obligations.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

58

4 Financial risk management continued

The Audit Committee oversees how management monitors compliance with the Group’s internal controls and reviews the adequacy of the 
risk management framework in relation to the risks faced by the Group.

Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer fails to meet its contractual obligations.

The Group’s exposure to credit risk is influenced mainly by the individual characteristics of each customer. The Group provides credit to 
customers in the normal course of business. The Group provides its services to a wide range of customers in the UK and overseas and 
therefore believes it has no material concentration of credit risk.

More than 94.0% of the Group’s agency and new homes customers pay via monthly direct debit, minimising the risk of non-payment.  
The Group establishes an allowance for impairment that represents its estimate of incurred losses in respect of trade and other receivables 
based on individually identified loss exposures.

Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulties in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities that are 
settled by delivering cash. The Group and Company’s approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have 
sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking 
damage to the Group’s reputation.

The Group’s revenue model is largely subscription-based, which results in a regular level of cash conversion allowing it to service working 
capital requirements.

The Group and Company ensure that they have sufficient cash on demand to meet expected operational expenses excluding the potential 
impact of extreme circumstances that cannot reasonably be predicted, such as natural disasters. Throughout the year, the Group typically 
had sufficient cash on demand to meet operational expenses on continuing operations, before financing activities, for a period of 256 days 
(2011: 342 days).

The Group entered into a 12 month agreement with Barclays Bank Plc for a £10,000,000 uncommitted money market loan on  
6 February 2013. To date no amount has been drawn under this facility.

Market risk
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices such as foreign exchange and interest rates will affect the Group’s income. The objective 
of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, while optimising the return on risk.

(i) Currency risk
 All of the Group’s sales and more than 95.0% of the Group’s purchases are Sterling denominated, accordingly it has no significant 
currency risk.

(ii) Interest rate risk
 The Group and Company have no interest bearing financial liabilities. The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on cash balances and 
amounts held in Escrow.

Operational risk
Operational risk is the risk of direct or indirect loss arising from a wide variety of causes associated with the Group’s processes, personnel, 
technology and infrastructure, and from external factors other than credit, market and liquidity risks, such as those arising from legal and 
regulatory requirements and generally accepted standards of corporate behaviour. Operational risks arise from all of the Group’s operations.

The Group’s objective is to manage operational risk so as to balance the avoidance of financial losses and damage to the Group’s reputation 
with overall cost effectiveness and to avoid control procedures that restrict initiative and creativity.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

4 Financial risk management continued

The primary responsibility for the development and implementation of controls to address operational risk is assigned to senior management 
within each business unit. This responsibility is supported by the development of overall Group standards for the management of operational 
risk in the following areas: 
•	
•	
•	
•	 documentation	of	controls	and	procedures;
•	

requirements	for	appropriate	segregation	of	duties,	including	the	independent	authorisation	of	transactions;
requirements	for	the	reconciliation	and	monitoring	of	transactions;	
compliance	with	regulatory	and	other	legal	requirements;

	requirements	for	the	periodic	assessment	of	operational	risks	faced	and	the	adequacy	of	controls	and	procedures	to	address	the	 
risks identified;
requirements	for	reporting	of	operational	losses	and	proposed	remedial	action;

•	
•	 development	and	regular	testing	of	contingency	plans;	
•	
•	

training	and	professional	development;	and
risk	mitigation,	including	insurance	where	this	is	effective.

Capital management
The Board of directors’ policy is to maintain an efficient statement of financial position so as to maintain investor, creditor and market 
confidence and to sustain future development of the business. The Board of directors considers that the future working capital and capital 
expenditure requirements of the Group will continue to be low and accordingly return on capital measures are not key performance targets. 
The Board of directors monitors the spread of the Company’s shareholders as well as underlying earnings per share. The Board of directors 
has a progressive dividend policy and also monitors the level of dividends to ordinary shareholders in relation to profit growth. The Board’s 
policy is to return surplus capital to shareholders through a combination of dividends and share buybacks.

The Company purchases its own shares in the market; the timing of these purchases depends on market conditions. In 2012, 4,514,521 
(2011: 4,350,798) shares were bought back and were cancelled at an average price of £14.70 (2011: £11.10).

There were no changes in the Group’s approach to capital management during the year. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are 
subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

5 Operating segments

The Group determines and presents operating segments based on internal information that is provided to the Chief Executive Officer, who is 
the Group’s Chief Operating Decision Maker.

The Group’s reportable segments are as follows:
•	
•	

	The	Agency segment which provides resale and lettings property advertising services on www.rightmove.co.uk; and
	The	New Homes segment which provides property advertising services to new home developers and housing associations on  
www.rightmove.co.uk.

The Other segment which represents activities under the reportable segments threshold, comprises overseas and commercial property 
advertising services on www.rightmove.co.uk and non-property advertising services which include business and information services and 
Automated Valuation Model services.

Management monitors the business segments at a revenue and trade receivables level separately for the purpose of making decisions  
about resources to be allocated and of assessing performance. All revenues in both years are derived from third parties and there are no 
inter-segment revenues.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

60

5 Operating segments continued

Operating costs, financial income, financial expenses and income taxes in relation to the Agency, New Homes and the Other segment are 
managed on a centralised basis at a Rightmove Group Limited level and as there are no internal measures of individual segment profitability, 
relevant disclosures have been shown under the heading of Central in the table below:

Profit or loss segmental disclosures have been made on a continuing operations basis. 

The Company has no reportable segments.

Operating segments 

Year ended 31 December 2012   
Revenue  
Operating profit(1) 
Depreciation and amortisation 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Trade receivables(3) 
Other segment assets 
Segment liabilities 
Capital expenditure(6) 

Year ended 31 December 2011 
Revenue  
Operating profit(1) 
Depreciation and amortisation 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Trade receivables(3) 
Other segment assets 
Segment liabilities 
Capital expenditure(6) 

Agency 

£000 

92,387 
– 
– 
– 
– 
10,693 
– 
– 
– 

77,388 
– 
– 
– 
– 
9,907 
– 
– 
– 

New 

Homes  

£000 

20,599 
– 
– 
– 
– 
4,003 
– 
– 
– 

16,869 
– 
– 
– 
– 
2,677 
– 
– 
– 

Sub 

total 

£000 

112,986 
– 
– 
– 
– 
14,696 
– 
– 
– 

94,257 
– 
– 
– 
– 
12,584 
– 
– 
– 

Other 

£000 

Central 

Adjustments 

£000 

£000 

Total  

£000

6,379 
– 
– 
– 
– 
1,290 
– 
– 
– 

2,760 
– 
– 
– 
– 
498 
– 
– 
– 

– 
87,533 
(1,079) 
240 
(129) 
– 
24,219 
(32,692) 
2,055 

– 
69,362 
(940) 
182 
(121) 
– 
38,405 
(26,833) 
523 

– 

(4,451)(2) 

– 
– 
– 
51(4) 
16(5) 
(67)(4)(5) 
– 

119,365
83,082
(1,079)
240
(129)
16,037
24,235
(32,759)
2,055

– 

(6,695)(7) 

– 
– 
– 
50(4) 
12(5) 
(62)(4)(5) 
– 

97,017
62,667
(940)
182
(121)
13,132
38,417
(26,895)
523

(1)  Operating profit is stated after the charge for depreciation and amortisation.
(2)    Operating profit for the year ended 31 December 2012 does not include share-based payments charge (£2,410,000) and NI on  

share-based incentives (£2,041,000).

(3)    The only segment assets that are separately monitored by the Chief Operating Decision Maker relate to trade receivables net of any 

associated provision for impairment. All other segment assets are reported on a centralised basis.

(4)    The adjustments column reflects the reclassification of credit balances in accounts receivable made on consolidation for statutory  

accounts purposes.

(5)    The adjustments column reflects the reclassification of debit balances in accounts payable made on consolidation for statutory  

accounts purposes.

(6)    Capital expenditure consists of additions of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (excluding goodwill).
(7)    Operating profit for the year ended 31 December 2011 does not include share-based payments charge (£2,269,000) and NI on  

share-based incentives (£4,426,000).

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

5 Operating segments continued

Geographic information
In presenting information on the basis of geography, revenue and assets are based on the geographical location of customers.

Group  

UK   
Rest of the world 

6 Operating profit

Operating profit is stated after charging: 
Employee benefit expense 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Amortisation of computer software 
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Loss on disposal of intangible assets 
Bad debt impairment charge 
Operating lease rentals 
  Land and buildings 
  Other   

Auditor’s remuneration

Year ended 31 December 2012 
Revenue   Trade receivables 
£000 

£000 

118,329 
1,036 

15,954 
83 

Year ended 31 December 2011

Revenue 

Trade receivables 

£000 

96,135 
882 

£000

13,086
46

119,365 

16,037 

97,017 

13,132

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

17,540 
752 
327 
42 
1 
198 

899 
432 

15,562 
661
279
68
26
315

746
332

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor in respect of the audit 
Audit of the Company’s financial statements 
Audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation 

Total audit remuneration 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor in respect of non-audit related services 
Tax compliance services and advisory 
All other services 

Total non-audit remuneration 

15 
102 

117 

11 
17 

28 

14
99

113

11
4

15

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

62

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7 Employee numbers and costs

The average number of persons employed (including executive directors) during the year, analysed by category, was as follows:

Administration 
Management 

The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows:

307 
18 

325 

277
16

293

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
Number of 
employees

Number of  
employees 

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

Wages and salaries 
Social security costs 
Pension costs 

8 Financial income

Interest income on cash balances 
Interest income on amounts held in Escrow 

9 Financial expenses

15,281 
1,887 
372 

13,647
1,640
275

17,540 

15,562

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

233 
7 

240 

182
–

182

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

Other financial expenses 

129 

121

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

10 Income tax expense

Current tax expense 
Current year  
Adjustment to current tax charge in respect of prior years 

Deferred tax credit 
Origination and reversal of temporary differences 
Adjustment to deferred tax charge in respect of prior years 
Reduction in tax rate 

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

20,805 
(15) 

16,748
(34)

20,790 

16,714

(299) 
(4) 
155 

(148) 

(70)
7
23

(40)

Total income tax expense from continuing operations  

20,642 

16,674

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

(3,301) 

(3,302)

1,165 

(3,969)

(2,136) 

(7,271)

Income tax (credit)/charge recognised directly in equity

Current tax   
Share-based incentives 

Deferred tax 
Share-based incentives 

Total income tax credit recognised directly in equity 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 Income tax expense continued

Reconciliation of effective tax rate
The Group’s income tax expense for the year is higher (2011: lower) than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 24.5% 
(2011: 26.5%). The differences are explained below:

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

Profit for the year 
Total income tax expense 

Profit excluding income tax 

Current tax at 24.5% (2011: 26.5%) 
Reduction in tax rate 
Non-deductible expenses 
Share-based incentives 
Adjustment to current tax charge in respect of prior years 
Adjustment to deferred tax charge in respect of prior years 
Exempt income on sale of discontinued operation 

62,551 
20,642 

83,193 

20,382 
155 
107 
17 
(15) 
(4) 
– 

46,505
16,674

63,179

16,742
23
46
10
(34)
7
(120)

20,642 

16,674

The Group’s consolidated effective tax rate on the profit of £83,193,000 from continuing operations for the year ended 31 December 2012  
is 24.8% (2011: 26.6%). The difference between the standard rate and effective rate on continuing operations at 31 December 2012 is 
attributable to a reduction in the rate at which the deferred tax asset is recognised 0.2% (2011: 0.0%) and disallowable expenditure 0.1% 
(2011: 0.1%).

11 Discontinued Operation

On 21 June 2010 the Group sold its 66.7% shareholding in HLHL, which owned 100% of the shares in the trading entity HLL, to TripAdvisor 
Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Expedia Inc. 

Contingent consideration was dependent on the performance of HLL for the 12 month period from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. 
The value of the contingent consideration was revised upwards by £451,000 from £5,104,000 as reported at 31 December 2010 to a final 
agreed amount of £5,555,000. £4,888,000 contingent consideration was received in October 2011 with £667,000 being transferred into an 
Escrow account in addition to the £1,000,000 of completion proceeds already held in Escrow and classified as non-current. 

Under the terms of the sale agreement the amounts held in Escrow earn interest at Barclays Bank Plc’s current interest rate and become 
available on the fourth anniversary of the completion date of the transaction. No discount has been applied as the account is interest  
bearing and £7,000 has been credited to profit or loss in the current year, bringing the total amount held in Escrow to £1,674,000 
(2011: £1,667,000) (refer Note 17).

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

12 Earnings per share (EPS)

Year ended 31 December 2012 
Basic EPS 
Diluted EPS   
Underlying basic EPS 
Underlying diluted EPS 

Year ended 31 December 2011 
Basic EPS 
Diluted EPS   
Underlying basic EPS 
Underlying diluted EPS 

Weighted average 

number of 

ordinary shares 

Continuing 

operations 

£000 

Discontinued 

operation 

£000 

102,036,054 
105,587,648 
102,036,054 
105,587,648 

104,809,475 
108,891,146 
104,809,475 
108,891,146 

62,551 
62,551 
67,002 
67,002 

46,054 
46,054 
52,749 
52,749 

– 
– 
– 
– 

451 
451 
451 
451 

Total 

earnings 

£000 

62,551 
62,551 
67,002 
67,002 

46,505 
46,505 
53,200 
53,200 

Pence  

per share 

61.30
59.24
65.67
63.46

44.37
42.71
50.76
48.86

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (basic)

Issued ordinary shares at 1 January less ordinary shares held by the EBT 
Effect of own shares held in treasury 
Effect of own shares purchased for cancellation 
Effect of share-based incentives exercised 

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
  Number of shares   Number of shares

105,882,853 
(2,505,430) 
(1,846,076) 
504,707 

108,439,105
(2,505,430)
(1,904,709)
780,509

102,036,054 

104,809,475

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted)
For diluted EPS, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to assume conversion of all potentially dilutive shares. 
The Group’s potential dilutive instruments are in respect of share-based incentives granted to employees, which will be settled by ordinary 
shares held by the EBT and shares held in treasury.

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (basic) 
Dilutive impact of share-based incentives outstanding 

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
  Number of shares   Number of shares

102,036,054 
3,551,594 

104,809,475
4,081,671

105,587,648 

108,891,146

The average market value of the Group’s shares for the purposes of calculating the dilutive effect of share-based incentives was based on 
quoted market prices for the period during which the share-based incentives were outstanding.

Underlying EPS
Underlying EPS is calculated before the charge for share-based payments and NI on share-based incentives but without any adjustment to 
the tax charge in respect of these items. A reconciliation of the basic earnings for the year to the underlying earnings is presented below:

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

66

Basic earnings for the year 
Share-based payments 
NI on share-based incentives  

Underlying earnings for the year 

Year ended 

Year ended 
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

62,551 
2,410 
2,041 

46,505
2,269
4,426

67,002 

53,200

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13 Dividends

Dividends declared and paid by the Company were as follows:

2010 final dividend paid 
2011 interim dividend paid 
2011 final dividend paid 
2012 interim dividend paid 

2012 

2011

Pence per share 

£000 

Pence per share 

– 
– 
11.0 
9.0 

– 
– 
11,273 
9,166 

9.0 
7.0 
– 
– 

£000

9,499
7,278
–
–

20.0 

20,439 

16.0 

16,777

After the reporting date a final dividend of 14.0p (2011: 11.0p) per qualifying ordinary share being £13,981,000 (2011: £11,328,000) was 
proposed by the Board of directors.

The 2011 final dividend paid on 8 June 2012 was £11,273,000 being a difference of £55,000 compared to that reported in the 2011 Annual 
Report, which was due to a reduction in the ordinary shares entitled to a dividend between 31 December 2011 and the final dividend record 
date of 11 May 2012.

The 2012 interim dividend paid on 9 November 2012 was £9,166,000 being a difference of £30,000 compared to that reported in the  
2012 Half Year Report, which was due to an increase in the ordinary shares entitled to a dividend between 30 June 2012 and the interim 
dividend record date of 12 October 2012.

The terms of the EBT provide that dividends payable on the ordinary shares held by the EBT are waived. No provision was made for the final 
dividend in either year and there are no income tax consequences.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

14 Property, plant and equipment

Group 

Cost 
At 1 January 2012 
Additions 
Disposals 

Office equipment, 

Computer 

Leasehold 

Work 

fixtures & fittings 

equipment 

improvements 

in progress 

£000 

£000 

£000 

£000 

698 
152 
(203) 

2,486 
741 
(101) 

102 
451 
(102) 

At 31 December 2012 

647 

3,126 

451 

Depreciation 
At 1 January 2012 
Charge for year 
Disposals 

(504) 
(76) 
173 

(1,585) 
(616) 
89 

At 31 December 2012 

(407) 

(2,112) 

Net book value 
At 31 December 2012 

At 1 January 2012 

240 

194 

1,014 

901 

(77) 
(60) 
102 

(35) 

416 

25 

– 
87 
– 

87 

– 
– 
– 

– 

87 

– 

Total 

£000

3,286
1,431
(406)

4,311

(2,166)
(752)
364

(2,554)

1,757

1,120

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

14 Property, plant and equipment continued

Group 

Cost 
At 1 January 2011 
Additions 
Disposals 

Office equipment, 

Computer 

Leasehold 

Work  

fixtures & fittings 

equipment 

improvements 

in progress 

£000 

£000 

£000 

£000 

734 
9 
(45) 

2,668 
352 
(534) 

At 31 December 2011 

698 

2,486 

Depreciation 
At 1 January 2011 
Charge for year 
Disposals 

(462) 
(82) 
40 

(1,538) 
(518) 
471 

At 31 December 2011 

(504) 

(1,585) 

Net book value 
At 31 December 2011 

At 1 January 2011 

194 

272 

901 

1,130 

The work in progress consists of a new finance system that will be brought into use in 2013. 

The Company has no property, plant or equipment in either year.

15 Intangible assets

Group  

Cost 
At 1 January 2012 
Additions 
Disposals 

At 31 December 2012 

Amortisation  
At 1 January 2012 
Charge for year 
Disposals 

At 31 December 2012 

Net book value 
At 31 December 2012 

At 1 January 2012 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

68

Total 

£000

3,504
361
(579)

3,286

(2,016)
(661)
511

(2,166)

1,120

1,488

Total 

£000

3,825
624
(32)

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

Computer  

software 

£000 

3,093 
624 
(32) 

3,685 

4,417

(2,505) 
(327) 
31 

(2,505)
(327)
31

(2,801) 

(2,801)

884 

588 

1,616

1,320

102 
– 
– 

102 

(16) 
(61) 
– 

(77) 

25 

86 

Goodwill 

£000 

732 
– 
– 

732 

– 
– 
–  

– 

732 

732 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15 Intangible assets continued

Group  

Cost 
At 1 January 2011 
Additions 
Disposals 

At 31 December 2011 

Amortisation  
At 1 January 2011 
Charge for year 
Disposals 

At 31 December 2011 

Net book value 
At 31 December 2011 

At 1 January 2011 

Goodwill 

£000 

732 
– 
– 

732 

– 
– 
– 

– 

732 

732 

Computer  

software 

£000 

3,252 
162 
(321) 

Total 

£000

3,984
162
(321)

3,093 

3,825

(2,521) 
(279) 
295 

(2,521)
(279)
295

(2,505) 

(2,505)

588 

731 

1,320

1,463

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

The Company has no intangible assets in either year.

Impairment testing for cash generating units containing goodwill
For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to the Group’s operations which represent the lowest level within the Group at 
which goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes, which is not higher than the Group’s operating segments as reported  
in Note 5.

The aggregate carrying amounts of goodwill allocated to each unit are as follows:

Agency   

  31 December 2012   31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

732 

732

The carrying value of the £732,000 purchased goodwill in Agency, arising pre-transition to IFRS, is reviewed annually for impairment.  
Due to its level of significance the disclosures as required by IAS 36 Impairment of Assets have not been made.

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

16 Investments

The subsidiaries of the Group as at 31 December 2012 are as follows:

Company   

Rightmove Group Limited 
Rightmove.co.uk Limited 
Rightmove Home Information 
Packs Limited 

Nature of business 

Country of  

incorporation 

Online advertising 
Dormant 

England and Wales 
England and Wales 

Holding 

Class of shares

100% 
100% 

Ordinary
Ordinary

Dormant 

England and Wales 

100% 

Ordinary

All the above subsidiaries are included in the Group consolidated financial statements.

Company

Investment in subsidiary undertakings 

At 1 January  
Additions – subsidiary share-based payments charge (refer Note 25) 

At 31 December 

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

540,094 
834 

539,304
790

540,928 

540,094

Following the capital reconstruction in 2008 all employees’ share-based incentives were transferred to the new holding company,  
Rightmove plc. In addition certain directors’ contracts of employment were transferred from Rightmove Group Limited to Rightmove plc, 
whilst all other employees remained employed by Rightmove Group Limited. Accordingly the share-based payments charge has been split 
between the Company and Rightmove Group Limited with £834,000 (2011: £790,000) being recognised in the Company accounts as a 
capital contribution to its subsidiary.

17 Trade and other receivables

Group 

Trade receivables 
Less provision for impairment of trade receivables 

Net trade receivables 
Amounts held in Escrow (refer Note 11) 
Prepayments and accrued income 
Interest receivable 
Other debtors 

Non-current   
Current   

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

16,484 
(447) 

16,037 
1,674 
2,325 
50 
64 

13,561
(429)

13,132
1,667
1,683
58
117

20,150 

16,657

1,674 
18,476 

1,667
14,990

20,150 

16,657

Exposure to credit and currency risks and impairment losses relating to trade and other receivables are disclosed in Note 29.

The Company has no trade and other receivables in either year.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18 Cash and cash equivalents

Group 

Bank accounts 

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

7,082 

21,768

Cash balances were placed on deposit for various lengths between one day and three months during the year and attracted interest at a 
weighted average rate of 0.7% (2011: 0.6%).

The Company had no cash and cash equivalent balances in either year.

19 Trade and other payables

Group 

Company

31 December 2012  31 December 2011  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

£000 

£000 

Trade payables 
Trade accruals 
Other creditors 
Other taxation and social security 
Deferred revenue  
Accrued interest on inter-group payable balance 
Inter-group payables 

1,220 
7,694 
146 
4,770 
9,908 
– 
– 

370 
7,357 
34 
4,033 
9,080 
– 
– 

– 
5,863 
– 
– 
– 
– 
15,318 

–
5,940
–
–
–
499
86,876

23,738 

20,874 

21,181 

93,315

Exposure to currency and liquidity risk relating to trade and other payables is disclosed in Note 29.

The Company movement in trade payables during the year is reconciled as follows:

Trade payables at 1 January 
Inter-group dividend settled via reduction in inter-group loan balance 
Group relief settled via reduction in inter-group loan balance 
Inter-group interest 
Stamp duty on share buybacks accrued to equity 
Movement in working capital in statement of cash flows 

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
 £000

£000 

93,315 
(160,197) 
(3,128) 
565 
(15) 
90,641 

25,652
–
(4,132)
499
15
71,281

21,181 

93,315

20 Loans and borrowings

The Group entered into a 12 month agreement with Barclays Bank Plc for a £10,000,000 uncommitted money market loan on 
6 February 2013. To date no amount has been drawn under this facility.

The Company had no loans and borrowings in either year.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

21 Provisions

The Group booked a provision for lease dilapidations of £129,000 during the year (2011: £nil). The provision is based on an estimated cost 
to make good per square foot multiplied by the floor area of each premise.

The Company had no provisions in either year.

22 Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax assets are attributable to the following:

Group 

Share-based incentives 
Property, plant and equipment 
Provisions 

Tax assets 

Assets
  31 December 2012   31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

9,347 
227 
93 

10,402
199
83

9,667 

10,684

The deferred tax asset of £9,667,000 at 31 December 2012 (2011: £10,684,000) is in respect of share-based incentives, depreciation in 
excess of capital allowances and provisions.

The deferred tax asset relating to share-based incentives at 31 December 2012 is £9,347,000 (2011: £10,402,000). The decrease in the 
deferred tax asset is due to the exercise of share-based incentives and a reduction in the future tax rate partly offset by an increase in the 
Company’s share price from £12.44 at 31 December 2011 to £14.36 at 31 December 2012. 

Company   

Assets
  31 December 2012   31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

Share-based incentives being tax assets 

7,692 

8,373

The deferred tax asset of £7,692,000 at 31 December 2012 (2011: £8,373,000) is in respect of share-based incentives. The decrease in the 
deferred tax asset is due to the exercise of share-based incentives and a reduction in the future tax rate partly offset by an increase in the 
Company’s share price from £12.44 at 31 December 2011 to £14.36 at 31 December 2012.

Movement in deferred tax during the year:

Group 

Share-based incentives 
Property, plant and equipment 
Provisions 

Company   

1 January 2012 

in income 

directly in equity  31 December 2012 

Recognised 

Recognised 

£000  

10,402 
199 
83 

£000  

110 
28 
10 

£000  

(1,165) 
– 
– 

£000

9,347
227
93

10,684 

148 

(1,165) 

9,667

Recognised 

Recognised 

1 January 2012 

in income 

directly in equity  31 December 2012 

£000  

£000  

£000  

£000

Share-based incentives 

8,373 

88 

(769) 

7,692

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

72

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
22 Deferred tax assets continued

The Autumn Statement on 5 December 2012 announced that the UK corporation tax rate will reduce to 21% by 2014. A reduction in the 
rate from 26% to 25% (effective from 1 April 2012) was substantively enacted on 5 July 2011, and further reductions to 24% (effective from 
1 April 2012) and 23% (effective from 1 April 2013) were substantively enacted on 26 March 2012 and 3 July 2012 respectively. 

This will reduce the Group’s future current tax charge accordingly. The deferred tax asset at 31 December 2012 has been calculated based 
on the rate of 23% substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. It has not been possible to quantify the full anticipated effect of the 
announced further 2% rate reduction, although this will reduce further the Group’s future current tax charge and reduce the Group’s deferred 
tax asset accordingly. 

Movement in deferred tax during the prior year:

Group 

Share-based incentives 
Property, plant and equipment 
Provisions 

1 January 2011 

in income 

directly in equity  31 December 2011 

Recognised 

Recognised 

£000  

6,427 
161 
87 

6,675 

£000  

6 
38 
(4) 

40 

£000  

3,969 
– 
– 

£000

10,402
199
83

3,969 

10,684

The deferred tax asset arising on equity settled share-based incentives in both years was recognised in profit or loss to the extent that the 
related equity settled share-based incentives charge was recognised in profit or loss.

Company   

Recognised 

Recognised 

1 January 2011 

in income 

directly in equity  31 December 2011 

£000  

£000  

£000  

£000

Share-based incentives 

5,142 

329 

2,902 

8,373

23 Share capital

In issue  
At 1 January  
Purchase and cancellation of own shares 

At 31 December 

Authorised – par value £0.01 each 

Ordinary shares 

of £0.01 each
  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
Number of shares
  Number of shares 

110,410,636 
(4,514,521) 

114,761,434
(4,350,798)

105,896,115 

110,410,636

300,000,000 

300,000,000

During 2012, 4,514,521 (2011: 4,350,798) ordinary shares were bought back by the Company and were subsequently cancelled. Further 
details are disclosed in Note 24.

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

Included within shares in issue at 31 December 2012 are 3,404,029 ordinary shares (2011: 4,527,783) held by the EBT and 2,505,430 
(2011: 2,505,430) held in treasury.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

24 Reconciliation of movement in capital and reserves

Group 

At 1 January 2011 
Profit for the year 
Share-based payments  
Tax credit in respect of share-based  

incentives recognised directly in equity 

Dividends to shareholders 
Exercise of share-based incentives 
Cancellation of own shares 
Share related expenses 

Share 

capital 

£000 

1,147 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
(43) 
– 

EBT 

shares 

reserve 

£000 

(13,937) 
– 
– 

– 
– 
3,679 
– 
– 

Treasury 

shares 

£000 

(11,917) 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Reverse 

Other 

acquisition 

reserves 

reserve 

£000 

147 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
43 
– 

£000 

138 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Retained 

earnings 

£000 

52,286 
46,505 
2,269 

7,271 
(16,777) 
2,469 
(48,288) 
(338) 

Total 

equity 

£000

27,864
46,505
2,269

7,271
(16,777)
6,148
(48,288)
(338)

At 31 December 2011 

1,104 

(10,258) 

(11,917) 

190 

138 

45,397 

24,654

At 1 January 2012 
Profit for the year 
Share-based payments 
Tax credit in respect of share-based  

incentives recognised directly in equity 

Dividends to shareholders 
Exercise of share-based incentives 
Cancellation of own shares 
Share related expenses 

1,104 
– 
– 

(10,258) 
– 
– 

(11,917) 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
(45) 
– 

– 
– 
2,347 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

190 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
45 
– 

138 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

45,397 
62,551 
2,410 

2,136 
(20,439) 
680 
(66,359) 
(467) 

24,654
62,551
2,410

2,136
(20,439)
3,027
(66,359)
(467)

At 31 December 2012 

1,059 

(7,911) 

(11,917) 

235 

138 

25,909 

7,513

Share buyback
In June 2007, the Company commenced a share buyback programme to purchase its own ordinary shares. The total number of shares 
bought back in 2012 was 4,514,521 (2011: 4,350,798) representing 4.2% (2011: 3.9%) of the ordinary shares in issue (excluding shares 
held in treasury). All of the shares bought back in both years were cancelled. The shares were acquired on the open market at a total 
consideration (excluding costs) of £66,359,000 (2011: £48,288,000). The maximum and minimum prices paid were £16.00 (2011: £13.58) 
and £12.65 (2011: £9.04) per share respectively.

EBT shares reserve
This reserve represents the carrying value of own shares held by the EBT. During the current and prior year the EBT purchased no shares. 
1,123,754 (2011: 1,794,546) share-based incentives were exercised by Group employees during the year at an average price of £2.69 
(2011: £3.43) per ordinary share, which were satisfied by shares held in the EBT. At 31 December 2012 the EBT held 3,404,029 
(2011: 4,527,783) ordinary shares in the Company of £0.01 each, representing 3.2% (2011: 4.2%) of the ordinary shares in issue (excluding 
shares held in treasury). The market value of the shares held in the EBT at 31 December 2012 was £48,882,000 (2011: £56,326,000).

Treasury shares
This represents the cost of acquiring 2,505,430 shares held in treasury. These shares were bought back in 2008 at an average price of 
£4.76 and may be used to satisfy certain share-based incentive awards.

Other reserves
This represents the cumulative value of own shares bought back and cancelled. The movement of £45,000 (2011: £43,000) is the nominal 
value of ordinary shares cancelled during the year.

Retained earnings
The gain on the exercise of share-based incentives is the difference between the value that the shares held by the EBT were originally 
acquired at and the price at which share-based incentives were exercised during the year.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

74

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24 Reconciliation of movement in capital and reserves continued

Company  

At 1 January 2011 
Loss for the year 
Dividends to shareholders  
Share-based payments  
Tax credit in respect of share-based  

incentives recognised directly in equity 

Capital contribution  
Cancellation of own shares 
Share related expenses 

Share 

capital 

£000 

1,147 
– 
– 
 –  

– 
– 
(43) 
– 

Treasury 

shares 

£000 

(11,917) 
– 
– 
 –  

Reverse 

Other 

acquisition 

reserves 

£000 

reserve 

£000 

2,441 
– 
– 
 –  

103,520 
– 
– 
 –  

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
790 
43 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

Retained 

earnings 

£000 

423,603 
(5,991) 
(16,777) 
1,479 

5,483 
– 
(48,288) 
(338) 

Total 

equity 

£000

518,794
(5,991)
(16,777)
1,479

5,483
790
(48,288)
(338)

At 31 December 2011 

1,104 

(11,917) 

3,274 

103,520 

359,171 

455,152

At 1 January 2012 
Profit for the year 
Dividends to shareholders  
Share-based payments  
Tax credit in respect of share-based  

incentives recognised directly in equity 

Capital contribution  
Cancellation of own shares 
Share related expenses 

1,104 
– 
– 
 –  

(11,917) 
– 
– 
 –  

3,274 
– 
– 
 –  

103,520 
– 
– 
 –  

– 
– 
(45) 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
834 
45 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

359,171 
155,761 
(20,439) 
1,576 

1,381 
– 
(66,359) 
(467) 

455,152
155,761
(20,439)
1,576

1,381
834
(66,359)
(467)

At 31 December 2012 

1,059 

(11,917) 

4,153 

103,520 

430,624 

527,439

Treasury shares
This represents the cost of acquiring 2,505,430 shares held in treasury. These shares were bought back in 2008 at an average price of 
£4.76 and may be used to satisfy certain share-based incentive awards.

Reverse acquisition reserve
This reserve resulted from the acquisition of Rightmove Group Limited by the Company and represents the difference between the value of 
the shares acquired at 28 January 2008 and the nominal value of the shares issued.

Other reserves
Awards relating to share-based incentives made to Rightmove Group Limited employees have been treated as a deemed capital 
contribution. The principal movement in other reserves for the year comprises £834,000 (2011: £790,000) in respect of the share-based 
incentives charge for employees of Rightmove Group Limited. In addition a movement of £45,000 (2011: £43,000) has been recorded in 
relation to the nominal value of ordinary shares cancelled during the year.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

75

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

25 Share-based payments

The Group and Company operate share-based incentive schemes for executive directors and other selected senior management employees. 
Since flotation, the Company has awarded share options under the Rightmove Unapproved Executive Share Option Plan (Unapproved Plan) 
and the Rightmove Approved Executive Share Option Plan (Approved Plan). The Group also operates a Savings Related Share Option Scheme 
(Sharesave Plan), a Deferred Share Bonus Plan (DSP) and in May 2011 the Rightmove Performance Share Plan (PSP) was introduced. 

All share-based incentives are subject to a service condition. Such conditions are not taken into account in the fair value of the service 
received. The fair value of services received in return for share-based incentives is measured by reference to the fair value of share-based 
incentives granted. The estimate of the fair value of the share-based incentives is measured using either the Monte Carlo or Black Scholes 
pricing model as is most appropriate for each scheme.

The total share-based payments charge for the year relating to all share-based incentive plans was £2,410,000 (2011: £2,269,000).

The Company charge for the year was £1,576,000 (2011: £1,479,000).

NI is being accrued, where applicable, at a rate of 13.8%, which management expects to be the prevailing rate when the awards are 
exercised, based on the share price at the reporting date. The total NI charge for the year ended 31 December 2012 relating to all awards  
is £2,041,000 (2011: £4,426,000).

The total Company NI charge for the year was £1,248,000 (2011: £4,034,000).

Approved and Unapproved Plans
There has been no award of share options since 5 March 2010. 

Unapproved executive share option awards granted on 5 March 2010 at an exercise price of £6.66 are subject to an equal measure of  
Total Shareholder Return (TSR) performance and growth in EPS. The vesting of 50% of the 2010 award will be dependent on a relative  
TSR performance condition measured over a three-year performance period and the vesting of the other 50% of the 2010 award will be 
dependent on the satisfaction of an EPS growth target over a three-year performance period. 

Unapproved executive share option awards made on 5 March 2009, which vested on 5 March 2012, were subject to a relative TSR 
performance over a three-year performance period, relative to the constituents of the FTSE 250.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

76

25 Share-based payments continued

The assumptions used in the measurement of the fair values at grant date of the Approved and Unapproved Plans are as follows:

Share price 

Exercise 

Expected 

Risk free 

Dividend 

non-vesting 

Fair value 

Employee 
turnover 
  before vesting/  

yield 

(%) 

condition 

per option 

(%) 

(pence)

Grant date 

at grant date 

(pence) 

price 

(pence) 

volatility 

 Option life 

(%) 

(years) 

14 March 2006 (Approved) 
15 March 2006 (Unapproved) 
15 March 2006 (Unapproved) 
12 October 2006 (Unapproved) 
6 September 2007 (Approved) 
6 September 2007 (Unapproved) 
10 October 2007 

413.50 
413.75 
413.75 
348.00 
613.00 
613.00 

410.00 
335.00 
335.00 
347.00 
597.00 
597.00 

(Unapproved EPS dependent)(1) 

525.00 

522.00 

5 March 2009 

(Unapproved TSR dependent)(1) 

226.75 

224.00 

5 March 2010
   (Unapproved TSR dependent)(1) 
5 March 2010

677.00 

666.00 

(Unapproved EPS dependent)(1) 

677.00 

666.00 

27.0 
27.0 
27.0 
27.0 
32.0 
32.0 

32.0 

50.3 

49.0 

49.0 

7.0 
7.0 
6.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 

6.8 

6.5 

6.5 

6.5 

rate 

(%) 

4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
5.8 
5.8 

5.8 

2.6 

3.2 

3.2 

4.0 
4.0 
3.0 
4.0 
2.0 
2.0 

2.0 

4.4 

1.5 

1.5 

(1)  For details of TSR and EPS performance conditions refer to Part II of the Remuneration report on pages 38 to 44.

Expected volatility is estimated by considering historic average share price volatility at the grant date.

Group and Company 

Outstanding at 1 January 
Exercised 

  2012 
  Weighted average 
exercise price 
(pence) 

Number 

Number 

4,343,545 
(873,670) 

349.78 
317.83 

6,095,430 
(1,751,885) 

16.0 
0.0 
16.0 
16.0 
17.0 
17.0 

92.00
116.00
130.00
76.00
228.00
181.00

17.0 

189.00

12.0 

69.00

12.0 

267.00

12.0 

312.00

  2011

  Weighted average 

exercise price 

(pence)

348.33
344.73

Outstanding at 31 December 

3,469,875 

357.83 

4,343,545 

349.78

Exercisable at 31 December 

3,049,996 

315.40 

2,793,167 

345.77

The weighted average market value per ordinary share for options exercised in 2012 was £15.90 (2011: £11.58).

The options outstanding at 31 December 2012 have an exercise price in the range of £2.24 to £6.66 (2011: £2.24 to £6.66) and a weighted 
average contractual life of 4.5 years (2011: 5.4 years).

The share-based payments charge for approved and unapproved executive share options for the year ended 31 December 2012 is 
£512,000 (2011: £1,088,000).

The Company charge for the year was £332,000 (2011: £688,000).

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

77

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

25 Share-based payments continued

Sharesave Plan
The Group operates an Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs Approved Sharesave Plan under which employees are granted an option to 
purchase ordinary shares in the Company at up to 20% less than the market price at invitation, in three years’ time, dependent on their 
entering into a contract to make monthly contributions into a savings account over the relevant period. These funds are used to fund the 
option exercise. No performance criteria are applied to the exercise of Sharesave options. The assumptions used in the measurement of  
the fair value at grant date of the Sharesave Plan are as follows:

Employee 
turnover 
  before vesting/  

Grant date 

1 October 2009 
5 October 2010 
3 October 2011 
1 October 2012 

Share price 

Exercise 

Expected 

Risk free 

Dividend 

non-vesting 

Fair value 

at grant date 

(pence) 

price 

(pence) 

volatility 

 Option life 

(%) 

(years) 

545.00 
745.50 
1200.00 
1577.00 

425.00 
553.00 
988.00 
1295.00 

50.3 
49.0 
42.9 
34.8 

3.3 
3.3 
3.3 
3.3 

rate 

(%) 

3.5 
2.3 
2.8 
0.5 

yield 

(%) 

4.4 
1.6 
1.3 
1.3 

condition 

per option 

(%) 

(pence)

25.0 
25.0 
25.0 
25.0 

199.00
318.00
446.00
562.00

Expected volatility is estimated by considering historic average share price volatility at the grant date.

The requirement that an employee has to save in order to purchase shares under the Sharesave Plan is a non-vesting condition. This feature 
has been incorporated into the fair value at grant date by applying a discount to the valuation obtained from the Black Scholes pricing 
model. The discount has been determined by estimating the probability that the employee will stop saving based on expected future trends 
in the share price and past employee behaviour.

Group and Company 

Outstanding at 1 January 
Granted  
Forfeited  
Exercised 

  2012 
  Weighted average 
exercise price 
(pence) 

Number 

145,982 
40,136 
(8,190) 
(59,699) 

572.10 
1295.00 
703.15 
420.92 

  2011

  Weighted average 

Number 

176,523 
30,142 
(18,022) 
(42,661) 

exercise price 

(pence)

409.92
988.00
429.83
255.00

Outstanding at 31 December 

118,229 

884.47 

145,982 

572.10

Exercisable at 31 December 

16,994 

425.00 

1,431 

255.00

The weighted average market value per ordinary share for Sharesave options exercised in 2012 was £15.82 (2011: £12.77).

The Sharesave options outstanding at 31 December 2012 have an exercise price in the range of £4.25 to £12.95 
(2011: £2.55 to £9.88) and a weighted average contractual life of 1.8 years (2011: 1.7 years).

The share-based payments charge for Sharesave options for the year ended 31 December 2012 is £129,000 (2011: £106,000).

The Company charge for the year was £4,000 (2011: £5,000).

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

78

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25 Share-based payments continued

Performance Share Plan (PSP)
The PSP permits awards of nil cost options or contingent shares which will only vest in the event of prior satisfaction of a 
performance condition.

156,685 PSP awards were made to executive directors and other selected senior management on 2 March 2012 (the Grant date) subject  
to EPS and relative TSR performance. Performance will be measured over three financial years (1 January 2012 – 31 December 2014). The 
vesting in March 2015 (Vesting date) of 25% of the 2012 PSP awards will be dependent on a relative TSR performance condition measured 
over a three-year performance period and the vesting of 75% of the 2012 PSP awards will be dependent on the satisfaction of an EPS growth 
target measured over a three-year performance period. PSP award holders are entitled to receive dividends accruing between the Grant date 
and Vesting date, and this value will be delivered in shares.

The PSP awards have been valued using the Monte Carlo model for the TSR element and the Black Scholes model for the EPS element and 
the resulting share-based payments charge is being spread evenly over the period between the Grant date and the Vesting date.

Grant date 

Share price 

Exercise 

at Grant date 

(pence) 

price 

(pence) 

4 May 2011 (TSR dependent)(1) 
1039.00 
4 May 2011 (EPS dependent)(1) 
1039.00 
2 March 2012 (TSR dependent)(1)  1391.00 
2 March 2012 (EPS dependent)(1)  1391.00 

nil 
nil 
nil 
nil 

Expected 

volatility 

(%) 

42.9 
n/a 
34.8 
n/a 

Option 

 life 

(years) 

2.8 
2.8 
3.0 
3.0 

Risk free 

Dividend 

non-vesting 

Fair value 

rate 

(%) 

1.4 
1.4 
0.5 
0.5 

yield 

(%) 

0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

condition 

per option 

(%) 

(pence)

3.1 
3.1 
3.7 
3.7 

739.00
1039.00
708.00
1391.00

(1)  For details of TSR and EPS performance conditions refer to Part II of the Remuneration report on pages 38 to 44.

Employee 

turnover 

  before vesting/ 

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

Group and Company 

Outstanding at 1 January 
Granted  
Forfeited  

Outstanding at 31 December 

Exercisable at 31 December 

  2012 
  Weighted average 
exercise price 
(pence) 

Number 

164,258 
156,685 
(32,519) 

288,424 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

  2011

  Weighted average 

Number 

– 
164,258 
– 

164,258 

– 

exercise price 

(pence)

–
–
–

–

–

Expected volatility is estimated by considering historic average share price volatility at the Grant date.

The share-based payments charge for the year ended 31 December 2012 is £948,000 (2011: £361,000).

The Company charge for the year was £685,000 (2011: £277,000).

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

79

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

25 Share-based payments continued

Deferred Share Bonus Plan (DSP)
In March 2009 a DSP was established which allows executive directors and other selected senior management the opportunity to earn  
a bonus determined as a percentage of base salary settled in deferred shares. The award of shares under the plan is contingent on the 
satisfaction of pre-set internal targets relating to underlying drivers of long-term revenue growth (the Performance period). The right to the  
shares is deferred for two years from the date of the award (the Vesting period) and potentially forfeitable during that period should the  
employee leave employment. The deferred share awards have been valued using the Black Scholes model and the resulting share-based 
payments charge is being spread evenly over the combined Performance period and Vesting period of the shares, being three years.

The assumptions used in the measurement of the fair value of the deferred share awards are calculated at the date on which the potential 
DSP bonus is communicated to senior management (the Grant date) as follows:

Employee 

turnover 

  before vesting/  

Grant date 

5 March 2009  
5 March 2010 
4 March 2011 
2 March 2012 

Share price 

Exercise 

Expected 

Risk free 

Dividend 

non-vesting 

at Grant date 

Award date 

(pence) 

price 

(pence) 

 term 

(years) 

 5 March 2010 
 4 March 2011 
 2 March 2012(1) 
–(2) 

226.75 
677.00 
1039.00 
1391.00 

nil 
nil 
nil 
nil 

3.0 
3.0 
2.8 
3.0 

rate 

(%) 

2.6 
3.2 
1.4 
0.5 

yield 

(%) 

condition 

(%) 

4.4 
1.5 
1.4 
1.3 

12.0 
12.0 
3.4 
4.1 

Fair value 

per share 

(pence)

199.00
648.00
1000.00
1338.00

(1)   Following the achievement of the 2011 internal performance targets, 76,048 nil cost option deferred shares were awarded to executives 
and senior management on 2 March 2012 (the Award date) with the right to the release of the shares deferred until March 2014.

(2)  Based on the 2012 internal performance targets the Remuneration Committee determined that 90% of the maximum award in respect 
of the year will be made in March 2013. The number of shares to be awarded will be determined based on the share price at the Award date 
in March 2013.

Group and Company 

Outstanding at 1 January 
Awarded 
Forfeited  
Exercised 

Outstanding at 31 December 

Exercisable at 31 December 

  2012 
  Weighted average 
exercise price 
(pence) 

Number 

331,989 
76,048 
– 
(190,385) 

217,652 

25,573 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

  2011

  Weighted average 

Number 

215,958 
118,467 
(2,436) 
– 

331,989 

– 

exercise price 

(pence)

–
–
–
–

–

–

The weighted average market value per ordinary share for deferred shares exercised in 2012 was £15.44 (2011: £nil).

The DSP awards have a weighted average contractual life of 0.9 years (2011: 1.0 years).

The share-based payments charge for the year ended 31 December 2012 is £821,000 (2011: £714,000).

The Company charge for the year was £555,000 (2011: £509,000).

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

80

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26 Operating lease commitments

Non-cancellable operating lease rentals are payable as follows: 

31 December 2012 

31 December 2011

Plant & machinery 

Land & buildings 

Plant & machinery 

Land & buildings 

Group 

Less than one year 
Between one and five years 
More than five years 

£000 

408 
231 
– 

639 

£000 

949 
3,338 
1,175 

Total  
£000 

1,357 
3,569 
1,175 

£000 

687 
2,624 
199 

Total 

£000

1,061
3,079
199

5,462 

6,101 

3,510 

4,339

£000 

374 
455 
– 

829 

The Company has no operating lease commitments in either year.

27 Capital commitments

As at 31 December 2012 the Group had no significant capital expenditure commitments (2011: £nil). 

The Company has no capital commitments in either year.

28 Related party disclosures

Inter-group transactions with subsidiaries
During the year the Company was charged interest of £565,000 (2011: £499,000) by Rightmove Group Limited in respect of balances  
owing under the inter-group loan agreement dated 30 January 2008.

As at 31 December 2012 the balance owing under this agreement was £15,318,000 (2011: £87,375,000) including capitalised interest.

On 21 March 2012 Rightmove Group Limited declared an interim dividend of 61.8p per ordinary share to the Company. The dividend of 
£79,969,000 was settled via a reduction in the inter-group loan balance.

On 11 December 2012 Rightmove Group Limited declared a further interim dividend of 62.0p per ordinary share to the Company. 
The dividend of £80,228,000 was settled via a reduction in the inter-group loan balance.

Directors’ transactions
There were no transactions with directors in either year other than those disclosed in the Remuneration report. Information on the 
emoluments of the directors, who served during the year, together with information regarding the beneficial interest of the directors in  
the ordinary shares of the Company is included in the Remuneration report on pages 30 to 44.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

81

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes continued

29 Financial instruments

Credit risk
The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting 
date was:

Net trade receivables 
Amounts held in Escrow 
Accrued interest receivable 
Other debtors 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Note 

17 
11,17 
17 
17 
18 

Group

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

16,037 
1,674 
50 
64 
7,082 

13,132
1,667
58
117
21,768

24,907 

36,742

The Company had no exposure to credit risk in either year.

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade receivables at the reporting date by geographic region was:

Group 

UK   
Rest of the world 

Note 

17 

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

15,954 
83 

13,086
46

16,037 

13,132

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade receivables at the reporting date by type of customer was:

Group 

Property advertisers 
Other 

Note 

17 

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

14,956 
1,081 

12,676
456

16,037 

13,132

The Group’s most significant customer, an Estate Agent, accounts for £968,000 (2011: £1,011,000) of the trade receivables carrying amount.

Impairment losses
The ageing of trade receivables at the reporting date was: 

Group 

Not past due 
Past due 0 – 30 days 
Past due 30 – 60 days 
Past due 60 – 90 days 
Past due older 

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

82

31 December 2012 

31 December 2011

Gross 

£000 

10,140 
3,357 
2,522 
263 
202 

Impairment 
£000 

(15) 
(236) 
(124) 
(38) 
(34) 

Gross 

£000 

9,662 
2,405 
1,311 
129 
54 

16,484 

(447) 

13,561 

Impairment 

£000

(35)
(247)
(109)
(31)
(7)

(429)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29 Financial instruments continued

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of trade receivables during the year was as follows:

Group 

At 1 January  
Charged during the year 
Utilised during the year 

At 31 December 

  31 December 2012  31 December 2011 
£000

£000 

429 
198 
(180) 

447 

371
315
(257)

429

The Group has identified specific balances for which it has provided an impairment allowance on a line by line basis across all ledgers, in 
both years. No general impairment allowance has been provided in either year. 

The allowance accounts in respect of trade receivables are used to record impairment losses unless the Group is satisfied that no recovery 
of the amount owing is possible; at that point the amounts considered irrecoverable are written off against the financial asset directly.

Liquidity risk
The following are the contractual maturities of undiscounted financial liabilities, including undiscounted estimated interest payments:

Group 

At 31 December 2012 
Trade payables being non-derivative financial liabilities   

Group 

At 31 December 2011 
Trade payables being non-derivative financial liabilities   

The Company had no non-derivative financial liabilities in either year.

Carrying 

amount 

£000 

Contractual 

cash flows 

£000 

6 months 

or less 

£000

1,220 

(1,220) 

(1,220)

Carrying 

amount 

£000 

Contractual 

cash flows 

£000 

6 months 

or less 

£000

370 

(370) 

(370)

It is not expected that the cash flows included in the maturity analysis could occur earlier or at significantly different amounts and all payables 
are due within six months of the balance sheet date.

Currency risk
During 2012 all the Group’s sales and more than 95.0% of the Group’s purchases were Sterling denominated and accordingly it has no 
significant currency risk.

Interest rate risk
The Group and the Company have exposure to interest rate risk on their cash balances and amounts held in Escrow. As at  
31 December 2012 the Group had total cash of £7,082,000 (2011: £21,768,000) and £1,674,000 (2011: £1,667,000) held in Escrow.

Fair values
The fair values of all financial instruments in both years are equal to the carrying values.

30 Contingent liabilities

The Group and the Company had no contingent liabilities in either year.

31 Subsequent events

There have been no subsequent events having a material impact on the financial statements between 31 December 2012 and the reporting date.

i

B
u
s
n
e
s
s

r
e
v
e
w

i

C
o
r
p
o
r
a
t
e

g
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

i

F
n
a
n
c
a

i

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

i

R
g
h
t
m
o
v
e

p
c

l

a
n
n
u
a

l

r
e
p
o
r
t

2
0
1
2

83

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advisers and shareholder information

Contacts
Chief Executive Officer: 
Chief Operating Officer  
and Finance Director: 
Company Secretary: 
Website:  

Ed Williams

Nick McKittrick
Robyn Perriss
www.rightmove.co.uk

Registered office
Rightmove plc
Turnberry House
30 Caldecotte Lake Drive
Milton Keynes
MK7 8LE
Registered in
England no. 6426485

Financial calendar 2013
2012 full year results  
Annual General Meeting 
Final dividend record date 
Final dividend payment 
Interim Management Statement  May, November 2013
Half year results 
Interim dividend 

1 March 2013
8 May 2013
10 May 2013
7 June 2013

31 July 2013
November 2013

Corporate advisers

Financial adviser
UBS Investment Bank  

Joint brokers
UBS Limited
Numis Securities Limited

Auditor
KPMG Audit Plc

Bankers
Barclays Bank Plc
HSBC Bank Plc
Santander UK Plc

Solicitors
Slaughter and May
Pinsent Masons

Registrar
Capita Registrars*

*Shareholder enquiries
The Company’s registrar is Capita Registrars. They will be pleased to  
deal with any questions regarding your shareholding or dividends.  
Please notify them of your change of address or other personal information. 
Their address details are:

Capita Registrars
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent
BR3 4TU

Capita Registrars is a trading name of Capita Registrars Limited.

Capita shareholder helpline: 0871 664 0300  
(calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras)  
(Overseas: +44 20 8639 3399)
Email: ssd@capitaregistrars.com
Share portal: www.capitashareportal.com

Through the website of our registrar, Capita Registrars, shareholders  
are able to manage their shareholding online and facilities include  
electronic communications, account enquiries, amendment of address  
and dividend mandate instructions.

w
w
w

.
r
i
g
h
t
m
o
v
e
.
c
o
.
u
k

84

 
 
 
Rightmove plc Turnberry House, 30 Caldecotte Lake Drive,  
Caldecotte, Milton Keynes, MK7 8LE
Registered in England no 6426485

Millions of home hunters use Rightmove on the move.
iPhone app  |  iPad app  |  Android app  |  Mobile site

Winner of three 
categories in Britain’s 
Most Admired 
Companies 2012