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Savills

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FY2023 Annual Report · Savills
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ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2023

Helping people 
thrive through 
places and spaces

Helping people 
thrive through 
places and spaces

Places and spaces are more than land or bricks and 
mortar. They’re where people create new ideas, 
build memories and plan futures.

It could be a sustainable office that sparks creativity, or 
a home that gives a family room to grow; a development  
focused on the needs of the local community, or a rural  
estate consciously managed for biodiversity.

Whether you are an investor, client, colleague, or live 
in the communities in which we operate, our goal is 
simple: to help our stakeholders thrive through 
places and spaces.

 SEE OUR BUSINESS MODEL ON PAGES 10 AND 11

Mark Ridley
CEO

OVERVIEW

STRATEGIC REPORT

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

01

ContentsOVERVIEW02 Group highlights05 Savills at a glanceSTRATEGIC REPORT06 Chair’s statement10 Our business model12 Market insights18 Key performance indicators20 Chief Executive’s review27 Chief Financial Officer’s review30  Principal and emerging risks and uncertainties  facing the business37 Viability statement38 Responsible business74  Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (‘TCFD’)GOVERNANCE81 Governance Overview 81  Applying the Principles of the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code82 Leadership and Company Purpose 82  Chair’s Introduction 84  Governance at a Glance 86  Board of Directors 89  Group Executive Board 92  Board Leadership and Company Purpose 93  Board Attendance in 2023 94  Promoting a Positive and Inclusive Culture 96  How we engage with our stakeholders 99  Section 172(1) statement103 Division of Responsibilities 103  A robust governance framework 104  Division of Responsibilities108 Composition, Succession and Evaluation 108  What the Board did in 2023 110  Nomination & Governance Committee Report 115  Board and Committee Evaluation117 Audit, Risks and Internal Controls 117  Review of the effectiveness of the risk management and internal control systems 118  Audit Committee Report127 Directors’ Remuneration Report 127  Annual statement151 Directors’ Report155  Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in respect of the financial statementsFINANCIAL STATEMENTS156 Independent Auditor’s Report166 Consolidated income statement167 Consolidated statement of comprehensive income168  Consolidated and Company statements of financial position169 Consolidated statement of changes in equity170 Company statement of changes in equity171 Consolidated and Company statements of cash flows172 Notes to the financial statements265 Appendices267 Shareholder informationGROUP HIGHLIGHTS

The Group produced a resilient 
performance in 2023 in the face 
of sharply increased interest 
rates and the consequent 
dramatic reductions in 
transaction volumes globally.

Revenue

Balance (non-transactional)*

£2,238.0m

(2022: £2,298.3m)

2023

2022

£2,238.0m

£2,298.3m

65%

(2022: 60%)

2023

2022

Reported profit after tax

Reported earnings per share

30.0p

(2022: 87.0p)

30.0p

2023

2022

£119.8m

65%

60%

87.0p

Underlying earnings per share**

55.1p

(2022: 94.9p)

2023

2022

55.1p

94.9p

£39.5m

(2022: £119.8m)

£39.5m

2023

2022

Underlying profit**

£94.8m

(2022: £164.6m)

£94.8m

£164.6m

2023

2022

02

Annual report and accounts 2023During 2023, global real estate markets have faced the obvious 
challenges associated with inflation and the related steep rise in 
interest rates. Different regions have varied in the pace of their 
adjustment to current conditions and all have experienced a 
material decline in trading volumes during that adjustment process. 
The Group’s performance is in line with our expectations following 
this prolonged recalibration of markets.” 

Mark Ridley
CEO

 SEE PAGES 20 TO 26

Underlying profit margin**

Reported pre-tax profit margin***

4.2%

(2022: 7.2%)

2023

2022

4.2%

7.2%

2.5%

(2022: 6.7%)

2023

2022

2.5%

6.7%

Operating cash generation

Assets under management (‘AUM’)

£18.8m

(2022: £164.0m)

£18.8m

2023

2022

£22.1bn****

(2022: £22.1bn)

£164.0m

2023

2022

£22.1bn

£22.1bn

Property under management (sq ft.)

Geographical spread (% non-UK)

2.6bn

(2022: 2.5bn)

2023

2022

2.6bn

2.5bn

58%

(2022: 58%)

2023

2022

58%

58%

* 

** 

 Defined as the % of Group revenue derived from non-transactional revenue streams. See Non-Financial Key Performance Indicators on page 19 for 
further information.
 Underlying profit is an alternative performance measure used to assess the performance of the Group. Underlying profit is calculated by adjusting reported 
pre-tax profit for profit/loss on disposals, share-based payment adjustments, amortisation and impairment of intangible assets arising from business 
combinations, impairment of goodwill, significant restructuring costs, transaction-related costs and other items that are considered significant in size or non-
operational in nature. Underlying EPS is also an alternative performance measure used to assess the performance of the Group. Underlying EPS is calculated 
using the underlying profit after tax measure, with the weighted average number of shares remaining the same as the GAAP measure. Refer to Note 2.3 and 
Note 8 to the financial statements for further explanation of underlying profit measures.

***  Reported pre-tax profit margin is an alternative performance measure calculated by dividing profit before income tax by revenue.
****  Estimated position as at 31 December 2023, 2022 comparative as reported in the 2022 Report and Accounts. 

03

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSWHAT WE DO

We provide best-in-class 
insights and advice to help 
individuals, businesses 
and investors make better 
property decisions.

680+

Offices and 
associates

42,000+

Staff

£2.2bn

Group revenue

  United Kingdom 
42%
  Continental Europe 
and the Middle East 
15%

  Asia Pacific  
30%
  North America  
13%

04

Annual report and accounts 2023SAVILLS AT A GLANCE

Demonstrating 
geographic and 
business diversity

Our vision is to be the real estate advisor of 
choice in the markets we serve. We do not 
wish to be the biggest, just the best.

UNITED KINGDOM

ASIA PACIFIC

£941.5m

Revenue
(2022: £956.3m)

£659.0m

Revenue
(2022: £669.7m)

131
Offices
(2022: 130)

9,454
Employees
(2022: 9,036)

57
Offices
(2022: 57)

28,412
Employees
(2022: 27,462)

CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
AND THE MIDDLE EAST

£342.4m

Revenue
(2022: £335.0m)

NORTH AMERICA

£295.1m

Revenue
(2022: £337.3m)

63
Offices
(2022: 57)

3,220
Employees
(2022: 2,888)

43
Offices
(2022: 43)

994
Employees
(2022: 945)

Our global size and strength
We have an international network of over 680 offices and associates and 
over 42,000 staff throughout the UK, Asia Pacific, the Americas, Continental 
Europe, Africa and the Middle East, offering a broad range of specialist 
advisory, management and transactional services to clients all over the world.

Where our 
expertise lies
For nearly 170 years, we have 
been helping people thrive 
through “places and spaces”. 
At the forefront of the real 
estate industry and with over 
42,000 professionals working 
collaboratively across our 
global and local networks, we 
offer a huge range of services 
and specialist expertise to 
ensure our clients achieve the 
best outcomes.

TRANSACTION ADVISORY
The Transaction Advisory 
business stream comprises 
commercial, residential, leisure 
and agricultural leasing, tenant 
representation and investment 
advice on purchases and sales.

 SEE PAGES 22 AND 23

PROPERTY AND  
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Management of 
commercial, residential, 
leisure and agricultural 
property for owners. 
Provision of a comprehensive 
range of services to occupiers 
of property, ranging from 
strategic advice through to 
project management and all 
services relating to a property.

 SEE PAGE 24

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Investment management of 
commercial and residential 
property portfolios for 
institutional, corporate or 
private investors, on a pooled 
or segregated account basis.

 SEE PAGE 26

CONSULTANCY
Provision of a wide range of 
professional property services 
including valuation, project 
management and housing 
consultancy, environmental 
consultancy, landlord and 
tenant, rating, development, 
planning, strategic projects, 
corporate services and research.

 SEE PAGE 25

05

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSChair’s statement

Stacey 
Cartwright

Chair

Resilient performance 
in challenging markets 
driven by the Group’s 
less transactional 
service lines.”

06

Results overview
Savills strength across its less transactional service 
lines continued to provide a resilient earnings stream, 
underpinning Savills overall performance in a global 
real estate market challenged by significantly reduced 
transactional activity. The Group’s revenue decreased 
by 3% to £2.2bn (2022: £2.3bn), 2% down on a constant 
currency basis. Although not immune to market 
volatility (particularly in respect of some Consultancy 
service lines), the strength of our less transactional 
businesses underpinned Savills performance overall, 
growing revenue by 7% to £1.5bn. Prime drivers 
of performance were Consultancy and Property 
Management, which performed well, growing revenue 
by 4% and 11% respectively.

The Group’s Transactional business experienced a 
17% drop in revenue during the year as global market 
conditions remained extremely subdued for longer than 
anticipated at the start of 2023. This was the primary 
cause of the 42% reduction in the Group’s underlying 
profit of £94.8m (2022: £164.6m), representing an 
underlying profit margin of 4.2% (2022: 7.2%).

Our Investment Management business traded in line with 
our expectations, although deployment of capital was 
inevitably reduced given lack of price transparency in 
most of its target markets.  

Annual report and accounts 2023At the year end, Savills Investment Management had 
significant investment ‘dry powder’ for both real estate 
equity and debt opportunities, including Samsung Life 
having committed its first $1bn to support a number 
of products.

As a result of the challenging market conditions during 
2023, the real estate services industry as a whole 
undertook a number of rounds of cost reduction and 
reorganisation actions. In line with our strategy during 
the global financial crisis of 2008, as well as more 
recently through the pandemic, and supported by our 
strong financial position; Savills continued to maintain 
its core bench-strength around the world, ensuring 
we provided the highest level of service to our clients 
throughout the year and remain well positioned for 
market recovery. 

We did, however, review the global business for 
locations or service lines where the anticipated time 
frames for market recovery remain protracted. This 
resulted in selective restructuring of certain transactional 
and related support teams and resulted in one-off costs 
of £13.9m being incurred. 

The costs of this restructuring led Group’s reported 
profit before tax to decrease by 64% to £55.4m (2022: 
£153.9m), representing a pre-tax profit margin of 2.5% 
(2022: 6.7%).

The Group continued to maintain a positive liquidity 
position with net cash (cash and cash equivalents net 
of borrowings and overdrafts in the notional pooling 
arrangements) of £157.3m at year end (2022: £307.4m).

Currency movements in the year decreased revenue by 
£14.4m, underlying profit by £0.7m and reported profit 
before taxation by £1.1m.

Market conditions
Throughout the year, real estate markets across the 
globe were challenged by significantly increased interest 
rates, geopolitical events and, on a more asset specific 
level, uncertainties over the future role of offices and the 
valuation of existing stock in the era of sustainability. These 
factors, together with certain location-specific issues, 
significantly reduced capital transaction volumes in global 
markets to their lowest levels for a decade. In addition, 
economic uncertainty led to delays in corporate occupiers 
committing to new leasing activity in many markets.

The value recalibration process took time to catalyse 
market liquidity, with the majority of lending banks 
continuing to extend existing loan terms. The 
consequence of this was that global market conditions 
remained extremely subdued for longer than originally 
anticipated at the start of 2023.

However, in Q4 2023 we began to see lenders start 
to exercise their security rights. This began to have a 
positive effect on market activity towards the year end 
and should be a catalyst for improved volumes in 2024. 

The rate at which individual investment markets are 
recalibrating varies around the globe; however, it appears 
that the UK prime Commercial market has re-priced to 
a point where it represents value, particularly for assets 
with strong sustainability credentials, for which there 
is significant occupier demand. In addition, our Prime 
residential business has performed well, particularly in 
central London. As anticipated a year ago, residential 
markets outside London were more subdued as volumes 
reverted to more normal levels of activity after the 
abnormally large volumes transacted post-pandemic.

In Europe, investment transaction volumes reached 
their lowest levels since the eurozone debt crisis. The 
slowing of investment activity quarter-by-quarter was a 
widespread trend across all European countries and the 
major asset classes, with the office sector continuing to 
face the most significant reduction in volume.

In the Asia Pacific region, property investment volumes 
overall fell by 33% in 2023. China experienced increasing 
debt-related difficulties amongst the major domestic 
developers in addition to the macro trends affecting 
manufactured supply to international markets. Other 
markets in the region were affected by the sharply higher 
cost of borrowing, with significant volume declines in 
the mature markets of Australia and South Korea. Hong 
Kong was one of two markets which recorded only a 
single digit decline, however this was off an already very 
low base with volumes still 70% below their previous 
peak in 2018.

In North America, the office market remained sluggish 
as economic uncertainty, questions over the return to 
offices, particularly in the major metropolitan markets 
of the East and West Coast, and slowing employment 
growth caused corporates to delay major leasing 
decisions, pending greater clarity.

2023 HIGHLIGHTS

(2022: £2.3bn)

 ƒ Group revenue down 3% to £2.2bn 
 ƒ Underlying profit before tax decreased 42% 
 ƒ Reported profit before tax, including 

to £94.8m (2022: £164.6m)

exceptional costs, decreased 64% to £55.4m 
(2022: £153.9m)

 ƒ Underlying basic EPS down 42% to 55.1p 

(2022: 94.9p); reported basic EPS down 
66% to 30.0p (2022: 87.0p)

 ƒ Aggregate proposed final and 

supplementary interim dividends of 15.9p 
(2022: 29.0p), giving a total distribution for 
the year of 22.8p (2022: 35.6p)

 ƒ Net cash of £157.3m (2022: £307.4m)

07

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCHAIR’S STATEMENT continued

Business development
Savills has continued to focus on the strategic 
development of the business and improving our service 
offering to clients; this has been enabled by the Group’s 
strong balance sheet. In the first half of the year, we 
progressed our strategy of expanding our Global Prime 
Residential services with the acquisition of agencies in 
Italy (BeLiving Srl) and Portugal (Predibisa, Sociedade 
de Mediaçāo Imobiliária, Lda). The Group also acquired 
Automotive Property Consultancy Holdings Limited, 
a specialist property consultancy dedicated to the 
franchised motor retail sector in the UK. 

In the second half of the year, the Group acquired 
Site 8 Pty Limited, expanding our retail property 
management business in Australia. The UK business 
recently completed the acquisition of Nash Bond 
Limited, a leading UK prime retail agency and lease 
consultancy business, enhancing our position in this 
recovering market. Finally, DRC Savills Investment 
Management established the Group’s first position in the 
US real estate debt market through a joint venture with 
QCP LLC, a real estate debt manager based in Atlanta.

Supported by our strong balance sheet we continue 
to review opportunities to enhance our client offering 
across geographies and service lines.

Focus on technology
Technology continues to be an important focus 
for the Group, and we are well on the way through 
implementation of significant platform upgrades across 
the globe including both operating and finance systems 
and service-specific digital transformation programmes.

We continue to investigate and experiment with new and 
emerging technologies through our innovation and data 
teams globally. Recently there has been an increased 
focus on the opportunities presented by the latest 
developments in the broad area of artificial intelligence 
(‘AI’), or ‘Machine Learning’, which we use as a driver 
of efficiency in many of our bespoke data and service 
line platforms across the Group. One example of this is 
BrickByte in Germany, which was acquired by the Group 
in 2022. It is a technology-enabled method of workspace 
planning, driven by Machine Learning, to save time and 
optimise the use of space, and which has significantly 
increased its revenues year-on-year.

Our other digital businesses continue to perform well. 
Cureoscity, our wholly-owned platform that connects 
occupiers, landlords and their managing agents continued 
to grow Annual Recurring Revenue (‘ARR’) significantly 
year-on-year and has begun to expand into markets outside 
the UK. Our market-leading UK on-line auction business 
continues to take market share, and despite increasingly 
challenging markets, sold over £570m of property during 
the period, an increase of 25% year-on-year. 

Through our wholly owned technology businesses and 
investments, we are experimenting with the latest advances 
in generative design particularly to test project feasibility 
at an earlier stage in the design process. For example, 
VU.CITY (in which the Group has an investment) uses its 

08

SUSTAINABILITY IN REAL ESTATE

Climate: Through our advice to clients and the 
work we do directly, we always seek to add value 
through initiatives that help both people and our 
environment to thrive. In 2023, our absolute Scope 
1 and 2 ‘market-based’ Greenhouse Gas (‘GHG’) 
emissions totalled to 5,947 tonnes CO2e, which is 
a 26.9% (2,187 tonnes CO2e) reduction against our 
2019 base year. When assessed on an annual basis, 
we have seen a 11% reduction in the Group’s Scope 
1 and 2 emissions, associated with a 6% decrease in 
electricity consumption and an increase in uptake of 
green tariffs. To drive our de-carbonisation journey, 
in 2023, we increased the usage of efficient LED 
lighting, for example, in Continental Europe and the 
Middle East, where 80% of occupied floor area now 
has LED. As a result of our strategy in respect of 
office lease renewals, by year end 87% of total office 
space occupied by Savills in North America is now 
situated in accredited, energy efficient buildings.

Culture: We actively foster an inclusive workplace 
– aiming to attract diverse talent, develop and 
support our people, and always lead by example. 
In 2023, Savills UK won EDI (Equality, Diversity, 
and Inclusion) Programme of the Year at Inspiring 
Women in Property Awards hosted by Property 
Week. Similarly, Bisnow’s UK Rise Initiative 
recognised Savills UK as one of the companies 
leading the way to improve diversity in real estate. 
Savills North America has placed 21st in the 
Newsweek Excellence 1000 Index, identified as an 
example of corporate success and responsibility. 
Meanwhile, Savills was awarded UK Apprenticeship 
Employer of the Year at the Personnel Today 
Awards and was 1st in The Times Rate My 
Placement for Apprentices and listed Top 100 
Apprenticeship Employers of 2022 – 2023.

Community: People are at the heart of our 
business. We aim to create a lasting positive social 
impact on the local communities which we impact 
through the way we engage with them, the work 
we do and the charitable initiatives we run to 
support them. During 2023, 24,300 hours were 
given by our people for volunteering, an increase 
from 16,700 in 2022. In addition, £2.1m was donated 
by the Group and combined Regional Businesses; 
with £4.7m Social and Local Economic Value 
delivered by Savills UK. 

SiteSolve technology combined with complete digital 
city models at ‘planning grade’ levels of accuracy, to 
generate instant development options, taking into account 
environmental and other extant planning constraints.

We maintain our policy of continuing to support 
technology initiatives across the Group, striking the 
balance between locally led innovation and broader 
centralised initiatives.

Annual report and accounts 2023Board
On 1 January 2024, I became Chair on the 
retirement of Nicholas Ferguson. Since 
he was appointed in May 2016, Savills has 
both delivered commendable growth and 
successfully navigated the challenges of both 
COVID and the market corrections of the last 
two years. I would like to thank him for his 
enormous contribution to the business. 

£2,238.0m

Revenue
(2022: £2,298.3m)

On 13 December 2023, John Waters was 
appointed as an additional Independent 
Non-Executive Director and replaced me as 
Chair of the Savills Audit Committee with effect from 
1 January 2024. We are delighted that John has joined the 
Board and look forward to benefitting from his extensive 
experience to support our future growth.

Dividends
An interim dividend of 6.9p per share (2022: 6.6p), 
amounting to £9.4m was paid on 2 October 2023, and a 
final ordinary dividend of 13.9p per share (2022: 13.4p) is 
recommended, making the ordinary dividend 20.8p per 
share for the year (2022: 20.0p). A supplemental interim 
dividend of 2.0p per share (2022: 15.6p) is declared, 
taking into account the significantly reduced underlying 
performance of our Global Transaction Advisory 
business. Taken together, the ordinary and supplemental 
interim dividends comprise an aggregate distribution for 
the year of 22.8p per share, representing a decrease of 
36% on the 2022 aggregate ordinary and supplemental 
dividend of 35.6p. 

Subject to Shareholder approval of the proposed final 
dividend at the AGM on 15 May 2024, the aggregate final 
and supplementary interim dividends of 15.9p will be 
paid on 23 May 2024 to Shareholders on the register at 
12 April 2024.

People
On behalf of the Board, I wish to express my thanks to all 
our people worldwide for their hard work, commitment, 
collaborative approach and continued focus on client 
service, which enabled the Group to deliver results in line 
with our expectations in such challenging times.

Summary and outlook
Savills resilient performance in 2023 highlights the diversity 
and strength of our global business. In the context of 
extremely challenging real estate markets, which saw the 
lowest levels of transaction volumes for a decade, our less 
transactional businesses have provided a solid platform for 
the Group with a resilient and growing earnings stream. 

With increased expectation of a reduction in the cost of 
capital being likely during 2024, we expect re-financing 
driven activity and the sustainability agenda to be positive 
for transaction volumes, and therefore improving price 
transparency, in a number of markets. There also remain, 
for the near term at least, questions over office utilisation 
in certain locations, perhaps most keenly felt in the North 
American metropolitan markets of the eastern and 
western seaboards.

£94.8m

Underlying profit
(2022: £164.6m)

4.2%
Underlying 
profit margin
(2022: 7.2%)

£39.5m
Reported 
profit after 
tax
(2022: £119.8m)

Current economic and geopolitical conditions remain 
uncertain and although we expect this to continue for 
some time, most markets appear to be past the moment of 
peak uncertainty. There are some early signs of underlying 
market improvements, which should set the course for a 
broader recovery during the second half of the year and 
into 2025. 

Our policy of retaining our core bench-strength, enabled 
by our strong balance sheet, positions the Group well for 
the future.

Stacey Cartwright
Chair

13 March 2024

09

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSOUR BUSINESS MODEL

The model below illustrates in simple terms how we create 
Shareholder value through improving the strength of our 
premium brand, and through the delivery of profits and dividends 
to Shareholders. We treat every client as an individual and 
take time to understand what they need and how we can best 
service them.

1

Our resources & relationships

OUTSTANDING PEOPLE

FINANCIAL

Local knowledge 
Entrepreneurial 
approach

Prudent capital structure 
Strong cash generation

LONG-TERM CLIENT 
RELATIONSHIPS

INTELLECTUAL 
PROPERTY

Client care 
programmes 
High-quality service

Market intelligence 
Brand and reputation

For over 160 years, we have been helping 
people thrive through places and spaces. 
With more than 42,000 professionals 
dedicated to commercial and prime 
residential real estate across 70 countries, 
we have the expertise to bring a client’s 
vision to life.

We firmly believe that our people are 
key to delivering excellent service to 
our clients and achieving our objectives; 
they give us a unique perspective of the 
markets in which we operate and connect 
our clients with real estate opportunities 
and market intelligence.

The culture ingrained in our business is 
what sets us apart, guiding the way our 
people behave to bring our clients the 
best possible service.

We have built our brand and reputation 
on the quality of our people, relationships, 
resources and processes. Savills has 
a strong and well-embedded culture, 
founded on an entrepreneurial approach 
and on our values and operational 
standards. All that we do is underpinned 
by strong governance, a disciplined 
approach to risk management and 
high standards of responsibility, which 
supports the sustainable development 
of our business. More detail of our 
governance structure, policies and 
practices can be found later in this 
Annual Report on pages 81 to 155.

We are committed to delivering the 
highest levels of client service and 
creating long-term relationships with our 
clients. We are committed to adding value 
while always honouring our responsibility 
to protect the environment, support 
local communities and foster an inclusive 
culture. Whether our client is a corporate 
business looking to expand, an investor 
seeking to sustainably optimise their 
portfolio or a family trying to find a new 
home, we bring a truly personal approach 
to every project, delivering best-in-class 
insights and advice to help our clients 
make better property decisions.

10

Annual report and accounts 20232

Our business model

4

Value-creation

DEFENSIVE,  
SCALE BUSINESS

CYCLICAL HIGH-MARGIN 
BUSINESSES

REVENUE BY BUSINESS

40%
Property and 
facilities 
management

20%
Consultancy

26%
Commercial 
transactions

5%
Investment  
management

9%
Residential  
transactions

3

Underpinned by

OUR GLOBAL VALUES

 ƒ  We listen – We put our 

clients at the heart of 
everything we do. We listen 
to our clients’ unique needs 
and take time to understand 
their aspirations, responding 
with bespoke solutions to help 
them achieve their goals

 ƒ  We empower – Our experts 

pioneer new approaches, 
bringing fresh ideas and 
informed insights to the table

 ƒ  We challenge – We are always 

open and honest in our views, 
constructively challenging our 
clients and each other in the 
pursuit of the best results

 ƒ  We collaborate – We 

collaborate with our clients 
to build personal, lasting 
relationships, uniting diverse 
perspectives and expertise 
across our global and 
local networks

GOVERNANCE 

management

 ƒ  Strong Board and 
 ƒ  High standards of governance

DISCIPLINED APPROACH 
TO RISK

 ƒ  Risk mitigation to limit 

exposure to any one market 
or economy

SHAREHOLDERS

22.8p
Dividends

£39.5m
Reported 
profit after 
tax

£94.8m
Underlying 
profit

30.0p
Reported 
earnings 
per share

55.1p
Underlying 
earnings 
per share

PEOPLE

 ƒ Develop talent 
 ƒ Employee engagement
 ƒ Diversity and inclusion

CLIENTS

Client relationship

 ƒ  High-quality service –
 ƒ  Client care – Client relationship 

management team

COMMUNITY

– Carbon emission reduction

 ƒ  Reduce environmental impact 
 ƒ  Community investment – 

Community engagement 
programmes

11

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSMARKET INSIGHTS

UK Commercial

While the second half of 2023 
saw the UK Central Bank base 
rate stabilise, this did not feed 
through into a notable pick-
up in commercial property 
investment activity in the 
UK. Furthermore, the impact 
of high debt and operating 
costs and wider economic and 
political uncertainty slowed 
down decision-making in most 
occupational markets.

Just over £39bn of commercial property investments 
were transacted in the UK in 2023, which is 41% lower 
than the previous year and 38% down on the five-year 
average. Every commercial property sector experienced 
lower investment volumes in 2023 than 2022, with 
the largest fall being in offices (47%) and the smallest 
being retail (12%).

Economic uncertainty continued to slow occupational 
decision-making, and this caused a reduction in  
take-up across all the main commercial property 
sectors in most markets. One exception to this trend 
was the City of London office market where take-
up was 12% higher in 2023 than 2022. However, at a 
national level, office leasing activity outside London 
was 12% down year-on-year and large logistics 
take-up was down 40% year-on-year.

12

Premier League HQ,  
Brunel Building, Paddington, 
London
The London office project management team, 
part of building and project consultancy (‘BPC’), 
has completed the fit-out of circa 40,000 sq ft. 
at the Premier League’s new HQ in the Brunel 
Building, Paddington, W2. Initially instructed on 
33,000 sq ft. in 2019, following this success, the 
team was appointed as project manager on a 
further 7,000 sq ft. for the organisational body.

Annual report and accounts 2023UK Residential

2023 proved a more challenging year for the UK housing market, as 
successive interest rate rises put pressure on prices and constrained 
transaction levels. Across the market as a whole transactions levels fell 
by -19% on the back of a -23% fall in mortgage approvals; with activity 
becoming more weighted to cash and equity-rich buyers.

The prime housing markets were not immune to these 
pressures with prices falling by an average of 1.1% in 
London and 4.8% across the rest of the country, as post-
pandemic drivers of activity also dissipated. 

A weaker housing market coincided with the ending 
of the ‘help-to-buy’ scheme and significant planning 
uncertainty, meaning housebuilders faced numerous 
headwinds. That fed through into a softer development 
land market. Correspondingly, values of greenfield 
development land ended the year -8.7% below their 
peak of September 2022.

Though activity levels remained relatively buoyant, we 
also saw a progressive slowing in rental growth at the 
top end of the UK housing market. Rents rose by around 
4.5%, as the acute demand-supply imbalance eased over 
the course of 2023 and the Renter’s Reform Bill made 
slow progress through parliament. 

The Water House, Highgate 
Guide price: £17m

Completed: December 2023 

Property received multiple bids,  
selling to a UK-based buyer.

The family accommodation is imaginatively arranged 
over two floors around the stunning double volume, 
galleried family room and kitchen. Further exceptional 
features include a long indoor pool-room, and a 
detached studio annex in the rear garden. The house 
is set on the plot to make the best of the south-west-
facing garden and pond. There is also ample secure 
parking and a private pathway leading to Fitzroy Park.

The Water House is a dramatic contemporary house 
sitting in glorious half-acre grounds and offering 
countryside living in the heart of London. The property 
is discreetly situated down a quiet heath side lane and 
offers a level of privacy and seclusion rarely found 
anywhere in London. 

13

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSMARKET INSIGHTS continued

North America

Entering 2024, the US is still 
carefully navigating a Federal 
Reserve-engineered ‘soft landing’ 
designed to temper inflation 
without tipping the economy 
into a recession.

The US unemployment rate increased slightly over 
the past year, from 3.4% at the start of 2023 to 3.7% 
by December. Throughout 2023, employers added 
2.7 million jobs, a significant decrease from the 
4.8 million jobs gained in 2022, yet a larger increase than 
in the years preceding the pandemic. The labour market 
remains robust but is cooling to more sustainable levels, 
with wage-growth generally moderating. Inflation, as 
measured by the Consumer Price Index (‘CPI’), remains 
above target at 3.1%, down from 6.5% the previous year. 
The Federal Reserve has revised its forecast, anticipating 
three rate cuts totalling 75 basis points (0.75%) in 2024. 

The office market remains sluggish as economic 
uncertainty and slowing employment growth cause a 
reduction in overall demand. However, there is a bifurcation 
in the office sector that partly exhibits signs of both 
cautious recovery and resilience due to a high demand for 
Class A space that is centrally located and well-amenitised 
to “earn the commute” of employees. In contrast, older and 
outdated office space continues to struggle, prompting 
an increase in conversions to reposition these buildings 
– a strategy that could eventually lower the availability 
rate and ultimately bring the overall office market closer 
to equilibrium. While sublease space has contributed to 
the oversupply, the rate of new sublease offerings has 
slowed, and supply has even begun to decline in some 
markets. Currently, leasing activity is largely driven by lease 
expirations, but an improving economy could prompt 
tenants who have paused leasing decisions over the past 
year to proceed with transactions.

In the US industrial market, tenants are gaining 
leverage as normalised demand meets increased supply. 
This rise in supply is leading to higher vacancy rates, 
exerting some downward pressure on rental rates. 
However, these rates are still significantly higher than 
they were two years ago. Despite record amounts of 
speculative development, higher interest rates have led 
to a slowdown in construction, which will help mitigate 
further increases in vacancies as supply tightens again. 
The primary demand-driver, consumer spending, has 
remained resilient despite challenges, with third-party 
logistics providers and manufacturers continuing to be 
very active. Investors are increasingly attracted to this 
property type due to its solid long-term fundamentals 
and relatively low levels of distress.

14

Chedraui, USA
Savills represented multi-national grocery retailer, 
Chedraui USA, on its acquisition of a 1.4m sq ft. 
industrial property in the Inland Empire outside Los 
Angeles, where it will develop a state-of-the-art 
distribution centre including a 500,000 sq ft. cooler 
and 25,000 sq ft. office facility for employees. The 
transaction resulted in the largest industrial fee in 
Savills North America history.

Annual report and accounts 2023Europe

2023 will be remembered for what was record eurozone inflation, 
record eurozone interest rates and a year of elevated investor caution, 
as European investment transactions recorded the lowest levels since 
the aftermath of the eurozone debt crisis. 

Drags on investment activity accumulated throughout 
the year: the sluggish economic growth; the unavailability 
of debt and its high cost; the mismatch between buyers 
and sellers’ expectations and the narrowing spread 
between long-term interest rates and real-estate 
yields. Hence, investment activity kept slowing quarter 
after quarter.

Based on preliminary Q4 estimations, we anticipate that 
European investment volumes totalled approximately 
€140bn last year, slightly more than half the volume 
transacted in 2022 and 56% down on the past five-year 
average. This declining activity was widespread across all 
European countries, with the exception of Greece, thanks 
to one large portfolio deal. It was also widespread across 
various asset classes, with the office sector continuing to 
face the most significant downturn. Nevertheless, certain 
sectors showed greater resilience than others, notably 
senior housing, hotels and retail. 

Investors’ attention is now focused on the timing of 
the first interest-rate cut. Capital Economics predicts 
a first 25-bps cut in Q2 2024, with rates to fall from 
4.00% to 2.75% by the end of 2024. This will heighten 
real estate’s investment appeal. As the gap in buyer and 
seller price expectations begins to close, we expect a 
gradual improvement in investment activity starting in 
H2 2024. This revival of activity is anticipated to be most 
pronounced in areas where prices experienced significant 
corrections. ‘Beds and Sheds’ will retain their status as 
preferred asset classes, benefitting from a persistent 
structural imbalance between supply and demand.

Barcelona World Trade Centre
Savills signed a five-year integral property 
management agreement for World Trade Centre 
Barcelona, which comprises 48,000 sq m. in three 
buildings of mixed use (offices, 5*hotel, retail and 
parking) in Barcelona Port.

15

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSMARKET INSIGHTS continued

Investment Management

Interest rates remained the single 
biggest factor influencing real 
estate investment in 2023.

Expectations in early 2023 that the second half of the 
year could mark a turning point for real estate investment 
markets proved wide of the mark as central banks raised 
interest rates further and for longer than many expected. 
As a result, real estate valuations remained under 
significant pressure as yields moved out. At the same 
time, the relative attraction of returns for alternative asset 
classes, and in numerous instances, ongoing allocation 
constraints towards real estate because of the so-called 
‘denominator effect’, were significant headwinds for 
capital-raising initiatives and transaction volumes. 

The amount of capital raised for European real estate 
Core, Core plus, value-add and opportunistic strategies 
fell for the second consecutive year, with 2023 recording 
the lowest level of capital raised since 2013, when the 
region was starting to recover from the sovereign debt 
crisis, Preqin data shows. Combined with high costs of 
debt, the result was a halving of investment transactions 
across Europe last year compared to 2022, and the worst 
year for deals since 2012, MSCI data shows. Investment 
activity in Asia-Pacific was also down sharply in 2023, 
albeit the 20% year-on-year decline points to deal-
making holding up better than in Europe. 

Notwithstanding a number of high profile cases, the 
market didn’t see the levels of distressed sales that 
some anticipated, given sharply higher debt financing 
costs and the level of refinancing that was estimated 
to be required in 2023. As interest rates start to come 
down, lower borrowing costs will ease some refinancing 
pressures. Nonetheless, credit conditions will likely remain 
tight and higher loan-to-value ratios will challenge some 
transactions, particularly assets that require significant 
capital expenditure to improve the energy efficiency 
and sustainability. 

A retreat from traditional bank lenders continued to 
open up opportunities for debt funds. With debt investors 
more protected against declines in real-estate values, the 
sector is rising in appeal amongst investors.

The interest rate environment looks set to dominate 
the performance of the sector again in 2024. But while 
investment-market conditions are likely to remain 
challenging in the early part of 2024, with real-estate 
values having already corrected significantly, lower 
interest rates could start to open up new opportunities 
for both equity and debt investors. But in a world 
characterised by higher interest rates, investors will 
need to think and act differently, focusing on sectors 
where long-term demand-drivers and supply constraints 
support rental growth and income.

16

Valencia
As part of its growing commitment to the 
European Living sector, Savills IM acquired two 
newly built residential properties in Valencia, 
comprising 209 units. The assets were developed 
in November 2022 as part of four residential 
towers that make up “SkyHomes”, a highly 
sustainable, modern residential asset located in 
the Malilla neighbourhood of the city. In addition 
to securing an EPC A rating, a great achievement 
as Spain has one of the most restrictive EPC rating 
systems for multi-family housing in Europe, other 
sustainable characteristics include aerothermal 
heat pumps in each unit. Electric vehicle chargers 
soon to be installed along with bicycle racks in the 
underground parking garage. The project aims to 
achieve “BREEAM Excellent – In Use” certification. 
The development also offers comprehensive 
amenities, including a swimming pool, coworking 
space and playgrounds. 

Annual report and accounts 2023Asia Pacific

In the face of persistent interest-
rate hikes, China’s economic 
slowdown and elevated global 
economic uncertainties, investors 
became more cautious and slowed 
decision-making commitments 
in 2023. Asia Pacific property 
investment volumes fell by -33.2% 
year-on-year in 2023 to US$126.4 
billion* but still outperformed the 
Americas (-55.5% year-on-year) 
and CEME (-51.4% year-on-year).

China was the most active market in terms of 
investment volume across the region in 2023, with 
investment volumes contracting by 26.6% year-on-
year to US$33.8 billion, notwithstanding a debt crisis, 
a property market downturn and an elevated risk 
of deflation. Investment activity was supported by 
recent fiscal measures, an increasing number of asset 
disposals by developers, and a recent proliferation of 
auction sales. Buyers were mainly domestic end-users 
with insurance companies interested in good-quality 
commercial stock in Tier 1 cities, while the participation 
of foreign investors was limited.

Benefitting from an ultra-loose monetary policy and a 
weak currency, Japan remained in the spotlight for global 
investors in 2023 with a 20% year-on-year decline in 
investment volumes to US$31.4 billion. Thanks to robust 
inbound tourism, more investors were not only interested 
in prime logistics warehouses, but also favoured retail 
and hotel assets, which recorded increases in transaction 
volumes of 34.2% and 16% YoY respectively.

Other mature markets were affected by the higher cost 
of borrowing, and investment volumes saw a decline 
in 2023, particularly in Australia (-57.4% year-on-year) 
and South Korea (-49.4% year-on-year). Singapore also 
saw a decline of 6.6% year-on-year in 2023, in a market 
supported by several large retail deals. Hong Kong was 
one of two markets which recorded only a single digit 
decline (-1.9% year-on-year), but volumes are still 70% 
below their previous peak in 2018.

Gwanghwamun Building, 
South Korea
A partial sale (B1) of a mixed-use office and retail 
property located in the core CBD across prominent 
buildings including the Seoul Finance Center and 
Four Seasons Hotel.

* 

 Notes: Office, retail, industrial, apartment, hotel, and senior housing & 
care transactions included. Entity level deals included. Development sites 
excluded. Based on independent reports of properties and portfolios 
$10 million and greater. Data believed to be accurate but not guaranteed. 
Source: MSCI Real Capital Analytics, as of 10th January 2024.

17

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSKEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Financial

Revenue

Cash generation

Underlying profit

£2,238.0m

£18.8m

£94.8m

2023

2022

2021

2020

£2,238.0m

2023

£18.8m

£2,298.3m

£2,147.0m

£1,740.5m

2022

2021

2020

£164.0m

£94.8m

2023

2022

£164.6m

£302.7m

2021

£200.3m

£241.4m

2020

£96.6m

The measure
Revenue growth is the increase in 
revenue year-on-year.

The measure
The amount of cash the business has 
generated from operating activities.

The target
To deliver growth in revenue from 
expansion both geographically and 
by business segment.

The target
To maintain strong cash 
generation to fund working capital 
requirements, Shareholder dividends 
and strategic initiatives of the Group.

The measure
Underlying profit growth is the 
increase/decrease in underlying 
profit year-on-year.

The target
To deliver sustainable growth in 
underlying profit.

Underlying profit margin

Underlying earnings per share

Reported profit after tax

4.2%

55.1p

£39.5m

2023

2022

2021

2020

4.2%

7.2%

2023

2022

55.1p

2023

£39.5m

94.9p

2022

£119.8m

9.3%

2021

116.5p

2021

£146.7m

5.6%

2020

56.8p

2020

£68.0m

The measure
Profitability after all operating costs 
but before the impact of significant 
non-operational costs and taxation.

The target
To deliver growth in operating 
margin by improving the efficiency 
with which services are offered.

The measure
Earnings per share (‘EPS’) is the 
measure of profit generation. 
Underlying EPS is calculated by 
dividing underlying profit by the 
weighted average number of 
shares in issue.

The target
To deliver progressive, sustainable 
growth in underlying EPS to 
enhance Shareholder value.

The measure
Reported profit after tax growth is 
the increase/decrease in reported 
profit after tax year-on-year and 
over a longer term.

The target
To deliver sustainable long-term 
growth in reported profit after tax.

18

Annual report and accounts 2023Non-Financial

Reported earnings per share

Balance

Geographical spread

65.5%

(% non-transactional income)

57.9%

(% non-UK)

30.0p

2023

30.0p

2022

2021

2020

87.0p

2023

2022

104.9p

2021

49.0p

2020

65.5%

59.5%

58.4%

61.7%

2023

2022

2021

2020

57.9%

58.4%

56.9%

59.2%

The measure
Reported EPS is the measure of 
reported profit generation and is 
calculated by dividing reported 
profit after tax by the weighted 
average number of shares in issue.

The target
To deliver long-term growth 
in reported EPS to enhance 
Shareholder value.

The measure
Revenue by type of business.

The target
To maintain a healthy balance 
of transactional and less or non-
transactional business revenues.

The measure
Geographical diversity is measured 
by the spread of revenues by region.

The target
To progressively balance the 
Group’s geographical exposure 
through expansion in our chosen 
geographic markets.

Property under management

Assets under management

2,635.1m

(million sq ft.)

£22.1bn

2023

2022

2021

2020

2,635.1m

2,472.1m

2,450.9m

2,347.5m

2023

2022

2021

2020

£22.1bn

£22.1bn

£21.9bn

£19.0bn

The measure
Total square footage property 
under management.

The target
To progressively increase the global 
square footage under management.

The measure
Growth in assets under 
management of our investment 
management business, Savills 
Investment Management.

The target
To increase the value of investment 
portfolios through portfolio 
management, new mandates and 
the launch of new funds.

19

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSChief Executive’s review

The key components of our business strategy to 
support this vision are as follows:

 ƒ Business diversification
 ƒ Geographical diversification
 ƒ  Commitment to clients to deliver the highest 
 ƒ Strength in all real estate sectors
 ƒ Maintenance of our financial strength

standards of client service

KEY OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

 ƒ Robust performance of the less transactional 

businesses, representing 65% of Group revenue, which 
grew 7%, underpinning overall Group performance 

 ƒ Savills Investment Management revenue decreased 

6%. Assets under management was stable at £22.1bn 
(2022: £22.1bn). $1bn commitment from Samsung 
Life largely awaiting deployment

 ƒ Global Transactional Advisory revenues, in 

aggregate 35% of Group revenue, decreased 17%, 
reflecting significantly reduced capital and leasing 
market volumes globally

 ƒ Global Residential revenues declined 19% as markets 

normalised, following high levels of post pandemic 
activity, and adapted to higher interest rates

Mark Ridley

Group Chief 
Executive

Our vision is to be the real 
estate advisor of choice in 
the markets we serve. This 
is underpinned, especially in 
difficult market conditions, by 
retaining our core bench-strength 
to provide best-in-class insights 
and advice to help individuals, 
businesses and investors make 
better property decisions.”

20

Annual report and accounts 2023Our performance
Savills geographic and business diversity were key to achieving the year’s results. Our performance analysed by region 
was as follows:

UK

Asia Pacific

CEME

North America

Unallocated

Total

Revenue £m

Underlying profit/(loss) £m

2023

2022

% change

941.5

659.0

342.4

295.1

–

956.3

669.7

335.0

337.3

–

2,238.0

2,298.3

(2)

(2)

2

(13)

n/a

(3)

2023

98.3

23.4

(9.8)

(8.4)

(8.7)

94.8

2022

118.1

41.4

17.3

4.1

(16.3)

164.6

% change

(17)

(43)

n/a

n/a

n/a

(42)

On a constant currency* basis Group revenue decreased by 2% to £2,252.4m, underlying profit decreased 42% to 
£95.5m (and reported profit before tax decreased by 63% to £56.5m). Our Asia Pacific business represented 30% of 
Group revenue (2022: 29%) and our overseas businesses as a whole represented 58% of Group revenue (2022: 58%). 
Our performance by service line is set out below:

Transaction Advisory

Property and Facilities Management

Consultancy

Investment Management

Unallocated

Total

Revenue £m

Underlying profit/(loss) £m

2023

2022**

% change

772.9

899.5

459.8

105.8

–

930.1

813.9

441.5

112.8

–

2,238.0

2,298.3

(17)

11

4

(6)

n/a

(3)

2023

4.3

48.8

35.6

14.8

(8.7)

94.8

2022**

% growth

71.9

46.5

41.3

21.2

(16.3)

164.6

(94)

5

(14)

(30)

n/a

(42)

Overall, our Commercial and Residential Transaction 
Advisory business revenue represented 35% of Group 
revenue (2022: 40%) and was the service line most 
directly affected by the challenging market conditions 
during the year. Of this, Residential Transaction 
Advisory represented 9% of Group revenue (2022: 10%). 
Our Property and Facilities Management businesses 
continued to perform well, growing year-on-year and 
representing 40% of Group revenue (2022: 35%). Our 
Consultancy businesses increased revenue by 4% and 
represented 20% of revenue (2022: 19%), albeit that 
the performance of some of the service lines, such as 
security valuations, were affected by reduced market 
volumes. Finally, Investment Management again 
represented 5% of Group revenue (2022: 5%).

Unallocated costs reduced year-on-year as a result of 
central interest income and the reduction in profit-related 
remuneration payable to the Group’s senior management.

People
Over the past year Savills has continued to invest in the 
business, employing the best people, diversifying by 
geography and strengthening our offer in all major real 
estate sectors.

The UK business retained both its number one spot in 
the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers of 2023-2024 
(Rate My Apprenticeship Awards) for its second year and 
its standing as The Times Property Graduate Employer 
of Choice for the 17th consecutive year. It was also 
named by the Financial Times as one of the UK’s leading 
management consultants for the second year running. 

In our CEME business, Savills Abu Dhabi and Sharjah won 
two awards at the Property Finder Awards and Savills 
Poland was honoured in the ESG Strategy category in 
the Prime Property Prize 2023 awards.

In Asia Pacific, the Savills Hong Kong business won 
the Property Management Team of the Year award 
from RICS and the Savills Singapore business won the 
Facilities Management Team of the Year award at the 
RICS Southeast Asia Awards 2023. 

These awards are a testament to the strength of our 
people and their approach to client service and I thank 
them for their continued commitment, loyalty and 
hard work.

* 

 Constant currency is an alternative performance measure used to assess 
the performance of the Group. Revenue and underlying profit for the 
year are translated at the prior year exchange rates to provide a constant 
currency comparison. Refer to the appendices to the financial statements 
for further explanation of this measure.

**   Refer to Note 6 for details of change to the prior year comparatives for 

Property and Facilities Management and Consultancy.

21

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW continued

The Savills Group advises on commercial, residential, rural 
and leisure property. We also provide corporate finance 
advice, investment management and a range of property-
related financial services. Operations are conducted 
internationally through four business streams

Transaction Advisory

£772.9m

Revenue

-17%

YOY change

2023

2022

£772.9m

£930.1m

£4.3m

Underlying profit

2023

£4.3m

2022

-94%
YOY change

£71.9m

35%

Contribution to 
Group revenue  
(%)

  Transaction 
Advisory

 Rest of Group

65%

Transaction Advisory
Overall, our Transaction Advisory revenue decreased by 
17% (16% on constant currency basis) to £772.9m (2022: 
£930.1m). Globally our commercial capital transaction 
business revenue decreased by 30% and our leasing 
and occupier-focused transactional revenues by 9%. 
Our Global Residential business revenue reduced by 
19% against a strong comparative in 2022.

22

Underlying profits fell to £4.3m (2022: £71.9m), 
reflecting the impact of sharply reduced volumes 
transacted worldwide and the Group’s policy of retaining 
core bench-strength during market corrections to 
maintain client service and enable the Group to benefit 
from future market recovery.

Asia Pacific Commercial
Revenue from the Asia Pacific Commercial Transactional 
business decreased by 30% to £102.1m (2022: £145.3m), 
a decrease of 27% in constant currency. 

There were significant revenue reductions across the 
region as markets began to recalibrate in the face of 
interest rate rises and other challenges. In China, we 
did not see the broad return of transaction volumes 
which was anticipated after the end of COVID-related 
lockdowns in Q1 2023. Instead, transactional revenues 
declined by approximately 15% in China and 6% in Hong 
Kong in comparison with a low base in 2022. However, 
the recently recruited logistics teams performed well 
and enabled the mainland Chinese transaction business 
largely to mitigate the effect of the revenue fall on 
profits. The other principal countries showing revenue 
and profit reduction year-on-year were Australia, which 
was one of the last markets to begin recalibration, 
Singapore, South Korea and Japan, albeit the latter 
came off a record performance in 2022 and continued 
to trade profitably during 2023.

Overall the Asia Pacific Commercial Transactional 
business recorded underlying losses of £2.9m (2022: 
£13.4m underlying profit).

UK Commercial
UK Commercial Transactional revenue fell by 15% to 
£100.6m (2022: £118.9m), reflecting fewer transactions 
in investment markets and more subdued leasing activity. 

Just over £39bn of commercial property investments 
were traded in the UK in 2023, which is 41% lower 
than the previous year and 38% down on the five-year 
average. All commercial property sectors experienced 
lower investment volumes in 2023 than 2022, with the 
largest fall being in offices (-47%) and the smallest 
being in retail (-12%).

While the second half of 2023 saw the Bank of England 
base rate stabilise, this did not quickly feed through into 
a notable pick-up in commercial property investment 
activity in the UK. Rather, Savills increased its share of 
available market activity, for instance in prime Grade A 
sustainable office transactions. Indeed, Savills advised on 
11 of the 16 largest transactions to occur in the year.

Annual report and accounts 2023Economic uncertainty continued to delay corporate 
decision-making which resulted in a reduction in take-up 
across all the main commercial property sectors in most 
markets. One exception to this trend was the drive for 
sustainability which saw take-up in the City of London 
office market (Grade A with high sustainability rating) 
increase by 12% year-on-year. However, at a national level, 
office leasing activity outside London was 12% down 
on 2022 and large logistics take-up was down 40% 
year-on-year.

As a result, despite market share gains, underlying profits 
fell by 31% to £14.0m (2022: £20.4m) with a reduced 
margin of 13.9% (2022: 17.2%).

North America
Revenue from the North America Transactional business 
decreased to £266.7m (2022: £303.5m), a 12% decrease 
at both prevailing and constant currency rates. 

The overwhelming majority of North American revenue 
relates to occupier leasing transactions across the 
office sector, which were considerably affected by 
the understandable tendency for corporate occupiers 
to delay transactions in the face of uncertain market 
conditions. We saw growth in Southern California, 
Washington DC, Chicago and in the US segment of the 
recently launched Global Occupier Services business, 
which more than doubled revenue, albeit off a low base. 
These partially mitigated reductions in activity elsewhere. 
In the major metropolitan markets such as New York and 
San Francisco where the continuation of homeworking 
in the face of return-to-work strategies, in the financial 
services and technology sectors particularly, restricted 
demand for offices for much of the year. There were 
signs of improved activity emerging in Q4 2023, which 
should support improved performance in 2024. Capital 
markets revenues reduced by 48% to £12.4m (2022: 
£23.7m) as investors came to terms with both reduced 
occupier demand for metropolitan office space and the 
rising cost of debt.

Profits were significantly impacted by the effect of 
market conditions on revenue. During the year a 
focused restructuring exercise was carried out to 
improve profitability in the future, as well as continuing 
investment in growth of the newly established Occupier 
Services platform. The business recognised an overall 
underlying loss of £7.4m (2022: £2.3m underlying profit).

Continental Europe and the Middle East
In CEME, transaction fee income decreased by 12% to 
£114.6m (2022: £129.8m); 10% in constant currency. 

The primary market-related themes were similar to those 
experienced elsewhere, however the extent of their 
impact alongside other more local issues, particularly in 
Germany, continental Europe’s largest real estate market, 
was significant to the extent that our transactional 
business there made a material loss. Germany is one of 
the slowest global markets to recalibrate and market 
conditions in France were not dissimilar.

In contrast, our businesses in the Middle East, Italy, 
Czech Republic and Portugal saw transactional revenue 
growth as a consequence of both organic investment 
and recent acquisition activity. Spain and Ireland 
showed considerable resilience in their transactional 
performances too, maintaining strong market share. 
We continued to grow market share in many countries 
but could not mitigate the effect of volume reductions 
in most markets.

Profitability was impacted primarily by the significant 
downturn in activity causing losses in both the major 
markets of France and Germany and also in the 
Netherlands and Belgium. This together with increased 
interest costs on CEME net borrowings resulted in an 
underlying loss for the year of £20.3m (2022: £2.7m 
underlying loss).

UK Residential
UK Residential Transactional revenue decreased 
by 18% to £171.0m (2022: £208.3m), reflecting the 
decrease in market volumes with successive interest 
rate rises and the consequent fall in mortgage approvals 
dampening demand. 

Second hand sales revenue declined by 23% with a 
reduction in the number of exchanges of 23% to 4,735 
(2022: 6,124). This was exacerbated by a decrease in the 
average sales value by 4% to £1.61m (2022: £1.68m). In 
London the average lot size transacted by Savills was 
down 3% to £2.23m and by 8% to £1.27m in the regions. 
Volumes in both the regional UK market and central 
London declined significantly, but consistent with our 
expectations.

Revenue from the sale of new homes reduced 24% 
year-on-year, reflecting a decrease of 27% in the number 
of exchanges, much of which occurred in the regional 
markets with London more resilient, which was also 
manifested by an 8% increase in average value transacted.

Underlying profit reduced by 45% to £19.4m (2022: 
£35.1m), reflecting the effect of the revenue reduction 
year-on-year. This performance represented an 
underlying profit margin of 11.4% (2022: 16.9%).

Asia Pacific Residential
Revenue from the Asia Pacific Residential Transaction 
business decreased by 26% to £17.9m (2022: £24.3m), 
a fall of 24% in constant currency.

86% of the regional revenue was generated in Greater 
China, where debt costs drove falls in revenue of between 
22% and 25% in mainland China and Hong Kong, although 
profits from those regions only fell by £0.7m in aggregate. 
Elsewhere revenues reduced by between 20% and 50%, 
the latter in Singapore where market conditions, including 
the impact of stamp duty for non-residents, were also 
reflected in a temporarily reduced share of profit from our 
associate, Huttons. The effect of these reductions were 
partially mitigated by small increases in profitability in 
our businesses in Thailand and Vietnam, however overall 
underlying profits fell to £1.5m (2022: £3.4m).

23

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW continued

Property and Facilities Management
Our Property and Facilities Management businesses 
continued to perform well, with revenues growing by 11% 
to £899.5m (2022: £813.9m); 11% in constant currency. 
Savills total area under management increased by 7% 
to 2.63bn sq ft (2022: 2.47bn sq ft). Underlying profit 
increased by 5% to £48.8m (2022: £46.5m), 6% in 
constant currency.

Asia Pacific
In Asia Pacific, Property Management revenue was 
£447.1m, an increase of 10% year-on-year (2022: 
£404.9m); 12% increase in constant currency.

Revenue grew across the region with improved 
performances in Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam. 
Hong Kong experienced revenue growth of 1% overall, 
however much of this was in lower margin Facilities 
Management, which did not mitigate the effect of 
a reduced contribution from a long-standing joint 
venture in Macau as the leisure industry there saw much 
reduced throughput-related demand. In mainland China, 
revenue growth of 2% was offset by growth in staff 
costs, including temporary staff filling vacancies caused 
in part by migration. Meanwhile in Singapore, revenue 
and profitability were significantly enhanced through a 
much improved performance by Absolute Maintenance 
Services Pte Limited and Solute Pte Limited (‘AMS’), 
both acquired the previous year.

The Asia Pacific region’s underlying profits increased by 
6% year-on-year to £22.2m (2022: £21.0m) reflecting a 
slightly reduced margin of 5.0% (2022: 5.2%).

UK
The UK Property Management business grew revenues 
by 9% to £355.7m (2022: £327.4m) with square footage 
under management increasing by 4% (31 December 
2023: 600.1m sq ft, 31 December 2022: 577.0m sq ft). 
During the year we continued to diversify our Facilities 
Management business into new service lines, such as 
car park consultancy, as well as securing significant 
new mandates.

Our Residential Lettings business had another successful 
year with revenues and profit increasing by 6%. This 
was primarily driven by the London market which was 
characterised by strong tenant demand, albeit with 
reduced supply.

Finally, our rural management business also performed 
well with revenue growth of 5% and significant profit 
improvement.

Overall, the UK Property Management business increased 
underlying profit by 17% to £30.4m (2022: £25.9m).

24

Property and Facilities Management

£899.5m

Revenue

+11%
YOY change

2023

2022

£899.5m

£813.9m

£48.8m

Underlying profit

+5%

YOY change

£48.8m

£46.5m

40%

Contribution to 
Group revenue  
(%)

  Property 
and Facilities 
Management

 Rest of Group

2023

2022

60%

Continental Europe and the Middle East
CEME Property Management revenues increased by 
19% to £96.7m (2022: £81.6m); the same on a constant 
currency basis. Over half of this increase was in respect 
of pass-through costs for outsourced services in 
Germany, which had no effect on profits.

Revenues grew in all regions, reflecting significant contract 
wins in the Middle East, Spain, Ireland and Poland.

Area under management at 31 December 2023 was 
294.8m sq ft., up 11% on last year (31 December 2022: 
265.4m sq ft.).

Profitability and margins in the CEME businesses were 
significantly affected by initial scale up costs on new 
contract wins, inflationary cost pressures, reduced levels 
of profitable ad hoc consultancy work in the prevailing 
economic environment and a higher interest cost on 
debt balances associated with recent acquisitions. As 
a result, the CEME business recognised an underlying 
loss of £3.8m (2022: £0.4m loss).

Annual report and accounts 2023Consultancy
Global Consultancy revenue increased by 4% to £459.8m 
(2022: £441.5m), 5% at constant currency rates. Much of 
the revenue growth derived from lower margin service 
lines, whilst some of the higher margin services were 
materially affected by either reduced market volumes (e.g. 
security valuations) or the impact of market sentiment 
on client willingness to commit to longer-term projects 
(e.g. Development Consultancy/Planning). In addition, the 
cost base was affected by salary inflation in respect of 
professional consultants. These factors were most marked 
during the first half of the year. Thereafter, we experienced 
improved activity particularly in Q4, improving on our H1 
2023 underlying profit decline of 55% to end the year with 
underlying profit decreasing by only 14% to £35.6m (2022: 
£41.3m); 13% on a constant currency basis.

UK
The UK Consultancy businesses, comprising a broad 
range of advisory activities, increased revenue by 9% 
to £271.0m (2022: £248.4m).

Revenue growth came from most main service lines 
with the exception of Development Consultancy, as 
developers delayed projects in the prevailing economic 
climate. Project Management Consultancy continued 
to grow well with increasing numbers of Green “retro-
fit” assignments. Housing Consultancy also performed 
well and, whilst Planning Consultancy revenue grew 
somewhat, it was largely derived from smaller project 
work, rather than master planning and major schemes, 
with a consequent reduction in profitability. 

The above factors in addition to professional staff cost 
increases, resulted in underlying profit increasing by 6% 
to £29.7m (2022: £28.0m).

Asia Pacific
In the Asia Pacific Consultancy segment, revenues 
decreased by 4% to £84.1m (2022: £87.4m); 1% on a 
constant currency basis. The overwhelming majority of 
revenues are earned in Australia, mainland China and Hong 
Kong. All of these were affected by reductions in valuation, 
development and research consultancy which linked to the 
impact of reduced transaction volumes on sentiment and 
in particular in China, the effect of economic conditions 
and debt on development activity.

Project management and green fit-out assignments 
in particular, improved performance in Singapore and 
selective markets in South East Asia.

The above factors resulted in underlying profit decreasing 
by 34% to £1.9m (2022: £2.9m), 31% in constant currency.

Continental Europe and the Middle East
Revenue increased by 6% (as reported and in constant 
currency) to £76.3m (2022: £71.9m).

Revenue growth was driven primarily by the Middle East, 
Portugal and Italy. Reduced revenue in Germany and 
Netherlands reflected substantially reduced valuation 
business as a result of reduced transactional activity in 
those markets. The cost base was further impacted by 
investment in new residential and workplace strategy 
recruitment in Germany and France respectively and 
increased interest costs on prior acquisitions. 

Consultancy

£459.8m

Revenue

2023

2022

+4%
YOY change

£459.8m

£441.5m

£35.6m

Underlying profit

-14%

YOY change

2023

2022

£35.6m

£41.3m

20%

Contribution to 
Group revenue  
(%)

  Consultancy

 Rest of Group

80%

Underlying profit fell by 42% to £5.0m (2022: £8.6m); 
41% in constant currency.

North America
This segment primarily comprises complex project 
management through Macro Consultants LLC (‘Macro’), 
a national project management consultancy business 
and T3 Advisors, a workplace solutions advisory firm 
specialising in the life sciences and technology sectors.

Revenue decreased by 16% to £28.4m (2022: £33.8m), 
as reported and in constant currency. This was primarily 
as a result of two factors. First, in Project Management, 
a major media business client put on indefinite hold a 
number of significant projects for the year, for which 
staff had already been allocated. Secondly, the T3 
business was affected by retrenchment in the technology 
sector. Both businesses significantly refocused to replace 
their work in progress pipelines but suffered losses 
during the year, which could only be partially mitigated 
by improvements in other consultancy services such as 
workplace and incentives consultancy. 

The impact of these factors resulted in an underlying 
loss of £1.0m (2022: £1.8m underlying profit).

25

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSInvestment Management

£105.8m

Revenue

2023

2022

-6%
YOY change

£105.8m

£112.8m

£14.8m

Underlying profit

-30%

YOY change

2023

2022

£14.8m

£21.2m

5%

Contribution to 
Group revenue  
(%)

  Investment 
Management

 Rest of Group

95%

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW continued

Investment Management
Despite the prolonged challenging macro environment, 
Savills Investment Management delivered a resilient 
result with revenue down 6% to £105.8m (2022: £112.8m), 
7% down on a constant currency basis.

The decrease was primarily due to a 35% reduction 
in transaction fees in line with the reduced activity in 
the overall market. Base management fees declined 
marginally to £84.0m (2022: £85.7m) and represented 
79% of gross revenues (2022: 76%). The decline was 
consistent with expectations as several existing products 
came to their natural end-of-life whilst new strategies 
were initiated during the year and will take time to 
build scale. 

AUM, including undrawn commitments, remained stable 
at £22.1bn (2022: £22.1bn). Successful new product 
launches and new mandates, as well as improved capital 
raising of £2.0bn (2022: £1.6bn) despite the difficult 
market conditions were offset by disposal activity and 
valuation reductions during the period. The relationship 
with Samsung Life continued well, with Samsung having 
committed its contracted $1bn to various products, much 
of which is yet to be deployed and is included in the 
approximately £1.7bn of investable funds carried over to 
2024. At the most recent measurement date prior to this 
report, 79% of funds (by AUM) continued to exceed their 
respective fund target or benchmark returns on a five-
year rolling basis.

Successes during the year include significant new 
mandates won in Spain and Italy and growth of the 
Living platform in the UK and continental Europe. DRC 
Savills Investment Management expanded into new 
territories, launching the DRC SIM Australia Real Estate 
Debt Fund and establishing its first position in the US 
real estate debt market through a joint venture with QCP 
LLC, an Atlanta based real estate debt manager. 

Underlying profits for Investment Management 
decreased by 30% to £14.8m (2022: £21.2m), 31% on a 
constant currency basis. In addition to the fall in revenue 
noted above, the year was also impacted by salary 
inflation in the sector and the cost of further platform 
growth for new product strategies, in advance of 
material revenues as capital is deployed. 

Mark Ridley
Group Chief Executive

26

Annual report and accounts 2023OVERVIEW

GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Chief Financial Officer’s review

Simon 
Shaw

Group Chief 
Financial 
Officer

The Group’s strength across our less 
transactional service lines continued 
to provide a resilient earnings stream 
and maintain our strong financial 
position. Our full-year performance 
for 2023 was in line with our 
expectations, given the significant 
challenges faced by global real 
estate markets in the year.”

Profit margin
Underlying profit margin decreased to 4.2% (2022: 
7.2%), see Note 2.3 and Note 8 for further explanation of 
underlying profit measures. From a trading perspective, 
this reflected the mix of business in the face of significant 
market-related revenue decreases substantially reducing 
profits in higher margin Transactional and Investment 
Management businesses, with revenue falling 17% and 
6% respectively. It also reflected Group policy to retain 
core bench-strength through market downturns in 
order to maintain client service and benefit from market 
recovery in due course. 

Reported pre-tax profit margin decreased to 2.5% 
(2022: 6.7%).

Taxation
The tax charge for the year decreased to £15.9m 
(2022: £34.1m), representing an effective tax rate on 
reported profit before tax of 28.7% (2022: 22.2%). The 
Group’s effective reported tax rate is higher than the UK 
effective rate of tax of 23.5% as a result of disallowable 
expenses largely arising from transaction-related costs.

The underlying effective tax rate increased to 22.3% 
(2022: 20.5%).

27

STRATEGIC REPORTCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW continued

Cash is typically retained in a number of the Group’s 
subsidiaries in order to meet the requirements of 
commercial contracts or capital adequacy. In addition, 
cash in certain territories is retained to meet future 
growth requirements.

The Group’s net inflow of cash is typically greater in the 
second half of the year. This is as a result of seasonality 
in trading and the major cash outflows associated with 
dividends, profit related remuneration payments and 
related payroll taxes in the first half. The Group cash 
inflow for the year from operating activities was £18.8m 
(2022: £164.0m). As previously mentioned, this reduction 
was due to reduced profits year-on-year and the related 
short-term increase in net working capital.

With a significant proportion of the Group’s revenue 
typically being transactional in nature, the Board’s 
strategy is to maintain low levels of gearing, but retain 
sufficient credit facilities to enable it to meet cash 
requirements during the year and finance the majority 
of business development opportunities as they arise.

Capital and Shareholders’ interests
During the year 4,322 (2022: 68,739) new ordinary 
shares were issued on the exercise of options by 
participants of the Group’s SAYE schemes and 32,549 
(2022: 81,098) of new ordinary shares were issued to 
participants of the Group’s PSP schemes. The total 
number of ordinary shares in issue (before the impact 
of shares held by the Savills plc 1992 Employee Benefit 
Trust and the Savills Rabbi Trust) at 31 December 2023 
was 144,389,919 (2022: 144,353,048).

Savills Pension Scheme
The funding level of the defined benefit Savills Pension 
Scheme in the UK, which is closed to future service-
based accrual, worsened during the year, with lower 
asset returns reducing the value of the Scheme’s 
assets and a rise in the yield on AA-rated corporate 
bonds increasing the Scheme’s liabilities. The plan was 
in a deficit position of £0.7m at the year-end (2022: 
£22.3m surplus).

Net assets
Net assets as at 31 December 2023 were £752.8m (2022: 
£805.3m). This movement reflects primarily the Group’s 
profit for the year offset by currency translation losses, 
reflecting the strengthening of sterling during the year, 
purchases of treasury shares, dividend payments and 
actuarial losses recognised on the Group’s defined 
benefit pension schemes.

Transaction-related costs
During the year the Group recognised a total of £14.6m 
in transaction-related costs (2022: £15.5m). These costs 
primarily represent liabilities for future consideration 
payments which are contingent on the continuity of 
recipients’ employment at the time of payment (2023: 
£12.7m, 2022: £14.8m). The largest individual component 
of this charge related to the acquisition during 2021 of 
the 75% partnership interests in DRC Capital LLP, which 
the Group did not already then own. 

These charges have been excluded from the calculation 
of underlying profit on a consistent basis in line with the 
Group’s policy.

Restructuring costs 
In response to the challenging market conditions, during 
the year, management conducted a focussed review of 
the Group’s businesses, where market recovery was not 
anticipated to be significant in the short or medium term. 
As described in the CEO’s review, this resulted in non-
recurring restructuring costs of £13.9m in aggregate.

Accordingly, these charges have been excluded from the 
calculation of underlying profit on a consistent basis in 
line with the Group’s policy.

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share decreased 66% to 30.0p 
(2022: 87.0p), reflecting a 67% decrease in reported 
profit after tax. Adjusted on a consistent basis for 
significant restructuring, transaction-related costs, profits 
and losses on disposals, certain share-based payment 
adjustments, amortisation of intangible assets arising 
from business combinations, impairments of goodwill 
and significant transaction-related fair value gains, 
underlying basic earnings per share decreased 42% 
to 55.1p (2022: 94.9p).

Fully diluted earnings per share decreased by 65% to 
28.8p (2022: 82.2p). The underlying fully diluted earnings 
per share decreased 41% to 52.9p (2022: 89.8p).

Cash resources, borrowings and liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents, net of overdrafts in notional 
pooling arrangements, at year end decreased 33% to 
£314.5m (2022: £467.1m). This decrease reflected the 
Group’s reduced profitability in the year and the related 
increase in net working capital.

Gross borrowings at year end decreased to £157.2m 
(2022: £159.7m). These principally comprise £150.0m 
(2022: £150.0m) of 7, 10 and 12 year fixed rate notes 
which were issued in June 2018. The Group’s £360.0m 
UK revolving credit facility (‘RCF’) was undrawn at 
the end of the year (2022: undrawn), part of a total 
of £422.0m (2022: £426.2m) of undrawn borrowing 
facilities available to the Group. At the year end, cash 
and cash equivalents net of borrowings was £157.3m 
(2022: £307.4m).

28

Annual report and accounts 2023Key performance indicators (‘KPIs’)
The Group uses a number of KPIs to measure its 
performance and review the impact of management 
strategies. These KPIs are detailed under the Key 
Performance Indicators section on pages 18 and 19. The 
Group continues to review the mix of KPIs to ensure that 
these best measure its performance against its strategic 
objectives, in both financial and non-financial areas.

Financial policies and risk management
The Group has financial risk management policies 
which cover financial risks considered material to the 
Group’s operations and results. These policies are subject 
to continuous review in light of developing regulation, 
accounting standards and practice. Compliance with 
these policies is mandatory for all Group companies and 
is reviewed regularly by the Board. Refer to Note 3 to the 
financial statements for further information on financial 
risk management.

Treasury policies and objectives
The Group Treasury policy is designed to reduce the 
financial risks faced by the Group, which primarily relate 
to funding and liquidity, interest rate exposure and 
currency rate exposures. The Group does not engage in 
trades of a speculative nature and only uses derivative 
financial instruments to hedge certain risk exposures. 
The Group’s financial instruments comprise borrowings, 
cash and liquid resources and various other items such 
as trade receivables and trade payables that arise 
directly from its operations. Surplus cash balances are 
generally held with A rated banks or better.

Interest rate risk
The Group finances its operations through a mixture 
of retained profits and borrowings, at both fixed and 
floating interest rates. Borrowings issued at variable rates 
expose the Group cash flow to interest rate risk, which is 
partially offset by cash held at variable rates. Borrowings 
issued at fixed rates expose the Group to fair value 
interest rate risk. Group policy is to maintain at least 70% 
of its borrowings in fixed rate instruments.

Liquidity risk
The Group prepares an annual funding plan which 
is approved by the Board and sets out the Group’s 
expected financing requirements for the next 12 months. 
These requirements are ordinarily expected to be met 
through existing cash balances, loan facilities and 
expected cash flows for the year.

£157.3m

Cash and cash 
equivalents,  
net of borrowings
(2022: £307.4m)

30.0p

Reported 
earnings 
per share
(2022: 87.0p)

55.1p
Underlying 
earnings  
per share
(2022: 94.9p)

Foreign currency
The Group operates internationally and is exposed to 
foreign exchange risks. As both revenue and costs in 
each location are generally denominated in the same 
currency, transaction-related risks are relatively low 
and generally associated with intra Group activities. 
Consequently, the overriding foreign currency risk relates 
to the translation of overseas profits and losses into 
sterling on consolidation. The Group does not actively 
seek to hedge risks arising from foreign currency 
translations due to their non-cash nature.

The net impact of foreign exchange rate movements 
during the year represented a £14.4m decrease in 
revenue and a £0.7m decrease in underlying profit. 
Refer to Note 3.2 to the financial statements and the 
appendices for further information on foreign exchange 
risk and movements during the year.

Simon Shaw
Group Chief Financial Officer

29

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSPRINCIPAL & EMERGING RISKS & UNCERTAINTIES FACING THE BUSINESS

A robust framework for 
identifying and managing risk

The Board is responsible for 
the Group’s system of risk 
management and internal control. 
Risk management is recognised 
as an integral part of the 
Group’s activities.”

Identifying and managing our risks
The Board determines the Group’s appetite for risk in 
pursuit of strategic objectives, and the level of risk that 
can be taken by the Group and its operating companies. 
Savills businesses worldwide are responsible for executing 
their activities in accordance with the risk appetite set 
by the Board, complemented by the Savills Code of 
Conduct, Group policies and delegated authority limits.

Risk is assessed across the Group using a systematic 
risk-management model covering both external and 
internal factors and the potential impact, timing 
of impact, and likelihood of those risks occurring. 
Conclusions from risk assessments are incorporated into 
Risk Registers at Principal Business and Group-level, 
which evolve to reflect changes in identified principal 
risks and the emergence of new risks and uncertainties. 
Where it is considered that a risk can be mitigated 
further, responsibilities are assigned and action plans are 
agreed. Principal risks are those to which the Board and 
senior management pay particular attention and which 
could cause the delivery of the Group’s strategy, results, 
financial condition or prospects to differ materially 
from expectations. Emerging risks are those which 
have unknown components, the impact of which could 
crystallise over a longer period of time.

We aim to continuously strengthen our risk management, 
with more dynamic risk detection, visibility of the linkage 
between risks across the Group.

The Group Director of Risk & Assurance facilitates the 
risk assessment and evaluation process with Group and 
Principal/business unit management, and challenges risk 
findings and the internal control framework to ensure 
that these are effective. Risk owners periodically attend 
the Group Risk and Audit Committees to present their 
in-depth analysis of risks to ensure they are aligned with 
an accepted risk tolerance.

Group policies and delegated authority levels set by the 
Board provide the basis against which potential risks are 
reviewed and escalated to the appropriate level within 
the Group, up to and including the Board, for review 
and confirmation.

We have a clear framework for identifying and managing 
risk, both at a financial, operational and strategic level. 
Our risk identification and mitigation processes have 
been designed to be appropriate to the ever-changing 
environments in which we operate.

30

Annual report and accounts 2023Plc Board

Audit Committee

Group Executive Board

Group Risk Committee  
and Group ESG Committee 

Principal Business Executive Committees

Group Risk

Heads of Group  
functions

Heads of operating 
companies

Key risks: 
Heads of Group 
functions identify the 
key risks and develop 
mitigation actions

Key risks: 
Heads of operating 
companies create 
a register of their 
principal risks and 
mitigation actions

Review and confirmation
Review and confirmation by the Board.

Process
Risks and mitigation reviewed by Audit 
Committee after validation by the Group Risk 
Committee and Executive Boards/Committees.

Ongoing review and control
There is ongoing review of the risks and the 
controls in place to mitigate these risks.

Review and assessment
Group Director of Risk and Assurance 
consolidates the risks identified by the Principal 
Businesses, functional and Group risks to 
compile the Group’s key risks. Any significant 
programme/project risks are also considered 
and factored into the Group Principal Risks.

The Savills Investment Management business has its own 
comprehensive and regulatory-compliant framework for identifying 
and managing risk, reporting to the Group’s Risk and Audit 
Committees and Board.

Roles and responsibilities
The Board continuously reviews the Group’s principal 
risks and is supported in the discharge of this 
responsibility by various committees, and in particular 
the Audit Committee, the Group Risk Committee and 
the Group Executive Board.

The risk management roles and responsibilities of the 
Board, its Committees, and business management are 
set out below, and all of these responsibilities have been 
discharged during the year.

1.  Board
Responsibilities
 ƒ Approves the Group’s strategy
 ƒ Determines Group risk appetite in the context of the 
 ƒ Establishes and monitors the Group’s systems of risk 

Group achieving its strategic objectives

management and internal control.

The Audit Committee supports the Board by monitoring 
risk and reviewing the effectiveness of internal controls, 
including systems to identify, assess, manage and 
monitor risks.

Audit and other assurance activities

Actions
 ƒ Receives regular reports on Internal and External 
 ƒ Receives regular risk updates from the 
 ƒ Determines the nature and extent of the principal 

Principal Businesses

Group risks and assesses the effectiveness of 
mitigating actions

management and internal control systems

 ƒ Annually reviews the effectiveness of risk 
 ƒ Approves the Group risk management policy.

31

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSPRINCIPAL & EMERGING RISKS & UNCERTAINTIES FACING THE BUSINESS continued

3.  Principal Business Executive Committees
Responsibilities
 ƒ Responsible for risk management and internal control 
 ƒ Monitor the discharge of responsibilities by business 

systems within the relevant regions/businesses

units within the relevant regions/businesses.

Actions
 ƒ Review key risks and mitigation plans
 ƒ Review results of assurance activities
 ƒ Escalate key risks to Group Management and Group 

Executive Board and the Plc Board.

4.  Heads of the Group functions and 

operating companies

Responsibilities
 ƒ Maintain an effective system of risk management and 

internal control within their function/business unit.

Actions
 ƒ Regularly review operational, project, functional and 
 ƒ Review mitigating controls, whether financial, 

strategic risks as well as emerging risks

operational or compliance and mitigation plans to 
address control gaps

 ƒ Plan, execute and report on assurance activities as 

required by Regional or Group Management.

The Group’s overall risk management framework is 
further enhanced by the contributions of specialist 
groups, for example, the Group Information Security 
Committee. As appropriate, certain businesses also 
have their own risk committees.

Savills continuously reviews and enhances its 
risk management process and seeks advice from 
independent advisors where applicable.

2.  Group Executive Board
Responsibilities
 ƒ Strategic leadership of the Group’s operations
 ƒ Ensures that the Group’s risk management and other 
 ƒ Monitors that appropriate actions are taken to 

policies are implemented and embedded

manage material strategic risks and key risks arising 
within the risk appetite set by the Board

 ƒ Considers emerging risks in the context of the 

Group’s strategic objectives and the global macro-
economic and socio-political environment

 ƒ Approves Group policies
 ƒ Monthly/quarterly finance and performance reviews
 ƒ Receives updates from Group Risk Committee
 ƒ Monitors the application of risk appetite and the 

effectiveness of risk management processes. The 
Group Risk Committee and Board also consider the 
Group’s overall risk appetite in the context of the 
negative impact that the Group can sustain before 
the Group’s business model, future performance, 
solvency or liquidity are threatened.

Actions
 ƒ Review of risk management and assurance activities 

and processes.

PRINCIPAL AND EMERGING RISKS

The Directors have carried out a robust assessment 
of the principal risks facing the Company – 
including those that would threaten its business 
model, future performance, solvency, liquidity 
and/or pose a material reputational risk. Our 
consideration of these key risks and uncertainties 
relating to the Group’s operations, along with 
their potential impact and the mitigations in 
place, is set out on pages 30 to 36. There may 
be risks and uncertainties other than those listed 
which may also adversely affect the Group and its 
performance. More detail can be found in the Audit 
Committee Report on pages 118 to 126.

We also conduct a formal exercise twice yearly to 
identify and assess emerging risks. While assessing 
potential emerging risks we have considered our 
risk exposure across a number of themes, e.g. 
finance and economics, geopolitical and security, 
social, technological, climate and sustainability. 
Emerging risk and horizon scanning are integrated 
as part of regular risk discussions and reported at 
both regional and Group level.

32

Annual report and accounts 2023In summary, the Group’s principal existing and emerging risks (not in order of priority) are:

1 Market conditions, macro-economic and 

geopolitical issues.

2 Achieving the right market positioning to 

meet the needs of our clients.

3 Recruitment and retention of 
high-calibre employees.

4 Reputational and brand risk. 

7 Operational resilience/business continuity. 

8 Business conduct. 

9 Changes in the regulatory environment/ 

regulatory breaches.

10 Acquisition/integration risk. 

5 Legal risk. 

11 Environment and sustainability. 

6 Failure or significant interruption to IT systems 

causing disruption to client service.

Risk

Description

Mitigations

1  MARKET CONDITIONS, MACRO-ECONOMIC AND GEOPOLITICAL ISSUES

Change 
from 2022

Strategic 
objective: 
Geographic 
diversification/
Financial 
strength

Global markets have seen increased volatility, 
with geopolitical and macro-economic risk, 
particularly in relation to inflation and resultant 
interest rate increases, with the consequent 
impact of increased interest rates on real estate 
values, resulting in uncertainty in many sectors.
This macro-economic uncertainty could 
lead to a material contraction in real estate 
transactional activity.
Political change could bring changes in 
policy focus and economic outlook with 
a consequential impact on real estate 
transaction markets. 
Inflation and consequential increases in interest 
rates have impacted market sentiment and 
investor confidence, with the speed at which 
individual investment/transactional markets will 
recalibrate to the current/anticipated cost of 
debt uncertain.
Group earnings and our financial condition 
could be adversely affected by these and other 
macro-economic uncertainties. Savills operates 
in a number of countries where transactional 
business is the largest component, increasing 
the level of risk in relation to earnings.
There is a currency risk from operating in a 
large number of countries.

As this is in an externally driven risk, the risk 
landscape is fluctuating with wider economic 
interventions and geopolitical challenges.
Savills has a relatively resilient business model with a 
strong brand and focus on excellence in client service.
Our strategy of diversifying our service offering 
and geographic spread mitigates the impact on 
the Group of macro-economic downturns and 
weak transactional market conditions in specific 
geographies, but this strategy cannot entirely 
mitigate the overall risk to earnings. To manage 
these risks further, we maintain a continuous 
focus on our cost-base and seek to improve 
operational efficiencies.
Contingency plans are in place to enable us to 
respond quickly to market information, economic 
trends and adverse events.
Continual monitoring of market conditions, market 
changes and other events, against our Group 
strategy, supported by the reforecasting and 
reporting in all of our businesses, are key to our 
ability to respond on a timely basis to changes in 
our operating environment.
Our exposure to countries with economies which 
are currently weak is balanced by our business in 
stronger markets. When considering new market 
entry we undertake due diligence including the 
impact assessment of political and economic 
issues in that particular country.
We manage currency risk in local operations 
through natural hedging and matching revenue 
and costs in the same currency.

2  ACHIEVING THE RIGHT MARKET POSITIONING IN RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS

Strategic 
objective: 
Business 
diversification/
Strength in 
Residential and 
Commercial 
markets/
Geographical 
diversification/
Commitment 
to clients

The markets in which we operate are highly 
competitive. Competition could lead to a 
reduction in market share resulting in a decline 
in revenue. Failure to respond to changing 
service requirements from clients, to innovate 
or execute on transformational activities could 
impact profitability and market share. Our 
focus is on retaining existing clients as well as 
engaging with new clients. Our service offering 
continuously evolves and improves to meet 
the changing needs of our clients and this 
will continue as changes to our clients’ real 
estate requirements change, as a result of, for 
example, climate change.

Change from 2022:  

 Up  

 Down  

 Unchanged

To remain competitive in all markets and deliver 
return to investors, we continue to promote 
and differentiate our strengths while focusing 
on providing the quality of service that our 
clients require.
We continue to invest in the development of client 
relationships, our businesses and people and 
associated systems/digital technology to support, 
enhance and extend our client service offering.

33

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSPRINCIPAL & EMERGING RISKS & UNCERTAINTIES FACING THE BUSINESS continued

Risk

Description

Mitigations

3  RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF HIGH-CALIBRE STAFF

Change 
from 2022

We continue to invest in the development of 
our people and our learning and development 
programmes across the business. Reflecting the 
change to working patterns, Savills has maintained 
its flexible approach to office working while 
ensuring that client service remains at the highest 
level. We focus on fostering a diverse and inclusive 
culture across all our businesses which allows all 
our people to bring their true whole selves to work 
and be best they can be. 
Our partnership-style culture and profit-sharing 
approach to remuneration are combined with 
selective use of share-based and other rewards to 
incentivise and retain our best people for the long-
term benefit of the Group. We continuously review 
our markets to ensure that reward packages 
remain competitive.
We aim to develop talent and promote from 
within. Our Diversity and Inclusion strategy, health 
and wellbeing programmes and encouragement 
of charitable activities and participation in the 
communities in which our businesses operate, all 
combine to ensure that our businesses have an 
inclusive culture, provide our employees with the 
ability to be the best they can be and maintain their 
‘employer of choice’ status.

We recognise that our brand strength is vital to 
maintaining market share in established and new 
markets. A brand management programme is in 
place to ensure the brand’s positioning and identity 
is clearly and consistently promoted.
Our social media policy is supported by 
guidance and training as well as ongoing 
monitoring. All external statements have to be 
appropriately approved.
We recognise that the quality of the service we 
offer is vital to maintaining the brand. We have in 
place policies, controls and processes to monitor 
the quality of our client service to support our 
programme of continuous improvement.
The Group has well established Environmental, 
Social and Governance (‘ESG’) programmes as 
set out in Responsible Business on pages 38 to 73 
to support our brand values.

The Group has a range of policies in place including 
client acceptance, legal and regulatory compliance, 
data protection, health and safety, procurement, 
contractor management and valuation to mitigate 
contractual risk.
In particular we have Best Practice groups, policies, 
procedures and training which are designed to 
deliver the relevant contractual obligations and 
thereby mitigate against the risk of such actions/
claims being made and where such claims occur, 
to limit liability, particularly in relation to health and 
safety and consultancy services such as valuations. 
Such policies are regularly reviewed.
The Group maintains professional indemnity 
insurance to respond to and mitigate the Group’s 
financial exposure to any claims. As described 
below, our strong emphasis on appropriate 
business conduct by all our employees, contractors 
and associates further mitigates this risk.

Strategic 
objective: 
Financial 
strength/
Commitment 
to clients

We recognise that the future success of our 
business is dependent on attracting, developing, 
motivating and retaining people of the 
highest quality. 

4  REPUTATIONAL AND BRAND RISK

Strategic 
objective: 
Strength in 
Residential and 
Commercial 
markets/
Commitment 
to clients

Savills is a strong, well-recognised and valued 
brand with an excellent reputation in the 
markets in which it operates. The Group’s 
reputation could be damaged due to an action 
or event that results in negative media/social 
media coverage.
We recognise the need to maintain this 
reputation by ensuring the quality of the 
service we provide and as described below, 
requiring our people to operate to the highest 
ethical standards.

Failure to fulfil our legal or contractual 
obligations to clients could subject the Group to 
action and/or claims from clients. The adverse 
outcome of such actions/claims could negatively 
impact our reputation, financial condition and/or 
the results of our businesses.
For example:
 ƒ In accepting client engagements, Group 

companies are generally subject to client duty 
of care obligations. Failure to satisfy these 
obligations could result in claims being made 
against the relevant operating company.
 ƒ In our Property and Project Management 
businesses, we may be responsible for 
appointing or overseeing third-party 
contractors that provide construction and 
engineering services. In addition in our 
Property Management business we may be 
responsible for health and safety at site-level. 
Failure to discharge these responsibilities in 
accordance with our obligations could result 
in brand damage and/or claims being made 
against the operating companies.

 ƒ In our valuation consultancy businesses, we 

can be subject to claims, alleging, in particular 
the over-valuation of properties.

5  LEGAL RISK

Strategic 
objective: 
Financial 
strength/
Commitment 
to clients

34

Annual report and accounts 2023Risk

Description

Mitigations

Change 
from 2022

6  FAILURE OR SIGNIFICANT INTERRUPTION TO OUR IT SYSTEMS CAUSING DISRUPTION TO CLIENT SERVICE

Strategic 
objective: 
Financial 
strength/
Commitment 
to clients

Major failures in our IT systems may result 
in client service being interrupted or data 
being lost/corrupted causing damage to our 
reputation and consequential client and/or 
revenue loss.

There is a risk that a third-party cyber attack 
on our infrastructure by a malicious individual 
or group could be successful and impact the 
availability of critical systems.

7  OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE/BUSINESS CONTINUITY

Significant non-IT events may affect continuity 
of service to clients, consequential revenue loss 
and reputational damage.

Strategic 
objective: 
Financial 
strength/
Commitment 
to clients

Specific back-up and resilience requirements are 
built into our systems.

Our critical infrastructure is set up so far as is 
reasonably practical to prevent unauthorised 
access and reduce the likelihood and impact of 
a successful cyber attack.

Our data centres are accredited to international 
information security standards. Our IT strategy 
is to diversify our services utilising the cloud and 
hosting, in order to avoid a single point of failure.

Penetration testing and vulnerability testing is 
carried out regularly.

Business continuity and disaster recovery plans 
are in place to cover the residual risks that cannot 
be mitigated.

We continuously review our resilience to cyber 
attacks, implementing new systems and procedures 
to address continuously evolving and ongoing 
cyber threats.

Cyber insurance cover is in place.

Business continuity plans are in place across our 
businesses worldwide to enable us to respond to 
external incidents which threaten the continuity of 
our operations.

Continuity plans encompass a range of events that 
could impact on our people or buildings such as 
pandemics, terrorist events and natural disasters.

As with most other large international businesses, 
remote working capabilities are robust. We have 
teams and processes dedicated to disaster recovery 
and the implementation of business continuity 
plans that ensure that these can be activated 
across key teams at short notice if so required. 

8  BUSINESS CONDUCT

Strategic 
objective: 
Business 
diversification/
Geographical 
diversification/
Commitment 
to clients

Significant non-IT events may affect business 
continuity. We operate in international markets 
that may present business conduct-related 
risks involving, for example, fraud, bribery 
or corruption.

We have programmes to promote compliance with 
our Code of Conduct, particularly in areas of higher 
risk such as procurement.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to breaches of 
our Code of Conduct.

Failure by the Group and its employees to 
observe the highest standards of integrity and 
conduct in dealing with clients, suppliers and 
other stakeholders could result in civil and/or 
criminal penalties, regulatory sanction, debarring 
and/or reputational damage.

Change from 2022:  

 Up  

 Down  

 Unchanged

35

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSPRINCIPAL & EMERGING RISKS & UNCERTAINTIES FACING THE BUSINESS continued

Risk

Description

Mitigations

9  CHANGES IN THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT/REGULATORY BREACHES

Change 
from 2022

Our Group Policy Framework, which sets out 
our standards for professional, regulatory, 
statutory compliance and business conduct, is 
reviewed regularly.

To support this framework each business has 
its own regulatory compliance resources which 
monitor regulatory developments and maintain the 
internal processes and controls required to fulfil our 
compliance obligations.

Our compliance environment, at all levels, is subject 
to regular review by internal audit and external 
assurance providers.

Strategic 
objective: 
Commitment 
to clients

We are required to meet a broad range of 
regulatory compliance requirements in each of 
the markets in which we operate.

For example:

Some of our operations have regulatory licences:

In the UK, Savills Capital Advisors Limited 
and Savills Investment Management LLP are 
authorised and regulated by the Financial 
Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) in respect of activities 
conducted pursuant to the Markets in Financial 
Instruments Directive (‘MIFID’) and Alternative 
Investment Fund Managers Directive (‘AIFMD’).

Savills Investment Management entities are also 
variously authorised by the Bank of Italy, MAS 
in Singapore, BaFin in Germany, JFSC in Jersey, 
CSSF in Luxembourg and ASIC in Australia. 
Savills Group companies also hold financial 
services advisory licences in Japan. Our entities 
across the Group employ resources and maintain 
a framework of controls aimed at preventing our 
business being used to facilitate financial crime, 
and to comply with complex financial sanctions 
regimes which are continually changing in 
response to global events.

In addition, some of our service businesses 
are regulated by The Royal Institution of 
Chartered Surveyors (‘RICS’), for example, 
Savills (UK) Limited.

Failure to satisfy regulatory compliance 
requirements may result in fines being imposed, 
adverse publicity, brand/reputation damage 
and ultimately the withdrawal of regulatory 
approvals. We also have a number of key 
statutory obligations including the protection 
of the health, safety and welfare of our staff 
and others affected by our activities.

10 ACQUISITION/INTEGRATION RISK

The structuring and integration of acquisitions is 
critical to realising the benefits targeted. People, 
systems and processes are key components.

We apply the Group Acquisitions Policy and 
procedures and use professional advisors in the due 
diligence process, and allocate responsibility and 
accountability to individuals for integration. Post-
acquisition reporting ensures the Board is aware of 
progress against plan.

Strategic 
objective: 
Business 
diversification/
Geographical 
diversification/
Strength in 
Residential and 
Commercial 
markets/
Financial 
strength

11  ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Strategic 
objective: 
Commitment to 
clients/Financial 
strength

Environment and sustainability matters are a 
significant consideration for clients, employees 
and investors.

Savills offers its clients expert advice on 
a growing range of environmental and 
sustainability matters.

Savills, like all listed companies, has 
commitments and targets to meet in accordance 
with the legislation of the relevant jurisdictions.

We apply the Group’s Sustainability Policy and 
employ appropriately qualified and skilled teams. 
We are continuously enhancing our services in 
this area to ensure that we can provide clients, 
employees and investors with the best advice 
and information.

Savills has committed to net zero targets: Scope 
1 and 2 net zero by 2030; and Scope 3 (for 
controlled assets) by 2040.

We collect data and report in accordance with 
the relevant legislation and regulatory framework, 
including TCFD (Responsible Business pages 74 
to 80).

Change from 2022:  

 Up  

 Down  

 Unchanged

36

Annual report and accounts 2023VIABILITY STATEMENT

The longer-term viability of the Group is assessed for 
a period longer than for the going concern analysis. 
In accordance with Provision 31 of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code, the longer-term viability assessment 
was conducted for a period of three years, ending on 
31 December 2026, taking account of the Group’s current 
position and prospects, the Group’s strategic plan, and 
the Group’s principal risks and the management of those 
risks, as detailed in the Strategic Report on pages 6 to 
80. The Group’s emerging risks are also disclosed in the 
Strategic Report. This longer-term assessment supports 
the Board’s statements on both viability, as set out 
below, and going concern as set out on page 151.

Period for assessment
The Directors have determined that a three-year 
period would be an appropriate time frame for this 
assessment being consistent with the period covered 
by the Group’s strategic plan and the cyclical nature of 
property markets. The strategy and associated principal 
risks which underpin the Group’s three-year plan are 
reviewed by the Directors at least annually. The Directors 
also satisfied themselves that they have the evidence 
necessary to support the statement in terms of the 
effectiveness of the internal control environment in 
place to mitigate risk.

Viability assessment and key assumptions
Sensitivity analysis was undertaken on the three-year 
plan, including financing projections, to flex the financial 
forecasts under a variety of severe downside scenarios, 
which involved applying different assumptions to the 
underlying forecast both individually and in aggregate. 
These scenarios assess the potential impact from 
several macro-economic risks, including a severe global 
economic downturn analogous to that experienced 
during the Global Financial Crisis in 2008/09. The results 
of this sensitivity analysis showed that the Group would 
maintain significant available facility and covenant 
headroom to be able to withstand the impact of such 
scenarios over the period of the financial forecast, as 
a result of the resilience and diversity of the Group, 
underpinned by a strong balance sheet.

Performance against the three-year plan is monitored 
on an ongoing basis, including regular Board briefings 
provided by the Heads of the Principal Businesses on 
the progress made by those businesses. These reviews 
consider both the market opportunity and the associated 
risks. These risks are considered within the Board’s risk 
appetite framework. The Directors continue to monitor 
the principal risks facing the Group, including those that 
would threaten the execution of its strategy, its business 
model, future performance, solvency and liquidity. These 
principal risks and the consequent impact these might 
have on the Group are detailed on pages 30 to 36.

Viability statement
The Audit Committee reviews the output of the viability 
assessment in advance of final evaluation by the Board. 
Based on the Group’s strong net cash position and 
undrawn £360m Revolving Credit Facility at the year 
end, as described in the Chief Financial Officer’s review, 
combined with the assessment explained above and in 
accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, 
the Directors confirm that they have a reasonable 
expectation that the Group will be able to continue to 
operate and meet its liabilities as they fall due, over the 
three-year period ending 31 December 2026.

The Directors also considered it appropriate to prepare 
the financial statements on the going concern basis as 
explained in Note 2.2 to the accounts.

37

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSRESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

Helping both 
people and our 
environment  
to thrive

Sustainability and 
Environment
  Sustainability 

  Environment

  Savills Earth

Social
  Our clients

  Our people

  Community 

Read 
more 
on page 
46

Governance
  Human Rights

  Modern Slavery

  Speak-up

  TCFD

Read 
more 
on page 
40

Read 
more 
on page 
64

38

Annual report and accounts 2023We focus on those key areas where we believe we can 
make a difference and endeavour to manage our impact 
in a responsible and sustainable manner. To fulfil this aim 
we actively embrace a range of policies and practices 
that foster a positive approach towards people and the 
environment as an integral part of our day-to-day activities.

Group ESG Committee
 ƒ Responsible (with the Group Risk Committee) for 

overseeing climate-risk assessment and other aspects 
of the Group’s ESG agenda

 ƒ Tracks and monitors the delivery of the Group-

wide ESG targets which are aligned to the nine UN 
Sustainable Development Goals

 ƒ Chair: Group Legal Director & Company Secretary
 ƒ Lead: Group Sustainability Director.

TCFD workstream runs throughout
Our Group ESG Committee
Our ESG Committee, comprising senior representatives 
from our Principal Businesses and central teams, co-
ordinates our ESG strategy.

ESG Strategy
The ESG strategy is set at the Group level and is then 
implemented at the regional and country level. The ESG 
strategy aligns to the nine UN Sustainable development 
Goals where we believe we can make the most difference.

ESG Our Strategic Goals
The Group’s ESG strategy is focused where we believe 
we can make the most difference. It is developed and 
recommended by management and endorsed at Board 
level and is then implemented at regional and country level.

People

Developing Talent

Diversity & Inclusion

Promoting Health & Wellbeing

Commitment to 9 UN Sustainable 
Development Goals

Climate Change

Good Health and  
Well-Being

Quality Education

Gender Equality

Affordable and 
Clean Energy

Decent Work and 
Economic Growth

Sustainable Cities 
and Communities

Responsible 
Consumption 
and Production

Climate Action

Life on Land

Throughout 2023 Savills plc remained committed 
to achieving net zero for its operations (Scope 1 
and 2) in 2030 and for its value chain (Scope 3) 
greenhouse gas (‘GHG’) emissions by 2040. 
Savills also worked with the Science-Based 
Targets initiative (‘SBTi’) to verify near-term 
decarbonisation targets with as part of this, 
Savills being recognised by the Race to Zero 
and Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaigns. 

Subsequent to year end, in February 2024, Savills 
had near-term science-based carbon reduction 
targets validated by Science-Based Targets 
initiative (SBTi) as follows: 

 ƒ Savills plc commits to reduce absolute Scope 1 
and 2 GHG emissions 72% by 2030 from a 2019 
base year.

 ƒ Savills plc also commits to reduce Scope 3 GHG 
emissions from purchased goods and services 
51.6% per million GBP of value added by 2030 
from a 2022 base year.

 ƒ Savills plc further commits to reduce Scope 

3 GHG emissions from investments 51.6% per 
square meter within the same timeframe. 

Savills have a supplier commitment to influence 
stakeholders to work towards carbon neutrality.

In addition, Savills have comprehensive services 
offering Sustainability Consultancy.

39

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSRESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Sustainability and 
Environment

Savills recognises 
the need for urgent 
action by real 
estate owners and 
occupiers to help 
address the climate 
crisis and support 
the transition to 
a greener, more 
resilient economy.

40

CSR Excellence Awards

2023 Highlights
 ƒ Savills UK win Gold for Sustainability at 2023 International 
 ƒ Savills IM win “Most Responsible Investment Firm” at CSR 
 ƒ Savills IM wins Property Week’s Property Fund Manager 

Excellence Awards

of the Year award, demonstrating how sustainability is 
embedded into its investment management approach

 ƒ Savills Earth wins CIBSE Building Simulation Award 

2023 and is a CIBSE Building Simulation Young Modeller 
Award 2023 finalist

Prize Awards

 ƒ Savills Poland wins ESG Strategy category at Property 
 ƒ Savills Italy recognised for commitment to all-round 

sustainability in the Real Estate category at the LC 
Sustainability Awards

 ƒ Increased renewable energy tariffs across global office 

portfolio, for example, in the UK green electricity now 
accounts for 88% of our usage

 ƒ Increased use of efficient LED lighting, for example, in 

Continental Europe and the Middle East 80% of occupied 
floor area now uses LED lighting

2,816,950 trees

is now located in accredited, energy-efficient buildings

 ƒ 87% of total office space occupied by Savills North America 
 ƒ Savills Earth advised clients on the planting of 
 ƒ Savills has near-term 1.5°C-aligned carbon reduction 
 ƒ FTSE4Good rating to 3.5/5 and a Carbon Disclosure 

targets validated by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

Project (CDP), B rating from 2023 surveys.

Annual report and accounts 2023Environment – Our Strategy in Action
The Board is responsible overall for managing ESG 
and climate-related risks and realising opportunities, 
as detailed in the Governance section of the TCFD 
Disclosures on page 74.

A summary of our ESG strategy, which is founded on 
the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework, and 
our Sustainability Policy can be found here (https://
www.savills.com/why-savills/environmental-social-and-
governance.aspx)

Across the Group we continue to implement practical 
initiatives to improve the environmental performance 
of the workspaces that we occupy, including in the 
design of new offices, retro-fitting existing ones, and 
the ongoing active management of both. Initiatives 
underway across our office locations globally include:

 ƒ Ensuring each Principal Business has costed actions 

in place sufficient to meet wider Group Net Zero 
transition plans, aligned to our decarbonisation 
targets for 2030 and 2040 

renewable ‘green’ energy tariffs, where available 

 ƒ Replacement of standard electricity tariffs with certified 
 ƒ Ensuring that all future office fit-outs follow 

sustainability fit-out guidelines or industry equivalents 
e.g., BREEAM refurbishment 

 ƒ Ensuring that all new leases where possible, are 

consistent with requirements of the Savills Green 
Lease Guide

 ƒ Transitioning all company and leased cars away 

from petrol and diesel to low emission vehicles prior 
to 2028.

Our Net Zero Targets
Throughout 2023 Savills plc remained committed to 
achieving net zero for its operations (Scope 1 and 2) in 
2030 and for its value chain (Scope 3) greenhouse gas 
(‘GHG’) emissions by 2040. Savills also worked with the 
Science Based Targets initiative (‘SBTi’) to verify interim 
decarbonisation targets with as part of this, Savills being 
recognised by the Race to Zero and Business Ambition 
for 1.5°C campaigns. 

Subsequent to year end, in February 2024, Savills had 
near-term science-based carbon reduction targets 
validated by Science Based Targets initiative (‘SBTi’) 
as follows: 

Savills plc commits to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 
2 GHG emissions 72% by 2030 from a 2019 base 
year. Savills plc also commits to reduce Scope 3 GHG 
emissions from purchased goods and services 51.6% per 
million GBP of value added by 2030 from a 2022 base 
year. Savills plc further commits to reduce scope 3 GHG 
emissions from investments 51.6% per square meter 
within the same timeframe. 

Separately from our SBTi approved targets, Savills 
Group has a long-term target to achieve net zero for 
its operations (Scope 1 and 2) in 2030 and for its value 
chain (Scope 3) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 
by 2040.

41

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSRESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Sustainability and Environment continued

During the year we made progress on obtaining 
certified renewable energy tariffs. For the UK, renewable 
electricity tariffs now account for 88% of the total 
requirement (2022: 83%) with green gas tariffs now 
covering 91% of the UK leased office spaces. In CEME, 
12 of 38 offices now have green tariffs, an additional 2 
from 2022. In North America, our Chicago office started 
a green energy pilot in October and plans are in place 
for the New York HQ to be 100% green energy backed 
by RECs in 2024, with 25% already being sourced from 
green energy. Savills IM has also increased green tariffs 
with renewable energy now a source to some extent 
at Paris, Frankfurt (Main), Hamburg, Munich, Milan, 
Warsaw and Stockholm offices. There is still much more 
work to do on this agenda and we will continue to seek 
further improvement. 

Savills has continued to focus on improving the energy 
efficiency of our office locations globally. For example, 
in 2023 in the UK, 41 new Automatic Meter Reading 

(‘AMR’) meters were installed across c.40% of the office 
portfolio. Savills CEME has also worked to increase 
coverage of more efficient LED lighting. 22 of 38 Savills 
CEME offices now have full LED solutions, equating to 
80% of occupied floor area, increased from 17 offices in 
2022. Meanwhile, Savills Asia Pacific has offices in 9 out 
of 12 countries which are now close to 100% LED lighting. 
Others are well on the way to a managed transition, 
replacing with LED as old lighting requires replacement, 
for example, Savills Malaysia and Savills are replacing 
fluorescent light tubes with LED. For North America 87% 
of total office space occupied by Savills is now located 
in accredited, energy-efficient buildings.

In CEME, our teams continue the transition away from 
carbon fuel using vehicles, with the proportion of Electric 
Vehicles (‘EV’) now 10% and hybrid at 30%. The total 
CEME fleet continues to grow slightly at 4% compared 
to 2022, but with a decrease in fuel vehicles of 13% the 
transition is progressing. 

42

Annual report and accounts 2023Environmental Social and Governance (‘ESG’) 
training programmes
Savills CEME rolled out further ESG learning programmes 
to 10 countries in 2022 and then to the remaining 
countries in the first half of 2023, achieving full coverage. 
The combined completion rate for Savills CEME 
stands at over 80%. In 2023, Savills UK also launched 
a sustainability learning hub, containing three modules 
and a learning pathway including podcasts, articles and 
videos. For Savills Asia Pacific ESG learning is made 
available and the region is now working to develop 
further ESG learning and development programmes. 
For Savills North America, employee ESG training will 
be a key focus for 2024; in the meantime the region has 
sponsored specific employees to attend the CoreNet 
ESG programmes. Savills IM continues to utilise ESG 
Learning and Development to upskill its teams on ESG, 
with a learning approach which is broken down into 
three different areas: legislative learning, role-based 
learning and strategic ESG development opportunities.

We know that the infrastructure in parts of CEME is 
not as accessible as others, so the move to EV may 
be slower than desirable in some locations, however, 
our management teams are agreed upon the need for 
this important transition. Changing-out gas heating 
systems in offices which are landlord-controlled remains 
challenging. However, we continue to review where 
we can remove gas from the leased portfolio via office 
moves and equipment upgrades as relevant. The UK also 
launched a new Business Travel Policy which has been 
integrated within Savills UK sustainability targets. China 
has a green travel guidance in place focused on using 
high-speed train instead of planes, where appropriate.

Responsible resource use and wider green 
building certifications 
Significant progress has been made regarding the take-
up of green building certifications for our occupied office 
spaces. For CEME, 10 of 38 offices hold green building 
certifications and four other offices are in the process 
of securing these. In Australia all buildings which are 
occupied are NABERS-rated, while in China 
several offices now have LEED and WELL accreditations. 
In Hong Kong, preparations for BEC Climate Ready 
certification are in hand, while other buildings have 
obtained BEAM Plus Existing Building Platinum Rating. 
Similarly, Savills Japan has relocated its office to a 
CASBEE Smart Wellness Office building, with Savills 
Malaysia also relocating its Kuala Lumpur office to a 
Green office building. Savills Korea, Savills Thailand, 
Savills Taipei and Savills Vietnam all now have some 
LEED certified office space and Savills Singapore has 
obtained BCA Green Mark and BCA Green Mark Healthier 
Workplace certifications. Savills headquarters in London 
holds a BREEAM certification, while Savills IM offices 
have BREEAM In-use for Milan, a BREEAM Construction 
for Warsaw, a LEED (Core & Shell) for Madrid, a Sweden 
Green Building Council (‘SKA’) in Stockholm and a WELL 
enabled office space in London. 

In CEME paper consumption has seen a 7% increase 
compared to 2022; however, this represents a 54% 
reduction compared with 2019 for paper use per FTE. 
Savills UK maintains a recycling target of 75% and is 
currently achieving 49%. Office sustainability targets are 
in place covering printing, recycling, energy consumption 
and awards to incentivise improvements. A further 
decrease in printing has been measured in the UK, with 
an approximate reduction of 70% in total printing figures 
since 2019, with some Savills UK divisions now working 
towards paperless working. We continue to work towards 
a wider collection of accurate water consumption data 
for our leased occupied office spaces. 

43

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSRESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Savills Earth and 
wider Sustainability 
Consultancy Services

NEW SOCIAL VALUE
TEAM CREATED 
AND SAVILLS 

ADVISED ON:  62
clients38

social projects

10
21

Waste 
management 
plans and 

Waste 
management 
audits completed  
in Ireland

ADVISED ON: 

+100,000 acres

of land for natural capital and 
nature restoration projects

30 BREEAM, 14 BREEAM  
In-use, 21 LEED and 9 WELL 
certifications. In addition to 12 
BREEAM In-use aligned climate 
resilience reports.

CLIENT SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES CREATED:

26

and acted as 
sustainability 
advisor on 

further 
projects

22

ADVISED CLIENTS ON THE PLANTING OF: 

2,816,950

trees across England and Scotland

During 2023 our Savills 
Earth teams in the UK 
worked on client projects 
which aim to provide 2.3 
GW of energy storage 
including 0.7 GW of 
hydrogen, and advised on 
19.3 GW of in-development 
and operational renewable 
energy generation projects. 
They also assisted clients 
with 0.78 GW of demand 
connections including  
EV charging. 

A partner of 
Global Real Estate 
Sustainability 
Benchmark (‘GRESB’), 
Savills has supported 
GRESB submissions 
totalling assets under 
management of  
over £10 billion for  
16 portfolios across  
7 sectors.

44

Annual report and accounts 2023AWARD WINNING:

CIBSE Building Simulation 
Award 2023 Winner, CIBSE 
Building Simulation Young 
Modeller Award 2023 finalist.

New Savills ESG Client-facing  
services in Europe, providing  
ESG Due diligence pre-acquisition,  
a GRI-aligned report, 4 CRREM 
analysis reports, 12 energy strategy/
efficiency projects and 38 energy-
consulting services.

223

ISO 14001 audits 
undertaken

10

Independent  
ISO 14001 
Certifications 
established 

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN 
CONSULTANCY SERVICES 
PROVIDED: 

planning 
applications

25
projects5

pre-planning 

Major retail real estate sustainability study 
for leading luxury brand in Asia and a 
decarbonisation pathway for Singapore-
listed REIT, in addition to holding 5 workshops 
with Hong Kong-listed developer.

FIRST SET OF SAVILLS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXCHANGE 
BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN
CREDITS SOLD TO: 

residential developers 
covering a total area of 

3
50,398 hectares

graduates and

11
1

apprentice 
supported in 2023

ADVOCACY PARTICIPATION: 

UK Net Zero Carbon 
Buildings Standard, 
UKGBC Retrofit Offices 
Group, CIBSE Building 
Simulation Group, 
LPDF’s Sustainability 
Working Group, Sutton 
Council’s Housing and 
Regeneration team Group. 

Advisory roles on the 
Social Value UK Advisory 
Board (Chair), Creative 
Estuary Board, Land Aid 
Grants Committee and 
GLA High Streets for All 
Advisory Board.

Contributed to 49 press 
pieces in 23 different 
national, regional and 
trade publications on 
ESG and sustainability-
related topics. Produced 
43 blog pieces and a 
five-episode Savills Earth 
podcast series that has 
been downloaded over 
17,000 times.

NEW SERVICE LINES: 

Climate risk and 
resilience,  
Savills GreenFit, 
Savills Environmental 
Exchange, Grid Consultancy 
(Grid IQ), Sustainable  
Master-planning

+180

Carbon audits completed 
on natural capital in the 
food and farming sector

45

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSRESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Social

2023 Highlights
 ƒ 24,300 volunteering hours were given by 

our people this year; an increase from 16,700 
in 2022

charitable causes 

 ƒ £2,090,000 donated by the Group to 
 ƒ £4,705,925 social and local economic value 
 ƒ Over 580 pro bono hours given
 ƒ Savills UK wins EDI (Equality, Diversity and 

was delivered for Savills UK

Inclusion) Programme of the Year at Inspiring 
Women in Property Awards hosted by 
Property Week

 ƒ Savills North America has placed 21st in the 

Newsweek Excellence 1000 Index, identified 
as an example of corporate success and 
responsibility

 ƒ Savills Earth UK teams worked on client projects 

which aim to provide 2.3 GW of energy storage 
including 0.7 GW of hydrogen and advised on 
19.3 GW of renewable energy projects. They also 
assisted clients 0.78 GW of demand connections 
including EV charging

 ƒ Savills advised clients on planting 2,816,950 

trees and 108 carbon audits completed on 
natural capital in the food and farming sector

 ƒ Bisnow’s UK Rise Initiative recognised Savills UK 

as one of the companies leading the charge to 
improve diversity in real estate

 ƒ Savills France nominated for Innovation in 

management (Nuits de l’Immobilier) for creating 
a community engagement role

LGBTQ+ Attitudes & Actions

 ƒ Savills UK named as exemplar in EG’s 2022 
 ƒ UK Apprenticeship Employer of the Year at the 
 ƒ Savills UK 1st in the Times Rate My Placement 

Personnel Today Awards 

for Apprentices (up from 8th in 2022) and 
listed Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers of 
2022 – 2023

 ƒ Savills UK awarded the Times Graduate 

Employer of Choice for the seventeenth 
consecutive year.

Be Extraordinary, 
together.”

A company is nothing without a strong culture. 
We actively foster an inclusive workplace – 
aiming to attract diverse talent, develop and 
support our people, and always lead by example.

46

Annual report and accounts 2023Our cultural framework

Our Purpose

Helping people thrive through 
places and spaces

Our Vision

To be the real estate advisor of choice in the markets we serve. 
The growth of the Group is underpinned by providing best-in-class 
insights and advice to help individuals, businesses and investors 
make better real estate decisions.

Our Values

We Listen

We Empower

We Challenge

We Collaborate

47

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSEmployee engagement
We believe that in order to deliver our strategy, it 
is essential that our people are fully engaged and 
motivated. Our employees’ wellbeing is fundamental 
to this and, we continue to build on our wellbeing 
programmes and activities globally. We continue to listen 
to and support the needs of our people, ensuring honest, 
open lines of communication to enable our employees 
to stay positive, connected and productive, while feeling 
valued and supported.

We use multiple channels to communicate and 
engage with employees, including regular town hall and 
other meetings, all-employee emails, our intranet, and 
our digital platform which allows direct employee 
communication (in local languages) with Non-Executive 
Directors (including the Chair) to allow employee 
feedback to flow to the Board direct. We also have an 
independently facilitated ‘Speak-up’, (whistleblowing) 
hotline to allow colleagues to raise concerns in 
confidence if they wish about the conduct of our business. 

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Our People

Helping our people to be the best they can be to fulfill 
their potential we:

culture in which every individual is respected

 ƒ Encourage an open, inclusive and supportive 
 ƒ Help our people to excel through appropriate 
 ƒ Share success and reward achievement
 ƒ Recognise that our people’s diverse strengths 

learning and development

combined with good teamwork produce the 
best results

and motivates

 ƒ Believe that a rewarding workplace inspires 
 ƒ Strive to provide an environment in which our 

people can be their whole selves and can flourish 
and thrive – this allows us to recruit, motivate and 
retain talented people and build on our status as 
an employer of choice

 ƒ Engage with our people to communicate our 

vision and strategy through well-established 
internal channels.

48

Annual report and accounts 2023We gather feedback regularly from our employees to 
assess their levels of engagement. For example, in 2023 
we undertook an employee survey in the UK which had a 
63% response rate and a 91% engagement index score. 
Using questions provided by the independent survey 
facilitator, questions ranged from how proud employees 
felt to work at Savills to how seriously they believed 
Savills takes Diversity and inclusion.

Developing our people
We firmly believe in the value of developing future 
talent from within the Group and we want people to 
grow their careers at Savills. We work hard to help 
nurture the entrepreneurs and leaders of the future and 
aim to foster a culture which enables our talented and 
diverse people to thrive.

We invest heavily in our people’s development and 
encourage everyone to pursue opportunities for 
growth. We support our employees to develop and 
grow their careers. Our learning programmes are 
designed to respond to the specific development 
needs of employees identified through their annual 
performance appraisals and we encourage all our 
employees to attend conferences, internal events, and 
participate in projects to supplement their Continuous 
Professional Development (‘CPD’). We also deliver 
learning programmes to reinforce and support the 
development of our values and behaviours; for example, 
in relation to financial crime risk, Our Code of Conduct 
and data security and data management programmes. 
We continue to deliver learning and development in all 
areas including management and leadership, client and 
business skills and professional and technical skills.

How the Board engages with employees – 
See pages 101 and 102.

49

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSRESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Diversity and inclusion

Savills will strive to be a 
truly inclusive employer 
within the real estate 
sector by having the 
right inclusive policies, 
learning and development, 
leadership and recruitment 
principles in place to 
ensure all employees and 
clients are treated fairly 
and are able to be their 
true, whole selves.”

We aim to do this  
by working to: 
 ƒ attract the most diverse talent at all stages 

of their careers from all backgrounds

 ƒ develop our diverse talent, ensuring clear 

career paths with no glass ceilings

 ƒ lead by example with our most senior  

leaders setting an inclusive culture.

50

Annual report and accounts 2023Our strategy is to embrace diversity and provide a 
platform and a supportive environment in which all our 
employees can be the best they can be. Diversity and 
inclusion remains a key priority for the Board. Inclusion 
is at the heart of our culture, which is founded in mutual 
respect and non-discrimination in respect of age, 
disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or 
socio-economic background. With oversight from the 
Board, we have continued to implement our Diversity 
and Inclusion strategy. We work hard to ensure those 
skills, experiences and perspectives are nurtured 
and encouraged.

We continue to work to evolve our activities to educate 
our people, take decisive action, generate engagement 
and help implement our inclusion and diversity initiatives.

We look to nurture an inclusive culture in which 
difference is accepted and valued. We believe that 
diversity of thought, experience and background at all 
levels gives us a competitive advantage and underpins 
the success of our business by giving us the ability to 

select people of the highest quality from the widest 
available pool of talent; this makes Savills a better 
business. We are committed to recruiting, developing and 
retaining diverse talent which reflects the communities in 
which we live and work. We work together to bring out 
the best in each other and to sustain the strong working 
relationship ethic that has nurtured our ‘can do’ attitude.

As an organisation committed to diversity in its workforce, 
we will continue to strengthen our policies, processes 
and practices to develop our diversity and inclusion plans 
across the Group’s markets and geographies, consistent 
with our corporate goals. There are many ways in which 
we are working to further build diversity: leadership, 
learning and awareness, employee listening, recruitment 
and our approach to talent management.

The Group has six key diversity and inclusion pillars 
covering: gender, social mobility, ethnicity, LGBTQ+, 
disability and age. Our objectives and the progress we 
have made across all six pillars can be found below:

Area of focus

Objectives

Implementation

What we do

Age

Disability

We aim to 
support all 
our colleagues 
through every 
age and stage 
of their career 
with relevant 
development, 
policies, 
support  
and benefits

Our goal is 
to create an 
accessible 
and inclusive 
business 
where people 
of all abilities 
can work for 
us or with us 
without barrier

 ƒ Flexible working

 ƒ We support a significant number of people to 

 ƒ Improving internal 

communication of existing 
and new policies

 ƒ Promoting mentoring and 

rewarding loyalty

 ƒ Ensuring that policies and 
support are offered for 
working carers

 ƒ Menopause awareness 

training.

 ƒ Raising awareness through 
supporting internal and 
external events

 ƒ Implementing compulsory 

diversity and equality 
awareness training across 
the business

 ƒ Engaging with a number 
of professional bodies 
and diversity groups to 
obtain their assistance 
and expertise

 ƒ Removing the stigma – 

promoting awareness of 
mental health issues.

work flexibly for different reasons to accommodate 
personal and professional requirements

 ƒ We are committed to our UK ‘Making your 

Mentoring programme relevant for the modern 
workplace’, a scheme that has been in place for 
many years and which allows both mentor and 
mentee to benefit from their involvement

 ƒ Launched a carers’ network to support those who 
have caring responsibilities. We continue to work 
with Carers UK and Employers for Carers to provide 
support to those with caring responsibilities

 ƒ Celebrated Intergenerational Working week by 

holding a panel celebrating the different strengths 
a multi-generational workforce brings.

 ƒ We are committed to being a ‘Valuable 500’ 

business, which is a pledge to encourage 500 
companies across the globe to sign up and agree 
to be more inclusive in terms of disability

 ƒ CEME held workshops on apparent and hidden 

disabilities during 2023 similarly the UK held an event 
to raise money for charity partners and to hear from 
inspirational speakers on their disabilities and abilities

 ƒ In Asia, Savills Singapore, had a focus this year on 
hiring and supporting individuals with disabilities, 
while Savills China focused several of their social 
outreach efforts to support the disabled 

 ƒ UK launched a Disability ‘EnAble’ network to 

support those in the business who have a disability 
or long-term health condition

 ƒ We hold a certification as a Disability Confident 

Committed Employer (Level 2) in the UK.

51

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSRESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Diversity and inclusion continued

Area of focus

Objectives

Implementation

What we do

 ƒ Savills globally supports Black History Month with 
educational programmes highlighting key black 
role models

 ƒ Our US Building Inclusivity and Diversity Group 
regularly hosts speaker and panel-discussion 
events for our employees and clients to encourage 
awareness and constructive dialogue regarding 
diversity and inclusion

 ƒ In North America, our Employee Resource Group 
‘Black Excellence United’ focuses on recruiting, 
retention, collaboration and advancement of 
diverse communities

 ƒ Savills US Junior Development programme over 

the last four years 84% of participants were from 
groups classed as diverse

 ƒ BeU’s Black History Month webinar created a 
‘Book of Bios’ and ran a back-to-school drive 
supporting over 4,400 students

 ƒ Savills UK has signed up to the Race at Work 
Charter, a UK initiative designed to improve 
outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic 
(‘BAME’) employees in the UK.

 ƒ Our ‘Women in Leadership positions’, determined 

in accordance with FTSE Women Leaders 
Review criteria, was 37.1% as at 31 October 
2023 (31 October 2022: 36.5%). We continue to 
remain focused into the medium term on further 
improving gender diversity

 ƒ We will continue to evolve our approach to meet 

the needs of our clients and people

 ƒ In Asia, Savills India have had a focus on 

supporting women in the workforce, while in North 
America our Women’s Initiative Network WIN 
organised a virtual International Women’s Day, 
with monthly internal communications and hosted 
3 insightful webinars.

 ƒ Hosted a significant Pride celebration in London in 
2023 with a focus on raising money for the Albert 
Kennedy Trust

 ƒ As part of LGBTQ+ History Month Savills 

highlighted one inspirational LGBTQ+ figure 
each week

 ƒ Savills North America’s Pride+ group organised an 
LGBT+ roundtable and a Pride month session on 
allyship and inclusivity in the workplace

 ƒ In CEME, D&I was further promoted through 
28 wider D&I country initiatives, including 
participation in Pride month.

Ethnicity

We ensure that 
all cultural, 
religious and 
ethnic diversity 
is celebrated 
and should 
never be a 
barrier to being 
your true self 
at work

 ƒ Ensuring zero tolerance of 
harassment and bullying

 ƒ Making equality in the 

workplace the responsibility 
of all leaders and managers

 ƒ Taking action that supports 

ethnic minority career 
progression.

 ƒ Continue to ensure that our 
learning and development 
programmes fully support 
our approach to diversity 
and inclusion

 ƒ Relaunched our gender 

equality and unconscious 
bias training, to further raise 
awareness of diversity

 ƒ Launched a Communication 

Skills programme for 
women focused on public 
speaking and participating 
in panel events.

 ƒ Raising awareness

 ƒ Recruiting and retaining 

best people.

Working 
towards 
ensuring the 
same access 
to opportunity 
and experience 
for everyone 
at Savills, no 
matter their 
gender

Embrace 
diversity and 
provide a 
platform and 
a supportive 
environment 
for everyone 
to be the 
best they can 
be. Improve 
LGBTQ+ 
inclusion in the 
work place

Gender
Gender

LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+

52

Annual report and accounts 2023Area of focus

Objectives

Implementation

What we do

Socio 
Socio 
economic
economic

 ƒ Creating a workplace that 
provides an equal and 
fair platform for everyone 
to be the best they can 
be regardless of their 
background

 ƒ Increasing diversity of 

talent pool

 ƒ Inspiring the next generation 

to consider property for 
their career.

We aim to 
educate and 
remove any 
barriers due 
to social 
backgrounds 
by supporting 
initiatives 
which drive 
social mobility, 
in both our 
organisation 
and the 
communities 
we operate 
within

 ƒ We are a founding sponsor of Rethink Food, 
providing vertical farming towers in primary 
schools in the UK

 ƒ Donated our Chelsea Flower Show garden to a 
children’s home where it was re-purposed to a 
playground and to support the children growing 
their own food

 ƒ During 2023 Savills Vietnam’s ‘Savills Cares’ 
programme aimed to improve the futures of 
underprivileged children in Vietnam through 
education. Savills Vietnam’s teams worked 
with charity partners Blue Dragon Children’s 
Foundation and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) Children’s 
Charity to deliver scholarships, with the equivalent 
value of US $20,000 per year. Since 2017, Savills 
Vietnam has supported 59 underprivileged 
students to stay in tertiary education

 ƒ Our UK apprentice scheme has gone from 
strength to strength – Savills now has 228 
apprentices in the UK

 ƒ Working with Career Ready, a social mobility 
charity, to offer 15 work placements a year for 
three years

 ƒ In Savills Vietnam, there has been a strong 

emphasis on building a diverse team representing 
different generations, genders, academic 
backgrounds and nationalities.

Gender balance
In accordance with Companies Act 2006, as at 
31 December 2023 our total global workforce of 
40,503 colleagues comprised 21,668 males (53%) 
and 18,835 females (47%). Of these, 196 were senior 
executives (157 (80%) males, 40 (20%) females) 
comprising members of the Group Executive Board 
and Board members of the corporate entities whose 
financial information is incorporated in the Group’s 
2023 consolidated accounts in this Annual Report. 

During the year, the Company’s Board of Directors 
comprised 9 members – 6 males and 3 female.

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, Savills 
UK, as an employer with 250 or more UK employees 
publishes an annual gender pay report (calculated 
in accordance with the published requirements) on 
the Savills UK’s website. (calculated in accordance 
with the published requirements) on the Savills 
UK’s website.

53

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSRESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Diversity and inclusion continued

Wellbeing and mental health
The wellbeing of our people is fundamental to our  
high-performing and supportive culture.

We have established wellbeing programmes, and 
provide a range of benefits, services and support while 
encouraging everyone to take a proactive role in their 
own wellbeing. 

We want our workplaces to have a culture of openness 
and help eradicate the stigma of mental health through 
educational events, skill building and awareness raising.

54

In 2023 we continued 
to focus on initiatives 
to raise awareness 
around mental health 
and wellbeing
 ƒ Savills UK has increased its number of Mental 

Health Champions in 2023 to 340 which is 5% 
of UK employees. Awareness was further raised 
by marking both World Suicide Prevention Day 
in September and World Mental Health Day 
in October. 

 ƒ In Savills CEME, 12 countries have formal mental 

health support from an external provider, while 
other countries have held events and focused 
on raising awareness of mental health and 
wider wellbeing. 

 ƒ Building on the Savills Asia Pacific regional 

event in 2022, the majority of the Savills 
business in Asia Pacific have hosted their own 
country-specific mental wellness-related events, 
including health talks.

 ƒ For Savills North America, ‘Headspace’ is the 

dedicated external mental health partner, 
which regularly hosts wellness workshops. 
These sessions cover topics like enhancing 
sleep quality, achieving work-life balance, 
and practicing mindfulness. Employees have 
ongoing access to educational resources and 
videos addressing mental health topics through 
further learning programmes. In 2023 Savills 
North America launched a Step Challenge to 
promote regular physical activity. 

 ƒ Savills Investment Management’s mental health 

partner MYND UP hosted a series of webinars 
available to all and the business also undertook 
MarchOn!, where employees were encouraged 
to walk 100 miles throughout the month and 
reconnect with nature and promote positive 
behaviours. Savills Investment Management 
similarly undertook PrideOn! in June, substituting 
walking for cycling as part of this challenge to 
promote better fitness and sustainable transport.

We continue to develop and make available to 
all our people wellbeing initiatives and benefits 
to raise awareness of health and lifestyle issues 
affecting mental health and wellbeing.

Annual report and accounts 2023Our Clients

In our pursuit of making a positive impact for our clients, 
we continue to take a long-term approach to our client 
relationships, ensuring we gain a deep understanding 
of our clients’ evolving needs, challenges, and priorities 
and balancing these against the backdrop of changing 
market conditions. Making a positive impact for our 
clients is at the heart of our purpose. We believe in 
creating and nurturing strong enduring relationships, 
continually listening to our clients, and working in 
partnership. If it matters to our clients, it matters to us. 

Client care excellence
As part of our Client Relationship Management (‘CRM’) 
programme we have client advocates in place who 
maintain continuous dialogue with our clients and 
share updates relating to their strategy and evolving 
needs with the wider Savills client teams. This strategy 
ensures we implement a proactive approach to client 
engagement; that our clients receive the best quality 
advice at the right time; and that they experience a 
joined-up, consistent and personal service. 

Client listening
Our commitment to excellent client care is reflected 
in our client listening programme. We commission 
independent client reviews to ensure that we gather 
feedback on how we are managing client relationships, 
areas for improvement and opportunities for added 
value. We assess service satisfaction levels, and we also 
carry out post-bid feedback to incorporate learnings into 
future commercial pursuits. This investment into better 
understanding our existing and prospective clients puts 
us in a stronger position to both retain mandates and 
win new projects. 

Our overall approach to client listening provides deeper 
insight into our clients’ priorities and preferences so 
we can refine the Savills client experience. This may 
affect how we assemble the right client team or the 
development of our service offering. A key example 
includes the bolstering of ESG services across markets – 
a significant and growing strategic priority for our clients. 
In 2023 we saw the strengthening of this service offering, 
with the addition of the Social Value team, reflecting 
both our own and our clients’ commitment to positively 
contribute to the communities we serve. 

Collaboration
We believe that our clients will get the best result when 
we work as one, and we therefore foster a collaborative 
and inclusive culture which embeds a good understanding 
of the breadth of Savills expertise across all our teams. We 
run various initiatives to ensure our people are continually 
upskilling and learning about our broad and evolving 
service offering as well as partnering internally. 

This enables us to bring in the right expertise to our 
clients from across the organisation and therefore 
ensures our clients can be empowered with best-in-
class advice at the right time to make smarter property 
decisions. An example of this includes our extensive 
‘lunch and learn’ programme as well as our expanding 
on-demand learning resources. We have also rolled out 
several initiatives to promote an inclusive culture and in 
2023 we engaged with clients through our diversity and 
inclusion networks to ensure our work in this area is not 
only contributing to our internal culture but is a shared 
experience which adds value to our clients’ diversity 
and inclusion goals.

Nurturing and supporting our people to ensure they 
have the right skills and competencies is essential 
to the success of our client programme. As well as 
the upskilling on the breadth of services highlighted 
above, we also provide tailored training and coaching 
aimed specifically at supporting our people in client 
leadership roles. To embed our relationship ethos across 
the organisation we also ensure colleagues at all levels 
receive the appropriate learning opportunities to evolve 
their client relationships. In 2023 we expanded our 
‘Next Generation’ client engagement programme, and 
partnering with our excellent research teams we not only 
provided our junior team members with a platform to 
learn and grow their client relationships, also benefitting 
our clients. This forward-thinking initiative aligns with 
our commitment to staying ahead of industry trends, 
ensuring we provide innovative solutions that align 
with our clients’ future needs. 

Client insights technology
To augment our client care efforts, we continually invest 
in cutting-edge technology. In 2023 we completed the 
roll-out of our relationship intelligence portal across UK 
& CEME, which has enabled visibility of our vast network 
of clients and prospects across the region and further 
supports the delivery of a seamless client experience 
across teams and borders. Our goal is to ensure greater 
visibility of client intelligence and increase efficiencies 
and collaboration between client relationship teams 
across the UK and CEME; we will continue to further 
embed our integrated client insights platform and 
analytics capability across markets.

Our overall approach to client care is underpinned by 
our commitment to making a positive impact for our 
clients, which sits at the heart of our purpose. We will 
continue to strive for client excellence, and refine our 
approach as well as invest in the appropriate skills and 
technologies to evolve our strategy in line with our 
clients’ future needs. Being unified in both our purpose 
and our values will continue to drive the best-in-class 
client experience we strive for.

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Community 

People are at the heart of 
our business. We aim to 
create a lasting positive 
social impact on the local 
communities which we 
impact through the way we 
engage with them, the work 
we do and the charitable 
initiatives we undertake to 
support them.”

Each year, a range of 
social and community-
focused initiatives are 
undertaken by Savills 
worldwide.
 ƒ In 2023, 24,300 volunteering hours were given 

by our people, a significant increase from 
16,700 in 2022 

 ƒ The Group and combined Regional Businesses 

also donated £2,090,000, with £4,705,925 
Social and Local Economic Value delivered for 
Savills UK and over 580 pro bono hours given. 

Here are just some of the initiatives we are very 
proud to have been part of in 2023:

56

Annual report and accounts 2023Savills Vietnam
Savills Vietnam’s ‘Savills Cares’ programme works 
to improve the futures of underprivileged children 
in Vietnam through education. With its charity 
partners Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation and 
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) Children’s Charity, Savills 
Vietnam delivers scholarships of US$20,000 per 
year. Since 2017, Savills Vietnam has supported 
59 underprivileged students to stay in tertiary 
education. Some of the students supported come 
from ethnic minorities including Hmong, Thai, 
Tay, and Dao. The ‘Students for a Better Future’ 
programme supports disadvantaged children 
and young adults in Vietnam to reach their full 
potential through quality education, training, and 
job opportunities. In 2023, Savills Cares supported 
39 students; of the six graduates, four have now 
gained successful employment. Savills Vietnam 
also donated 25 computer monitors and 105 
laptops to this cause.

Savills Poland 
In June, World Environment Day (‘WED’) was 
celebrated by businesses worldwide and marked by 
many Savills offices globally. To mark WED this year, 
our teams in Poland organised a special workshop 
for 15 teenagers from a nearby school at its offices. 
The purpose was to raise awareness and knowledge 
about sustainable development, climate change 
and the challenges facing the younger generations. 
Following the success of the Warsaw event, where 
six of our employees volunteered, the team in Poland 
are working to ensure this idea can be scaled so 
other young people can benefit from it.

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Community continued

Savills China 
During 2023 China’s teams focused their social 
outreach efforts to support the disabled and elderly 
as well as working with autism charities within the 
locations within which Savills operates. Over 300 
Savills team members participated in various events 
across China which celebrated the release of a new 
book written by autistic children, in partnership 
with the charity Light of Rainbow. 

58

Annual report and accounts 2023Savills North America 
This summer, Savills Black Excellence United (‘BeU’) 
Philanthropy Committee, initiated a ‘Back-to-School 
Drive’. inspiring the charitable spirit and generosity 
of Savills employees in eight offices across the US; 
they promoted the initiative through collection 
containers that could be filled with vital supplies 
for underserved students in communities across 
regions. Eight schools were supported, serving over 
4,400 students, equating to nearly five students for 
every member of the Savills North America team. 

Every year, the New York real estate community 
comes together for the Mid-Atlantic Juvenile 
Diabetes Research Foundation (‘JDRF’) Real Estate 
Games. Its 34th annual Olympic-style competition 
continued its mission of raising funds for Type 
1 diabetes research for the JDRF. Savills North 
America, as the Founding Partner, has consistently 
championed this cause in DC, New York and 
Chicago since the games began. In 2023, the DC 
Games yielded significant results, breaking records 
while raising an impressive $825,000.

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Community continued

Savills UK 
Savills UK is a founding partner of LandAid’s 
pro bono programme and continues to support 
this charity network by providing free-of-charge 
advisory and consultancy services. In 2023 our 
UK staff donated over 580 hours to pro bono 
projects across the UK, aiming to positively support 
communities using Savills specific industry skills 
and expertise. 2023 pro bono projects included: 

 ƒ Pre-acquisition survey used for move-on 

accommodation for young people who had 
been homeless

 ƒ Identifying and securing new premises for a 

charity requiring a location with a 15-mile radius 
of Buckingham

 ƒ Condition survey and carbon assessments 

undertaken on six properties owned by a 
charity which works with young people who 
are homeless and leaving care 

 ƒ PR support to a charity which provides help to 

families experiencing poverty.

60

Annual report and accounts 2023Savills Investment 
Management (Savills IM)
Throughout 2023, Savills Investment Management 
organised a number of internal events to raise 
money for its partner charity, The Cycle, which 
is dedicated to addressing gender equality by 
providing safe water, sanitation, hygiene services, 
and menstrual education programmes to deprived 
primary schools in India. The Cycle’s remarkable 
efforts have already supported over 75,000 people, 
ensuring daily access to safe sanitation. Notably, 
six of Savills IM’s global offices, approximately 
100 employees, collaboratively organised a ‘Big 
Buffet’ event in December to support The Cycle. 
The initiative was sponsored by Savills Investment 
Management’s Gender Group and generated a warm 
and festive atmosphere for colleagues to share the 
seasonal spirit through an assortment of home-
baked goods. The event also served as a platform 
for individuals to bring in dishes from their cultural 
backgrounds, highlighting the richness of our offices’ 
diversity. The funds raised through donations to ‘fill 
a plate’ were then donated to The Cycle, making a 
lasting impact on the communities they serve. Over 
£5,300 was raised for The Cycle during 2023. 

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Environmental Case studies 2023

Savills Investment 
Management (Savills IM) 
In 2019, a Savills Investment Management fund 
acquired the Cathedral Hill estate, a 94,000ft² 
industrial site Guildford, Surrey, envisioning a net-
zero carbon retrofit. Instead of a complete rebuild, 
the focus was on utilising the existing structure 
to reduce overall carbon emissions and create a 
leading industrial investment. Key goals included 
elevating EPC ratings, obtaining a BREEAM 
Excellent certification, transitioning to renewable 
energy, and modernising travel facilities.

Savills UK Building and Project Consultancy teams 
managed the project. The transformed Cathedral 
Hill boasts occupant-focused upgrades, including 
increased natural light, enhanced air quality and 
improved office facilities. Renewable energy 
integration, through individual Photovoltaic (‘PV’) 
panels and Tesla batteries, replaced the previous 
gas-powered system, with some occupiers now 
able to sell surplus energy back to the grid. It is 
estimated that across the 13 units over 440,000 
kWh will be generated, saving 100 tonnes of 
CO2e per year. Additionally, the project addressed 
biodiversity with the introduction of bird and bat 
boxes, native trees and wildflower meadows. The 
result is a site with net zero operational emissions, 
which has transformed an outdated, inefficient 
site into one of the best industrial assets in the 
area. The finished product is unrecognisable 
from the estate originally purchased, a significant 
regeneration story on every measure.

62

Annual report and accounts 2023United Arab Emirates 
Savills Dubai were thrilled to participate in a 
mangrove planting event in October in Ajman. 
This initiative was part of the ‘Today for Tomorrow 
– Mangrove Project’, a United Arab Emirates 
Government project, designed by Companies for 
Good and activated by Quest for Adventure UAE. 
Savills was part of a larger group which together 
planted 42 mangroves while volunteering. 

Savills Spain 
In Spain, to support Climate Change Day, Savills 
teams organised tree-planting, with the objective of 
regenerating a native forest in an area of grassland. 
53 volunteers, including Spain’s CEO & COO 
collaborated to plant 200 native trees and shrubs. 
The species used, in addition to being appropriate 
to the environmental conditions of the space, once 
grown, will provide new shelter and edible fruits or 
nectar for bees and other insects. 

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Governance

Our commitment to 
acting honestly, with 
integrity, and always 
with clients’ best 
interests at heart, 
is fundamental to 
everything we do.”

64

Annual report and accounts 2023Our reputation has been built on our people and we 
believe that employees whose behaviours reflect our 
business philosophy deliver the excellent client service 
that we strive to provide. Our business philosophy also 
captures our commitment to ethical, professional and 
responsible conduct and our entrepreneurial, value-
enhancing approach.

Savills has a zero tolerance approach to bribery and all 
other forms of corruption. Our Code of Conduct sets out 
our commitment to operate responsibly wherever we 
work in the world, to work professionally, fairly and with 
integrity and to engage with our stakeholders to manage 
the social, environmental and ethical impact of our 
activities in the different markets in which we operate. 
We empower and support our employees to always 
make the right decisions consistent with this policy. Our 
corporate conduct is based on our commitment to act 
responsibly at all times. We will uphold laws relevant to 
countering bribery and corruption in all the jurisdictions 
in which we operate.

To facilitate the Savills Board’s assessment and 
monitoring of culture, the Board adopted KPIs, set out 
on page 95 of the Governance Report.

Our approach to human rights
Savills is committed to conducting its business ethically 
and in line with all relevant legislation including human 
rights laws. We fully support the principles of UN Global 
Compact, the UN Declaration of Human Rights and 
the International Labour Organization’s (‘ILO’) Core 
Conventions. Any breaches of our Code of Conduct 
may be reported in accordance with the Group’s Speak-
up procedure.

Modern slavery
We believe the risk of slavery or human trafficking in 
the recruitment and engagement of our employees is 
low. To ensure it remains low, we have provided training 
on modern slavery and taken steps to make sure our 
staff and supply chain partners are aware of the Act 
and its requirements. We published our latest Modern 
Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement which can be 
found at https://www.savills.co.uk/footer/slavery-and-
human-trafficking-statement.aspx setting out the steps 
we have taken in the past year to ensure our suppliers 
and their supply chains adopt similar standards to Savills 
to prevent slavery and human trafficking taking place in 
our supply chain.

Speak-up
Savills Group is committed to maintaining the highest 
ethical standards and a culture of openness, integrity and 
accountability in all its business dealings and practices. 
Savills takes any malpractice (i.e. fraud, bribery, illegal 
or unethical conduct or wrongdoing) very seriously. Our 
people should be encouraged to raise any concerns they 
may have about the conduct of others in the business 
or the way the business is run at an early stage and in 
an appropriate way. Our Speak-up policy, in relation to 
which we now have third-party-managed confidential 
reporting facilities in all markets, enables employees to 
raise any matters of concern, anonymously if they so 
wish, and is embedded into our business; it applies to 
employees and supply chain partners of the Group’s 
businesses worldwide.

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Our Chosen SDGs

The Group’s ESG strategy aims to achieve a 
positive impact on the environment and society, 
while maintaining robust governance measures 
and is aligned with nine of the 17 UN Sustainable 
Development Goals (‘SDGs’).

We adopted these nine SDGs as these are most 
relevant to the real estate sector and our business  
and have agreed the underlying objectives to support 
our delivery against these in our Principal Businesses.  
Here are specific examples of initiatives in place across 
our businesses during 2023 in relation to each of  
the nine SDGs.

GOOD HEALTH & WELL-BEING

 Our goal is to provide healthy 
workplaces, encourage healthy lifestyles 
and raise awareness of mental health 
and wellbeing.

What we did in 2023 
Savills Germany: To raise awareness on mental 
health and mindfulness issues, Savills Germany ran a 
month-long campaign this year. This kicked off with 
a newsletter explaining the initiative, followed by 
two workshops run for our teams in Germany during 
work hours. Additional information and exercises 
to use remotely had a good uptake and, following 
positive feedback, the local teams are now looking 
into doing a similar event, annually.

AFFORDABLE & CLEAN ENERGY

DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

We aim to maximise energy efficiency, 
and switch to using renewable energy 
across our workspaces.

We are committed to operating 
responsibly and providing fair, safe  
and diverse workplaces.

What we did in 2023 
Savills UK: Some key actions our UK teams have 
taken to reduce Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions in 
2023 included:

 ƒ Roll-out of smart meters across our rented office 

portfolio, to allow more accurate monitoring of 
energy consumption, installing 41 half-hourly 
Automatic Meter Read (‘AMR’) meters

 ƒ All offices were benchmarked based on energy 

consumption and energy audits were carried out 
at the six highest consuming sites 

 ƒ Continuing to transition to a more energy-

efficient computer set-up of laptops and one 
screen, replacing two screens and increasing the 
set-point temperature in server rooms to 21oC 

 ƒ Continued to reuse as much equipment and 

furniture as possible in office fit-outs, donating 
office furniture to charity as part of the fit-out 
process, including around £12,000 of furniture 
donated to schools.

What we did in 2023 
Savills Group: This year Savills efforts towards 
providing fair, safe and diverse workplaces were 
recognised by a host of external awards:

 ƒ Savills UK win EDI (Equality, Diversity, and 

Inclusion) Programme of the Year at Inspiring 
Women in Property Awards hosted by 
Property Week

 ƒ Bisnow’s UK Rise Initiative recognised Savills 

UK as one of the companies leading the charge 
to improve diversity in real estate

 ƒ Savills North America placed 21st in Newsweek 

Excellence1000 Index, identified as an 
example of corporate success and responsibility

 ƒ UK win Apprenticeship Employer of the Year at 

the Personnel Today Awards, came 1st place in 
the Times Rate My Placement for Apprentices 
up from 8th place and listed in the Top 100 
Apprenticeship Employers of 2022 – 2023.

CLIMATE ACTION

We aim to minimise carbon emissions 
and work continuously towards net zero 
carbon targets globally.

What we did in 2023 
Savills Group: Savills have worked to in increase their 
coverage of more efficient LED lighting within our 
occupied leased offices locations this year. Greater 
coverage of CEME offices now have full LED equating 
to 80% of occupied floor area, increased from 2022. 

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has offices in 9 out of 12 
countries which are now close to 100% LED lighting. 
Others are on the way to a managed transition, 
replacing with LED as old lighting requires replacement 
for example, Malaysia and Thailand have had a focus 
on replacing old fluorescent light tubes with LED as 
they wear out. Meanwhile for North America 87% of 
total office space occupied by Savills is now located 
in accredited, energy efficient buildings.

66

Annual report and accounts 2023QUALITY EDUCATION

GENDER EQUALITY

We aim to create opportunities  
for growth and development for our 
people and within the communities  
that we impact.

What we did in 2023 
Savills Vietnam: Since 2017, Savills Vietnam has 
supported 59 underprivileged students to stay in 
tertiary education. The ‘Students for a Better Future’ 
programme supports disadvantaged children 
and young adults in Vietnam to reach their full 
potential through quality education, training, and job 
opportunities. In 2023, Savills supported 39 students; 
of the six graduates, four have now gained successful 
employment. Savills Vietnam also donated 25 
computer monitors and 105 laptops to this cause.

SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

We work with government, national  
and local communities to create 
sustainable places.

What we did in 2023 
Savills Investment Management UK: In 2019, 
Savills Investment Management acquired the 
Cathedral Hill estate, a 94,000ft² industrial site. 
Instead of a complete rebuild, the focus was on 
utilising the existing structure to reduce overall 
carbon emissions and create a leading industrial 
investment. Key goals included elevating EPC 
ratings, obtaining a BREEAM Excellent certification, 
transitioning to renewable energy, and modernising 
travel facilities. Situated in Guildford, Surrey, the 
transformed Cathedral Hill now boasts occupant-
focused upgrades, including increased natural light, 
enhanced air quality and improved office facilities. 
Renewable energy integration, through individual 
Photovoltaic (‘PV’) panels and Tesla batteries, 
replaced the previous gas-powered system, with 
some occupiers now able to sell surplus energy 
back to the grid. It is estimated that over 440,000 
kWh will be generated, saving 100 tonnes of 
CO2e per year. Additionally, the project addressed 
biodiversity with the introduction of bird and bat 
boxes, native trees and wildflower meadows. 

We actively promote gender equality 
and aim to create a diverse and 
inclusive environment for all.

What we did in 2023 
Savills Investment Management: This year, Savills 
IM’s Gender Committee sponsored partner charity, 
The Cycle, who are dedicated to addressing gender 
equality by providing safe water, sanitation, hygiene 
services, and menstrual education programmes 
to deprived primary schools in India. The Cycle’s 
remarkable efforts have already supported over 
75,000 people. In December over 100 employees, 
collaboratively organised a ‘Big Buffet’ event to 
support The Cycle. The event generated a warm 
and festive atmosphere for colleagues to share the 
Christmas spirit through an assortment of home-
baked goods. The event also served as a platform 
for individuals to bring in dishes from their cultural 
backgrounds, highlighting the richness of our 
office’s diversity. Over £5,300 was raised through 
donations to ‘fill a plate’.

RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

We seek to reduce our 
environmental impacts through 
active operational management and 
responsible procurement.

What we did in 2023 
Savills Group: Progress on obtaining certified 
renewable energy tariffs has been made within 2023. 
For the UK offices green tariffs now account for 88%, 
increased from 83% in 2022, with green gas tariffs 
covering 91%. In CEME, 12 of 38 offices now have 
green tariffs, an additional two over 2022. For North 
America, our Chicago office started a green energy 
pilot and plans are in place for the New York HQ 
to be 100% green energy backed by RECs in 2024, 
with 25% already being sourced from green energy. 
The Savills IM business has also increased renewable 
energy use, which is now a source to some extent at 
the Paris, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Milan, Warsaw 
and Stockholm offices. There is still much work to do 
on this agenda in Asia, where green tariffs are generally 
unavailable across those markets. Some green tariffs 
are being used in Australia and we are working with 
the landlord to allow the recognition of these.

LIFE ON LAND

We expect our suppliers to operate 
responsibly and seek to protect 
biodiversity and ecosystems.

What we did in 2023 
Savills Spain: To support Climate Change Day, 

Savills teams in Spain organised a tree-planting activity 
with the objective of regenerating the native forest. 
53 volunteers collaborated to plant 200 native trees 
and shrubs. The species used, in addition to being 
appropriate to the environmental conditions of the 
space, will provide new shelter and edible fruits or 
nectar for bees and other insects.

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Our Disclosures

Greenhouse gas emissions
Our greenhouse gas (‘GHG’) emissions statement 
includes all emission sources required under the 
Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ 
Reports) Regulations 2013 and the Companies (Directors’ 
Report) Regulations 2018 for the financial year to 
31 December 2023.

Reporting methodology
We report our GHG emissions using the revised edition of 
the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting 
Standard, the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance, the GHG 
Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard and 
the UK Government Guidance on Streamlined Energy 
and Carbon Reporting (‘SECR’). Our reporting boundary 
is based on an operational control approach and includes 
emissions from Savills plc and Group subsidiaries with a 
majority shareholding.

Where actual data becomes available or there are 
better proxy data available for more accurate estimation, 
we restate individual data point of the previous year at 
a threshold of 20% difference, i.e. we shall not restate 
previously reported data if the difference between 
reported data and actual data is less than 20%. We 
will also restate the emissions if the cumulative effect 
of the differences is more than 5% difference to the 
Scope affected. We might also restate data as a result 
of acquisition or disposal of sites/subsidiaries during 
the reporting year, subject to the specific condition 
of the acquisition or disposal. Where an acquisition or 
divestment is material, with the inclusion or removal 
of the entity’s data results in a variation that exceeds 
± 5% of the original, historical data will be restated 
where attainable.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Reported Scope 1 emissions includes emissions from 
fuel consumption by the Group’s owned and leased 
vehicles and the combustion of fuels within our offices. 
Scope 2 emissions are reported using both ‘market-
based’ and ‘location-based’ methodologies and relate 
to the consumption of purchased electricity, heat, 
steam and cooling in Savills offices where Savills 
has operational control. Savills has a network of 
representatives and associates in over 700 locations 
globally. Out of the 700 locations, 281 fall under the 
reporting Scope as Savills has operational control i.e. 
authority to introduce and implement our operating 
policies. The majority of other offices, over 400, are 
associates that are not consolidated into the Group 
accounts and are outside the organisational boundary. 
Some remaining offices are serviced offices and 
therefore outside the operational boundary. 

68

Scope 1 and Scope 2 ‘location-based’ emissions were 
calculated using regional or national emission factors 
published by the United Nations Statistics Division, the 
UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company 
Reporting, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Australian Department of the Environment & Energy and 
other national agencies and internationally recognised 
guidelines for each reporting period. Under the Scope 
2 ‘market-based’ method, no emissions were accounted 
for electricity supplies backed with local Renewable 
Energy Certificates (‘RECs’), such as Renewable Energy 
Guarantees of Origin (‘REGO’) in the UK and the EU. This 
GHG accounting principle follows the Scope 2 Quality 
Criteria set out by the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance. 
Scope 2 ‘market-based’ emissions from energy use 
with no RECs in place were calculated using regional or 
national residual mix emission factors.

To coordinate the collection of GHG emissions data 
across our global operations, a network of Environmental 
Reporting Officers (‘EROs’) and data entry users has 
been established within Savills, reporting datasets to the 
Group Sustainability Reporting Manager on a biannual 
basis. A third-party environmental reporting tool was used 
to facilitate data collection, aggregation and the data 
quality review. GHG emissions data was collated using 
actual activity data wherever possible. In some instances, 
where actual activity data was not readily available, we 
calculated our operational emissions using a range of 
standard carbon accounting methods in an estimation 
hierarchy. 21% of reported emissions were based on 
estimates using this method. For sites where there is 
partial data for the time period, the data is extrapolated 
based on the time period with no data. For sites where 
there is no current data, historic data from the previous 
year is used to extrapolate the relevant time period. If sites 
have no current or historic actual data we use benchmarks 
based on energy consumption per square metre of 
floor area relative to the rest of the region. Historically, 
for North America, it was challenging to collect actual 
data, therefore we used benchmarks based on energy 
spend per square metre of floor area (sourced from the 
Building Owners and Managers Association) which were 
then converted to energy consumption. In 2023 we have 
successfully collected actual data from most sites in North 
America and only use this method for the remaining few. 

In addition to absolute GHG emissions metrics, we 
report two standardised intensity metrics that enable 
comparisons of our regional performance and year-on-
year results. These are Scope 1 and 2 ‘market-based’ 
emissions per £ million of revenue and Scope 1 and 2 
‘location-based’ emissions intensity of our offices per 
square metre floor area. The floor area GHG intensity 
ratio excludes emissions from fuel consumption of our 
business fleet to enable direct comparison of operational 
energy efficiency of our premises. 

Annual report and accounts 2023Scope 3 emissions
In 2023, we undertook our third assessment of the 
Group’s Scope 3 emissions. The first year assessment 
adopted a staged approach reflecting the scale of the 
project. This assessment first analysed the upstream 
emissions associated with our operations in the United 
Kingdom and North America, and was then scaled-up 
to provide an estimate of the Scope 3 emissions for all 
regions in which we operate. In 2022, we expanded the 
scope of the data collection process to cover all regions 
in which we operate and Savills IM’s discretionary Assets 
Under Management. This year we have followed the 
same methodology as in 2022, which now provides a 
dataset that is comparable to the previous year. 

Reported Scope 3 upstream emissions include purchased 
goods and services, capital goods, waste generated 
in operations, water consumption, business travel in 
vehicles not owned, leased or controlled by the Group, 
employee commuting and fuel and energy-related 
emissions that are not captured in Scopes 1 and 2. 
Purchased goods and services include all expenditure on 
services (for example cleaning, insurance, IT, professional 
services) and consumable products or goods (for 
example food and stationery). Capital expenditure 
includes all expenditure on durable products or goods 
that were acquired within the Group’s 2023 financial 
year (for example office furniture). The methodology 
used to estimate the supply-chain emissions from 
purchased goods and services and capital goods is 
based on the Exiobase1 environmentally extended 
input-output (‘EEIO’) dataset. EEIO combines economic 
information about the trade between industrial sectors 
with environmental information and the emissions arising 
directly from those sectors. 

Financial expenditure data was collected across all 
regions. In some cases, where data only covers 10 
months of the year, estimates were used to extrapolate 
this to 12 months. Business travel data quality and 
availability varies across the business. Business travel 
emissions were calculated based on actual activity data, 
where possible. Where activity data was not available, 
expenditure data was used and business travel emissions 
were calculated using the Exiobase model. 

During 2022, we rolled out surveys to assess employee 
commuting activity across all countries where Savills 
has operations. We had responses from over 5,000 
employees and calculated commuting emissions using 
the UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for 
Company Reporting and US EPA emissions factors. 
This data has been combined with current employee 
numbers and emissions factors to update the results for 
2023. We plan to repeat the commuting survey every 
few years, to see if travel habits have materially changed. 
Waste, water, fuel and energy-related emissions are 
collected using the same data collection process that is 
used for Scopes 1 and 2, as described above. 

Reported Scope 3 downstream emissions relate to Savills 
IM Assets under Management (‘AUM’) and cover all funds 
and mandates where Savills IM exercises discretionary 
control2 and had sufficient information to calculate 
this. While Savills IM has discretionary control, it is 
important to note that a significant number of the asset 
leases are of a ‘full repairing and insuring’ nature, which 
presents a challenge when it comes to data collection 
and opportunities for energy reduction interventions. 
Savills IM emissions for both 2022 and 2023 were 
estimated based on the actual energy use data for 
the previous year (2021 and 2022 respectively) where 
feasible. Where data was found to be incomplete for a 
specific utility for a particular building area (e.g. landlord-
controlled or tenant-controlled areas), the actual data 
was extrapolated to provide full coverage. For assets 
where no actual consumption data was available, energy 
use and the associated GHG emissions were estimated 
based on industry benchmarks3. For assets where there 
was insufficient information to enable benchmarking, 
a strategy has been implemented to ensure that 
benchmarking is possible for the next reporting year. 
Savills IM has set an objective of collecting 75% of actual 
data from AUM by 2025 and is working with property 
and asset managers, tenants and ESG consultants to 
achieve this data coverage. 

Going forward, we plan to further refine our Scope 3 
analysis by implementing a strategy to improve data 
collection processes across our global operations. This 
will be focused on providing activity data particularly 
for business travel, improving the efficiency of data-
collection processes through systemisation and reducing 
the need for extrapolation where possible. 

1.   EXIOBASE3 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. It is attributed to the EXIOBASE Consortium and can be 

found at www.exiobase.eu.

2.   Discretionary fund is defined as one where Savills IM holds decision-making and fiduciary responsibilities regarding which assets to buy and sell, in addition to 

asset management activities such as development, fit-out, refurbishment and leasehold transactions. In some jurisdictions a Discretionary Fund is a fund where 
Savills IM has launched the fund and has control over the fund strategy. This definition extends to a small number of segregated mandates where the client 
maintains discretion over their portfolio strategy. For more information on scope please refer to Savills IM’s Responsible Investment Policy. 

3.   Benchmarks used include the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (‘CIBSE’)’s Energy Benchmarking Tool for the UK, the EU Buildings Database, 

comprehensive IP benchmark database of our consultant, EVORA, and the GRESB Real Estate Assessment.

69

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSIn 2023, as in 2022, actual or estimated Scope 1 and 2 
emissions data was reported for all offices where we 
have operational control. Reported energy and GHG 
emissions data include estimates where actual data 
was unavailable. Due to a significant effort this year 
to engage with landlords to collect actual data, the 
proportion of estimated data has decreased by 14% 
when compared to 2022, it remains a key priority to 
strive for improved data accuracy.

The 2023 Scope 3 emissions totalled 238,083 tonnes 
CO2e, including our upstream emissions from business 
operations and the downstream AUM emissions where 
Savills IM exercises discretionary control. These AUM 
emissions were 133,421 tonnes CO2e which contributed 
56% of Scope 3 emissions reflecting an increase of 
12.5% on 2022. The increase is principally attributed to 
significant growth in this discretionary AUM reflecting 
asset acquisitions.

Our upstream Scope 3 emissions totalled to 104,662 
tonnes CO2e, an uplift of 6.3% since 2022 reflecting 
the significant improvement in data collection and the 
accuracy of the determining Scope 3 emissions in 2023. 
The increase in upstream emissions is mainly related 
to business travel emissions across the UK and CEME 
businesses. The factors affecting this are a combination 
of improved travel data collection and increases in 
journeys for business purposes.

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Our Disclosures continued

Performance and trends
In 2023, our absolute Scope 1 and 2 ‘market-based’ 
emissions totalled 5,947 tonnes CO2e, which is a 26.9% 
(2,187 tonnes CO2e) reduction against our 2019 base 
year. When assessed on an annual basis, we have seen 
an 11% reduction in the Group’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions, 
associated with a 6% decrease in electricity consumption 
and an increase in uptake of green tariffs. The Group 
used 23,861 MWh of energy, a 1% decrease on last year, 
comprised of a 12% increase in fuel use and the 6% 
decrease in electricity consumption.

There has been a 20% increase in Scope 1 emissions 
associated with business travel from Company-owned 
and leased vehicles. This is mainly driven by increased 
travel in Europe and improved data capture. To reduce 
these emissions, the Group will continue to switch 
Company-owned and leased cars to electric vehicles 
or hybrid alternatives. 

On an intensity basis, our Scope 1 and 2 ‘location-based’ 
GHG emissions per office floor space has reduced by 
13.8% year-on-year and 29.0% since 2019. Our GHG 
financial intensity metric, expressed as GHG emissions 
per £million revenue, has seen a reduction of 8.6% 
and 37.5% respectively. These metrics reflect continual 
improvement in managing our environmental impacts 
and associated carbon emissions through office retrofits, 
fleet upgrades, behavioural changes, and procurement 
of renewable electricity.

Key measures implemented and underway to reduce 
our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions include: LED lighting 
replacements, energy audits, promoting behavioural 
changes to eliminate energy wastage, procurement of 
renewable electricity and replacement of our owned and 
leased vehicles with zero or low-emission alternatives. 
For specific examples of this go to ‘Our Net Zero 
Targets’ section (page 41). In 2023, we also worked to 
formalise costed Net Zero Transition Plans for each of 
the Principal Businesses to guide efforts towards long-
term decarbonisation. 

70

Annual report and accounts 2023Corporate GHG Emissions, tonnes CO2e

Scope 1 (Direct)

Scope 2 (Indirect, market-based)

Total Scope 1 and 21

Scope 2 (Indirect, location-based)

GHG financial intensity ratio  
(tonnes CO2e / £ million revenue)
GHG intensity ratio of our offices  
(tonnes CO2e / sq m.)2

2023

1,907^

4,040^

5,947

5,055^

2022

1,691

4,989

6,679

5,462

2021

1,869

4,783

6,652

5,280

2020

1,794

5,386

7,180

5,847

2019

change vs 2019

1,775

7.4% 

6,358

-36.5% 

8,133

6,719

-26.9% 

-24.8% 

2.66

2.91

3.10

4.13

4.25

-37.5% 

0.034

0.039

0.040

0.042

0.048

29.0% 

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

change vs 2022

Scope 3 upstream, estimate3

104,662

98,4694

55,223

Scope 3 downstream, estimate3

133,421

118,544

nr

Total Scope 3

Grand Total

238,083

217,013

55,223

244,030

223,692

61,875

nr

nr

nr

nr

nr

nr

nr

nr

6.3% 

12.5% 

9.7% 

9.1% 

Corporate Energy Use, MWh

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

change vs 2019

Total energy use

23,861^

24,006

22,864

24,568

25,938

-8.0% 

Data coverage (offices reporting data)

281

276 

279

285

282

(100%)

(100%)

(100%)

(100%)

(92%)

nr

Notes:

1.  Total Scope 1 and 2 emissions and GHG financial intensity ratio are calculated using the market-based Scope 2 emissions.

2.  GHG intensity ratio of our offices is calculated using the location-based Scope 2 emissions.

3.   This disclosure is partial; as we continue to work to improve our understanding of our Scope 3, our final figures are expected to be higher. With exception of Savills 

IM AUM, downstream emissions covering carbon relating to client services are excluded. 

4.   The Scope 3 upstream emissions from 2022 have been restated according to the restatement policy. Reviewing the methodology used resulted in improvements 

to the procurement data and the addition of WTT emissions for commuting.

^ 

 We engaged Grant Thornton UK LLP to provide independent limited assurance over selected data highlighted in the above table with a ^ symbol using the 
assurance standards ISAE 3000 (Revised) and ISAE 3410. Grant Thornton has issued an unqualified opinion over the selected data and the full assurance report 
can be found on our website here (https://www.savills.com/why-savills/grant-thornton-limited-assurance-report-2023.pdf).

71

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSRESPONSIBLE BUSINESS continued

Our Disclosures continued

Scope 3 2023 Performance by category5

GHG Emissions Category

Purchased goods and services

Capital goods

Fuel and energy related activities (not included in Scope 1 & 2)

Waste generated in operations

Business travel

Employee commuting

Savills IM Assets Under Management

Total

tonnes  
CO2e

51,918

3,932

2,181

386

10,127

36,118

133,421

%

22%

2%

1%

0%

4%

15%

56%

238,0835

100%

5.   This disclosure is partial, as we continue to work to improve our understanding of our Scope 3, our final figures are expected to be higher. With exception of Savills 

IM AUM, downstream emissions covering carbon relating to client services are excluded.

2023 Performance by Region

Region

Asia Pacific

Europe, the Middle East & Africa

North America

United Kingdom

Savills IM

Total

Energy use

GHG emissions  
Scope 1 and 2

GHG emissions  
Scope 3

MWh

4,463

8,184

3,244

6,664

1,306

%

19%

34%

14%

28%

5%

23,861

100%

Intensity 
ratio, tonnes 
CO2e / m2

0.035

0.036

0.034

0.029

0.060

0.034

tonnes  
CO2e

2,020

2,093

1,045

630

159

%

34%

35%

17%

11%

3%

tonnes 
CO2e

45,889

16,836

6,881

32,415

136,062

%

19%

7%

3%

14%

57%

5,947

100%

238,083

100%

72

Annual report and accounts 2023Non-financial and sustainability information statement 2023
The table below sets out where stakeholders can find information in our Strategic report that relates to non-financial 
matters detailed under section 414CB of the Companies Act 2006.

Reporting  
requirement

Environmental 
matters

Relevant Policies and standards

Environmental Policy

Read more about our impact, including the 
principal risks relating to these matters

GHG Emissions

TCFD reporting

Principal and emerging risks and 
uncertainties facing the business

Page

68 to 72

73 to 80

30 to 36

Employees

Health and Safety Policy

Group Chief Executive Review – People

20 to 26

Equality and Diversity Policy

Business Model

10 and 11

Code of Conduct

Whistleblowing Policy

‘People’ section of Responsible Business

48 to 54

‘Culture’ section of Responsible Business

65

‘People and culture’ Principal Risk in 
the Principal and Emerging Risks and 
Uncertainties

30 to 36 

s.172 (1) Companies Act statement – People

99

Corporate Governance Report

Directors’ Remuneration Report

81 to 126

127 to 150

Human rights

Code of Conduct

‘Culture’ section of Responsible Business 65

Modern Slavery Statement

Social matters

Code of Conduct

Responsible Business

38 to 73

Financial crime 
(anti-money 
laundering, 
anti-bribery 
and corruption 
and compliance 
with financial 
sanctions)

Outcome of non-
financial policies 
and standards

Principal Risks

Business model

Due diligence 
processes 
in place in 
pursuance of 
promoting non-
financial policies 
and standards

Modern Slavery Statement

Tax Strategy

Code of Conduct

Culture section of Responsible Business 

65

Whistleblowing Policy

Corporate Governance Report

81 to 126

Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy

Carbon emissions reporting

Responsible Business 

Gender Diversity reporting in accordance 
with the Corporate Governance Code 2018

Corporate Governance Report

Principal and emerging risks and 
uncertainties facing the business

‘Our business model’ section of the 
Strategic Report

All employees required to read and adhere 
to the Code of Conduct

Whistleblowing reports reviewed by 
the Board

Anti-corruption, anti-bribery and anti-
financial sanctions training and monitoring

68 to 72

114

30 to 36

10 and 11

65

73

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
TASK FORCE ON CLIMATE-RELATED FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES (‘TCFD’)

Focusing on climate-related risks to deliver 
a more sustainable future

Real estate and associated infrastructure are responsible 
for close to 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions 
and the global building floor area is expected to double 
by 2060. Savills is focused on climate-related risks 
and working with its clients, suppliers and the local 
communities on which its operations impact, to deliver 
a more sustainable future. Savills recognises the need 
for urgent action by real estate owners and occupiers 
to address the climate crisis and rapidly transition to a 
greener, more resilient economy. This TCFD Disclosure 
outlines the climate-related risks and opportunities that 
Savills has identified and the associated actions and 
budgets in place to address these.

In this section we provide climate-related financial 
disclosures consistent with TCFD guidance. By this 
we mean the four TCFD recommendations and the 11 
recommended disclosures set out in Figure 4 of Section 
C of the report entitled ‘Recommendations of the Task 
Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures’ published 
in June 2017 by the TCFD. We have also referenced the 
recommendations in “Task Force on Climate-related 
Financial Disclosures, Implementing the Recommendations 
of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, 
October 2021”. A longer TCFD document, which 
goes beyond the formal annual disclosures, has also 
been provided (https://www.savills.com/why-savills/
tcfd-report-2023.pdf), which includes supplementary 
detail and a table outlining the TCFD consistency and 
improvement points within our 2023 Report. 

Governance
The Board is responsible overall for managing climate-
related risks and realising opportunities, as detailed in the 
Governance section (page 81). The Board is supported in 
this respect by the Group Executive Board (‘GEB’), which 
is responsible for implementing climate-related risk 
management plans, addressing climate-related threats to 
Savills business model and for identifying and realising 
opportunities. In addition, the Group Risk Committee 
and Group Environmental Social & Governance (‘ESG’) 
Committee are responsible for overseeing climate risk 
assessment and other aspects of Savills corporate 
sustainability and ESG agenda and reporting into the 
GEB. The Board and GEB both meet at least quarterly. 
The Group ESG Committee meets at least bi-annually 
and the Savills TCFD Working Group meets at least 
annually. The Board is updated on progress against goals 
and targets regularly, and at least annually considers the 
progress made against our goals.

The Board and Board committees are informed about 
climate-related issues, including both climate risks and 
opportunities, via written reports and oral updates 
along with formal presentations from the Group 
Legal Director & Company Secretary and the Group 
Sustainability Director. 

74

Both the Group Legal Director & Company Secretary 
and the Group Sustainability Director have climate-
related actions within their KPIs, as do GEB members, 
including the Group CEO. Climate-related issues, 
including associated risks and opportunities, are also 
considered when the Board is reviewing strategy, 
budgets, major plans of action, proposed investments, 
capital expenditure and acquisitions. Climate issues are 
considered as part of and new and existing office space 
lease agreements and Savills are working to incorporate 
this into the acquisitions process. An example of how 
this is embedded in decision-making is that sustainability 
and ESG, specifically climate risks and opportunities, 
are discussed within Board meetings and as part of the 
wider risk review process by Group Risk Committee, from 
which management decisions are often determined. 

The Savills TCFD Working Group and Group ESG 
Committee report into the GEB and through it to the 
Board and, as part of this reporting, highlight climate 
related items and associated actions (page 31). The 
process by which Group management is informed about 
climate-related issues is through the ESG Committees 
in each Principal Business, which either have TCFD as a 
key agenda item or which have their own TCFD working 
groups. ESG Groups in the Group’s Principal Businesses 
(in UK, CEME, Asia Pacific, North America Savills 
Investment Management (‘Savills IM’)) were established 
to develop and manage programmes in those businesses 
within the Group’s overall TCFD framework. The process 
employed by each Principal Business to manage physical 
and transition risk is typically for the management 
teams within the relevant business to oversee any 
corresponding action or agenda points made within 
the relevant ESG Committee or via designated TCFD 
action trackers. Key climate-related actions and risks are 
monitored and managed through these ESG Committees 
which respectively report to the Group ESG Committee 
and the Savills TCFD Working Group, with key messages 
then further disseminated to management across 
the Group as appropriate. The Heads of the Principal 
Businesses have overall climate-related responsibilities 
for their businesses; with progress by Principal Business 
against agreed targets monitored and overseen by the 
Group ESG Committee, which reports via the Group Legal 
Director & Company Secretary, to 
the GEB and the Board. 

Savills TCFD Working Group was supported by Willis 
Towers Watson (‘WTW’), who assisted each Principal 
Business to effectively assess climate-related risk during 
2021, following which each Principal Business was able to 
develop further its action plans to address climate risks 
and realise opportunities specific to it. 

Annual report and accounts 2023Strategy and Risk Management
Interface between climate-related risks and 
overall risk management
For each Principal Business, climate-risk management 
plans have been developed to establish mitigation and 
adaptation measures to manage the most material 
climate-related risks. Savills Group processes for 
managing climate-related risks are outlined in the 
Governance section above, and are also aligned to 
Savills wider risk management approach and enterprise 
risk management system (‘ERM’) (page 30). For 
more information on the Group’s material existing 
and emerging risks see Principal and emerging risks 
section (page 33).

The materiality assessment was based on an integrated 
view of the impact and likelihood of occurrence for each 
risk and opportunity. Climate-related risks continue to 
be evaluated as part of the Savills Group six-monthly 
risk identification, review and assessment process for 
emerging and principal risks conducted by the Group 
Risk Committee (page 30). The TCFD materiality process 
is also integrated within the wider risk management 
processes; the Group’s Risk Register has a high-level 
summary risk covering ‘Environment and Sustainability’ 
with further details on climate-related issues managed 
within specific TCFD risk documentation. Climate-related 
risks and opportunities are integrated into current 
decision-making and strategy formulation, for example, 
in creating and reviewing strategies for lower-carbon, 
more energy-efficient operations. Further examples of 
Savills initiatives to improve the energy efficiency of our 
operations are in ‘Environment – Our Strategy in Action’ 
section (page 41).

The Savills TCFD Working Group, responsible for 
overseeing the climate scenario risk assessment, includes 
the Group Risk Director and the Group Sustainability 
Director within its membership. The climate risk 
assessment adopts other elements used in the broader 
Savills risk assessment categories including: 

(identification) 

 ƒ description of the risk and time horizon 
 ƒ impact-likelihood rating (the evaluation 
 ƒ mitigating actions and controls (mitigation) 
 ƒ future action plans & risk owner (monitoring). 

enabling prioritisation) 

As part of this process, each risk is given an inherent and 
residual risk score and a ‘go-forward mitigation plan’ is 
developed, which is then cascaded down and managed 
accordingly by the relevant business or teams. The 
results are integrated into ERM reporting and ongoing 
identification, assessment and management of climate-
related risks. 

As the 2021 assessment considered future scenarios 
with long timescales, the intention is for a full review, 
similar to this, to be undertaken every three years. In the 
intervening period the risks and opportunities identified 
are considered each year by the Savills TCFD Working 
Group, with any required updates included in the latest 
annual TCFD report. In relation to 2023, the Savills 
TCFD Working Group concluded that no significant 

updates were required to the overarching Group risks 
and opportunities, however, the actions relating to 
each of the items identified and relative progress made 
against these was reviewed. A bottom-up comprehensive 
assessment of the existing climate-related risks and 
opportunities identified will be undertaken via workshops 
with the Principal Businesses in 2024. 

Scenario analysis 
In order to explore the business risks and opportunities, 
in 2021, Savills, with the support of WTW, undertook 
climate scenario analysis against two scenarios. The two 
scenarios have average temperature rises of 2°C and 4°C 
respectively, and identified physical and transition risks 
together with the time horizon in which they are most 
likely to occur and the potential financial impact on Savills 
strategy. The time horizons selected defined ‘short-term’ 
as the next one to five years, ‘medium-term’ as five to 
ten years and ‘long-term’ as ten years or more. The 
timelines were chosen to reflect Savills business planning. 
Group materiality incorporates a combined view of the 
considered impacts across the Principal Businesses.

Below 2°C scenario (< 2°C)
The scenario is based on The Paris Agreement to 
which more than 190 countries committed, to limit 
global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial 
temperatures and to pursue efforts to limit it to no more 
than 1.5°C. The scenario assumes climate policies are 
introduced early and become gradually more stringent 
across the globe. There is an increase in public and 
private investment into green technologies and the 
share of renewables by 2030 in global electricity supply 
increases to approximately 50%1 shifting economies from 
being fossil fuel dependent to renewable energy driven. 
More stringent government policies such as stricter 
energy efficiency building codes and carbon taxes help 
advanced economies achieve net zero by 2050 and the 
world by 20702. The scenario assumes low growth in 
material consumption and increasing consumer pressure 
on businesses to drive sustainability. Those companies 
which fail to transition their businesses to a low-carbon 
model will be adversely impacted.

High Emissions Pathway (> 4°C)
This scenario is aligned with RCP8.5, where due to high 
emissions in the atmosphere, temperature is likely to 
increase by more than 4°C compared to pre-industrial 
times by the year 2100. This scenario builds on the 
Fossil-fuelled Development scenario of the Shared 
Socio-economic Pathways. There’s an expectation that 
competitive markets and developing and developed 
societies continue to grow rapidly. There is an increasing 
adoption of resource and energy intensive lifestyles 
around the world and the push for economic and social 
development is coupled with the exploitation of abundant 
fossil fuels. As a result of the failure to transition, the 
physical impacts of climate change become increasingly 
severe. The increase in frequency and severity of flooding, 
higher sea level rise and other physical hazards put 
additional stress on the built environment.

1.  World Energy Outlook 2020, IEA, 2020.

2.  Sustainable Development Scenario, IEA, 2020.

75

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSTASK FORCE ON CLIMATE-RELATED FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES (‘TCFD’) continued

Summary of Risks and 
Opportunities identified 
Materiality scoring for Savills TCFD risks and 
opportunities utilised the below scoring criteria: 

>70% – Likely

 ƒ Event will probably occur in most circumstances, 
 ƒ Event should occur at some time, 20 – 70% – Possible
 ƒ Event could occur at some time, but exceptional, 

0 – 20% – Unlikely

The following financial scales have been used to 
determine the materiality of the identified climate 
risks and opportunities, which are in line with our 
ERM process. Potential to impact % proportion of 
financial profit:

 ƒ Low – Up to 5%
 ƒ Moderate – 5 – 10%
 ƒ Severe – Over 10%

When the risks and opportunities were identified in 2021 by each region in which the Group operates, we found 
commonalities between them all, therefore, Group materiality incorporates a combined view of the considered impacts 
across the Principal Businesses. Assessment outcomes were then discussed within the Savills TCFD Working Group 
and at a Principal Business level in order that climate-related risks or opportunities with a higher relevant risk could be 
prioritised via action management.

Risk type

Risk description

Time frame 
of impact

Potential financial impact 

Physical – Assessed under the High Emissions Scenario (> 4°C)

Acute 
catastrophic 
events 

Long-
term

Increased frequency 
and severity of 
extreme weather 
events, such as 
cyclones, hurricanes, 
heat waves, wildfires 
and floods 

Chronic 
gradual 
changes 
in weather 
patterns

Long-
term

Longer-term shifts 
in weather patterns, 
which may cause 
increasing frequency 
of heavy rain and 
wind, rising sea 
levels and average 
temperatures

Risk Impact:
Potential for increased property damage from 
catastrophic events deemed minimal. Climate modelling 
which considers RCP8.5, conducted by WTW shows 
minimal exposure across short, medium and long terms. 
In relation to assets under the management of Savills IM, 
some exposure, however, Savills IM is developing strategies 
to mitigate the impact of these risks in relation to assets in 
funds under its management.

Opportunity Impact: 
As cities become increasingly concerned about the 
impacts of severe physical risk events, there is potential for 
Savills to support resilient city strategic planning, which 
could generate additional revenue for the business.

Risk Impact:
Potential for increased operational and maintenance costs, 
which are passed on from landlords to Savills as tenant, 
relevant cost deemed minimal. Some of the assets in funds 
managed by Savills IM have some exposure, however, Savills 
IM is developing strategies to mitigate the impact of these 
risks in relation to assets in funds under its management.

Transition – Assessed under the Below 2°C scenario (< 2°C)

Policy and 
regulation 

Enhanced climate 
risk disclosures

Short-
term

Risk Impact
The financial cost of compliance and disclosures is 
considered to be limited.

Introduction of 
emissions caps, 
carbon pricing 
and offsets

Long-
term

Risk Impact
Savills is predominantly a service provider, its overall 
emissions are low in relative terms, and it intends to further 
reduce its emissions through Principal Business targets.

Short to 
medium-
term

Changes in building 
standards; new 
requirements 
for property 
transactions, 
development and 
operations

Opportunity Impact
Given higher carbon taxes, there will likely be increased 
demand for sustainable design and performance advice 
for offices, providing revenue opportunity.

Risk Impact
Because Savills is already implementing actions to track, 
and monitor changing regulatory standards, conduct 
retrofits to increase efficiency of properties and increase 
ESG knowledge across the Savills business, the risk is 
assessed as ‘low’. In relation to assets held in funds managed 
by Savills IM, ensuring that fund assets meet future minimum 
standards may result in additional asset management costs 
at fund level, however overall risks deemed low.

Opportunity Impact
Significant opportunity for Savills Principal Businesses to 
increase revenue by becoming a leading provider of ESG 
consultancy and investment services to clients which will 
increasingly demand it.

Materiality assessment

2025

Low

2030

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

76

Annual report and accounts 2023Risk type

Risk description

Reputation

Increased 
stakeholder 
concern or negative 
stakeholder feedback

Time frame 
of impact

Short-
term

Market 
Changes

Shifts in client 
preferences for 
real estate services 
incorporating climate 
considerations

Short-
term

Materiality assessment

Moderate Low

Moderate Low

Potential financial impact 

Risk Impact
Risk is assessed as low, when reflecting the mitigation 
plans in place, a moderate opportunity exists. 

Opportunity Impact
A proactive approach to sustainability and commitment to 
responsible business, such as Savills Group and Savills IM’s 
net zero targets and the concentration of ESG services into 
Savills Earth, should help to attract the next generation of 
talent who are increasingly concerned with sustainability 
issues. There is significant opportunity to become a leading 
provider of ESG services to clients, if Savills can continue 
to develop employee skill sets and knowledge to build its 
client facing service offering.

Risk Impact 
Greater level of focus on climate related risks. If Savills 
fails to respond to these shifts in client focus it could see 
reduced income and market share, arising from lower 
relevance in the market. However, mitigation in place 
for this.

Opportunity Impact
Savills could increase its market share and revenues if it 
becomes a leading provider of sustainability consultancy 
services. Likely increase in demand for consultancy advice.

Markets vulnerable 
to climate change 
becoming less 
desirable over time

Long-
term

Risk Impact
Due to the inherent diversification of Savills business this 
was assessed as being likely to have minimal impact.

Low

Low

Specialist skills 
shortages

Short-
term

Opportunity Impact
Potential to share expertise across Savills Regional 
Businesses to meet new client requirements. Consequently, 
this could generate additional revenue.

Risk Impact
As Savills is proactively investing in expanding 
sustainability recruitment and training across its business, 
this risk is assessed as being low.

Opportunity Impact
If Savills can attract the next generation of talent to 
build on its existing resource base, it could generate 
a competitive advantage and lead to increased 
revenue generation.

Low

Low

Technology 
Development

Substitution of 
existing products or 
services with lower 
emissions options

Short to 
medium-
term

Risk Impact
Savills will continue to incur development and capital 
investment costs in relation to client-facing real-estate 
technology. However, relative costs deemed low.

Moderate Low

Opportunity Impact
Developments in data collection technology could 
present Savills a moderate opportunity to increase revenue 
by further strengthening the Group’s consultancy and 
advisory service offering on emissions reporting and 
benchmarking. There is also an opportunity for Savills 
to occupy more efficient buildings, with smarter more 
efficient technology, which could lead to cost reductions 
on Savills own electricity spend.

77

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSTASK FORCE ON CLIMATE-RELATED FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES (‘TCFD’) continued

Evaluation of resilience 
2 Degrees – Risks and opportunities 
Under the well below 2°C scenario, Savills Group 
strategy is assessed as being resilient to the impacts 
of the transition to a low-carbon economy, with most 
risks assessed as ‘low’. In particular, Savills assessed that 
the opportunities presented in terms of new revenue 
streams derived, for example, from the expansion of 
sustainability consultancy services and efficiency gains 
from technologies, outweighed the transition risks that 
the Group is exposed to. The most material transition 
risks and opportunities under this scenario are assessed 
as being ‘moderate’ in 2025 with exposure reducing to 
‘low’ by 2030 and are as follows: 

1.  Reputation: Increased stakeholder concern or 

negative stakeholder feedback with the consequent 
brand impact;

2.  Market: Shifts in client preferences for real estate 
services incorporating climate considerations and 
a requirement for service providers to have the 
necessary expertise; and

3.  Technology: Substitution of existing products or 

services with lower emissions options.

In terms of the below 2°C scenario for physical risks, 
there was modelled to be relatively minimal risk, 
therefore, exposure was found to be broadly consistent 
with today.

4 Degrees – Risks and opportunities 
Strategies would be reviewed, along with the associated 
risks and opportunities should the likely climate forecasts 
change to go beyond the 2°C scenario. Under the High 
Emissions Pathway (>4°C) scenario, whilst extreme 
weather events are forecast to increase, the physical 
risk impact to Savills Group businesses is expected 
to be relatively low, due to the advisory nature of 
business activities, which only use leased space that 
can be relocated. Savills also assessed the potential for 
additional revenue opportunities under this scenario. 
The higher physical risk will likely lead to climate-
change-related migration in the long-term and increased 
volume of movement provides opportunities to increase 
revenue in Savills consultancy and transaction advisory 
businesses. In relation to Savills IM, assets held on behalf 
of investors in its managed funds have some exposure 
to high flood risk and moderate storm risk, and these 
risks are projected to increase in the long term. To ensure 
strategy resilience, Savills IM intends to invest in detailed 
assessments of higher-risk assets currently held within 
its managed funds, and to engage as appropriate with 
flood and coastal risk management agencies to plan 
future protection and consider divestment if adaptation 
measures are deemed inadequate.

Savills has identified that it will further reduce 
its exposure to these risks and exploit potential 
opportunities through the following actions: 

 ƒ Remaining committed to our Group goals of net 

zero for our Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 
2030 and for our Scope 3 emissions by 2040. 
Savills are currently working with Science-Based 
Targets initiative (‘SBTi’) to validate proposed 
interim decarbonisation targets, with the aim of 
being consistent with a no-greater-than 1.5°C 
temperature increase;

 ƒ Savills will continue to invest further in the 

development of the Group’s client sustainability 
offering across its regional businesses, in particular 
by building out the ‘Savills Earth’ offering, our energy 
and sustainability combined services, complemented 
by appropriate learning and development 
programmes to ensure that knowledge of climate-
related risks is embedded in all relevant teams to 
support them to meet client requirements; and 

 ƒ Savills will also continue to invest in technology 

solutions and strategic partnerships with firms 
offering climate-change related services and solutions 
both to better serve its clients changing demands 
and to reduce its own carbon footprint. Sometimes 
this will be achieved by the acquisition of such firms.

TCFD Risk mitigation and adaptation budgets
The Savills TCFD Working Group used the workshop 
findings summarised above to analyse the resilience of 
Savills business model and strategy to climate change, 
taking into consideration different climate-related 
scenarios. In addition, consolidating the estimates 
provided by the ESG Groups in the Principal Businesses, 
the TCFD Working Group developed financial costing in 
relation to risk mitigation for TCFD, which are outlined 
below (for the avoidance of doubt excluding costs 
in relation to assets managed by Savills IM under the 
terms of its investment management appointments). 
The assumptions applied in developing these current 
costings estimates are in particular highly sensitive to 
changes in regulation, energy costs, offset costs etc. 

TCFD is integrated into Savills wider financial planning 
processes. Any factors underpinning the risks or 
opportunities which are interdependent, and could 
impact on Savills Group’s ability to create value over time 
and deliver its growth plans, are noted and addressed 
accordingly, following the processes outlined in the TCFD 
Governance section above. During 2023, several actions 
relating to TCFD within each of the Principal Businesses 
have been undertaken, for example, actions relating 
to net zero plans and ESG learning and development 
programmes for employees.

78

Annual report and accounts 2023The below figures represent an estimated forecast costing of risk mitigation and adaptation plans included within 
financial and business plans, set against estimated total Savills Group cost projections, over the ‘medium-term’ (i.e. the 
period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2029). As the mitigation and adaptation actions include both physical and 
transition risk the costs are based on a combined view considering both scenarios outlined above:

TCFD-related costs for risk 
mitigation covering period 
from start of 2024 up to 
end 2029.
Presented as % of total 
cost base over the 
‘medium term’*

TCFD-related costs for risk 
mitigation covering period 
from start of 2023 up to 
end 2029.
Presented as % of total 
cost base over the 
‘medium term’

2023

0.08%

0.05%

0.02%

0.26% 

0.18% 

2022

0.08%

0.04%

0.00%

0.23%

0.48%****

Regional area / 
business 

UK

APAC

N America

CEME 

Savills IM

Explanation of TCFD mitigation and adaptation budgets.

Example actions budgeted for include:

 ƒ Annual increase in insurance premium, attributed to 

climate change

 ƒ Increased M&E to ensure climate control within offices

 ƒ Numerous actions relating to regional net zero plans, to 

negate need of carbon offsetting

 ƒ ESG training to staff

 ƒ Transitioning company cars to EVs

 ƒ Regional monitoring of emerging regulations.

 ƒ Implementation of Internal and external 

communication strategy

 ƒ Support individual office initiatives

 ƒ Development of in-house talent

Group Total 

0.1%**

0.1%

Total estimated cost is rounded and inclusive of estimated 
offset costs.***

*  

For comparison purposes, total Group operating costs (inc. profit-related bonus & interest) was estimated covering a six-year period based on total 2023 Group 
operating costs, business plan forecasts and, from 2026 onwards, assuming 5% growth year-on-year.

**   Underlying budget figures were rounded and are estimated for a six-year period, therefore, subject to change over time. 

***   A shadow internal price on carbon is under consideration by the Group. In the interim, for the purposes of this report the assumed cost of carbon offsets at 2030 

was £150 per tonne of CO2e.

****  Savills IM figures have been restated, changing from 0.77% to 0.48%; this was due to an error made during the previous year’s reporting.

Estimates have also been developed for potential value 
of climate-related opportunities over the ‘medium term’. 
The financial figures relating to the climate-market 
changes and associated opportunities over the ‘medium 
term’ are subject to continuous review, and are, in 
particular, highly sensitive to market developments and 
are commercially sensitive. They have therefore not been 
reported in detail. However, these provide significant 
additional revenue opportunities, with the value of the 
opportunity estimated to significantly outweigh the total 
costs of mitigating climate change-related risks.

Metrics and Targets
The methodology for target setting and progress 
tracking, including the metrics which are outline below, 
is that targets are proposed and then progress discussed 
within both the Group ESG Committee and the TCFD 
Working Group, with the outcomes from this being put 
forward for GEB and Board sign off, and then managed, 
as required. As outlined above, the process to manage 
physical and transition risk is typically for the teams 
within each Principal Business to project manage any 
corresponding action or agenda points made within the 
relevant ESG Committees or through designated TCFD 
action trackers.

Metrics used by Savills Group to assess climate-related 
risks and opportunities, in line with Group strategy and 
the Group risk management process, include Green 
House Gas (‘GHG’) emissions for absolute Scope 1, Scope 
2 and Scope 3. The GHG metrics are summarised within 
the GHG reporting section of this report (pages 68 to 
72). The GHG metrics are measured to check exposure 
to GHG emissions and, therefore, future carbon prices, 
along with the link to success against Savills Group’s net 
zero targets. 

A further metric used is the estimated expenditure and 
investment deployed toward climate-related risks and 
opportunities; additional details are outlined above. 
Monitoring TCFD-related expenditure gives an indication 
of the extent to which risk mitigation has been budgeted 
for and how long-term value might be affected. Savills 
have improved upon this metric during the year by 
adding a comparison of 2023 budgets with budgets 
from the prior year. 

79

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSTASK FORCE ON CLIMATE-RELATED FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES (‘TCFD’) continued

Savills has undertaken Group Net Zero Transition Plan 
and costing exercises, as part of its TCFD review, with 
changes in carbon price monitored globally to assist 
predicting future cost implications. Savills is currently 
working with Science Based Targets initiative (‘SBTi’) to 
have proposed interim decarbonisation targets validated. 
Once this process has been completed, Savills intend 
to disclose these targets and report against them. In 
addition, Savills remains committed to achieving net zero 
for Scopes 1 and 2 by 2030, and Scope 3 by 2040. This is 
an established target which we disclosed in our 2021 and 
2022 TCFD reports. 

Regional targets set to align with the UN’s Sustainable 
Development Goals (‘SDGs’) will also assist with some 
actions relating to the TCFD regional working groups, for 
example ESG training programmes. The 9 SDGs which 
Savills is aligned to and the corresponding objectives 
can be found here: (https://www.savills.com/why-savills/
environmental-social-and-governance.aspx). Aligned 
with the Group SDG framework, each Principal Business 
has developed its own detailed SDG roadmap which 
has SMART targets relating to topics such as energy 
efficiency, waste management and recycling and ESG 
awareness days, as examples. These are managed by 
their relevant ESG Committees and are monitored twice 
a year at the Group ESG Committee. Likewise each 
Principal Business has a costed net zero plan which is 
aligned with the framework mapped out within the wider 
Group Net Zero Transition Plan. 

Performance on material climate-related issues are linked 
into remuneration considerations, forming part of the 
KPIs which are reviewed at annual employee appraisals 
and, therefore, linked to bonus allocation. This covers key 
staff responsible for climate related issues, including, but 
not limited to, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Group 
Chief Financial Officer, Group Legal Director & Company 
Secretary and the Group Sustainability Director.

This Strategic report, as set out on pages 6 to 80, has 
been approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by

Mark Ridley,
Group CEO

13 March 2024

80

Annual report and accounts 2023GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

Applying the Principles of the 2018 UK 
Corporate Governance Code

Compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code
The Company reported against the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code (the ‘Code’) and the Companies 
(Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018. Our Governance Report reflects these requirements as they apply 
to Savills and includes cross references to relevant sections of the Strategic Report, the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report and other related disclosures. A copy of the Code is available from the Financial Reporting Council’s website 
at www.frc.org.uk. It is the Board’s view that for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 Savills was fully compliant 
with all of the Principles and Provisions set out in the Code.

The table below details where key content on the compliance with the Code can be found in this report.

1 Board leadership 
and Company 
purpose

This provides an overview of 
the Board activities during 
the year

2 Division of 

responsibilities

Explains the roles of the Board 
and its Directors

Board of Directors

Group Executive Board

Effective Board

Board attendance

Culture

Employee engagement

Stakeholder engagement

Section 172 Statement 

Page

86 to 88

89 to 91

92

93

95

102

96

99 to 101

Corporate Governance Structure

104 and 105

Roles on the Board

3 Composition, 

succession and 
evaluation

This includes the Nomination & 
Governance Committee Report

Board activities in 2023

Board composition

4 Audit, Risks and 
Internal Controls

This includes the Audit 
Committee Report

5 Remuneration

6 Directors’ Report

106

108 and 109

107

Nomination & Governance Committee Report

110 to 116

Appointments and succession planning

112 and 113

Diversity 

Evaluation

Risk management and internal control

114

115

117

Audit Committee Report 

118 to 126

Internal Controls and risk management

126

External Auditor

Principal risks and uncertainties

Directors’ Remuneration Report

124 and 125

30 to 36

127 to 150

151 to 154

81

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE

Chair’s Introduction

Stacey 
Cartwright

Chair

82

On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to 
present our Corporate Governance Report 
for the year ended 31 December 2023. It is 
my first report as Chair and summarises 
how the Board and our governance has 
provided leadership over the year, in support 
of the long-term sustainable success of the 
Company, enabled by highly engaged and 
motivated employees and a collaborative, 
values-based and inclusive culture. In this 
year’s report we describe the Group’s 
compliance with the 2018 UK Corporate 
Governance Code (the ‘Code’) and explain 
how the Board and its Committees have 
operated in 2023.”

The Board’s focus throughout 2023 has been to continue 
to progress and deliver the Group’s strategic objectives, 
whilst remaining agile and responsive to significant 
macro-economic headwinds and opportunities.

The Board remains focused on utilising the Company’s 
corporate governance framework to promote the long-
term sustainable success of the Group, embedding 
stakeholder needs and consideration of broader 
environmental and social matters as integral components 
within the decision-making process. The Company’s 
corporate governance framework remains critical to the 
Group’s successfully meeting our net zero targets and 
the delivery of our ESG strategy, which aims to achieve 
a positive impact on the environment and society, while 
maintaining robust governance measures. 

The Board is committed to maintaining the highest 
standards of corporate governance, which are 
fundamental to the discharge of our responsibilities. 
Our robust and effective corporate governance practices 
enable the Group to deliver its strategy and create 
long-term Shareholder value. Further information on 
our strategy and business model can be found on 
pages 6 to 80.

Ensuring that we do the right thing in the right way 
requires the right leadership and as custodian of Savills 
culture the Board demands openness and transparency 
to maintain an environment in which honesty, integrity 
and fairness are valued and practised by our people 
every day.

Annual report and accounts 2023Positive feedback was also received on the composition 
of the Board and the conduct of meetings and materials 
provided. Some areas for focus were identified and 
we will look to progress these during the year ahead. 
Following this review, I am satisfied that the Board 
continues to perform effectively and in particular I am 
confident that the Board has the right balance of skills, 
experience and diversity of personality to continue to 
encourage open, transparent debate and challenge.

The details of Directors, skills and experience are set 
out on pages 86 to 88. The governance framework and 
the roles of the various Board Committees, principal 
management committee and other key committees are 
set out on pages 104 and 105.

Risk management remains a fundamental element of 
the Board and Audit Committee’s agendas and our 
governance efforts across the Group as a whole. The 
Audit Committee’s Report on pages 118 to 126 sets out in 
more detail the systems of risk management and internal 
control. Details of our principal existing and emerging 
risks and uncertainties can be found on pages 30 to 36.

We believe that engaging with our Shareholders and 
encouraging an open, meaningful dialogue between 
Shareholders and the Company is vital to ensuring 
mutual understanding. We are in regular contact with our 
major Shareholders and potential Shareholders and in 
2023 continued our scheduled programme of meetings 
through in-person meetings and by way of video 
conference as part of our continuing commitment to this 
open and transparent dialogue. You can read more about 
Shareholder engagement on pages 101 and 102.

Included within this Report is our Annual Implementation 
Report on Directors’ Remuneration, which will be 
presented to Shareholders for approval at the 2024 AGM.

We will continue to challenge ourselves and the business 
and to consider and to learn from our decisions to 
ensure that we build upon the existing strength of our 
governance structure.

Stacey Cartwright
Chair

13 March 2024

The Board’s behaviour and the values it displays set the 
tone to guide our people’s behaviour, and ensure that 
they live by and demonstrate the right values, which in 
turn enable entrepreneurial and prudent management 
to deliver long-term success for the Group and its 
stakeholders. All of the Non-Executive Directors are 
considered by the Board to be independent, meaning 
that at least half of the Board members throughout 
the year were Independent Non-Executive Directors 
(excluding Nicholas Ferguson, as Chair during 2023). 
Over the last few years we have brought several new 
Directors onto the Board, taking steps to refresh the 
Board and prepare for further succession. The Board, 
together with the Nomination & Governance Committee, 
has continued to monitor the composition and skills 
matrix of the Board and at senior management levels 
across the Group. On, 1 January 2024 I became Chair 
on the retirement of Nicholas Ferguson. Since he was 
appointed in May 2016, Savills has both delivered 
commendable growth and successfully navigated the 
challenges of both COVID and the market corrections 
of the last two years. I would like to thank him for his 
enormous contribution to the business. 

I am pleased to report that, following an extensive 
search process, supported by an independent specialist 
search firm, on 13 December 2023, John Waters was 
appointed to the Board as an additional Independent 
Non-Executive Director. John replaced me as Chair of 
the Savills Audit Committee with effect from 1 January 
2024. John’s extensive experience will complement and 
further enhance the wide-ranging skills and experience 
of the Board and its Committees and I am delighted to 
welcome him to the Board (see Nomination & Governance 
Committee Report on pages 110 to 116). One further 
change to Board responsibilities is the appointment of 
Richard Orders to replace me as Senior Independent 
Director, also with effect from 1 January 2024.

We remain firmly committed to having a Board that is 
diverse in all respects. With support from the Nomination 
and Governance Committee, we continue to monitor 
requirements. The FCA’s Listing Rules now sets a board 
diversity target stating that at least 40% of a board are 
women, at least one of the roles of CEO, CFO, Chair and 
SID is held by a woman, and at least one director is from 
a minority ethnic background. The Company has met all 
of the above targets, except the target to have 40% of 
Board membership represented by women, which we 
expect to comply with in 2024. We have also met the 
Parker Review target to have at least one Director from 
a minority ethnic background.

We test Board effectiveness and performance annually 
through a formal evaluation. This year was conducted 
in-house, led by myself and facilitated by the Group 
Legal Director & Company Secretary. The process, key 
conclusions and areas of focus for 2024 are set out on 
page 115. I am pleased to report the findings show there 
is clear consensus that the Board is operating well with 
effective leadership and in an environment where open 
discussion and input from all members is encouraged.

83

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Governance at a Glance

The Board remains satisfied that it has  
the appropriate balance of skills, experience, 
independence and knowledge.”

Board 
gender 
Diversity

6

Male

3

Female

Composition

2

Executive

7

Non-Executive

Independent 
Directors

2

0-3 years

3

3-5 years

2

5-9 years

Board 
Nationality

6

UK

3

Non-UK

Board 
Ethnicity

8

White

1

Ethnic minority

84

Annual report and accounts 20232023 HIGHLIGHTS

Board composition and changes
 ƒ 33% female representation on the Board
 ƒ John Waters joined the Board on 13 December 2023 

as an additional Independent Non-Executive Director 
and replaced Stacey Cartwright as Chair of the Savills 
Audit Committee with effect from 1 January 2024

of Nicholas Ferguson on 1 January 2024 

 ƒ Stacey Cartwright became Chair on the retirement 
 ƒ Richard Orders replaced Stacey Cartwright as 

the Senior Independent Director with effect from 
1 January 2024.

33 Margaret Street, London W1G 0JD 

Annual General Meeting
 ƒ The 2023 AGM was held on 17 May 2023 at 
 ƒ All Directors attended the AGM either in person 
 ƒ During the AGM, the Company provided an 

or remotely

update on trading up to the AGM, following which 
the Chair Nicholas Ferguson took questions from 
Shareholders which were responded to by the Chair 
and other Directors 

by the Articles of Association 

 ƒ Voting was carried out by way of a poll as authorised 
 ƒ All resolutions contained in the Notice of Meeting 

were passed.

Board attendance
 ƒ In 2023 there were eight scheduled meetings of the 

Board which Directors attended either in-person or 
remotely, using video conference facilities 

 ƒ Directors’ attendance record at the scheduled Board 

and. Board Committee meetings, is set out in the 
table on page 93

 ƒ Attendance is expressed as the number of scheduled 

meetings attended, out of the number that each 
Director was eligible or invited to attend.

LR9.8.6R(10) as at the date of the Annual Report 

The Board is committed to 
maintaining the highest standards 
of corporate governance.”

Men

Women

Other categories

Not specified/prefer not to say

Number of  
Board  

members

Percentage of 
the Board

Number of senior 
positions on the 
Board (CEO, CFO, 
SID and Chair)

Number in 
executive 
management**

6

3

–

–

67%

33%

–

–

3*

1#

–

–

8

0

–

–

Percentage 
of executive 
management

100%

0

–

–

Number of 
Board members

Percentage of 
the Board

Number of senior 
positions on the 
Board (CEO, CFO, 
SID and Chair)

Number in 
executive 
management**

Percentage 
of executive 
management**

White British or other White (including 
minority-white groups)

Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups

Asian/Asian British

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British

Other ethnic group, including Arab

Not specified/ prefer not to say

*  Mark Ridley (CEO), Simon Shaw (CFO), Richard Orders (SID)

#  Stacey Cartwright (Chair)

**  Defined as the Group Executive Board

8

0

1

0

–

–

89%

0

11%

0

–

–

4

0

0

0

–

–

7

0

1

0

–

–

86%

0

14%

0

–

–

85

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Board of Directors

N

R

Mark Ridley

Group Chief 
Executive Officer

N

Simon Shaw

Group Chief 
Financial Officer

Stacey 
Cartwright

Chair of Savills 
plc and Chair of 
the Nomination 
& Governance 
Committee

Appointment to the Board
Mark joined Savills in 1996 and was 
appointed to the Board on 1 May 2018.

Appointment to the Board
Simon joined Savills as Group Chief 
Financial Officer in March 2009.

Background and relevant 
experience
Mark is a Fellow of the Royal 
Institution of Chartered Surveyors. 
He was Chair of Savills Commercial 
from May 2008, then Chief Executive 
Officer of Savills UK from 2013, and 
additionally of Savills Europe from 
2014, until he was appointed as 
Deputy Group Chief Executive on 
1 May 2018. As of 1 January 2019, 
Mark was appointed as Group Chief 
Executive Officer.

Other appointments
Trustee of Reading Real Estate 
Foundation. Member of the 
British Property Federation’s 
Leadership Forum.

Background and relevant 
experience
Simon is a Chartered Accountant. 
He was formerly Chief Financial Officer 
of Gyrus Group PLC, a position he 
held for five years until its sale to the 
Olympus Corporation. Simon was 
Chief Operating Officer of Profile 
Therapeutics plc for five years and 
also worked as a corporate financier, 
latterly at Hambros Bank Limited. 

Other appointments
Non-Executive Chair of Synairgen plc.

Appointment to the Board
Stacey was appointed to the Board 
as a Non-Executive Director on 
1 October 2018 and became Chair 
in January 2024.

Background and relevant 
experience
Stacey most recently served as Chief 
Executive and then Deputy Chair of 
Harvey Nichols Group until 2018, and 
prior to that was EVP and CFO of 
Burberry Group plc. She previously 
served as CFO of Egg plc and spent 
her early career in a number of 
finance roles at Granada Group PLC. 
She was a Non-Executive Director 
at GlaxoSmithKline PLC from 2011 
to 2016 and the Senior Independent 
Non-Executive Director of the English 
Football Association from 2018 to 
2020. She qualified as a Chartered 
Accountant with Price Waterhouse.

Other appointments
Non-Executive Director of AerCap 
Holdings N.V, Genpact Ltd, Gymshark 
and Majid al Futtaim (‘MAF’) 
Entertainment. She is also the Chair of 
MAF Lifestyle Advisory Committee.

86

Annual report and accounts 2023A

N

N

R

A

N

Dana Roffman

Independent Non-
Executive Director

Philip Lee

Independent Non-
Executive Director

Florence 
Tondu-Mélique

Independent Non-
Executive Director

Appointment to the Board
Florence was appointed to the Board 
as a Non-Executive Director on 
1 October 2018.

Appointment to the Board
Dana was appointed to the Board 
as a Non-Executive Director on 
1 November 2019.

Appointment to the Board
Philip was appointed to the Board 
as a Non-Executive Director on 
1 January 2021.

Background and relevant 
experience
Florence is currently Chief Executive 
Officer of Willis Towers Watson 
France & Luxembourg, having joined 
from Zurich Insurance where she 
was Chief Executive Officer France. 
Florence was previously Chief 
Operating Officer of Hiscox 
Europe, prior to which she held senior 
executive roles at AXA Real Estate 
and AXA Investment Managers. 
She spent her early career at 
McKinsey & Company.

Other appointments
Non-Executive Director of Grant 
Thornton International Limited.

Non-Executive Director of Auchan 
Retail International.

Background and relevant 
experience
Dana was most recently a partner 
and founding member of the Real 
Estate Private Equity group at Angelo 
Gordon, a privately held alternative 
investment firm. During her 25-year 
tenure, ending in December 2019, she 
served as a manager and leader of 
investment teams across all major US 
markets, and served as a Member of 
the Investment Committees for the 
firm’s US Opportunistic, Core Plus and 
Value Real Estate Funds. She spent her 
early career in real estate valuation and 
advisory at Arthur Andersen LLP in 
Washington, DC.

Other appointments
Independent Director Cohen & Steers 
Income Opportunities REIT, Inc 
(‘CNSREIT’) and Advisory Board of 
NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate.

Background and relevant 
experience
Philip Lee is currently Vice Chair of 
Global Banking, HSBC Bank and is a 
member of the Global Banking Vice 
Chair and Banking Leadership Forums. 
Philip was previously with Deutsche 
Bank (2013-2018) as Vice Chair of 
South East Asia and Chief Country 
Officer for the Bank in Singapore. Prior 
to 2013, Philip was with JP Morgan 
(1995-2013), where he was CEO South 
East Asia Investment Banking and 
Senior Country Officer, Singapore, 
after having worked in senior positions 
for various other banks in the region 
before then. Since 2006, he has also 
held roles on various advisory bodies 
and Statutory Boards established by 
the Singapore government.

Other appointments
Non Executive Director of Heliconia 
Capital Management, an investment 
firm owned by Temasek focused on 
growth-oriented Singapore companies, 
and SPH Media Holdings, the Singapore 
media company owned by the 
Singapore Government. He is also 
Chair of the Singapore Government’s 
Health Promotion Board.

Key:  A  Audit Committee   N  Nomination & Governance Committee   R  Remuneration Committee  

 Chair of Committee

87

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Board of Directors continued

N

R

A

N

A

N

Marcus Sperber

Independent Non-
Executive Director

John Waters

Independent Non-
Executive Director 
and Chair of the 
Audit Committee

Richard Orders

Senior Independent 
Non-Executive 
Director and 
Chair of the 
Remuneration 
Committee

Appointment to the Board
Richard was appointed to the Board 
as a Non-Executive Director on 
1 January 2021.

Appointment to the Board
Marcus was appointed to the Board 
as a Non-Executive Director on 
15 December 2022.

Appointment to the Board
John was appointed to the Board 
as a Non-Executive Director on 
13 December 2023.

Background and relevant 
experience
Richard Orders is currently Managing 
Director at Moelis & Company, a 
leading global independent investment 
bank, heading the firm’s Hong Kong 
office, having founded its predecessor 
firm, Asia Pacific Advisors, in 2009. 
Prior to this, Richard was with ABN 
AMRO (1996-2008), latterly from 
2004-8 as Vice Chair and Head of 
Global Clients Asia, having previously 
been Executive Chair and CEO of 
ABN AMRO Asia Corporate Finance. 
Previously, Richard held various roles 
in Barings Bank, which he joined 
in 1976, latterly as Head of Barings 
Investment Banking business in Asia, 
ex-Australia and Japan (1994-96) and 
Director of Barings Corporate Finance 
London (1996).

Other appointments
None.

Background and relevant 
experience
From 2002 until 2019, Marcus Sperber 
held various roles with BlackRock, 
acting first as the portfolio manager of 
BlackRock’s UK property fund, before 
being appointed as Head of EMEA 
real estate and then ultimately holding 
the role of Global Head of Real Estate. 
Prior to 2002, Marcus held various 
positions with Ashtenne (2001-2002), 
Enterprise (1992-2001) and Roger Tym 
& Partners (1990-92), having started 
his career with the British Rail Property 
Board (1987-89).

Other appointments
Founder of NorthCroft Capital, a 
Real Estate Investment and advisory 
business and a Non-Executive Director 
of Cadillac Fairview Property Trust and 
Fiera Real Estate Investment Limited 
and Trustee of Jewish Care, a not-for-
profit charity.

Background and relevant 
experience
John was with PwC for 36 years, of 
which 24 were as a partner. John 
was the lead partner from 2016 until 
2020 as part of the Savills audit by 
PwC. He was largely based in London 
but had spells working for the firm in 
both Hong Kong and Rome. During 
his career he served as audit partner 
to a wide range of clients, including 
a number of significant property 
businesses based both in London 
and Hong Kong.

Other appointments
None.

88

Annual report and accounts 2023Group Executive Board

Mark Ridley

Group Chief 
Executive Officer 
(effective  
1 January 2019)

Simon Shaw

Group Chief 
Financial Officer

Alex Jeffrey

Chief Executive 
Officer – Savills 
Investment 
Management

Deputy Group Chief 
Executive (from 1 May 2018 to 
31 December 2018)

  (SEE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON PAGES 86 

TO 88 FOR FULL BIOGRAPHY)

  (SEE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON PAGES 86 

TO 88 FOR FULL BIOGRAPHY)

Appointment to the Group 
Executive Board:
Alex was appointed to the Group 
Executive Board on 1 November 2019.

Background and relevant 
experience
Alex became Global CEO of 
Savills Investment Management on 
1 November 2019 and was appointed 
to Savills Group Executive Board at 
that time. Alex was previously Head 
of Asia Pacific for M&G Investments 
based in Singapore, with responsibility 
for the development and leadership 
of that company’s business across all 
investment sectors in Asia Pacific. Prior 
to this, he was Chief Executive of M&G 
Real Estate, based in London. Before 
that he was Chief Investment Officer 
and CEO Europe of MGPA Limited.

Other appointments
None.

Key:  A  Audit Committee   N  Nomination & Governance Committee   R  Remuneration Committee  

 Chair of Committee

89

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Group Executive Board continued

Chris Lee

Group Legal 
Director & 
Company 
Secretary

Raymond Lee

Chief Executive – 
Hong Kong, Macau 
and Greater China

David Lipson

Chief Executive 
Officer – Savills 
North America

Appointment to the Group 
Executive Board
Chris joined Savills in June 2008 
and was appointed to the Group 
Executive Board in August 2008. 
He has responsibility for legal and 
compliance issues globally.

Background and relevant 
experience
He held equivalent roles with Alfred 
McAlpine plc, Courts plc and Scholl 
plc between 1997 and 2008, prior to 
which he was deputy group secretary 
of Delta plc from 1990 to 1997.

Other appointments
None.

Appointment to the Group 
Executive Board
Raymond was appointed to the Group 
Executive Board in January 2011.

Appointment to the Group 
Executive Board:
David was appointed to the Group 
Executive Board on 1 January 2024.

Background and relevant 
experience
He joined Savills in 1989. In 2003, 
Raymond became the Managing 
Director in Hong Kong and Macau and 
in 2010 was appointed CEO of Greater 
China. Raymond is a Fellow member 
of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors 
and holds an honorary fellowship 
at the Quangxi Academy of Social 
Science. Raymond is also an Honorary 
Doctor of Management at Lincoln 
University and holds a Fellowship 
at the Asian College of Knowledge 
Management (‘ACKM’). He became a 
fellow member of the Royal Institute of 
Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in 2016.

Other appointments
None.

Background and relevant 
experience
David Lipson is CEO of Savills North 
America. He previously served as 
President, North America from 
2021 through 2023. As CEO, his 
responsibilities include oversight of 
all Savills business lines and locations 
in North America, as well as mergers 
and acquisitions and strategic business 
development pursuits. David has 
dedicated more than 33 years of 
service to Savills and is one of the 
firm’s most tenured and respected 
leaders. He co-managed the Mid-
Atlantic region for almost 15 years 
and has served on the firm’s Board 
and executive committee since 2004 
and 2014, respectively. 

Other appointments
David currently serves as Chair of 
the Board for the British Schools 
and Universities Foundation. He is a 
member of the Board of Benefactors 
at Christ Church, Oxford.

90

Annual report and accounts 2023Christian 
Mancini

Chief Executive 
Officer – Asia 
Pacific (ex Greater 
China)

James Sparrow

Chief Executive 
Officer, UK & CEME

Appointment to the Group 
Executive Board:
Christian was appointed to the Group 
Executive Board on 1 July 2016.

Appointment to the Group 
Executive Board:
James was appointed to the Group 
Executive Board on 1 May 2018.

Background and relevant 
experience
Christian was made CEO of Savills 
Japan in 2007 and appointed CEO of 
Savills Northeast Asia in 2012.

Other appointments
Christian also serves as Non-Executive 
Director in Savills Asset Advisory, the 
wholly-owned asset management 
subsidiary of Savills Japan Co, Ltd 
created in May 2012.

Background and relevant 
experience
James is a Fellow of the Royal 
Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He 
became Chief Executive of Savills UK 
& CEME in September 2018, having 
previously been Chief Executive of 
Savills UK since 1 May 2018. Prior to 
this James held the position of Head 
of Professional Services, Savills UK 
and was a member of the Savills UK 
Executive Board since 2013 when it 
was established. Before that James 
was a member of the Executive Board 
of Savills Commercial, having joined 
Savills in 1988.

Other appointments
None.

91

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Board Leadership and Company Purpose

Board and Committee meetings are structured to allow 
open discussion. To enable the Board to discharge its 
duties, each Director receives appropriate and timely 
information. Board papers are circulated electronically 
via a secure portal, giving Directors sufficient time to 
consider and digest their contents. The Chair of the 
Board and the Chairs of the Committees set the agendas 
for upcoming meetings with support from the Group 
Legal Director & Company Secretary.

The Chair, together with the Group Legal Director & 
Company Secretary, ensures that the Directors receive 
management information, including financial, operating 
and strategic reports, in advance of Board meetings. 
We aim to ensure that the information shared with our 
Board is of sufficient depth to facilitate debate and to 
allow Board members to fully understand the content. 
The Board will, as appropriate, invite the preparer of the 
report to attend meetings so the Board can gain a better 
understanding and question management directly. The 
Heads of Principal Businesses also periodically attend 
Board meetings to discuss the progress made by the 
Principal Businesses against their strategic plans.

In order to fulfil their duties, procedures are in place 
for Directors to seek both independent advice and 
the advice of the Group Legal Director & Company 
Secretary who is responsible for advising the Board on 
all governance matters.

At its meetings during the year, the Board discharged 
its responsibilities and received updates on the Group’s 
financial performance, key management changes, 
material new projects, financial plans, and ESG, legal 
and regulatory updates.

Effective Board
Having the appropriate mix of experience, expertise, 
diversity and independence is essential for the Savills 
Board. Our Board comprises highly skilled professionals 
who bring a range of skills, perspectives and corporate 
experience to our Boardroom (see pages 86 to 88). To 
ensure sufficient time for discussion, the Board utilises 
its principal committees to effectively manage its time 
(see pages 104 and 105 for Governance Framework). 
At each Board meeting, the agenda ensures sufficient 
time for the Committee Chairs to report on the 
contents of discussions at Committee meetings, any 
recommendations to the Board which require approval 
and the actions taken. 

Governance arrangements and Board 
resources
Our governance arrangements support the development 
and delivery of strategy by:

inform decisions;

 ƒ ensuring accountability and responsibility;
 ƒ facilitating the sharing of information to 
 ƒ establishing engagement programmes with key 
 ƒ maintaining a robust system of risk oversight, 

stakeholders (see pages 101 and 102);

management and effective internal controls 
(see page 126); and

 ƒ providing independent insight and knowledge 

from the Non-Executive Directors.

The Board has formally adopted a schedule of matters 
reserved to it for decision. These matters include 
decisions relating to the Group’s strategy, financing, any 
major acquisition or disposal, the risk appetite of the 
Group and the authorisation of capital expenditure above 
the delegated authority limits. The schedule was most 
recently reviewed in March 2024 and is available along 
with the Terms of Reference of the Board’s principal 
Committees on the Company’s website at 
http://ir.savills.com.

92

Annual report and accounts 2023Board Attendance in 2023

Attendance at all Board and Committee meetings by Directors is as shown in the table below:

Non-Executive Directors

Nicholas Ferguson1, 2, 3

Stacey Cartwright

Florence Tondu-Mélique

Dana Roffman

Philip Lee

Richard Orders

Marcus Sperber

John Waters4

Executive Directors

Mark Ridley5, 6

Simon Shaw5, 7

Board
8 scheduled 
meetings
(including the
Strategy Day)

Audit Committee
5 scheduled 
meetings

Nomination &
Governance 
Committee
3 scheduled 
meetings

Remuneration
Committee
4 scheduled 
meetings

8

8

8

7

8

8

7

1

8

8

3

5

5

–

5

–

4

–

2

5

3

2

3

3

3

3

3

–

3

–

4

4

–

4

–

4

–

–

3

1

1.  The Chair attended three Audit Committee meetings by invitation.

2.  The Chair attended four Remuneration Committee meetings.

3.  Nicholas Ferguson retired from the Board on 31 December.

4.  John became a member of the Audit Committee on 1 January 2024. 

5.  Members of the Group Executive Board.

6.  The Group Chief Executive attended two Audit Committee meetings by invitation.

7.  The Group Chief Financial Officer attended five Audit Committee meetings by invitation.

Notes to table and graphics

1.  The information above is stated as at 13 March 2024.

2.  The FCA’s Listing Rules now set board diversity targets for listed companies requiring that (i) at least 40% of Board members are women; (ii) at least one of the 

roles of CEO, CFO, Chair and SID is held by a woman; and (iii) at least one director is from a minority ethnic background. Savills has met the targets for (ii) and (iii) 
but does not yet meet the target of 40% of the Board being women. The Company fully expects to comply with this target in 2024.

93

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Our cultural framework

Our Purpose

Helping people thrive through 
places and spaces

Our vision

To be the real estate advisor of choice in the markets we serve. 
The growth of the Group is underpinned by providing best-in-class 
insights and advice to help individuals, businesses and investors 
make better real-estate decisions.

Our values

We Listen

We Empower

We Collaborate

We Challenge

 READ MORE ABOUT OUR VALUES ON PAGE 11

The Board is responsible for instilling throughout the Company a strong and well embedded inclusive culture; founded 
on an entrepreneurial approach, one of integrity and openness, and one that values diversity and is responsive to 
the views of its Shareholders and wider stakeholders. This is underpinned by our values and operational and ethical 
standards. We have built our brand and reputation on the quality of our people, relationships, resources and processes.

The Savills Code of Conduct helps aid the understanding and embodiment of behaviours that align employees with 
the culture set by the Board, and underpins our social, ethical and environmental commitments. A confidential and 
anonymous independently hosted ‘Speak-up’ facility is in place which enables employees to report any concerns 
related to unethical conduct in any areas of the business. All disclosures are investigated promptly, overseen by the 
Group Legal Director & Company Secretary and escalated to the Board as appropriate, with follow-up action being 
taken as soon as practicable thereafter.

94

Annual report and accounts 2023Internal audit

Action taken

Received and considered updates 
on the risk and internal control 
environments within the Group’s 
Asia Pacific, North American, 
CEME and UK businesses and 
Savills Investment Management

Link to culture

Provides the Board with a direct 
view to ensure that behaviours 
are at the desired standard 
and provides details of any the 
corrective action being taken

Health & safety 
information

Action taken

The Board receives health and 
safety management data from 
across the Group

Link to culture

Enables the Directors to assess the 
effectiveness of safety practices 
and behaviours

Modern slavery

Action taken

Reviewed and approved the 
Group’s Modern Slavery Statement 

Link to culture

This provides the Board with a 
broad understanding of practices 
and behaviours across the Group, 
and how these align with our values 

Provides oversight of steps taken 
to prevent modern slavery and 
human trafficking within the Group 
and its supply chain

How the Board monitored culture in 2023

Employee management 
information

Action taken

Received feedback on the employee 
surveys across the business

Link to culture

Analysis of Employee Survey data 
enables the Board to understand 
the employee experience. This 
provides the Board with insights 
into working environments, 
employee behaviours and 
attitudes and enables the Board to 
assess how working practices and 
behaviours align with the purpose, 
values and strategy of the Group

Direct Management

Whistleblowing

Action taken

Action taken

The Board receive 
presentations from senior 
management across the Group 
together with regular reports

Link to culture

This provides the Board with 
direct insights into behaviours 
and practices, and the 
practical application of policies 
and standards 

The Board receives reports 
received via the Group’s 
whistleblowing (‘Safe Call’) 
system and received the progress 
of related investigations

Link to culture

Speak-up reports provide the 
Board with a view of the nature 
of employee concerns and trends 
in behaviours

Staff turnover, retention 
and absenteeism rates

Training & development 
(programme overview 
and outputs)

Whistleblowing, 
grievance and ‘Speak-
up’ data

Promptness of 
payments to suppliers

Our people-related KPIs

Employee wellbeing

Exit interviews

Employee surveys

Recruitment, reward 
and promotion 
decisions (overview)

95

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Stakeholder Engagement

Savills is a geographically and culturally diverse business 
providing services in more than 70 countries. As a result, 
it has a global and diverse community of stakeholders, 
each with their own interests in, and expectations of 
the Company.

Making a positive impact is at the heart of our 
relationships. From the way we advise our clients, 
to the work we do directly, we are committed to 
adding commercial value while always honouring our 
responsibility to protect the environment, support 
local communities and foster an inclusive culture. 
The development of strong and positive relationships 
between Savills and its external stakeholders is 
an intrinsic part of our purpose and culture. Our 
stakeholders include not only clients, our Shareholders 
and our people, but also suppliers and the wider 
communities in which we operate. As noted in the 
Company’s statement on Section 172 of the Companies 
Act 2006 set out on page 99, in making their decisions 
and in discharging their duties to promote the success 
of the Company, the Directors must have regard to the 
interests of its stakeholders.

We have summarised below why our stakeholders are 
important to us, what we believe their principal interests 
are and how the Board and Company seeks to engage 
and respond.

The collective role of the Directors is to act as effective 
and responsible stewards of the Company. In so doing, 
the Board ensures that the Company is well positioned 
to achieve long-term sustainable success and deliver 
value for its stakeholders.

The Board engages directly with stakeholders 
(receiving presentations and reports from the Executive 
Directors, and in relation to business for which they 
have responsibility, senior management from across the 
Group), but there is also significant engagement at all 
levels across the Group, particularly in relation to people, 
clients and suppliers, with the Board receiving regular 
updates on stakeholder views. The Board maintains 
oversight of this engagement and receives reports 
and updates on such engagement from the Executive 
Directors and senior management and is given the 
opportunity to challenge these findings at Board and 
Committee meetings. This information is used to inform 
discussion and decision-making.

Our Suppliers
Our businesses have regular 
engagement with their key 
suppliers, who are required 
to operate with high service 
levels and the ethical standards 
that are set out in our Code of 
Conduct. We regularly monitor 
the relationship and engagement 
approach with our third-
party suppliers

Our Clients
Our clients are key to the success 
of our business

Our Shareholders
We believe that engaging with our 
Shareholders, and encouraging 
an open, meaningful dialogue 
between Shareholders and the 
Company is vital to ensuring 
mutual understanding

Our People
Our people are our most valuable 
asset. We firmly believe that 
our people are key to delivering 
excellent service to our clients and 
achieving our objectives

Savills

Our Environment
We are committed to improving 
the impacts our operations have 
on the environment, managing 
climate-related risks and working 
together with our clients, 
suppliers and local communities 
towards delivering a more 
sustainable future

Our Community
We believe that the community 
engagement programmes that we 
have developed have a positive 
impact on the areas where our 
people live and ensure that 
Savills is firmly engaged with the 
communities we serve

96

Annual report and accounts 2023We are focused on driving long-term sustainable performance for the benefit of our clients, Shareholders and wider 
stakeholder groups. We aim to maintain an open and positive dialogue with all our stakeholders, considering their key 
interests and communicating with them on a regular basis. 

The Board remains committed to strengthening its engagement with employees and the Company’s wider stakeholder 
group and considers the views of key stakeholders in its decision-making, recognising that they are central to the long-
term prospects of the Company.

Stakeholder group and why 
we engage

How we engaged them in 2023

Our Clients

Our clients are key 
to the success of 
our business.

We are in continuous contact with our clients, to understand their 
requirements, to listen to their feedback on our service levels and to 
understand their expectations in terms of the development of our 
service offering.

Further links

Client 
engagement 
page 55

Our People

People are at the core 
of our business.

We aim to build a 
trusting, respectful and 
inclusive culture where 
people feel engaged 
and fulfilled.

We want our people 
to be treated with 
dignity at work and 
to have their human 
rights respected.

We invest in our people and systems to ensure they have the right skills, 
competencies and tools to effectively nurture and grow client relationships.

Our investment in this programme, our internal collaboration and the 
introduction of technology has supported our client relationship management 
approach, resulting in us being able to better meet our clients’ expectations 
and adapt more quickly to evolving market conditions.

The quality of our service performance continues to be regularly assessed 
by independent reviewers. This helps us better understand how we are 
managing relationships and what we need to change to deliver the service 
and added value our clients expect. We regularly ask our clients for feedback 
on our service offering so we can continue to provide best-in-class services 
and advice.

We firmly believe that our people are key to delivering excellent service to 
our clients and achieving our objectives. We believe that in order to deliver 
our strategy, it is essential that our people are fully engaged and motivated. 
Wellbeing is fundamental to this and, over the last few years, we have 
continued to build on our wellbeing programmes and activities. 

We have continued to focus on employee engagement through a number 
of areas, including supporting the health and wellbeing of our employees. 
We gather feedback regularly from our employees to assess their levels of 
engagement. We treat all our people with dignity and respect, with support 
against cost-of-living increases targeted to more junior employees and 
maintaining our core bench-strength through challenging markets. During the 
year we continued to utilise valuable multiple channels to communicate and 
engage with employees, including regular town hall and other meetings, all-
employee emails and our intranet.

As part of our commitment to helping all our people to understand the 
Group’s growth strategy and to raise other questions about the Group, our 
digital platform allows direct employee communication (in local languages) 
with Non-Executive Directors (including the Chair) to allow employee views 
to flow to the Board direct.

During 2024 we will review this facility to ensure that this remains an effective 
mechanism for facilitating two way communication with employees direct with 
the Board member.

Our Principal Businesses have employee-led groups in place covering areas 
such as diversity and inclusion, innovation, and social events. Feedback 
received from these working groups is given to the ESG Committee, and 
ultimately the Board.

Employee 
feedback 
page 48

Diversity and 
Inclusion pages 
50 to 54 

Engaging with 
our people 
page 102

97

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Stakeholder Engagement continued

How we engaged them in 2023

To help us successfully engage with local communities, we have adopted a 
range of approaches, e.g. charitable giving, volunteering events, pro bono 
work, and work experience opportunities to facilitate and participate in 
community interaction and cohesion. This approach means we can establish 
and maintain effective connections, deliver real benefit and remain proactive 
to the current issues that communities may be facing. In 2023, 24,300 
volunteering hours were given by our people, an increase from 16,700 in 
2022. In addition, over 580 pro bono hours were given.

Our Group’s ESG strategy is aligned with nine of the 17 UN Sustainable 
Development Goals (‘SDGs’) to help us achieve our Sustainability objectives.

Read more about our community initiatives on pages 56 to 63.

Whether it’s the way we advise clients or the work we do directly, we 
always seek to add value through initiatives that help both people and our 
environment to thrive.

Savills plc is committed to achieving net zero for its operations (Scope 
1 and 2) in 2030 and for its value chain (Scope 3) green-house gas 
(‘GHG’) emissions by 2040. Savills is currently working to verify interim 
decarbonisation targets with the Science Based Targets initiative (‘SBTi’) 
as part of this, Savills would be recognised by the Race to Zero and Business 
Ambition for 1.5°C campaigns.

Read more about our ESG strategy including carbon efficiency 
improvements, GHG Emissions and TCFD reporting on pages 68 to 80.

Further links

Charity and 
Community 
involvement – 
case studies on 
pages 56 to 63

Responsible 
Business, our 
ESG strategy 
pages 30 to 80

The Group Chief Executive and Group Chief Financial Officer have primary 
responsibility for investor relations and lead a regular programme of meetings 
and presentations with analysts and investors.

We build relationships with our Shareholders through our investor relations 
programme which includes regular investor roadshows. These engagements 
generated insightful feedback which was shared with the Board and the 
Company’s Committees with due regard being given to these views. In 
addition, the Board also normally receives feedback twice each year from its 
corporate brokers on investors’ and the market’s perceptions of the Company.

KPIs pages 18 
and 19

Shareholder 
engagement 
pages 101 
and 102

Annual General 
Meeting 
page 102

The AGM provides the Board with an opportunity to engage with 
our Shareholders.

The Chair and the Senior Independent Director, Richard Orders, are also 
available to meet Shareholders at all times when so required.

We work with a broad range of supply-chain partners, particularly in our 
property management businesses and work hard to ensure that we can deliver 
the best service for our clients by building close and collaborative relationships 
with key suppliers. Our Tiering framework ensures that the vast majority of 
the expenditure is placed with service partners who sign up to our PM+ Core 
Principles and regular 360° assessment is undertaken.

All suppliers are required to operate with high service levels and the ethical 
standards that are set out in Savills Code of Conduct and our Modern Slavery 
and Anti-Trafficking Statement.

Code of 
Conduct 
page 65

Speak-up 
policy page 65

Modern Slavery 
statement 
page 65

We regularly monitor the relationship and engagement approach with our 
third-party suppliers including communications received via the Company’s 
Speak-up policy.

Stakeholder group and why 
we engage

Our Community

We believe that the 
community engagement 
programmes that we 
have developed have a 
positive impact on the 
areas where our people 
live and ensure that 
Savills is firmly engaged 
with the communities 
we serve.

Our Environment

We are committed to 
improving the impacts 
our operations have 
on the environment, 
managing climate-
related risks and 
working together with 
our clients, suppliers 
and local communities 
towards delivering a 
more sustainable future.

Our Shareholders

We believe that 
engaging with our 
Shareholders and 
encouraging an open, 
meaningful dialogue 
between Shareholders 
and the Company is 
vital to ensuring mutual 
understanding.

Our Suppliers

Our businesses have 
regular engagement 
with their key suppliers, 
who are required to 
operate with high 
service levels and 
the ethical standards 
that are set out in 
our Code of Conduct. 
We regularly monitor 
the relationship 
and engagement 
approach with our third-
party suppliers.

98

Annual report and accounts 2023Section 172(1) statement

The Board of Directors of Savills plc consider, both individually and together, that they have acted in the way they 
consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as 
a whole. In doing this, the Directors have had regard to stakeholders, and amongst other matters, to those set out in 
s.172(1) (a-f) of the Act in the decisions taken during the year ended 31 December 2023.

In the context of the Board’s activities during 2023, the table below sets out some examples of how the Directors have had 
regard to the matters set out in Section 172(a-f) when discharging their Section 172 duties and decision-making.

Section 172 matters

How the Board had regard to these matters during 2023

(a)  likely 

consequences of 
any decisions in 
the long term

The Board remains mindful that its strategic decisions can have 
both short-and long-term implications for the Group and its 
stakeholders and these implications are considered carefully.

We consider our stakeholders when developing and executing 
our strategy which is reviewed on an annual basis. During the year 
the Board:

 ƒ considered regular reports from Senior Management and the 
Heads of the Principal Businesses on business performance, 
financing and the implementation of strategy throughout 
the year;

Read more about our 
approach to s.172(1) matters

Our business model 
pages 10 and 11

Chair’s statement 
pages 82 and 83

Our strategy pages 6 to 80

Board focus in 2023 
pages 108 and 109

Board principal decisions 
pages 108 and 109

 ƒ at a Strategy Review in November reconfirmed the Group’s 

Our purpose page 94

strategy and medium-term plan, including updates on progress 
made in relation to strategic initiatives from across the business 
and discussion of priorities in the short, medium and longer 
terms, including the Group’s ESG strategy and net zero 
carbon objectives; and

 ƒ approved material transactions, specifically the acquisitions of 

BeLiving; Nash Bond and Predibisa.

Risk management page 117

 ƒ We believe that in order to deliver our strategy, it is important 

Our people pages 48 to 54

(b)  interests of 

employees

that our people are fully engaged and motivated

 ƒ We continue to listen to and support the needs of our people, 
ensuring honest, open lines of communication to enable our 
employees to stay positive, connected and productive, while 
feeling valued and supported

 ƒ Our employee engagement programme maintains its focus on 

key areas, including in particular through third-party-led support 
programmes with specific emphasis on health and wellbeing. 
During the year we gathered feedback from our employees to 
assess their levels of engagement through employee surveys.

(c)  fostering the 
Company’s 
business 
relationships with 
suppliers, clients 
and others

The Board reviewed the 2024-2026 Business Plan which included 
the importance of maintaining the highest levels of client service, 
which is fundamental to the delivery of the Group’s strategic 
goals. We tested our performance in this critical area and how 
we need to further enhance our client service offering by seeking 
feedback from a representative sample of clients across the globe.

Diversity and Inclusion 
pages 50 to 54

Our culture page 65

Speak-up policy page 65

Leadership and Company 
purpose page 92

Engaging with our 
people page 102

 ƒ Our business model 

pages 10 and 11

 ƒ Our clients page 55

 ƒ Speak-up policy page 65

 ƒ Human rights and modern 

slavery page 65

 ƒ Leadership and Company 

purpose page 92

 ƒ Board principal 

decisions pages 108 and 109

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OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Section 172(1) statement continued

Section 172 matters

How the Board had regard to these matters during 2023

Read more about our 
approach to s.172(1) matters

(d)  impact of the 
Company’s 
operations on the 
community and 
the environment

The Board is responsible overall for managing ESG and climate-
related risks and realising opportunities. We recognise the need 
for urgent action by real estate owners and occupiers to address 
the climate crisis and rapidly transition to a greener more resilient 
economy and target our initiatives accordingly.

Environment 
pages 40 to 43

Community 
pages 56 to 63

GHG and energy data 
pages 68 to 72

TCFD disclosures 
pages 73 to 80

Chair’s statement on 
pages 82 to 84

Our culture page 65

Modern slavery 
statement page 65

Speak-up page 65

Leadership and purpose 
page 92

Internal controls page 117

TCFD allows us to better understand climate-related risk in our 
own operations. The Board supports management’s approach 
to Environmental, Social and Governance matters and we are 
committed to strengthening our understanding of climate-related 
risks to our own operations as well as helping our clients to 
improve the resilience of their portfolios.

In 2023 we have continued to target improvements based on 
delivering against our ESG objectives, as we progress towards 
our nine Sustainable Development Goals globally. These SDGs are 
those where we feel we can make the largest impact and which 
are most relevant to our business. Specific examples of where we 
continue to improve can be found in the Responsible Business 
report on pages 38 to 80.

(e)  maintaining a 
reputation for 
high standards of 
business conduct

Our Code of Conduct sets out our commitment to operate 
responsibly wherever we work in the world, to work professionally, 
fairly and with integrity and to engage with our stakeholders 
to manage the social, environmental and ethical impact of our 
activities in the different markets in which we operate.

We have policies in place requiring that we uphold laws relevant 
to countering financial crime (including bribery and corruption) 
in all the jurisdictions in which we operate.

To facilitate the Savills Board’s assessment and monitoring of 
culture, the Board adopted a number of KPIs.

We are committed to ensuring that we take all appropriate steps 
to prevent Modern Slavery from occurring in our business or 
supply chain and continue to publish our annual Modern 
Slavery statement, on our website and which sets out Savills zero 
tolerance approach to Modern Slavery in our organisation and 
supply chain. Our current statement, approved by the Board in 
March 2023, sets out actions taken to address risks of Modern 
Slavery within our business and supply chain during the financial 
year from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

The Board is committed to ensuring that its composition 
provides the necessary balance of diversity, skills, experience, 
independence and knowledge to ensure we continue to run 
the business effectively and deliver sustainable growth. In 2023 
the Board:

 ƒ considered the composition and effectiveness of the Board;

 ƒ reviewed and approved corporate statements;

 ƒ undertook annual review of the principal and emerging risks of 

the Group;

 ƒ reviewed and validated the effectiveness of the Group’s systems 

of internal controls and risk management framework;

 ƒ considered reports on specific risk areas across the 

business; and

 ƒ reviewed and approved the Group’s full-year and half-year 

results, as well as the regulatory announcements and the Group’s 
Viability Statement and Going Concern status.

100

Annual report and accounts 2023Section 172 matters

How the Board had regard to these matters during 2023

Read more about our 
approach to s.172(1) matters

(f)  acting fairly as 

between members 
of the Company

The Directors understand their duty to act fairly between different 
Shareholders as required by UK company law and the Company’s 
regulatory obligations, pursuant to its UK listing.

Engaging with 
stakeholders pages 
101 and 102

We are in regular contact with our major Shareholders and 
potential Shareholders.

Our active engagement programme with our Shareholders 
involves a regular, scheduled programme of meetings as part of 
our continuing commitment to open and transparent dialogue.

During the year the Group Chief Executive and Group Chief 
Financial Officer undertook their regular programme of engagement 
with Shareholders which included: the financial reporting cycle 
comprising full-year and half-year financial results; and one-to-one 
investor meetings (virtual) and calls.

During the year the Board reviewed and approved the following 
activities and documents, and in doing so considered that they 
were acting fairly between members:

 ƒ AGM Trading Update

 ƒ Half-year financial results

 ƒ Notice including resolutions for the Annual General Meeting

 ƒ Full-year results for the year ending 31 December 2022

 ƒ Annual Report and Accounts 2023

 ƒ 2022 Supplemental and Final and 2023 Interim 

Dividend approval.

Engaging with our Investors
The Board is committed to maintaining an open dialogue with investors which is achieved through a programme of 
structured engagement. We regularly engage with our institutional Shareholders through an active investor relations 
programme. The Group Chief Executive and Group Chief Financial Officer have primary responsibility for investor relations 
and lead a regular programme of meetings and presentations with analysts and investors. This includes presentations 
following the publication of the Company’s full and half-year results. This programme maintains a continuous two-way 
dialogue between the Company and Shareholders, and helps to ensure that the Board is aware of Shareholders’ views 
on a timely basis. These engagements generate insightful feedback which is then shared with other Board members and 
Committees with due regard being given to these views. In addition, the Board also normally receives feedback twice each 
year from its corporate brokers on investors’ and the market’s perceptions of the Company. The Chair and Richard Orders 
as the Senior Independent Director are also available to meet Shareholders at all times as required.

Engaging with our people 
People are at the core of our business. The Board routinely invites members of the management team to join meetings 
to present on the matters being discussed. In order to reach all employees, the Board utilises a combination of formal 
and informal engagement methods which are detailed below.

In accordance with the Code, the Board continues to review the mechanisms that it uses to engage with its workforce. 
Having considered the three mechanisms set out in the Code the Board is satisfied that reflecting the Group’s 
geographic spread it was beneficial for all of the Non-Executive Directors to be engaged in the workforce engagement 
programme, with each therefore to be ‘designated’ for workforce engagement purposes (rather than nominating 
a single Non-Executive Director). The Board believes this enhances each of the Director’s engagement with, and 
understanding of, workforce views, leverages cultural awareness and is more efficient (in that it does not require a 
single designated Non-Executive Director to engage across all of the Group’s diverse geographic markets).

Ask the Board
In December 2018, we introduced a digital platform to allow direct employee communication with Non-Executive Directors 
(including the Chair) in areas of focus (such as strategy, training & development opportunities; measurement of staff 
performance and promotion criteria; diversity; and flexible working). During 2024 we will review this facility to ensure that 
this remains an effective mechanism for facilitating two way communication with employees direct with the Board member.

101

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSLEADERSHIP AND COMPANY PURPOSE continued

Section 172(1) statement continued

Employee Surveys
We gather feedback regularly from 
our employees to assess their levels 
of engagement.

Speak-up
We operate independently hosted 
confidential and anonymous Speak-
up services which enable employees 
to report any concerns related to 
unethical conduct in any areas of 
the business. All disclosures are 
investigated promptly overseen 
by the Group Legal Director & 
Company Secretary and escalated 
to the Board as appropriate, with 
follow-up action being taken as soon 
as practicable thereafter.

Access to Non-
Executive Directors
Our digital platform which 
allows direct employee 
communication (in local languages) 
with Non-Executive Directors 
(including the Chair) in areas of 
focus (such as strategy, training 
and development opportunities; 
measurement of staff performance 
and promotion criteria; diversity; 
and flexible working).

How we engage with employees

Working Groups
Our principal businesses have 
employee-led groups in place 
covering areas such as diversity 
and inclusion, innovation, and social 
events. Feedback received from 
these working groups are given to 
the ESG Committee, and ultimately 
the Board.

Our Diversity and Inclusion Groups – 
pages 51 and 52.

Social Media
A variety of Social media channels 
is utilised to enhance engagement 
and the exchange of information 
on the Company’s activities to all 
stakeholders. These channels include, 
X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and 
our intranet. In particular our intranet 
is used as a platform for employees 
to access our policies and to receive 
information on wellbeing, health and 
safety, and training.

Town Hall/Employee 
briefings
We hold town hall meetings within 
our Principal Businesses, and other 
events, in particular focusing on 
wellbeing and mental health issues, 
supported by webinars provided by 
external providers.

The Board will continue to assess the effectiveness of its 
engagement with the workforce and how ultimately this 
informs the decisions that it takes, including the options 
provided for in the Code.

How the Board factored employee engagement into its 
decisions in 2023 – page 99.

More detail about our commitment to our people is set out 
in the Responsible Business section of this Annual Report 
and Accounts in the Strategic Report on pages 37 to 80.

Our approach to Shareholder engagement
AGM
The Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) provides the Board 
with an opportunity to communicate with, and answer 
questions from, private and institutional Shareholders. 
All resolutions were passed at the 2023 meeting in line 
with the Board’s recommendations. The Chair of each 
of the Committees is available at the AGM to answer 
questions. Directors are available before and during the 
meeting to answer questions from Shareholders and to 
meet with Shareholders following the conclusion of the 
formal part of the meeting.

The level and manner of voting of proxies lodged on 
each resolution at the AGM is declared at the meeting 
and published on the Company’s website. The notice of 
the AGM is sent out at least 20 working days before the 
meeting and at least 15 working days’ notice would be 
given before other general meetings.

102

In accordance with the Company’s Articles of 
Association, electronic and paper proxy appointments 
and voting instructions must be received not later 
than 48 hours before a general meeting. Details of 
the resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General 
Meeting on 15 May 2024 can be found in the Notice of 
Meeting which accompanies this Report and Accounts.

Corporate website
The Company’s website http://www.ir.savills.com has a 
section dedicated to investors where a range of valuable 
information can be found including:

arrangements

 ƒ A financial calendar of events
 ƒ Published annual results and results announcements
 ƒ Details of the Company’s corporate governance 
 ƒ Board and Committee profiles
 ƒ The Group’s ESG strategy
 ƒ Regulatory announcements.

The Company has taken advantage of the provisions 
within the Companies Act 2006 which allow 
communications with Shareholders to be made 
electronically, where Shareholders have not requested 
hard-copy documentation. Details of the information 
available to Shareholders can be found on page 267.

Annual report and accounts 2023DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES

A robust governance framework

The Board is committed to the highest standards of 
corporate governance and risk management which is 
demonstrated in its established corporate governance 
framework as illustrated on pages 104 and 105. 

The Board leads the Group’s Governance Structure.

OVERVIEW OF THE BOARD’S 
RESPONSIBILITIES
 ƒ Has primary responsibility for providing 
 ƒ Oversees the overall strategic development of 

entrepreneurial leadership for the Group

the Group and approves the strategy to achieve 
the Group’s strategic aims

 ƒ Sets the Group’s values and standards
 ƒ Ensures effective governance and risk 

management and that the Group’s businesses 
act ethically and that obligations to 
Shareholders are understood and met

 ƒ Delegates the management of the day-to-day 

operation of the business to the Group Chief 
Executive, supported by the Group Executive 
Board subject to appropriate risk parameters.

The Board has adopted a formal schedule of matters specifically 
reserved to it for decision-making. A full schedule of matters reserved 
for the Board’s decision along with the Terms of Reference of the 
Board’s principal Committees can be found on the Company’s 
website at http://ir.savills.com

Board Committees
The Board has established three principal Committees 
to which it has delegated certain of its responsibilities, 
as set out below. The roles, membership and activities 
of these Committees can be found in the pages 
which follow.

Group Executive Board (‘GEB’)
The Group Chief Executive is supported by the GEB. 
The GEB is the key management committee of the 
Group. It is chaired by the Group Chief Executive and 
comprises the Group Chief Financial Officer, the Heads 
of the Principal Businesses and the Group Legal Director 
& Company Secretary. The GEB meets regularly and 
under the leadership of the Group Chief Executive, the 
GEB is responsible for the day-to-day management 
of the Group including overseeing the development 
and implementation of strategy, capital expenditure, 
and investment budgets, for the ongoing review and 
control of the Group’s principal existing and emerging 
risks and uncertainties as detailed on pages 30 to 36 
and reporting on these areas to the Board for approval, 
implementing Group policy, monitoring financial and 
operational performance of the Group and other specific 
matters delegated to it by the Board. The Group Chief 
Executive is also supported by Regional Service Line 
Strategy Groups which are tasked with the continuous 
development of service line offerings, client relationship 
management and the development and sharing of best 
practice in each region, in particular to ensure that the 
Group’s offering across its key service lines continues to 
evolve to meet new client requirements and to ensure a 
consistent approach across the Group. An explanation 
of how the Group creates and preserves value, and the 
strategy for delivering its objectives is included in the 
Strategic Report on pages 6 to 80.

103

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES continued

Division of the Responsibilities

Board (during 2023: Chair, two Executive Directors and six Non-Executive Directors (seven 
from 13 December 2023); with effect from 1 January 2024: Chair, two Executive Directors and 
six Non-Executive Directors).

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Nomination & Governance Committee

 ƒ Responsible for the broad 

policy governing senior staff 
pay and remuneration

 ƒ Sets the actual levels of all 

elements of the remuneration 
of the Executive Directors, 
and Group Executive 
Board members.

Chair: Richard Orders

Number of meetings in the year: 4

For more information 
see pages 127 to 150

 ƒ Responsible for assisting the 

Board in fulfilling its financial 
and risk responsibilities, and in 
particular for ensuring that the 
financial statements are fair, 
balanced and understandable

 ƒ Oversees external financial 

reporting, internal control, 
risk management and reviews 
the work of the Internal and 
External Auditors

 ƒ Advises the Board on 

the appointment of the 
External Auditors.

Chair: John Waters

Number of meetings in the year: 5

For more information  
see pages 118 to 126

and composition of the Board

 ƒ Responsible for size, structure 
 ƒ Reviewing and progressing 
 ƒ Responsible for succession 

appointments to the Board

planning at Board and senior 
management-level to ensure 
that (i) the Board is refreshed 
progressively such that the 
balance of skills and experience 
available to the Board remains 
appropriate to the needs of 
the business; and that (ii) the 
Group has the necessary talent 
bench-strength to ensure 
seamless succession at senior 
management-level

 ƒ Makes recommendations to 

the Board on the membership 
of the principal Committees 
of the Board

 ƒ Monitoring of the Company’s 

compliance with applicable 
codes and other requirements 
of Corporate Governance.

Chair: Stacey Cartwright

Number of meetings in the year: 3

For more information 
see pages 110 to 115

Principal Business Executive Committees

 ƒ Lead each Principal Business
 ƒ Responsible for the day-to-day management of the relevant Principal Business
 ƒ Oversee the development and implementation of strategy, capital expenditure, and investment budgets for 

the ongoing review and control of Group risks, reporting on these areas to the Group Executive Board and, 
as necessary, the Board for approval

 ƒ Implement Group policy
 ƒ Monitor financial and operational performance of the relevant Principal Business and other specific matters 

delegated to them by the Group Executive Board.

104

Annual report and accounts 2023Plc Board

Group Chief Executive

Group Executive Board

 ƒ Responsible for the day-to-day 

management of the Group.

 ƒ Key executive management committee of the Group
 ƒ Responsible for the day-to-day management of the Group
 ƒ Oversees the development and implementation of strategy, capital 

expenditure, and investment budgets, for the ongoing review 
and control of Group risks, reporting on these areas to the Board 
for approval

 ƒ Implements Group policy
 ƒ Monitors financial and operational performance of the Group and other 

specific matters delegated to it by the Board.

Chair: Group Chief Executive

Composition: Group Chief Financial Officer, the Heads of the Principal 
Businesses, and the Group Legal Director & Company Secretary

Group ESG Committee

Group ESG Committee

Group Risk Committee

 ƒ Responsible (with the Group 

Risk Committee) for overseeing 
climate risk assessment and 
other aspects of the Group’s 
ESG agenda

 ƒ Tracks and monitors the delivery 

of the Group-wide ESG targets 
which are aligned to the nine UN 
Sustainable Development Goals.

Chair: Group Legal Director & 
Company Secretary

 ƒ Identifies and evaluates Group-level risks
 ƒ Reviews and challenges risks reported by subsidiaries
 ƒ Champions the ongoing Group-wide development of risk management 
 ƒ Monitors Internal Audit and other sources of assurance on the 
 ƒ Reviews ESG risk, including but not limited to TCFD-related items and 

and the internal controls framework

effectiveness of internal controls

these are escalated as appropriate.

105

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES continued

Division of the Responsibilities continued

Roles on the Board
The Board comprises Executive and Non-Executive Directors, such that no one individual or small group of individuals 
dominates the Board’s decision-making. The Non-Executive Directors are all deemed to be independent. To help 
ensure a proper dialogue with all Directors, the Chair meets periodically with the Directors individually and the Non-
Executive Directors as a group (and without the Executive Directors). The division of responsibilities between the 
various roles of the Board members is detailed below, demonstrating a clear division between the role of the Board 
and executive management. The role descriptions of the Chair, Group CEO and Senior Independent Director are 
reviewed annually by the Board and are updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation or best practice.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Directors:

Non-
Executive 
Chair

Nicholas 
Ferguson (until 
31 December 
2023; Stacey 
Cartwright with 
effect from 
1 January 2024)

Group Chief 
Executive 
Officer

Mark Ridley

The roles of Chair and Group Chief Executive are distinct and separate and their roles 
and responsibilities are clearly established.

The Chair is responsible for:

 ƒ leading the Board and its overall effectiveness;

 ƒ demonstrating objective judgement;

 ƒ promoting a culture of openness and constructive challenge and debate between 

all Directors;

 ƒ facilitating constructive Board relations and the effective contribution of all Non-

Executive Directors; and

 ƒ ensuring Directors receive accurate, clear and timely information.

To help ensure a proper dialogue with all Directors, the Chair meets periodically with 
the Directors individually and the Non-Executive Directors as a group (and without 
the Executive Directors).

The Group Chief Executive has responsibility for all Group businesses and acts in 
accordance with the authority delegated by the Board. There are a number of areas 
where the Board has delegated specific responsibility to management, including 
responsibility for the operational management of the Group’s businesses as well as 
reviewing strategic issues and risk matters in advance of these being considered by 
the Board and/or its Committees.

Simon Shaw

The Group Chief Financial Officer supports the Chief Executive in developing and 
implementing the Group’s strategy.

 ƒ leads the global finance function and develops key finance talent;

 ƒ ensures effective financial reporting, processes and controls are in place;

 ƒ recommends the annual budget and long-term strategic and financial plan; and

 ƒ chairs the Group’s Proptech investment ‘fund’, Grosvenor Hill Ventures.

Philip Lee

 ƒ Monitor and challenge the performance of management;

Richard Orders

 ƒ assist in approval and review of strategy;

Dana Roffman

 ƒ review Group financial information and provide advice to management;

Marcus Sperber

 ƒ engage with stakeholders and provide insight as to their views, including in relation to 

Florence Tondu-
Mélique

John Waters

Stacey 
Cartwright to 
31 December 
2023; with effect 
from 1 January 
2024 Richard 
Orders

Chris Lee

employees and the culture of the Group; and

 ƒ as part of the Nomination & Governance Committee, review the succession plans for 

the Board and key members of senior management.

Provides a sounding board for the Chair and acts as a trusted intermediary for the 
Directors as required; and is available to respond to Shareholder concerns when 
contact through the normal channels is inappropriate.

The Group Legal Director & Company Secretary, whose appointment is a matter 
reserved for the Board, is responsible for advising and supporting the Chair and the 
Board on company law and corporate governance matters and for ensuring that Board 
procedures are followed, as well as ensuring that there is a smooth flow of information 
to enable effective decision-making.

The Group Legal Director & Company Secretary is further responsible for ensuring that 
the Directors receive regular updates on developments in legal and regulatory matters. 
All the Directors have access to the advice and services of the Group Legal Director 
& Company Secretary and through him have access, if required, to independent 
professional advice in respect of their duties at the Company’s expense.

Group Chief 
Financial 
Officer

Independent 
Non-
Executive 
Directors

Senior 
Independent 
Non-
Executive 
Director

Group Legal 
Director & 
Company 
Secretary

106

Annual report and accounts 2023Board composition
In line with the requirements of the Code, the Board 
comprises a majority of Independent Non-Executive 
Directors. The Nomination & Governance Committee 
considers the independence of the Non-Executive 
Directors annually, having regard to the independence 
criteria set out in the Code. As part of this process, the 
Board keeps under review the length of tenure of all 
Directors, which can affect independence. We believe the 
Board’s composition gives us the necessary balance of 
diversity, skills, experience, independence and knowledge 
to ensure we continue to run the business effectively 
and deliver sustainable growth. Further details regarding 
diversity are on page 114 and our Diversity and Inclusion 
strategy can be found on pages 50 to 54.

The biographical details of the Directors can be found 
on pages 86 to 88 which show the breadth of their skills 
and experience, why their contribution is important to 
the Company’s long-term sustainable success, and their 
membership of the Board’s various Committees. 

Independence of Non-Executive Directors
The Chair is committed to ensuring the Board comprises 
a majority of Independent Non-Executive Directors who 
objectively challenge management, balanced against the 
need to ensure continuity on the Board. On an annual 
basis, the Board reviews the independence of its Non-
Executive Directors. Non-Executive Directors (‘NEDs’) 
are expected to exercise independent judgement and to 
be free from any business or other relationship that could 
materially interfere with it. This independence is crucial 
in bringing constructive challenge to the Group CEO 
and management at Board meetings, while providing 
support and guidance to promote meaningful discussion 
and, ultimately, informed and effective decision-making. 
Directors are required to provide sufficient information 
to allow the Board to evaluate their independence 
prior to and following their appointment. The Board 
considers that all of the Non-Executive Directors bring 
considerable expertise, strong independent oversight 
and are Independent Non-Executive Directors, being 
independent of management and having no business or 
other relationship which could interfere materially with 
the exercise of their judgement.

Outside interests and conflicts
The Board has adopted guidelines for dealing with 
conflicts of interests. All potential new Directors are 
asked to disclose their other significant commitments. 
The Nomination & Governance Committee takes this into 
account when considering proposed appointments to 
ensure that Directors can discharge their responsibilities 
to the Group effectively. This means not only attending 
and preparing for formal Board and Committee 
meetings, but also making time to understand the 
business, and to undertake training.

The time commitment is agreed with each Non-
Executive Director on an individual basis. In addition, 
all Directors must seek approval before accepting any 
significant new commitment. The Board is satisfied 
that the Chair and each of the Non-Executive Directors 
committed sufficient time during the year to enable them 
to meet their Board responsibilities and fulfil their duties 
as Directors of the Company.

For the year ended 31 December 2023 and as at the 
date of publication of this Annual Report, the Board is 
satisfied that none of the Directors is over-committed 
and that each of the Directors allocates sufficient 
time to his or her role in order to discharge their 
responsibilities effectively.

Indemnification of Directors
In accordance with the Company’s Articles of 
Association, and to the extent permitted by law, the 
Directors and the Group Legal Director & Company 
Secretary are granted an indemnity, in respect of any 
liabilities incurred as a result of their holding office. 
Such indemnities were in force during the financial year 
to 31 December 2023 and up to the date of this Report. 
The Company also maintains appropriate insurance 
cover in respect of legal action against its Directors 
and Officers.

Conflicts of interest procedure
The Companies Act 2006 places a duty on each Director 
to avoid a situation in which he or she has or can have a 
direct or indirect interest which conflicts or may conflict 
with the interests of the Company. A Director will not 
be in breach of that duty if the relevant matter has been 
authorised by the other Directors in accordance with 
the Company’s Articles of Association. Procedures are in 
place for the disclosure by Directors of any interest that 
conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the Company’s 
interests and for the appropriate authorisation to be 
sought if a conflict arises. The Board, or the Nomination 
& Governance Committee on its behalf, reviews actual 
and situational conflicts of interest at least annually and 
as necessary if and when a new potential situational 
conflict is identified or a potential conflict situation 
materialises. During 2023, the actual and situational 
conflicts of interest that were identified by each Director 
were reviewed and authorised by the Board, subject to 
appropriate conditions in accordance with the guiding 
principles. The procedures adopted to deal with conflicts 
of interest continue to operate effectively and the 
Board’s authorisation powers continue to be exercised 
properly in accordance with the Company’s Articles 
of Association.

107

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCOMPOSITION, SUCCESSION AND EVALUATION

What the Board did in 2023

The Board met eight times during the year to consider the items noted below.

The Board’s principal actions during 2023 were to consider and reconfirm the Group’s growth plans and those of the Principal 
Businesses; to approve material transactions, specifically the acquisitions of BeLiving; Nash Bond and Predibisa; and strategic 
recruitments across the Group; and to confirm the Group’s net carbon zero targets. One of the Board’s meetings during the 
year was specifically devoted to the review of the Group’s strategy. The key areas of Board activity during the year are set out 
as follows:

Area of Focus

Board Activity

Leadership 
and People

Reviewed the composition and performance of the Board and its Committees

Strategy

Monitored the performance and growth of the Group’s Principal Businesses

Held the annual strategy review to consider in depth and reconfirm the Group’s strategy

Considered and approved the following growth initiatives consistent with the Group’s 
strategic plan

Internal Control 
and Risk 
Management

Reviewed and confirmed the principal existing and emerging risks and uncertainties facing the 
Group which are described in detail on pages 30 to 36

Reviewed the Group’s risk register and the effectiveness of the systems of internal control and 
risk management

Received updates on the risk and internal control environments within the Group’s Asia Pacific, 
North American, CEME and UK businesses and Savills Investment Management

Governance

Received updates on regulatory and governance developments

Received regular reports in relation to material legal matters

Financial 
Management

Reviewed and discussed the evaluation of the performance of the Board, its Committees and 
individual Directors to ensure that they continued to be effective in support of Group strategy, 
policy and practice

Considered and approved situational, and if they arose, actual conflicts of interest

Considered issues raised through the Group’s confidential reporting (‘Speak-up’) channels

Reviewed and approved the Company’s 2023 Modern Slavery Statement

Reviewed the 2024-2026 Group Business Strategy and approved the 2024 Plan

Reviewed business, profit and cash management performance, and in each case, assessed 
performance in these areas against the Group’s strategy, objectives and business plans to ensure 
that the financial returns generated by the Group’s businesses were applied to the creation 
of additional value, costs were controlled and that resources could be made available at the 
appropriate time to realise business opportunities

Considered and approved the 2023 Going Concern and Viability Statements

Reviewed and approved the Company’s 2024 Tax Strategy

Approved the 2023 annual and half-year results and trading updates, and accounting policies 
so as to ensure that communication with the Group’s Shareholders was fair, balanced and 
understandable; and, subject to Shareholder approval, the appointment and the remuneration of 
the External Auditor

Stakeholder 
Engagement

Received and considered investor feedback collated by the Company’s corporate brokers from 
road-shows, presentations and meetings between investors and the Group Chief Executive and/
or Group Chief Financial Officer

Received updates on workforce engagement during the year

Received regular client feedback from the Group Chief Executive

108

Annual report and accounts 2023Board and Committee meetings

Key announcements

January

Main Board

Remuneration Committee

Group Executive Board

February

March

Main Board

Results for year ended 31 December 2023

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Nomination & Governance Committee

April

Group Executive Board

Annual Report 2023 and Notice of AGM

May

Main Board

AGM

June

Main Board

Audit Committee

July

Group Executive Board

Trading Statement

Published results of 2024 AGM

Recommended 2022 final dividend

August

Main Board

Audit Committee

Nomination & Governance Committee

Half-year results & 2023 interim dividend 

Announced that Stacey Cartwright would 
become Chair effective 1 January 2024 on the 
retirement of Nicholas Ferguson from the Board 

October

Group Executive Board

Audit Committee

November

Main Board

Main Board strategy day

Nomination & Governance Committee

December

Main Board

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Group Executive Board

Appointment of NED and with effect from 
1 January 2024 Audit Chair John Waters

109

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCOMPOSITION, SUCCESSION AND EVALUATION continued

Nomination & Governance Committee Report

The Nomination & Governance 
Committee (‘Committee’) has a key role 
to play in ensuring that the Board and 
its principal Committees have the right 
mix of skills, experience and diversity 
to deliver Group strategy and to create 
value. The Committee keeps under 
review and evaluates the composition 
of the Board and its Committees to 
maintain the appropriate balance of skills, 
knowledge and independence to be able 
to function effectively.”

Dear Shareholder
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the 
Nomination & Governance Committee’s Report for the 
financial year ended 31 December 2023. The Committee’s 
principal role is to lead a formal, rigorous and transparent 
process for Board appointments and ensure that plans 
are in place for orderly succession at Board and senior 
management level. It keeps the leadership needs of 
the organisation under review, with a view to ensuring 
the continued ability of the organisation to compete 
effectively in the marketplace.

The Committee has continued to focus on succession 
planning, and within this further seeking to facilitate 
greater diversity and inclusion at Board and senior levels 
with specific focus below this level. In this regard Board 
membership is compliant with the FTSE Women Leaders 
and Parker guidelines, and the proportion of women in 
senior leadership positions (as defined by FTSE Women 
Leaders) as at October 2023 was 37.1% (2022: 36.5%).

The Committee will continue to ensure the Board has in 
place an effective leadership with the skills, experience 
and diversity to match our strategic aims and ambition. 

Stacey Cartwright
Chair of the Nomination & Governance 
Committee

13 March 2024

Stacey 
Cartwright

Chair

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Nicholas Ferguson (Chair* until his retirement on 
31 December 2023)

Stacey Cartwright (Chair* with effect from 
1 January 2024)

Philip Lee

Richard Orders

Mark Ridley (Executive Director)

Dana Roffman

Marcus Sperber

Florence Tondu-Mélique

John Waters (with effect from 13 December 2023)

110

Annual report and accounts 2023KEY OBJECTIVES

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR

The primary objectives of the Committee are:

 ƒ to review the size and composition of the Board 

and its key Committees and to plan for the 
Board’s progressive refreshing, with regard to 
balance and structure

 ƒ to monitor the Company’s compliance with 

applicable codes and other requirements of 
corporate governance including the Code.

of the Board

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
 ƒ Responsible for size, structure and composition 
 ƒ Reviewing and progressing appointments to 
 ƒ Responsible for succession planning at Board 

the Board

and senior management level to ensure that (i) 
the Board is refreshed progressively such that 
the balance of skills and experience available 
to the Board remains appropriate to the needs 
of the business; and that (ii) the Group has the 
necessary bench-strength of talent to ensure 
seamless succession at senior management level

 ƒ Makes recommendations to the Board on the 

membership of the principal Committees of 
the Board

 ƒ Monitoring of the Company’s compliance with 

applicable codes and other requirements of 
corporate governance.

More detailed information on the role and 
responsibilities of the Committee can be found 
in the Committee’s Terms of Reference which can 
be accessed on the Company’s website at 
http://ir.savills.com

The Committee has standing items that it considers 
regularly under its Terms of Reference; for 
example, the Committee reviewed its own Terms of 
Reference (which are reviewed at least annually or 
as required, eg to reflect changes to the Code or as 
a result of changes in regulations or best practice).

Specifically during the year, the Committee:

 ƒ Considered the proposed reappointment of 

the Non-Executive Directors, before making a 
recommendation to the Board that each Non-
Executive Director be proposed to Shareholders 
for re-election at the 2024 AGM

 ƒ Led the process to appoint a new Chair which 

resulted in Stacey Cartwright being appointed 
as Chair of the Company from 1 January 2024 
on the retirement of Nicholas Ferguson from 
the Board

 ƒ Led the process which resulted in the 

appointment of John Waters to the Board.

*  Save in circumstances where the Chair’s succession is considered.

111

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCOMPOSITION, SUCCESSION AND EVALUATION continued

Nomination & Governance Committee Report 

Recruitment and election procedures
Chair Succession
Following the announcement in March 2023 that 
Nicholas Ferguson would be retiring as Chair at the end 
of the year, the Company commenced a rigorous search 
to find a successor. On 10 August 2023, the Company 
announced the appointment of Stacey Cartwright as 
Chair with effect from 1 January 2024. In accordance 
with its Terms of Reference, the Nomination & 
Governance Committee led the process. 

Heidrick & Struggles were appointed to conduct a 
candidate search, based on a clear brief and the search 
entailed creating a longlist of potential candidates from 
which a shortlist was developed. This was further reduced 
and the extensive evaluation process included detailed 
interviews on a one-to-one basis with both Richard 
Orders, NED and Mark Ridley Group CEO to understand 
clearly what each candidate could bring to the role as 
Chair, their approach to challenges that the business 
may face in the future, as well as how they would see 
the relationship working between Chair and Group CEO. 
Following this process, the Committee was unanimous in 
its recommendation to the Board that Stacey Cartwright 
be appointed as Chair of the Group with effect from 
1 January 2024. Heidrick & Struggles has no other 
connection with the Group and is a signatory to the 
Voluntary Code of Conduct of Executive Search Firms.

continued

The Committee met three times during 2023. Individual 
attendance by Directors at this meeting is shown in 
the table on page 93. Members of the Committee also 
normally attend the Company’s AGM at which there is 
an opportunity to meet with Shareholders. Any other 
Director, the Group Legal Director & Company Secretary 
or an external advisor may be invited by the Committee 
to attend the meetings from time to time, as appropriate.

Changes to the Board and Committees
During the year to 31 December 2023, there were the 
following changes to the Board:

 ƒ Stacey Cartwright was appointed Chair with effect 

from the date of the retirement of Nicholas Ferguson 
on 1 January 2024

 ƒ John Waters was appointed as an additional 

Independent Non-Executive Director on 13 December 
2023, and replaced Stacey Cartwright as Chair of the 
Audit Committee with effect from 1 January 2024

 ƒ Richard Orders replaced Stacey Cartwright as 

the Senior Independent Director with effect from 
1 January 2024. 

Succession planning
The Board and Committee remain focused on talent 
planning, and the development of a diverse succession 
pipeline and Board succession is a key topic at Committee 
meetings. Board and senior management succession 
plans, which are based on merit and are assessed against 
objective criteria, are reviewed annually by the Committee. 
The Committee monitors the length of tenure and the 
skills and experience of the Non-Executive Directors to 
assist in succession planning. The Committee continues to 
keep the Board’s composition under review and considers 
how that composition might be enhanced to ensure 
that the Board continues to best meet the needs of the 
Company and its Shareholders. The biographies of the 
Board members appear on pages 86 to 88.

The Committee will continue to monitor the needs of 
the Board and its Committees in the context of the 
delivery of the Group’s strategy, with the aim of ensuring 
that the Group’s succession planning policy evolves 
such that there is an identifiable supply of talent and 
experience available to the Board and its Committees 
from which to select successors.

No Director is involved in decisions regarding his or 
her own succession. The Committee also monitors 
the development of the executive team below the 
Board to ensure that there is a diverse supply of senior 
executives and potential future Board members with 
the appropriate skills and experience. 

112

Annual report and accounts 2023Search for an additional NED
The Board recognises the benefit of progressively refreshing its membership and therefore commenced the search for 
an additional Independent Non-Executive Director in September 2023. Before making this appointment, the Committee 
assessed the balance of skills, knowledge, independence, experience and diversity of the Board and, in view of this 
assessment, drew up a description of the role and competencies needed, which included the necessary financial experience 
to chair the Audit Committee with effect from 1 January 2024, with a view to appointing the best-placed individual for 
the role. In making a recommendation to the Board on a Non-Executive Director appointment, the Committee specifically 
considered the expected time commitment of the proposed Non-Executive Director and other commitments they might 
already have.

The Committee led the process which resulted in the appointment of John Waters to the Board. The Committee 
assessed the balance of skills, knowledge, independence, experience and diversity of the Board and, in view of this 
assessment, a description of the role and competencies needed was agreed, with a view to appointing the best 
qualified individual for the role. Heidrick & Struggles was selected to lead the search due to its specialist knowledge 
of recruiting at Board-level.

Recruitment Consultants Heidrick & Struggles provided a longlist of potential candidates and first-stage interviews 
were led by the Chair of the Committee. In making the recommendation to the Board on the proposed appointment, 
the Nomination & Governance Committee specifically considered the expected time commitment of the proposed 
Non-Executive Director and the other commitments that they already had. A final shortlist of candidates was 
selected for final-stage interviews with the Chair, Group Chief Executive Officer and Senior Independent Director. 
The Committee was unanimous in their recommendation to the Board that John Waters be appointed as additional 
Independent Non-Executive Director, and was delighted to welcome John to the Board on 13 December 2023. John 
was also appointed Chair of the Audit Committee with effect from the date of Stacey Cartwright’s appointment as 
Chair effective 1 January 2024.

Details of the different stages of the appointment process that the Committee followed in relation to the appointment 
process of Stacey and John is set out below:

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Engaged with Heidrick 
& Struggles and 
provided them with a 
search specification

Shortlisting of 
candidates by the 
Committee

Interview process with 
Committee Members

Recommendation 
to the Board of the 
chosen candidate

Appointment terms 
drafted and agreed

Stacey Cartwright’s biography
See page 86.

John Waters’ biography
See page 88.

113

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCOMPOSITION, SUCCESSION AND EVALUATION continued

Nomination & Governance Committee Report 

The Committee is responsible for overseeing the 
development of a diverse pipeline for succession to 
senior management. The Board has a longstanding 
commitment to prioritise diversity and supports the 
FTSE Women Leaders Review on gender diversity and 
the Parker review on ethnic diversity. From a gender 
perspective, we are pleased to have seen the positive 
benefits of this approach, with women representing 33% 
of the Board’s membership in 2023.

For the purposes of complying with the requirements of 
the Code Provision 23, Senior Management is defined as 
the Group Executive Board (‘GEB’). As at 31 December 
2023 the GEB members and their direct reports totalled 
196 of which 40 were female, 157 were male. Accordingly, 
our Group Women in Leadership percentage 
(determined in accordance with the FTSE Women 
Leaders Review criteria) was 37.1% as at 31 October 
2023. Our previous year Group Women in Leadership 
percentage as reported by the FTSE Women Leaders 
Review was 36.5% (as at 30 October 2022).

In respect of ethnic diversity, the Board’s composition is 
in accordance with the Parker Review recommendation 
that at least one Director is from an ethnic minority 
background by 31 December 2024.

The Committee noted considerable progress being made 
to increase gender diversity, and the structured and 
broad approach and actions being taken, which varied 
based on geography and culture.

The Committee supports the initiatives taking place across 
the Group’s businesses to improve diversity, including 
work to further strengthen the pipeline of women 
through a managed career path and improved access 
to opportunities. More details on the Group’s diversity 
and inclusion initiatives can be found on pages 50 to 54. 
Information on Board and Executive Committee gender 
and ethnicity can be found on page 85.

continued

Director reappointment
All Non-Executive Directors undertake a fixed term of 
three years subject to annual re-election by Shareholders. 
The fixed term can be extended, and consistent with 
best practice, would not go beyond nine years unless 
exceptional circumstances were deemed to exist. 

The current length of tenure for the Chair and each of 
the Non-Executive Directors as at 31 December 2023 is 
set out on pages 86 to 88.

In accordance with the 2018 UK Corporate Governance 
Code (the ‘Code’), all of the Directors will stand for 
election/re-election as appropriate at the 2024 AGM 
on 15 May 2024. The Board reviews Non-Executive 
Director independence on an annual basis and takes into 
account the individual’s experience, their behaviour at 
Board meetings and their contribution to unbiased and 
independent debate. The Board considers that all of the 
Non-Executive Directors bring considerable management 
expertise and strong independent oversight.

Diversity 
Board and Group Diversity
At Board level, the approach to appointing new Directors 
reflects the Committee’s objective of ensuring that there 
is always an appropriate balance of experience and 
backgrounds on the Board. Great emphasis is placed 
on ensuring that Board membership embodies diversity 
in its broadest sense. For this reason, members of 
the Board are drawn from a wide range of disciplines, 
industries and cultures. As an international business, we 
benefit from our Non-Executive Directors’ knowledge 
of and involvement with other businesses across Asia, 
Europe and the UK and North America.

As reported on page 85, the FCA’s Listing Rules now 
set board diversity targets that at least 40% of the board 
are women, at least one of the roles of CEO, CFO, Chair 
and SID is held by a woman, and at least one director is 
from a minority ethnic background. The Company has 
met all of the above targets, except the target to have 
40% of Board membership represented by women. As 
at the date of this report women represented 33% of the 
Board’s membership. The Company expects to comply 
with this requirement by the end of 2024.

The benefits of diversity, in terms of age, ethnicity, skills, 
experience and socio-economic background are an 
active consideration in all recruitment decisions, as well 
as in our talent development programme.

114

Annual report and accounts 2023Board and Committee Evaluation

2021 Internal 
Board Evaluation

2022 External 
Board Evaluation

2023 Internal 
Board Evaluation

In line with best practice, the performance and effectiveness of the Board and its Committees is assessed annually 
through a formal performance evaluation process. In accordance with the Code requirements, the Board believes that 
an external independent evaluation of Board effectiveness and performance, and that of its principal Committees, at 
least every three years brings further insight into its performance. As well as looking to continually improve the Board’s 
processes, the evaluation process is used to reflect on areas that the Board would like to see more focus on.

Board and Committee evaluation

2023 process

The Board recognises that it continually needs to 
monitor and improve its performance. In line with the 
effective governance requirements of the Code, the 
Board reviews its own performance and that of the 
Directors and of its Committees annually.

This year’s evaluation was conducted in-house, led 
by Stacey Cartwright and facilitated by the Group 
Legal Director & Company Secretary. The evaluation 
undertaken involved each Board member completing 
a questionnaire which was then used as the basis of 
a confidential interview. The matters covered by the 
evaluation included Board structure, Board effectiveness, 
working practices, relationships with Shareholders and 
interaction between Board members and management. 
The output of the evaluation was presented to the Board 
in March 2024 and the Directors discussed the points 
raised by the review.

Conclusion from the 2023 evaluation

Areas of focus for 2024

The conclusion from this year’s evaluation was that the 
Board and its Committees continued to operate to a high 
standard and continued to provide effective leadership 
and exert the required levels of governance and control.

Reflecting the output from the 2023 Board Evaluation, 
the additional areas for Board focus, which would be 
added to the Board’s 2024 workplan, were agreed 
as follows:

In particular, Board members considered that the 
Board was now stronger in terms of diversity of 
gender, experience, geography and background and 
continued to contribute strongly to the development 
and implementation of the Group’s strategy. Board 
members also agreed that the Board was an open and 
constructive forum and was focussed on the right issues, 
striking a good balance between future thinking and 
assurance. The Board’s Committees were also considered 
to be continuing to work well, and were well-chaired 
and supported.

a. Ensuring that the Board had good exposure to the 

wider stakeholder group, particularly to those people 
below senior management to ensure that the non-
executive directors had visibility of the issues across 
the business

b. Ensuring that the Board continued to meet with the 
Company’s external brokers at least once a year to 
ensure undertaking of market and Shareholder views

c. Strengthening the links between the Board and the 
business by expanding the exposure to the Group’s 
next level of management

d. Further broadening the experience of the Board 

through the appointment of an additional independent 
NED with a strong technology background

115

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCOMPOSITION, SUCCESSION AND EVALUATION continued

Board and Committee Evaluation continued

As a result of the evaluation, the Board considers 
the performance of each Director to be effective and 
concluded that both the Board and its Committees 
continue to provide effective leadership and exert the 
required levels of governance and control. Shareholders 
would therefore be recommended to re-elect Board 
Members at the AGM in May.

Following this review, we are satisfied that the Board 
continues to perform effectively and in particular are 
confident that the Board has the right balance of skills, 
experience and diversity of personality to continue to 
encourage open, transparent debate and challenge.

Board induction, training and development
Following appointment, all Directors receive a 
comprehensive and tailored induction programme. 
Induction programmes are facilitated by the Chair and 
the Group Legal Director & Company Secretary and 
tailored to the Director’s individual roles and needs. 
The induction process is designed to develop the 
Director’s knowledge and understanding of the Group 
covering key areas including the Group’s purpose, values, 
culture and strategy, its corporate governance, risks and 
internal controls and the markets in which it operates. 
New Directors are also provided with information 
on relevant share dealing policies, Directors’ duties, 
Company policies and governance.

The induction also includes one-to-one briefings 
from the Heads of the Principal Businesses and an 
introduction to each Group business’s development 
strategy with the content of meetings varying 
depending on the Director being inducted and their 
background and individual experience.

Our induction programme for new Directors is 
delivered through:

 ƒ meetings with the Chair, wider Board, Group 

Legal Director & Company Secretary and relevant 
Committee Chairs;

 ƒ a structured programme of meetings with the Group 

Executive Board members and senior management 
to provide a deeper understanding of risks and 
opportunities and stakeholder interests;

 ƒ meetings with advisors, including the External 

Auditor, to provide a valuable external 
perspective; and

 ƒ training as appropriate on key policies, statutory 

duties and legal and governance requirements.

To enable the Board to discharge its duties, all Directors 
receive appropriate and timely information, including 
briefing papers distributed in advance of Board 
meetings. The Board strongly supports the ongoing 
development of its members and any Director can 
request further information to support the fulfilment 
of their individual duties or collective Board role and 
throughout the year.

Governance
The Committee reviewed the Company’s compliance 
with the Code and was satisfied that the Company 
complied with the Code. The Committee will continue to 
receive updates on corporate governance developments 
and will consider the impact of those developments on 
the Company.

Stacey Cartwright
Chair of the Nomination & Governance 
Committee

13 March 2024

116

Annual report and accounts 2023AUDIT, RISKS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS

Review of the effectiveness of the risk 
management and internal control systems

The principal existing and emerging risks and 
uncertainties faced by the Group and the associated 
mitigating actions for these are set out on pages 
30 to 36.

The Board, assisted by the Audit Committee, is 
responsible for reviewing the operation and effectiveness 
of the Group’s internal controls. The internal control 
system is designed to manage rather than eliminate the 
risk of failure to achieve business objectives and can 
provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance 
against material misstatement or loss.

The Board is also responsible for ensuring that 
appropriate systems are in place to enable it to identify, 
assess and manage key risks. This responsibility 
includes the determination of the nature and extent 
of the principal risks the Board is willing to take to 
achieve its strategic objectives and for ensuring that an 
appropriate culture has been embedded throughout 
the organisation. The Board’s attitude and appetite to 
risk is communicated to the Group’s businesses through 
the strategy planning processes.

The Board is supported by the Audit Committee in 
discharging its oversight duties with regard to internal 
control and risk management. During the year, the 
Audit Committee on behalf of the Board, reviewed the 
effectiveness of the risk management systems and 
internal control systems, including financial, operational 
and compliance controls. The Board did not identify 
any significant failings or weaknesses in the year. Taking 
into account the principal existing and emerging risks 
and uncertainties set out on pages 30 to 36, and the 
ongoing work of the Audit Committee in monitoring 
the risk management and internal control systems on 
behalf of the Board, the Board remains satisfied that the 
review of internal controls did not reveal any significant 
weaknesses and they continue to operate effectively.

117

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSAUDIT, RISKS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS continued

Audit Committee Report

I am pleased 
to present the 
Audit Committee’s 
report for the 
financial year ended 
31 December 2023.”

On 13 December last year I became a Non-Executive 
Director and became Chair of the Audit Committee on 
Stacey Cartwright’s appointment as Chair on 1 January 
2024. On behalf of the Audit Committee, I would like to 
record the Committee’s thanks to Stacey for her work for, 
and guidance of the Committee during her time as Chair.

This report seeks to provide insight into the Committee’s 
activities in the year and sets out how it has performed 
against its key objectives and how the Committee has 
met the disclosure requirements as set out in the Code. 
In particular this report provides an overview of the 
Committee’s major considerations and work during 
the year in ensuring that the Company’s governance 
processes and reporting procedures remain appropriate, 
robust, of a high standard and are rigorously applied. 
The key matters considered in the year are set out 
on page 122.

The Audit Committee has discharged its responsibilities 
over the year by providing effective independent 
oversight, with the support of management and the 
External Auditor. During the year, the Committee 
continued to play a key role in assisting the Board in its 
oversight of financial reporting and auditing matters, 
including reviewing and monitoring the integrity of the 
Group’s Financial Statements, the Group’s systems of 
internal control and risk management, and the internal 
and external audit processes. The Committee, and its 
individual members, seek to act in a way to promote the 
success of the Company for the benefit of its members 
as a whole, including Shareholders, in accordance with 
s.172 of the Companies Act 2006.  

John 
Waters

Chair of 
the Audit 
Committee

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Stacey Cartwright 
(Chair and member until 31 December 2023)

Philip Lee

Florence Tondu-Mélique

Marcus Sperber

John Waters

118

Annual report and accounts 2023The Committee also considered the viability and going 
concern statements and their underlying assumptions. 
Following consideration, the Committee agreed with 
management’s proposal that the Company’s long-term 
Viability Statement should continue to cover a three-year 
period (see page 37), that management had conducted 
robust viability and going concern assessments and 
recommended the approval of the Viability and Going 
Concern Statements to the Board. The Committee will 
continue to monitor changes in regulation and focus 
on the audit, assurance and risk processes within the 
Principal Businesses. The Committee considered its 
compliance with the Code and the FRC Guidance on 
Audit Committees. The Committee believes that it has 
addressed both their spirit and requirements.

The performance of the Audit Committee was again 
evaluated this year and I am pleased to note that 
feedback from Directors indicated strong satisfaction 
with the Committee’s performance.

The Committee remains committed to continuing to 
discharge its duties effectively and diligently in 2024. 

John Waters
Chair of the Audit Committee

This ensures that the interests of the Group’s 
Shareholders, and broader stakeholders, are properly 
considered and reflected in the Committee’s decision-
making processes.

As outlined on page 121, the Committee met five times 
during the year. The detail of attendance is found on 
page 121. 

In 2023, the Committee considered the effectiveness of 
the Group’s internal controls and reviewed the Group’s 
principal risks and uncertainties, to ensure the alignment 
of these with the Company’s strategic objectives and risk 
appetite. It monitored the effectiveness of the control 
environment through the review of reports from Internal 
Audit, management and the External Auditor and 
ensured the quality of the Company’s financial reporting 
by reviewing the 2023 Half-Year Financial Statements 
and the year’s Annual Report and Accounts.

One of the Committee’s key responsibilities is to 
confirm to the Board that it is satisfied that the 
Annual Report and Accounts are fair, balanced and 
understandable taken as a whole, and to provide the 
information necessary for Shareholders to assess the 
Company’s position, performance, business model and 
strategy. In doing so, the Committee considers whether 
management’s disclosures reflect the supporting 
detail, or challenge management to explain and justify 
their interpretation and, if necessary, re-present the 
information. The External Auditor supports this process 
in the course of its statutory audit by auditing the 
Group’s accounting records against agreed accounting 
practices, relevant laws and regulation. The External 
Auditor’s report can be found on pages 156 to 165. 
Following this review and challenge process, the 
Committee was pleased to advise the Board that the 
2023 Annual Report and Accounts is fair, balanced and 
understandable and that the Directors have provided 
the necessary information for Shareholders to assess the 
Group’s position, prospects, business model and strategy. 
This review and challenge process is described in further 
detail on pages 123 and 124.

119

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSAUDIT, RISKS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS continued

Audit Committee Report continued

How the Committee operates 
Membership
The Committee is a fundamental element of the 
Company’s governance framework. The Committee is 
chaired by John Waters. Stacey Cartwright, Philip Lee, 
Florence Tondu-Mélique and Marcus Sperber, all of whom 
are Independent Non-Executive Directors, were members 
of the Committee during the year. John Waters, who was 
appointed to the Board and Committee as an additional 
Independent Non-Executive Director on 13 December 
2023, became Chair of the Audit Committee from 
1 January 2024 when Stacey Cartwright became Chair of 
the Company. Members of the Committee are appointed 
by the Board following recommendations by the 
Nomination & Governance Committee and membership 
is reviewed annually by the Nomination & Governance 
Committee as part of the annual Board performance 
evaluation. As at 31 December 2023 and up to the 
date of this report, the Committee comprised entirely 
Independent Non-Executive Directors. The members 
of the Audit Committee have been selected to provide 
the wide range of financial and commercial experience 
needed to undertake its duties and each member of 
the Audit Committee brings an appropriate balance of 
financial and commercial experience, combined with a 
sound understanding of the Company’s business, and is 
therefore considered by the Board to be competent in 
the Company’s sector. The expertise and experience of 
the members of the Audit Committee are summarised 
on pages 86 to 88.

The Board considers that each member of the 
Committee is independent within the definition set 
out in the Code and is capable of assessing the work 
of management and the assurances provided by the 
Internal and External Audit functions. The Board also 
considers that John Waters, as Chair of the Committee, 
possesses significant, recent and relevant financial 
experience and that all Committee members have 
relevant financial experience as required by the Code.

All members of the Committee receive an appropriate 
induction, which includes an overview of the business, 
its financial dynamics and risks, and meetings with 
senior management. Committee members are expected 
to have an understanding of the principles of, and 
recent developments in, financial reporting, including 
the applicable accounting standards and statements of 
recommended practice, key aspects of the Company’s 
policies, financing, internal control mechanisms, and 
matters that require the use of judgement in the 
presentation of accounts and key figures as well as 
the role of Internal Audit and the External Auditor.

Objective
The objective of the Committee is the provision of 
effective governance over the appropriateness of 
financial reporting of the Group, including the adequacy 
of related disclosures, the performance of both the 
Internal Audit function and the External Auditor and 
oversight of the Group’s systems of internal control, 
business risks and related compliance activities.

120

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
 ƒ Responsibility for assisting the Board in fulfilling 
 ƒ Advising the Board on various statements 

its financial and risk responsibilities

made in the Annual Report including those 
on Viability, Going Concern, risks and controls 
and in particular for ensuring that the 
Financial Statements are fair, balanced and 
understandable

 ƒ Overseeing external financial reporting, internal 

controls, risk management and reviews the 
work of the Internal and External Auditors

 ƒ Advising the Board on the appointment of the 
 ƒ Considering significant judgements, 

External Auditor

assumptions and estimates made by 
management in the financial statements.

ROLE OF COMMITTEE

The Committee is authorised to investigate any 
matter within its Terms of Reference (a copy of 
which can be found in the governance section 
of the Company’s website at http://ir.savills.
com and which are reviewed at least annually 
or as required).

The Committee has access to the services of the 
Group Legal Director & Company Secretary and, 
where necessary, the authority to obtain external 
legal or other independent professional advice to 
fulfil its duties.

The Committee’s key role is to assist the Board 
in discharging its duties and responsibilities 
for financial reporting, internal control, the 
effectiveness of the risk management process and 
in making recommendations to the Board on the 
appointment of the External Auditor.

The Committee is responsible for the scope and 
results of the external audit work, the related 
fees and cost effectiveness and for ensuring the 
independence and objectivity of the External 
Auditor including the approval of the level of 
provision of non-audit services.

The remuneration of the members of the 
Committee and the policy with regard to the 
remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors 
are set out on pages 127 to 150.

Annual report and accounts 2023Meetings held
The Committee meets at least five times per year and has an agenda planner linked to events in the Company’s 
financial calendar and other matters that arise throughout the year, which fall for consideration by the Committee 
under its remit. The Committee Chair agrees the meetings and agendas for each meeting.

There were five scheduled Committee meetings held during the year (with two of these meetings focused on matters 
relating to the half-year and full-year reporting). The Committee reports to the Board after each Committee meeting. 
Attendance at meetings during 2023 is shown in the table below:

Committee member

Stacey Cartwright*

Philip Lee

Florence Tondu-Mélique

Marcus Sperber

John Waters**

*  Member until 31 December 2023.

**  Member since 1 January 2024. 

Member since

October 2018

January 2021

October 2018

December 2022

January 2024

Meetings 
attended

Meetings 
eligible to 
attend

5

5

5

4

–

5

5

5

5

–

How the Committee keeps up to date
The Committee is kept up to date with changes to Accounting Standards and relevant developments in financial 
reporting, company law and the various regulatory frameworks through presentations from the Group’s External 
Auditor, Group Chief Financial Officer, and Group Legal Director & Company Secretary. The Committee also receives 
tailored briefings from management and the Group’s External Auditor from time to time. The Terms of Reference 
of the Audit Committee include all the matters required under the Code and are reviewed at least annually by the 
Committee. The Chair of the Committee meets informally and is in regular contact with key individuals involved 
with the Company’s governance, including the Group Chief Financial Officer, Group Director of Risk & Assurance, 
the Head of Internal Audit of Savills Investment Management (‘SIM’) and the Group Legal Director & Company 
Secretary and prior to each Committee meeting, meets with each of them and senior members of the external 
audit team individually.

In addition to its members, a standing invitation has been extended by the Committee to the Chair and Group Chief 
Executive Officer to attend the Committee’s meetings. The Group Chief Financial Officer, Group Financial Controller, 
the Group Director of Risk & Assurance, the Head of Internal Audit of SIM, Group Legal Director & Company Secretary 
and the External Auditor attend each of the Committee’s meetings. Other senior executives from across the Group 
are invited periodically to present reports to assist the Committee in discharging its duties.

At least once a year, the Committee meets with the External Auditor and the Group Director of Risk & Assurance 
without management being present. The Chair of the Committee also normally attends the AGM to respond to 
Shareholder questions on its activities.

Activities of the Committee during the year
The Committee has a substantial agenda of items formulated to discharge its responsibilities, while maintaining 
sufficient time for discussion of ad hoc matters that arise throughout the year. The Committee relies on 
information and support from management across the business, receiving reports and presentations from business 
management, the Heads of Key Group functions, Internal Audit and the External Auditor, which it challenges as 
appropriate. Following each meeting, the Chair of the Committee reports on the main discussion points and any 
actions arising from these to the Board.

The Committee provides advice to the Board on the form and basis of conclusions underlying the Viability 
Statement as set out on page 37 and the going concern assessment.

121

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSAUDIT, RISKS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS continued

Audit Committee Report continued

What the Committee did during the financial year ended 31 December 2023:

Responsibilities How the Committee discharged its responsibilities

Mar

June

Aug

Oct

Dec

Financial 
Reporting

Reviewed and discussed the key accounting considerations and estimates 
and judgements reflected in the Group’s results for the half-year

Reviewed and discussed the key accounting considerations and 
judgements reflected in the Group’s results

Reviewed the assessment supporting the going concern basis 
of accounting

Reviewed the Viability Statement and considered the processes 
supporting the assessment of the longer-term solvency and liquidity

External 
Audit

Agreed the External Audit strategy and scope

Considered and, where appropriate, approved the instruction of the 
Group’s External Auditor’s provision of non-audit services

Reviewed and considered reporting from the External Auditor, 
including the External Auditor’s observations on the Group’s internal 
control environment

Discussed the performance of EY (‘EY’) who were the relevant External 
Auditor for the 2023 year-end audit, assessed according to the Code

Met with the External Auditor without management present to discuss 
their remit and any concerns

Discussed and agreed remuneration in respect of external audit 
services provided

Assessed the External Auditor’s independence, including the potential 
impact of non-audit services

Internal 
Audit

Considered and approved the remit of the Internal Audit function and 
the Internal Audit plan

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

Received and considered reports from the Group’s Internal Audit 
team covering various aspects of the Group’s operations, controls 
and processes and monitored the progress made by management in 
addressing recommendations arising out of these reports

Monitored and reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s 
Internal Audit function in the context of the Group’s overall risk 
management arrangements

Met with the Group Director of Risk & Assurance privately to discuss 
his remit and any concerns

■

Reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s risk management system 
and internal controls in place to manage the Group’s material existing 
and emerging risks

■

■

■

Reviewed and considered the Group’s risk register

Reviewed the risk management environment for each of the Group’s 
regional businesses by receiving presentations from the Chief 
Operating/Financial Officers of the Principal Businesses

Reviewed the Committee’s own performance, composition and Terms 
of Reference, and recommended any changes the Committee considers 
necessary for Board approval

Reviewed the reports provided by the Group’s Legal Director & 
Company Secretary on significant legal matters

■

■

■

■ ■

■

■

■

■

■

■

Internal 
Controls 
and Risk 
Management 
Systems

122

Annual report and accounts 2023During the year, in addition to its established review processes, the Committee considered and reviewed a number 
of other areas. These included updates on the risk and internal control environments within the Group’s UK, North 
American, Asia Pacific, Investment Management and CEME businesses. In addition, the Committee examined the IT 
systems strategy including the Group’s global approach to cyber security. The Committee specifically considered 
the processes and assessment of the Group’s prospects and viability made by management to support the Viability 
Statement which can be found on page 37. The Committee’s review included consideration of the time period 
adopted, the processes supporting the assessment of the Group’s longer-term solvency and liquidity which support 
the Viability Statement disclosure and assumptions.

The Committee considered and provided input into the determination of which of the Group’s principal risks might 
have an impact on the Group’s longer-term solvency and liquidity. It also reviewed the results of management’s 
scenario modelling, including severe downside modelling, and the stress testing of those financial models supporting 
the viability analysis and challenged management on the appropriateness of the assumptions made.

Following discussions with management and the External Auditor, the Committee approved the disclosures of these 
accounting policies and practices which are set out in Note 2 to the Financial Statements on pages 172 to 184.

Financial reporting
The Committee’s primary responsibility in relation to the Group’s financial reporting is to review, with management 
and the External Auditor, the appropriateness of the half-year and annual Financial Statements.

The Committee focuses on:

with the External Auditor;

 ƒ the quality and acceptability of accounting policies and practices;
 ƒ material areas in which significant judgements have been applied or where significant issues have been discussed 
 ƒ an assessment of whether the Annual Report & Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable;
 ƒ the clarity of the disclosures and compliance with financial reporting standards and relevant financial and 
 ƒ providing advice to the Board on the form and basis underlying the long-term Viability Statement; and
 ƒ any correspondence from regulators in relation to the Group’s financial reporting.

governance reporting requirements;

123

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSAUDIT, RISKS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS continued

Audit Committee Report continued

Significant financial reporting estimates and judgements
As part of its monitoring of the integrity of the Financial Statements, the Committee considers the appropriateness 
of the accounting policies proposed for adoption and whether management has made appropriate estimates and 
judgements. To support its decision-making, the Committee seeks support and the views of the External Auditor in 
these areas.

In accordance with Code provision 26, the following sets out the significant issues reviewed by the Committee 
throughout the year, being those requiring management to exercise the highest level of judgement or estimation. 
The Committee assesses these judgements to determine if they are reasonable and appropriate. This section outlines 
the main areas of judgement that have been considered by the Committee and ensure that appropriate rigour has 
been applied. The key reporting estimates and judgements considered by the Committee and discussed with the 
External Auditor during the year were:

Matter considered

Action

Revenue recognition

The Committee considered the presumed risk of fraud and management override defined 
by the International Accounting Standards.

Carrying value 
of goodwill

The Committee discussed and challenged management’s conclusions in respect of revenue 
recognition policies, satisfying itself that the approach applied to determine revenue 
recognised in FY23 was appropriate, and in line with the Group’s accounting policies.

The Committee also received and discussed a report from the External Auditor setting out 
their work, testing and conclusions in this area. The Committee, having challenged and 
considered both management’s judgements and the External Auditor’s conclusions, agreed 
that there were no material unadjusted issues in this area and that the approach taken 
was appropriate.

The Committee considered management’s approach in relation to the carrying value of the 
Group’s businesses, and in particular goodwill. The Committee reviewed and considered 
the detailed analysis of the key inputs to the valuations prepared and the process by which 
they were drawn up. The Committee considered the appropriateness of the assumptions 
used and reviewed the impact of sensitivity analysis.

The Committee also considered if there were any reasonably possible changes 
in assumptions that would result in a material impairment and therefore require 
further disclosure in the financial statements. These are set out in Note (15) to the 
financial statements.

The Committee also considered a report from the External auditor setting out its analysis 
and conclusions in this area.

Overall, the Committee was satisfied with the assumptions made and judgements applied 
by management.

External Auditor
The current External Auditor, Ernst & Young LLP (‘EY’) was appointed following a comprehensive audit tender process 
in 2019, and approval at the Company’s 2021 AGM. EY’s reappointment was approved at the 2023 AGM. Christabel 
Cowling is the audit partner and has held the role since 2022.

The Audit Committee advises the Board on the appointment of the External Auditor, negotiates and agrees its 
remuneration for audit and non-audit work, reviews its effectiveness, independence and objectivity and discusses 
the nature, scope and results of the audit with the External Auditor. The Committee holds private meetings with the 
External Auditor at the March and August Committee meetings to provide additional opportunity for open dialogue 
and feedback to/from the Committee and the External Auditor without management being present. The Chair of the 
Committee also meets with the external lead audit partner outside the formal Committee process throughout the year.

124

Annual report and accounts 2023Effectiveness
The Committee assess the effectiveness of the External 
Auditor and the appropriateness of the audit plan on 
an annual basis, in addition to the level of the External 
Auditor’s fees. The review covered a broad range of 
matters including amongst other matters, the quality 
of staff, its expertise, resources and the independence 
of the audit. The Committee considered the External 
Audit plan for the year and assessed how the External 
Auditor had performed including consideration of the 
robustness of their challenge and findings on areas 
which required judgement, the strength and depth 
of the lead partners and feedback from the Group’s 
management. As part of the review of the effectiveness 
of the external audit, a formal evaluation incorporating 
views from the Committee and relevant members of 
management is considered by the Committee. Feedback 
from the review was provided to EY as part of the 
annual planning meeting.

The Committee considers that the External Auditor 
relationship is appropriate and the Committee is satisfied 
with EY’s overall effectiveness.

Independence
An important aspect of managing the External Auditor 
relationship, and of the annual effectiveness review, is 
ensuring that there are adequate safeguards to protect 
auditor objectivity and independence. The Committee 
regards independence of the External Auditor as 
absolutely crucial in safeguarding the integrity of the 
audit process and takes responsibility for ensuring 
the three-way relationship between the Committee, 
the External Auditor and management remains 
appropriate. In conducting its annual assessment, the 
Committee reviews the External Auditor’s own policies 
and procedures for safeguarding its objectivity and 
independence. As one of the ways in which it seeks to 
protect the independence and objectivity of the External 
Auditor, the Committee has a policy governing the 
engagement of the External Auditor to provide non-
audit services and its assessment of EY’s independence 
is underpinned by this policy. In accordance with the 
FRC’s Ethical Standard and the Group’s policy in place to 
31 December 2023, the Committee approved only those 
non-audit services which were permissible in the FRC’s 
Ethical Standard.

Audit and non-audit fees
To further safeguard the independence of the Company’s 
External Auditor and the integrity of the audit process, 
recruitment of senior employees from the External 
Auditor is not allowed for an appropriate period after 
they cease to provide services to the Company.

Audit fees
Non-audit fees

2023
£m

4.2
0.4

2022
£m

4.1
0.3

2021
£m

3.3
0.3

Details of the fees paid to the External Auditor can 
be found in Note 7.2 to the Financial Statements on 
page 198. The Company maintains a policy governing 
the provision of non-audit services to the Group. 
During the financial year ended 31 December 2023 
contracts for non-audit services in excess of £0.1m 
required Committee approval and the Chair of the Audit 
Committee approved new instructions for the delivery 
of non-audit services below this level.

The Committee was satisfied that in view of their 
knowledge and experience of the Company, that when EY 
was used, it was best placed to provide such non-audit 
services and that their objectivity and independence had 
not been impaired by reason of this further work. In line 
with the Company’s policy on the provision of non-audit 
work, the Committee reviewed the provision of non-audit 
work provided by the External Auditor for the financial 
year ended 31 December 2023 on a case-by-case basis.

The Directors confirm that, insofar as they are each 
aware, there is no relevant audit information of which 
EY is unaware and each Director has taken the steps that 
ought to have been taken as a Director to be aware of 
any relevant audit information and to establish that EY 
is aware of that information.

The Audit and Risk Committee’s role 
in ensuring the financial statements 
taken as a whole are fair, balanced 
and understandable
As part of the Committee’s assessment as to 
whether the annual Financial Statements are ‘fair, 
balanced and understandable’, taken as a whole 
the Committee has oversight of and reviews the 
effectiveness of key processes implemented 
by management.

In addition to the above, the Committee also 
undertakes a review to determine if the entire 
Financial Statements are representative of the 
Group’s performance in the year and challenges 
management on the overall balance of the Report 
and Accounts prior to recommending approval of the 
Financial Statements to the Board. This includes the 
financial reporting responsibilities of the Directors 
under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006.

125

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSAUDIT, RISKS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS continued

Audit Committee Report continued

The Committee reviews Internal Audit reports from 
both Group and SIM on a regular basis and monitors 
the status of all Internal Audit recommendations and 
management’s responsiveness to their implementation, 
and challenges both Internal Audit and management 
where appropriate to provide assurance that the control 
environment is robust and effective.

In assessing the performance of Internal Audit, the 
Committee considered and monitored its effectiveness in 
the context of the Company’s risk management system 
and took into account management’s assessment of and 
responsiveness to the Internal Auditor’s findings and 
recommendations and reports from the External Auditor 
on issues identified during the course of their work.

Assessment of Group’s system of internal 
control, including the risk management 
framework
The Committee, on behalf of the Board, undertook a 
robust review of the effectiveness of the system of risk 
management and internal control.

In performing its review of effectiveness, the 
Committee reviewed and assessed the following 
reports and activities:

 ƒ Internal Audit reports on the review of the controls 

across the Group and its monitoring of management 
actions arising from these reviews;

 ƒ management’s own assessment of risk and the 

performance of the system of risk management and 
internal control during 2023;

 ƒ reports from the Group Director of Risk & Assurance 

including reports on Group-wide risk assessment 
activity and annual self-assessment findings;

and the SIM Head of Internal Audit; and

 ƒ reports from the SIM Head of Risk & Compliance 
 ƒ reports from the External Auditor on any issues 

identified during the course of their work.

The Committee and the Board considered that the 
information received was sufficient to enable a review 
of the effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls 
in accordance with the FRC’s Guidance on Risk 
Management, Internal Control and Related Financial 
and Business Reporting.

Regulatory Reporting
The Financial Reporting Council (‘FRC’) publishes 
thematic reviews and other guidance to help companies 
improve the quality of corporate reporting through 
the provision of guidance and reviews of the quality 
of reporting across public companies.

Internal control and risk management
Internal audit
The Committee has the primary responsibility for the 
oversight of the Group’s system of internal control, 
including the risk management framework, the 
compliance framework, and the work of the Group’s 
internal audit functions.

The internal audit function provides independent 
assurance as to the adequacy and effectiveness of 
the Company’s internal controls and risk management 
systems. During 2023, Internal Audit services were 
delivered by the Group’s Director of Risk and Assurance 
with delivery support from two audit firms – RSM LLP 
(“RSM”) and Grant Thornton LLP. Savills IM has its own 
Head of Internal Audit who has responsibility for Internal 
Audit planning and delivery within Savills IM with support 
from RSM, and who reports to the Group Risk Committee 
and the Audit Committee on findings and actions 
arising from internal audits within Savills IM. The Group 
Risk Committee and Audit Committee approve the SIM 
annual Internal Audit Plan.

The Board’s responsibility for internal control and risk is 
detailed on page 108 and is incorporated into this report 
by reference.

The Group’s Director of Risk and Assurance attended 
all five scheduled Audit Committee meetings, and the 
SIM Head of Internal Audit attended by invitation two 
meetings and provided a range of presentations and 
papers to the Committee, through which the Committee 
monitored the effectiveness of all of the Group’s material 
internal controls, including financial, operational and 
compliance controls on behalf of the Board.

The Committee approved the internal audit plan and 
the SIM Internal Audit plan at the December Committee 
meeting and received progress against those plans 
during the year, while the effectiveness, workload of the 
internal audit functions and the adequacy of available 
resources were monitored throughout the year. The 
Committee ensures that Internal Audit was appropriately 
resourced with the skills and experience relevant to the 
operations of the Group and that information was made 
available to it to enable it to fulfil its mandate to the 
appropriate professional standards.

126

Annual report and accounts 2023DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

Annual statement

Richard  
Orders

Chair of the 
Remuneration 
Committee 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Richard Orders

Stacey Cartwright

Nicholas Ferguson

Dana Roffman

Governance

This Report has been prepared 
on behalf of the Board by the 
Remuneration Committee (the 
‘Committee’) in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 
2006 and the Large and Medium-sized 
Companies and Groups (Accounts and 
Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 
2008 (as amended) (‘Regulations’) and 
the auditable disclosures referred to in 
the External Auditor’s Report on pages 
156 to 165 as specified by the UK Listing 
Authority and the Regulations.

Dear Shareholder
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to introduce our 
2023 Directors’ Remuneration Report (the ‘Report’). 
Included within this Report are a summary of the 
Directors’ Remuneration Policy (the ‘Policy’) which was 
approved by Shareholders at our 2022 AGM and details 
of how we implemented the Policy in 2023.

Our remuneration philosophy 
As set out in previous reports, our long-standing focus 
and business philosophy is founded on the premise that 
staff in our sector are motivated through performance-
based incentives (variable remuneration) consistent 
with our partnership culture. We firmly believe that this 
approach best aligns Shareholders’ and management’s 
interests and incentivises superior performance and 
the creation of long-term Shareholder value. This 
approach also ensures that our reward arrangements 
are consistent with, and sensitive to, the cyclical nature 
of real estate markets.

The Policy is designed to deliver these objectives 
and to provide the reward potential necessary for the 
Company to attract, retain and motivate the high-
calibre individuals on whom its continued growth 
and development depend. Reflecting this philosophy, 
the salaries for the Executive Directors, Group 
Executive Board members and senior fee-earners 
are set significantly below market medians for similar 
businesses, with a greater emphasis on the performance-
related elements of profit share and/or, outside the UK, 
commission in the total reward package. 

127

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual statement continued

2019–2023 Overview*

-34%

Underlying Profit

-27%

Dividend Payments to Shareholders**

+11%

Executive Director Remuneration***

+59%

Total Shareholder Return 

* 

 The KPIs are calculated as the change in the KPI over the period 
1 January 2019 – 31 December 2023.

**   The dividend cost for 2023 comprises the cost of the final dividend 
recommended by the Board (amounting to £19.0m) alongside the 
supplemental interim dividend (amounting to £2.7m), payment of which is 
subject to Shareholder approval at the Company’s Annual General Meeting 
(‘AGM’) scheduled to be held on 15 May 2024 and payable to Shareholders 
on the Register of Members as at 12 April 2024 and the interim dividend 
(£9.5m) paid on 2 October 2023.

***  Executive Director remuneration reflects the change in the total (“Single 
Figure”) remuneration paid to the Group Chief Executive Officer and 
Group Chief Financial Officer role holders over the period 1 January 2019 – 
31 December 2023.

128

The Committee is mindful of its responsibility to 
reward appropriately, but not excessively. As such, it 
places great emphasis on the calibration of Executive 
Director remuneration and structure against internal 
relativities and wider market conditions, while also 
rigorously assessing external competitive positioning in 
setting remuneration. Finally, it determines targets to 
ensure that reward properly reflects performance, that 
it supports the delivery of our strategic and operational 
objectives and that it is fair to management and 
Shareholders alike. Overall, we continue to target staff 
employment costs over the cycle to be in the range of 
65%–70% of revenues which the Committee regards as 
the key metric from a Shareholder’s perspective. 

The Committee is comfortable that our remuneration 
philosophy remains appropriate and continues to align to 
the best interests of our stakeholders, demonstrated by 
the high levels of Shareholder support for our Directors’ 
Remuneration Policy at our 2022 AGM.

2023 performance and 
remuneration outcomes 
Savills strength across our less transactional service 
lines continued to provide a resilient earnings stream, 
underpinning Savills overall performance in a global 
real estate market challenged by significantly reduced 
transactional activity. The Group’s revenue decreased 
by 3% to £2.2bn (2022: £2.3bn), down 2% on a constant 
currency basis. Although not immune to market 
volatility (particularly in respect of some Consultancy 
service lines), the strength of our less transactional 
businesses underpinned Savills performance overall, 
growing revenue by 7% to £1.5bn. Prime drivers 
of performance were Consultancy and Property 
Management which performed well, growing revenue 
by 4% and 11% respectively. The Group’s Transactional 
business experienced a 17% drop in revenue during the 
year as global market conditions remained extremely 
subdued for longer than originally anticipated at the 
start of 2023. This was the primary cause of the 42% 
reduction in the Group’s underlying profit of £94.8m 
(2022: £164.6m), representing an underlying profit 
margin of 4.2% (2022: 7.2%).

As a result of the challenging market conditions during 
2023, the real estate services industry as a whole 
undertook a number of rounds of cost reduction and 
reorganisation actions. In line with our strategy during 
the global financial crisis of 2008, as well as more 
recently through the pandemic, and supported by our 
strong financial position, Savills continued to maintain 
its core bench-strength around the world, ensuring 
we provided the highest level of service to our clients 
throughout the year and remain well positioned for 
market recovery. We did, however, review the global 
business for locations or service lines where the 
anticipated time frames for market recovery remain 
protracted. This resulted in selective restructuring of 
certain transactional and related support teams. 

Annual report and accounts 2023Against the backdrop of these very challenging 
market conditions, the Group continued to maintain a 
positive liquidity position with net cash (cash and cash 
equivalents net of borrowings and overdrafts in the 
notional pooling arrangements) of £157.3m at year end 
(2022: £307.4m).

Annual performance-related profit share
Given the above market context, having had regard to 
the Company’s financial plans for the year, the Committee 
set a broad range of financial targets within the annual 
performance-related profit share with a view to striking an 
appropriate balance between the stretching nature of the 
targets and potential reward outcomes.

Reflecting on the factors set out above, profit 
performance was towards the lower end of the financial 
range of targets. The 2023 underlying profit targets 
ran from £80m at the threshold performance level 
through to £180m for maximum performance reflecting 
the uncertainty in the real estate market. Our actual 
performance was £94.8m and so we achieved 36% of the 
maximum target under the profit element of the bonus.

With regard to performance against non-financial 
targets, we achieved strong performance in the areas 
of growing our Global Residential, Global Prime Retail, 
Global Occupier Services and Savills Earth offerings. Also 
as a result of prevailing market conditions during 2023, 
whilst maintaining our core bench-strength to ensure 
that we could provide the highest level of service to our 
clients throughout the year and remain well positioned for 
market recovery, we reviewed certain markets and sectors 
where the anticipated time frames for market recovery 
remain protracted. This resulted in selective restructuring 
in certain transactional and support teams. Alongside 
this, we continued to acquire businesses and recruit high 
quality talent in markets which have become much more 
conducive to reasonably-priced business development. 
This strong strategic progress, many aspects of which were 
included in the non-financial targets set at the start of the 
year, resulted in a total of 80 % of the maximum being 
earned under this element of the bonus (2022: 90%).

Overall bonuses were earned at 47% of the maximum. 
When considering the appropriateness of the bonuses 
earned, the wider factors considered by the Committee 
included the following performance highlights from 2023: 

 ƒ Revenue of £2.2bn achieved (2022: £2.3bn) against 

a backdrop of extremely subdued global real estate 
markets as a result of significantly increased interest 
rates, geo-political events, and, on a more asset specific 
level, uncertainties over the future role of offices and 
the valuation of existing stock in the era of sustainability

 ƒ Group underlying profit at £94.8m (2022: £164.6m), 

with the year-on-year reduction primarily reflecting 
the 17% drop in revenue generated by the Group’s 
Transactional business during the year, as a result 
of the significantly reduced transactional activity 
in global transaction markets

 ƒ Revenue in the Group’s less transactional businesses 

of Consultancy and Property Management grew by 
4% and 11% respectively as these businesses, 
although not immune to market volatility (particularly 
in respect of some Consultancy service lines), 
performed well, with their strength helping to 
underpin Group performance overall

 ƒ Strong liquidity position maintained with net cash 

(cash and cash equivalents net of borrowings and 
overdrafts in the notional pooling arrangements) of 
£157.3m at year end (2022: £307.4m)

 ƒ The wider stakeholder experience over the year which 

included delivering an 18% total shareholder return 
(inclusive of a 15% increase in share price) in the 
very challenging market context detailed above. In 
recognition of the performance delivered through the 
year, bonuses awarded to the Executive Directors were 
consistent with those awarded to the Group Executive 
Board members and wider senior fee earners with the 
overall total payments reduced proportionately against 
2023 in light of the overall lower level of profitability, 
reflecting our pay model, but recognising the strong 
financial and strategic progress delivered in the wider 
market context. Reflecting the emphasis on reward for 
performance, total employment costs remained within 
the targeted 65-70% of Group revenue, with profit-
related pay reducing consistent with the year-on-year 
reduction in underlying profit.

In light of the above, the Committee considered the 
annual performance profit share outcomes for the 
Executive Directors to be appropriate and reflect the 
financial and non-financial performance of the business 
and the experience of stakeholders. 

Full details of the annual performance-related profit 
share awards approved by the Committee for the 
Executive Directors are included along with the other 
elements of remuneration in the total remuneration 
table on page 136 of this Report.

Performance Share Plan
The end of the 2023 financial year was also the end of the 
three-year performance period for our Performance Share 
Plan (‘PSP’) awards made in November 2021. In this regard:

 ƒ one-third was based on TSR performance measured 

against the FTSE Mid 250 Index (excluding investment 
trusts); based on the Company’s performance 
compared to the FTSE 250 Index (ex-Investment 
Trusts) over the 2021-23 (inclusive) performance 
period, 0% of this element of the awards vested;

 ƒ notwithstanding our positive EPS growth over the 

period 2021 to 2023 (inclusive) of 1.4%, we were below 
the threshold target set in 2021 and so this resulted in 
0% of this element of the award vesting; and

 ƒ one-third based on Return on Capital Employed 

(‘ROCE’) performance; average ROCE over 2021-2023 
(inclusive) was 16.6%, resulting in 37% of this element 
of the award vesting.

The above resulted in a formulaic outcome of 12.36% 
of maximum. 

129

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual statement continued

As with the annual performance-related profit share, the 
Committee considered the performance-linked outcome 
of the 2021 PSP awards in the context of the Company’s 
performance and the wider stakeholder experience 
over the past three years and concluded the formulaic 
outcome was appropriate. 

Further details regarding performance targets are set 
out on page 137 of this Report.

In line with the Policy, awards for Executives which have 
satisfied the performance conditions attaching to them 
remain subject to a two-year holding period, during 
which time Executives will be incentivised to maintain 
the strong performance delivered over recent years.

Overall, the Committee is satisfied the Policy operated as 
intended for 2023 and that outcomes reflect the financial 
and non-financial performance delivered during the period.

Workforce and governance developments
During the year the Committee received updates on 
workforce remuneration, mindful of the cost-of-living 
pressures employees in some markets are facing. 
Reflecting the generally increased cost of living across the 
globe, various initiatives were implemented to support, 
in particular, lower paid employees. For example, in the 
UK, ‘My Rewards’ promotions were extended to allow 
employees to access discounts on goods and services and 
Royal London, the provider of Savills UK’s Group Personal 
Pension Plan, supported by Savills UK’s Employee 
Assistance Programme, provided a financial wellbeing 
service. In the US, two new programmes were launched; 
discounted gym membership and a free financial 
wellness service.

With regard to engagement with employees on pay, 
this continues to be facilitated through the Savills 
workforce engagement programme, which allows the 
Non-Executive Directors to directly receive feedback 
across a wide spectrum of topics, including how 
executive remuneration aligns with wider employee 
remuneration and supports the Group’s strategy. 

2024 remuneration
As referenced in the ‘Our remuneration philosophy’ 
section above, Savills has a long-standing and 
established approach of offering low base salaries for 
senior staff relative to market medians (which approach 
applies to the Executive Directors, Group Executive 
Board Members (‘GEB Members’) and other senior 
fee earners) consistent with our performance-based 
approach to incentivisation and reward. 

For 2024, the salaries of both Executive Directors will 
remain unchanged. Salaries across the wider workforce 
will increase by c.3% overall, but within this overall 
increase, higher increases will be awarded to more junior 
employees, and more senior employees who enjoy higher 
performance-related pay, being awarded lower increases.

130

The UK workforce aligned pension contributions of 8% 
for both Executive Directors will also remain unchanged. 

For 2024, the maximum opportunity under the annual 
performance-related profit share will remain unchanged 
at £3.25m and £2.5m for the Group Chief Executive 
Officer and the Group Chief Financial Officer respectively. 
Awards will continue to be based on Group underlying 
profit performance (75%) and on the achievement of 
pre-set personal strategic and operational objectives 
(25%). The underlying profit performance targets 
are commercially sensitive and will therefore be fully 
disclosed retrospectively in next year’s report. 

Like the annual performance-related profit share, for 
2024 the PSP will remain consistent with the approach 
taken in previous years. This will include an award of 
performance shares with a value of 200% of base salary 
for the Group Chief Executive Officer and the Group 
Chief Financial Officer. The performance metrics will 
also remain unchanged from the 2023 award being EPS 
growth, relative total Shareholder return and ROCE with 
an equal weighting applying to each metric. In line with 
Policy, where at least threshold performance has been 
achieved over the three-year performance period, awards 
will be subject to a further two-year holding period. 
Further details regarding the performance measures and 
associated targets can be found on page 148. However, in 
light of the current market context the Committee remains 
in the process of finalising the specific targets to apply to 
the 2024 PSP awards. The targets will be included in the 
market announcement of the awards at the time of grant.

Chair succession
As announced in August 2023, Stacey Cartwright 
succeeded Nicholas Ferguson as Chair of the 
Board upon his retirement from the Board effective 
31 December 2023. In line with the Policy, Stacey will 
receive an all-encompassing fee aligned to the market. 
The fee, set at £240,000, reflected the current size and 
complexity of Savills which have continued to grow as a 
result of our successful business diversification and the 
expected future time commitment of the role.

Conclusion
As a Committee, we continue to monitor best practice 
developments in executive remuneration and consider 
whether any amendments to the Policy are appropriate. 

I hope you will support this Report at our AGM to be held 
on 15 May 2024. I welcome any comments or feedback 
you may have on the decisions made by the Committee. 

Richard Orders 
Chair of the 
Remuneration Committee

Annual report and accounts 2023Annual Report on Remuneration

Role of the Committee 
The principal role of the Committee is to support the Group to achieve its strategic objectives by designing a 
Remuneration Policy consistent with the Group’s business model and values, such that we have the ability to attract, 
recruit, retain and motivate the high-calibre individuals needed to deliver the Group’s strategy and promote the 
long-term interests of the Company. The Committee also considers the broader implications of the Policy in the 
context of environmental, social and governance (‘ESG’) considerations and how the Policy best supports the Group’s 
delivery of its objectives in these areas. The Committee is responsible for the broad policy governing senior employee 
remuneration. It sets the actual levels of all elements of the remuneration of the Executive Directors, the Chair of the 
Company and the GEB members. The Committee also considers workforce remuneration and related policies and the 
alignment of incentives and rewards with culture, risk management and the Group’s ESG objectives and when setting 
the policy for Executive Director remuneration takes those matters into account. The Policy remains under periodic 
review to ensure that it remains consistent with the Company’s scale and scope of operations, supports business 
strategy, its environmental, social and governance strategy and its growth plans and helps drive the creation of 
Shareholder value. The Committee also oversees the operation of Savills employee share schemes. 

Committee members and attendees
As shown in the table below, during the year the Committee comprised the following Independent Non-Executive 
Directors, with the following attendees:

Committee member

Position

Status

Richard Orders

Chair of the Committee

Independent

Stacey Cartwright

Member of the Committee

Independent

Nicholas Ferguson1

Member of the Committee

Independent

Dana Roffman

Member of the Committee

Independent

1 

 Nicholas Ferguson stood down from the Committee upon his retirement from the Board 31 December 2023. 

Committee attendee

Position

Status

Mark Ridley

Group Chief Executive Officer

Chris Lee

Group Legal Director  
& Company Secretary

Attended by invitation (except when his own 
remuneration was discussed)

Provided advice and support (except when his own 
remuneration was discussed) as well as acting as 
Secretary to the Committee

Simon Shaw, Group Chief Financial Officer, was invited to attend meetings to provide an overview of market conditions 
and the Group’s financial performance.

2023 Attendance

Committee member

Richard Orders

Stacey Cartwright

Nicholas Ferguson

Dana Roffman

As at 31 December 2023 and up to the date of this Report, the Committee wholly comprised Independent Non-
Executive Directors. Biographies of each of the Committee members can be found on pages 86 to 88.

Meetings 
Attended

Meetings 
eligible to 
attend

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

131

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

The Committee met four times during 2023. The 
principal agenda items considered by the Committee 
during the year were as follows:

 ƒ reviewing the voting outcome and associated 

Shareholder feedback relating to the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report at the 2023 AGM; 

and 2020 LTIP outcomes;

 ƒ determining 2022 performance-based profit share 
 ƒ considered developments in workforce remuneration;
 ƒ agreeing performance targets for both the 2023 

annual performance-related profit share and 
Performance Share Plan awards, mindful of uncertain 
market conditions;

Advisors to the Committee
The Committee receives independent external advice 
on executive remuneration from Korn Ferry who was 
appointed as Remuneration Advisors in 2021. Korn 
Ferry’s fees for advising the Remuneration Committee 
during 2023 were £37,938.

The Committee is satisfied that the advice received 
from Korn Ferry during the year was entirely objective 
and independent. The Committee will continue to keep 
these arrangements under review to ensure that they 
remain appropriate to the needs of the Committee in 
developing remuneration policy to support the delivery 
of Group strategy.

 ƒ preparing an Annual Directors’ Remuneration 

Report consistent with the legislation relating to 
executive remuneration;

The Committee is also advised by the Group Legal 
Director & Company Secretary (save in relation to 
matters concerning his own remuneration).

Directors and GEB members; and 

 ƒ agreeing the remuneration packages of the Executive 
 ƒ approving the grant of Performance Share 

Plan awards.

Given the fundamental role that remuneration plays in 
the success of the Group, in terms of the recruitment, 
incentivisation and retention of high-quality employees, 
the Group Chief Executive Officer attends meetings 
by invitation and is consulted on the remuneration 
package of the Group Chief Financial Officer and 
other GEB members.

Terms of Reference
The Committee’s Terms of Reference, which are 
reviewed annually, or by exception to take account of 
regulatory changes or best practice, are available from 
the Group Legal Director & Company Secretary upon 
request or can be viewed on the Company’s website 
(www.savills.com).

132

Annual report and accounts 2023Remuneration Policy

The Policy was approved by Shareholders at the Company’s AGM held on 11 May 2022 and documented in the 
Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021 available at https://ir.savills.com/.

The Group’s remuneration arrangements for the Executive Directors, GEB members and senior fee-earners are 
structured to provide a competitive mix of variable performance-related (i.e. annual performance profit share 
and longer-term incentives) and fixed remuneration (principally base salary) to reflect individual and corporate 
performance. The objective is to set targets which provide an appropriate balance between being achievable 
and stretching. 

In determining the remuneration of the Executive Directors and reviewing that of the GEB members, the Committee 
reviews the role and responsibilities of the individual, their performance, the arrangements applying across the wider 
workforce and internal pay relativities. It also considers sector and broader market practice in the context of the 
prevailing economic conditions and corporate performance on environmental, social and governance issues.

Overview of the Policy
A summary of the Policy for Executive Directors and how it will be applied for 2024 is set out below. 

Element

Summary of approach

Application of Policy for 2024

Base salary

Base salaries are set significantly below 
market median levels, in line with the Group’s 
philosophy of placing the emphasis on variable, 
performance-related remuneration.

The Committee has determined that there will 
be no increase to base salaries for Executive 
Directors in respect of 2024.

Salaries from March 2024 will therefore be 
as follows:

 ƒ Group Chief Executive Officer: £311,000.

 ƒ Group Chief Financial Officer: £238,000.

Pension

Pension benefits are provided through a Group 
personal pension plan, as a non-pensionable 
salary supplement or as a contribution to a 
personal pension arrangement.

Since 1 January 2023 pension contributions/
salary supplements have been aligned with the 
UK workforce contribution rate of 8% of salary 
for both Executive Directors:

The Group Chief Executive Officer will be 
entitled to a pension from the legacy defined 
benefit pension plan but no longer accrues 
benefits under the plan.

 ƒ Group Chief Executive Officer: 8% of salary.

 ƒ Group Chief Financial Officer: 8% of salary.

Benefits

Benefits include:

Benefits in line with Policy.

Annual 
performance-
related profit 
share

 ƒ medical insurance benefits; 

 ƒ annual car/car allowance (up to £9,000);

 ƒ permanent health insurance; 

 ƒ life insurance; and

 ƒ relocation expenses.

Reflects the Group’s annual profit performance 
and personal performance against pre-set 
objectives and overall contribution.

In line with the Group’s philosophy that there 
is greater emphasis (than is the norm for listed 
companies) on variable performance-related 
pay. Consequently, 50% of any award payable 
above an amount equal to base salary is 
deferred into shares for three years.

Malus and clawback provisions apply.

The maximum potential annual profit share 
awards for 2024 are:

 ƒ Group Chief Executive Officer: £3.25m.

 ƒ Group Chief Financial Officer: £2.5m.

For 2024 profit share awards, 75% will 
be based on the Group’s annual profit 
performance and 25% will be based on 
the delivery of strategic and operational 
performance goals. The Committee reserves 
its ability to vary these proportions or apply 
different/additional measures in future years.

133

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Remuneration Policy continued

Element

Summary of approach

Application of Policy for 2024

Performance 
Share Plan

Awards of shares are made subject to a three-year 
performance period. Any awards which satisfy 
the three-year performance conditions attaching 
to them will then be subject to an additional two-
year holding period before vesting.

The maximum award potential remains at 
200% of base salary, subject to an overall 
annual maximum of shares with a value of 
£1m on award per participant.

Malus and clawback provisions apply.

Share Ownership 
Guidelines

Achieved through share purchase and/or 
retention of any after-tax shares which vest 
pursuant to the Group’s share plans until the 
guideline is met.

The awards for 2024 will be up to 200% of 
base salary.

For 2024 Performance Share Plan awards, one-
third of the award will vest subject to absolute 
Earnings Per Share performance, one-third 
will vest subject to relative TSR performance 
against the FTSE 250 Index (excluding 
investment trusts) and one-third will vest 
subject to ROCE performance.

Performance will be measured over the three-
year period starting on 1 January 2024.

700% of base salary for the Group Chief 
Executive Officer and Group Chief Financial 
Officer while in post.

250% of salary applying for two years 
post-cessation.

Non-Executive Director fees, which are set consistent with the median for the FTSE 250, are subject to annual review, 
with any increase capped at RPI. Additional fees, again set consistent with the median for the FTSE 250, are payable 
to the Senior Independent Director and Committee Chairs to recognise their additional responsibilities; these fees will 
also not be increased in 2024. 

The Board Chair’s fee, which again is set at levels consistent with the median for the FTSE 250 Index is subject to 
annual review, capped at RPI. The Chair’s fee will not increase in 2024.

The Committee has ensured that the Directors’ Remuneration Policy and practices are consistent with the six factors 
set out in Provision 40 of the Corporate Governance Code: 

How this has been addressed

Our Directors’ Remuneration Policy is well understood by our senior executive team and has been 
clearly articulated to our Shareholders and representative bodies (both on an ongoing basis and 
during consultation when changes are being made).

The Committee is mindful of the need to avoid overly complex remuneration structures which 
can be misunderstood and deliver unintended outcomes. Therefore, a key objective of the 
Committee is to ensure that our Directors’ Remuneration Policy and practices are straightforward 
to communicate and operate. 

Our Directors’ Remuneration Policy has been designed to ensure that inappropriate risk-taking 
is discouraged and will not be rewarded via (i) the balanced use of both annual incentives and 
long-term incentives which employ a blend of financial, non-financial and Shareholder return 
targets, (ii) the significant role played by shares in our incentive plans including the deferral under 
the annual performance-related profit share (together with in-employment and post-cessation 
shareholding guidelines) and (iii) malus/clawback provisions within all our incentive plans.

Our incentive plans are subject to individual caps, with our share plans also subject to market 
standard dilution limits. The use of shares within our incentive plans means that actual pay 
outcomes are highly aligned to the experience of our Shareholders.

There is a clear link between individual awards, delivery of strategy and our long-term performance. 
In addition, the significant role played by incentive/‘at-risk’ pay, together with the structure of the 
Executive Directors’ service contracts, ensures that poor performance is not rewarded.

Our executive pay policies are fully aligned to the Company’s culture through the use of metrics 
in both the annual performance-related profit share and PSP that measure how we perform 
against key aspects of our strategy, which has the objective of delivering sustainable growth 
in profit and ROCE. A similar structure operates across the Group.

Factor

Clarity 

Simplicity

Risk

Predictability

Proportionality

Alignment to 
culture

134

Annual report and accounts 2023Illustrations of application of the Policy
The charts below illustrate how much the current Executive Directors could earn under four different performance 
scenarios for 2024: ‘Minimum’, ‘On-target performance’, ‘Maximum’ and ‘Maximum with share price growth’ – based 
on the assumptions below.

Group Chief Executive Officer 

 Group Chief Financial Officer

£5m

£4,5m

£4m

£3,5m

£3m

£2,5m

£2m

£1,5m

£1m

£0.5m

£

 £4,530,550 

 £4,219,550 

15%

77%

 £2,534,300 

6%

80%

 £347,550 

100%

Minimum

14%

Target

8%

Maximum

£5m

£4,5m

£4m

£3,5m

£3m

£2,5m

£2m

£1,5m

£1m

£0.5m

£

 £3,482,253 

 £3,244,253 

15%

77%

8%

Maximum

 £1,949,753 

6%

80%

14%

Target

 £268,253 

100%

Minimum

Fixed Pay

Annual Award

Long-Term Award

50% share price growth on Long-Term Award

Element in the chart above

Component

Minimum

Target

Maximum

Fixed pay

Base salary

Pension

Benefits

Annual award

Annual 
performance-related 
profit share

Long-term award

PSP

2024 base salary

8% of salary for CEO 
8% of salary for CFO

2023 ‘single figure’ amount

0% of 
maximum award

62.5% of 
maximum award

CEO – £3.25m 
CFO – £2.5m

0% of 
maximum award

25% of 
maximum award

CEO – 200% of salary 
CFO – 200% of salary

Other assumptions

 ƒ ‘Maximum with share price growth’ is as ‘Maximum’ including assumed 50% share 

price growth

 ƒ Excludes additional shares representing the value of dividends declared during the vesting 
period which may attach to the deferred element of any annual performance-related profit 
share award or PSP award at vesting

 ƒ Assumes that no awards are made under tax advantaged all-employee share plans

 ƒ The proposed new policy does not include an on-target level for the annual performance-
related profit share so 62.5% of maximum award has been used for illustrative purposes.

135

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual Report on Remuneration

Total remuneration for 2023 (audited)
Set out below are details of Executive Director remuneration for 2023.

Executive Directors’ ‘single figure’ for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 and as a comparison for the financial 
year ended 31 December 2022.

Salary paid

Benefits1

Pension

Total fixed remuneration

Annual profit share – cash

Annual profit share – deferred shares

Gain on long-term share-based awards

Mark Ridley

Simon Shaw

2023
£

2022
£

2023
£

2022
£

311,000

308,333

238,000

235,917

11,670

24,880

11,529

43,167

11,216

11,216

19,040

42,465

347,550

363,029

268,256

289,598

920,000 1,348,500

707,000 1,036,500

610,000 1,037,500

470,000

798,500

Performance Share Plan – performance element2 (notional) 

72,911

63,991

55,731

48,914

Performance Share Plan – share appreciation element2 (notional) 

(28,838)

1,911

(22,043)

1,461

Long-term share-based reward (non-cash – notional)2

44,073

65,902

33,688

50,375

Total variable remuneration

Total ie ‘single figure’ (part notional) 

1,574,073 2,451,902 1,210,688

1,885,375

1,921,623

2,814,931

1,478,944

2,174,973

Notes:

1.  Benefits comprise private medical insurance and car allowance. 

2.   For 2023 the notional value of the PSP award with a performance period which ended on 31 December 2023 (i.e. where the award will vest in November 2026) 
has been valued based on the number of shares that will vest and the three-month average share price for the period to 31 December 2023 (850.5p per share). 
For 2022 the notional value of the PSP award with a performance period which ended on 31 December 2022 (i.e. where the award will vest in June 2025) has been 
valued based on the number of shares that will vest and the three-month average share price for the period to 31 December 2022 (857.9p) per share. The actual 
value has been split between the relevant value on the date of the original award of the relevant shares (the PSP – performance element) and subsequent increase 
in value (PSP – share price appreciation). Note that the long-term share-based reward (non-cash – notional) valuations for 2023 would be £49,851 and £38,105 
respectively for Mark Ridley and Simon Shaw valued based on the share price as at 11 March 2024 (962p per share). 

136

Annual report and accounts 2023Performance-related remuneration for 2023 (audited)
Annual performance-related profit share
The following short-term performance measures applied to the 2023 annual performance-related profit share 
arrangements with the target ranges purposefully calibrated as a broad sliding scale that took into account the 
challenging and uncertain market conditions that included recent year high interest rates and price inflation. In this 
context, the range of targets were set symmetrically as a broad range which the Committee considered realistic 
at the lower end of the target range and aspirationally stretching at the top end of the range in light of market 
conditions and the overall incentive quantum and Savills tailored remuneration structure:

75% of the award was based on profit performance, defined as underlying profit performance. The target range and 
Savills performance were as follows:

Minimum (25% of element)

£80m

Target
(62.5% of element)

Maximum target
(100% of element)

Savills underlying 
profit performance

£130m

£180m

£95m

Bonus award 
(% of element)

36%

There was straight-line vesting between performance points.

As referenced in the Chairman’s letter mindful of challenging and uncertain market conditions, the Group performed 
resiliently reflecting Savills strength across its less transactional service lines, with the Group’s Consultancy and 
Property Management businesses performing well, underpinning Savills overall performance. The Committee approved 
awards of 36% of maximum in respect of the underlying profit performance-related element (2022: 67.5%). 

The remaining 25% of annual performance-related profit share awards was based on individual performance against 
key strategic and operational objectives. The Executive Directors, based on performance against the targets set at 
the start of the year, were each awarded 80% of this 25%.

The Committee set strategic and operational objectives for the Executive Directors consistent with the Group’s 
strategic growth focus and with ensuring that the Group remained its strong financial position through the period, 
core bench-strength and client service levels were maintained, and which were aligned with longer-term value 
creation for Savills.

The tables overleaf set out the strategic and operational targets set for the Executive Directors and their actual 
performance against the targets: 

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OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Mark Ridley:

Target

1. 

 Deliver an acceleration of the linkage and 
growth in Portfolio Solutions, pivoting 
away from Tenant Rep brokerage towards 
mandated MSA and panel mandates and 
ensure that there is sufficient infrastructure 
to support this initiative at a global level

2.   Reset the US Board structure including 

setting up Divisional Boards for Portfolio 
Solutions, Brokerage and Consultancy 
Services, to provide greater focus and 
linkage into the broad network

3.   Develop the Savills Earth Consultancy 

business, in particular, focusing on ‘brown 
to green’ initiatives and retro-fitting of 
obsolescent building stock and ensure 
global linkage and best practice across 
the entire platform

4.   Continue the growth of our Residential 

activities in line with the global Residential 
strategy plan, focusing on UK, CEME and 
selected markets across APAC and the 
Caribbean. Global Residential Strategy 
plan. Accelerated the plan including 
prioritisation of strategic targets including 
Italy, Portugal, Singapore and Spain, with 
further ongoing discussions covering 
Australia; strengthening the Middle East 
and evaluating options in Paris

5.   Ensure that the Group continues to make 
progress to deliver net zero targets set 
in 2022, in particular in 2023 by agreeing 
carbon-zero pathways with SBTi

6.  Launch of the global Mobility Programme

Achievement

North America Portfolio Solutions launched, concentrating and co-ordinating 
the delivery of US occupier services offerings into a national delivery platform 
with a year-on-year doubling of revenue, New US Portfolio Solutions were 
embedded into the Global Occupier Services offering, led by a Global Strategy 
Board comprising the Regional Occupier Service leads

North America leadership and management restructured, including the 
introduction of Divisional Leadership Boards for Portfolio Solutions, Brokerage 
and Consultancy Services to lead those business lines

Savills Earth Consultancy business further developed, with geographic and service 
line extension, which now includes Strategy, Certification, Reporting, Net Zero 
Transition, Climate Resilience & Risk, and Savills Green Fit launched, including 
turnkey solutions on asset repositioning and project management services and 
all well received by clients

Residential platform growth delivered ahead of Board plan, including the 
successful expansion of the Group’s CEME Residential Network through 
acquisition across Switzerland (Verbier Lettings); Portugal (Predibisa); and Italy 
(BeLiving); and recruitment in Spain (Barcelona); and the UAE

SBTi dialog opened in June 2023, with, after full review, near-term Scope 1, 
2 and 3 targets validated by SBTi in February 2024. Scope 1 and 2 emissions 
further reduced in 2023, seeing a 26.9% reduction below the 2019 baseline

Global Mobility programme launched June 2023 to support the development 
of potential future leaders and enhance client service

7.   Enhance the global Diversity & 

Inclusion programme 

During the year, the Group’s commitment to further improving diversity and 
inclusion was recognised through:

 ƒ being awarded the UK EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Programme of 
the Year at Inspiring Women in Property Awards hosted by Property Week;

 ƒ recognition through Bisnow’s UK Rise Initiative of Savills UK as one of the 

companies leading the charge to improve diversity in real estate;

 ƒ Savills UK being named as exemplar in EG’s 2022 LGBTQ+ Attitudes & Actions;

 ƒ Savills UK being awarded the Times Graduate Employer of Choice for the 

seventeenth consecutive year and ranked 1st in the Times Rate My Placement 
for Apprentices for the second year;

 ƒ Savills North America being a finalist for the Crain’s New York Business 

Diversity Champion recognition at the annual Excellence in Diversity and 
Inclusion Awards;

 ƒ Savills North America being awarded Bisnow’s Rise Initiative for dedication 

to advanced diversity; and

 ƒ FTSE Women Leaders 2023 ratio 37.4% (2022 : 36.3%) Savills (from 16.6% in 2017).

Strong progress on succession plans across all Principal Businesses with work 
ongoing at year end

8.   Confirm succession plans across all 

Regions and refresh leadership training 
to ensure that this supports the agreed 
succession plans 

138

Annual report and accounts 2023Mark Ridley continued:

Target

Achievement

9.   Ensure a continued focus on appropriate 
cost-savings and efficiencies, particularly 
within EMEA and North America, as well 
as efficiency modelling across our global 
office network 

10.  Consider merger and acquisition 

opportunities in light of market conditions, 
with particular focus on diversification 
in North America and increased scale in 
CEME, as well as scoping the requirement 
for Facilities Management services as 
Portfolio Solutions develops

Whilst maintaining core bench-strength; targeted restructuring, secured 
operational efficiencies and significant annualised savings implemented in 
2023 ahead of Board planning, including:

 ƒ  North America restructuring of platform support;

 ƒ In CEME reset of Germany capital markets and French leasing teams 

and changes of leadership in Italy and Poland;

 ƒ In mainland China: second tier city leasing offering rationalised;

 ƒ In the UK: residential development sales offering restructured; and

 ƒ In Savills IM: Germany, UK and APAC platforms rationalised to drive 

operational efficiency.

Growth strategies progressed ahead of the Board’s plans, with in particular in 
2023 the acquisition of (a) the residential businesses of BeLiving Srl (Italy) and 
Predibisa (Portugal) and recruitment of a team to head Savills new Barcelona 
residential office; (b) the Site 8 retail property management business in 
Australia; (c) focused retail automotive consultancy and agency business APC 
Holdings in the UK; (d) Prime Retail agency and consultancy business Nash 
Bond in the UK; (e) the recruitment of a Life Sciences team in the key San Diego 
life sciences market in the US; and in relation to Savills IM the formation of a US 
real estate debt management JV with Quadrant Real Estate

Achievement was 8 out of 10 with ongoing work at year end in relation to succession plans and growth opportunities 
which were impacted by market conditions.

Simon Shaw:

Target

1. 

 Consider merger and acquisition 
opportunities in light of market conditions, 
with particular focus on diversification in 
North America and increased scale in EMEA, 
as well as scoping the requirement for 
Facilities Management services as Portfolio 
Solutions develops

2.   Oversight of Savills Investment Management 

and specifically:

 ƒ work with the SIM CEO to manage the 

high-level Samsung relationship

 ƒ oversight of any proposed material 

Savills IM corporate transactions and 
market mapping

 ƒ promote launch of Natural Capital fund

 ƒ ensure that appropriate succession plans 
are in place and that smooth transfer of 
scheduled leaver responsibilities occurs

3.   US: position the business for improved 

performance as markets recover including 
diversification of services

Achievement

Growth strategies progressed ahead of the Board’s plans, with in particular in 
2023 the acquisition of (a) the residential businesses of BeLiving Srl (Italy) and 
Predibisa (Portugal) and recruitment of a team to head Savills new Barcelona 
residential office; (b) the Site 8 retail property management business in Australia; 
(c) focused retail automotive consultancy and agency business APC Holdings in the 
UK; (d) Prime Retail agency and consultancy business Nash Bond in the UK; (e) the 
recruitment of a life sciences team in the key San Diego life sciences market in the 
US; and in relation to Savills IM the formation of a US real estate debt management 
JV with Quadrant Real Estate

The progression of the Samsung relationship which has provided in excess of 
US$1bn of seed capital to agreed Savills IM strategies since Samsung took a 
minority interest in Savills IM in December 2021

Entry into the North American debt management market achieved through the 
agreement of a JV with US real estate debt manager, Quadrant Real Estate

Natural Capital product developed and marketing underway with prospective 
investors and consultants with a view to first close being achieved at the end 
of H1 2024

Succession plans successfully implemented with Savills IM leadership further 
strengthened with, in particular, the appointment of a new UK/CEME Head of 
Equity; and Global Head of Strategy & Capital Raising Business

North America leadership and management restructured, including the 
introduction of Divisional Leadership Boards for Portfolio Solutions, Brokerage 
and Consultancy Services to lead those business lines. Operational platform 
regeared to drive efficiency and position it to support future growth

4.   Assist in implementation of ESG 

strategy with particular reference to 
sustainability Consultancy

Savills Earth Consultancy business developed in line with the Board’s plans 
which included extending to include Strategy, Certification, Reporting, Net Zero 
Transition, Climate Resilience & Risk 

Savills ‘Green Fit’ launched, including turnkey solutions on asset repositioning 
& Project Management services, and all well received by clients

139

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Simon Shaw continued:

Target

Achievement

5.   Subject to the effect of overall market 
conditions ensure focus on margin 
improvement persists for each Regional 
Business including identifying and 
sponsoring cost and operating efficiency 
improvements (including through 
adoption of technology)

Significant operational efficiencies and annualised savings delivered ahead 
of the 2023 Board plan including:

 ƒ North America restructuring of platform support;

 ƒ In CEME, reset of Germany capital markets and French leasing teams 

and changes of leadership in Italy and Poland;

 ƒ In mainland China: second-tier city leasing offering rationalised; 

 ƒ In the UK: residential development sales offering restructured; and 

 ƒ In Savills IM: Germany, UK and APAC platforms rationalised to drive 

operational efficiency.

6.   Manage the Group’s cash resources 

including investment and Shareholder 
distribution policy

Exceeded the Board’s 2023 cash target, to end year with net cash of £157.3m 
following management action to, in particular, limit discretionary spend given 
challenging market conditions

7.   Oversee and sponsor the Group’s multi-year 
technology initiatives, to maximise cross-
fertilisation of initiatives including:

Continued roll-out across Valuation disciplines of proprietary digital platform 
providing an end-to-end for managing the workflow across valuers and 
mitigating risk, now used by all valuers in the UK ahead of plan for 2023

 ƒ UK Valuations Digitisation programme 

continued roll-out

 ƒ Advance phase II Athena property 
database progressive roll-out and 
integration of unique data (eg Icans) 

8.   Continue the progressive harmonisation of 

accounting systems across the Group based 
on AX Dynamics implementations where 
economically viable including upgrading 
UK to D365

9.   Sponsor well-governanced project to 

implement Dynamics AX and HR system in 
North America (three-year programme)

10.  Ensure Group Cyber Security Committee 
(‘GISC’) meets its objectives to minimise 
cyber risk as far as practicable

Successfully integrated new tenant risk, relationship and asset ownership 
datasets into commercial property database. Delivered new roadmap features. 
Active users grown significantly, now over 80% of the target user group 
across the UK

Continued delivery of ongoing Dynamics F&O (formerly AX) finance system 
implementation, launching in four markets which was ahead of the 2023 target

Delivery of multi-year North America finance and HR system on track with 
launch scheduled during 2024

GISC met quarterly to consider security enhancement in the light of emerging 
market practice and the Group’s experience. In 2023 the GISC monitored the 
progress made by the Principal Businesses to further improve security and in 
this respect considered the results of Qualys vulnerability testing and incident 
causes and responses and the progress made in retiring end-of-life servers (eight 
remaining in CEME at end 2023; 75 servers to be retired in APAC in January 
2024, with the remainder targeted for retirement by end Q1, 2024) each quarter 
and agreed further actions. Employee phishing responses continue to decline.

ISO27001 certification achieved in the UK in October 2023

Achievement was 8 out of 10 with ongoing work at year end in relation to implementation of a multi-year North 
America finance and HR system and growth opportunities which were impacted by market conditions.

Based on the above, the overall outcome was 80% of maximum for each of the Executive Directors. 

As described in the Chair’s letter earlier in this report, the Committee considered the formulaic outcome of 47% of 
maximum and deemed it to be appropriate and that it reflected the financial and non-financial performance of the 
business and the experience of stakeholders. This represented the following values:

 ƒ Chief Executive Officer – £1,530,000
 ƒ Chief Financial Officer – £1,177,000

In line with the Policy, 50% of the overall awards, above an amount equal to their respective base salaries, will be 
deferred for a further three-year period in the form of shares. 

140

Annual report and accounts 2023Long-term incentives (audited)
The PSP award granted in 2021 was subject to performance in the three years to 31 December 2023. Following an 
assessment of Savills performance against targets set at grant, the Committee determined that 12.3% of the award 
had met the performance criteria and will be released at the end of the two-year holding period in November 2026. 

The targets and Savills performance were as follows: 

Relative TSR versus FTSE Mid 250 
index (excluding investment trusts)

% EPS growth

Return on capital employed 

Weighting

1/3

1/3

1/3

Threshold target
(25% vesting)

Maximum target
(100% vesting)

Savills 
performance

Vesting (% of 
maximum)

Equal to index Outperform index 
by 8% p.a.

RPI plus 6% p.a. 
compounded

RPI plus 12% p.a. 
compounded

3.98% versus 
the Index 
performance 
of 5.76%

0% p.a.

15%

25%

17%

0%

0%

37%

As described in the Chair’s letter earlier in this report, the Committee considered this outcome to be appropriate, 
mindful of the potential for windfall gains, and reflects the financial and non-financial performance of the business 
and the experience of stakeholders.

Non-Executive Directors fees (audited)
The Non-Executive Director fees for 2023 were as follows:

Nicholas 
Ferguson 
(Chair)

Stacey 
Cartwright

Philip Lee

Richard 
Orders

Dana 
Roffman

Marcus 
Sperber

Florence 
Tondu-
Mélique

John Waters

£226,600

£57,650

£57,650

£57,650

£57,650

£57,650

£57,650

£2,974

£8,000

£15,000

£10,000

£226,600

£80,650

£57,650

£67,650

£57,650

£57,650

£57,650

£2,974

£220,800

£79,175

£56,175

£66,175

£56,175

£2,620

£56,175

–

Basic fee 

Additional fees:

Senior Independent 
Director

Remuneration 
Committee Chair

Audit Committee 
Chair

2023 Total

2022 Total

Notes: 
Marcus Sperber joined the Board effective 15 December 2022. 
John Waters joined the Board effective 13 December 2023.  
Nicholas Ferguson retired from the Board effective 31 December 2023.

The fees payable to the Non-Executive Directors are determined by the Non-Executive Chair and the Executive 
Directors after considering external market data and individual roles and responsibilities. The fee for the Board Chair 
is determined by the Remuneration Committee.

The fee payable to Nicholas Ferguson as Chair during 2023 was £226,600 p.a. (2022: £220,800 p.a.). The base fee for 
the Non-Executive Directors for 2023 was £57,650 p.a. (increased from £54,700 effective 1 July 2022 in line with RPI), 
with additional fees payable to the Senior Independent Director (£8,000 p.a.), the Audit Committee Chair (£15,000 
p.a.) and the Remuneration Committee Chair (£10,000 p.a.). 

The Non-Executive Directors do not participate in incentive arrangements or share schemes.

141

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Operation of Policy in 2024
Chair Fee
The Chair fee effective 1 January 2024 is £240,000 p.a. The fee level was set having regard to the size and complexity 
of Savills, which continue to increase through successful business diversification, and the expected future time 
commitment of the role. The fee will be reviewed, although not necessarily increased, effective 1 July 2025.

Base salary 
The base salaries of the Executive Directors will be unchanged from March 2024 as follows:

 ƒ Group Chief Executive Officer: £311,000; and
 ƒ Group Chief Financial Officer:  £238,000.

In line with our Policy, the base salaries for the Executive Directors continue to be positioned significantly below 
market median against the FTSE 250 Index.

Variable remuneration
Annual performance-related profit share
The maximum annual performance-related profit share opportunity for 2024 will remain unchanged and will be:

 ƒ £3.25m for the Group Chief Executive Officer; and
 ƒ £2.5m for the Group Chief Financial Officer.

For the 2024 performance-related profit share, 75% of award potential will reflect the Group’s underlying 
profit performance and 25% of award potential will reflect delivery against a mix of personal, strategic and 
operational objectives. 

The Committee considers prospective disclosure of individual objectives to be commercially sensitive and disclosure 
will therefore be on a retrospective basis. The targets are similarly challenging to those set in 2023 having had regard 
to current internal plans, external expectations for our future performance and current market conditions.

The Committee retains a general discretion to adjust the formulaic outcome to reflect exceptional events over the 
performance period.

Performance Share Plan 
The remuneration policy is for maximum awards of 200% of base salary. The PSP awards for 2024 will be 200% of 
base salary for both Executive Directors.

Awards will vest subject to the satisfaction of absolute EPS growth targets for one-third of the award, TSR 
performance for one-third of the award and Return on Capital Employed for the remaining one-third of the award. 

The Committee is still in the process of agreeing the precise targets and full details of these will be set out in the RNS 
announcement issued immediately after the PSP award is granted.

The awards made to Executive Directors will also be subject to a holding period so that any PSP awards for 
which the performance vesting conditions are satisfied will not normally be released for a further two years from 
the third anniversary of the original award date. Dividend accrual for PSP awards will continue until the end of the 
holding period.

As detailed in the Chair’s Introductory Statement, the Committee is in the process of finalising the specific targets 
to apply to the 2024 PSP awards given current market conditions and will include the targets in the market 
announcement of the awards.

142

Annual report and accounts 2023Relative spend on pay
To provide context and outline how remuneration for Executive Directors compares with other disbursements, such 
as dividends and general employment costs the table below illustrates general employment costs, Executive Director 
reward, tax charges and dividend payments to Shareholders in 2023 and 2022.

Movement

Employment costs

Underlying profit before tax

Dividend payment to Shareholders

Executive Director remuneration

Tax

2023
£m

2022
£m

%
Movement

1,496.3

1,509.8

94.8

31.2

3.8

138.3

164.6

49.0

4.8

150.4

-1

-42

-36

-21

-8

commissions, social security costs, other pension costs and share-based payments

 ƒ Employment costs (excluding arrangements for Executive Directors) comprise basic salaries, profit share and 
 ƒ Tax comprises corporation tax, employers’ social security and business rates and equivalent payments
 ƒ The dividend cost for 2023 comprises the cost of the final dividend recommended by the Board (amounting to 

£19.0m) alongside the supplemental interim dividend (amounting to £2.7m), payment is subject to Shareholder 
approval at the Company’s AGM scheduled to be held on 15 May 2024 (payable to Shareholders on the Register 
of Members as at 12 April 2024) and the interim dividend (£9.5m) paid on 2 October 2023

 ƒ Executive Director remuneration is the remuneration paid to the Group Chief Executive Officer and Group Chief 

Financial Officer role holders and comprises basic salaries, profit share, social security costs, pension costs and 
share-based payments. 

Total Shareholder return and Group Chief Executive Officer remuneration 
The Total Shareholder Return delivered by the Company over the last ten years is shown in the chart below. 

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Dec
13

Dec
14

Dec
15

Dec
16

Dec
17

Dec
18

Dec
19

Dec
20

Dec
21

Dec
22

Dec
23

Savills

FTSE 250 (excluding investment trusts)

FTSE 350 Super Sector Real Estate

The Board believes that the FTSE 250 Index (excluding investment trusts) remains the most appropriate index 
against which to compare TSR over the medium term as it is an index of companies of similar size to Savills. Savills 
TSR relative to that of the FTSE 350 Super Sector Real Estate Index is also shown, as this index better reflects 
conditions in real estate markets over recent years.

143

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Pay for performance 

Chief Executive Officer

Total single figure 
remuneration 
£’000

Underlying 
profit 
£m

Underlying 
profit annual 
% change 

Annual variable 
element: 
performance-
related profit 
share – annual 
award against 
maximum 
potential 
%

Long-term 
incentive to 
vest (maximum 
potential of 
award) 
%

Mark Ridley

Mark Ridley

Mark Ridley

Mark Ridley

Mark Ridley

Jeremy Helsby

Jeremy Helsby

Jeremy Helsby

Jeremy Helsby

Jeremy Helsby

1,922

2,815

3,504

1,294

2,377

2,196

2,507

2,595

2,298

3,279

94.8

164.6

200.3

96.6

143.4

143.7

140.5

135.8

121.4

100.5

-42

-17.8

107.3

-32.6

-0.2

+2.3

+3.5

+12

+21

+34

36

67.5

100

38

84

 82

80

98

100

100

12

11

100

23

50

41

84

50

N/A

100

Year

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Total remuneration includes, as required, the notional value of PSP awards and executive share options which vested 
(but were not exercised) in those years (note that no PSP awards were made in 2013 with the consequent effect on 
Total Single Figure Remuneration in 2015 compared to the other years).

Annual percentage change in remuneration of Directors and employees
The table below shows a comparison of the annual change of each individual Director’s pay to the annual change  
in average employee pay. Average employee pay is based on a Full Time Equivalent (‘FTE’) calculation. 

Percentage change in remuneration 
from 31/12/2022 to 31/12/2023

Percentage change in remuneration 
from 31/12/2021 to 31/12/2022

Percentage 
change in 
base salary / 
fee %

Percentage 
change in 
benefits %

Percentage 
change in 
profit share 
award %

Percentage 
change in 
base salary / 
fee %

0.9

0.9

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

n/a

2.6

n/a

3.9

1.2

0

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

5.4

-31

-31

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

-14.7

4.5

4.6

2.7

1.9

2.7

5

2.7

n/a

2.7

n/a

8.5

Percentage 
change in 
benefits %

-59.9

0

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

3.5

Percentage 
change in 
profit share 
award %

5.2

7.9

n/a

 n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

-13.5

Mark Ridley1

Simon Shaw

Nicholas Ferguson 

Stacey Cartwright2

Philip Lee3

Richard Orders3

Dana Roffman

Marcus Sperber4

Florence Tondu-Mélique

John Waters5

All UK employees6

144

Annual report and accounts 2023Percentage change in remuneration 
from 31/12/2020 to 31/12/2021

Percentage change in remuneration 
from 31/12/2019 to 31/12/2020

Percentage 
change in 
base salary / 
fee %

Percentage 
change in 
benefits %

Percentage 
change in 
profit share 
award %

Percentage 
change in 
base salary / 
fee %

Percentage 
change in 
benefits %

0

0

0

12

n/a

n/a

0

n/a

0

n/a

-3.9

159

0

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

-1.1

165

165

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

34.3

2

2

0

9

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

1

n/a

-2.4

1

-28

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

2.8

Percentage 
change in 
profit share 
award %

-52.5

-52.5

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

-7.3

Mark Ridley1

Simon Shaw

Nicholas Ferguson 

Stacey Cartwright2

Philip Lee3

Richard Orders3

Dana Roffman

Marcus Sperber4

Florence Tondu-Mélique

John Waters5

All UK employees6

Notes:

1.   Mark Ridley’s 2021 benefits include £17,539 cash equivalent of additional holiday entitlement accruing under the Company’s loyalty holiday reward scheme 

(and reflecting Mark Ridley’s 25th year of service).

2.  Appointed Senior Independent Director 1 January 2021.

3.  Appointed 1 January 2021.

4.  Appointed 15 December 2022.

5.  Appointed 13 December 2023.

6.  Salary, benefits and bonus is compared against full-time equivalent UK employees.

CEO to employee pay ratio
The table below shows how the CEO’s single figure remuneration (as taken from the single figure remuneration table 
on page 136) compares to the equivalent single figure remuneration for full-time equivalent UK employees, ranked at 
the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile. 

Year

2023

2022

2021

2020

Method

Option A

Option A

Option A

Option A

25th percentile pay 
ratio

Median pay ratio

75th percentile pay 
ratio

76 : 1

129 : 1

144 : 1

64 : 1

54 : 1

86 : 1

102 : 1

40 : 1

30 : 1

47 : 1

56 : 1

22 : 1

Notes to the CEO to employee pay ratio:
The regulations provide three options which may be used to calculate the pay for the employees at the 25th percentile, 
median and 75th percentile. We have used Option A, following guidance that this is the preferred approach of some 
proxy Advisors and institutional Shareholders. Option A captures all relevant pay and benefits for all employees in line 
with the single figure for remuneration calculated for Executive Directors.

The ratios shown are representative of the FTE 25th percentile, median and 75th percentile pay for UK employees 
within the Group as measured on 31 December 2023.

The pay for part-time employees has been grossed-up to one FTE.

The Committee has reviewed the employee data and believes the median pay ratio to be consistent with the pay, 
reward and progression policies for the Company’s UK employees over the period. The decrease in the ratio for 2023 
compared to 2022 reflects our pay for performance philosophy and focus on the pay of more junior employees to 
continue to help mitigate the increase in the cost of living which particularly impacts at this level. As a result, the 
continuing challenging business environment in 2023 resulted in a relative decrease in total remuneration for the 
CEO compared to the wider workforce.

145

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

The CEO’s pay is based on the ‘single figure’ of remuneration set out on page 136 of this report. Because a large 
portion of the CEO’s pay is variable, the pay ratio is heavily dependent on the outcomes of variable pay plans and, 
in the case of long-term share-based awards, also share price movements.

Casual employees and those on zero-hours contracts have their pay annualised based on their hourly rate, using 
37.5 hours per week x 52 weeks per year.

The total pay and benefits and the salary component of total pay and benefits for the employees at each of the 
25th percentile, the median and the 75th percentile are shown below:

Year

2023

Notes to the calculations:

Salary

Total pay and benefits

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

£22,459

£29,565

£46,438

£25,147

£35,881

£63,726

1.  For Savills IM, Partnership members within the Affordable and DRC businesses are excluded from this report.

Pensions disclosure (audited)
During 2023 Company pension allowances for the Group Chief Executive Officer and the Group Chief Financial Officer 
were 8% of base salaries, consistent with the pension contributions for the wider UK workforce.

Mark Ridley no longer accrues a pension benefit under the Company’s legacy defined benefit pension plan. The value 
of the legacy benefit is shown below.

Executive Director

Mark Ridley

Defined benefit 
pension accrued at 
31 December 2023

Defined benefit 
pension accrued at 
31 December 2022

Defined benefit 
pension accrued at 
31 December 2021

Defined benefit 
pension accrued at 
31 December 2020

42,339

39,501

36,468

35,763

Mark Ridley’s accrued pension ceased to be linked to salary from 29 February 2016, at which point the accrued 
pension was £31,875 p.a. The pension now increases in line with the standard revaluation provisions of the Plan that 
apply to all deferred pensioners. The amounts shown include revaluation to 31 December 2020, 31 December 2021, 
31 December 2022 and 31 December 2023 respectively. No additional benefit is due in the event of early retirement.

Share interests
Details of shares in the Company which the Directors beneficially held or had a beneficial interest in as at 31 December 
2023 are shown below. 

Where the performance conditions attaching to any PSP award have been satisfied and the award is due 
to vest in the future, the PSP award shares (discounted for anticipated tax liabilities) will count towards the 
shareholding requirements:

Unvested 
shares with 
performance 
conditions 
attaching 
satisfied 
(discounted 
for anticipated 
tax liabilities) 
(PSP)

Number 
of shares 
(including 
beneficially 
held under the 
SIP)

Total share 
interests 
that count 
towards the 
shareholding 
requirement

Unvested 
shares subject 
to performance 
conditions 
(PSP)

Deferred 
share bonus 
plan awards 
(vesting not 
subject to 
performance 
conditions) 
(DSBP)

Shareholding 
requirement1

Extent to which 
shareholding 
guideline met

231,854

37,461

269,315

201,533

222,952

224,665

182,579

28,646

211,225

154,097

168,951

171,930

120%

123%

Executive Directors

Mark Ridley

Simon Shaw

1  Shareholding requirement of 700% of salary for both Executive Directors. 

146

Annual report and accounts 2023The Company currently applies shareholding requirements that the Group Chief Executive Officer and Group Chief 
Financial Officer hold shares to the value of seven times their respective base salaries. New Executive Directors will 
be expected to build holdings to this level over time, principally through the retention of shares released to them 
(after settling any tax due) following the vesting of share awards. 

Nicholas Ferguson

Stacey Cartwright

Philip Lee

Richard Orders

Dana Roffman

Marcus Sperber

Florence Tondu-Mélique

John Waters

At 
31 December 
2023

39,286

4,983

–

–

–

–

–

–

As at 13 March 2024, no Director had bought or sold shares since 31 December 2023.

The Savills Sharesave Scheme (audited)

Directors

Mark Ridley
Simon Shaw

At 
31 December 
2022

2,371
2,371

Granted 
during year

Exercised 
during year

Lapsed 
during year

At 
31 December 
2023

Market value 
at date of 
exercise

Exercise price 
per share

Exercisable 
within six 
months from

–
–

–
–

–
–

2,371
2,371

–
–

759p
759p

01.11.25
01.11.25

Scheme interests granted in 2023 (audited)
2023 PSP awards were made on 21 April 2023. As set out in the RNS announcement the terms of the award are 
as follows:

The following table sets out details of awards made to Executive Directors under the PSP in 2023. The Remuneration 
Committee has full discretion to ensure that the final outturns reflect all relevant factors, including consideration of 
any windfall gains.

Mark Ridley

Simon Shaw

Basis of 
award (face 
value) 200% 
base salary

£622,000

£476,000

Type of 
award

Nil-cost 
options

Nil-cost 
options

Performance 
period

% vesting 
for threshold 
performance

% vesting for 
maximum 
performance

1 January 
2023 to  
31 December 
2025

25%

100%

Performance criteria

– One-third of award: 
Earnings per share growth

– One-third of award: 
Relative Total Shareholder 
Return against the FTSE 250 
(excluding investment trusts)

– One-third of award: 
Return on Capital Employed

147

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Awards will vest subject to the satisfaction of EPS targets for one-third of the award as follows:

 ƒ 25% (ie threshold) of the element to vest if the Company’s EPS growth is 4% p.a. compounded;
 ƒ 100% (ie the maximum) of the element to vest if the Company’s EPS growth is 10% p.a. compounded or more; and  

with straight-line vesting between the two points.

A further one-third of the award will vest subject to the satisfaction of relative TSR performance versus the FTSE Mid 
250 Index (excluding investment trusts) (‘the Index’) as follows:

 ƒ 25% (ie threshold) of the element to vest if the Group’s TSR performance equals that of the Index;
 ƒ 100% (ie the maximum) of the element to vest if the Group’s TSR performance outperforms the Index by 8% p.a.; 

and with straight-line vesting between the two points.

A further one-third of the award will vest subject to the satisfaction of Return on Capital Employed targets as follows:

 ƒ 25% (ie threshold) of the element to vest if the Company’s ROCE is 12%;
 ƒ 100% (ie the maximum) of the element to vest if the Company’s ROCE is 22% or more; and 

with straight-line vesting between the two points. ROCE is defined as:

Underlying profit before tax plus JV tax and net interest cost (excluding finance lease interest)

(Opening total debt plus Shareholders’ funds) plus (closing total debt plus Shareholders’ funds) / 2

The range of targets set for both EPS and ROCE were set with reference to both internal planning and external 
expectations for our future performance. The targets were set to be realistic at the lower end of the performance 
range and stretching at the top end of the range. Overall, the targets were considered similarly challenging to those 
targets set in prior years.

The awards made to Executive Directors will also be subject to a holding period so that any PSP awards for which the 
performance vesting conditions are satisfied will not normally vest for a further two years from the third anniversary 
of the original award date. Dividend accrual for PSP awards will continue until the end of the holding period.

Awards were also made during the year under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan. Details of awards under this plan are 
set out on the following page.

The Performance Share Plan (‘PSP’)
Number of shares

At 
31 December
2022

Awarded 
during 
year

Vested 
during 
year

Lapsed 
during 
year

At 
31 December 
2023

Date of 
grant

Closing 
mid-market 
price of a 
share the 
day before 
grant

Market 
value at 
date of 
vesting

First vesting 
date

–

16.04.18

976.5p

976.6p

16.04.23

9,892

62,997

70,828

41,933

56,803

–

–

–

–

–

–

65,336

10,410

48,174

54,141

32,054

43,397

–

–

–

–

–

–

50,000

9,892

–

–

–

–

–

10,410

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

62,997 15.04.19

917.5p

63,146

7,682 30.06.20 833.0p

41,933

25.11.21

1,407p

56,803 20.04.22

1,095p

65,336 21.04.23

952.0p

48,174 15.04.19

917.5p

48,269

5,872 30.06.20 833.0p

–

–

–

32,054

25.11.21

1,407p

43,397 20.04.22

1,095p

50,000 21.04.23

952.0p

–

–

–

–

–

15.04.24

30.06.25

25.11.26

20.04.27

21.04.28

–

–

–

–

–

15.04.24

30.06.25

25.11.26

20.04.27

21.04.28

–

16.04.18

976.5p

976.6p

16.04.23

Directors

Mark Ridley

Simon Shaw

148

Annual report and accounts 2023The PSP award granted in 2020 was subject to performance in the three years to 31 December 2022. Following the 
assessment of Savills performance against targets set at grant, the Committee determined that 10.9% of the award 
had met the performance criteria and will vest at the end of the two-year holding period in June 2024. The remainder 
of the award lapsed during the year.

Awards over 20,302 shares, together with a further 2,629 shares in lieu of dividends, vested under the PSP to 
Executive Directors during the year. A subscription cost of 2.5p nominal value per share is payable on actual receipt 
of shares. The total pre-tax gain on awards vested during the year under the PSP was £223,371.

The Deferred Share Bonus Plan (‘DSBP’)
Number of conditional share awards

Directors

Mark Ridley

Simon Shaw

At 
31 December 
2022

85,446

23,926

90,045

Awarded 
during year

Vested 
during year

At 
31 December 

2023 Date of grant

Closing mid-
market price 
of a share the 
day before 
grant

Market value 
at date of 
vesting

First vesting 
date

–

–

–

85,446

–

27.04.20

884.5p

945.2p

27.04.23

–

–

–

23,926

17.06.21

1,174p

90,045

20.04.22

1,095p

108,981

21.04.23

952.0p

–

–

–

17.06.24

20.04.25

21.04.26

63,821

–

27.04.20

884.5p

945.2p

27.04.23

–

–

–

17,747

17.06.21

1,174p

67,328

20.04.22

1,095p

83,876

21.04.23

952.0p

–

–

–

17.06.24

20.04.25

21.04.26

–

108,981

63,821

17,747

67,328

–

–

–

–

83,876

Awards granted under the DSBP to Executive Directors during the year were based on 50% of the 2022 annual 
performance-related profit share above an amount equal to their respective base salaries in line with the Policy. 
Under the DSBP awards over 149,267, shares and 11,166 shares in lieu of dividends vested to Executive Directors during 
the year. Mark Ridley and Simon Shaw also received cash in lieu of Dividend Shares due under DSBP vestings of 
£14,526 and £10,850 respectively. The total pre-tax gain on DSBP awards vested during the year was £1,516,363. 
No DSBP awards lapsed.

During the year, the aggregate gain on the exercise of share options and shares vested was £1,739,734. The mid-
market closing price of the shares at 29 December 2023, the last business day of the year, was 969p and the range 
during the year was 763.5p to 1,055p.

Payments to past Directors
No payments to past Directors were made during the year that are required to be reported under the Companies 
(Directors’ Remuneration Policy and Directors’ Remuneration Report) Regulations 2019.

Payments for loss of office
No payments for loss of office were made during the year.

External directorships
Savills recognises that its Executive Directors may be invited to become non-executive directors of other companies. 
Such non-executive duties can broaden experience and knowledge which can benefit Savills. Subject to approval by 
the Board and any conditions which it might impose, the Executive Directors and Group Executive Board members are 
allowed to accept external non-executive directorships and retain the fees received, provided that these appointments 
are not likely to lead to conflicts of interest. For non-executive directorships which are considered to arise by virtue of 
an Executive Director’s or Group Executive Board member’s position within Savills, the fees are paid directly to Savills. 

During 2023, Simon Shaw received a fee of £80,000 in relation to his continuing appointment as Non-Executive Chair 
of Synairgen plc which he was permitted to keep (as this appointment is not linked to his role within the Company).

149

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Annual Report on Remuneration continued

Service contracts
The Executive Directors have rolling service contracts which are terminable on 12 months’ notice by either the 
Company or the Executive Director. 

Directors

Mark Ridley

Simon Shaw

Contract date

1 May 2018

16 March 2009

The Non-Executive Directors and the Chair have letters of appointment. In line with the UK Corporate Governance 
Code, all Directors are subject to annual re-election at the AGM. The Chairman’s letter of engagement allows for 
six months’ notice. Appointment of other Non-Executive Directors may be terminated by either party with three 
months’ notice.

Director

Date appointed to Board

End date of current letter of appointment

Stacey Cartwright

Nicholas Ferguson*

Philip Lee

Richard Orders

Dana Roffman

Marcus Sperber

1 October 2018

26 January 2016

1 January 2021

1 January 2021

1 November 2019

15 December 2022

Florence Tondu-Mélique

1 October 2018

John Waters

13 December 2023

*  Mr N E H Ferguson retired from the Board effective 31 December 2023.

31 December 2026

26 January 2025

31 December 2026

31 December 2026

31 October 2025

14 December 2025

31 December 2024

12 December 2026

The Directors’ service contracts and letters of appointment are available for inspection at the Company’s City of 
London office, 15 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7EB.

Shareholder votes on remuneration matters
The table below shows the voting outcomes for the 2022 Annual Remuneration Report at the AGM held on 17 May 
2023 and the Directors’ Remuneration Policy approved at the AGM held on 11 May 2022.

Number of 
votes ‘For’ and 

Number of 

discretionary % of votes cast

votes ‘Against’ % of votes cast

Total number 
of votes cast

Number 
of votes 
‘Withheld’*

2022 Annual Directors’ 
Remuneration Report 

104,780,580

88.99% 12,967,742

11.01% 117,748,322

662,899

Directors’ Remuneration Policy 

96,748,672

84.71% 17,464,743

15.29% 114,213,415

429,995

*  A vote withheld is not a vote in law.

150

Annual report and accounts 2023DIRECTORS’ REPORT

In accordance with the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s 
Listing Rules (LR 9.8.4C), the information to be included 
in the Annual Report and Accounts, where applicable, 
under LR 9.8.4, is set out in this Directors’ Report.

Other information incorporated into this Report by 
reference can be found at:

Strategic Report 

Principal developments

Material existing and emerging risks and 
uncertainties

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Corporate Governance Statement

Engagement with UK employees

Greenhouse gas emissions

Engagement with suppliers, customers  
and others in a business relationship

Financial Risk Management

Page/Note

6

22

30

155

99

48

68

96

184

UK Corporate Governance Code
The Company has complied throughout the year with 
all relevant provisions of the 2018 UK Corporate 
Governance Code (the ‘Code’). A copy of the Code 
is available from the Financial Reporting Council’s 
website at www.frc.org.uk. 

Operations
The Company and its subsidiaries (together the ‘Group’) 
operate through a network of offices and associates 
throughout the Americas, the UK, Continental Europe, 
Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

Results and dividends
The results for the Group are set out in the consolidated 
income statement on page 166 which shows a 
reported profit for the financial year attributable to the 
Shareholders of the Company of £40.8m (2022: £119.4m).

An interim dividend of 6.9p per ordinary share amounting 
to £9.5m was paid on 2 October 2023. It is recommended 
that a final dividend of 13.9p per ordinary share 
(amounting to £19.0m) is declared by the Company at 
the AGM on 15 May 2024 and, subject to Shareholder 
approval, paid on 23 May 2024 to Shareholders on the 
register of members as at the close of business on 12 April 
2024 together with a supplemental interim dividend of 2p 
per ordinary share (amounting to £2.7m). More details of 
the proposed dividend and the Company’s performance 
can be found in the Chair’s Statement on pages 6 to 9.

Going concern
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors 
likely to affect its future development, performance and 
position are set out in the Strategic Report. The financial 
position of the Group, its cash flows and liquidity position 
are described in the Chief Financial Officer’s Review, with 
details of the Group’s treasury activities and exposure 
to financial risk included in Note 3 to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements. 

The Group has prepared its going concern assessment 
for the period to the end of June 2025. As in prior years, 
the Board undertook a strategic business review in 
the current year taking account of the Group’s current 
position and prospects, the Group’s strategic plan, and 
the Group’s principal risks and the management of 
those risks, as detailed in the Annual Report and the 
Board’s risk appetite as detailed in the Strategic Report. 
Sensitivity analysis was also undertaken, including 
financing projections, to flex the financial forecasts 
under several severe downside scenarios, which involved 
applying different assumptions to the underlying 
forecasted revenues, costs and underlying profits both 
individually and in aggregate. These scenarios assess 
the potential impact from several macro-economic risks, 
including a severe global economic downturn analogous 
to that experienced during the Global Financial Crisis in 
2008/09. The results of this sensitivity analysis showed 
that the Group would retain liquidity and maintain 
significant available facility and covenant headroom to 
be able to withstand the impact of such scenarios over 
the period of the financial forecast, as a result of the 
resilience and diversity of the Group, underpinned by 
a strong balance sheet.

Based on the Group’s positive net cash position of 
£157.3m (cash and cash equivalents less overdrafts 
in notional pooling arrangements and borrowings) 
and undrawn £360.0m revolving credit facility at the 
year-end, as described in the Chief Financial Officer’s 
review, combined with the assessment explained above, 
the Directors have formed the judgement at the time 
of approving the financial statements, that there is a 
reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate 
resources to continue as a going concern for a period 
of at least 12 months from the date of the approval of 
the financial statements until at least June 2025. For 
this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern 
basis of accounting in preparing the Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

Events after the reporting period
There have been no material events affecting the Group 
or the Company since 31 December 2023.

151

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSShare capital and major shareholdings
The issued share capital of the Company as at 
31 December 2023 comprised 144,389,919 2.5p ordinary 
shares, details of which may be found on page 239.

The Company has only one class of share capital formed 
of ordinary shares. All shares forming part of the ordinary 
share capital have the same rights and each carries one 
vote. The Directors have authority to allot and issue 
ordinary shares and to disapply statutory pre-emption 
rights. The powers are exercised under authority of 
resolutions of the Company passed at the AGM.

Votes may be exercised at general meetings of the 
Company, by members in person, by proxy or by 
corporate representatives (in relation to corporate 
members). The Articles provide a deadline for the 
submission of proxy forms (electronically or by paper) 
of not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for 
the holding of the general meeting or the adjourned 
meeting (as the case may be). A Shareholder can lose 
their entitlement to vote at a general meeting where 
that Shareholder has failed to provide the Company 
with information concerning interests in their shares or 
a call or other sum payable by the Shareholder to the 
Company in respect of such shares remains unpaid.

There are no unusual restrictions on the transfer of 
ordinary shares. The Directors may refuse to register 
a transfer of a certificated share unless the instrument 
of transfer is: (i) lodged at the registered office of the 
Company or any other place as the Board may decide 
accompanied by the certificate for the shares to be 
transferred and such other evidence as the Directors 
may reasonably require to show the right of the 
transferor to make the transfer; or (ii) in respect of 
only one class of shares.

The Directors may also refuse to register a transfer 
of a share (whether certificated or uncertificated), 
whether fully paid or not, in favour of more than four 
persons jointly.

DIRECTORS’ REPORT continued

Directors
Biographical details of the current Directors are shown 
on pages 86 to 88. All the Board members served 
throughout the year, save for John Waters who was 
appointed on 13 December 2023. Nicholas Ferguson 
retired from the Board effective 31 December 2023. 
As at 31 December 2023 the Board comprised the Non-
Executive Chair, two Executive Directors and six Non-
Executive Directors.

Interests in the issued share capital of the Company held 
at the end of the period under review and up to the date 
of this Report by the Directors or their families are set 
out on pages 146 and 147 of the Remuneration Report. 
Details of share options held by the Directors pursuant 
to the Company’s share option schemes are provided in 
the Remuneration Report on pages 147 to 149. It is the 
Board’s policy that the Group Chief Executive and Group 
Chief Financial Officer hold shares in the Company to 
the value of seven times their respective base salaries 
(£2,177,000 and £1,666,000 respectively).

Directors’ interests in significant contracts
No Directors were materially interested in any contract 
of significance.

Indemnification of Directors
In accordance with the Company’s Articles of 
Association, and to the extent permitted by law, the 
Directors and the Group Legal Director & Company 
Secretary are granted an indemnity, in respect of any 
liabilities incurred as a result of their holding office. 
Such indemnities were in force during the financial year 
to 31 December 2023 and up to the date of this Report. 
The Company also maintains appropriate insurance 
cover in respect of legal action against its Directors 
and Officers.

Management Report
This Directors’ Report, on pages 151 to 154, together 
with the Strategic Report on pages 6 to 80, form the 
Management Report for the purposes of DTR 4.1.5R.

Additional Information Disclosure
Pursuant to regulations made under the Companies 
Act 2006 the Company is required to disclose certain 
additional information. Those disclosures not covered 
elsewhere within this Annual Report are as follows:

152

Annual report and accounts 2023As at 31 December 2023 the Company had been 
notified of the following interests in the Company’s 
ordinary share capital in accordance with DTR 5. It 
should be noted that these holdings are likely to have 
changed since notified to the Company. However, 
notification of any change is not required until an 
applicable threshold is crossed.

Shareholders¹

Liontrust Investment 
Partners LLP

Global Alpha Capital 
Management Ltd.

Number of 
shares¹

%¹

7,210,255

5.04

7,194,238

5.03

BlackRock, Inc

Not disclosed

<5.00

Heronbridge Investment 
Management LLP

Jupiter Fund 
Management Plc

7,131,812

4.99

7,113,311

4.97

1.   The names of Shareholders and percentages of issued share capital are 
stated as per the notifications received and have not been subject to 
independent verification by the Company or any other person. As such, the 
above table should not be assumed to be a full and accurate record of all the 
interests that are required to be notified to the Company under the DTRs.

No changes to the above have been disclosed to 
the Company in accordance with DTR 5, between 
31 December 2023 and 13 March 2024.

As at 31 December 2023, the Savills plc 1992 Employee 
Benefit Trust (the ‘EBT’) held 7,615,420 ordinary shares 
and the Savills Rabbi Trust held 1,502,155 ordinary shares. 
Any voting or other similar decisions relating to these 
shares held in trust are taken by the trustees, who may 
take account of any recommendation of the Company. 
The EBT waives its right to receive Savills plc dividends. 
For further details of the trusts please refer to Note 
2.23 to the financial statements.

Purchase of own shares
In accordance with the Listing Rules, at the AGM on 
17 May 2023 Shareholders gave authority for a limited 
purchase of Savills shares of up to 10% of the issued share 
capital of the Company. During the year, no shares were 
purchased under the authority.

The Board proposes to seek Shareholder approval at the 
AGM on 15 May 2024 to renew the Company’s authority to 
make market purchases of its own ordinary shares of 2.5p 
each for cancellation, to be held in treasury, sold for cash 
or (provided Listing Rule requirements are met) transferred 
for the purposes of or pursuant to an employee share 
scheme. Details of the proposed resolution are included 
in the Notice of AGM circulated to Shareholders with this 
Annual Report and Accounts (the ‘AGM Notice’).

Change of control
There are no significant agreements which take 
effect, alter or terminate in the event of change of 
control of the Company except that under its banking 
arrangements, a change of control may trigger an 
early repayment obligation.

Articles of Association
The Company’s Articles are governed by relevant 
statutes and may be amended by special resolution of 
the Shareholders in a general meeting.

Subject to the Articles, UK legislation and any directions 
given by resolution in general meeting, the business of 
the Company is managed by the Directors.

The Company’s rules about the appointment and 
replacement of its Directors are contained in the 
Articles. Unless determined by ordinary resolution of 
the Company, the number of Directors shall be not 
less than three and not more than 18. A Director is not 
required to hold any shares in the Company by way of 
qualification. However, as more fully described on page 
146, in accordance with Board policy, the Executive 
Directors are expected to build-up and maintain a 
shareholding in the Company. The Board may appoint 
any person to be a Director and such Director shall hold 
office only until the next AGM when he or she shall then 
be eligible for reappointment by the Shareholders. The 
Articles provide that each Director shall retire from office 
at the third AGM after the AGM at which he or she was 
last elected. A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-
election. However, in accordance with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code, all Directors of the Company are 
subject to annual re-election.

Annual General Meeting
The AGM is to be held at 33 Margaret Street, London 
W1G 0JD at 12 noon on 15 May 2024; details are 
contained in the AGM Notice circulated to Shareholders 
with this Annual Report and Accounts.

Half-Year Report
Like many other listed public companies, we no longer 
circulate printed Half Year Reports to Shareholders. 
Instead, half-year results statements are published on the 
Company’s website. This is consistent with our target to 
reduce printing and distribution costs.

Political contributions
The Company made no political contributions during 
the year (2022: £nil).

153

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSWhistleblowing
The Group encourages staff to report any concerns 
which they feel need to be brought to the attention of 
management. Whistleblowing procedures, which are 
published on the Group’s intranet site, are available to 
staff who are concerned about possible impropriety, 
financial or otherwise, and who may wish to ensure that 
action is taken without fear of victimisation or reprisal.

Independent auditors
In accordance with section 489 of the Companies Act 
2006, a resolution for the reappointment of Ernst & 
Young LLP as Auditors of the Company will be proposed 
at the forthcoming AGM. 

Disclosure of information to the auditor
Each Director confirms that, so far as he/she is aware, 
there is no relevant audit information of which the 
Company’s auditor is unaware and that each of the 
Directors has taken all the steps that he/she ought to 
have taken as a Director to make himself/herself aware 
of any relevant audit information and to establish that 
the Company’s auditor is aware of that information. 
This confirmation is given pursuant to section 418 of 
the Companies Act 2006 and should be interpreted 
in accordance with and subject to that section.

Engagement with UK employees
In accordance with Section 172 of the Companies Act 
2006 our statement on engagement with UK employees 
is on page 48.

Engagement with suppliers, customers 
and others in a business relationship with 
the Company
In accordance with Section 172 of the Companies Act 
2006 our statement on engagement with suppliers, 
customers and others in a business relationship with 
the Company is on pages 96 to 98.

By order of the Board

Chris Lee
Group Legal Director & Company Secretary

13 March 2024
Savills plc
Registered in England No. 2122174

DIRECTORS’ REPORT continued

Employees’ policies and involvement
The Directors recognise that the quality, commitment 
and motivation of Savills staff is a key element to the 
success of the Group; see page 48 for more information 
as to employee engagement.

The Group provides regular updates covering 
performance, developments and progress to employees 
through regular newsletters, video addresses, the 
Group’s intranet, social media and through formal and 
informal briefings. These arrangements also aim at 
ensuring that all of our staff understand our strategy and 
to build knowledge on the part of employees of matters 
affecting the performance of the Group. The Group 
also consults with employees so as to ascertain their 
views in relation to decisions which are likely to affect 
their interests.

Employees are able to share in the Group’s success 
through performance-related profit share schemes 
(see page 240 for more details) and for UK employees 
(including Executive Directors), share plans which 
include a Sharesave Scheme and a Share Incentive Plan 
(‘SIP’). The Sharesave Scheme is an HMRC-approved 
save-as-you-earn share option scheme which allows 
participants to purchase shares out of the proceeds 
of a linked savings contract at a price set at the time 
of the option grant. Participants may elect to save 
up to £500 per month and options may normally be 
exercised in the six months following the maturity of 
the linked three-year savings contract. The potential for 
extending the Sharesave Scheme internationally remains 
under consideration. The SIP is also HMRC-approved 
and through which participants may make regular 
purchases of shares (up to the current statutory limit 
of £1,800 per year equating to £150 per month) from 
pre-tax income. Shares under the SIP normally vest after 
five years and are free from income tax and national 
insurance contributions.

Human rights and equal opportunities
We support the principles of the UN Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights and the Core Principles 
of the International Labour Organization.

It is Group policy to provide employment on an equal 
basis irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, marital 
or civil partner status, gender reassignment, race, 
colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or 
belief, disability or age. In particular, the Group gives 
full consideration to applications for employment from 
disabled persons. Where existing employees become 
disabled, it is the Group’s policy wherever practicable 
to provide continuing employment and to provide 
training and career development and promotion to 
disabled employees.

154

Annual report and accounts 2023STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT 
OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual 
Report and the financial statements in accordance with 
applicable United Kingdom law and regulation.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the 
Directors have elected to prepare the Group and parent 
Company financial statements in accordance with UK-
adopted international accounting standards (‘IFRSs’). 
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 the profit or loss of the Group and 
parent Company for that period. In preparing the financial 
statements, the Directors are required to:

 ƒ select suitable accounting policies in accordance 

with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in 
Accounting Estimates and Errors and then apply 
them consistently;

reasonable and prudent;

 ƒ make judgements and accounting estimates that are 
 ƒ present information, including accounting policies, in 

a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable 
and understandable information;

 ƒ provide additional disclosures when compliance 

with the specific requirements in IFRSs is insufficient 
to enable users to understand the impact of 
particular transactions, other events and conditions 
on the Group and Company financial position and 
financial performance;

 ƒ in respect of the Group and parent Company financial 

statements, state whether UK-adopted international 
accounting standards have been followed, subject to 
any material departures disclosed and explained in 
the financial statements; and

 ƒ prepare the financial statements on the going 

concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume 
that the Group and parent Company will continue 
in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that are sufficient to show and 
explain the Group and parent Company’s transactions 
and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the Group and parent Company and 
enable them to ensure that the financial statements and 
the Directors’ Remuneration Report comply with the 
Companies Act 2006.

The Directors are also responsible for safeguarding the 
assets of the Group and parent Company and hence for 
taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection 
of fraud and other irregularities.

Under applicable law and regulations, the Directors 
are also responsible for preparing a Strategic Report, 
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 United Kingdom governing the preparation and 
dissemination of financial statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions.

The Directors consider that the Annual Report and 
Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the information necessary 
for Shareholders to assess the Group and parent 
Company’s performance, business model and strategy.

Each of the Directors, whose names and functions 
are listed in pages 86 to 88, confirm to the best of 
their knowledge:

 ƒ that the consolidated financial statements, prepared 

in accordance with UK-adopted international 
accounting standards give a true and fair view of the 
assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the 
parent Company and undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole; and

 ƒ that the Annual Report, including the Strategic 

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

In the case of each Director in office at the date the 
Directors’ Report is approved:

 ƒ so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant 

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

 ƒ they have taken all the steps that they ought to have 

taken as a Director in order to make themselves 
aware of any relevant audit information and to 
establish that the Group and parent Company’s 
auditor is aware of that information.

On behalf of the Board

Mark Ridley
Group Chief Executive

Chris Lee
Group Legal Director & Company Secretary

Forward-looking statements
Forward-looking statements have been made by the 
Directors in good faith using information up until the 
date on which they approved the Annual Report and 
Accounts. Forward-looking statements should be 
regarded with caution due to uncertainties in economic 
trends and business risks.

13 March 2024

155

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
to the members of Savills plc

Opinion
In our opinion:

 ƒ Savills plc’s group financial statements and parent company financial statements (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 2023 
and of the group’s profit for the year then ended;

accounting standards;

 ƒ the group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted international 
 ƒ the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted 
 ƒ the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

international accounting standards as applied in accordance with section 408 of the Companies Act 2006; and

We have audited the financial statements of Savills plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) 
for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise:

Group

Parent company

Consolidated statement of financial position as at 
31 December 2023

Statement of financial position as at 31 December 2023

Consolidated income statement for the year then ended

Statement of changes in equity for the year then ended

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for 
the year then ended

Statement of cash flows for the year then ended 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the 
year then ended

Related notes 1 to 35 to the financial statements 
including a summary of significant accounting policies

Consolidated statement of cash flows for the year 
then ended

Related notes 1 to 35 to the financial statements, 
including a summary of significant accounting policies

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and UK adopted 
international accounting standards and as regards the parent company financial statements, as applied in 
accordance with section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable 
law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of 
the financial statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Independence
We are independent of the group and parent in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our 
audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed public interest 
entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. 

The non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided to the group or the parent 
company and we remain independent of the group and the parent company in conducting the audit.

Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors’ use of the going concern basis of 
accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment 
of the group and parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included  
the following: 

 ƒ We obtained Management’s going concern assessment and understood the process undertaken by Management 

to evaluate the operational and economic impacts of the ongoing macro-economic uncertainty and other 
downside scenarios on the group and to reflect these in the group’s forecasts.

 ƒ We tested the clerical accuracy of the going concern cash flow models and evaluated the appropriateness of the 

methods used to calculate the cashflow forecasts, this included Management’s considerations related to forecast 
cash flows for climate change impacts, concluding these not be material in the going concern period.

156

Annual report and accounts 2023the latest Board approved forecast.

 ƒ We assessed the appropriateness of the forecasts used in the going concern model by comparing these to 
 ƒ We obtained the cash forecast and covenant calculation for the going concern period which covers 18 months 

from the balance sheet date to 30 June 2025. We have tested the assumptions that are most sensitive in each 
modelled scenario, being revenues, costs and underlying profits, and tested compliance with the covenants 
which focus on adjusted EBITDA. In particular, we compared the main assumptions to historical trends, 
including the performance of the business through the 2008-2010 Global Financial Crisis and 2020-2022 
COVID-19 pandemic. 

 ƒ We challenged the appropriateness of each of the key assumptions through agreeing them to supporting 

evidence and searching for contradictory evidence, using our understanding of the group’s business, evidence 
gained during the audit and our industry knowledge, including principal and emerging risks that could impact 
the group. 

 ƒ We assessed Management’s stress test on both covenant compliance and liquidity where a severe global 

economic downturn analogous to that experienced during the Global Financial Crisis in 2008-2010 was 
modelled. We performed our own reverse stress test applying further sensitivities to Management’s stress 
scenario to identify the point at which the covenants would be breached.

as available facility, loan maturity dates and covenants to the underlying agreements.

 ƒ We agreed the cash balances to third party confirmations and key terms in the financing arrangements such 
 ƒ We read the Board minutes to identify any matters that may impact the going concern assessment. 
 ƒ We read the going concern disclosures included in the Annual Report in order to assess whether they are 

appropriate and in conformity with the reporting standards.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or 
conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group and parent company’s ability 
to continue as a going concern for a period to 30 June 2025.

In relation to the group and parent company’s reporting on how they have applied the UK Corporate Governance 
Code, we have nothing material to add or draw attention to in relation to the directors’ statement in the financial 
statements about whether the directors considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the 
relevant sections of this report. However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this 
statement is not a guarantee as to the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Overview of our audit approach

Audit scope

Key audit matters

Materiality

 ƒ We performed an audit of the complete financial 

information of eight components and audit procedures 
on specific balances for a further five components.

 ƒ The components where we performed full or specific 

audit procedures accounted for 92% of absolute profit 
before tax*, 92% of revenue and 90% of total assets.

* 

 absolute profit before tax is calculated as the amalgamation of the absolute 
values of profits and losses across for each component in the group after 
removing intercompany transactions.

 ƒ Revenue recognition, specifically;

 – The risk of fraud in revenue recognition in relation to 
cut-off in the transactional advisory business; and

 – The risk of management override of controls in 

relation to revenue recognition.

 ƒ Goodwill impairment
 ƒ Overall group materiality of £4.1m which represents 5% 

of profit before tax adjusted for non-recurring items.

157

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued
to the members of Savills plc

An overview of the scope of the parent company and group audits 
Tailoring the scope
Our assessment of audit risk, our evaluation of materiality and our allocation of performance materiality determine our 
audit scope for each company within the group. Taken together, this enables us to form an opinion on the consolidated 
financial statements. We take into account size, risk profile, the organisation of the group and effectiveness of group-
wide controls, changes in the business environment, the potential impact of climate change and other factors such as 
recent internal audit results when assessing the level of work to be performed at each company.

In assessing the risk of material misstatement to the group financial statements, and to ensure we had adequate 
quantitative coverage of significant accounts in the financial statements, we selected 13 components as full or 
specific scope, which represent the principal business units within the group.

Of the 13 components selected, we performed an audit of the complete financial information of eight components 
(“full scope components”) which were selected based on their size or risk characteristics. For the remaining five 
components (“specific scope components”), we performed audit procedures on specific accounts within that 
component that we considered had the potential for the greatest impact on the significant accounts in the financial 
statements either because of the size of these accounts or their risk profile. 

The reporting components where we performed audit procedures accounted for 92% (2022: 84%) of the group’s 
absolute profit before tax, 92% (2022: 92%) of the group’s revenue and 90% (2022: 90%) of the group’s total assets. 
For the current year, the full scope components contributed 80% (2022: 74%) of the group’s absolute profit before 
tax, 82% (2022: 83%) of the group’s revenue and 82% (2022: 81%) of the group’s total assets. The specific scope 
components contributed 12% (2022: 10%) of the group’s absolute profit before tax, 10% (2022: 10%) of the group’s 
revenue and 8% (2022: 8%) of the group’s total assets. The audit scope of these components may not have included 
testing of all significant accounts of the component but will have contributed to the coverage of significant accounts 
tested for the group. A further 6% of the group’s absolute profit before tax, 7% of the group’s revenue and 7% of the 
group’s total assets were the subject of specified audit procedures, including obtaining additional cash confirmations.

Of the remaining components that together represent 2% of the group’s absolute profit before tax, none are 
individually greater than 1% of the group’s absolute profit before tax. For these components, we performed 
other procedures, including analytical review, testing of consolidation journals, intercompany eliminations and 
foreign currency translation recalculations to respond to any potential risks of material misstatement to the group 
financial statements.

Involvement with component teams 
In establishing our overall approach to the group audit, we determined the type of work that needed to be 
undertaken at each of the components by us, as the primary audit engagement team, or by component auditors 
from other EY global network firms operating under our instruction. Of the eight full scope components, audit 
procedures were performed on one of these directly by the group audit team. The audit procedures performed on 
the other seven full scope components and the five specific scope components were performed by component 
audit teams. Where the work was performed by component auditors, we determined the appropriate level of 
involvement to enable us to determine that sufficient audit evidence had been obtained as a basis for our opinion 
on the group as a whole.

The group audit team continued to follow a programme of planned visits that has been designed to ensure that 
the Senior Statutory Auditor visits key locations. During the current year’s audit cycle, visits were undertaken by 
the primary audit team to six component teams in the group (Germany, Spain, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, 
USA), whereas for all other locations, outside of the UK (five components), our visits were performed virtually. 
We supplemented these visits with further interactions with the component teams through the use of video or 
teleconferencing facilities, including virtual meetings with local Management. We held virtual planning meetings 
before the year end and weekly video conference calls were held with each of our component teams from the 
beginning of February through to the full-year results announcement in March 2024. The review of relevant audit 
workpapers was facilitated by the EY electronic audit platform and screen sharing of work. This allowed appropriate 
discussions with the component teams on audit strategy, risk identification and the results of audit procedures 
performed. The primary team interacted regularly with the component teams where appropriate during various 
stages of the audit, reviewed relevant working papers and were responsible for the scope and direction of the audit 
process. This, together with the additional procedures performed at group level, gave us appropriate evidence for 
our opinion on the group financial statements.

158

Annual report and accounts 2023Climate change 
Stakeholders are increasingly interested in how climate change will impact Savills. The group has determined that 
the most significant future impacts from climate change on their operations will be from shifts in client preferences 
for real estate services incorporating climate considerations and the substitution of existing products or services 
with lower emissions options. These are explained on pages 74 to 80 in the required Task Force On Climate Related 
Financial Disclosures and on pages 30 to 36 in the principal risks and uncertainties. 

Climate commitments are explained on page 41. All of these disclosures form part of the “Other information,” rather 
than the audited financial statements. Our procedures on these unaudited disclosures therefore consisted solely of 
considering whether they are materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the 
course of the audit or otherwise appear to be materially misstated, in line with our responsibilities on “Other information”. 

In planning and performing our audit we assessed the potential impacts of climate change on the group’s business 
and any consequential material impact on its financial statements. 

The group has explained in note 2.1 how they have reflected the impact of climate change in their financial statements, 
including how this aligns with their commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. There are no significant 
judgements or estimates relating to climate change in the notes to the financial statements as the group own few 
properties and therefore have limited exposure in terms of changes in environmental requirements. The group have 
also assessed that transition costs to a low carbon economy will be outweighed by alternative business opportunities. 

Our audit effort in considering climate change was focused on the adequacy of the group’s disclosures in the 
financial statements and their conclusion that no issues were identified that would materially impact the carrying 
values of intangible assets or have any other material impact on the financial statements. We also challenged 
the directors’ considerations of climate change in their assessment of going concern and viability and associated 
disclosures. As part of this evaluation, we performed our own risk assessment, supported by our climate change 
internal specialists, to determine the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements from climate change 
which needed to be considered in our audit. 

We also challenged the directors’ considerations of climate change risks in their assessment of going concern and 
viability and associated disclosures. Where considerations of climate change were relevant to our assessment of 
going concern, these are described above. 

Based on our work we have not identified the impact of climate change on the financial statements to be a key audit 
matter or to impact a key audit matter.

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the 
financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement 
(whether or not due to fraud) that we identified. These matters included those which had the greatest effect on: 
the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. 
These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in our opinion 
thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

159

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued
to the members of Savills plc

Risk 

Our response to the risk

Revenue Recognition

Revenue for the year ended 
31 December 2023 is £2,238.0m 
(2022: £2,298.3m).

There is a risk of fraud in 
revenue recognition in relation 
to cut-off in the transactional 
advisory business. Transactional 
advisory revenue for the year 
ended 31 December 2023 is 
£772.9m (2022: £930.1m).

Considering the relatively high 
proportion of the transactional 
revenue recognised close 
to the year end, the risk of 
misstatement may occur 
through recognition in the 
incorrect period, whether due to 
management override, or error, 
due to conditions attached 
to the transactional advisory 
revenue. We have identified 
this as a significant risk. 

There is also a risk that revenue 
may be misstated through 
management override by 
incorrectly recognising revenue 
in order to increase profits 
to meet bonus targets, or to 
smooth financial results.

Refer to the Audit Committee 
Report (page 124); Accounting 
policies (page 181); and Note 5 
of the Consolidated Financial 
Statements (page 194).

Goodwill impairment

At 31 December 2023 the 
carrying value of goodwill is 
£443.6m (2022: £449.4m).  
The impairment charge 
recognised during the year 
is £3.9m (2022: nil).

Goodwill is tested 
annually for impairment at 
the Cash Generating Unit 
(CGU) level. The recoverable 
amount of each CGU is 
determined through a value 
in use calculation.

We obtained an understanding of the group’s revenue 
process and identified key controls but did not test or 
rely on controls.

For a sample of transactional advisory revenue 
transactions recognised close to the year end (both pre 
and post year end), we obtained the underlying contract 
with the customer. We read the contracts to identify 
the performance obligations. For most transactions, 
we determined that it was appropriate to recognise 
revenue on unconditional exchange of contracts (lease 
agreements or sale agreements). Where there were 
performance obligations existing after exchange of 
contracts and these were not satisfied at the year-end, 
but cash was received, we checked that revenue was 
appropriately deferred by confirming that a liability 
was recorded in the Statement of Financial Position. 

For the same sample, we agreed the revenue to cash 
receipts, checking that a receivable or accrued income 
was recognised where cash was not received prior to 
the year end. 

On a sample basis, we obtained credit notes issued in 
January to determine if they related to revenue that had 
been recognised in December. Where this was the case, 
we gained an understanding of why the credit note 
was issued and obtained reissued invoices to prove that 
revenue was not overstated in 2023. 

We tested all material consolidation adjustments, topside 
adjustments and manual journal entries impacting 
revenue by obtaining supporting documentation to 
corroborate the amounts recorded in the current period. 

We performed full and specific scope audit procedures 
over the cut-off risk in transactional advisory revenue 
and the risk of management override of controls in 8 
components, which covered 92% of revenue.

We understood the methodology applied in 
Management’s impairment reviews for each of the 
material CGUs and identified the controls over the 
process but did not test or rely on controls. 

For all material CGUs, we performed the 
following procedures:

 ƒ We validated the carrying amounts of the net assets 

subject to impairment testing to the underlying 
accounting records, checking consistency between 
the assets and liabilities included in the carrying 
value and the related cashflows.

 ƒ We tested the integrity and mathematical accuracy 

of the value in use models prepared by Management 
to support the recoverable values, and that the 
models are appropriate for this purpose.

160

Key observations communicated 
to the Audit Committee

We did not identify any 
material cut off issues 
relating to transactional 
advisory revenue 
or any instances of 
management override 
relating to revenue 
recognition in the year.

Based on our 
procedures, we 
conclude that the 
recoverable value of 
the goodwill is less than 
the carrying value for 
the Indonesian CGU 
and that Management’s 
impairment of £3.9m 
is appropriate.

Annual report and accounts 2023Risk 

Our response to the risk

Goodwill impairment 
continued

The value in use calculation 
is based on Management’s 
estimate of the future cash 
flows of each underlying CGUs 
and is most sensitive to the 
assumptions around revenue 
growth rates, operating profit 
margin and discount rate.

Refer to the Audit Committee 
Report (page 124); Accounting 
policies (page 176); and Note 15 
of the Consolidated Financial 
Statements (page 210).

budgets and strategic plans.

 ƒ We agreed forecast cash flows to Board approved 
 ƒ We have performed sensitivity analysis over key 

assumptions to understand the impact of reasonably 
possible changes in assumptions on the impairment 
models and conclusions.

We identified the CGUs presenting a higher risk of 
impairment based on the materiality of the allocated 
goodwill, historical and actual trading performance, 
the level of headroom estimated by Management and 
its sensitivity to changes in key assumptions. For these 
CGUs, we performed additional audit procedures, 
in particular:

 ƒ We tested the key assumptions supporting 

Management’s forecasted cash flows for each CGU, 
including revenue growth, operating profit margin and 
discount rate. We compared Management’s forecasts 
to relevant economic and property industry forecasts 
and to the historical performance of the CGUs. We 
also engaged our internal valuation specialists to 
assist with the evaluation of the discount rates applied 
in Management’s value in use models.

 ƒ We performed our own sensitivity analysis 

to understand the impact of changes to key 
assumptions, in particular revenue growth, operating 
profit margin and discount rate, on the value in use 
assessment and stress tested the assessment to 
conclude on possible impairment. 

 ƒ For CGUs where the recoverability of the goodwill 

was sensitive to reasonably possible changes in 
key assumptions, we verified that appropriate 
disclosures have been included in the group’s 
financial statements.

Our work on the carrying value of goodwill was performed 
by the group audit team with assistance from a number 
of component teams. Our procedures covered 99% of the 
goodwill carrying value at the balance sheet date.

Key observations communicated 
to the Audit Committee

The recoverable 
value of all other 
CGUs exceeds their 
carrying value and we 
conclude that there is 
no impairment of these 
assets in the year. 

The disclosures 
prepared by 
Management comply 
with IAS 36 and 
appropriately reflect 
the CGUs where a 
reasonable change 
in assumption 
could result in an 
impairment charge. 

Management have 
appropriately 
highlighted that a 
reasonably possible 
change in certain 
key assumptions in 
particular revenue 
and operating profit 
margin forecasts 
could lead to material 
impairment charges in 
the US and Australia. 
Changes to revenue 
forecasts in Indonesia 
could lead to additional 
impairment charges. 

We concluded 
appropriate disclosures 
had been included in the 
financial statements for 
the above assumptions.

In the prior year, our auditor’s report included a key audit matter in relation to provision for professional indemnity 
litigation and claims. This is no longer considered to be a key audit matter due to the reduction in the number of 
claims as well as a significant reduction in the group’s provision for these claims, after considering any receivables 
from insurers. 

161

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued
to the members of Savills plc

Our application of materiality 
We apply the concept of materiality in planning and performing the audit, in evaluating the effect of identified 
misstatements on the audit and in forming our audit opinion. 

Materiality
The magnitude of an omission or misstatement that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected 
to influence the economic decisions of the users of the financial statements. Materiality provides a basis for 
determining the nature and extent of our audit procedures.

We determined materiality for the group to be £4.1 million (2022: £8.2 million), which is 5% (2022: 5%) of profit 
before tax adjusted for non-recurring items. We believe that profit before tax adjusted for non-recurring items 
provides us with the most relevant performance measure to the stakeholders of the entity and therefore have 
determined materiality based on this number.

We determined materiality for the Parent Company to be £11.4 million (2022: £11.6 million), which is 3% (2022: 3%) 
of total assets.

Starting basis

IFRS profit before tax: £55.4 million

Adjustment for 
non-recurring items 

Add back:

 ƒ Material acquisition costs £10.1 million
 ƒ Restructuring costs £13.9 million
 ƒ Impairment charge £3.9 million

Less:

 ƒ Fair value gain on call option £1.4 million
 ƒ Profit on disposal of joint ventures £0.4 million

Materiality 

IFRS profit before tax adjusted for non-recurring items of £81.5 million

Materiality of £4.1 million (5% of materiality basis)

During the course of our audit, we reassessed materiality which resulted in a small increase from our initial 
materiality of £3.9m to the final materiality of £4.1m. We have audited using the lower materiality of £3.9m.

Performance materiality
The application of materiality at the individual account or balance level. It is set at an amount to reduce to 
an appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements 
exceeds materiality.

On the basis of our risk assessments, together with our assessment of the group’s overall control environment, 
our judgement was that performance materiality was 50% (2022: 50%) of our planning materiality, namely £2.0m 
(2022: £4.1m). We have set performance materiality at this percentage due to the risk of material misstatements 
occurring within the financial statements, including our understanding of the control environment and history of 
past errors identified.

Audit work at component locations for the purpose of obtaining audit coverage over significant financial statement 
accounts is undertaken based on a percentage of total performance materiality. The performance materiality set 
for each component is based on the relative scale and risk of the component to the group as a whole and our 
assessment of the risk of misstatement at that component. In the current year, the range of performance materiality 
allocated to components was £0.4m to £1.4m (2022: £0.8m to £3.5m).

Reporting threshold
An amount below which identified misstatements are considered as being clearly trivial.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them all uncorrected audit differences in excess of 
£0.2m (2022: £0.4m), which is set at 5% of planning materiality, as well as differences below that threshold that, in 
our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

We evaluate any uncorrected misstatements against both the quantitative measures of materiality discussed 
above and in light of other relevant qualitative considerations in forming our opinion.

162

Annual report and accounts 2023Other information 
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report including Strategic Report, Governance, 
Shareholder information and the Appendices set out on pages 265 and 266, other than the financial statements and 
our auditor’s report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. 

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise 
explicitly stated in this report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information 
is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, 
or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent 
material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the 
financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material 
misstatement of the other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, the part of the directors’ remuneration report to be audited has been properly prepared in 
accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

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

statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 

 ƒ the information given in the strategic report and the directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial 
 ƒ the strategic report and the directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and its environment obtained in 
the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report.

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

not been received from branches not visited by us; or

not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

 ƒ adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have 
 ƒ the parent company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are 
 ƒ certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
 ƒ we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Corporate Governance Statement
We have reviewed the directors’ statement in relation to going concern, longer-term viability and that part of the 
Corporate Governance Statement relating to the group and company’s compliance with the provisions of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code specified for our review by the Listing Rules.

Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we have concluded that each of the following elements of the 
Corporate Governance Statement is materially consistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained 
during the audit:

why the period is appropriate set out on page 151;

operation and meets its liabilities set out on page 151;

any material uncertainties identified set out on page 151;

 ƒ Directors’ statement with regards to the appropriateness of adopting the going concern basis of accounting and 
 ƒ Directors’ explanation as to its assessment of the company’s prospects, the period this assessment covers and 
 ƒ Director’s statement on whether it has a reasonable expectation that the group will be able to continue in 
 ƒ Directors’ statement on fair, balanced and understandable set out on page 155;
 ƒ Board’s confirmation that it has carried out a robust assessment of the emerging and principal risks set out on 
 ƒ The section of the annual report that describes the review of effectiveness of risk management and internal 
 ƒ The section describing the work of the audit committee set out on pages 118 to 126.

control systems set out on page 126; and

page 32;

163

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued
to the members of Savills plc

Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 155, the directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such 
internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are 
free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the group and parent company’s 
ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the 
going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the group or the parent company 
or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. 
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance 
with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error 
and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the 
economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities,  
including fraud 
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures 
in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect irregularities, including fraud. The risk of not detecting a 
material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may 
involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion. 
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both those charged with 
governance of the company and Management. 

 ƒ We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the group and 

determined that the most significant are those relevant to the reporting framework (UK adopted international 
accounting standards, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Corporate Governance Code) and the relevant 
international tax laws and regulations. In addition, we concluded that there are certain significant laws and 
regulations which may have an effect on the determination of the amounts and disclosures in the financial 
statements being the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority, UK financial services legislation, those laws and 
regulations relating to employee matters and pensions legislation, and data protection requirements in the 
jurisdictions in which the group operates.

 ƒ We understood how Savills plc is complying with those frameworks through enquiry with Management, internal 

audit, those responsible for legal and compliance procedures and the company secretary. We corroborated our 
enquiries through our review of Board minutes and papers provided to the Board and the Audit Committee, 
including internal audit reports, and our attendance at the meetings of the Audit Committee, as well as 
consideration of the results of our audit procedures across the group.

 ƒ We assessed the susceptibility of the group’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud 

might occur by meeting with Management from various parts of the business to understand where it considered 
there was susceptibility to fraud. We also considered performance targets impacting bonus arrangements, and 
the risk of management override of controls. We engaged our forensics specialists in assisting our assessment 
of the susceptibility of the group’s financial statements to fraud and designed specific responses to the risk 
which were carried out by our full and specific scope locations. We considered the programmes and controls 
that the group has established to prevent, deter and detect fraud, and how senior Management monitors those 
programmes and controls. The risk in revenue for cut off in the transactional advisory business and management 
override of controls in all revenue streams was considered to be higher and we performed audit procedures to 
address these fraud risks. These procedures were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial 
statements were free from material fraud or error.

164

Annual report and accounts 2023 ƒ Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and 

regulations. Our procedures involved:

 – Enquiry of group Management, divisional Management, internal audit, those charged with governance and 

legal counsel regarding their knowledge and any non-compliance or potential non-compliance with laws and 
regulations of fraud that could affect the financial statements; 

 – Reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;

 – Assessment of matters reported to the Audit Committee and the results of Management’s investigation 

of such matters, involving the use of specialists where necessary; and

 – Journal entry testing, with a focus on manual revenue journals and journals indicating large or unusual 

transactions close to the year end based on our understanding of the business. 

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

Other matters we are required to address 
 ƒ Following the recommendation from the audit committee, we were appointed by the company on 19 May 2021 

to audit the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2021 and subsequent financial periods. 

The period of total uninterrupted engagement including previous renewals and reappointments is 3 years, 
covering the years ending 2021 to 2023.

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

Christabel Cowling (Senior statutory auditor) 
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP,  
Statutory Auditor 
London

13 March 2024

165

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNotes

2023
£m

2022
£m

5 and 6

2,238.0

2,298.3

9.1

(1,496.3)

(1,509.8)

16 and 17

15

15

7.1

7.1

18.1

7.1

11

11

11

12

(69.6)

(15.8)

(3.9)

(65.8)

(16.9)

–

(619.5)

(562.1)

(1.8)

2.0

10.2

43.3

50.6

(38.5)

12.1

55.4

(15.9)

39.5

40.8

(1.3)

39.5

2.1

0.3

12.1

158.2

13.7

(18.0)

(4.3)

153.9

(34.1)

119.8

119.4

0.4

119.8

14.1

14.1

30.0p

28.8p

87.0p

82.2p

8

8

6 and 8

55.4

28.5

10.9

94.8

153.9

15.6

(4.9)

164.6

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
for the year ended 31 December 2023

Revenue

Employee benefits expense

Depreciation

Amortisation of intangible assets

Impairment of goodwill

Other operating expenses

(Increase)/decrease in provision for expected credit loss

Other net gains

Share of post-tax profit from joint ventures and associates

Operating profit

Finance income

Finance costs

Net finance income/(cost)

Profit before income tax

Income tax expense

Profit for the year

Attributable to:

Owners of the parent

Non-controlling interests

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Supplementary income statement information

Reconciliation to underlying profit before income tax

Profit before income tax

– restructuring and transaction-related costs

– other underlying adjustments

Underlying profit before income tax

166

Annual report and accounts 2023Notes

2023
£m

39.5

2022
£m

119.8

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
for the year ended 31 December 2023

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive (loss)/income

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:

Remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme and employee 
benefit obligations

Changes in fair value of financial assets held at FVOCI

Tax on other items that will not be reclassified

12

Total items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Currency translation differences

Total items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the year

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the year

Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to:

Owners of the parent

Non-controlling interests

(24.7)

0.6

8.4

(15.7)

(27.3)

(27.3)

(43.0)

(3.5)

6.6

(10.9)

(3.9)

(8.2)

48.1

48.1

39.9

159.7

(1.4)

(2.1)

(3.5)

158.4

1.3

159.7

167

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
as at 31 December 2023

Group

Company

Assets: Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Right-of-use assets
Goodwill*
Intangible assets
Investments in subsidiaries
Investments in joint ventures and associates
Deferred income tax assets
Financial assets at fair value through other
comprehensive income (‘FVOCI’)
Financial assets at fair value through profit and
loss (‘FVPL’)
Defined benefit pension surplus
Contract related assets
Trade and other receivables

Assets: Current assets
Contract assets
Trade and other receivables
Income tax receivable
Derivative financial instruments
Cash and cash equivalents**

Liabilities: Current liabilities
Borrowings
Overdrafts in notional pooling arrangement**
Lease liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Contract liabilities
Trade and other payables*
Income tax liabilities
Employee benefit obligations
Provisions

Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Liabilities: Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Lease liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Other payables
Retirement and employee benefit obligations
Provisions
Deferred income tax liabilities

Net assets
Equity:
Share capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Equity attributable to owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests
Total equity

*  See Note 18.6 for details of prior period restatement.

Notes

16
17
15
15
18.4
18.1
19

18.2

18.3
10.2
5.1
20.3

5.1
20.1

21

24
22
25

5.1
23.1

26.2
26.1

24
25

23.2
26.2, 10.2
26.1
19

27
27
29
29

18.5

2023
£m

68.1
198.3
443.6
55.8
–
38.9
57.2

5.0

38.5
3.2
1.8
69.3
979.7

12.6
656.4
4.7
1.0
506.8
1,181.5

7.9
192.3
52.9
2.5
11.9
682.1
6.9
18.5
17.2
992.2
189.3
1,169.0

149.3
201.3
3.2
10.4
26.2
23.9
1.9
416.2
752.8

3.6
104.9
94.5
514.9
717.9
34.9
752.8

2022
restated*
£m

77.0
223.8
449.6
66.3
–
37.0
38.6

5.7

36.8
25.5
2.4
37.5
1,000.2

7.4
643.1
2.4
0.3
669.1
1,322.3

10.6
202.0
53.2
1.0
14.0
744.5
15.5
17.7
9.2
1,067.7
254.6
1,254.8

149.1
224.4
6.7
21.9
25.2
20.6
1.6
449.5
805.3

3.6
104.9
112.8
546.8
768.1
37.2
805.3

2023
£m

2.9
41.8
–
1.3
182.4
–
2.6

–

–
–
–
6.9
237.9

–
75.1
0.7
–
118.9
194.7

–
–
6.0
–
–
14.6
–
0.2
–
20.8
173.9
411.8

–
54.2
–
–
–
2.5
–
56.7
355.1

3.6
104.9
38.2
208.4
355.1
–
355.1

2022
£m

3.4
40.0
–
1.8
176.4
–
1.9

–

–
1.2
–
7.1
231.8

–
81.4
–
–
93.6
175.0

–
–
5.2
–
–
14.9
2.4
0.2
–
22.7
152.3
384.1

–
53.6
–
–
–
2.4
–
56.0
328.1

3.6
104.9
38.2
181.4
328.1
–
328.1

**   Included within cash and cash equivalents are cash balances of £193.3m (31 December 2022: £205.0m) that are operated within a notional cash pooling 

arrangement together with overdraft balances of £192.3m (31 December 2022: £202.0m) presented above in current liabilities. See Note 22 for further details.

The profit after income tax of the Company for the year was £66.1m (2022: £78.8m).

The consolidated and Company financial statements on pages 166 to 171 were authorised for issue by the Board of 
Directors on 13 March 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

J J M Ridley 
Savills plc 
Registered in England No. 2122174

S J B Shaw

168

Annual report and accounts 2023 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
for the year ended 31 December 2023

Attributable to owners of the parent

Share
capital
£m

Share
premium
£m

Other
reserves*
£m

Retained
earnings**
£m

Non-
controlling
interests
£m

Total
£m

3.6
–

104.9
–

112.8
–

546.8
40.8

768.1
40.8

37.2
(1.3)

Total
equity
£m

805.3
39.5

Balance at 1 January 2023
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Remeasurement of defined benefit pension 
scheme and employee benefit obligations
Changes in fair value of financial assets 
at FVOCI
Tax on items taken to other comprehensive 
income/(loss)
Currency translation differences

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the year
Employee share option scheme:
– Value of services provided
– Tax on employee share option schemes
Tax on other items taken to reserves
Purchase of treasury shares
Dividends
Transfer between reserves
Fair value of derivative financial instrument

Balance at 31 December 2023

12

28
12
12

13

–

–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
3.6

–

(24.6) (24.6)

(0.1)

(24.7)

0.6

–

0.6

–

0.6

–

–

–
–
–

–
(26.6)
(26.0)

8.4
–
24.6

8.4
(26.6)
(1.4)

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
104.9

–
–
–
–
–
7.7
–
94.5

28.8
0.5
(0.4)

28.8
0.5
(0.4)
(26.3) (26.3)
(48.8) (48.8)
(2.0)
(0.6)
717.9

(9.7)
(0.6)
514.9

–
(0.7)
(2.1)

–
–
–
–
(2.2)
2.0
–
34.9

Balance at 1 January 2022
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Remeasurement of defined benefit pension 
scheme and employee benefit obligations
Changes in fair value of financial assets 
at FVOCI
Tax on items taken to other comprehensive 
income/(loss)
Currency translation differences

Total comprehensive income for the year
Employee share option scheme:
– Value of services provided
– Tax on employee share option schemes
Issue of share capital
Tax on other items taken to reserves
Purchase of treasury shares
Dividends
Transfer between reserves
Fair value of derivative financial instrument
Transactions with non-controlling interests
Additions through business combinations

Balance at 31 December 2022

Attributable to owners of the parent

Share
capital
£m

Share
premium
£m

Other
reserves*
£m

Retained
earnings**
£m

Non-
controlling
interests
£m

Total
£m

3.6
–

104.4
–

76.2
–

540.0 724.2
119.4

119.4

29.2
0.4

–

–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
3.6

–

–

–
–
–

–
–
0.5
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
104.9

–

6.1

6.1

0.5

6.6

(10.9)

–

(10.9)

–

(10.9)

–
47.5
36.6

–
–
–
–
–
–
0.4
–
(0.4)
–
112.8

(3.7)
–
121.8

(3.7)
47.5
158.4

29.6
(2.6)
–
0.3
(49.0)
(85.5)
(4.0)
(4.5)
0.7
–
546.8

29.6
(2.6)
0.5
0.3
(49.0)
(85.5)
(3.6)
(4.5)
0.3
–
768.1

(0.2)
0.6
1.3

0.8
–
–
–
–
(0.4)
3.6
–
–
2.7
37.2

(3.9)
48.1
159.7

30.4
(2.6)
0.5
0.3
(49.0)
(85.9)
–
(4.5)
0.3
2.7
805.3

12

28
12

12

13

3.8

18.6

* 

 Included within other reserves on the face of the statement of financial position are the capital redemption reserve, merger relief reserve, foreign exchange reserve 
and revaluation reserve as disclosed in Note 29.

**   Included within retained earnings on the face of the statement of financial position are treasury shares, share-based payments reserve and the profit and loss 

account as disclosed in Note 29.

169

8.4
(27.3)
(3.5)

28.8
0.5
(0.4)
(26.3)
(51.0)
–
(0.6)
752.8

Total
equity
£m

753.4
119.8

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSCOMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
for the year ended 31 December 2023

Attributable to owners of the Company

Share
capital
£m

Share
premium
£m

Notes

Capital
redemption
reserve*
£m

Merger
relief
reserve*
£m

Other
reserves*
£m

Share-
based
payments
reserve**
£m

Retained
earnings**
£m

Total
equity
£m

Balance at 1 January 2023

3.6

104.9

0.3

34.9

3.0

52.5

128.9

328.1

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

10.2

Remeasurement of defined 
benefit pension scheme

Tax on items taken to other 
comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income 
for the year

Employee share option scheme:

– Value of services provided

28

– Exercise of share options

–  Tax on employee share  

option schemes

–   Exercise of share options: 
tax on employee share 
option schemes

Transfer between reserves

Dividends

12

13

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Balance at 31 December 2023

3.6

104.9

0.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3.0

–

37.9

(3.0)

–

–

–

–

–

–

28.8

(21.3)

0.2

(0.1)

–

–

66.1

66.1

(1.3)

(1.3)

0.4

0.4

65.2

65.2

–

28.8

3.6

(17.7)

–

–

–

0.2

(0.1)

–

(49.4) (49.4)

60.1

148.3

355.1

Attributable to owners of the Company

Share
capital
£m

Share
premium
£m

Notes

Capital
redemption
reserve*
£m

Merger
relief
reserve*
£m

Other
reserves*
£m

Share-
based
payments
reserve**
£m

Retained
earnings**
£m

Total
equity
£m

Balance at 1 January 2022

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

10.2

Remeasurement of defined 
benefit pension scheme

Tax on items taken to other 
comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income 
for the year

Employee share option scheme:

– Value of services provided

28

– Exercise of share options

–  Tax on employee share 

option schemes

–  Exercise of share options:  
tax on employee share 
option schemes

Issue of share capital

Dividends

12

13

3.6

104.4

0.3

34.9

3.0

44.1

132.7 323.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

78.8

78.8

0.2

0.2

(0.1)

(0.1)

78.9

78.9

30.4

(21.0)

–

30.4

3.4

(17.6)

(0.6)

–

(0.6)

(0.4)

–

–

0.4

–

–

0.5

(86.5)

(86.5)

Balance at 31 December 2022

3.6

104.9

0.3

34.9

3.0

52.5

128.9

328.1

* 

 Included within other reserves on the face of the statement of financial position are the capital redemption reserve, the merger relief reserve and other reserves 
as disclosed above.

**  Included within retained earnings on the face of the statement of financial position are share-based payments reserve and retained earnings as disclosed above.

170

Annual report and accounts 2023CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
for the year ended 31 December 2023

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash generated from/(used in) operations

Interest received

Interest paid

Income tax (paid)/received

Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds from sale of financial assets held at FVOCI and FVPL

Proceeds from sale of interests in joint ventures

Dividends received from joint ventures

Dividends received from associates

Dividends received from subsidiary

Dividends received from other parties

Repayment of loans by joint ventures

Repayment of loans by associates

Repayment of loans by subsidiaries

Repayment of loans by other parties

Loans to joint ventures

Loans to associates

Loans to subsidiaries

Loans to other parties

Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash and overdrafts acquired

Deferred consideration paid in relation to prior year acquisitions

Sublease income

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Purchase of intangible assets

Purchase of financial assets held at FVOCI and FVPL

Purchase of investment in joint ventures

Investment in Employee Benefit Trust

Return of capital investment from subsidiaries in relation 
to Employee Benefit Trust funding

Notes

31

18.1

18.1

18.6

23.3

16

15

18.1

18.4

Group

Company

2023
£m

2022
£m

2023
£m

2022
£m

49.2

40.6

(33.3)

(37.7)

210.9

13.3

(16.9)

(43.3)

(22.0)

(6.8)

6.8

(2.1)

(0.7)

2.0

(2.1)

4.6

18.8

164.0

(18.0)

(2.3)

5.3

4.8

0.3

8.6

1.4

–

0.2

0.1

0.2

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

1.6

0.1

7.1

4.2

–

0.2

0.1

0.4

–

0.7

(0.1)

(0.4)

0.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

75.0

79.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

226.3

40.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(204.0)

(25.0)

(2.5)

(8.7)

(1.9)

0.7

(1.7)

(14.9)

(3.3)

–

(17.4)

(19.8)

(5.5)

(6.7)

(0.5)

–

–

(7.0)

(8.8)

(0.4)

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

(1.1)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1.5)

–

–

–

(23.6)

(37.3)

25.8

98.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

29.5

85.4

0.5

–

–

–

–

–

Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities

(21.6)

(41.8)

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from issue of share capital

Proceeds from transaction with non-controlling interest

Transaction costs incurred on transaction with non-controlling interest

Proceeds from borrowings

Repayments of borrowings

Financing fees paid

Principal elements of lease payments

Purchase of treasury shares

Dividends paid

Net cash used in financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts

Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at beginning of year

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents held

0.5

7.9

(0.2)

9.6

(5.6)

(0.4)

–

–

–

24

24

32

32

13

105.7

(109.9)

–

(54.7)

(26.3)

(51.0)

(51.4)

(49.0)

(85.9)

(6.1)

(5.7)

–

–

(49.4)

(86.5)

(136.2)

(174.5)

(55.5)

(139.0)

(52.3)

464.3

490.0

(15.0)

26.6

25.3

93.6

–

(91.7)

(8.6)

102.2

–

Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at end of year

22

310.3

464.3

118.9

93.6

171

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Year ended 31 December 2023

1. General information
Savills plc (the ‘Company’) and its subsidiaries (together the ‘Group’) is a global real estate services group. 
The Group operates through a network of offices in the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Africa and the Middle 
East. Savills plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and employed a monthly average of 42,080 staff worldwide 
during 2023.

The Company is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in England, United Kingdom. The address of 
its registered office is 33 Margaret Street, London W1G 0JD. The Company’s registered number is 2122174.

These consolidated financial statements were approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 13 March 2024. 
The Board of Directors have the power to amend the financial statements after issue.

2. Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out 
below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated, and are also 
applicable to the parent Company.

2.1 Basis of preparation
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards 
(‘IFRS’) and, as regards the parent company financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006. The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost 
convention as modified by the revaluation of loans receivable, equity investments held at FVOCI, financial assets held 
at FVPL and derivative financial instruments held at fair value.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting 
estimates and for management to exercise judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. 
The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are 
significant to the financial statements, are disclosed in Note 4.

In preparing the financial statements management has considered the impact of climate change, taking 
into account the relevant disclosures in the Strategic Report, including those made in accordance with the 
recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure. These considerations included the limited 
exposure in terms of tangible assets, including in our investment management business where we do not own the 
properties, as well as our current assessment that the transition costs to a low carbon economy will be outweighed 
by alternative business opportunities, therefore not impacting the recoverability of our intangible assets. On this basis, 
we concluded that climate change did not have a material impact on the financial reporting judgements and estimates, 
consistent with the assessment that this is not expected to have a significant impact on the Group’s going concern or 
viability assessment.

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the income statement and statement of comprehensive 
income of the Company are not presented as part of these financial statements. The Company has produced its 
own income statement and statement of comprehensive income for approval by its Board. The Company receives 
dividends from subsidiaries and charges subsidiaries for the provision of Group-related services.

2.2 Going concern
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and 
position are set out in the Strategic Report. The financial position of the Group, its cash flows and liquidity position 
are described in the Chief Financial Officer’s Review, with details of the Group’s treasury activities and exposure to 
financial risk included in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Group has prepared its going concern assessment for the period to the end of June 2025. As in prior years, the 
Board undertook a strategic business review in the current year, taking account of the Group’s current position and 
prospects, the Group’s strategic plan, and the Group’s principal risks and the management of those risks, as detailed 
in the Annual Report and the Board’s risk appetite as detailed in the Strategic Report. Sensitivity analysis was also 
undertaken, including financing projections, to flex the financial forecasts under several severe downside scenarios, 
which involved applying different assumptions to the underlying forecasted revenues, costs and underlying profits 
both individually and in aggregate. These scenarios assess the potential impact from several macro-economic risks, 
including a severe global economic downturn analogous to that experienced during the Global Financial Crisis in 
2008/09. The results of this sensitivity analysis showed that the Group would retain liquidity and maintain significant 
available facility and covenant headroom to be able to withstand the impact of such scenarios over the period of the 
financial forecast, as a result of the resilience and diversity of the Group, underpinned by a strong balance sheet.

172

Annual report and accounts 2023Based on the Group’s positive net cash position of £157.3m (cash and cash equivalents less overdrafts in notional 
pooling arrangements and borrowings) and undrawn £360.0m revolving credit facility at the year end, as described 
in the Chief Financial Officer’s review, combined with the assessment explained above, the Directors have formed the 
judgement at the time of approving the financial statements, that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group has 
adequate resources to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date of the approval of 
the financial statements until at least June 2025. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of 
accounting in preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements.

2.3 Use of non-GAAP measures
The Group believes that the consistent presentation of underlying profit before tax, underlying effective tax rate, 
underlying basic earnings per share and underlying diluted earnings per share provides additional useful information 
to Shareholders on the underlying trends and comparable performance of the Group over time by excluding significant 
non-operational costs/income from the GAAP measures. The ‘underlying’ measures are also used by the Group for 
internal performance analysis and incentive compensation arrangements for employees.

These terms are not defined terms under IFRS and may therefore not be comparable with similarly-titled profit 
measures reported by other companies. They are not intended to be a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP measures. 
The non-GAAP measures may be materially higher or lower than GAAP measures and should not be regarded as a 
complete picture of the Group’s financial performance. In particular, underlying profit before tax may be materially 
higher or lower than reported profit before tax as a result of the adjustments.

The term ‘underlying’ refers to the relevant measure of profit, earnings or taxation being reported mainly excluding 
the impact (pre and post-tax where applicable) of the following items:

estimated value of the current year bonus pool expected to be allocated to deferred share awards;

 ƒ the difference between IFRS 2 charges related to outstanding bonus-related deferred share awards and the 
 ƒ amortisation of intangible assets arising from business combinations (this excludes software or other pre-existing 
 ƒ items that are considered significant in size and non-operational in nature including restructuring costs, 

intangible assets of the acquiree);

impairments of goodwill and intangible assets arising from business combinations and profits or losses arising on 
disposals of subsidiaries and other investments; and

 ƒ significant transaction-related costs associated with business combinations.

The majority of adjustments made to the GAAP measures to arrive at ‘underlying’ measures relate to charges arising 
as a result of business combinations. The nature of the Group’s business and the businesses that the Group acquires 
(being ‘asset light’ people businesses) require the Group to structure business acquisitions such that often payment 
of deferred consideration is linked to recipients’ continuing and active engagement in the business at the date of the 
deferred payment, with these payments required to be expensed to the income statement under IFRS 3. For internal 
performance analysis and incentive compensation arrangements, these charges are considered part of the initial 
cost of acquiring a business, instead of an ongoing operational cost, and are therefore excluded from the Group’s 
‘underlying’ measures. The same rationale is applied to the exclusion of amortisation of intangible assets arising from 
business combinations (excluding software or other pre-existing intangible assets of the acquiree), any impairments 
of goodwill and the aforementioned intangible assets, significant transaction-related costs associated with business 
combinations and significant restructuring costs. These items are not considered to reflect the business’s trading 
performance and so are adjusted to ensure consistency between periods.

The adjustment for share-based payments relates to the impact of the accounting standard for share-based 
compensation. The annual bonus is paid in a mixture of cash and deferred shares and the proportions can vary 
from one year to another. Under IFRS, the deferred share element is amortised to the income statement over the 
vesting period whilst the cash element is expensed in the year. The adjustment above addresses this by adding to or 
deducting from profit the difference between the IFRS 2 charge in relation to outstanding bonus-related share awards 
and the estimated value of the current year bonus pool to be awarded in deferred shares. This adjustment is made 
to align the underlying staff cost in the year with the revenue recognised in the same period, providing additional 
information on the Group’s performance over time with respect to profitability.

The underlying effective tax rate represents the underlying income tax expense expressed as a percentage of 
underlying profit before tax. The underlying income tax expense is the income tax expense excluding the tax effect 
of the adjustments made to arrive at underlying profit before tax and other tax effects related to these adjustments.

173

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

2. Accounting policies continued
2.3 Use of non-GAAP measures continued
Underlying basic earnings per share and underlying diluted earnings per share both utilise the underlying profit 
after tax measure instead of GAAP earnings. The weighted average number of shares remain the same as the 
GAAP measure.

The Group also refers to revenue and underlying profit on a constant currency basis which are both non-GAAP 
measures. Constant currency results are calculated by translating the current year revenue and underlying profit using 
the prior year exchange rates. This measure allows the Group to assess the results of the current year compared to the 
prior year, excluding the impact of foreign currency movements.

A reconciliation between GAAP and underlying measures are set out in Note 8 (underlying profit before tax) and Note 
14.2 (underlying basic earnings per share and underlying diluted earnings per share).

2.4 Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include those of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings, together with the 
Group’s share of results of its associates and joint ventures.

(a) Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group is exposed to, 
or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through 
its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group.

Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealised gains and losses on transactions between Group companies 
are eliminated. Profits and losses resulting from intercompany transactions that are recognised in assets are also 
eliminated. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the 
policies adopted by the Group.

Investments in subsidiaries held by the Company are held at cost, less any provision for impairment.

(b) Acquisition of subsidiaries

The Group applies the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The consideration 
transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred and the 
equity interests issued by the Group. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed 
in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The Group recognises 
any non-controlling interest in the acquiree on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, either at fair value or at the 
non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the recognised amounts of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets.

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the Group is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. 
Contingent consideration only applies to situations where contingent payments are not dependent on future 
employment of vendors. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an 
asset or liability is recognised in profit or loss. Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not remeasured, 
and its subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity. Payments dependent on future employment are 
expensed to the income statement over the relevant period of employment as required by IFRS 3 (revised).

Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

(c) Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries without change of control

Transactions with non-controlling interests that do not result in loss of control are accounted for as equity 
transactions, that is, as transactions with the owners in their capacity as owners. The difference between fair value of 
any consideration paid and the relevant share acquired of the carrying value of net assets of the subsidiary is recorded 
in equity. Gains or losses on disposals to non-controlling interests are also recorded in equity.

(d) Disposal of subsidiaries

If the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it derecognises the related assets (including goodwill), liabilities, 
non-controlling interest and other components of equity, while any resultant gain or loss is recognised in profit or 
loss. Any investment retained is recognised at fair value. The fair value is the initial carrying amount for the purposes 
of subsequently accounting for the retained interest as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any 
amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income in respect of that entity are accounted for as if the 
Group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities. This may mean that amounts previously recognised in 
other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss.

Profit or loss on disposal of subsidiaries is recognised in profit or loss as other gains/(losses).

174

Annual report and accounts 2023(e) Associates and joint ventures

Investments in associates and joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

Under the equity method, the investment is initially recognised at cost, and the carrying amount is increased 
or decreased to recognise the investor’s share of the profit or loss of the investee after the date of acquisition. 
The Group’s investment in associates includes goodwill (net of any accumulated impairment loss) identified on 
acquisition (see Note 18.1).

The Group’s share of its associates’ and joint ventures’ post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in the income 
statement with a corresponding adjustment to the carrying amount of the investment. Dividends received or 
receivable from associates and joint ventures are recognised as a reduction in the carrying amount of the investment. 
When the Group’s share of losses in an associate or joint venture equals or exceeds its interest in the associate or 
joint venture (which includes any long-term interests that, in substance, form part of the Group’s net investment in 
the associate or joint venture) the Group does not recognise further losses unless it has incurred legal or constructive 
obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate or joint venture.

Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its associates and joint ventures are eliminated to the extent 
of the Group’s interest in the associate or joint venture. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction 
provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. Accounting policies of associates and joint ventures have 
been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

The carrying amount of associates and joint ventures is tested for impairment in accordance with the policy described 
in Note 2.10.

Profit or loss on disposal of associates and joint ventures is recognised in profit or loss as other gains/(losses).

(f) Investment management funds

The Investment Management business enters in to strategic partnerships and mandates to provide asset management 
or investment advisory services to external clients, and in certain instances also has an interest in the fund general 
partner or in co-investment schemes (the Savills Investment Management funds). In its role as fund manager, the 
Investment Management business is considered by management to be acting as an agent which does not have control 
under IFRS 10 and therefore the Savills Investment Management funds are not consolidated as part of the Group.

2.5 Segment reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating 
decision-maker. The chief operating decision-maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing 
performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Group Executive Board (‘GEB’).

A business segment is a Group of assets and operations engaged in providing products or services that are subject 
to risks and returns that are different from those of other business segments. A geographical segment is engaged in 
providing products or services within a particular economic environment that is subject to risks and returns that are 
different from those of segments operating in other economic environments.

The GEB primarily manages the business based on the geographic location in which the Group operates, with the 
Investment Management business being managed separately. As the Group is strongly affected by both differences 
in the types of services it provides and the geographical areas in which it operates, the matrix approach of disclosing 
both the business and geographical segments format is used.

Revenues and expenses are allocated to segments on the basis that they are directly attributable or the relevant 
portion can be allocated on a reasonable basis.

2.6 Foreign currency translation

(a) Functional and presentation currency

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of the 
primary economic environment in which the entity operates (‘the functional currency’). The consolidated financial 
statements are presented in sterling, which is also the Company’s functional and presentation currency.

175

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

2. Accounting policies continued
2.6 Foreign currency translation continued
(b) Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates 
of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the 
translation at year end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised 
in the income statement, except when deferred in other comprehensive income as qualifying cash flow hedges.

Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets and liabilities are reported as part of the fair value gain or loss 
and are recognised in the income statement, except for financial assets held at FVOCI, which are recognised in other 
comprehensive income. Non-monetary items carried at historical cost are reported using the exchange rate at the date 
of the transaction.

(c) Group entities

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations, including goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on consolidation, 
are translated to the Group’s presentational currency at foreign exchange rates ruling at the reporting date. Exchange 
differences arising from this translation of foreign operations are recognised in other comprehensive income and taken 
to the foreign exchange reserve. When a foreign operation is disposed of, in part or in full, the relevant amount in the 
foreign exchange reserve is transferred to the income statement.

The income and expenses of foreign operations are translated at an average rate for the year where this rate 
approximates to the foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates of the transactions.

2.7 Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment. Historical 
cost includes expenditure directly attributable to acquisition.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only 
when it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of 
the item can be measured reliably.

Provision for depreciation is made at rates calculated on a straight-line basis to write off the assets over their 
estimated useful lives as follows:

Freehold property

50 years

Short leasehold property (less than 50 years)

Lower of estimated useful life and unexpired term of lease

Equipment and motor vehicles

3–10 years

Residual values and useful lives are reviewed and adjusted if appropriate at each reporting date.

An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is 
greater than its estimated recoverable amount.

2.8 Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of a subsidiary or associate over the Group’s share of the 
fair value of identifiable net assets acquired.

Goodwill is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Separately recognised goodwill is tested 
annually for impairment, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate potential impairment. 
An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount. 
The recoverable amount is the higher of value-in-use and fair value less costs of disposal. Impairment losses on 
goodwill are not reversed.

Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units for the purpose of impairment testing. The allocation is made to those 
cash-generating units or Groups of cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the business combination 
in which the goodwill arose. The Group allocates goodwill to each business segment in the geographical region in 
which it operates (Note 15).

Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the carrying amount of goodwill relating to the entity sold.

In respect of associates and joint ventures, goodwill is included in the carrying value of the investment and is not 
tested for impairment separately.

176

Annual report and accounts 20232.9 Intangible assets other than goodwill
Intangible assets arising from business combinations and incremental contract costs are valued at fair value on 
acquisition and amortised over the useful life. Fair value on acquisition is determined by third party valuation where 
the acquisition is significant.

Acquired computer software licences are capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring to use 
the specific software. Costs associated with maintaining computer software programmes are recognised as an 
expense as incurred.

Measurement subsequent to initial recognition is at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment.

Amortisation charges are spread on a straight-line basis over the period of the assets’ estimated useful lives as follows:

Customer relationships

Order backlogs

Contracts – investment, property management and other existing business contracts

Brands

Computer software

3–15 years

2–4 years

2–20 years

10 years

3–7 years

Acquired investment management contracts relating to open-ended funds have been attributed indefinite useful lives, 
reflecting the open-ended nature of the funds, the Group’s intention to continue with the management of the funds 
and the expectation that these contracts are expected to generate net cash inflows for the Group.

2.10 Impairment of other non-financial assets
Assets that have indefinite useful lives are not subject to amortisation or depreciation and are tested annually for 
impairment or whenever an indicator of impairment exists. Assets that are subject to amortisation or depreciation 
are reviewed for impairment whenever an indicator of impairment exists. An impairment loss is recognised to the 
extent that the carrying value exceeds the higher of the asset’s fair value less cost to sell and its value-in-use. Prior 
impairments of non-financial assets (other than goodwill) are reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

Value-in-use is determined using the discounted cash flow method, with an appropriate discount rate to reflect 
market rates and specific risks associated with the asset.

For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately 
identifiable cash flows (cash-generating units). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an 
individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

2.11 Financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are recognised on the Group’s statement of financial position at fair value or amortised 
cost when the Group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Subsequent measurement 
depends on the classification (see Notes 2.12–2.18).

2.12 Financial assets held at FVOCI
The Group has made an irrevocable election at initial recognition for equity investments to be classified as FVOCI 
(fair value through other comprehensive income). Changes in fair value are recognised through other comprehensive 
income rather than profit or loss. Dividends from these investments are recognised in profit or loss as other operating 
income. When such investments are disposed or become impaired, the accumulated gains and losses, recognised in 
other comprehensive income, are reclassified to retained earnings and will not be recycled to the income statement.

2.13 Financial assets held at FVPL
The Group holds loans and other debt like financial instruments at fair value with changes in fair value recognised 
through profit or loss. Any gains or losses that arise when such instruments are disposed are recognised in operating 
profit/(loss) within the income statement.

177

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

2. Accounting policies continued
2.14 Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables are recognised initially at their transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost less 
provision for impairment. Receivables are discounted where the time value of money is material.

The Group applies the simplified approach to providing for expected credit losses prescribed by IFRS 9, which permits 
the use of the lifetime expected loss provision for all trade receivables and contract assets. These estimates are based 
on historic credit loss experience, adjusted for forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and macro-economic 
and specific country-risk considerations with higher default rates applied to older balances.

In addition, if specific circumstances exist which would indicate that the receivable is irrecoverable a specific provision 
is made. A provision is made against trade receivables and contract assets until such time as the Group believes there 
to be no reasonable expectation of recovery, after which the trade receivable or contract asset balance is written off.

2.15 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand and deposits held on call with banks, together with other short-term 
highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, that are readily convertible to a known 
amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. Cash and cash equivalents include cash 
balances that are operated within a notional cash pooling arrangement, together with overdraft balances, which are 
presented separately in current liabilities in the statement of financial position when IAS 32 offsetting requirements 
are not met. Bank overdrafts are included under borrowings in the statement of financial position.

For the purpose of the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents, as defined above, is net 
of overdraft balances within the notional cash pooling arrangement and outstanding bank overdrafts as they are 
considered an integral part of the Group’s cash management.

2.16 Interest-bearing debt
Interest-bearing bank loans, loan notes and overdrafts are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs 
incurred, and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

2.17 Trade payables
Trade payables are initially measured at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest rate method. Trade payables are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, 
they are presented as non-current liabilities.

2.18 Derivative financial instruments
Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently 
remeasured at fair value. Changes in the fair value of the Group’s derivative instruments are recognised immediately in 
the income statement.

2.19 Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options 
are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. When share capital is repurchased, the amount of 
consideration paid, including directly attributable costs, is recognised as a charge to equity. Repurchased shares which 
are not cancelled, or shares purchased for the Employee Benefit Trust and the Savills Rabbi Trust, are classified as 
treasury shares and presented as a deduction from total equity.

178

Annual report and accounts 20232.20 Taxation
The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the income statement, except 
to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this case, the 
tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the year 
end date in the countries where the Company and its subsidiaries operate and generate taxable income. Management 
periodically evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is 
subject to interpretation. It establishes provisions where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to 
the tax authorities.

Deferred income tax is recognised, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases 
of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. However, deferred tax 
liabilities are not recognised if they arise from the initial recognition of goodwill; deferred income tax is not accounted 
for if it arises from the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination 
that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss and does not give rise to equal 
taxable and deductible temporary differences. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have 
been enacted or substantively enacted by the year end date and are expected to apply when the related deferred 
income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.

Deferred income tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be 
available against which the temporary differences can be utilised and the carry forward of unused tax credits and 
unused tax losses can be utilised, except when the deferred tax asset relating to the deductible temporary difference 
arises from the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the 
time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss and does not give rise to equal 
taxable and deductible temporary differences.

Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and 
associates except for deferred income tax liability where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is 
controlled by the Group and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. In 
respect of deductible temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, 
deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that the temporary differences will reverse in 
the foreseeable future and taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax 
assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income tax assets and liabilities relate to income tax 
levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or different taxable entities where there 
is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.

2.21 Pension obligations
The Group operates both defined benefit and defined contribution plans. A defined contribution plan is a pension 
plan under which the Group pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. The Group has no legal or constructive 
obligations to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits 
relating to employee service in the current and prior periods. A defined benefit plan is a pension plan that defines an 
amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent on one or more factors, 
such as age, years of service and compensation.

The asset or liability recognised in the statement of financial position in respect of defined benefit pension plans is 
the present value of the defined benefit obligations at the reporting date less the fair value of plan assets. The defined 
benefit obligations are calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The 
present value of the defined benefit obligations are determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows.

The defined benefit scheme charge consists of net interest costs, past service costs and the impact of any settlements 
or curtailments and is charged as an expense as they fall due.

All actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately in other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.

The net defined benefit cost is allocated amongst participating Group subsidiaries on the basis of pensionable salaries.

The Group also operates a defined contribution Group Personal Pension Plan for new entrants and a number of 
defined contribution individual pension plans. Contributions in respect of defined contribution pension schemes are 
charged to the income statement when they are payable. The Group has no further payment obligations once the 
contributions have been paid. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that a cash refund or 
a reduction in the future payments is available.

179

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

2. Accounting policies continued
2.22 Share-based payments
The Group operates equity-settled share-based compensation plans. The fair value of the employee services received 
in exchange for the grant of the options is recognised as an expense.

All equity-settled share-based payments are measured at fair value at the date of grant. Fair value is predominantly 
measured by use of the Actuarial Binomial option pricing model. The fair value determined at the grant date of the 
equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Market performance 
conditions are reflected within the grant date fair value. Service and non-market performance conditions are included 
in assumptions about the number of options that are expected to vest. At the end of each reporting period, the 
Group revises its estimate of the number of options that are expected to vest based on the service and non-market 
performance conditions. It recognises the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in the income statement, 
with a corresponding adjustment to equity.

Any cash proceeds received net of any directly attributable transaction costs are credited to share capital (nominal 
value) and share premium when the options are exercised.

The Company recognises the share-based payment charge relating to its employees in the income statement with 
the share-based payment recharge relating to employees of the Group’s subsidiaries recognised as an increase to the 
Company’s investment in subsidiary non-current asset on the Statement of Financial Position, with a corresponding 
entry to the Company’s share-based payment reserve. When contributions from the Group’s subsidiaries are received, 
these are recognised against the carrying value of the investment in subsidiary non-current asset to the extent that 
they relate to the IFRS 2 charge.

2.23 Employee Benefit Trust and Savills Rabbi Trust
The Company has established the Savills plc 1992 Employee Benefit Trust (the ‘EBT’) and the Savills Rabbi Trust (the 
‘Rabbi Trust’), the purposes of which are to grant awards to employees, to acquire shares in the Company pursuant 
to the Savills Deferred Share Bonus Plan and the Savills Deferred Share Plan and to hold shares in the Company for 
subsequent transfer to employees on the vesting of the awards granted under the schemes. The assets and liabilities 
of the EBT and Rabbi Trust are included in the Group statement of financial position. Investments in the Group’s own 
shares are shown as a deduction from equity.

From a Company perspective, cash contributions to the EBT are recognised as an investment in subsidiary non-current 
asset. When treasury shares are transferred out of the EBT upon vesting, the related cost of investment in subsidiary 
non-current asset is derecognised.

2.24 Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, 
it is probable that the Group will be required to settle that obligation and the amount has been reliably estimated. 
Provisions are measured at the Directors’ best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the 
reporting date and are discounted to present value where the effect is material, with the unwinding of the discount 
included in finance costs.

(a) Professional indemnity claims

Provisions on professional indemnity claims are recognised when it is probable that the Group will be required to settle 
claims against it as a result of a past event and the amount of the obligation can be reliably estimated. The Group 
recognises a provision based on the expected settlement amount for the claim. A separate receivable from insurers 
in relation to professional indemnity claims is recognised to the extent it is virtually certain of being received. This 
receivable is recognised within other receivables.

(b) Dilapidation provisions

The Group is required to perform dilapidation repairs and restore properties to agreed specifications on leased 
properties prior to the properties being vacated at the end of their lease term. Provision for such cost is made where 
a legal obligation is identified and the liability can be reasonably quantified. The provisions are reviewed on an annual 
basis for changes in cost estimates.

(c) Restructuring provisions

A provision is recognised when there is a present constructive obligation to meet the costs of restructure. This arises 
when there is a detailed formal plan for the restructuring, identifying at least the business or part of the business 
concerned, principal locations affected and the location, function and approximate number of employees to be 
compensated for terminating their services and when the plan has been communicated to those affected by it, 
raising an expectation that the plan will be carried out.

180

Annual report and accounts 20232.25 Revenue
The Group recognises revenue from the following major sources:

 ƒ Residential property transactions
 ƒ Commercial property transactions
 ƒ Property consultancy services
 ƒ Property and facilities management services
 ƒ Investment management services

Revenue is measured based on the consideration specified in a contract with a customer and excludes amounts 
collected on behalf of third parties. The Group recognises revenue when it transfers control of a product or service 
to a customer.

(a) Residential property transactions

Generally, revenue is recognised at a point in time, when unconditional contracts are exchanged. Fees are a fixed 
consideration or a fixed percentage of the transaction value and are invoiced to the client upon completion.

For new home developments revenue is recognised following the terms of the contract. In some instances revenue is 
recognised on a staged basis, reflecting the Group’s obligations to find a buyer and to further support the client after 
exchange of contracts through to completion of the build and contract, which can be a number of years later. For these 
developments, revenue recognition commences when the underlying contracts are exchanged, with total revenue from 
the contract recognised by the date of completion in accordance with contractual terms. Fees are a fixed consideration 
or a fixed percentage of the transaction value and are invoiced to the client at each contractual milestone, in line with 
the recognition of revenue. In other instances, the revenue will be recognised when contracts are exchanged and the 
transaction is unconditional. In these instances no further support is provided to the client after this point.

(b) Commercial property transactions

Generally, revenue is recognised at a point in time on the date of completion or when unconditional contracts have 
been exchanged. Fees are a fixed consideration or a fixed percentage of the transaction value and are invoiced to the 
client upon completion.

(c) Property consultancy services

The Group primarily provides a wide range of professional property services including valuation, building and housing 
consultancy, environmental consultancy, development, planning, research, corporate services, landlord and tenant 
services and strategic projects.

Generally, revenue is recognised over a period of time as services are rendered in accordance with the contract terms. 
Fee arrangements include fixed fee arrangements and fee for service arrangements (‘time and materials’).

For fixed-price contracts, revenue is recognised based on the stage of completion with reference to the actual services 
provided to the end of the reporting period as a proportion of the total services to be provided under the contract. 
This is determined on a contract by contract basis with reference to actual costs incurred in relation to the best 
estimate of total costs expected for completion of the contract or using a milestone based approach, depending on 
the contract terms.

For fee-for-service contracts, revenue is recognised up to the amount of fees that the Group is entitled to invoice for 
services performed to date based on contracted rates.

Payment arrangements vary between contracts, ranging from monthly retainers, monthly invoicing, quarterly 
invoicing, invoicing upon reaching certain milestones in the contract or payment upon completion of the final 
performance obligation in the contract. As a result, services rendered under a contract will often exceed consideration 
received from a customer and a contract asset will be recognised. If payments exceed services rendered, a contract 
liability will be recognised.

In some instances, revenue will be recognised at a point in time upon delivery of the final report to the client. This 
is often the case for standalone valuation reports where the performance obligation is the provision of a property 
valuation report to the client. The Group is entitled to invoice the customer when the final report has been issued, 
at which point payment will be due.

181

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

2. Accounting policies continued
2.25 Revenue continued
(d) Property and facilities management services

The Group primarily manages commercial, industrial, residential, leisure and agricultural property for owners.

The primary performance obligation relates to the ongoing management of a property where revenue is recognised 
over a period of time as services are rendered in accordance with the contract terms. Revenue is recognised over the 
life of a contract on a straight-line basis, which is in line with the satisfaction of the performance obligation.

Payment arrangements vary between contracts. The majority of customers are invoiced monthly or quarterly in 
advance, with consideration payable upon the issue of an invoice. Where invoicing is in advance a contract liability will 
be recognised.

In some property management arrangements, the Group is required to evaluate whether it is the principal (report 
revenues on a gross basis) or agent (report revenues on a net basis). Where the primary performance obligation of the 
contract relates to the arrangement of services for a customer rather than the responsibility to provide the services, 
the Group is considered the agent and the mark-up for the sub-contracted services will be recognised as revenue 
(revenues reported on a net basis).

For leasing fees and management fees on repairs or other ad hoc property management services outside of the 
standard contract terms, revenue is recognised at a point in time upon completion of the performance obligation.

In these instances, the invoice would be raised to the customer upon completion of the performance obligation and 
payment due at this time.

(e) Investment management services

Base management fees are received for the provision of fund and asset management services. Fund management 
fees are typically either fixed or calculated as a fixed percentage of the net asset value or gross asset value of the 
underlying portfolio of investments on a quarterly basis. Asset management fees are typically calculated as a fixed 
percentage of gross rental income or passing rents on a quarterly basis. Fees are estimated based on the previous 
quarter’s actual values and variances to these estimates are recognised in the following quarter. Revenue is recognised 
over a period of time as services are rendered in accordance with the contract terms. Revenue is recognised over the 
life of a contract on a straight-line basis, which is in line with the satisfaction of the performance obligation. Customers 
are generally invoiced quarterly in advance with consideration payable upon the issue of an invoice, as a result a 
contract liability will be recognised as the payments received will exceed services rendered.

Transaction fees are received for the coordination and management of the due diligence in connection with 
acquisitions and sales of assets for customers. Transaction fees are calculated as a fixed percentage on the purchase 
or sales price and are recognised at a point in time upon unconditional exchange of contracts.

Performance fees are received when a fund’s performance exceeds a designated return hurdle rate or pre-defined 
benchmark or when the sale of individual assets exceeds a designated return hurdle rate. The Group estimates fees 
for this variable fee arrangement using a most likely amount approach on a contract by contract basis. Variable 
consideration is included in revenue only to the extent that it is highly probable that the amount will not be subject 
to significant reversal when the uncertainty is resolved.

(f) Financing components

For contracts where the period between the transfer of the promised goods or services to the customer and 
payment by the customer exceeds one year, the transaction price is adjusted for the time value money. The financing 
component is recognised within finance costs or finance income in the income statement.

(g) Costs of obtaining a contract

In the Investment Management business the Group pays placement fees to third parties for sourcing new investors 
(the customer) and equity for a fund. These costs are capitalised and amortised on a straight-line basis over the life of 
the fund, consistent with the pattern of transfer of service to which the asset relates. The amortisation of these costs 
are recognised in the income statement, within other operating expenses.

Incremental costs of obtaining a contract are recognised in the income statement, within other operating expenses, 
when incurred when the amortisation period of the asset that would otherwise have been recognised is less than 
a year.

182

Annual report and accounts 20232.26 Leases
The Group enters into lease agreements for the use of buildings, equipment and motor vehicles. Lease terms are 
negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of different terms and conditions. The lease agreements 
do not impose any covenants other than the security interests in the leased assets that are held by the lessor. Leased 
assets may not be used as security for borrowing purposes.

Leases are recognised as a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability for future lease payables at the date 
at which the leased asset is available for use by the Group. Depreciation of the right-of-use asset will be recognised in 
the income statement on a straight-line basis, with interest recognised on the lease liability.

Assets and liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis. Lease liabilities include the net 
present value of the following lease payments:

commencement date;

 ƒ fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), less any lease incentives receivable;
 ƒ variable lease payments that are based on an index or a rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at the 
 ƒ amounts expected to be payable by the Group under residual value guarantees;
 ƒ the exercise price of a purchase option if the Group is reasonably certain to exercise that option; and
 ƒ payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the lease term reflects the Group exercising that option.

Lease payments to be made under reasonably certain extension options are also included in the measurement of the 
liability. The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease. If that rate cannot be readily 
determined, which is generally the case for leases in the Group, the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate is used, being 
the rate that the individual lessee would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of similar value 
to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment with similar terms, security and conditions.

The Group is exposed to potential future increases in variable lease payments based on an index or rate, which are 
not included in the lease liability until they take effect. When adjustments to lease payments based on an index or rate 
take effect, the lease liability is reassessed and adjusted against the right-of-use asset.

Lease payments are allocated between principal and interest cost. The finance cost is charged to the income 
statement over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the 
liability for each period.

Right-of-use assets are measured at cost comprising the following:

 ƒ the amount of the initial measurement of lease liability;
 ƒ any lease payments made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received;
 ƒ any initial direct costs; and
 ƒ restoration costs.

Right-of-use assets are generally depreciated over the shorter of the asset’s useful life and the lease term on 
a straight-line basis. If the Group is reasonably certain to exercise a purchase option, the right-of-use asset is 
depreciated over the underlying asset’s useful life. An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its 
recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount.

Payments associated with short-term leases of equipment and vehicles and all leases of low-value assets are 
recognised on a straight-line basis as an expense in the income statement. Short-term leases are leases with a lease 
term of 12 months or less. Low-value assets comprise IT equipment and small items of office furniture.

Extension and termination options are included in a number of property and equipment leases across the Group. 
These are used to maximise operational flexibility in terms of managing the assets used in the Group’s operations. The 
majority of extension and termination options held are exercisable only by the Group and not by the respective lessor.

2.27 Dividends
Dividend distributions are recognised as a liability in the Group’s financial statements in the period in which they are 
approved by the Company’s Shareholders.

183

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

2. Accounting policies continued
2.28 Adoption of standards, amendments and interpretations to standards
Standards, amendments and interpretations endorsed by the UK and mandatorily effective for the first time for the 
financial year beginning 1 January 2023 are not relevant or considered to have a significant impact on the Group and 
its financial statements. 

Finance (No 2) Bill 2023, that includes Pillar Two legislation, was substantively enacted in the UK on 20 June 2023, to 
apply for periods commencing 1 January 2024. Pillar Two Model Rules (Amendments to IAS 12) as issued in May 2023, 
was adopted as from that date. The amendments to IAS 12 introduce a temporary mandatory relief from accounting 
for deferred tax that arise from legislation implementing OECD Pillar Two. As required by the amendments to IAS 12 
the Group has applied the exception to recognising and disclosing information about deferred tax assets and liabilities 
related to Pillar Two income taxes. 

Under the legislation, the Group is liable to pay a top-up tax for the difference between its GloBE effective tax rate 
per jurisdiction and the 15% minimum rate. Since Pillar Two legislation was not effective at the reporting date, the 
Group has no related current tax exposure. Management’s assessment of the Group’s potential exposure to additional 
top-up tax based on current forecasts has identified some entities within the Group that may have an effective tax rate 
below 15% however operations in these entities are not significant and the value of the additional top-up tax would 
not be material for the Group. Due to the complexities in applying the legislation and calculating GloBE income, the 
quantitative impact of the enacted or substantively enacted legislation is not yet reasonably estimable. Therefore, 
even for those entities with an accounting effective tax rate above 15%, there might still be Pillar Two tax implications. 
The Group is currently engaged with tax specialists to assist it with applying the legislation.

There are no standards, amendments and interpretations to standards that are not yet effective that would be 
expected to have a material impact on the entity in the current or future reporting periods and on foreseeable 
future transactions with the exception of the amendments to IFRS 7: Financial Instruments Disclosures and IAS 7 
Statement of Cash Flows with respect to supplier finance arrangements, which is effective for reporting periods 
commencing 1 January 2024. These amendments require additional disclosures with respect to supplier finance 
arrangements that exist within the Group, including the terms and conditions of the arrangements, the value of such 
liabilities presented in trade and other payables and ranges of payment due dates. The Group has commenced a 
review of its arrangements to ensure the required disclosure information can be made as at 31 December 2024.

3. Financial risk management
3.1 Financial risk factors
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks. The Group has in place a risk management programme 
that seeks to limit the adverse effects on the financial performance of the Group. The Group and the Company use 
financial instruments to manage material foreign currency risk.

The treasury function is responsible for implementing risk management policies applied by the Group and the 
Company. The treasury function has a policy and procedures manual that sets out specific guidelines on financial risks 
and the use of financial instruments to manage these.

3.2 Foreign exchange risk

Group

The Group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risks primarily with respect to the euro, 
Hong Kong dollar and US dollar. Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions, recognised 
assets and liabilities and net investments in foreign operations. When there is a material committed foreign currency 
exposure the foreign exchange risk will be hedged. The Group may finance some overseas investments through the 
use of foreign currency borrowings. The Group does not actively seek to hedge risks arising from foreign currency 
translations due to their non-cash nature and the high costs associated with such hedging.

The sensitivity analysis has been prepared for the major currencies to which the Group is exposed. Recent historical 
movements in these currencies have been considered and it has been concluded that a 5–10% movement in rates is 
a reasonable benchmark.

184

Annual report and accounts 2023For the years ended 31 December, if the average currency conversion rates against sterling for the year had changed 
with all other variables held constant, the Group post-tax profit for the year would have increased or decreased as 
shown below:

£m

2023

Estimated impact on post-tax profit

Euro

Hong Kong dollar

US dollar

Chinese renminbi

Estimated impact on components of equity

Euro

Hong Kong dollar

US dollar

Chinese renminbi

2022

Estimated impact on post-tax profit

Euro

Hong Kong dollar

US dollar

Chinese renminbi

Estimated impact on components of equity

Euro

Hong Kong dollar

US dollar

Chinese renminbi

Company

Movement of currency against sterling

-10.0%

-5.0%

+5.0%

+10.0%

0.6

0.3

(0.4)

(0.7)

(0.3)

(0.2)

0.2

0.8

0.4

(0.5)

(0.5)

(0.3)

0.3

0.4

(1.0)

0.6

0.9

(7.8)

(17.3)

0.5

(4.1)

(9.1)

(4.4)

(2.3)

(1.4)

(0.8)

(0.8)

(0.6)

(0.9)

(8.8)

(18.7)

(4.8)

(0.7)

(0.4)

(0.4)

(0.3)

(0.5)

(4.6)

(9.8)

(2.5)

(0.5)

(1.1)

4.5

10.0

2.5

0.8

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.5

5.1

10.8

2.8

9.6

21.1

5.4

1.7

0.9

0.9

0.7

1.2

10.7

22.9

5.9

The Company recharges some of the Group’s international subsidiaries with respect to their allocation of central 
corporate costs and in some instances receives recharged costs from its international subsidiaries with respect to 
the cost of global initiatives incurred by those subsidiaries. The Company endeavours to invoice its subsidiaries in 
sterling to minimise the risk of exposure to foreign currency movements. Similar to the Group, when there is a material 
committed foreign currency exposure the foreign exchange risk will be hedged however the Company does not 
actively seek to hedge risks arising from foreign current transactions due to the high costs associated with such 
hedging. The impact of foreign exchange risk is considered minimal for the Company.

185

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

3. Financial risk management continued
3.3 Interest rate risk

Group

The Group has both interest-bearing assets and liabilities. The Group finances its operations through a mixture of 
retained profits and bank borrowings, at both fixed and floating interest rates. Borrowings issued at variable rates 
expose the Group cash flow to interest rate risk, which is partially offset by cash held at variable rates. Borrowings 
issued at fixed rates expose the Group to fair value interest rate risk. Group policy is to maintain at least 70% of its 
borrowings in fixed rate instruments.

For the year ended 31 December 2023, if the average interest rate for the year had changed with all other variables 
held constant, the Group’s post-tax profit for the year and equity would have increased or decreased as shown below:

£m

2023

Increase in interest rates

+0.5%

+1.0%

+1.5%

+2.0%

Estimated impact on post-tax profit and equity

1.1

2.1

3.2

4.2

2022

Estimated impact on post-tax profit and equity

1.0

2.6

4.3

5.9

£m

2023

Decrease in interest rates

-0.5%

-1.0%

-1.5%

-2.0%

Estimated impact on post-tax profit and equity

(1.1)

(2.1)

(3.2)

(4.2)

2022

Estimated impact on post-tax profit and equity

(2.3)

(3.7)

(3.7)

(3.6)

The rationale behind the 2.0% sensitivity analysis is based upon historic trends in interest rate movements and the 
short-term expectation that any increase or decrease greater than 2.0% is unlikely to occur.

Company

The Company has interest-bearing assets in the form of cash and cash equivalents and short-term interest bearing 
loans issued to the Group’s subsidiaries. The impact of interest rate changes is not considered material for the 
Company, with the value of interest income recognised in the period having a greater dependency on the level of cash 
and cash equivalents and intercompany loans maintained by the Company. The value of interest-bearing assets that 
the Company holds in any given period is primarily determined by the management of the UK Group’s cash pooling 
arrangement and the timing and value of dividends paid up by the Company’s subsidiary.

186

Annual report and accounts 20233.4 Credit risk

Group

Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, equity investments, loans receivables, debt like financial instruments 
and derivative financial instruments and deposits with banks and financial institutions, as well as credit exposures to 
clients, including outstanding receivables and committed transactions.

The Group has policies that require appropriate credit checks on potential customers before engaging with them. 
A risk control framework is used to assess the credit quality of clients, taking into account financial position, past 
experience and other factors. There were no material individual trade receivable balances as at 31 December 2023. 
Refer to Note 20 for information on the credit quality of trade and other receivables and the maximum exposure to 
credit risk arising on outstanding receivables from clients.

Individual risk limits for banks and financial institutions are set based on external ratings and in accordance with 
limits set by the Board. The utilisation of credit limits is regularly monitored. As at the reporting date, no significant 
credit risk existed in relation to banking counterparties. No credit limits were exceeded during the reporting year, and 
management does not expect any losses from non-performance by these counterparties.

The table below shows the Group’s cash and cash equivalents, overdrafts in notional pooling arrangements and bank 
overdrafts, as per the Statement of Cash Flows, split by counterparty ratings at the reporting date:

Counterparty rating (provided by S&P)

AAAm

AA-

A+

A

A-

BBB+

BBB or below

Total

Company

2023
£m

–

37.2

152.2

45.1

29.3

13.7

32.8

2022
£m

1.0

36.2

148.9

195.1

31.9

18.2

33.0

310.3

464.3

The Company’s credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, as well as outstanding receivables primarily due 
from the Group’s subsidiaries.

As at 31 December 2023, the Company’s cash was held with Barclays Bank PLC (2022: £92.6m), which is an A+ rated 
bank. As at 31 December 2022, £1.0m of the Company’s cash was held in BlackRock Institutional Liquidity Funds, 
which had an AAAm rating.

Significant individual intercompany receivable balances include £27.9m (2022: £18.6m) due from Savills (UK) Limited, 
£30.4m due from Savills Holding Company Limited (2022: £0.0m), the majority of which relates to a loan (£30.0m), 
and £1.4m (2023: £52.8m) due from Savills (Overseas Holdings) Limited. There are no other significant individual 
receivable balances as at 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022.

3.5 Liquidity risk

Group

The Group maintains appropriate committed facilities to ensure the Group has sufficient funds available for operations 
and expansion. The Group prepares an annual funding plan approved by the Board which sets out the Group’s 
expected financing requirements for the next 12 months.

Management monitors rolling forecasts of the Group’s liquidity reserve comprising undrawn borrowing facilities 
(Note 24) and cash and cash equivalents (Note 21 and Note 22) on the basis of expected cash flow. This is carried 
out at local level in the operating companies of the Group in accordance with Group practice as well as on a Group 
consolidated basis.

187

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

3. Financial risk management continued
3.5 Liquidity risk continued
Group continued

The table below analyses the Group’s financial liabilities and net-settled derivative financial liabilities into relevant 
maturity Groupings based on the remaining period from the reporting date to the contractual maturity date. 
The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows, unless otherwise stated.

Less than
a year

Between
1 and 2 years

Between
2 and 5 years

Over
5 years

Total
contractual
undiscounted
cash flows

180.0

192.3

295.8

5.7

Carrying
values

157.2

192.3

254.2

5.7

625.2

623.6

34.4

–

65.0

–

5.3

70.3

–

111.1

3.2

5.7

62.7

–

58.5

–

1.0

104.7

190.3

122.2

1,299.0

1,233.0

4.6

–

77.9

3.9

19.4

41.5

–

110.6

2.8

3.4

125.6

–

70.7

–

0.1

105.8

158.3

196.4

187.0

202.0

320.6

7.7

699.7

1,417.1

159.7

202.0

277.6

7.7

698.7

1,345.7

£m

2023

Borrowings

Overdrafts in notional pooling arrangement

Lease liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

Trade and other payables

2022 restated*

Borrowings

12.6

192.3

61.2

2.5

613.2

881.8

15.3

Overdrafts in notional pooling arrangement

202.0

Lease liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

Trade and other payables

61.4

1.0

676.8

956.5

*  See Note 18.6 for details of prior period restatement.

Company

The Company is part of the UK Group’s cash pooling arrangement, which is managed by the Group Treasury function 
and provides the Company access to the Group’s revolving credit facility and other centrally managed sources 
of financing. Management monitors rolling forecasts of the UK Group’s cash and cash equivalents on the basis of 
expected cash flows.

The table below analyses the Company’s financial liabilities into relevant maturity Groupings based on the remaining 
period from the reporting date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual 
undiscounted cash flows, unless otherwise stated.

Less than
a year

Between
1 and 2 years

Between
2 and 5 years

Over
5 years

Total
contractual
undiscounted
cash flows

Carrying
values

7.9

13.3

21.2

7.1

13.7

20.8

7.9

–

7.9

7.1

–

7.1

23.8

–

23.8

21.2

–

21.2

29.7

–

29.7

33.5

–

33.5

69.3

13.3

82.6

68.9

13.7

82.6

60.2

13.3

73.5

58.8

13.7

72.5

£m

2023

Lease liabilities

Trade and other payables

2022

Lease liabilities

Trade and other payables

188

Annual report and accounts 20233.6 Capital risk management
The Group’s and Company’s objectives when managing capital are:

 ƒ to safeguard the Group’s ability to provide returns for Shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders; and
 ƒ to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

The Group’s overall strategy remains unchanged from 2022. This strategy applies to the Company.

Savills plc is not subject to any externally-imposed capital requirements, with the exception of its regulated entities 
within the Savills Investment Management Group and its FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) regulated entity, 
Savills Capital Advisors Limited, in the UK. All regulated entities complied with the relevant capital requirements for 
the year ended 31 December 2023. The Savills Investment Management Group has regulated entities in the UK, Jersey, 
Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information on Savills Investment Management 
Group’s regulated entities and regulatory requirements, please visit www.savillsim.com.

In order to maintain an optimal capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to Shareholders, 
return capital to Shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

The Board has put in place a distribution policy which takes into account the degree of maintainability of the Group’s 
different profit streams and the Group’s overall exposure to cyclical Transaction Advisory profits, as well as the 
requirement to maintain a certain level of cash resources for working capital and corporate development purposes.

The Board will recommend an ordinary dividend broadly reflecting the profits derived from the Group’s less volatile 
businesses. In addition, when profits from the cyclical Transaction Advisory business are strong, the Board will consider 
and, if appropriate, recommend the payment of a supplemental dividend alongside the final ordinary dividend. The 
value of any such supplemental dividend will vary depending on the performance of the Group’s Transaction Advisory 
business and the Group’s anticipated working capital and corporate development requirements through the cycle. It is 
intended that, in normal circumstances, the combined value of the ordinary and supplemental dividends declared in 
respect of any year are covered at least 1.5 times by retained earnings and/or at least 2.0 times by underlying profits 
after taxation. The Group complied with this policy throughout the year.

The Group’s policy is to borrow centrally, if required, to meet anticipated funding requirements. These borrowings, 
together with cash generated from operations, are then on-lent or contributed as equity to certain subsidiaries. 
The Board of Directors monitors a number of debt measures on a rolling forward 12-month basis including: gross cash 
by location; gross debt by location; cash subject to restrictions; total debt servicing cost to operating profit; gross 
borrowings as a percentage of EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation); and forecast 
headroom against available facilities. These internal measures indicate the levels of debt that the Group has and are 
closely monitored to ensure compliance with banking covenants and to confirm that the Group has sufficient unused 
facilities. The Group complied with all banking covenants throughout the year and met all internal counterparty 
exposure limits set by the Board.

The capital structure is as follows:

£m

Equity

Cash and cash equivalents

Overdrafts in notional pooling arrangement

Bank overdrafts

Borrowings (gross of transaction costs)

Group

Company

2023

2022

2023

2022

752.8

805.3

355.1

328.1

506.8

669.1

118.9

93.6

(192.3)

(202.0)

(4.2)

(2.8)

(153.8)

(158.3)

–

–

–

–

–

–

Cash and cash equivalents net of gross borrowings

156.5

306.0

118.9

93.6

189

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

3. Financial risk management continued
3.7 Categories of financial instruments

Group
£m

Financial
assets at
FVPL
2023

Financial
assets at
FVOCI
2023

Financial
assets at
amortised
cost
2023

Total
carrying
amount
2023

Financial
assets at
FVPL
2022

Financial
assets at
FVOCI
2022

Financial
assets at
amortised
cost
2022

Total
carrying
amount
2022

Financial assets:

Financial assets at FVOCI

Financial assets at FVPL

Trade and other receivables

Derivative financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

–

38.5

–

1.0

–

5.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

5.0

38.5

606.2

606.2

–

1.0

506.8

506.8

Total financial assets

39.5

5.0

1,113.0

1,157.5

–

36.8

–

0.3

–

37.1

5.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

5.7

36.8

549.5

549.5

–

0.3

669.1

669.1

5.7

1,218.6

1,261.4

Group
£m

Financial liabilities:

Borrowings

Overdrafts in notional pooling arrangements

Lease liabilities

Trade and other payables

Derivative financial instruments

Total financial liabilities

Financial
liabilities
at FVPL
2023

Financial
liabilities at
amortised
cost
2023

Total
carrying
amount
2023

Financial
liabilities
at FVPL
2022

Financial
liabilities at
amortised
cost
2022

Total
carrying
amount
2022

–

–

–

–

5.7

5.7

157.2

192.3

157.2

192.3

254.2

254.2

623.6

623.6

–

5.7

1,227.3

1,233.0

–

–

–

–

7.7

7.7

159.7

159.7

202.0

202.0

277.6

277.6

698.5

698.5

–

7.7

1,337.8

1,345.5

Financial
assets at
amortised
cost
2023

Total
carrying
amount
2023

Financial
assets at
amortised
cost
2022

75.0

118.9

75.0

118.9

193.9

193.9

84.8

93.6

178.4

Total
carrying
amount
2022

84.8

93.6

178.4

Financial
liabilities at
amortised 
cost
2023

Total 
carrying
amount
2023

Financial
liabilities at 
amortised 
cost
2022

Total 
carrying
amount
2022

60.2

13.1

73.3

60.2

13.1

73.3

58.8

13.7

72.5

58.8

13.7

72.5

Company
£m

Financial assets:

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total financial assets

Company
£m

Financial liabilities:

Lease liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total financial liabilities

190

Annual report and accounts 20233.8 Fair value estimation
The following table presents the Group’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value at 31 December 2023:

£m

2023

Assets

Financial assets at FVOCI

– Unlisted equity investments

Financial assets at FVPL

Derivative financial instruments

Total assets

Liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

Total liabilities

Level 2

Level 3

Total

–

–

1.0

1.0

–

–

5.0

38.5

–

43.5

5.7

5.7

5.0

38.5

1.0

44.5

5.7

5.7

The following table presents the Group’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value at 31 December 2022:

£m

2022

Assets

Financial assets at FVOCI

– Listed equity investments

– Unlisted equity investments

Financial assets at FVPL

Derivative financial instruments

Total assets

Liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

Total liabilities

Level 1

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

0.8

–

–

–

0.8

–

–

–

–

–

0.3

0.3

1.0

1.0

–

4.9

36.8

–

41.7

6.7

6.7

0.8

4.9

36.8

0.3

42.8

7.7

7.7

Level 1 instruments are those whose fair values are based on quoted market prices.

Level 2

The fair value of derivative financial instruments relating to forward foreign exchange contracts are determined by 
using valuation techniques using observable market data. The fair value of derivative financial instruments is based on 
the market value of similar instruments with similar maturities.

The gross notional principal amounts of the outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts at 31 December 2023 
were £107.9m (2022: £70.8m). All contracts mature within one year and are classed as current.

Gains and losses on forward foreign exchange contracts are recognised in net foreign exchange gains and losses in 
the income statement.

191

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

3. Financial risk management continued
3.8 Fair value estimation continued
Level 3

If one or more of the significant inputs is not based on observable market data, the instrument is included in Level 3.

Financial assets held at FVOCI (unlisted equity investments) included in Level 3 fall under two categories. The first, 
where cost has been determined as the best approximation of fair value. Cost is considered the best approximation 
of fair value in these instances either due to insufficient more recent information being available and/or there being a 
wide range of possible fair value measurements due to the nature of the investments and cost is considered the best 
estimate of fair value within the range. The second, where management have determined the fair value of the unlisted 
equity security based upon the latest trading performance of the investments, cash flow forecasts of the investments 
and applying these to a discounted cash flow valuation and/or considering evidence from recent fundraising 
initiatives undertaken.

Financial assets held at FVPL included in Level 3 fall under two categories. The first, where the fair value of 
investment funds is based on underlying asset values determined by the Fund Manager’s quarterly financial 
statements. The second, where management have determined the fair value of convertible loans based upon the latest 
trading performance of the equity investments and cash flow forecasts of the investments and applying these to a 
discounted cash flow valuation. See Note 18.3 for the terms of these loans.

Deferred consideration held at fair value relates to contingent deferred consideration. The fair value of contingent 
deferred consideration classified as Level 3 is derived from management’s best estimate of future revenue/profits of 
the relevant acquired business, in accordance with the contractually agreed earn-out targets.

The derivative financial liabilities classified as Level 3 relate to put and call options, the fair value of which is derived 
from management’s best estimate of the average EBITDA forecast of the relevant businesses. These include a call 
option on the Savills IM Holdings Limited group. Under this agreement Samsung Life has the option to increase its 
interest by up to 10% over the four years following the initial transaction in December 2021, depending upon the 
quantum and timing of the provision of capital to Savills Investment Management’s investment products, the maximum 
being achievable if at least US$2bn of capital is committed. This option is classed as non-current. Gains and losses are 
recognised in operating profits in the income statement. Derivative financial liabilities also include a put and call option 
on the remaining 40% of the Absolute Maintenance Services Pte Limited and Solute Pte Limited businesses. Under the 
agreement made in 2022, after 2 years the Group has the option to purchase and the non-controlling interest holder 
has the option to request the Group to purchase an additional 20%, with the remaining 20% after 5 years. The fair 
value of this option is split between current and non-current accordingly. The loss upon recognition has 
been recognised in reserves.

The following table presents the changes in Level 3 items for the period ended 31 December 2023:

Derivative 
financial 
instruments

Financial 
assets at 
FVOCI

Financial 
assets at 
FVPL

(6.7)

(0.6)

–

–

–

–

0.2

1.3

0.1

(5.7)

4.9

2.2

(2.3)

(1.5)

1.8

(0.1)

–

0.1

(0.1)

5.0

36.8

4.6

(1.2)

–

–

0.1

–

(1.0)

(0.8)

38.5

£m

Opening balance 1 January 2023

Additions

Disposals

Transfer to investment in associate

Conversion of loan

Transfer to financial assets at FVPL

Settlement

Remeasurement

Exchange movement

Closing balance 31 December 2023

192

Annual report and accounts 20234. Critical accounting estimates and management judgements
4.1 Accounting estimates
Estimates are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience, current market conditions and other 
factors including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual 
results may differ from these estimates. Changes in accounting estimates may be necessary if there are changes in 
circumstances on which the estimate was based, or as a result of new information or more experience. The estimates 
that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the 
next financial year are discussed below.

(a) Defined benefit pensions

Determining the value of the future defined benefit obligation requires estimation in respect of the assumptions used 
to calculate present values. These include future mortality, discount rate and inflation. Management determines these 
assumptions in consultation with an independent actuary. Details of the estimates made in calculating the defined 
benefit obligation are disclosed in Note 10.2.

(b) Goodwill

The Group tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis by comparing the carrying value of these assets with 
the value-in-use calculations of the relevant cash-generating unit (‘CGU’). Within this process, the Group makes a 
number of key assumptions including discount rates, terminal growth rates and forecast cash flows. The assumptions 
impact the recoverability of goodwill and the requirement for impairment charges in the income statement. 
Additional information is disclosed in Note 15, which highlights the critical estimates applied in the value-in-use 
calculations for those CGUs that are considered most sensitive to changes in key assumptions and the sensitivity 
of these critical estimates.

(c) Debtor recoverability

As described in Note 20, provisions for impairment of trade receivables have been made. In reviewing the 
appropriateness of these provisions, consideration has been given to the ageing of the debt and the potential 
likelihood of default, taking into account current and future economic conditions. Impairment analysis is performed by 
local management using a provision matrix to measure the expected credit losses, which is based on historical credit 
loss experience adjusted for forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and economic environment.

4.2 Management judgements
The following are critical judgements, apart from those involving estimations (which are dealt with separately above), 
that the Directors have made in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies and that have the most 
significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

(a) Non-underlying items

The Group presents underlying profit, earnings and taxation as part of its non-GAAP measures explained in Note 
2.3. These measures involve the exclusion of items that, in the judgement of the Directors, need to be disclosed 
separately in order to provide additional information with respect to the Group’s operational performance. The items 
that are excluded are considered significant and non-operational in nature and meet the Group’s criteria for exclusion 
as described in Note 2.3. Further details of these items disclosed by the Directors in the reconciliation to underlying 
profit are detailed in Note 8.

(b) Critical judgements in determining the lease term

In determining the lease term, management considers all facts and circumstances that create an economic incentive 
to exercise an extension option, or not exercise a termination option. Extension options (or periods after termination 
options) are only included in the lease term if the lease is reasonably certain to be extended (or not terminated). 
The judgements made impact the value of the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities recognised in the statement 
of financial position upon initial recognition of a lease.

The assessment is reviewed if a significant event or a significant change in circumstances occurs which affects this 
assessment and that is within the control of the lessee.

193

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

5. Revenue from contracts with customers
Revenue of £2,238.0m (2022: £2,298.3m) in the income statement relates solely to revenue arising from contracts 
with customers.

The Group derives revenue from the transfer of services over time and at a point in time in the major product lines and 
geographical regions as highlighted in the Group’s segment analysis (Note 6).

5.1 Contract-related assets and liabilities
The Group recognised the following revenue contract-related assets and liabilities:

Asset recognised for costs incurred to obtain a contract – investment management contracts

Contract assets – consulting contracts

Accrued income (Note 20.1)

Total contract-related assets

Current

Non-current

Deferred revenue

Total contract liabilities – current

2023
£m

1.8

12.6

53.8

68.2

66.4

1.8

68.2

11.9

11.9

2022
£m

2.4

7.4

60.7

70.5

68.1

2.4

70.5

14.0

14.0

No material impairment loss on contract assets has been recognised in the current or prior year.

Amortisation on investment management contract costs recognised in the income statement amounted to £0.7m 
(2022: £0.2m).

All material consulting contracts are for periods of one year or less. As permitted under IFRS 15, the transaction price 
allocated to these unsatisfied contracts is not disclosed.

The movement in accrued income and deferred income year-on-year is a result of normal trading fluctuations and is 
not materially impacted by subsidiary acquisitions, foreign exchange fluctuations or changes in assumptions.

5.2 Revenue recognised in relation to contract liabilities
Revenue recognised in the year that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period 
totalled £13.7m (2022: £12.9m).

Revenue recognised in the year from performance obligations satisfied in previous years was not material.

194

Annual report and accounts 20236. Segment analysis
Operating segments reflect internal management reporting to the Group’s chief operating decision-maker, defined 
as the Group Executive Board (‘GEB’). The GEB primarily manages the business based on the geographic location in 
which the Group operates, with the Investment Management business being managed separately.

The operating segments are identified as the following regions: the UK, Continental Europe and the Middle East 
(‘CEME’), Asia Pacific and North America. The Savills Investment Management business is also considered a separate 
operating segment. The reportable operating segments derive their revenue primarily from property-related services. 
Within the UK and Asia Pacific, both commercial and residential services are provided. Other segments are largely 
commercial-based.

Refer to the Group overview on page 5 and the segmental reviews on pages 22 to 26 for further information on 
revenue sources. The GEB also reviews the business with reference to the nature of the services in each region. 
Therefore, the Group has presented its segment analysis below in a matrix with the primary operating segments 
based on regions in which the Group operates.

The GEB assesses the performance of operating segments based on a measure of underlying profit before tax which 
adjusts reported pre-tax profit by profit/(loss) on disposals, share-based payment adjustment, significant restructuring 
costs, significant transaction-related costs, amortisation and impairment of intangible assets arising from business 
combinations, impairment of goodwill and other items that are considered non-operational and material (fair value 
gain on a transaction-related call option in the current and prior year). Segmental assets and liabilities are not 
measured or reported to the GEB, but non-current assets are disclosed geographically on page 197.

The segment information provided to the GEB for revenue and underlying profit/(loss) before tax for the year ended 
31 December 2023 is as follows:

2023

Revenue

United Kingdom – commercial

United Kingdom – residential

Total United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific – commercial

Asia Pacific – residential

Total Asia Pacific*

North America**

Revenue

Underlying profit/(loss) before tax

United Kingdom – commercial

United Kingdom – residential

Total United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific – commercial

Asia Pacific – residential

Total Asia Pacific

North America

Underlying profit/(loss) before tax***

Transaction
Advisory
£m

Consultancy
£m

Property and
Facilities
Management
£m

Investment
Management
£m

Unallocated
£m

Total
£m

100.6

171.0

271.6

114.6

102.1

17.9

120.0

266.7

772.9

14.0

19.4

33.4

(20.3)

(2.9)

1.5

(1.4)

(7.4)

4.3

227.8

43.2

271.0

76.3

84.1

–

84.1

28.4

304.5

51.2

355.7

96.7

447.1

–

447.1

–

43.2

–

43.2

54.8

7.8

–

7.8

–

459.8

899.5

105.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

676.1

265.4

941.5

342.4

641.1

17.9

659.0

295.1

2,238.0

25.4

4.3

29.7

5.0

1.9

–

1.9

(1.0)

35.6

24.5

5.9

30.4

(3.8)

22.2

–

22.2

–

48.8

4.8

–

4.8

9.3

0.7

–

0.7

–

(8.7)

–

(8.7)

–

–

–

–

–

14.8

(8.7)

60.0

29.6

89.6

(9.8)

21.9

1.5

23.4

(8.4)

94.8

195

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

6. Segment analysis continued
The segment information provided to the GEB for revenue and underlying profit/(loss) for the year ended 
31 December 2022 is as follows:

2022

Revenue

United Kingdom – commercial

United Kingdom – residential

Total United Kingdom

CEME****

Asia Pacific – commercial

Asia Pacific – residential

Total Asia Pacific*

North America**

Revenue

Underlying profit/(loss) before tax

United Kingdom – commercial

United Kingdom – residential

Total United Kingdom

CEME****

Asia Pacific – commercial

Asia Pacific – residential

Total Asia Pacific

North America

Underlying profit/(loss) before tax***

Transaction 
Advisory
£m

Consultancy
£m

Property and
Facilities
Management
£m

Investment
Management
£m

Unallocated
£m

Total
£m

118.9

208.3

327.2

129.8

145.3

24.3

169.6

303.5

930.1

20.4

35.1

55.5

(2.7)

13.4

3.4

16.8

2.3

71.9

202.0

46.4

248.4

71.9

87.4

–

87.4

33.8

278.7

48.7

327.4

81.6

404.9

–

404.9

–

53.3

–

53.3

51.7

7.8

–

7.8

–

441.5

813.9

112.8

21.8

6.2

28.0

8.6

2.9

–

2.9

1.8

41.3

21.2

4.7

25.9

(0.4)

21.0

–

21.0

–

46.5

8.7

–

8.7

11.8

0.7

–

0.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(16.3)

–

(16.3)

–

–

–

–

–

652.9

303.4

956.3

335.0

645.4

24.3

669.7

337.3

2,298.3

55.8

46.0

101.8

17.3

38.0

3.4

41.4

4.1

21.2

(16.3)

164.6

*  Revenues of £287.9m (2022: £291.8m) are attributable to the Hong Kong and Macau region.

**  Revenues of £288.3m (2022: £329.2m) are attributable to the US.

***   Transaction Advisory underlying profit before tax includes depreciation of £34.5m (2022: £31.8m), software amortisation of £2.7m (2022: £2.2m) and share 
of post-tax profit from joint ventures and associates of £2.5m (2022: £3.2m). Consultancy underlying profit before tax includes depreciation of £7.6m (2022: 
£9.4m), software amortisation of £0.7m (2022: £0.7m) and share of post-tax profit from joint ventures and associates of £0.1m (2022: £0.3m). Property and 
Facilities Management underlying profit before tax includes depreciation of £18.1m (2022: £16.1m), software amortisation of £1.6m (2022: £1.5m) and share 
of post-tax profit from joint ventures and associates of £7.6m (2022: £8.6m). Investment Management underlying profit before tax includes depreciation 
of £2.6m (2022: £2.1m) and software amortisation of £0.5m (2022: £0.5m). Included in Other underlying loss is depreciation of £6.8m (2022: £6.4m) and 
software amortisation of £0.5m (2022: £2.0m).

**** Revenue (£27.6m) and underlying profit (£3.7m) attributable to the project management consultancy business in CEME has been reclassified from Property 

and Facilities Management to Consultancy to ensure consistent presentation of this business stream with the rest of the Group.

The Unallocated segment includes costs and other expenses at holding company and subsidiary levels, which are not 
directly attributable to the operating activities of the Group’s business segments.

A reconciliation of underlying profit before tax to profit before tax is provided in Note 8.

Inter-segmental revenue is not material. No single customer contributed 10% or more to the Group’s revenue for both 
2023 and 2022.

196

Annual report and accounts 2023Non-current assets by geography are set out below:

Non-current assets

United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific

North America*

Total non-current assets

2023
£m

2022
£m

281.4

147.8

144.9

288.5

862.6

287.1

145.7

156.9

294.6

884.3

*  Total non-current assets of £284.6m (2022: £291.8m) are attributable to the US.

Non-current assets include goodwill and intangible assets, plant, property and equipment, right-of-use assets, 
contract-related assets, non-current non-financial assets, and investments in joint ventures and associates. Defined 
benefit pension surplus, non-current financial assets and deferred tax assets are not included.

7. Operating profit
7.1 Operating profit
Operating profit is stated after charging/(crediting):

In employee benefit expense

– Restructuring costs

– Transaction-related costs

In depreciation

– Depreciation of right-of-use assets – leasehold properties

– Depreciation of right-of-use assets – equipment and motor vehicles

In other operating expenses

–  Net foreign exchange losses/(gains) (including net losses/(gains) on forward 

foreign exchange contracts)

– Restructuring costs

– Transaction-related costs: deferred consideration revisions

– Transaction-related costs: other

– Impairment of fixed assets

– Impairment of goodwill

– Expense relating to short-term leases

– Expense relating to variable lease payments not included in lease liabilities

– Gain on disposal of leases (including sub-lets)

In other net gains

– Dividends from financial assets held at FVOCI

Related to investments held at the end of the reporting period

– Dividends from financial assets held at FVPL

– Profit on disposal of joint ventures

– Fair value gain on derivative financial instrument

Group

2023
£m

12.8

12.8

47.6

3.4

0.7

1.1

–

1.5

–

3.9

0.8

0.4

(4.3)

–

(0.2)

(0.4)

(1.4)

2022
£m

0.1

15.4

47.2

2.0

(0.7)

–

(1.6)

1.4

0.8

–

1.0

1.3

–

(0.1)

(0.1)

–

(0.1)

Other operating expenses includes £253.8m of contract costs in relation to property and facilities management 
contracts (2022: £225.8m). There are no other cost categories within other operating expenses that are individually 
materially significant.

197

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

7. Operating profit continued
7.2 Fees payable to the Company’s auditors, Ernst & Young LLP, and its associates

Audit services

Fees payable to the Company’s auditors for the audit of the parent Company

Fees payable to the Company’s auditors and its associates for the audit of the 
Company’s subsidiaries

Audit-related assurance services

Total

Group

2023
£m

2022
£m

0.9

3.3

4.2

0.4

4.6

0.8

3.3

4.1

0.3

4.4

Audit–related assurance services relate to the work performed in connection with the Group’s interim financial 
statements and regulatory audits.

8. Underlying profit before tax

Reported profit before tax

Adjustments:

Amortisation of intangible assets arising from business combinations

Impairment of goodwill

Share-based payment adjustment (see Note 2.3 for explanation)

Profit on disposal of joint ventures

Restructuring costs

Transaction-related costs

Fair value gain on transaction-related call option

Underlying profit before tax

2023
£m

55.4

9.9

3.9

(1.1)

(0.4)

13.9

14.6

(1.4)

94.8

2022
£m

153.9

9.9

–

(14.7)

–

0.1

15.5

(0.1)

164.6

Impairment of goodwill in the year relates to the Indonesia cash generating unit. See Note 15 for further details.

Profit on disposal recognised is primarily in relation to disposal of holdings in joint ventures in China. 

Restructuring costs in the current year includes the pay-out of settlement costs and the cost of a restructuring 
programme, which was focused principally on a small number of areas of the global business where management 
anticipates that market recovery will take longer to emerge. In the prior year, restructuring costs related to the ongoing 
IFRS 2 ‘Share-based Payment’ charge for deferred shares, with a five-year vesting period, issued in relation to the 
restructuring upon acquisition of Aguirre Newman SA (‘Aguirre Newman’) in 2017.

Transaction-related costs includes a £12.7m charge for future consideration payments which are contingent on the 
continuity of recipients’ employment in the future (2022: £14.8m). In the current and prior year, a significant portion of 
the charge related to the acquisition of DRC Capital LLP (‘DRC’) in 2021. Transaction-related costs also consist of £1.5m 
of professional advisory transaction fees (2022: £1.4m) and £0.3m of interest on deferred consideration and non-current 
future payments in relation to business acquisitions that are linked to employment (2022: £0.3m). In addition, 
transaction-related costs included a £0.1m (2022: £0.6m) charge relating to prepaid amounts issued as part of business 
acquisitions that are linked to continued active engagement in the business. Of these items, prepaid amounts that are 
linked to active engagement in the business are recorded as employee benefits expenses in the income statement, 
unwinding of interest is recorded as a finance cost in the income statement and all other charges/(credits) are recorded 
within other operating expenses. In the prior year, transaction-related costs also consist of a £1.6m credit (2023: £nil) 
for fair value changes to contingent deferred consideration not related to continuity of employment.

In the current year, a fair value gain of £1.4m was recognised on the fair value measurement of the Samsung Life call 
option, which gives Samsung Life the right to purchase up to an additional 10% shareholding in the Savills Investment 
Management group subject to the quantum of capital it has invested in SIM products during the initial five-year term 
(2022: fair value gain of £0.1m).

198

Annual report and accounts 20239. Employees
9.1 Employee benefits expense

Basic salaries and wages

Profit share and commissions

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Other pension costs

Share-based payments

Group

Company

2023
£m

853.3

464.8

1,318.1

109.3

40.1

28.8

2022
£m

780.1

557.3

1,337.4

103.9

38.1

30.4

2023
£m

13.0

7.4

20.4

3.0

0.7

2.5

1,496.3

1,509.8

26.6

9.2 Staff numbers
The monthly average number of employees (including Directors) for the year was:

United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific

North America

Group

Company

2023

9,454

3,220

2022

9,036

2,888

28,412

27,462

994

945

2023

194

–

–

–

2022
£m

11.4

7.9

19.3

2.5

0.6

2.9

25.3

2022

178

–

–

–

The average number of UK employees (including Directors) during the year included 128 employed under fixed-term 
and temporary contracts (2022: 116).

9.3 Key management compensation

42,080

40,331

194

178

Key management

– Short-term employee benefits

– Post-employment benefits

– Share-based payments

Group

Company

2023
£m

15.1

0.1

4.2

19.4

2022
£m

17.4

0.1

4.9

22.4

2023
£m

3.9

0.1

1.8

5.8

2022
£m

4.3

0.1

2.1

6.5

The key management of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2023 comprised the Board of Directors and the 
GEB members. The key management of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022 comprised the Board of 
Directors and the GEB members. Directors’ remuneration is contained in the Remuneration Report on pages 127 to 150.

During the year, seven (2022: six) GEB members made aggregate gains totalling £4.1m (2022: £3.3m) on the exercise 
of options under PSP, DSBP and DSP schemes (2022: PSP, DSBP and DSP schemes). For the Company, three 
(2022: three) members of key management made aggregate gains totalling £1.9m (2022: £1.9m) on the exercise of 
options under PSP and DSBP schemes (2022: PSP and DSBP schemes).

Retirement benefits under the defined benefit scheme are accruing for two (2022: two) GEB members and benefits 
are accruing under a defined contribution scheme in Hong Kong for two (2022: two) GEB members. For the Company, 
retirement benefits under the defined benefit scheme are accruing for one (2022: one) Executive Director.

199

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

10. Pension schemes
10.1 Defined contribution plans
The Group operates the Savills UK Group Personal Pension Plan, a defined contribution scheme, a number of defined 
contribution individual pension plans and a Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme in Hong Kong, to which it contributes. 
The total pension charges in respect of these plans were £40.1m (2022: £38.1m). The amount outstanding as at 
31 December 2023 in relation to defined contribution schemes within current trade and other payables is £3.4m 
(2022: £2.9m).

10.2 Defined benefit plans
The Group operates two defined benefit plans. The Pension Plan of Savills (the ‘UK Plan’) is a UK-based plan which 
provided final salary pension benefits to some employees, but was closed with regard to future service-based benefit 
accrual with effect from 31 March 2010. From 1 April 2010, pension benefits for former employees of the UK Plan are 
provided through the Group’s defined contribution Personal Pension Plan.

The UK Plan is administered by a separate Trust that is legally separated from the Company. The Board of the pension 
fund is composed of six trustees. The Board of the pension fund is required by law and by its Article of Association 
to act in the interest of the fund and of all relevant stakeholders in the scheme. The Board of the pension fund is 
responsible for the investment policy with regard to the assets of the fund. The contributions are determined by an 
independent qualified actuary on the basis of triennial valuations.

A full actuarial valuation of the UK Plan was carried out as at 31 March 2022 and has been updated to 31 December 
2023 by a qualified independent actuary.

In June 2023, the High Court handed down a decision (Virgin Media Limited v NTL Pension Trustees II Limited and 
others) which potentially has implications for the validity of amendments made by schemes, including the UK Plan, 
which were contracted-out on a salary-related basis between 6 April 1997 and the abolition of contracting-out in 2016. 
This decision has been appealed and is due to be reconsidered by the Court of Appeal in June 2024. The impact will 
therefore be uncertain for some time to come. Given this uncertainty, the updated valuation as at 31 December 2023 
does not reflect the High Court ruling as it is currently unclear as to whether any additional liabilities might arise, and 
if they were to arise, how they would be reliably measured. The case is subject to appeal in 2024 and following the 
outcome of the appeal, management will conclude whether any subsequent actions or amendments to IAS 19 liabilities 
are required. 

The Savills Fund Management GMBH Plan (the ‘SFM Plan’) is a Germany-based plan which provides final salary 
benefits to six active employees and 107 former employees. The plan is closed to future service-based benefit accrual.

The SFM Plan is administered by an external Trust that is legally separated from the Company. The Trust Agreement 
requires the trustee to maintain the plan assets in the interest of the beneficiaries of the plan and to fulfil their pension 
entitlements in the event of insolvency to the extent of the plan assets held. The Investment Committee of the fund, 
advised by expert investment managers, is responsible for the investment policy with regards to the assets of the fund. 
The contributions are determined based on the annual valuations of an independent qualified actuary.

A full actuarial valuation of the SFM Plan was carried out as at 31 December 2023 by a qualified independent actuary.

The table below outlines the Group’s and Company’s defined benefit pension amounts in relation to the UK Plan:

(Liability)/asset in the statement of financial position

Net interest income included in finance income

Actuarial (loss)/gain included in other comprehensive income

Group

Company

2023
£m

(0.7)

1.0

(24.0)

2022
£m

22.3

0.4

4.5

2023
£m

–

0.1

(1.3)

2022
£m

1.2

–

0.2

Rule 23 of the governing Trust Deed and Rules of the UK Plan covers the rights upon termination of the UK Plan, which 
is triggered when there are no beneficiaries surviving in accordance with Rule 19. Management interprets these rules 
that in the event of the UK Plan winding up with no members, any surplus assets would be returned to the Company. 
Based on these rights, any net surplus in the scheme is recognised in full.

200

Annual report and accounts 2023The amounts recognised in the statement of financial position in relation to the UK Plan are as follows:

Present value of funded obligations

Fair value of plan assets

(Liability)/asset in the statement of financial position

Group

Company

2023
£m

2022
£m

2023
£m

2022
£m

(195.1)

(186.7)

(10.8)

(10.3)

194.4

209.0

10.8

(0.7)

22.3

–

11.5

1.2

The movement in the defined benefit asset for the UK Plan over the year is as follows:

At 1 January 2023

Interest (expense)/income

Remeasurements:

–  Loss on plan assets, excluding amounts 

included in interest income

–  Loss from change in financial 

assumptions

–  Gain from change in demographic 

assumptions

– Experience losses

Benefit payments

Present
value of
obligation
£m

Group

Fair value
of plan
assets
£m

(186.7)

209.0

(8.9)

9.9

Present
value of
obligation
£m

(10.3)

(0.5)

Company

Fair value
of plan
assets
£m

11.5

0.6

Total
£m

22.3

1.0

Total
£m

1.2

0.1

–

(18.4)

(18.4)

–

(1.0)

(1.0)

(5.7)

1.7

(1.6)

6.1

–

–

–

(6.1)

(5.7)

(0.3)

1.7

(1.6)

–

0.1

(0.1)

0.3

–

–

–

(0.3)

10.8

At 31 December 2023

(195.1)

194.4

(0.7)

(10.8)

Present
value of
obligation
£m

(301.7)

(6.0)

Group

Fair value
of plan
assets
£m

319.1

6.4

Present
value of
obligation
£m

(16.6)

(0.3)

Company

Fair value
of plan
assets
£m

17.6

0.3

Total
£m

17.4

0.4

At 1 January 2022

Interest (expense)/income

Remeasurements:

–  Loss on plan assets, excluding amounts 

included in interest income

–

(108.7)

(108.7)

–

(6.0)

(6.0)

–  Gain from change in financial 

assumptions

–  Gain from change in demographic 

assumptions

– Experience losses

Benefit payments

115.9

9.0

(11.7)

7.8

–

–

–

(7.8)

At 31 December 2022

(186.7)

209.0

115.9

6.4

9.0

(11.7)

–

22.3

0.5

(0.7)

0.4

(10.3)

–

–

–

(0.4)

11.5

6.4

0.5

(0.7)

–

1.2

201

(0.3)

0.1

(0.1)

–

–

Total
£m

1.0

–

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

10. Pension schemes continued
10.2 Defined benefit plan continued
The table below outlines the Group’s defined benefit pension amounts in relation to the SFM Plan:

Asset in the statement of financial position

Net interest income included in finance income

Actuarial (losses)/gains included in other comprehensive income

SFM Plan

2023
£m

3.2

0.1

(0.5)

2022
£m

3.2

–

2.0

Section 5.2 of the SFM Plan Trust Deed provides the Trustor (Savills Fund Management GmbH, Savills Fund 
Management Holding AG, and Savills Investment Management (Germany) GmbH respectively) with an unconditional 
right to a refund of surplus assets assuming the full settlement of plan liabilities in the event of a plan wind-up. 
Furthermore, in the ordinary course of business neither Trustor nor Trustee have any rights to unilaterally wind up, 
or otherwise augment the benefits due to members of the scheme. Based on these rights, any net surplus in the 
scheme is recognised in full.

The amounts recognised in the statement of financial position in relation to the SFM Plan are as follows:

Present value of funded obligations

Fair value of plan assets

Asset in the statement of financial position

The movement in the defined benefit asset for the SFM Plan over the year is as follows:

SFM Plan

2023
£m

(10.8)

14.0

3.2

2022
£m

(9.9)

13.1

3.2

At 1 January 2023

Interest (expense)/income

Remeasurements:

– Gain on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest income

– Loss from change in financial assumptions

– Experience losses

Employer contributions

Benefit payments

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

SFM Plan

Present value
of obligation
£m

Fair value
of plan assets
£m

(9.9)

(0.4)

–

(0.9)

(0.2)

–

0.4

0.2

(10.8)

13.1

0.5

0.6

–

–

0.4

(0.4)

(0.2)

14.0

Total
£m

3.2

0.1

0.6

(0.9)

(0.2)

0.4

–

–

3.2

202

Annual report and accounts 2023At 1 January 2022

Interest (expense)/income

Remeasurements:

– Loss on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest income

– Gain from change in demographic assumptions

– Experience losses

Employer contributions

Benefit payments

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

The significant actuarial assumptions were as follows:

As at 31 December

Expected rate of salary increases

Projection of social security contribution ceiling

Rate of increase to pensions in payment

– pension promise before 1 January 1986

– pension promise after 1 January 1986

– accrued before 6 April 1997

– accrued after 5 April 1997

– accrued after 5 April 2005

Rate of increase to pensions in deferment

– accrued before 6 April 2001

– accrued after 5 April 2001

– accrued after 5 April 2009

Discount rate

Inflation assumption

SFM Plan

Present value
of obligation
£m

Fair value
of plan assets
£m

(13.5)

(0.2)

–

4.4

(0.3)

–

0.4

(0.7)

(9.9)

14.2

0.2

(2.1)

–

–

0.5

(0.4)

0.7

13.1

Total
£m

0.7

–

(2.1)

4.4

(0.3)

0.5

–

–

3.2

UK Plan

SFM Plan

2023

2022

2023

2022

3.25%

3.25%

–

–

–

3.00%

2.80%

2.00%

5.00%

2.50%

2.50%

4.50%

3.00%

–

–

–

3.00%

3.00%

2.00%

5.00%

2.60%

2.50%

4.80%

3.20%

2.50%

2.25%

2.20%

2.20%

2.50%

2.25%

2.20%

2.20%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3.55%

2.20%

4.24%

2.20%

Assumptions regarding future mortality are set based on actuarial advice in accordance with published statistics and 
experience. These assumptions translate into an average life expectancy in years for a pensioner retiring at age 60:

Retiring at the end of the reporting year

– Male

– Female

Retiring 20 years after the end of the reporting year

– Male

– Female

UK Plan

SFM Plan

2023

87.9

89.7

89.7

91.4

2022

88.1

89.8

89.8

91.5

2023

85.8

89.2

88.5

91.4

2022

85.6

89.0

88.4

91.3

203

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

10. Pension schemes continued
10.2 Defined benefit plan continued
The sensitivity of the defined benefit obligations to changes in the principal assumptions is:

1% increase in discount rates

1% increase in inflation rate

1% increase in salary increase rate

1 year increase in life expectancy

Impact on present value  
of scheme obligations

UK Plan
£m

(25.1)

12.2

0.9

6.3

SFM Plan
£m

(1.4)

1.0

0.1

0.4

The sensitivity analysis presented above may not be representative of the actual change in the defined benefit 
obligations as it is unlikely that the change in assumptions would occur in isolation of one another as some of the 
assumptions may be correlated.

Furthermore, in presenting the above sensitivity analysis, the present value of the defined benefit obligations has been 
calculated using the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period, which is the same as that applied 
in calculating the defined benefit obligations liability recognised in the statement of financial position.

Plan assets are comprised as follows:

UK Plan

2023

2022

Quoted
£m

Unquoted
£m

Total
£m

Quoted
£m

Unquoted
£m

%

– Government bonds

– Corporate bonds (investment grade)

– Cash and cash equivalents

Liability-driven investment (‘LDI’)*

Investment funds

Bonds

Cash and cash equivalents

Asset-backed securities**

63.2

2.7

15.4

81.3

–

24.7

2.7

10.3

–

–

–

–

34.6

40.8

–

–

63.2

33%

2.7

15.4

81.3

34.6

65.5

2.7

10.3

1%

8%

42%

18%

34%

1%

5%

44.1

2.7

32.0

78.8

–

23.4

17.1

18.5

–

–

–

–

35.5

35.7

–

–

Total
£m

44.1

2.7

32.0

78.8

35.5

59.1

17.1

18.5

%

22%

1%

15%

38%

17%

28%

8%

9%

Total

119.0

75.4

194.4

100%

137.8

71.2

209.0

100%

* 

 A portfolio of gilt and swap contracts, backed by investment grade credit instruments and LIBOR generating assets, that is designed to hedge the majority of 
the interest rate and inflation risks associated with the scheme’s obligations. Government bonds includes fixed and index-linked gilts, less repo cash.

**  A portfolio of primarily mortgage-backed securities and loans. 

The sensitivity of the above Plan assets is as follows:

UK Plan

Impact on
value of Plan
assets
£m

(22.0)

12.0

1% increase in discount rates*

1% increase in inflation rate

*  Sensitivity to a change in government bond yields with unchanged credit spreads.

204

Annual report and accounts 2023Investment funds

Total

SFM Plan

2023

2022

Unquoted
£m

14.0

14.0

%

100%

100%

Unquoted
£m

13.2

13.2

%

100%

100%

No Plan assets are the Group’s own financial instruments or property occupied or used by the Group. The fair values 
of the above equity and debt instruments are provided by the fund managers. The fund managers use best-practice 
techniques to value their holdings in investment funds, with valuations validated by an independent appraisal firm. 
Where available, fair values are determined based on quoted market prices in active markets.

Although the UK Plan does not invest directly in the Group’s financial instruments, it does invest in passive equity 
funds, so will have some exposure to FTSE All-Share Index, hence indirectly to the Savills plc share price.

Through the defined benefit plans, the Group is exposed to a number of risks, the most significant of which are 
detailed below:

(a) Asset volatility

The Plan liabilities are calculated using a discount rate set with reference to corporate bond yields; if Plan assets 
underperform this yield, this will create a deficit. The Plan holds a significant proportion of equities and funds, which 
are expected to outperform corporate bonds in the long term while providing volatility and risk in the short term.

(b) Changes in bond yields

A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase the Plan’s liabilities, although this will be partially offset by an 
increase in the value of the Plan’s bond holdings.

(c) Inflation risk

Higher inflation will lead to higher liabilities. The majority of the Plan’s assets are either unaffected by or are loosely 
correlated with inflation, meaning that an increase in inflation will also increase the deficit.

(d) Life expectancy

The majority of the Plan’s obligations are to provide benefits for the life of the member, so increases in life expectancy 
will result in an increase in the Plan’s liabilities.

Expected contributions to post-employment benefit plans for the year ending 31 December 2024 are £0.5m. 
The Company expects to contribute £nil.

The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligations is 15 years for the UK Plan and 16 years for the 
SFM Plan.

Expected maturity analysis of the undiscounted pension benefits:

At 31 December 2023

Pension benefit payments

– UK Plan

– SFM Plan

Less than
a year
£m

Between
1–2 years
£m

Between
2–5 years
£m

6.3

0.5

15.7

0.5

27.2

1.7

Over
5 years
£m

421.9

15.9

Total
£m

471.1

18.6

205

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

11. Finance income and costs

Bank interest receivable

Net interest on defined benefit pension assets

Finance income

Bank interest payable

Unwinding of discounts on liabilities

Finance charges on lease liabilities

Finance costs

Group

2023
£m

49.5

1.1

50.6

(28.9)

(0.4)

(9.2)

(38.5)

2022
£m

13.3

0.4

13.7

(8.5)

(0.5)

(9.0)

(18.0)

Net finance income/(cost)

12.1

(4.3)

Group

2023
£m

13.2

0.7

13.9

14.3

(0.5)

27.7

1.2

(0.2)

(9.1)

(3.7)

(11.8)

15.9

2022
£m

15.9

2.8

18.7

22.2

0.9

41.8

4.0

(2.1)

(6.1)

(3.5)

(7.7)

34.1

12. Income tax expense
Analysis of tax expense for the year:

Current tax

United Kingdom:

Corporation tax on profits for the year

Adjustment in respect of prior years

Overseas tax

Adjustment in respect of prior years

Total current tax

Deferred tax

Representing:

United Kingdom

Effect of change in UK tax rate on deferred tax

Overseas tax

Adjustment in respect of prior years

Total deferred tax (Note 19)

Income tax expense

206

Annual report and accounts 2023The tax on the Group’s profit before income tax differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the UK 
weighted average tax rate of 23.5% (2022: 19%) applicable to profits of the consolidated entities as follows:

Profit before income tax

Tax on profit at 23.5% (2022: 19%)

Effects of:

Adjustment in respect of prior years

Difference in overseas tax rates

Utilisation of previously unprovided tax losses

Expenses and other charges not deductible for tax purposes

Non-assessable income

Tax on joint ventures and associates

Effect of change in tax rates on deferred tax

Income tax expense

Group

2023
£m

55.4

13.0

(3.5)

(0.3)

(0.7)

10.2

(0.6)

(2.0)

(0.2)

15.9

2022
£m

153.9

29.3

0.2

3.6

(0.8)

7.1

(0.6)

(2.6)

(2.1)

34.1

The effective tax rate of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2023 is 28.7% (2022: 22.2%), which is higher 
(2022: higher) than the UK weighted average applicable rate.

Detailed analysis of the impact from the application of OECD’s Pillar Two Model Rules on both historical performance 
and forward-looking projections is underway. As the Group does not generally operate in low tax jurisdictions, the 
impact is not expected to be material.

Deferred tax has been determined using the applicable effective future tax rate that will apply in the expected period 
of utilisation of the deferred tax asset or liability.

The tax credited/(charged) to other comprehensive income is as follows:

Tax on items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

Deferred tax on remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme

Deferred tax on pension – effect of tax rate change

Group

Company

2023
£m

5.8

2.6

8.4

2022
£m

(1.5)

(2.4)

(3.9)

2023
£m

0.3

0.1

0.4

2022
£m

–

(0.1)

(0.1)

Tax on items relating to components of other comprehensive income

8.4

(3.9)

0.4

(0.1)

207

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

12. Income tax expense continued
The tax credited/(charged) to reserves is as follows:

Current tax on share-based payment arrangements

Deferred tax on share-based payment arrangements

Current tax on IFRS 16 lease recognition release

Deferred tax on IFRS 16 recognition release

Deferred tax on revaluation of FVOCI investments

Current tax on foreign exchange reserve movements

Tax on items recognised directly in reserves

13. Dividends – Group and Company

Amounts recognised as distribution to equity holders in the year:

In respect of the previous year

Ordinary final dividend of 13.4p per share (2021: 12.75p)

Supplemental interim dividend of 15.6p per share (2021: 15.6p)

Special dividend of £nil per share (2021: 27.05p)

In respect of the current year

Interim dividend of 6.9p per share (2022: 6.6p)

Group

Company

2023
£m

0.2

0.3

0.2

(0.2)

(0.2)

(0.2)

0.1

2022
£m

0.4

(3.0)

0.2

(0.2)

–

0.3

(2.3)

2023
£m

–

0.1

0.1

(0.1)

–

–

0.1

2022
£m

0.1

(0.7)

0.1

(0.1)

–

–

(0.6)

Group

Company

2023
£m

2022
£m

2023
£m

2022
£m

18.2

21.2

–

9.4

48.8

17.6

21.6

37.4

8.9

85.5

18.4

21.5

–

9.5

49.4

17.8

21.8

37.8

9.1

86.5

The Group paid £2.2m (2022: £0.4m) of dividends to non-controlling interests.

Under the terms of the Savills plc 1992 Employee Benefit Trust (the ‘EBT’), the Trustees have waived their dividend 
entitlement for all shares held by the Trust. The dividends paid to the Rabbi Trust are eliminated upon Group 
consolidation, as a result the dividends paid by the Group and the Company are not equal.

The Board recommends a final dividend of 13.9p per ordinary share (amounting to £19.0m), alongside the 
supplemental interim dividend of 2.0p per ordinary share (amounting to £2.7m), to be paid on 23 May 2024 to 
Shareholders on the register at 12 April 2024. These financial statements do not reflect this dividend payable.

The total paid and recommended ordinary and supplemental dividend for the 2023 financial year comprises an 
aggregate distribution of 22.8p per ordinary share (2022: 35.6p per ordinary share).

208

Annual report and accounts 202314. Earnings per share
14.1 Basic and diluted earnings per share
Basic earnings per share (‘EPS’) are based on the profit attributable to owners of the Company and the weighted 
average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year, excluding the weighted average number of ordinary shares 
held by the EBT (2023 closing: 7,615,420 shares, 2022 closing: 6,780,308 shares) and the Rabbi Trust (2023 closing: 
1,502,155 shares, 2022 closing: 1,914,869 shares).

For diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to assume 
conversion of dilutive potential ordinary shares, being the share options granted to employees where the exercise 
price is less than the average market price of the Company’s ordinary shares during the year and where performance 
conditions have been met.

The earnings and the shares used in the calculations are as follows:

Basic earnings per share

Effect of additional shares issuable under option

Diluted earnings per share

2023
Earnings
£m

2023
Shares
million

40.8

135.9

–

5.8

40.8

141.7

2023
EPS
pence

30.0

(1.2)

28.8

2022
Earnings
£m

119.4

–

2022
Shares
million

137.3

7.9

119.4

145.2

14.2 Underlying basic and diluted earnings per share

Basic earnings per share

Amortisation of intangible assets arising from 
business combinations after tax

Impairment of goodwill after tax

Share-based payment adjustment after tax

Profit on disposal of joint ventures after tax

Restructuring costs after tax

Transaction-related costs after tax

Fair value gain on transaction-related call option

2023
Earnings
£m

2023
Shares
million

40.8

135.9

2023
EPS
pence

30.0

2022
Earnings
£m

119.4

2022
Shares
million

137.3

7.6

4.0

(0.6)

(0.4)

10.6

14.3

(1.4)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5.6

2.9

(0.4)

(0.3)

7.8

10.5

(1.0)

55.1

(2.2)

7.6

(11.9)

–

0.1

15.3

(0.1)

–

–

–

–

–

–

130.4

–

137.3

7.9

Underlying basic earnings per share

Effect of additional shares issuable under option

74.9

135.9

–

5.8

Underlying diluted earnings per share

74.9

141.7

52.9

130.4

145.2

Refer to Note 8 for the gross amounts of the above adjustments and a reconciliation between reported profit before 
tax and underlying profit before tax, alongside further details on each of the adjustments.

209

2022
EPS
pence

87.0

(4.8)

82.2

2022
EPS
pence

87.0

5.5

(8.7)

–

0.1

11.1

(0.1)

94.9

(5.1)

89.8

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

15. Goodwill and intangible assets

Group

Customer/
business
relationships
£m

Investment
and property
management
contracts
£m

Goodwill
£m

Order
backlogs
£m

Brands
£m

Computer
software
£m

Company
Total
£m

Total
£m

Cost

At 1 January 2023 restated*

505.0

44.4

59.4

3.8

4.7

45.2

662.5

10.0

Additions through business 
combinations (Note 18.6)

Other additions

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Accumulated amortisation and 
impairment

At 1 January 2023

Amortisation charge for the year

Impairment in the year

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Net book value

At 31 December 2023

10.4

–

–

(14.2)

501.2

55.4

–

3.9

–

(1.7)

57.6

–

–

–

(0.8)

43.6

26.0

3.3

–

–

(0.4)

28.9

0.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5.5

10.9

5.5

–

–

(4.4)

(4.4)

(5.2)

(0.7)

(0.2)

(0.1)

(0.9)

(16.9)

59.2

3.6

4.6

45.4

657.6

31.8

5.7

–

–

2.9

0.5

–

–

2.3

0.3

–

–

(0.6)

(0.1)

(0.1)

28.2

146.6

6.0

–

(4.5)

(0.7)

15.8

3.9

(4.5)

(3.6)

36.9

3.3

2.5

29.0

158.2

–

4.8

8.2

0.5

–

(5.2)

–

3.5

443.6

14.7

22.3

0.3

2.1

16.4

499.4

1.3

*  See Note 18.6 for details of prior period restatement.

During the year, goodwill and intangible assets were tested for impairment in accordance with IAS 36. An impairment 
charge of £3.9m was recognised against the Indonesia CGU as a result of the impact of current economic conditions 
on the short-term outlook of the business (2022: no impairments recognised). The impairment charge has been 
allocated against the Transaction Advisory (£3.5m) and Consultancy (£0.4m) segments. The remaining carrying 
value of goodwill in relation to the Indonesia CGU as at 31 December 2023 is £2.0m. 

The carrying amount of intangible assets with indefinite useful lives totals £2.0m as at 31 December 2023 
(2022: £2.0m), which consists of investment management contracts in relation to open-ended funds. 

Investment and property management contracts includes the investment management contract asset identified on 
the acquisition of DRC in May 2021. This intangible asset is amortised over six years, with the amortisation period 
ending in May 2027. The carrying value of this intangible asset as at 31 December 2023 totals £10.0m (2022: £13.0m).

All intangible amortisation charges in the year are disclosed on the face of the income statement.

The Company’s intangible assets consist of computer software only.

210

Annual report and accounts 2023Group

Goodwill 
restated*
£m

Customer/
business
relationships
£m

Investment
and property
management
contracts
£m

Order
backlogs
£m

Brands
£m

Computer
software
£m

Company
Total
£m

Total
£m

Cost

At 1 January 2022

463.8

40.8

58.7

3.5

4.6

38.4

609.8

10.0

Additions through business 
combinations restated*

Other additions

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022 restated*

Accumulated amortisation and 
impairment

13.6

–

–

27.6

505.0

1.9

–

–

1.7

1.1

–

(1.1)

0.7

44.4

59.4

At 1 January 2022

52.2

22.0

26.6

Amortisation charge for the year

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

Net book value

–

–

3.2

55.4

3.3

–

0.7

26.0

5.6

(1.1)

0.7

31.8

–

–

–

0.3

3.8

2.1

0.6

–

0.2

2.9

–

–

–

0.1

4.7

1.8

0.4

–

0.1

2.3

0.5

7.0

17.1

7.0

(1.9)

(3.0)

1.2

31.6

–

–

–

–

45.2

662.5

10.0

20.9

125.6

7.0

16.9

(0.6)

0.9

(1.7)

5.8

6.2

2.0

–

–

28.2

146.6

8.2

At 31 December 2022 restated*

449.6

18.4

27.6

0.9

2.4

17.0

515.9

1.8

* See Note 18.6 for details of prior period restatement.

211

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

15. Goodwill and intangible assets continued
Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets are allocated to the Group’s cash-generating units (‘CGUs’) identified 
according to country of operation and business segment. In most cases, the CGU is an individual subsidiary or 
operation. Where there are multiple CGUs in a country, these CGUs have been grouped to an extent which represent 
the lowest level at which goodwill is internally monitored and tested for impairment annually. A segment-level 
summary of the allocation of goodwill and indefinite useful life intangible assets is presented below:

2023

United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific

North America

Transaction
Advisory
£m

Consultancy
£m

Property and
Facilities
Management
£m

Investment
Management
£m

Total
£m

Goodwill
£m

Indefinite
life
intangible
assets*
£m

34.3

62.3

16.3

156.3

13.6

19.3

5.2

9.7

30.9

20.8

38.6

–

32.2

111.0

109.0

2.0

4.7

1.4

107.1

61.5

107.1

61.5

–

166.0

166.0

–

–

–

Total goodwill and indefinite life 
intangible assets

269.2

47.8

90.3

38.3

445.6

443.6

2.0

2022 restated**

United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific

North America

Transaction
Advisory
£m

Consultancy
£m

Property and
Facilities
Management
£m

Investment
Management
£m

Total
£m

Goodwill
£m

Indefinite
life
intangible
assets*
£m

29.3

60.2

20.6

164.5

12.9

19.6

5.9

10.2

30.9

21.1

38.0

–

32.2

105.3

103.3

2.0

4.8

1.4

–

105.7

105.7

65.9

174.7

65.9

174.7

–

–

–

Total goodwill and indefinite life 
intangible assets

274.6

48.6

90.0

38.4

451.6

449.6

2.0

* 

Indefinite life intangible assets relate to investment management contracts.

**  See Note 18.6 for details of prior period restatement.

15.1 Method of impairment testing
Goodwill values have been tested for impairment by comparing them against the ‘value-in-use’ in perpetuity of the 
relevant CGU group. The value-in-use calculations were based on projected cash flows, derived from latest financial 
budgets and strategic plans covering a five-year period, prepared by management and approved by the Board. Cash 
flows beyond this are extrapolated using perpetuity growth rates. These projected cash flows were discounted at CGU 
specific, risk adjusted, discount rates to calculate their net present value.

15.2 Key assumptions
The calculation of value-in-use is most sensitive to the following assumptions:

(a) CGU specific operating assumptions

CGU specific operating assumptions are applicable to the forecasted cash flows for the years 2024 to 2028 and 
relate to revenue forecasts and underlying profit margins in each of the operating CGUs. The value ascribed to each 
assumption will vary between CGUs as the forecasts are built up from the underlying business units within each 
CGU group.

212

Annual report and accounts 2023(b) Discount rate

Future cash flows are discounted using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the 
time value of money. The discount rate used in each CGU is adjusted for the risk specific to the asset, including the 
countries in which cash flow will be generated, for which the future cash flow estimates have not been adjusted. The 
pre-tax discount rates have been derived using a post-tax weighted average cost of capital (‘WACC’) methodology. 
Key inputs to the WACC calculation are the risk-free rate, the equity market risk premium, beta, the average 
borrowing rate (cost of debt) and the country risk specific risk premium.

The risk-adjusted discount range of rates used in each region for impairment testing are as follows:

United Kingdom

Continental Europe

Asia Pacific

North America

Middle East

(c) Perpetuity growth rates

2023
Discount rate
range

12.4%

2022
Discount rate
range

12.0%

10.6% – 14.7%

11.3% – 16.0%

10.4% – 15.1%

10.9% – 16.5%

11.7% – 12.1%

12.3% – 12.5%

14.0%

14.6%

To forecast beyond the five years covered by detailed forecasts, a terminal value was calculated, using perpetuity 
growth rates. The rates are based on management’s estimate of long-term growth rates in the countries in which the 
Group operates. The perpetuity growth rates used in each region for impairment testing are as follows:

United Kingdom

Continental Europe

Asia Pacific

North America

Middle East

2023
Long-term
growth rate
range

1.5%

2022
Long-term
growth rate
range

1.7%

0.9% – 3.1%

1.1% – 3.3%

0.4% – 6.8%

0.8% – 6.8%

1.7% – 2.1%

1.7% – 1.9%

4.3%

2.9%

15.3 Sensitivity to changes in assumptions
The Indonesia CGU was impaired during the year and therefore the remaining carrying value of goodwill of £2.0m is 
considered at risk of further impairment if there are changes in key assumptions in the value-in-use model. The key 
assumption applied to the Indonesia CGU relates to the average revenue growth (15.7%) over the five-year forecast 
period. Goodwill would be fully impaired if the average revenue growth decreased to 11.5% (assuming variable costs 
changed in proportion to the change in revenue).

Management have determined that there has been no impairment to the other CGUs within the Group. This 
assessment is a reflection of best estimates in arriving at value-in-use, future growth rates and the discount rate 
applied to cash flow projections.

The US and Australia CGUs were identified as the material CGUs that are considered to be sensitive to changes in 
key assumptions, but for which no impairment charge was considered to be required at 31 December 2023.

The key assumption applied to the US CGU relates to the average underlying profit margin of 5.7% and average 
revenue growth of 13.0% over the five-year forecast period. The headroom in the value-in-use model for this CGU 
of £171.2m (66%) would be reduced to nil if the average underlying profit margin decreased to 2.8% (assuming no 
change in revenue assumptions) or the average revenue growth decreased to 8.7% (assuming variable costs changed 
in proportion to the change in revenue). In the Australian CGU the key assumptions relate to the average underlying 
profit margin of 4.2% and average revenue growth of 3.7% over the five-year forecast period. The headroom in the 
value-in-use model for this CGU of £10.1m (36%) would be reduced to nil if the average underlying profit margin 
decreased to 2.9% (assuming no change in revenue assumptions) or the average revenue growth decreased to 
2.9% (assuming variable costs changed in proportion to the change in revenue).

213

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

16. Property, plant and equipment

Group

Cost

At 1 January 2023

Additions through business combinations (Note 18.6)

Additions

Reclassification to equipment and motor vehicles

Reclassification to right-of-use-assets

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

At 1 January 2023

Charge for the year

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Net book value

At 31 December 2023

Group

Cost

At 1 January 2022

Additions

Additions through business combinations

Reclassification to equipment and motor vehicles

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

At 1 January 2022

Charge for the year

Impairment

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

Net book value

At 31 December 2022

214

Freehold
property
£m

Leasehold
improvements
£m

Equipment
and motor
vehicles
£m

Total
£m

0.1

104.8

86.7

191.6

–

–

–

–

(0.1)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

8.9

(1.2)

0.2

8.5

1.2

0.3

17.4

–

–

(0.3)

(0.3)

(6.0)

(2.3)

104.3

58.0

9.0

(2.4)

(1.0)

63.6

(10.6)

(16.7)

(2.8)

82.9

56.6

9.6

(8.9)

(1.8)

55.5

(5.1)

187.2

114.6

18.6

(11.3)

(2.8)

119.1

40.7

27.4

68.1

Freehold
property
£m

Leasehold
improvements
£m

Equipment
and motor
vehicles
£m

0.1

–

–

–

–

–

91.9

6.1

3.4

(0.7)

(0.2)

4.3

0.1

104.8

71.2

13.7

2.0

0.7

(4.9)

4.0

86.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

47.4

49.5

8.8

–

7.8

0.8

–

2.0

58.0

(4.7)

(4.7)

3.0

56.6

5.0

114.6

0.1

46.8

30.1

77.0

Total
£m

163.2

19.8

5.4

–

(5.1)

8.3

191.6

96.9

16.6

0.8

Annual report and accounts 2023Company

Cost

At 1 January 2023

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2023

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

At 1 January 2023

Charge for the year

Disposals

At 31 December 2023

Net book value

At 31 December 2023

Company

Cost

At 1 January 2022

Additions

At 31 December 2022

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

At 1 January 2022

Charge for the year

At 31 December 2022

Net book value

At 31 December 2022

Freehold
property
£m

Equipment
£m

Total
£m

0.1

–

(0.1)

–

–

–

–

–

–

10.4

1.1

(0.4)

11.1

7.1

1.5

(0.4)

8.2

10.5

1.1

(0.5)

11.1

7.1

1.5

(0.4)

8.2

2.9

2.9

Freehold
property
£m

Equipment
£m

0.1

–

0.1

–

–

–

8.9

1.5

10.4

5.7

1.4

7.1

Total
£m

9.0

1.5

10.5

5.7

1.4

7.1

0.1

3.3

3.4

215

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

17. Right-of-use assets
The statement of financial position shows the following amounts relating to right-of-use assets:

Group

Cost

At 1 January 2023

Additions

Additions through business combinations (Note 18.6)

Lease modifications

Transfers

Disposals (including disposals relating to sub-lets*)

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

At 1 January 2023

Charge for the year

Disposals (including disposals relating to sub-lets*)

Transfers

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Net book value

At 31 December 2023

Leasehold
properties
£m

Equipment
and motor
vehicles
£m

Total 
right-of-use 
assets
£m

368.6

28.0

0.5

8.5

(3.6)

(25.1)

(10.3)

366.6

148.4

47.6

8.5

4.2

–

–

3.9

(1.7)

(0.2)

14.7

377.1

32.2

0.5

8.5

0.3

(26.8)

(10.5)

381.3

4.9

3.4

153.3

51.0

(14.6)

(1.8)

(16.4)

(1.0)

(4.7)

1.0

–

(0.2)

(4.9)

175.7

7.3

183.0

190.9

7.4

198.3

*    Upon de-recognition of the right-of-use asset in relation to sub-let space, a net investment in a sublease has been recognised as an asset on the Group 
Statement of Financial Position (£12.3m). The difference between this net investment, the carrying value of the right-of-use asset disposed of (£8.3m), 
has been recognised as a £4.0m gain on disposal in the Group’s profit and loss in the year ended 31 December 2023. The lease liability in relation to the 
head lease is retained in the Group’s Statement of Financial Position.

Group

Cost

At 1 January 2022

Additions

Additions through business combinations

Disposals/lease modifications

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

At 1 January 2022

Charge for the year

Disposals/lease modifications

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

Net book value

At 31 December 2022

216

Leasehold
properties
£m

Equipment
and motor
vehicles
£m

Total 
right-of-use 
assets
£m

338.4

10.0

348.4

29.2

2.7

(18.6)

16.9

368.6

110.4

47.2

1.7

–

30.9

2.7

(3.6)

(22.2)

0.4

8.5

5.4

2.0

17.3

377.1

115.8

49.2

(15.4)

(2.8)

(18.2)

6.2

148.4

0.3

4.9

6.5

153.3

220.2

3.6

223.8

Annual report and accounts 2023Company

Cost

At 1 January 2023

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2023

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

At 1 January 2023

Charge for the year

Disposals

At 31 December 2023

Net book value

At 31 December 2023

Company

Cost

At 1 January 2022

Additions

Disposal relating to sub-let*

At 31 December 2022

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

At 1 January 2022

Charge for the year

Disposal relating to sub-let*

At 31 December 2022

Net book value

At 31 December 2022

Right-of-use 
assets – 
Leasehold
Properties
£m

55.8

7.5

(1.1)

62.2

15.8

4.7

(0.1)

20.4

41.8

Right-of-use
assets – 
Leasehold
Properties
£m

64.9

0.7

(9.8)

55.8

15.5

5.0

(4.7)

15.8

40.0

* 

 Upon de-recognition of the right-of-use asset in relation to the sub-let space, a net investment in a sublease has been recognised as an asset on the Company 
Statement of Financial Position (£8.1m). The difference between this net investment and the carrying value of the right-of-use asset disposed of (£5.1m) has been 
recognised as a £3.0m gain on disposal in the Company’s profit and loss in the year ended 31 December 2022. The lease liability in relation to the head lease is 
retained in the Company’s Statement of Financial Position. 

Refer to Note 25 for further information on the Group’s leases.

217

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

18. Investments and transactions
18.1 Group – Investments in joint ventures and associates

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 2023

Additions

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Share of profit

At 1 January 2023

Group’s share of profit from continuing operations

Dividends received

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Total

At 31 December 2023

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 2022

Additions

Disposals

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

Share of profit

At 1 January 2022

Group’s share of profit from continuing operations

Dividends received

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

Total

At 31 December 2022

Joint ventures

Associates

Investment
£m

Investment 
(including 
loans)
£m

Goodwill
£m

11.0

0.5

(0.3)

(0.6)

10.6

18.5

7.7

(8.6)

(0.9)

16.7

2.5

–

–

–

2.5

4.6

2.5

(1.4)

(0.2)

5.5

0.4

3.2

–

–

3.6

–

–

–

–

–

Total
£m

2.9

3.2

–

–

6.1

4.6

2.5

(1.4)

(0.2)

5.5

27.3

8.0

3.6

11.6

Joint ventures

Associates

Investment
£m

Investment
£m

Goodwill
£m

9.7

0.4

(0.1)

1.0

11.0

15.5

8.8

(7.1)

1.3

18.5

2.3

–

–

0.2

2.5

4.9

3.3

(4.2)

0.6

4.6

0.4

–

–

–

0.4

–

–

–

–

–

Total
£m

2.7

–

–

0.2

2.9

4.9

3.3

(4.2)

0.6

4.6

29.5

7.1

0.4

7.5

On 31 December 2023, the Group converted loans to additional equity in Vucity Limited. This investment was 
previously classified as a FVOCI investment (see Note 18.2). Following the loan conversion, the Group’s equity 
investment in Vucity Limited increased to 30.39% resulting in the treatment of this investment as an associate, 
with £3.2m recognised as an addition in the year. 

218

Annual report and accounts 2023In the opinion of the Directors, the Group does not have any joint ventures or associates that are individually 
material to the results of the Group.

The Group has one joint venture and two associates with net liabilities as at 31 December 2023 (2022: one associate), 
restricting the ability of these entities to transfer funds to its Shareholders in the form of dividends. The joint ventures 
and associates have no significant liabilities to which the Group is exposed, nor has the Group any significant 
contingent liabilities or capital commitments in relation to its interests in the joint ventures and associates.

18.2 Group – Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (‘FVOCI’)
Financial assets at FVOCI comprise the following individual equity investments:

Listed securities

OnTheMarket plc

Unlisted securities

Vucity Limited

Andor Holdco Limited

Income Analytics Limited

YOPA Property Limited

Daishin GK Canal

Thirdfort Limited

Home Click Pte Limited

Other smaller investments

2023
£m

2022
£m

–

–

1.7

1.2

–

–

0.3

0.2

1.6

5.0

0.8

1.8

–

0.7

–

0.7

0.3

0.2

1.2

5.7

During the year, the Group disposed of its investments in YOPA Property Limited, Daishin GK Canal and OnTheMarket 
plc. Upon disposal, amounts in the revaluation reserve relating to these investments have been recycled to retained 
earnings. The Group acquired shareholdings in Andor Holdco Limited (the parent company of YOPA Property Limited) 
and increased its shareholding in Vucity Limited, with this investment subsequently being treated as an associate 
(refer to Note 18.1). 

In the prior year, the Group revalued its investments in YOPA Property Limited and Vucity Limited in light of current 
trading performance, and economic conditions, reducing the carrying values by £7.5m and £2.9m respectively. All 
changes in fair value have been recognised through other comprehensive income.

Equity investments at FVOCI are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling

Japanese yen

Other

Refer to Note 3.8 for information about methods and assumptions used in determining fair value.

2023
£m

3.4

0.6

1.0

5.0

2022
£m

3.8

1.0

0.9

5.7

219

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

18. Investments and transactions continued
18.3 Group – Financial assets at fair value through profit and loss (‘FVPL’)

Convertible loans

Instruments held in investment funds

2023
£m

15.1

23.4

38.5

2022
£m

15.9

20.9

36.8

Convertible loans relate to compulsory convertible cumulative preference shares (‘CCPS’) and compulsory 
convertible debentures (‘CCD’) issued by Savills Property Services (India) Private Limited. These loans are held at 
FVPL (see Note 3.8 for further details on fair value measurement). The CCPS issued in 2019 carries interest of 0.01%, 
these will be mandatorily converted in to Class A equity shares if certain EBITDA and revenue levels are met within 
the first 3 years, between 3 and 5 years the Group holds the right to convert and at the end of 10 years the loans are 
mandatorily convertible. The CCD issued in 2020 and 2021 carries interest of 7.2% per annum, they convert in to Class 
B equity shares at the expiry of 7 years or earlier if certain EBITDA and revenue targets are met and at 10 years the 
loans are mandatorily convertible.

Refer to Note 3.8 for movement analysis of financial assets at FVPL.

At 31 December 2023 the Group held conditional commitments to co-invest in a number of Savills IM funds totalling 
£13.1m (2022: £13.5m). This includes £1.0m in the Asia Pacific Income and Growth Fund FCP-RAIF within the next year 
(2022: £3.7m), £2.3m in Savills IM UK Value Boxes Fund FCP-RAIF over the next two years (2022: £1.8m), £1.2m in 
DRC ERED Fund IV over the next two years (2022: £2.0m), £2.9m in Vestas European Strategic Allocation Logistics 
Fund II within the next year (2022: £3.2m), £1.7m in the Savills IM UK Build to Rent Fund FCP-RAIF over the next three 
years (2022: £2.8m), £2.8m in the Savills IM European Urban Logistics & Industrial Fund FCP-RAIF over the next three 
years (2022: £nil) and £1.2m in the Savills IM Savills IM European Living Fund FCP-RAIF over the next three years 
(2022: £nil).

18.4 Company – Investments in subsidiaries

Investments
in subsidiaries
indirectly owned 
– share-based 
payment
contribution
£m

Direct 
investments
in subsidiaries
£m

Investments
in EBT
£m

Total
£m

At 1 January 2022

81.5

69.9

23.6

175.0

Increase due to IFRS 2 share-based payment contribution 
to subsidiaries

Increase due to capital contribution to EBT

Decrease due to EBT contributions from subsidiaries

Decrease due to write-off of investment in EBT upon 
exercise of options

At 31 December 2022

Increase due to IFRS 2 share-based payment contribution 
to subsidiaries

Increase due to capital contribution to EBT

Decrease due to EBT contributions from subsidiaries

Decrease due to write-off of investment in EBT upon 
exercise of options

At 31 December 2023

–

–

–

–

81.5

–

–

–

–

81.5

27.5

–

(45.9)

–

51.5

–

37.3

–

(17.5)

43.4

26.4

–

–

23.6

27.5

37.3

(45.9)

(17.5)

176.4

26.4

23.6

(26.1)

–

(26.1)

–

51.8

(17.9)

(17.9)

49.1

182.4

Refer to Note 35 for a full list of the Group’s subsidiaries. The Company directly owns Savills Holding Company 
Limited, all other subsidiaries in the Group are indirectly owned. The carrying value of the investment in the Company’s 
subsidiary is assessed for impairment by comparing the carrying value of the investment to the underlying net assets 
of the subsidiary. No impairment was identified during the year.

220

Annual report and accounts 202318.5 Non-controlling interests

Material non-controlling interests

The total non-controlling interest at the end of the year is £34.9m (2022: £37.2m). The majority of non-controlling 
interests in respect of the Group’s subsidiaries where the Group does not own a holding of 100% are not considered 
to be individually material, with the exception of the 25% non-controlling interest held by Samsung Life in the Savills 
IM Group (31 December 2023: £33.5m, 31 December 2022: £33.7m). The loss after tax allocated to the non-controlling 
interest of the Savills IM Group for the year ended 31 December 2023 was £1.9m (31 December 2022: £0.2m profit 
after tax).

Savills IM Group

Non-current assets

Current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Net assets

Revenue

(Loss)/profit after tax

A reconciliation of non-controlling interest is as follows:

Balance at 1 January 2023

(Loss)/income for the year

Other comprehensive loss:

Remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme

Tax on items taken to other comprehensive income

Currency translation differences

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the year

Employee share option scheme: value of services provided

Dividends

Transfer between reserves:

– Issue of deferred shares

– EBT contributions to Savills plc

– Other, including employee share option scheme 

Balance at 31 December 2023

Savills IM
Group net
assets
£m

134.8

(7.4)

(0.5)

0.1

(1.5)

(9.3)

1.7

–

10.1

(3.2)

–

134.1

31 December
2023
£m

31 December
2022
£m

106.8

113.7

(69.6)

(16.8)

134.1

105.8

(7.4)

110.0

105.3

(47.0)

(33.5)

134.8

112.7

1.1

Non-
controlling
interest in
Savills IM
Group
£m

Other non-
controlling
interests
£m

Total non-
controlling
Interests
£m

33.7

(1.9)

(0.1)

–

(0.4)

(2.4)

0.4

–

2.6

(0.8)

–

33.5

3.5

0.6

–

–

(0.3)

0.3

–

(2.2)

–

–

(0.2)

1.4

37.2

(1.3)

(0.1)

–

(0.7)

(2.1)

0.4

(2.2)

2.6

(0.8)

(0.2)

34.9

221

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

18. Investments and transactions continued
18.5 Non-controlling interests continued
Material non-controlling interests continued

Balance at 1 January 2022

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

Remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme

Tax on items taken to other comprehensive income

Currency translation differences

Total comprehensive income for the year

Employee share option scheme: value of services provided

Dividends

Transfer between reserves:

– Issue of deferred shares

– EBT contributions to Savills plc

Additions through business combinations

Balance at 31 December 2022

Transactions in the previous year

Savills IM
Group net
assets
£m

112.7

1.1

2.1

(0.6)

2.3

4.9

3.0

–

16.0

(1.8)

–

134.8

Non-
controlling
interest in
Savills IM
Group
£m

28.2

0.2

0.5

(0.2)

0.6

1.1

0.8

–

4.0

(0.4)

–

33.7

Other non-
controlling
interests
£m

Total non-
controlling
Interests
£m

1.0

0.2

–

—

–

0.2

–

29.2

0.4

0.5

(0.2)

0.6

1.3

0.8

(0.4)

(0.4)

–

–

2.7

3.5

4.0

(0.4)

2.7

37.2

In the prior year, the Group acquired 60% of the equity interest in PT CB Advisory, 70% of the equity interest in PT 
Cakrawala Baswara Cemerlang and 60% of the equity interest in PT Cakrawala Baswara Indonesia. The Group also 
acquired 60% of the equity interest in Absolute Maintenance Services Pte Limited and Solute Pte Limited and Simply 
Affordable Homes LLP.

In 2021, the Group disposed of 25% of the shares in the Savills IM Group. In 2022, a further £0.7m of profit in relation 
to this transaction was recognised in retained earnings following finalisation of costs and recycling of foreign exchange 
reserves to retained earnings. The Group also received the remaining £7.9m of consideration receivable with respect to 
this transaction and paid a further £0.2m in costs.

222

Annual report and accounts 202318.6 Acquisitions of subsidiaries
The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of the Group’s acquisitions in the year are 
provisional and will be finalised within 12 months of the acquisition date. These are summarised below:

Non-current assets:

Property, plant and equipment

Right-of-use asset

Intangible assets

Trade and other receivables

Current assets:

Contract assets

Trade and other receivables

Income tax receivable

Cash and cash equivalents

Current liabilities:

Lease liabilities

Trade and other payables

Income tax liabilities

Employee benefit obligations

Non-current liabilities:

Lease liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Net assets acquired

Goodwill (provisional)

Purchase consideration

Consideration satisfied by:

Cash paid

Deferred consideration < 1 year

Deferred consideration > 1 year

Provisional fair value to the Group

Nash Bond
£m

Others
£m

0.1

–

–

–

–

0.5

0.1

2.3

–

(1.0)

–

–

–

–

2.0

5.0

7.0

7.0

–

–

7.0

0.2

0.5

0.5

0.1

0.3

0.7

–

2.5

(0.1)

(1.5)

(0.1)

(0.1)

(0.3)

(0.2)

2.5

5.4

7.9

6.5

0.5

0.9

7.9

Total
£m

0.3

0.5

0.5

0.1

0.3

1.2

0.1

4.8

(0.1)

(2.5)

(0.1)

(0.1)

(0.3)

(0.2)

4.5

10.4

14.9

13.5

0.5

0.9

14.9

Nash Bond Limited (‘Nash Bond’)

On 27 November 2023, the Group acquired 100% of the equity interest in Nash Bond, a leading retail agency and 
lease consultancy business based in the UK. The acquisition enhances the strength of the Central London retail 
business to take advantage of the recovering retail market. 

Total acquisition consideration is provisionally determined at £7.0m, all of which was settled on completion.

Acquisition-related costs of £0.5m have been expensed as incurred to the income statement and classified within 
other operating expenses.

Goodwill of £5.0m has been determined. Goodwill is attributable to the experience and expertise of key staff members 
and is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

The acquired business contributed revenue of £0.1m and profit of £0.1m to the Group for the period from the date of 
acquisition to 31 December 2023. Had the acquisition been made at the beginning of the financial year, revenue would 
have been £4.7m and a profit of £0.5m would have been recognised.

The fair value of trade and other receivables is £0.5m, £0.4m of which relates to trade receivables. The gross 
contractual amount for trade receivables is £0.4m, all of which is expected to be collectible.

223

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

18. Investments and transactions continued
18.6 Acquisitions of subsidiaries continued
Other acquisitions

On 6 January 2023, the Group acquired 100% of the equity interest in Automotive Property Consultancy Holdings 
Limited, a specialist property consultancy company dedicated to the franchised motor retail sector in the United 
Kingdom. On 31 March 2023, the Group acquired 51% of the equity interest in BeLiving SRL (subsequently renamed 
Savills Residential Italy SRL), a real estate company specialising in residential sales and rentals in Italy. On 31 May 
2023, the Group also acquired 100% of the equity of Predibisa, Sociedade de Mediaçāo Imobiliária, Lda., a residential 
and commercial real estate company based in Porto, Portugal. In addition, on 1 August 2023, the Group acquired a 
55% equity interest in Site 8 Pty Limited, a retail property agency in Australia (subsequently renamed Savills Retail 
Management Pty Limited). 

Cash consideration for these transactions amounted to £6.5m. The remainder of the acquisition consideration relates 
to deferred consideration of £1.4m payable, of which £0.5m is payable within one year of the reporting date.

Goodwill of £5.4m has been provisionally determined. Goodwill is attributable to the experience and expertise of key 
staff and strong industry reputation and is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

Acquisition-related costs of £0.6m have been expensed as incurred to the income statement and classified within 
other operating expenses. 

The acquired businesses contributed revenue of £5.7m and a profit of £0.4m to the Group for the period from 
acquisition to 31 December 2023. Had the acquisitions been made at the beginning of the financial year, revenue 
would have been £7.7m and the profit would have been £0.5m. The impact on the Group’s overall revenue and profits 
is not material.

The fair value of trade and other receivables acquired is £0.7m, £0.6m of which relates to trade receivables. The gross 
contractual amount for trade receivables is £0.6m, all of which is expected to be collectible.

2022 acquisitions and prior year restatement

In the year ended 31 December 2022 the Group acquired a 60% equity interest in Absolute Maintenance Services 
Pte Limited and Solute Pte Limited (‘AMS’), 100% equity interest in Pitmore 1 Limited, a 60% equity interest in Simply 
Affordable Homes LLP, 100% of the equity interest in BrickByte GmbH, 100% of SRS Lease Administration LLC, a 60% 
equity interest in PT CB Advisory, 70% of the equity interest in PT Cakrawala Baswara Cemerlang and a 60% equity 
interest in PT Cakrawala Baswara Indonesia. The Group also acquired the trade and assets of Cureoscity Limited, 
James A Baker and the trade and assets of a property management company based in Poland.

During the current year, provisional fair values relating to the acquisition of AMS were finalised, resulting in an increase 
to goodwill of £0.2m and a corresponding increase in deferred consideration payable. This adjustment is considered a 
measurement period adjustment in accordance with IFRS 3 and as a result the 31 December 2022 comparatives have 
been restated.

224

Annual report and accounts 20232022
£m

2.3

0.5

2.8

(0.7)

(0.2)

(0.9)

1.9

2022
£m

3.3

(0.5)

–

–

(0.1)

–

–

19. Deferred income tax
The deferred income tax assets and liabilities at 31 December are as follows:

The movement on the deferred tax account is shown below:

Deferred tax assets

– Deferred tax asset to be recovered after more than 12 months

– Deferred tax asset to be recovered within 12 months

Deferred tax liabilities

– Deferred tax liability to be recovered after more than 12 months

– Deferred tax liability to be recovered within 12 months

Deferred tax asset – net

Group

Company

2023
£m

45.8

20.3

66.1

(9.0)

(1.8)

(10.8)

55.3

2022
£m

37.6

20.6

58.2

(18.3)

(2.9)

(21.2)

37.0

2023
£m

2.1

0.7

2.8

(0.1)

(0.1)

(0.2)

2.6

Group

Company

At 1 January – net asset

Amount credited/(charged) to the income statement (Note 12)

Effect of tax rate change within the income statement (Note 12)

Tax credited/(charged) to other comprehensive income

– Defined benefit pension scheme – actuarial losses/(gains)

– Defined benefit pension scheme – effect of UK tax rate change

Tax credited/(charged) to reserves

– Employee benefits

– Revaluation of FVOCI investments

– IFRS 16 initial lease recognition released to reserves

Additions through business combinations (Note 18.6)

Exchange movement

At 31 December – net asset

2023
£m

37.0

11.6

0.2

5.8

2.6

0.3

(0.2)

(0.2)

(0.1)

(1.7)

55.3

2022
£m

34.9

5.6

2.1

(1.5)

(2.4)

(3.0)

–

(0.2)

(0.4)

1.9

37.0

2023
£m

1.9

0.3

–

0.3

0.1

0.1

–

(0.1)

(0.8)

–

–

2.6

–

–

1.9

Deferred income tax assets have been recognised for tax loss carry-forwards and other temporary differences to the 
extent that the realisation of the related tax benefit through future taxable profits is probable.

As at the reporting date the Group did not recognise deferred income tax assets of £3.7m (2022: £3.3m) in respect 
of losses amounting to £17.3m, which can be carried forward indefinitely against future taxable income (2022: £15.5m, 
which can be carried forward indefinitely against future taxable income).

225

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

19. Deferred income tax continued

Deferred tax assets – Group

Accelerated
capital
allowances
£m

Provisions
and other*
£m

Other
employee
benefit
obligations**
£m

Tax
losses
£m

Retirement
benefits
£m

Revaluations
£m

Share-
based
payments
£m

Total
£m

Balance at 1 January 2022

3.2

12.8

15.4

4.6

2.3

0.2

11.5

50.0

0.3

2.4

(1.3)

–

–

(1.4)

0.9

3.9

2.4

(0.1)

1.0

0.2

0.9

–

(0.2)

0.7

16.8

–

–

1.1

20.0

–

–

–

0.3

7.3

–

(0.7)

–

–

1.5

–

–

–

(7.7)

1.7

0.4

(1.7)

7.7

(0.6)

0.1

0.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5.8

2.6

–

–

–

(1.1)

(0.2)

17.3

14.8

1.6

–

–

(0.2)

(0.1)

(0.6)

16.4

–

–

–

3.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

(0.1)

4.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.4

0.8

6.5

–

–

2.1

(0.7)

(3.0)

(3.2)

–

2.1

0.2

9.3

58.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

(7.7)

1.7

9.2

–

–

–

0.2

5.8

2.6

(0.2)

0.3

(0.1)

–

–

–

–

–

(0.1)

(2.0)

11.3

66.1

(8.9)

57.2

38.6

Reclassifications from/(to) 
deferred tax liabilities

Amount (charged)/credited to 
the income statement (Note 12)

Effect of tax rate change within 
the income statement (Note 12)

Amount credited to other 
comprehensive income (Note 12)

Amount charged to reserves 
(Note 12)

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

Reclassifications from/(to) 
deferred tax liabilities

Amount credited/(charged) to 
the income statement (Note 12)

Effect of tax rate change within 
the income statement (Note 12)

Amount credited to other 
comprehensive income (Note 12)

Effect of tax rate change within 
other comprehensive income 
(Note 12)

Amount charged to reserves 
(Note 12)

Additions through business 
combinations (Note 18.6)

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Set-off of deferred tax liabilities 
pursuant to set-off provisions

Deferred tax asset at 
31 December 2023 in the 
Statement of Financial Position

Deferred tax asset at 31 December 
2022 in the Statement of Financial 
Position (net of £19.6m set-off)

226

Annual report and accounts 2023Deferred tax liabilities – Group

At 1 January 2022

Accelerated
capital
allowances
£m

Provisions
and other*
£m

Retirement
Benefits
£m

Intangible
assets
£m

(0.2)

(0.6)

(4.3)

(10.0)

–

(0.2)

(0.8)

(2.4)

–

–

(7.7)

–

7.7

–

–

–

Reclassifications from/(to) deferred tax assets

Tax (charged)/credited to the income statement (Note 12)

–

(1.0)

–

(0.1)

–

–

–

–

(1.2)

–

–

0.4

–

(0.8)

–

–

–

(0.1)

(0.8)

(0.2)

–

(0.7)

0.1

(1.6)

Tax charged to other comprehensive income (Note 12)

Effect of tax rate change within other comprehensive 
income (Note 12)

Additions through business combinations

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2022

Transfers

Reclassifications from/(to) deferred tax assets

Tax credited/(charged) to the income statement (Note 12)

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Set-off of deferred tax liabilities pursuant to 
set-off provisions

Deferred tax liabilities at 31 December 2023 in the 
Statement of Financial Position

Deferred tax liabilities at 31 December 2022 in the 
Statement of Financial Position (net of £19.6m set-off)

Net deferred tax asset

At 31 December 2023

At 31 December 2022

Total
£m

(15.1)

(1.4)

(0.9)

(0.8)

(2.4)

(0.3)

(0.3)

(21.2)

–

7.7

2.4

0.3

(1.4)

0.4

–

–

(0.3)

(0.2)

(11.5)

0.2

–

2.7

0.2

(8.4)

10.8

8.9

(1.9)

(1.6)

55.3

37.0

*  Provisions and Other primarily includes deferred tax assets relating to accruals and provisions for expenses not deductible until paid.

**   Other Employee Benefit Obligations includes deferred tax assets relating to unpaid bonus accruals, holiday pay provisions, long service leave provisions and 

other deferred compensation accruals.

227

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

19. Deferred income tax continued

Deferred tax assets – Company

Balance at 1 January 2022

Amount credited/(charged) to the income statement (Note 12)

Tax charged to reserves (Note 12)

At 31 December 2022

Reclassifications to deferred tax liabilities

Tax charged to other comprehensive income (Note 12)

Effect of tax rate change within other comprehensive income (Note 12)

Tax charged to reserves (Note 12)

At 31 December 2023

Set–off of deferred tax liabilities pursuant to set-off provisions

Deferred tax asset at 31 December 2023 in the Statement 
of Financial Position

Deferred tax asset at 31 December 2022 in the Statement of Financial 
Position (net of £0.9m set-off)

Deferred tax liabilities – Company

Balance at 1 January 2022

Tax charged to the income statement

At 31 December 2022

Tax charged to the income statement

Reclassifications from deferred tax assets

At 31 December 2023

Set-off of deferred tax liabilities pursuant to set-off provisions

Deferred tax liabilities at 31 December 2023 in the Statement 
of Financial Position

Deferred tax liabilities at 31 December 2022 in the Statement of Financial 
Position (net of £0.9m set-off)

Net deferred tax asset

At 31 December 2023

At 31 December 2022

Provisions
and other*
£m

Retirement 
benefits
£m

Share-based 
payments
£m

1.3

0.1

(0.1)

1.3

–

–

–

(0.1)

1.2

–

–

–

–

(0.4)

0.3

0.1

–

–

2.4

(0.2)

(0.7)

1.5

–

–

–

0.1

1.6

Accelerated
capital
allowances
£m

Retirement
Benefits
£m

(0.1)

(0.4)

(0.5)

0.3

–

(0.2)

(0.3)

(0.1)

(0.4)

–

0.4

–

*  Provisions and Other primarily includes deferred tax assets relating to accruals and provisions for expenses not deductible until paid.

Total
£m

3.7

(0.1)

(0.8)

2.8

(0.4)

0.3

0.1

–

2.8

(0.2)

2.6

1.9

Total
£m

(0.4)

(0.5)

(0.9)

0.3

0.4

(0.2)

0.2

–

–

2.6

1.9

228

Annual report and accounts 202320. Trade and other receivables
20.1 Trade and other receivables – current

Trade receivables

Less: loss allowance/impairment of receivables provision

Trade receivables – net

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

Other receivables

Prepayments

Accrued income

Group

Company

2023
£m

2022
£m

2023
£m

2022
£m

495.7

502.5

(19.6)

476.1

(24.1)

478.4

–

72.0

54.5

53.8

–

57.8

46.2

60.7

656.4

643.1

–

–

–

65.7

2.4

7.0

–

75.1

–

–

–

76.2

1.5

3.7

–

81.4

The carrying value of trade and other receivables is approximate to their fair value.

Group

There is no concentration of credit risk with respect to trade and other receivables as the Group has a large number of 
clients internationally dispersed with no individual client owing a significant amount. The credit quality of receivables is 
managed at a local subsidiary level on a regular basis. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the 
carrying value of each class of receivables mentioned above. The Group does not hold any collateral as security.

Other receivables relate primarily to employee loans, rental deposits, accrued interest income, client funds and loans 
due from other parties. Loans due from other parties include loans of £0.1m receivable from joint ventures (2022: 
£0.2m) and loans of £0.6m receivable from associates (2022: £1.7m). In the prior year, loans due from other parties 
also included loans of £0.9m issued to entities that the Group recognise as equity investments held at FVOCI.

Accrued income is expected to be settled within 12 months of the year end date.

The carrying amounts of the Group’s gross trade receivables are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling

Euro

Hong Kong dollar

US dollar

Australian dollar

Chinese renminbi

Other*

Group

2023
£m

212.6

82.2

40.6

55.5

24.2

34.1

46.5

2022
£m

194.8

89.2

49.5

59.8

24.1

44.2

40.9

495.7

502.5

* 

 Other currencies include Czech koruna, United Arab Emirates dirham, Bahraini dinar, Egyptian pound, Omani rial, Saudi riyal, South Korean won, Singapore dollar, 
Japanese yen, New Zealand dollar, Indonesian rupiah, Philippine peso, Malaysian ringgit, Macau pataca, New Taiwan dollar, Thailand baht, Polish zloty, Swedish 
krona, Indian rupee, New Zealand dollar, Vietnamese dong and Canadian dollar.

Company

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings to the Company include £30.0m of intercompany loans (2022: £52.3m). 
With the exception of intercompany loans, amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings to the Company are unsecured, 
interest-free and generally cleared within the month. Intercompany loans are unsecured and repayable on demand. 
The intercompany loan balance as at 31 December 2023 attracts an arms-length rate of interest, charged at a market 
rate determined by the aggregation of average daily SONIA, 12-month IBOR reform published credit adjustment 
spread and 1%. The loans are classified as current as repayment is expected within 12 months of the reporting date. 
Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings do not contain material allowances for impairment.

229

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

20. Trade and other receivables continued
20.2 Impairment of trade and other receivables

Group

With the exception of trade receivables, the other classes within trade and other receivables do not contain material 
allowances for impairment. Accrued income and contract assets are measured net of lifetime expected credit losses 
using a provision matrix similar to trade receivables.

With respect to trade receivables, an allowance for impairment is made based on historical credit loss experience 
adjusted for forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and economic environment, as evidence of a likely 
reduction in the recoverability of the cash flows. Local management have assessed the expected credit losses for trade 
receivables in the current geopolitical and economic environment and the expected loss rates have been reviewed 
based on their judgement as to the impact on their trade receivables portfolio. In addition, certain customers have 
been identified as having a significantly elevated risk and have been provided for on a specific basis. Overall, the 
expected loss rate on trade receivables has decreased to 4.0% (31 December 2022: 4.8%) reflecting improvements 
in the ageing profile of the Group’s trade receivables.

The loss allowance provision for trade receivables as at 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022 was determined 
as follows:

31 December 2023

Expected loss rate

Gross carrying amount (£m)

Loss allowance provision (£m)

31 December 2022

Expected loss rate

Gross carrying amount (£m)

Loss allowance provision (£m)

More than
30 days
past due

More than
60 days
past due

More than
90 days
past due

More than
180 days
past due

Total

0.5%

43.6

2.1%

24.3

6.4%

45.9%

4.0%

28.2

35.1

495.7

Current

0.3%

364.5

(1.0)

(0.2)

(0.5)

(1.8)

(16.1)

(19.6)

More than
30 days
past due

More than
60 days
past due

More than
90 days
past due

More than
180 days
past due

0.2%

49.3

1.0%

30.3

4.6%

46.9%

30.4

46.3

502.5

Total

4.8%

Current

0.2%

346.2

(0.6)

(0.1)

(0.3)

(1.4)

(21.7)

(24.1)

The loss allowance provision for trade receivables as at 31 December reconciles to the opening loss allowance 
provision as follows:

At 1 January

Decrease/(increase) in loss allowance recognised in the income statement during the period

Receivables written off during the year as uncollectible

Transfers

Foreign exchange

At 31 December

2023
£m

2022
£m

(24.1)

(30.3)

(0.7)

3.9

–

1.3

(19.6)

2.1

4.3

1.2

(1.4)

(24.1)

A 1% increase in the expected loss rate in each ageing category would increase the loss allowance provision by £5.0m.

Company

Trade and other receivables do not contain material allowances for impairment.

230

Annual report and accounts 202320.3 Trade and other receivables – non-current

Trade receivables

Other receivables

Other assets

Net investment in sub lease (Note 20.4)

Group

Company

2023
£m

10.4

9.8

38.8

10.3

69.3

2022
£m

6.5

6.3

24.3

0.4

37.5

2023
£m

–

–

–

6.9

6.9

2022
£m

–

–

–

7.1

7.1

The carrying value of the above receivables are approximate to their fair value.

Group

Other assets relate to signing-on bonuses that are amortised to the income statement over the relevant contractual 
clawback period.

Other receivables include loans of £1.3m receivable from associates (2022: £nil), £1.4m of loans issued to entities 
that the Group recognises as financial assets held at FVOCI (2022: £1.8m) and insurance receivable assets of £7.0m 
(2022: £3.7m).

20.4 Net investment in subleases
The Group subleases office space. Sublease receivables (net investment in sub lease) amount to £12.3m as at 
31 December 2023 (31 December 2022: £0.6m), split between non-current of £10.3m and current of £2.0m 
(31 December 2022: non-current £0.4m, current £0.2m). The current balance is included in other receivables. 

The Company subleases office space to a subsidiary of the Group. Sublease receivables (net investment in sublease) 
amount to £7.9m as at 31 December 2023 (31 December 2022: £8.0m), split between non-current of £6.9m and current 
of £1.0m (31 December 2022: non-current £7.1m, current £0.9m). The current balance is included in other receivables.

The future lease payments receivable are as follows:

Less than a year

Between 1 and 2 years

Between 2 and 3 years

Between 3 and 4 years

Between 4 and 5 years

Over 5 years

Total undiscounted cash flows

Discounting

Carrying value of net investment in sublease

Group

Company

2023
£m

2.0

1.8

1.6

1.6

1.6

4.6

13.2

(0.9)

12.3

2022
£m

0.2

0.2

0.2

–

–

–

0.6

–

0.6

2023
£m

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

4.1

9.1

(1.2)

7.9

2022
£m

0.9

0.9

0.9

0.9

0.9

4.7

9.2

(1.2)

8.0

231

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

21. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand

Short-term bank deposits

Group

Company

2023
£m

416.5

90.3

506.8

2022
£m

556.7

112.4

669.1

2023
£m

118.9

–

118.9

2022
£m

93.6

–

93.6

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates their fair value.

The effective interest rate on short-term bank deposits as at 31 December 2023 was 4.86% (2022: 3.97%); these 
deposits have an average maturity of 29 days (2022: 25 days).

Cash subject to restrictions in Asia Pacific amounts to £34.3m (2022: £25.6m) which is cash pledged to banks in 
relation to property management contracts and cash remittance restrictions in certain countries. These amounts are 
accessible by the Group and are consolidated within the Group’s cash and cash equivalents.

Cash and cash equivalents are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling

Hong Kong dollar

Euro

Chinese renminbi

US dollar

Japanese yen

Australian dollar

South Korean won

Singapore dollar

Other currencies*

Group

Company

2023
£m

224.0

96.4

55.6

40.0

11.0

12.9

7.7

9.1

11.3

38.8

2022
£m

331.3

112.3

80.2

36.9

13.8

22.9

10.6

11.1

13.4

36.6

2023
£m

118.7

–

0.1

–

–

–

0.1

–

–

–

2022
£m

93.5

–

0.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

506.8

669.1

118.9

93.6

* 

 Other currencies include United Arab Emirates dirham, Omani rial, Egyptian pound, Saudi riyal, Bahrain dinar, Canadian dollar, Czech koruna, New Taiwan dollar, 
Macau pataca, Thai baht, Vietnamese dong, New Zealand dollar, Indonesian rupiah, Philippine peso, Danish krone, Polish zloty, Swiss franc and Swedish krona.

22. Notional pooling arrangement – Group
For internal cash management purposes, the Group maintains a notional cash pooling arrangement with Barclays Bank 
PLC, whereby credit and debit cash balances for the participating bank accounts are notionally offset. There is no 
overdraft cost or charge associated with any pooled overdraft that is fully offset by pooled credit cash balances. As at 
31 December 2023, the notional cash pooling arrangement included cash balances of £193.3m presented in cash and 
cash equivalents (December 2022: £205.0m) and overdrafts of £192.3m (31 December 2022: £202.0m) presented in 
current liabilities. This represents as at 31 December 2023 surplus pooled credit cash balances of £1.0m  
(31 December 2022: surplus pooled credit cash £3.0m).

For the purpose of the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents net of overdrafts comprise the following:

Cash and cash equivalents (see Note 21)

Overdrafts in notional pooling arrangement

Bank overdrafts (see Note 24)

232

31 December
2023
£m

31 December
2022
£m

506.8

669.1

(192.3)

(202.0)

(4.2)

(2.8)

310.3

464.3

Annual report and accounts 202323. Trade and other payables
23.1 Trade and other payables – current

Deferred consideration (Note 23.3)

Trade payables

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Other taxation and social security

Other payables

Accruals

Group

Company

2023
£m

1.1

107.4

–

65.5

57.2

450.9

682.1

2022
restated*
£m

2.5

108.9

–

64.8

67.1

501.2

744.5

2023
£m

–

1.1

0.2

1.3

–

12.0

14.6

2022
£m

–

1.1

–

1.2

–

12.6

14.9

*  See Note 18.6 for details on the prior period restatement.

The carrying value of trade and other payables is approximate to their fair value.

Group

The Group’s accruals include bonus and commission accruals of £275.9m (2022: £337.9m) and accruals relating 
to deferred and contingent business acquisition payments that are linked to employment conditions of £27.5m  
(2022: £5.1m). The Group’s other payables include amounts owed to employees with respect to commissions of 
£18.5m (2022: £28.4m), amounts owed to clients with respect to cash held on their behalf of £24.1m (2022: £26.3m) 
and loans payable to associates of £0.2m (2022: £nil). 

Company

Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings are unsecured, interest-free and repayable on demand.

The Company’s accruals include bonus and commission accruals of £9.1m (2022: £9.8m).

23.2 Other payables – non-current

Deferred consideration (Note 23.4)

Accruals – relating to deferred and contingent business acquisition payments linked 
to employment conditions

Other payables

The carrying value of the above payables are approximate to their fair value.

2023
£m

1.4

3.6

5.4

10.4

2022
£m

0.8

18.0

3.1

21.9

233

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTS2022

Non-
contingent 
restated*
£m

Total 
restated*
£m

Contingent
£m

–

1.7

–

–

–

(1.6)

(0.1)

–

3.4

0.2

2.0

0.1

(3.3)

–

0.1

2.5

3.4

1.9

2.0

0.1

(3.3)

(1.6)

–

2.5

Total
£m

2.4

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

23. Trade and other payables continued
23.3 Deferred consideration – current

At 1 January

Reclassification from non-current deferred 
consideration (Note 23.4)

Additions through business combinations (Note 18.6)

Interest unwind

Deferred consideration paid

Released to the income statement

Exchange movement

At 31 December

*  See Note 18.6 for details on the prior period restatement.

2023

Non-
contingent
£m

2.5

0.3

0.5

–

(2.1)

–

(0.1)

1.1

Total
£m

2.5

0.3

0.5

–

(2.1)

–

(0.1)

1.1

Deferred consideration relates to deferred business acquisition payments not linked to continuing employment. 

23.4 Deferred consideration – non-current

At 1 January

Reclassification to current deferred 
consideration (Note 23.3)

Additions through business combinations 
(Note 18.6)

Interest unwind

Exchange movement

At 31 December

Contingent
£m

–

–

0.7

–

–

0.7

2023

Non-
contingent
£m

0.8

2022

Non-
contingent
£m

Contingent
£m

1.5

0.9

Total
£m

0.8

(0.3)

(0.3)

(1.7)

(0.2)

(1.9)

0.2

0.1

(0.1)

0.7

0.9

0.1

(0.1)

1.4

–

–

0.2

–

–

–

0.1

0.8

–

–

0.3

0.8

Deferred consideration relates to deferred business acquisition payments not linked to continuing employment. 

234

Annual report and accounts 202324. Borrowings

Current

Bank overdrafts

Unsecured bank loans due within one year or on demand

Loan notes due within one year or on demand

Non-current

Unsecured bank loans

Loan notes

Transaction costs (issuance of loan notes and RCF arrangement fees)

2023
£m

4.2

3.0

0.7

7.9

0.1

150.0

(0.8)

149.3

157.2

2022
£m

2.8

4.0

3.8

10.6

0.5

150.0

(1.4)

149.1

159.7

The Company does not have any borrowings as at 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022.

The Group holds a £360.0m multi-currency revolving credit facility (‘RCF’), which includes an additional £90.0m 
accordion facility, expiring in June 2026. As at 31 December 2023 none (2022: none) of the RCF was drawn.

The unsecured bank loans reflect a £0.9m working capital loan in Thailand, which is repayable on demand and 
denominated in Thailand baht (2022: £0.9m), a £1.4m working capital loan in Indonesia which is repayable on demand 
and denominated in Indonesian rupiah (2022: £0.3m) and £0.8m of loans in Singapore, denominated in Singapore 
dollar (2022: £3.3m). The loans in Singapore include a £0.1m bank loan maturing within one year, a £0.3m factoring 
facility maturing within one year and a £0.4m bridging loan, £0.3m expiring within one year and the remainder 
expiring in 2025. 

The loan notes due within one year or on demand reflect working capital loans in Singapore, which are repayable 
within one year or on demand and denominated in Singapore dollars. These loans are payable to a non-controlling 
interest holder in one of the Group’s subsidiaries.

Non-current loan notes reflect the £150.0m of long-term debt held by the Group through the issuance of 7, 10 and 12 
year fixed-rate private note placements in the US institutional market, which were issued in June 2018.

Movements in borrowings are analysed as follows:

Opening amount as at 1 January

Additional borrowings, net of transaction costs paid (including overdraft movement)*

Repayments of borrowings

Addition through business combination 

Amortisation of transaction costs

Foreign exchange

Closing amount as at 31 December

Group

2023
£m

159.7

107.2

(109.9)

–

0.6

(0.4)

157.2

2022
£m

150.5

10.8

(5.6)

3.2

0.6

0.2

159.7

* 

 2023 includes a £1.5m increase in overdraft balances within additional borrowings. 2022 includes £1.5m increase in overdraft balances and £0.3m of transaction 
costs paid within additional borrowings.

235

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

24. Borrowings continued
The carrying value of the Group’s borrowings exposed to interest rate changes at the reporting date is:

Less than 1 year

Group

2023
£m

6.9

6.9

2022
£m

7.7

7.7

The Group’s remaining borrowings are fixed rate instruments and therefore excluded from the above analysis.

The effective interest rates at the reporting date were as follows:

Bank overdrafts

Bank loans

Loan notes

Group

2023
%

5.96

6.95

3.15

2022
%

4.38

3.72

3.16

The carrying amounts of borrowings are materially approximate to their fair value, with the exception of the Group’s 
long-term fixed rate private note placements. The fair value of these loan notes as at 31 December 2023 is £135.6m 
(31 December 2022: £131.5m). The difference between the fair value and the book value is not recognised in the 
reported results for the year. The fair value has been calculated based upon a discounted cash flow valuation utilising 
observable market rates of borrowing that are comparable to the remaining length of the loan notes. The valuation 
technique falls within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy in IFRS 13.

The carrying amounts of the Group’s borrowings are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling

Indonesian rupiah

Singapore dollar

Other

Group

2023
£m

153.4

1.4

1.5

0.9

2022
£m

151.2

–

7.1

1.4

157.2

159.7

The Group has the following undrawn borrowing facilities:

Expiring within 1 year or on demand

Expiring between 1 and 5 years

2023

Floating
£m

58.8

360.0

418.8

Fixed
£m

3.0

0.2

3.2

Group

Total
£m

61.8

360.2

422.0

2022

Floating
£m

64.9

360.0

424.9

Fixed
£m

1.1

0.2

1.3

Total
£m

66.0

360.2

426.2

236

Annual report and accounts 202325. Lease liabilities
The statement of financial position shows the following amount relating to lease liabilities:

At 1 January

Additions 

Lease modifications

Additions through business combinations (Note 18.6)

Transfers from accruals

Disposal of leases

Repayments of lease liabilities

Unwinding of discount

Exchange movement

Closing amount as at 31 December

Current

Non-current

Group

Company

2023
£m

277.6

32.2

8.5

0.4

0.3

(2.6)

(63.9)

9.2

(7.5)

254.2

52.9

201.3

2022
£m

285.0

31.7

–

2.7

–

(4.4)

(60.5)

9.0

14.1

277.6

53.2

224.4

2023
£m

58.8

7.5

–

–

–

–

2022
£m

64.5

–

–

–

–

–

(8.2)

(7.7)

2.1

–

60.2

6.0

54.2

2.0

–

58.8

5.2

53.6

For the Group, cash outflows with respect to leases, which includes short-term, low-value and variable lease payments, 
totalled £65.1m (2022: £62.8m). Refer to Note 7.1 for information on the amount charged to the income statement with 
respect to short-term, low-value and variable lease payments.

For the Company, cash outflows with respect to leases, which includes short-term lease payments, totalled £8.6m 
(2022: £8.0m).

26. Provisions
26.1 Provisions

At 1 January 2023

Provided during the year

Transfer from accruals

Utilised during the year

Released during the year

Exchange movement

Closing amount as at 31 December 2023

Current

Non-current

2022

Current

Non-current

Total

Professional
indemnity
claims
£m

Dilapidation
provisions
£m

Restructuring
provision
£m

Other
provisions
£m

12.5

8.7

–

(6.8)

(1.7)

(0.1)

12.6

1.6

11.0

10.9

2.3

0.2

–

(0.2)

(0.2)

13.0

1.7

11.3

0.3

13.5

–

(4.5)

(0.3)

–

9.0

9.0

–

6.1

4.3

–

(1.1)

(2.7)

(0.1)

6.5

4.9

1.6

Professional
indemnity
claims
£m

1.6

10.9

12.5

Dilapidation
provisions
£m

Restructuring
provision
£m

Other
provisions
£m

2.6

8.3

10.9

0.3

–

0.3

4.7

1.4

6.1

Group
total
£m

29.8

28.8

0.2

(12.4)

(4.9)

(0.4)

41.1

17.2

23.9

Group
total
£m

9.2

20.6

29.8

Company
£m

2.4

0.1

–

–

–

–

2.5

–

2.5

Company
£m

–

2.4

2.4

237

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

26. Provisions continued
26.1 Provisions continued
(a) Professional indemnity claims

These arise from various legal actions, proceedings and other claims that are pending against the Group and are based 
on management’s best estimates of the most likely outcome, taking into account the opinions of legal counsel. The 
nature of the amounts provided in respect of legal actions, proceedings and other claims is such that the extent and 
timing of cash flows can be difficult to estimate and the ultimate liability may vary from the amounts provided. The 
non-current portion of these provisions is expected to be utilised within the next two to five years.

A separate receivable from insurers in relation to professional indemnity claims is recognised to the extent it is virtually 
certain of being received. The provision and insurance asset are presented in the accounts as follows:

Group

Provisions – current

Provisions – non-current

Trade and other receivables – non-current

2023
£m

1.6

11.0

(7.0)

5.6

2022
£m

1.6

10.9

(3.7)

8.8

(b) Dilapidation provisions

The Group is required to perform dilapidation repairs and in certain instances restore properties to agreed specifications 
prior to the properties being vacated at the end of their lease term. These amounts are based on management’s best 
estimates of repair and restoration costs at a future date and therefore a degree of uncertainty exists over the value 
of future cash outflows, given that these are subject to repair and restoration cost price fluctuations and the extent 
of repairs to be completed at the end of the lease term. The majority of the non-current portion of these provisions 
is expected to be utilised within the next two to 14 years.

(c) Restructuring provision

This provision comprises primarily termination payments to employees affected by restructuring.

(d) Other provisions

Other provisions includes obligations relating to sales tax payable and other claims against the Group (not related to 
professional indemnity claims). These amounts are based on reasonable estimates, taking into account the opinions 
of subject matter experts and legal counsel. Other provisions also includes provisions for loss-making contracts 
in Singapore, with the provision based on management’s estimated losses over the length of the contract. The 
non-current portion of these provisions is expected to be utilised within the next two to five years.

26.2 Employee benefit obligations
In addition to the defined benefit obligations pension scheme disclosed in Note 10.2, the following are included in 
employee benefit obligations:

Group

At 1 January 2023

Provided during the year

Additions through business combinations (Note 18.6)

Actuarial movement on employee benefit schemes

Utilised during the year

Exchange movement

At 31 December 2023

Total
£m

42.9

9.0

0.1

0.1

(6.2)

(1.9)

44.0

The above provisions relate to holiday pay and long service leave in the UK, Asia Pacific, Continental Europe and the 
Middle East. Profit shares are included within accruals (Note 23).

The Company had £0.2m of employee benefit obligations as at 31 December 2023 (2022: £0.2m), relating to holiday 
pay and long service leave.

238

Annual report and accounts 2023The above employee benefit obligations have been analysed between current and non-current as follows:

Current

Non-current

27. Share capital and premium – Group and Company

Authorised and allotted

Ordinary shares of 2.5p each:

Authorised

Issued, called up and fully paid

2023
Number of shares*

2022
Number of shares*

202,000,000

202,000,000

144,389,919

144,353,048

Movement in issued, called-up and fully paid share capital:

Group

2023
£m

18.5

25.5

44.0

2023
£m

5.1

3.6

2022
£m

17.7

25.2

42.9

2022
£m

5.1

3.6

At 1 January

144,353,048

3.6

104.9

144,203,211

2023

Number
of shares*

Share
capital
£m

Share
premium
£m

Number
of shares*

2022

Share
capital
£m

3.6

Issued to direct participants on exercise 
of options under the Sharesave Scheme

Issued to direct participants under the 
Performance Share Plan

4,322

32,549

–

–

–

–

68,739

81,098

–

–

Share
premium
£m

104.4

0.5

–

At 31 December

144,389,919

3.6

104.9

144,353,048

3.6

104.9

*  Number of shares are stated before the impact of the shares held by the EBT and Rabbi Trust.

Each issued, called-up and fully paid ordinary share of 2.5p is a voting share in the capital of the Company, is entitled 
to participate in the profits of the Company and on winding-up is entitled to participate in the assets of the Company.

At the Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) held on 17 May 2023, the Shareholders gave the Company authority, subject 
to stated conditions, to purchase for cancellation up to 14,435,333 of its own ordinary shares (AGM held on 12 May 
2022: 14,423,136). Such authority remains valid until the conclusion of the next AGM or 16 August 2024, whichever 
is the earlier.

As at 31 December 2023, the EBT held 7,615,420 shares (2022: 6,780,308 shares) and the Rabbi Trust held 1,502,155 
shares (2022: 1,914,869). These shares are held by the Group as ‘treasury shares’. Any voting or other similar decisions 
relating to these shares are taken by the trustees of the EBT and the Rabbi Trust, who may take account of any 
recommendation of the Company. The EBT waives all of its dividend entitlement. For further details of the EBT and 
the Rabbi Trust refer to Note 2.22. A reconciliation of the movement in treasury shares for the year ended 31 December 
is shown below:

Number of treasury shares

At 1 January

Shares acquired

Shares reissued

At 31 December

31 December
2023

31 December
2022

8,695,177

6,084,503

2,844,065

4,894,511

(2,421,667)

(2,283,837)

9,117,575

8,695,177

239

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

28. Share-based payment
The Group operates four equity-settled share-based payment arrangements, namely the Sharesave Scheme, the 
Performance Share Plan (‘PSP’), the Deferred Share Plan (‘DSP’) and the Deferred Share Bonus Plan (‘DSBP’). The 
Group recognised total expenses relating to equity-settled share-based payment transactions of £28.8m in 2023 
(2022: £30.4m). Of the total share-based payments charge, £1.3m (2022: £0.2m) relates to the Sharesave Scheme, 
£10.3m (2022: £11.1m) relates to the DSP, £16.9m (2022: £18.5m) relates to the DSBP and £0.3m (2022: £0.6m) relates 
to the PSP.

The Company recognised total expenses relating to equity-settled share-based payment transactions of £2.4m in 2023 
(2022: £2.9m). Of the total share-based payments charge, £2.0m (2022: £2.3m) relates to the DSBP, £0.1m relates to 
the Sharesave Scheme and £0.3m (2022: £0.6m) relates to the PSP.

Refer to the Remuneration Report for details of the PSP, pages 147 to 149. Refer to the Directors’ Report for details of 
the Sharesave Scheme, page 154. The DSBP has been established to provide employees with an element of the annual 
performance-related profit share which is deferred and awarded as shares in Savills plc. DSBP awards have a deferral 
period of between three and five years. The DSP provides certain employees with an award over Savills plc shares for 
purposes including recruitment and retention. Current awards under the DSP have a deferral period of between one 
and seven years. In addition to continued employment, DSP awards may be granted with performance conditions 
attaching, primarily relating to financial targets. 

28.1 Movements in share schemes

2023 number of awards (‘000)

Outstanding at 1 January

Granted

Exercised

Cancelled

Forfeited/lapsed

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

Sharesave
awards

2,290

–

(4)

(92)

(103)

2,091

PSP 
awards

543

141

DSP 
awards

3,682

1,366

DSBP 
awards

5,520

2,399

(33)

(1,171)

(1,058)

–

(10)

641

–

–

(107)

(200)

3,770

6,661

Weighted average exercise price for awards outstanding at the 
beginning of the year, exercised in the year and forfeited/lapsed  
in the year (pence)

Weighted average exercise price for awards granted and 
outstanding at end of the year (pence)

Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)

Weighted average share price at the date of exercise for awards 
exercised in the year (pence)

757.0

757.0

1.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

2.4

1.9

1.9

890.8

976.6

927.7

962.6

240

Annual report and accounts 20232022 number of awards (‘000)

Outstanding at 1 January

Granted

Exercised

Cancelled

Forfeited/lapsed

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

Weighted average exercise price for awards outstanding at the 
beginning of the year, exercised in the year and forfeited/lapsed  
in the year (pence)

Weighted average exercise price for awards granted and outstanding 
at end of the year (pence)

Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)

Weighted average share price at the date of exercise for awards 
exercised in the year (pence)

Sharesave
awards

102

2,304

(69)

(12)

(35)

2,290

640.0

757.0

2.8

PSP 
awards

635

122

(71)

–

(143)

543

–

–

2.7

DSP 
awards

3,304

1,606

DSBP 
awards

3,926

2,714

(1,107)

(1,034)

–

(121)

–

(86)

3,682

5,520

–

–

1.7

–

–

2.0

1,214.0

1,095.3

1,053.0

1,082.0

28.2 Fair value of options
For all the DSP and DSBP schemes the fair value of awards is the closing share price before award date. The Actuarial 
Binomial model of actuaries Lane Clark & Peacock LLP is used to fair value awards granted under the PSP and 
Sharesave schemes.

The key inputs to determine the fair value of the awards granted under the PSP scheme during 2023 are shown below.

Performance Share Plan: Awards in the year ended 31 December 2023

Share price at grant date (pence)

Risk-free rate

Volatility of Savills plc share price

Employee turnover

21 April 2023

980.0

3.7%

33% per annum

Zero

The expected volatility is measured over the three years prior to the date of grant to match the vesting period of the 
award. The risk-free rate is the yield on a zero coupon UK government bond at each grant date, with term based on 
the expected life of the option or award.

The fair values of options granted in the period are shown below.

Grant

DSBP 2023

DSBP 2023

DSP 2023

DSP 2023

DSP 2023

DSP 2023

DSP 2023

PSP 2023 (EPS/ROCE)

PSP 2023 (TSR)

Grant date

Deferred period

Fair value pence

21 April 2023

3 – 4 years

31 May 2023

21 April 2023

18 September 2023

31 May 2023

30 September

6 November 2023

21 April 2023

21 April 2023

4 years

1 – 5 years

3 – 4 years

1 – 7 years

1 – 5 years

1 – 5 years

5 years

5 years

952.0

907.5

952.0

929.0

907.5

865.6

835.5

977.5

580.1

241

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

29. Share premium, retained earnings and other reserves
The share premium account represents the premium on shares issued. This reserve is non-distributable.

The share-based payments reserve is used to recognise the value of equity-settled share-based payments provided to 
employees, including key management personnel, as part of their remuneration. Refer to Note 28 for further details of 
these plans.

Treasury shares represents the cost of shares in Savills plc purchased in the market and held in trust to satisfy the 
exercise of share options.

The capital reserve includes mandatory minimum required capital reserves for certain regulated entities within the 
Investment Management business. These reserves are restricted with respect to dividend payments and distributions 
and are required to be treated separately to regular retained earnings.

The capital redemption reserve includes the nominal value of shares bought back by the Company. This reserve 
is non-distributable.

The merger relief reserve arose from the acquisition of Studley Inc (2014 acquisition) and records the premium value 
of the shares issued as part of the consideration for the acquisition of this business. This reserve is non-distributable.

The foreign exchange reserve primarily records exchange differences arising from the translation of the balance sheets 
of foreign currency denominated subsidiaries.

The revaluation reserve primarily records fair value movements on the Group’s equity investments held at FVOCI 
(see Note 18.2). This reserve is non-distributable.

Attributable to owners of the parent

Share-
based
payments
reserve
£m

Treasury
shares
£m

Profit
and loss
account*
£m

Total
retained
earnings*
£m

Capital
redemption
and capital
reserve
£m

Merger
relief
reserve
£m

Foreign
exchange
reserve
£m

Revaluation
reserve
£m

Total 
other
reserves
£m

Balance at 1 January 2023

51.7

(91.9)

587.0

546.8

2.2

34.9

98.5

(22.8)

112.8

Profit attributable to owners 
of the Company

Other comprehensive (loss)/
income

Employee share option 
scheme:

–

–

– Value of services provided

28.8

–  Tax on employee share 

option schemes

0.5

–

–

–

–

40.8

40.8

(16.2)

(16.2)

–

–

28.8

0.5

– Exercise of options

(21.2)

25.6

(4.4)

–  Exercise of options: tax 

on employee share option 
schemes

Tax on items taken to 
reserves

Purchase of treasury shares

Dividends

Transfer between reserves

Fair value of derivative 
financial instrument

Balance at 
31 December 2023

–

–

0.2

(0.4)

(0.4)

(26.3)

–

(26.3)

(48.8)

(48.8)

(0.2)

–

–

–

0.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

(10.4)

(9.7)

(3.0)

3.0

(0.6)

(0.6)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(26.6)

0.6

(26.0)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7.7

7.7

–

–

60.3

(92.6)

547.8

515.5

(0.8)

37.9

71.9

(14.5)

94.5

* 

Included within profit and loss account is tax on items taken directly to equity (Note 12) as disclosed above.

242

Annual report and accounts 2023Attributable to owners of the parent

Share-
based
payments
reserve
£m

Treasury
shares
£m

Profit
and loss
account*
£m

Total
retained
earnings*
£m

Capital
redemption
and capital
reserve
£m

Merger
relief
reserve
£m

Foreign
exchange
reserve
£m

Revaluation
reserve
£m

Total
Other
reserves
£m

Balance at 1 January 2022

48.3

(68.8)

560.5

540.0

2.0

34.9

51.6

(12.3)

76.2

Profit attributable to owners 
of the Company

Other comprehensive 
income/(loss)

Employee share option 
scheme:

–

–

– Value of services provided

29.6

–  Tax on employee share 

option schemes

(2.6)

–

–

–

–

– Exercise of options

(21.0)

25.9

(4.9)

119.4

119.4

–

2.4

2.4

0.2

–  Exercise of options: tax 

on employee share option 
schemes

(2.6)

Tax on items taken to 
reserves

Purchase of treasury shares

Dividends

Transfer between reserves

Fair value of derivative 
financial instrument

Transactions with 
non-controlling interests

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

29.6

(2.6)

–

–

2.6

–

–

0.3

0.3

(49.0)

–

(49.0)

–

–

–

–

(85.5)

(85.5)

(4.0)

(4.0)

(4.5)

(4.5)

0.7

0.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

47.3

(10.9)

36.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(0.4)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.4

0.4

–

–

–

(0.4)

Balance at 31 December 2022

51.7

(91.9)

587.0

546.8

2.2

34.9

98.5

(22.8)

112.8

* 

Included within profit and loss account is tax on items taken directly to equity (Note 12) as disclosed above.

30. Contingent liabilities
The Group is involved in a number of disputes in the ordinary course of business. Provision is made in the financial 
statements for all claims where costs can be estimated reliably and settlement is probable, refer to Note 26 for 
further details.

243

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

31. Cash generated from operations

Group

Company

Profit for the year

Adjustments for:

Income tax (Note 12)

Depreciation (Note 16 and 17)

Amortisation of intangible assets (Note 15)

2023
£m

39.5

15.9

69.6

15.8

2022
£m

119.8

34.1

65.8

16.9

Fair value gain on derivative financial instrument and FVPL investments

(2.1)

(0.1)

(Gain)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, intangible 
assets and leases

Impairment of property, plant and equipment and goodwill

Net finance (income)/cost (Note 11)

Share of post-tax profit from joint ventures and associates (Note 18.1)

Dividends from other parties

Increase/(decrease) in employee and retirement obligations

Exchange movement and fair value movements on financial 
instruments in operating activities

Increase/(decrease) in provisions

Increase in insurance reimbursement asset

Dividend income from subsidiary

Non-operational income – excess distribution from subsidiary with 
respect to share-based payment funding

Charge for share-based compensation (Note 28)

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables and contract assets

Decrease in trade and other payables and contract liabilities

Cash generated from/(used in) operations

(4.0)

3.9

(12.1)

(10.2)

(0.2)

2.5

0.5

11.2

(3.4)

–

–

28.8

155.7

(45.5)

(61.0)

49.2

1.1

0.8

4.3

(12.1)

(0.2)

2.6

0.6

(4.7)

–

–

–

30.4

259.3

(7.3)

(41.1)

210.9

2023
£m

66.1

2022
£m

78.8

(2.7)

(2.3)

6.2

0.5

–

0.3

–

(5.2)

–

–

–

–

–

–

6.4

2.0

–

(3.0)

–

–

–

–

(0.1)

–

–

–

(75.0)

(79.5)

–

2.4

(7.4)

(14.3)

(0.3)

(22.0)

(9.8)

2.9

(4.6)

6.1

(8.3)

(6.8)

Foreign exchange movements resulted in a £20.1m decrease in current and non-current trade and other 
receivables (2022: £37.3m increase) and a £21.3m decrease in current and non-current trade and other payables 
(2022: £43.8m increase).

244

Annual report and accounts 202332. Analysis of liabilities arising from financing activities

Group
2023

Bank loans

Loan notes

Transaction costs

Lease liabilities

Liabilities arising from 
financing activities

Group
2022

Bank loans

Loan notes

Transaction costs

Lease liabilities

Liabilities arising from 
financing activities

Non-cash
movements
recognised
in the 
Income
Statement
£m

Movements
through
business
combinations
and disposals
£m

Other
non-cash
movements
£m

–

–

(0.6)

(9.2)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(38.4)

(0.5)

At
1 January
£m

(4.5)

(153.8)

1.4

Cash
flows
£m

1.0

3.2

–

(277.6)

63.9

Exchange
movement
£m

At
31 December
£m

0.4

(3.1)

(0.1)

(150.7)

–

7.5

0.8

(254.3)

(434.5)

68.1

(9.8)

(38.4)

(0.5)

7.8

(407.3)

Non-cash
movements
recognised
in the
Income
Statement
£m

Movements
through
business
combinations
and disposals
£m

Other
non-cash
movements
£m

Exchange
movement
£m

At
31 December
£m

–

–

(0.6)

(9.0)

–

–

–

(3.2)

(0.1)

(4.5)

–

–

–

–

(153.8)

1.4

(27.3)

(2.7)

(14.1)

(277.6)

At
1 January
£m

(0.9)

(150.0)

1.6

(285.0)

Cash
flows
£m

(0.3)

(3.8)

0.4

60.5

(434.3)

56.8

(9.6)

(27.3)

(5.9)

(14.2)

(434.5)

Non-cash movements recognised in the income statement represent amortisation of transaction costs and 
unwinding of discount on lease liabilities. Other non-cash movements to lease liabilities represent new leases and 
disposal of leases.

The part of the lease payment that represents cash payments for the principal portion of the lease liability is presented 
as a cash flow resulting from financing activities (2023: £54.7m, 2022: £51.4m). The part of the lease payment that 
represents the interest portion of the lease liability is presented as an operating cash flow, consistent with the 
presentation of the Group’s loan and bank interest payments (2023: £9.2m, 2022: £9.0m).

Company
2023

Lease liabilities

Liabilities arising from financing activities

Company
2022

Lease liabilities

Liabilities arising from financing activities

Non-cash
movements
recognised
in the
income
statement
£m

Other
non-cash
movements
£m

At
31 December
£m

(2.1)

(2.1)

(7.5)

(7.5)

(60.2)

(60.2)

At
1 January
£m

(58.8)

(58.8)

Cash
flows
£m

8.2

8.2

Non-cash
movements
recognised
in the
income
statement
£m

At
31 December
£m

(2.0)

(2.0)

(58.8)

(58.8)

At
1 January
£m

(64.5)

(64.5)

Cash
flows
£m

7.7

7.7

245

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

32. Analysis of liabilities arising from financing activities continued
Non-cash movements recognised in the income statement represent amortisation of transaction costs and 
unwinding of discount on lease liabilities.

The part of the lease payment that represents cash payments for the principal portion of the lease liability is 
presented as a cash flow resulting from financing activities (2023: £6.1m, 2022: £5.7m). The part of the lease payment 
that represents the interest portion of the lease liability is presented as an operating cash flow, consistent with the 
presentation of the Group’s loan and bank interest payments (2023: £2.1m, 2022: £2.0m).

The Company does not have any borrowings as at 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022.

33. Related party transactions
Other than disclosed below and the information provided within the Remuneration Report and Note 9.3 (Key 
management compensation), there were no significant related-party transactions during the year.

(a) Loans to related parties
Refer to Note 20.1 for details of loans made to joint ventures and associates.

(b) Transactions with associates and joint ventures
There were no material transactions with associates and joint ventures in the year (2022: no material transactions), 
with the exception of transactions and balances disclosed in Notes 20.1 and 23.1.

(c) Company related-party transactions
The Company provided corporate function services to its subsidiaries at an arm’s length value of £32.6m 
(2022: £31.0m).

Dividends of £75.0m from subsidiaries were recognised during the year (2022: £79.5m). Interest income of £2.5m 
from subsidiaries on loans was recognised during the year (2022: £1.0m), with £0.1m of accrued intercompany interest 
income at the end of the year (2022: £nil). In the prior year, the Company received distributions from its subsidiaries 
with respect to the funding of the EBT in excess of the contribution made by the Company to date with respect to the 
IFRS 2 share based payment contribution to subsidiaries, this excess of £9.8m was recognised within profit and loss 
during the prior year (2023: £nil). 

Amounts outstanding to and from subsidiaries as at 31 December 2023 are disclosed in Notes 20 and 23.

34. Post-balance sheet events
In February 2024, Samsung Life served notice on the call option to purchase a further 4% in the Savills IM Holdings 
Limited group, which will increase their total shareholding to 29%. This transaction is expected to complete towards 
the end of March 2024, with the Group due to receive £11.3m of proceeds. 

There have been no other events that require adjustment to the Financial Statements or are considered to have 
a material impact on the understanding of the Group’s and Company’s current financial position.

246

Annual report and accounts 202335. Group – Investments
In accordance with Section 409 of the Companies Act 2006 a full list of subsidiaries, partnerships, associates and joint 
ventures, the registered office and the effective percentage of equity owned by the Group, as at 31 December 2023, 
are disclosed below. Unless otherwise stated, all subsidiary undertakings are consolidated into the Group financial 
statements and share capital wholly comprises ordinary shares which are indirectly held by the Company.

Fully owned subsidiary

Incoll Group Pty Limited

Incoll Management Pty Limited

Moores Cost Consulting Pty Limited

Savills (ACT) Pty Limited

Country of 
incorporation

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Registered office

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Savills (Aust) Holdings Pty Limited

(ii) Australia

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Savills (Aust) Pty Limited

Savills (NSW) Pty Limited

Savills (QLD) Pty Limited

Savills (SA) Pty Limited

Savills (TAS) Pty Limited

Savills (VIC) Pty Limited

Savills (WA) Pty Limited

Savills Capital Advisory Pty Limited

Savills Occupier Services Pty Limited

Savills Project Management  
Pty Limited

Savills Project Services (SA)  
Pty Limited

Savills Valuations Pty Limited

Savills Sales W.L.L.

Savills Middle East Co. W.L.L.

Savills Canada, Inc

Savills Inc

Savills Services Inc

Guardian Property Services 
(Shanghai) Company Limited

Savills Business Information 
Technology (Shenzhen) Limited

Savills Property Services (Beijing)  
Company Limited

Savills Property Services (Chengdu)  
Company Limited

Savills Property Services (Chongqing) 
Company Limited

Savills Property Services (Guangzhou) 
Company Limited

Savills Property Services (Hainan) 
Limited

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Australia

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Australia

Bahrain

Bahrain

Canada

Canada

Canada

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000

Flat/shop: 2802, Building: 2504, Road: 2832, 
Block: 428, Area: Al Seef, Manama

Flat/shop: 2804, Building: 2504, Road: 2832, 
Block: 428, Area: Al Seef, Manama

181 Bay Street – Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5J 2T3

181 Bay Street – Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5J 2T3

181 Bay Street – Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5J 2T3

Room 220, Block 1, No.100 Jinyu Road,  
Pu Dong, Shanghai

Unit 201, A Tower, No. 1 QianWan Yi Road, 
Qianhai Shengan Cooperation District, Shenzhen 

2101 East Tower, Twin Towers, B-12 
Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, 
Beijing 100022

Room 2106, Yanlord Landmark, No. 1 Section 2, 
Renmin South Road, Chengdu 610016

Room 1601, 16th floor, GuoHua Financial Center, 
No. 9 JuXianYan Square, JiangBeiZui, Chongqing

Room 1301, R&F Center, No.10 Hua Xia Road, 
Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou 510623

Room 9A, Baifang Building, Baifang Square,  
No. 105 Binhai Avenue, Longhua District, Haikou

247

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

35. Group – Investments continued

Country of 
incorporation

Registered office

Fully owned subsidiary

Savills Property Services (Hengqin) 
Limited

Savills Property Services (Shanghai) 
Company Limited

Savills Property Services (Tianjin)  
Company Limited

Savills Property Services (Wuhan)  
Company Limited

Savills Property Services (Zhuhai)  
Company Limited

Savills Corporate Appraisal &  
Advisory Limited

Savills Real Estate Valuation 
(Guangzhou) Company Limited

Savills Technology Innovation Services 
(Shanghai) Company Limited

Savills Valuation and Professional 
Services (BJ) Limited

Savills Valuation and Professional 
Services (GZ) Limited

Shenzhen Guardian Property 
Management Limited

Swan Property Services (Beijing) 
Company Limited

Savills Engineering Consulting 
Shanghai Company Limited 

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

Savills CZ s.r.o.

Czech Republic

Cluttons Egypt Consulting JSC

Savills Egypt Consulting JSC

Savills Valuation SAS

BRICKBYTE GmbH

Savills Advisory Services GmbH

Savills Immobilien Beratungs GmbH

Savills Immobilien Beteiligungs – 
GmbH

Egypt

Egypt

France

Germany

Germany

Germany

Germany

Room 105-19233, No. 6 Baohua Road, Hengqin 
new area, Zhuhai

Unit D, Room 62,Block 3, No.227, Ru Shan  
Road, Shanghai

Unit 4607, Tianjin World Financial Center,  
No. 2 Dagu North Road, Xiaobailou Street, 
Heping District, Tianjin

Unit 08-10, 27th Floor, CITIC PACIFIC Mansion, 
No.1627 Zhongshan Avenue, Jiang’an District

Room 2204, 22/F, Tower B, China Overseas 
Building, Midtown, No. 2021 Jiuzhou West 
Avenue, Zhuhai

Unit 01, 21/F, East Tower, Twin Towers, B-12 
Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, 
Beijing 100022

Room 2105, R&F Center, No.10 Hua Xia Road, 
Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou 510623

Room 205, floor 2 west, No. 707 zhangyang 
road, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone

Unit 07, 21/F, East Tower, Twin Towers,  
B-12 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, 
Beijing 100022

Room 2105, R&F Centre, No.10 Hua Xia Road, 
Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou

Unit 03, 9/F, China Resources Tower, No.2666, 
Keyuan South Road, Nanshan District,  
Shenzhen, 518000

2101 East Tower, Twin Towers, B-12 
Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, 
Beijing 100022

Room 205, floor 2 west, No. 707 Zhangyang 
Road, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone

Florentinum, Building C, Na Florenci 2116/15, 
Prague 1, 110 00

Building 17, Street 210, Al Maadi, Cairo

Building 17, Street 210, Maadi, Cairo

21 Boulevard Haussmann 75009, Paris

Rosental 4, 80331 München

Taunusanlage 18, 60325 Frankfurt am Main

Taunusanlage 18, 60325 Frankfurt am Main

Taunusanlage 18, 60325 Frankfurt am Main

Savills Immobilien Management GmbH

Germany

Taunusanlage 18, 60325 Frankfurt am Main

Savills Property Management 
Deutschland GmbH

Savills Facility Management 
Deutschland GmbH

Germany

Bonner Straße 209, 50968 Köln

Germany

Bonner Straße 209, 50968 Köln

248

Annual report and accounts 2023Fully owned subsidiary

Martel Maides Limited

Country of 
incorporation

Guernsey

Parkes & Associates Limited

Guernsey

Savills Channel Islands Limited

Guernsey

Absolute Result Limited

Hong Kong

Registered office

Royal Terrace, Glategny Esplanade,  
St Peter Port, GY1 2HN

First Floor, Harbour Court, Les Amballes,  
St Peter Port, GY1 1WU

Royal Terrace, Glategny Esplanade,  
St Peter Port, GY1 2HN

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

Bridgewater Management Limited

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

BTHK Property Management Limited

Hong Kong

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road,  
Taikoo Shing

Champion Insurance and Computer  
Services Limited

Dominion Office Centre Limited

Savills IT Solutions Limited

Express Engineering Limited

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Express Maintenance Services Limited

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Gateway Contractors Limited

Greenscape Limited

GRVM Limited

Guard Able Limited

Guardian Care Limited

Guardian Management Services 
Limited

Guardian Mandarin Management 
Limited

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Guardian Partners Limited

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Guardian Property Agencies Limited

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Guardian Property Management 
Limited

Guardian Integrated Management  
Services Limited

Guardian ProTech Facilities  
Management Limited

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Guardian Quality Management Limited

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Hip Kwan Property Management 
Limited

Kenda Services Limited

Kwik Park Limited

Mount Link Services Limited

Quartey Properties Limited

Savills (China) Limited

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Savills (Hong Kong) Limited

Hong Kong

Savills Asia Pacific Limited

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

249

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

35. Group – Investments continued

Fully owned subsidiary

Savills Building Services Limited

Country of 
incorporation

Hong Kong

Savills Design Limited

Hong Kong

Savills Engineering Limited

Hong Kong

Savills Guardian (Holdings) Limited

Savills India Holding Limited

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Savills Indonesia Holding Limited

Hong Kong

Savills Management Services Limited

Hong Kong

Savills Philippines Holding Limited

Hong Kong

Registered office

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road,  
Taikoo Shing

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road,  
Taikoo Shing

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road,  
Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

Savills Project Consultancy Limited

Hong Kong

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road,  
Taikoo Shing

Savills Property Management Holdings 
Limited

Hong Kong

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road,  
Taikoo Shing

Savills Property Management Limited

Hong Kong

Savills Realty Limited

Hong Kong

Savills Regional Services Limited

Hong Kong

Savills Property Services Limited

Hong Kong

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road,  
Taikoo Shing

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road,  
Taikoo Shing

Hong Kong

Room 1208, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Hong Kong

Room 1208, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Savills Valuation and Professional  
Services Limited

Savills Valuation and Professional 
Services (China) Limited

Security and Safety Limited

Swan Hygiene Services Limited

Swan Pest Control Services Limited

Tarrayon Limited

The Peninsular Centre Retailers  
Association Limited

Savills Prestige Limited

Savills Smart Management Limited

Savills Smart Parking Limited

Savills-One Management Services 
Limited

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

PT Property Connection Indonesia

Indonesia

PT Savills Consultants Indonesia

Indonesia

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Panin Tower – Senayan City, 16/F,  
Jl.Asia Afrika Lot.19, Jakarta 10270

Panin Tower – Senayan City, 16/F,  
Jl.Asia Afrika Lot.19, Jakarta 10270

Actium

(ii)

Ireland

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

250

Annual report and accounts 2023Fully owned subsidiary

Anateo Limited

Savills Advisory Services (Ireland) 
Limited

Country of 
incorporation

(ii)

Ireland

Ireland

Registered office

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

Savills Commercial (Ireland) Limited

(ii)

Ireland

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

Savills Management Resource  
Ireland Limited

Ireland

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

Savills Residential (Ireland) Limited

Ireland

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

Savills Italia SRL

Savills Italy SRL (EUR)

Savills Asset Advisory Company 
Limited

Savills Japan Company Limited

Savills Japan Valuation GK

Italy

Italy

Japan

Japan

Japan

Savills plc 1992 Employee  
Benefit Trust

(vi) Jersey

Via Manzoni, 37 – 20121 Milano

Via Manzoni, 37 – 20121 Milano

TOHO Hibiya Promenade Building 8F,  
1-5-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006

TOHO Hibiya Promenade Building 8F,  
1-5-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006

TOHO Hibiya Promenade Building 8F,  
1-5-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006

Third Floor Cambridge House, Le Truchot,  
St Peter Port, GY1 1WD

1992 EBT Holdings Limited

(vi) Jersey

50 La Colomberie, St. Helier, JE2 4QB

Savills (Jersey) Limited

Savills (Macau) Limited

Savills Project Consultancy  
(Macau) Limited

Savills Property Management  
(Macau) Limited

Jersey

Macau

Macau

Macau

Savills (Myanmar) Limited

Myanmar

Savills Asset and Property 
Management BV

Savills Agency BV

Savills BV

Savills Building & Project  
Consultancy BV

Netherlands

Netherlands

Netherlands

Netherlands

Savills Consultancy BV

Netherlands

Savills Holdings BV

Netherlands

Savills Investments BV

Netherlands

Savills Nederland Holdings BV

Netherlands

Savills Retail BV

Netherlands

19 Halkett Place, St Helier, JE2 4WG

Suite 1309-1310, 13/F Macau Landmark,  
555 Avenida da Amizade

Suite 1309-1310, 13/F Macau Landmark,  
555 Avenida da Amizade

Suite 1309-1310, 13/F Macau Landmark,  
555 Avenida da Amizade

No. 8, Unit 8-A, Centerpoint Towers, No. 65, 
Corner of Sule Pagoda Road & Merchant Street, 
Kyauktada Township, Yangon

Viñoly Building, Claude Debussylaan 48, 
Amsterdam 1082 MD 

Viñoly Building, Claude Debussylaan 48, 
Amsterdam 1082 MD 

Viñoly Building, Claude Debussylaan 48, 
Amsterdam 1082 MD 

Viñoly Building, Claude Debussylaan 48, 
Amsterdam 1082 MD 

Viñoly Building, Claude Debussylaan 48, 
Amsterdam 1082 MD 

Viñoly Building, Claude Debussylaan 48, 
Amsterdam 1082 MD 

Viñoly Building, Claude Debussylaan 48, 
Amsterdam 1082 MD 

Viñoly Building, Claude Debussylaan 48, 
Amsterdam 1082 MD

Viñoly Building, Claude Debussylaan 48, 
Amsterdam 1082 MD

Savills (NZ) Limited

New Zealand

Level 6, 41 Shortland Street, Auckland Central, 
Auckland, 1010

251

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

35. Group – Investments continued

Fully owned subsidiary

FPD Management Services  
Philippines Inc

Savills Sp Z o.o.

Savills Portugal – Consultoria, Lda.

Savills Portugal – Mediaçao  
Imobiliaria Lda

Predibisa – Sociedade de Mediacao  
Imobiliaria Lda

Country of 
incorporation

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Portugal

Registered office

12/F., Times Plaza Building, United Nations 
Avenue corner Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila 1000 

Al. Jana Pawła II 22, Warszawa

Avenida Miguel Bombarda 4, 1000-208 Lisboa

Avenida Miguel Bombarda 4, 1000-208 Lisboa

Portugal

R. José Gomes Ferreira 117

Savills for Business Services SPC

Saudi Arabia

PO Box 17, Riyadh, Post Code: 11411

iProcurePro Pte Limited

Singapore

30 Cecil Street #20-03 Prudential Tower, 049712

Savills (SEA) Pte Limited

(ii)

Singapore

30 Cecil Street #20-03 Prudential Tower, 049712

30 Cecil Street #20-03 Prudential Tower, 049712

20 Martin Road #03-01/02 Seng Kee Building, 
239070

30 Cecil Street #20-03 Prudential Tower, 049712

30 Cecil Street #20-03 Prudential Tower, 049712

13/F Seoul Finance Center, 136 Sejong-daero 
Jung-gu, Seoul

13/F Seoul Finance Center, 136 Sejong-daero 
Jung-gu, Seoul

Avda. Diagonal 609-615, Barcelona

Paseo de la Castellana, 81 28046 Madrid

Avda. Diagonal 609-615, Barcelona

Paseo de la Castellana, 81 28046 Madrid

Paseo de la Castellana, 81 28046 Madrid

Paseo de la Castellana, 81 28046 Madrid

Paseo de la Castellana, 81 28046 Madrid

Paseo de la Castellana, 81 28046 Madrid

Savills (Singapore) Pte Limited

Savills Property Management  
Pte Limited

Savills Residential Pte Limited

Savills Valuation & Professional 
Services (S) Pte Limited

Savills Korea Advisors Realty 
Company Limited

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

South Korea

Savills Korea Company Limited

South Korea

Spain

Spain

Spain

Spain

Spain

Spain

Spain

Spain

Savills Diseno y Construccion 
Barcelona SAU

Savills Arquitectura SAU

Savills Barcelona SAU

Savills Consultores Real Estate SAU

Savills Corporate Finance SAU

Savills RE Spain SAU

Savills Valoraciones y Tasaciones SA

Savills Consultores Inmobiliarios SA

Loudden Bygg-och 
Fastighetsservice AB

Savills Förvaltning AB

Savills Sweden AB

Savills Sweden Investment AB

Savills (Taiwan) Limited

Savills Residential Services  
(Taiwan) Limited

Savills Valuation & Professional 
Services (Taiwan)

Sweden

Box 6317, 102 35 Stockholm

Sweden

Sweden

Sweden

Taipei

Taipei

Sergels Torg 12 111 57 Stockholm

Sergels Torg 12 111 57 Stockholm

Sergels Torg 12, 111 57 Stockholm

21/F, No. 68, Sec. 5, Zhong-Xiao East Road, 110

21/F, No. 68, Sec. 5, Zhong-Xiao East Road, 110

(iii) Taipei

21/F, No. 68, Sec. 5, Zhong-Xiao East Road, 110

Savills (Thailand) Limited

Thailand

Savills Services (Thailand) Limited

Thailand

990 Abdulrahim Place Building, 26/F, Rama 
IV Road, Silom Subdistrict, Bang Rak District, 
Bangkok

990 Abdulrahim Place Building, 26/F, Rama 
IV Road, Silom Subdistrict, Bang Rak District, 
Bangkok

252

Annual report and accounts 2023Fully owned subsidiary

Country of 
incorporation

Registered office

Savills Real Estate LLC (Dubai)

(iv) United Arab Emirates

22nd Floor, Arenco Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, 
PO Box 3087 Dubai

Savills Real Estate LLC (Sharjah)

(iv) United Arab Emirates

2702C, Al Marzouqi Towers, King Faisal Street

Automotive Property Consultancy 
Holdings Limited

Automotive Property Consultancy 
Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

B Bids Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Buckleys Estate Agents Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Chesterfield & Co (Rentals) Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Cordea Savills Investments Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Cureoscity Technologies Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Currell Commercial Limited

United Kingdom

9 Bonhill Street, London, EC2A 4DJ

Currell Residential Limited

United Kingdom

9 Bonhill Street, London, EC2A 4DJ

Grosvenor Hill Ventures Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Hepher Dixon Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Holden Matthews Estate Agents 
Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Humphriss & Ryde Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Jago Dean PR Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

JP Case & Co Property Services 
Limited

LIBRA Housing Advisory Services 
Limited

Liverpool ONE Management Services 
Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Mansfield Elstob Main Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Moor House Management Services 
Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Nash Bond Limited

PCA Holdings Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

PCA Management Consultants Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Portnalls Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Prime Purchase Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Rickitt Grant & Company Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

S F Securities Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills (Europe) Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills (L&P) Limited

Savills (NI) Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

United Kingdom

2nd Floor, Longbridge House, 16-24 Waring 
Street, Belfast, BT1 2DX

Savills (Overseas Holdings) Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills (UK) Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Advisory Services (L&P) 
Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Advisory Services Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Asia Pacific Holding Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

253

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

35. Group – Investments continued

Fully owned subsidiary

Country of 
incorporation

Registered office

Savills Asset Warehouse 1 Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Co-Investment Holdings 
Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Capital Advisors Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Commercial (Leeds) Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Commercial Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Finance Holdings plc

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Financial Services Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Holding Company Limited

(i)

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills India Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Italy Holding Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills KSA Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Lending Solutions Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Management Resources 
Limited

Savills Management Resources 
Northern Ireland Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

United Kingdom

2nd Floor, Longbridge House, 16-24 Waring 
Street, Belfast, BT1 2DX

Savills ME Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Middle East Holdings Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Telecom Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Savills Trust Company Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Smith Woolley Limited

Smiths Gore Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

The Currell Group Limited

United Kingdom

9 Bonhill Street, London, EC2A 4DJ

The London Planning Practice Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

Wellington Holdings Limited

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

BTR Capital Advisors I, LLC

BTR Capital Advisors II, Inc

BTR Capital Advisors III, Inc

United States

United States

United States

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

Gravitas Lease Audit Services LLC

United States

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

Gravitas Real Estate Solutions LLC

United States

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

Kelly, Legan & Gerard Inc

Savills Dallas Lease  
Administration LLC

Macro Consultants LLC

Savills (L&P) Inc

Savills (ME) LLC

Savills America Limited

Savills Capital Markets LLC

Savills Gravitas Real Estate  
Solutions LLC

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

398 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

15660 N Dallas Pkway, Ste 1200 Dallas, TX 75248

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

Unex House, 132–134 Hills Road, Cambridge 
CB2 8PA

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11/F, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

Savills Inc

United States

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

254

Annual report and accounts 2023Fully owned subsidiary

Savills Rabbi Trust

Savills Occupier Services Inc

SSOC, LLC

Studley International, Inc

Studley Advisors, Inc

SVS (GA) Inc

SVS Stone LLC

T3 Reallty Advisors West Corp

T3 Reallty Advisors, LLC

Country of 
incorporation

Registered office

(vi) United States

570 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

The Great Studley Stamp Company

United States

399 Park Avenue – 11th FL, New York, NY 10022

Savills Vietnam Company Limited

Vietnam

21/F, Tòa Tây- Lotte Center Hanoi, 54 Lieu Giai 
Street, Cong Vi Ward, Ba Dinh District,  
Hanoi City

SVVN Price Valuation Limited Liability 
Company

Vietnam

17 Fl., Vincom Centre Building, 72 Le Thanh Ton 
Str., Ben Nghe Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Subsidiaries of which the Group  
owns less than 100%

Savills Investment Management 
(Australia) Pty Limited

Savills Retail Management Pty 
Limited

% owned

Country of  
incorporation

75

Australia

(vii)

55

Australia

Savills Belux Group SA

99.9

Belgium

DRC UK Whole Loan Fund (Feeder) 
(GP) Limited

DRC UK Whole Loan Fund (GP) 
Limited

European Real Estate Debt Fund II 
(GP) Limited

European Real Estate Senior Debt  
(GP 1) Limited

European Real Estate Senior Debt  
(GP 2) Limited

European Real Estate Senior Debt  
(GP 3) Limited

Savills IM Japan Residential Fund II 
Feeder GP Limited

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

Savills Property Services (Shenzhen) 
Company Limited

85

China

Savills Egypt

Savills Investment Management SAS

55

75

Egypt

France

Registered office

Level 36, Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, 
Sydney NSW 2000

Level 25, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney,  
NSW 2000

Avenue Louise 81, 1050 Brussels, 
Belgium

94 Solaris Avenue, Camana Bay, PO 
Box 1348, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108

94 Solaris Avenue, Camana Bay, PO 
Box 1348, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108

94 Solaris Avenue, Camana Bay, PO 
Box 1348, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108

94 Solaris Avenue, Camana Bay, PO 
Box 1348, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108

94 Solaris Avenue, Camana Bay, PO 
Box 1348, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108

94 Solaris Avenue, Camana Bay, PO 
Box 1348, Grand Cayman, KY1-1108

c/o Walkers Corporate Limited, 
Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital 
Road, George Town, Grand Cayman 
KY1-9008

Unit 02, 9/F, China Resources Tower, 
No.2666, Keyuan South Road, Nanshan 
District, Shenzhen, 518000, 

Building 17, Street 210, Maadi, Cairo

54–56 Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris

Savills SA

99.97

France

21 Boulevard Haussmann 75009, Paris

Savills Fund Management GmbH

70.5

Germany

Rotfeder-Ring 7, D-60327  
Frankfurt am Main

255

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

35. Group – Investments continued

Subsidiaries of which the Group  
owns less than 100%

% owned

Savills Fund Management Holding 
AG

Savills IM Berlin Südkreuz GmbH  
& Co. KG

Savills IM Beteilugungs GmbH

Savills Investment Management 
(Germany) GmbH

Savills Investment Management  
(KVG) GmbH

Jiayi Savills Property Services 
Limited

Merx HK Limited

Savills Billion Property Management 
Limited

Savills Investment Management  
Asia Limited

The Aurora Management Services 
Limited

Savills Vignature Property 
Management Limited

Savills The Vision Property 
Management Limited

PT Savills Advisory Services

PT Savills Management Services

PT CB Advisory

Savills Investment Management  
SGR SpA

75

75

75

75

51

60

80

75

80

70

60

70

60

60

75

Country of  
incorporation

Germany

Germany

Germany

Registered office

Rotfeder-Ring 7, D-60327  
Frankfurt am Main

Rotfeder-Ring 7, 60327 Frankfurt  
am Main

Rotfeder-Ring 7, 60327 Frankfurt  
am Main

Germany

Sonnenstrasse 19, Munich

67.43

Germany

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia

Rotfeder-Ring 7, D-60327  
Frankfurt am Main

23/F, Two Exchange Square,  
8 Connaught Place, Central

Rooms 1202-04, 12/F, 1111 King's Road, 
Taikoo Shing

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King's Road, 
Taikoo Shing

Level 54, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s 
Road East

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King's Road, 
Taikoo Shing

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King's Road, 
Taikoo Shing

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King's Road, 
Taikoo Shing

Panin Tower – Senayan City, 16/F, 
Jl.Asia Afrika Lot.19, Jakarta 10270

Panin Tower – Senayan City, 16/F, 
Jl.Asia Afrika Lot.19, Jakarta 10270

Panin Tower – Senayan City, 16/F, 
Jl.Asia Afrika Lot.19, Jakarta 10270

Italy

Via San Paolo 7, 20121 Milan

Savills Residential Italy SRL

(vii)

51

Italy

Via di Montoro, 8 – 00186 Roma (RM)

JVF GP GK

68.16

Japan

Savills Investment 
Architecture Design GK

75

Japan

SIM Real Estate GK

75

Japan

DRC European Real Estate 
Debt Fund III (GP) Limited

DRC European Real Estate 
Debt Fund III (SLI GP) Limited

DRC European Real Estate 
Debt Fund IV (GP) Limited

DRC European Real Estate Debt 
Fund IV (SLI) LP

75

75

75

75

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

256

c/o Akasaka International Accounting 
Office 2-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, 
Tokyo, Japan

3F BPR Place Kamiyacho, 1-11-9 
Azabudai, 1 Chome-11 Azabudai, 
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0041

3F BPR Place Kamiyacho, 1-11-9 
Azabudai, 1 Chome-11 Azabudai, 
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0041

The Forum, 4 Grenville Street,  
St Helier, JE2 4UF

The Forum, 4 Grenville Street,  
St Helier, JE2 4UF

The Forum, 4 Grenville Street,  
St Helier, JE2 4UF

4th Floor, Ensign House, 29 Seaton 
Place, St. Helier, JE2 3QL

Annual report and accounts 2023Subsidiaries of which the Group  
owns less than 100%

DRC Evergreen Whole Loan  
(GP) Limited

DRC UK Whole Loan Fund II  
(GP) Limited

European Real Estate Senior Debt  
4 (GP) Limited

European Real Estate Senior Debt 
Fund (GP 7) Limited

Prime London Residential 
Development Jersey GP Limited

Prime London Residential 
Development Jersey II GP Limited

Savills IM Single Asset Vehicle  
Fund ICC

Savills Investment Management 
(Jersey) Limited

DRC European Real Estate Debt 
Fund IV (GP II) Sarl

DRC SIM Australia Real Estate Debt 
Fund I (GP) Sarl

European Real Estate Senior Debt 5 
(GP) Sarl

European Real Estate Senior Debt 6 
(GP) Sarl

European Real Estate Senior Debt 8 
Sarl

Savills IM European Fund V GP Sarl

Savills IM Japan Residential 
Evergreen Feeder Fund A (GP) Sarl

Savills Investment Management 
(Luxembourg) Sàrl

% owned

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

Country of  
incorporation

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

Luxembourg

Registered office

The Forum, 4 Grenville Street,  
St Helier, JE2 4UF 

The Forum, 4 Grenville Street,  
St Helier, JE2 4UF

The Forum, 4 Grenville Street,  
St Helier, JE2 4UF 

IFC 5, St Helier, JE1 1ST

3rd Floor Walker House, 28-34 Hill 
Street, St Helier, JE4 8PN

3rd Floor Walker House, 28-34 Hill 
Street, St Helier, JE4 8PN

3rd Floor, Liberation House,  
Castle Street, St Helier,  
Channel Islands JE1 2LH

3rd Floor, Walker House, 28-34 Hill St, 
St Helier, JE4 8PN

6H Route de Treves, Senningerberg 
L-2633

Luxembourg

10, rue C.M. Spoo

Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Airport Center Luxembourg 5, 
Heienhaff, L-1736 Senningerberg

Airport Center Luxembourg 5, 
Heienhaff, L-1736 Senningerberg

6H Route de Treves, Senningerberg 
L-2633

10, rue C.M. Spoo

10, rue C.M. Spoo

67.43

Luxembourg

10, rue C.M. Spoo

Merx Macau Limited

60

Macau

Merx Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

60

Malaysia

Savills Investment Management BV

Savills & Partners LLC

Savills Investment Management  
Sp Z o.o.

Absolute Maintenance Services  
Pte Limited

Merx Holdings (SG) Pte Limited

Merx Construction Management 
(MCM) Pte Limited

75

65

75

60

60

60

Netherlands

Oman

Poland

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Avenida da Praia Grande, nº 665, 
Edifício Great Will, 16º andar,  
Unidade A, em Macau

Unit 1336, Suite-A, Lobby 7, Block A, 
Damansara Intan No 1, Jalan SS20/27, 
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 
Malaysia

Vida Building, Kabelweg 57, 1014 BA 
Amsterdam

Hatat Complex Suite 30-36,  
Ground Floor, P O Box 1475, Ruwi

Gdanski Business Center – building B 
(3rd floor), Inflancka 4 st.,  
00-189 Warsaw

13 Kaki Bukit Place Absolute 
Maintenance Building S416191

168 Robinson Road, #12 Capital Tower, 
068912

168 Robinson Road, #12 Capital Tower, 
068912

257

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

35. Group – Investments continued

Subsidiaries of which the Group  
owns less than 100%

Savills Investment Management  
Pte. Limited

Savills IM Japan Value Fund II GP Pte 
Limited

Savills IM Japan Residential Fund II 
GP Pte Limited

% owned

75

75

75

Country of  
incorporation

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Solute Pte Limited

60

Singapore

Registered office

83 Amoy Street, 01-01, 069960

61 Robinson Road, #16-02, Robinson 
Centre, 068893

61 Robinson Road, #16-02, Robinson 
Centre, 068893

13 Kaki Bukit Place, Absolute 
Maintenance Building, S416191

Paseo de la Castellana, 81 28046 
Madrid

Regeringsgatan 48, 5th Floor,  
111 56 Stockholm

Wemyss House, 8 Wemyss Place, 
Edinburgh, EH3 6DH

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ

Wemyss House, 3 Wemyss Place, 
Edinburgh, EH3 6DH

4th Floor, 6 Duke Street St James's, 
London, SW1Y 6BN

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

United Kingdom

33 Margaret Street, London, W1G 0JD

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 9WJ

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 9WJ

Savills Investment Management SLU

Savills Investment Management AB

Cordea Savills SLP GP Limited

Cordea Savills SLP II LP

Cordea Savills SLP LP

DRC Savills Investment  
Management LLP

Liverpool ONE Management 
Company Limited

Savills IM Residential UK Limited

Prime London Residential 
Development Co-Investment GP LLP

Prime London Residential 
Development Co-Investment II  
GP LLP

Prime London Residential 
Development Co-Investment II LP

Prime London Residential 
Development Co-Investment LP

Prime London Residential 
Development GP LLP

Prime London Residential 
Development II GP LLP

SAH Investments Holdings Limited

Simply Affordable Homes 2 LP

Savills IM SLP II GP LLP

Savills IM Dawn GP Limited

Savills IM Euro V Co-Investment GP 
LLP

Savills IM Euro V Co-Investment LP

258

75

75

75

75

75

75

50

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

45

45

75

75

75

75

Annual report and accounts 2023Subsidiaries of which the Group  
owns less than 100%

Savills IM Holdings Limited

Savills IM Investco Limited

Savills IM Investments Limited

Savills IM JVF II Co-Investment GP 
LLP

Savills IM JVF II Co-Investment LP

Savills IM SLP General Partner LLP

Savills IM SLP III GP LLP

Savills IM SLP III LP

Savills IM UK One Limited

Savills IM UK Property Ventures No.1 
GP Limited

Savills IM UK Two Limited

Savills Investment Management (UK) 
Limited

Savills Investment Management LLP

Savills Investment Management 
Overseas Holdings Limited

Simply Affordable Homes 1 GP 
Limited

Simply Affordable Homes 1 LP

Simply Affordable Homes 2 GP 
Limited

Simply Affordable Homes GP LLP

Simply Affordable Homes LLP

Simply Affordable Homes RP Limited

Stratland Management Limited

DRC SIM US Holdings LLC

SGDN Limited

Savills Investment Management Inc

% owned

Country of  
incorporation

Registered office

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

45

45

45

45

45

45

75

75

51

75

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United States

United Kingdom

United States

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 9WJ

50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, 
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH3 9WJ

Wemyss House, 8 Wemyss Place, 
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH3 6DH

Citypoint, 65 Haymarket Terrace, 
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH12 5HD

Citypoint, 65 Haymarket Terrace, 
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH12 5HD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London, UK,  
W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London,  
UK, W1G 0JD

33 Margaret Street, London,  
UK, W1G 0JD

Corporation Service Company, 
251 Little Falls Drives, Wilmington, 
Delaware

Stuart House, City Road, Peterborough, 
PE1 1QF

251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington,  
Delaware

259

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

35. Group – Investments continued

% owned

Country of 
incorporation

Registered office

Joint Ventures

Shanghai No.1 and FPD Savills 
Property Management Company 
Limited

Zhuhai Hengqin Savills Assets 
Operation Management Company 
Limited

Chuangtuo Savills Property 
Management (Shanghai) Company 
Limited

Beijing Baiwang Savills Real Estate 
Company Limited

Foshan Meizhi & Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

51

51

China

China

50

China

49

40

China

China

Gohigh Savills (Shanghai) Property 
Management Company Limited

49

China

Guangzhou Nansi & Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

Shanghai Qihui Savills Property 
Services Company Limited

Beijing Haizhi Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

Beijing Hongyuan Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

Savills BM Property Services 
Company Limited

Shenzhen Qianhai Savills Property 
Services Company Limited

Shanghai Kuntin Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

Shanghai Dobe Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

49

49

30

40

40

40

40

35

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

Daisy Savills Property Management 
(Beijing) Company Limited

35

China

Suzhou Industrial Park Hengtai Savills 
Property Management Company 
Limited

Suzhou Jiarun Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

35

China

34

China

Beijing Yintai Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

33

China

Beijing BHG Savills Retail & Property 
Management Company Limited

24.5

China

260

Building No1, 3rd Floor, No.400, 
Fangchun Road, Pudong District, 
Shanghai

Room 105-1460, No. 6 Baohua Road, 
Hengqin New Area, Zhuhai

Room 408, No.481 Zhengli Road, 
Yangpu District, Shanghai

Room 501, 5F, Block 2, No. 2 South 
Yongjie Road, Haidian District, Beijing

Unit 2404, Building No. 4, Midea 
Fortune Plaza, 1 Chende Road, Shunde 
District, Foshan

Room 203D, 2/F, No. 21, Lane 596, 
Middle Yanan Road, Jingan District, 
Shanghai

Room 1304, Feng Ze Dong Road 
No.106, Nan Sha Area, Guang Zhou

Rm 548, 9F, No. 583 Lingmu Road, 
Xuhui District, Shanghai

Zone B, 6/F, Tower B, No.18 Zhong 
Guan Cun Avenue, Haidian District, 
Beijing

Unit 104, F1,Building 4, No.2 Jinsui 
Avenue, Shunyi District, Beijing

Room 115, No.53, Lane 749, Middle 
Tianmu Road, Zhabei District, Shanghai

Unit 201,A Tower, No.1, QianWan Road, 
Qianhai Shengan Cooperation District, 
Shenzhen

Room 252, 2F, No. 309 Meilong Road, 
Xuhui District, Shanghai

Room 111, 1F, Building 11, No. 2447 
Jiaotong Road, Putuo District, 
Shanghai

Unit 702, Tower 2, Office Building, 
7/F, No. 18 Jianguomennei Avenue, 
Chaoyang District, Beijing

Unit 303-304, Moon Bay International 
Business Center, 9 Cuiwei Avenue, 
Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou

Unit 1211, 12th Floor, Room 101, Building 
1, Xinneng Business Plaza, No. 99 Si’an 
Street, Suzhou Industrial Park

Unit 402C, 401, 4/F, Building 3, No. 2 
Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang 
District, Beijing

Room 107, Block 1, No 208, Lane 4, 
North Xiangyun Road, Daxing District, 
Beijing

Annual report and accounts 2023Joint Ventures

Beijing Oriental Savills Asset 
Management Company Limited

% owned

Country of 
incorporation

30

China

Chengdu Shu Du Savills Property 
Services Company Limited

65

China

Nanjing Smart Science Technology 
Park & Savills Property Management 
Company Limited

30

China

Shanghai South Hongqiao & Savills 
Property Management Company 
Limited

Savills Raycom Property 
Management (Beijing) Company 
Limited

Shanghai Landsea Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

Shanghai Poly Savills Property  
Management Company Limited

Shanxi Zhidi Savills Property Services 
Company Limited

Anlian Savills Property Management 
(Shenzhen) Limited

COSCO Savills Property 
Development Company Limited

Beijing Financial Street Savills 
Property Management Company 
Limited

Beijing Zhong Bao Savills Property 
Management Company Limited

Tianjin TEDA Savills Property 
Services Company Limited

49

China

30

China

49

30

China

China

30

China

25.5

China

25

20

10

10

China

China

China

China

Xi’an Qujiang Savills Property 
Services Company Limited

30

China

Beijing Hualian Fashion Savills 
Property Management Company 
Limited

Heng Fu Savills Property 
Management (Shanghai) Company 
Limited

Jintai Savills Property Management 
(Shanghai) Company Limited

Shanghai Construction Savills 
Property Management Company 
Limited

Suzhou Caohu Science and 
Technology Industry Services 
Company Limited

24.5

China

49

China

35

49

China

China

34

China

Registered office

Unit 303, 3/F No, 9 West Street 
Wangfujing, Dongcheng District, 
Beijing

Unit 212, 2/F, No.1 Building, No.333 
Jiqingsan Rd, Chengdu High-tech 
District, Chengdu

Room 468, Floor 4, Building 9, 
Xingzhihui Business Garden, No. 19, 
Xinghuo Road, Jiangbei New District, 
Nanjing, 210008

No.5 Building, No. 277 Huqingping 
Highway, Minhang District, Shanghai

Unit B1-08, No.2 South Road Ke Xue 
Yan, Haidian District, Beijing

9F, No. 583 Lingling Road, Xuhui 
District, Shanghai

Unit 01, 20/F, South Tower, No.528 
South Pu Dong Road, Pu Dong, 
Shanghai

4/F, Block 3, No.42 Xing Shan Temple, 
Xi’an 

Unit B02(b), 19/F, Anlian Plaza, 
No.4018, Jintian Road, Futian District, 
Shenzhen

Unit M, 7th Floor, No.720 Pudong 
Avenue, Pudong District, Shanghai

B1/F, Tong Tai Building, 33 Financial 
Street, West District, Beijing

603 China Life Tower, 16 Chao Wai 
Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing

B2/F, Zone A1, Teda MSD, No.56 
Second Avenue, Economy & 
Technology Development Zone, Tianjin

Room 1109-1, 11th Floor, No.2 Building 
of Huashang Culture & Media Center, 
No. 3001 Yanxiang Road, Xujiang New 
District, Xi’an

Rm.304, Block1, Land 4, No.208 North 
Xiangyun Road, Daxing District, Beijing

Building A1, No. 57 Fuxing West Road, 
Xuhui District, Shanghai

Rm 702, 6F, No.938 Jinshajiang Road, 
Putuo District, Shanghai

Rm 1023, 10F, No. 390-408 East Beijing 
Road, HuangPu District, Shanghai

Rm.2201, Floor 22, Caohu Building,  
No.1 Qianjing Road, Caohu Street, 
Suzhou

261

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

35. Group – Investments continued

Joint Ventures

% owned

Lippo-Savills Property Management  
Limited

Guardian Management (Hong Kong) 
Limited 

Greenmile Ventures Limited

Greenwalls Gateway Limited

Skywise Technology & Innovation  
Company Limited

QF Savills Property Management 
Limited

Country of 
incorporation

Hong Kong

Registered office

Room 2301, 23/F, Tower One, Lippo 
Centre, 89 Queensway

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Hong Kong

Vistra Corporate Services Centre, 
Wickhams Cay II, Road Town, Tortola, 
VG1110, British Virgin Islands

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

50

50

50

50

50

50 

Hong Kong

G.E.S. Holdings Limited

50

Macau

G.E.S. Limited

Crescendo Environmental Services 
Limited

50

50

Macau

Macau

Crescendo Property Services Limited

50

Macau

East Sun Cleaning Services Limited

50

Macau

Express Engineering (Macau) Limited

50

Macau

Jade Forist Limited

50

Macau

Winnerway Security Guards  
Company Limited

50

Macau

Savills (Johor) Sdn Bhd

(ii) 49

Malaysia

Savills (KL) Sdn Bhd

(ii) 49

Malaysia

Savills (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

(ii) 49

Malaysia

Savills (Penang) Sdn Bhd

(ii) 49

Malaysia

Savills (Project Management) 
Sdn Bhd

(ii) 49

Malaysia

262

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road, 
Taikoo Shing

Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpcao,  
No. 181 – 187, Edf. Kong Fai Com. 7/F, 
K – P

Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpcao, No. 
181 – 187, Edf. Kong Fai Com. 7/F, K – P

Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpcao,  
No. 181 – 187, Edf. Kong Fai Com. 7/F, 
K – P

Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpcao,  
No. 181 – 187, Edf. Kong Fai Com. 7/F, 
K – P

Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpcao,  
No. 181 – 187, Edf. Kong Fai Com. 7/F, 
K – P

Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpcao,  
No. 181 – 187, Edf. Kong Fai Com. 7/F, 
K – P

Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpcao,  
No. 181 – 187, Edf. Kong Fai Com. 7/F, 
K – P

Alameda Dr. Carlos D’Assumpcao,  
No. 181 – 187, Edf. Kong Fai Com. 7/F, 
K – P

Upper Penthouse, Wisma RKT, No. 2 
Jalan Raja Abdullah, Off Jalan Sultan 
Ismail, 50300 Kuala Lumpur

Upper Penthouse, Wisma RKT, No. 2 
Jalan Raja Abdullah, Off Jalan Sultan 
Ismail, 50300 Kuala Lumpur

Upper Penthouse, Wisma RKT, No. 2 
Jalan Raja Abdullah, Off Jalan Sultan 
Ismail, 50300 Kuala Lumpur

Upper Penthouse, Wisma RKT, No. 2 
Jalan Raja Abdullah, Off Jalan Sultan 
Ismail, 50300 Kuala Lumpur

Upper Penthouse, Wisma RKT, No. 2 
Jalan Raja Abdullah, Off Jalan Sultan 
Ismail, 50300 Kuala Lumpur

Annual report and accounts 2023% owned

Country of
incorporation

Registered office

France

11 Avenue Jean Medecin, 06000, Nice

Germany

Friedrichstrabe 95, 10117 Berlin

Hong Kong

7/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing

Associates

SAS – Riviera Estates

Savills Germany Residential GmbH

KSH Guardian Property 
Management Limited

Yuen Sang Property Management 
Company Limited

Savills Taiping Property  
Management Limited

Guardian Home Limited

Hengli Savills Property  
Management Limited

Glory Crest Limited

51

40

50

50

45

40

49

40

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Guardian Home (Chun Shek)  
Limited

40

Hong Kong

Cordea Nichani India Advisers 
Private Limited

LCA Core Sdn Bhd

Lucia Sdn Bhd

18.75

India

40

40

Malaysia

Malaysia

Room 2501, 25/F, Alexandra House, 18 Chater 
Road, Central

Rooms 805-813, 8/F, 1111 King’s Road, 
Taikoo Shing

Shop No. 301, 3rd Floor, Chun Shek Shopping 
Centre, Chun Shek Estate, 1 Shing Tin Street, 
Shatin, New Territories

Unit 1806-08, Tower Two, Lippo Centre, 
89 Queensway

Shop No. 301, 3rd Floor, Chun Shek Shopping 
Centre, Chun Shek Estate, 1 Shing Tin Street, 
Shatin, New Territories

Shop No. 301, 3rd Floor, Chun Shek Shopping 
Centre, Chun Shek Estate, 1 Shing Tin Street, 
Shatin, New Territories

Ground Floor Front, 19 Kumarakrupa Road, 
Bangalore 560001

18-2, Jalan PJU 5/4, Dataran Sunway, Kota 
Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

 18-2, Jalan PJU 5/4, Dataran Sunway, Kota 
Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Rootcorp Ranganatha Limited

18.75

Mauritius

4th Floor, Raffles Tower, 19 Cybercity, Ebene

Monaco Real Estates SARL

51

Monaco

10 Ter Boulevard Princesse Charlotte

Really Pte Limited 

(ii) 32.7

Singapore

70 Shenton Way #09-12 EON Shenton S 079118

H Investment Pte Limited

40.5

Singapore

Huttons Asia Pte Limited

40.5

Singapore

Huttons Capital Pte Limited

40.5

Singapore

Huttons International Pte Limited

40.5

Singapore

Huttons Pte Limited

33.8

Singapore

3 Bishan Place #05-01 CPF Bishan  
Building S 579838

3 Bishan Place #05-01 CPF Bishan  
Building S 579838

3 Bishan Place #05-01 CPF Bishan  
Building S 579838

3 Bishan Place #05-01 CPF Bishan  
Building S 579838

3 Bishan Place #05-01 CPF Bishan  
Building S 579838

DRCSIM US LLC

38.25

United States

Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls 
Drives, Wilmington, Delaware

Vucity Limited

30.39

United Kingdom 10 Orange Street, Haymarket,  

Realplus Joint Stock Company

30

Vietnam

London, WC2H 7DQ

House SH11-12, Floor 2, Q2 Thao Dien Residence, 
No. 21 Vo Truong Toan Street, Thao Dien Ward, 
Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City

263

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued
Year ended 31 December 2023

35. Group – Investments continued

Fully owned entity

Liffey Valley Management Limited

Mahon Point Management Limited

White Water (Newbridge) Limited

White Water Management Limited

White Water Residential DAC (Designated Activity Company)

2GCSSO Limited

(i)  Directly owned by Savills plc.

(ii)  Both ordinary and redeemable shares owned by the Group.

(iii)  Partnership interest.

(iv)  Economic interest/part economic interest.

Country of 
incorporation

Registered office

(v)

(v)

(v)

(v)

(v)

(v)

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

Ireland

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

33 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2

(v)  The Group does not control these entities (as defined by IFRS 10) and they are not consolidated in to the Group’s financial statements.

(vi) 

 The Group does not have a shareholding in these employee benefit trusts, however, these trusts are specifically designed to serve the purposes of the 
sponsoring group entity and to ensure that there will be minimal risk of any conflict arising between the duties of the trustees and the interest of the group 
entity. Accordingly, these trusts are under the de facto control of the group entity. IFRS 10 control assessment also supports that these trusts are under 
control of the group entity and are consolidated into the Group’s financial statements on that basis.

(vii)   Listed as a non-wholly owned subsidiary as equity ownership is less than 100% however due to the Group having a present ownership interest in the 

remaining equity shares subject to put options, it has been determined that there is no non-controlling interest present and the entity is accounted for 
as a wholly owned subsidiary.

The Group holds a number of investments in associates and joint ventures where it holds more than 50% of the 
shareholding in these entities. Similarly, the Group holds a number of joint ventures where the shareholding is less 
than 50% and some associates and one subsidiary where the shareholding is 50%. In all these instances management 
has determined the appropriate classification of these shareholdings based on the contractual arrangements and 
agreements in place, in particular focusing on the parties who have the ability to direct/control the relevant activities 
of the investment taking into account representation on the Board of Directors, ability to participate/direct policy 
making processes and the rights to variable returns from the investee.

264

Annual report and accounts 2023APPENDICES

Constant currency
The Group generates revenues and profits in various territories and currencies because of its international footprint. 
Those results are translated on consolidation at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the time. These exchange 
rates vary from year to year, so the Group presents some of its results on a constant currency basis. This means that 
the current year results are retranslated using the prior year exchange rates. This eliminates the effect of exchange 
from the year-on-year comparison of results.

The constant currency effect on revenue, reported profit and underlying profit is summarised below:

Revenue

Profit before tax

Underlying profit before tax

2023
Constant
currency
effect
£m

2023 at
Constant
currency
£m

2023
£m

2,238.0

(14.4)

2,252.4

55.4

94.8

(1.1)

(0.7)

56.5

95.5

The Group’s segmental results for the current year are presented below in constant currency:

2023 at Constant Currency

Revenue

United Kingdom – commercial

United Kingdom – residential

Total United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific – commercial

Asia Pacific – residential

Total Asia Pacific

North America

Revenue

Underlying profit/(loss) before tax

United Kingdom – commercial

United Kingdom – residential

Total United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific – commercial

Asia Pacific – residential

Total Asia Pacific

North America

Underlying profit/(loss) before tax

Transaction
Advisory
£m

Consultancy
£m

Property and
Facilities
Management
£m

Investment
Management
£m

Unallocated
£m

Total
£m

100.6

171.0

271.6

116.2

106.2

18.5

124.7

267.7

227.8

43.2

271.0

76.1

86.6

–

86.6

28.4

304.5

51.2

355.7

97.0

452.0

–

452.0

–

43.2

–

43.2

54.1

8.1

–

8.1

–

780.2

462.1

904.7

105.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

676.1

265.4

941.5

343.4

652.9

18.5

671.4

296.1

2,252.4

14.0

19.4

33.4

(20.2)

(2.9)

1.6

(1.3)

(7.4)

4.5

25.4

4.3

29.7

5.1

2.0

–

2.0

(1.0)

35.8

24.5

5.9

30.4

(3.9)

22.7

–

22.7

–

49.2

4.8

–

4.8

9.2

0.7

–

0.7

–

(8.7)

–

(8.7)

–

–

–

–

–

14.7

(8.7)

60.0

29.6

89.6

(9.8)

22.5

1.6

24.1

(8.4)

95.5

265

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSAPPENDICES continued

The constant currency effect on the Group’s segmental results for the current year is presented below:

2023 – Constant Currency Effect

Revenue

United Kingdom – commercial

United Kingdom – residential

Total United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific – commercial

Asia Pacific – residential

Total Asia Pacific

North America

Revenue

Underlying profit/(loss) before tax

United Kingdom – commercial

United Kingdom – residential

Total United Kingdom

CEME

Asia Pacific – commercial

Asia Pacific – residential

Total Asia Pacific

North America

Transaction
Advisory
£m

Consultancy
£m

Property and
Facilities
Management
£m

Investment
Management
£m

Unallocated
£m

Total
£m

–

–

–

(1.6)

(4.1)

(0.6)

(4.7)

(1.0)

(7.3)

–

–

–

(0.1)

–

(0.1)

(0.1)

–

–

–

–

0.2

(2.5)

–

–

–

–

(0.3)

(4.9)

–

–

–

–

0.7

(0.3)

–

(2.5)

(4.9)

(0.3)

–

–

(2.3)

(5.2)

–

–

–

(0.1)

(0.1)

–

–

–

–

0.1

(0.5)

–

(0.1)

(0.5)

–

–

–

0.4

–

–

–

0.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1.0)

(11.8)

(0.6)

(12.4)

(1.0)

(14.4)

–

–

–

–

(0.6)

(0.1)

(0.7)

–

(0.7)

Underlying profit/(loss) before tax

(0.2)

(0.2)

(0.4)

0.1

266

Annual report and accounts 2023SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Key dates for 2024
Annual General Meeting 
Financial half-year end 
Announcement of half-year results 

15 May 2024 
30 June 2024 
8 August 2024

Website
Visit our investor relations website www.savills.com for full up-to-date investor relations information, including the 
latest share price, recent Annual and Half-Year Reports, results presentations and financial news.

Shareholder enquiries
For Shareholder enquiries please contact our Registrar, Equiniti (see below). For general enquiries please call our 
Shareholder Services helpline on: 0371 384 2018 (overseas holders need to call +44 (0) 371 384 2018. Lines are open 
from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays). For further administrative queries in respect of 
your shareholding, please access our Registrar’s website at www.shareview.co.uk.

Electronic communications
If you would prefer to receive Shareholder communications electronically in future, including your Annual and Half-
Year Reports and notices of meetings, please visit our Registrar’s website, www.shareview.co.uk and follow the link 
to ‘Register for e-communications’ under the Shareholder Services section.

Half-Year Report
Like many other listed public companies, we no longer circulate printed Half-Year Reports to Shareholders. Rather, 
half-year results’ statements are published on the Company’s website. We believe that this is of benefit to those 
Shareholders who do not wish to be burdened with such paper documents, and to the Company, as it is consistent 
with our target of saving printing and distribution costs.

Professional advisors and service providers
Solicitors

Joint Stockbrokers

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP

UBS Investment Bank

Cannon Place 
78 Cannon Street 
London EC4N 6AF

Registrar

Equiniti

Aspect House 
Spencer Road 
Lancing 
West Sussex BN99 6DA

Statutory auditor

Ernst & Young LLP

1 More London Place 
London SE1 2AF

5 Broadgate 
London EC2M 2QS

Numis Securities Limited

45 Gresham Street 
London EC2V 7BF

Principal Bankers

Barclays Bank PLC

1 Churchill Place 
London E14 5HP

267

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC REPORTGOVERNANCEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSSHAREHOLDER INFORMATION continued

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
Certain statements included in this Annual Report are forward-looking and are therefore subject to risks, assumptions 
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied because they 
relate to future events. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the 
Company’s expectations. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of relevant terminology including 
the words: ‘believes’, ‘estimates’, ‘anticipates’, ‘expects’, ‘intends’, ‘forecasts’, ‘plans’, ‘goal’, ‘target’, ‘aim’, ‘may’, ‘will’, 
‘would’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology and include 
all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this Annual Report and 
include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations and those of our Officers, Directors and 
employees concerning, amongst other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, 
growth, strategies and the businesses we operate.

Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the forward-looking 
statements include, but are not limited to:

 ƒ global economic business conditions;
 ƒ monetary and interest rate policies;
 ƒ foreign currency exchange rates;
 ƒ equity and property prices;
 ƒ the impact of competition, inflation;
 ƒ changes to regulations, taxes;
 ƒ changes to consumer saving and spending habits; and
 ƒ our success in managing the above factors.

Consequently, our actual future financial condition, performance and results could differ materially from the plans, 
goals and expectations set out in our forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that 
any particular expectation will be met and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking 
statements which speak only at their respective dates.

The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of 
new information, future events or otherwise.

268

Annual report and accounts 2023Savills plc

33 Margaret Street 
London W1G 0JD 
T: +44 (0)20 7499 8644 
www.savills.com

Registered in England 
No. 2122174

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