Half-yearly Report
Embargoed until 07.00, Friday 29 August 2008
RIGHTMOVE PLC - 2008 HALF YEAR RESULTS
Rightmove plc, the UK's no. 1 property search website, announces half year
results for the six months ended 30 June 2008.
Financial Highlights
for the six months ended 30 June 2008
- Revenue up 49% to £37.8m (2007: £25.4m)
- Underlying operating profit* up 58% to £20.8m (2007: £13.2m)
- Underlying earnings per share up 38% to 11.3p (2007: 8.2p)
- Average revenue per advertiser up to £317 per month (2007: £234)
- Interim dividend of 3.0p per ordinary share (2007: 2.0p)
- Share buy back programme continued with 10.7m shares bought back in the
period at a total cost of £42m
- Net debt of £23.3m (2007: net cash of £17.5m)
- Number of advertisers up 5% to 19,301 (2007: 18,383)
- Page impressions on Rightmove websites up 15% to 3.1bn (2007: 2.7bn)
* From continuing operations and excludes share-based payments, National
Insurance on share options under issue and capital reconstruction costs
Ed Williams, Group Managing Director, said:
"These strong results, coming at a time of severe housing market difficulties,
are evidence of the strength of the Rightmove proposition and the loyalty of
our customers.
Having established Rightmove as the home movers' no.1 property search engine,
it now enables our members to make big reductions in their print marketing
spend helping them to survive the drastic downturn in property sales.
We are redoubling our efforts to ensure that Rightmove generates the enquiries
from prospective home buyers which our customers so desperately need."
Half yearly statement
Overview
The half year results come at a time when the UK housing market is suffering a
severe downturn in activity which is having serious consequences for many of
Rightmove's customers. The strength of the results in these circumstances is
testament to the loyalty of our customers. The results also reflect the key
role Rightmove plays in generating enquiries and sales opportunities for our
customers and our cost effectiveness compared to local and regional newspaper
advertising.
Revenue increased 49% to £37.8m compared to the same period last year, driven
by strong growth in revenue per advertiser and sales to new members. Indeed,
despite the reduction in the number of estate agents in the industry, overall
membership grew by 5% driven by growth in our lettings and new homes
businesses. Underlying operating profit* grew by 58% to £20.8m.
The continued success of Rightmove Choice advertising products and the
introduction of email campaigns for new homes developers contributed to average
revenue per advertiser per month increasing by 35% to £317 by the half year
(30 June 2007: £234). Holiday Lettings Limited continues to grow rapidly with
like-for-like revenue growth of 75% in the period. We have also seen the first
major sale of our Automated Valuation Model.
The underlying operating margin for the first half of 2008 was 55.1% compared
to 51.9% for the first half of 2007. With plans for a major new marketing
campaign including new TV adverts, coupled with the prospect of a further
reduction in the number of estate agents, margins are unlikely to rise in the
second half of the year, as they have in previous years.
Operating costs** for the first six months were up 39% compared to the same
period twelve months ago at £17.0m (2007: £12.2m) due primarily to higher
personnel costs, continued investment in marketing and increased bad debt
provision. A one off cost of £0.3m relating to our former London office vacated
in July 2007 was provided for in full in the period.
Underlying earnings per share rose 38% to 11.3p, lower than the increase in
profitability as a consequence of a higher tax rate of 36% (compared to a
standard rate of 28%), (30 June 2007: 28%). This was principally due to the
reversal of the deferred tax asset relating to future share option gains.
Borrowings
During April 2008, Rightmove entered into a bilateral facility of up to £40m
with the Bank of Scotland for the specific purpose of facilitating share buy
backs. Under the terms of the loan agreement there is an option at maturity in
April 2009 for the revolving loan facility to convert to a term loan for a
further five years. Whilst the underlying business generated strong operating
cash flow of £19.2m in the period, share repurchases of £42m have resulted in a
net debt position of £23.3m. We completed our capital reconstruction in January
2008 which increased the distributable reserves available to the Group to
approximately £430m and allows Rightmove to continue its strategy of returning
capital to shareholders through share buy backs.
Membership growth
The first six months have seen continued growth in most key metrics compared
with the same period a year ago:
- Overall membership up 5% to 19,301
- Estate agency membership down 3% to 11,984
- New homes developments up 16% to 4,022
- Lettings agents up 22% to 2,719
- Overseas homes agents up 14% to 576
- Retention rate among estate agents down to 84% as a consequence of the large
number of estate agency businesses leaving the industry
- Page impressions on Rightmove websites up 15% to 3.1bn.
* From continuing operations and excludes share-based payments, National
Insurance on share options under issue and capital reconstruction costs
** Administrative expenses excluding share-based payments and National
Insurance on share options under issue
Customer spending
Average customer spending with Rightmove has risen by 35% to £317 per month
over the last year.
The biggest increase, at just under 60%, has come from new homes developers who
have been finding it increasingly difficult to sell properties and have
invested substantially more in their online marketing efforts. Around half of
all new homes developments are now being displayed using our enhanced
advertising products known generally as Rightmove Choice. Developers have also
adopted our email campaign service by which Rightmove targets registered home
hunters on their behalf with propositions being made by the developers.
The initial three Choice products have been extended to six. Lettings agents
and overseas agents can now also buy selected products from the Choice range.
In order to support our member agents in tough times, we have given every
member agent a free set of Premium Displays for them to use with their own
clients. We have also put together a bundle of Choice products worth over £400
available to agents for just £200 per month. Despite severe pressures on estate
agent budgets, almost one in four agents now take at least one Choice product,
contributing significantly to the overall increase in spend with Rightmove.
Market update
We identified three main areas of uncertainty or risk to our business in the
2007 annual report. First, we noted that Rightmove's exposure to the state of
the UK housing market was uncertain. Secondly, we highlighted the potential for
further competition from traditional media companies seeking to protect their
franchises and other potential new entrants. Thirdly, we underlined the
uncertainty around adoption of our new products and the rate of migration of
advertising spend from traditional to online media. These issues are further
commented upon below.
The Rightmove directors believe that a major structural shift is now underway
within the UK property advertising industry. Until this year, growth in
spending online had been accompanied by spending growth in newspapers. However,
2008 is seeing local and regional newspaper groups reporting very substantial
declines in their property advertising revenue. We believe that, although there
has been a decline in the number of estate agents, the majority of the decline
being reported by newspapers is a result of agents deciding to cut their
newspaper spending. This comes at a time when Rightmove has grown year-on-year
revenues by 49%.
In our view, the remainder of 2008 will see estate agents leaving the industry
at higher rates than in the first six months of the year as conditions continue
to toughen. Indeed, given the current low level of transactions in the market,
it is probable that 2009 will also see a further decrease in the number of
estate agents trading. While the number of new developments being brought to
market has declined substantially, and will continue to do so, the lengthening
in the time taken to sell developments has meant that the new homes business
has proven relatively robust thus far. By focusing resources on Housing
Associations (social providers of housing) Rightmove is seeking to protect its
position in the new homes market against what will undoubtedly be a prolonged
difficult time for new homes developers.
Rightmove continues to be cost effective and of demonstrable value for money as
property advertisers increasingly scrutinise all their costs. Nonetheless,
market conditions mean that we cannot rule out customers seeking to reduce
spend by cancelling Choice products or indeed by cancelling their membership
completely.
Our lettings, automated valuation and non-property advertising sales businesses
as well as our subsidiary, Holiday Lettings Limited, all offer the prospects of
continued growth despite the general economic environment and the specific
challenges of the housing market.
Since the year end there has been no significant change in the competition from
traditional media companies seeking to defend a threatened franchise and from
potential new entrants to online media.
For eight years Rightmove has been strongly focused as a business on managing
the migration from traditional media to online in UK property advertising, a
process much further advanced in jobs and cars. We intend to build on
Rightmove's position as the property site most used by the UK home moving
public and the place that a home buyer is most likely to first see their new
home. In doing so the directors believe Rightmove will be a major beneficiary
of the cyclical up turn in the property industry as and when it happens.
Dividend and share buy back
The Board intends to pay an interim dividend of 3.0p (2007: 2.0p) in line with
the declared progressive dividend policy and with earnings growth in the
period. The interim dividend will be paid on 10 October 2008 to members on the
register on 12 September 2008.
In June 2007, Rightmove initiated a share buy back programme in addition to
returning cash to shareholders by way of dividend. During the first six months
of 2008 Rightmove bought back 10,712,806 shares (of which 2,505,430 have been
transferred into treasury) at an average price of 390p per share. The total
number of shares bought back since the programme began is 14m shares at a total
cost including expenses of £61.6m. The Board of Rightmove anticipates that,
subject to market conditions, the share buy back programme will continue.
Current trading and outlook
The UK residential housing market is now in the grips of a major downturn. The
depth and length of this downturn is hard to judge and will be dependent on the
state of the wider economy.
The Board believes Rightmove's exposure relates first to the number of estate
agents who leave the industry and secondly to the viability of new homes
developers. These are both driven, above all, by the number of housing
transactions. Falls in house prices and increasing levels of repossessions,
while generally bad news, should help to restart transaction volumes at some
point though we believe that there is little immediate prospect of an
improvement.
Our primary focus is on maintaining our market position through delivering the
most effective service to our customers. As a result, irrespective of market
conditions, we believe we will see a continuation of the dramatic structural
shift of property advertising online which has been accelerated by the current
cyclical downturn.
The Board reiterates its confidence in meeting market expectations for the
current year.
Scott Forbes, Chairman
Ed Williams, Group Managing Director
29 August 2008
For further information please contact:-
Rightmove
Ed Williams, Group Managing Director
Graham Zacharias, Group Finance Director
Katherine Seaborn, Head of PR 07894 255315
RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTORS IN RESPECT OF
THE HALF-YEARLY FINANCIAL REPORT 2008
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:
The condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with
IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the EU;
The interim management report includes a fair review of the information
required by:
(a) DTR 4.2.7R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being an indication of
important events that have occurred during the first six months of the
financial year and their impact on the condensed interim financial statements;
and description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six
months of the financial year; and
(b) DTR 4.2.8R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being related party
transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current
financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or
performance of the entity during that period; and any changes in the related
party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.
By order of the Board
Scott Forbes, Chairman
Ed Williams, Group Managing Director
29 August 2008
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM INCOME STATEMENT
for the six months ended 30 June 2008
Note 6 months 6 months Year ended
ended ended 31 December
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 2007
£000 £000 £000
Revenue 37,817 25,425 56,712
Administrative expenses (17,702) (13,780) (30,285)
Operating profit before
share-based payments, NI on
share options under issue, and 20,833 13,184 30,746
capital reconstruction costs
Share-based payments 5 (958) (1,210) (2,331)
NI on share options under issue 5 240 (329) (298)
Capital reconstruction costs - - (1,690)
Operating profit 20,115 11,645 26,427
Financial income 6 203 488 891
Financial expenses 7 (524) - (199)
Net financial (expenses)/ (321) 488 692
income
Profit before tax 19,794 12,133 27,119
Income tax expense 10 (7,203) (3,447) (8,472)
Profit for the period 12,591 8,686 18,647
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the Parent 12,591 8,686 18,647
Earnings per share (pence)
Basic 8 10.71 7.00 15.16
Diluted 8 10.57 6.55 14.19
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED
INCOME AND EXPENSE
for the six months ended 30 June 2008
6 months 6 months Year ended
ended ended 31 December
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 2007
£000 £000 £000
Tax in respect of share options
recognised directly in equity - 857 -
Net income recognised directly - 857 -
in equity
Profit for the period 12,591 8,686 18,647
Total recognised income and
expense for the period
attributable to equity holders 12,591 9,543 18,647
of the Parent
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM BALANCE SHEET
as at 30 June 2008
Note 30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£000 £000 £000
Non-current assets
Property, plant and 11 2,142 1,511 2,042
equipment
Intangible assets 7,839 6,876 7,580
Deferred tax assets 192 2,262 1,336
Total non-current assets 10,173 10,649 10,958
Current assets
Trade and other receivables 12 12,485 4,912 11,202
Income tax receivable - 163 163
Cash and cash equivalents 3,162 17,464 11,807
Total current assets 15,647 22,539 23,172
Total assets 25,820 33,188 34,130
Current liabilities
Loans and borrowings 14 (26,500) - -
Trade and other payables 13 (13,400) (10,169) (14,714)
Income tax payable (6,224) (3,692) (4,413)
Deferred consideration 15 (2,461) - -
Provisions (160) (96) (130)
Total current liabilities (48,745) (13,957) (19,257)
Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities (99) (126) (110)
Deferred consideration - (2,202) (2,328)
Provisions (167) (64) (43)
Total non-current (266) (2,392) (2,481)
liabilities
Net (liabilities)/assets (23,191) 16,839 12,392
Equity
Share capital 1,212 1,327 1,327
Share premium - 105 105
Other reserves 220 - -
(Deficit)/retained earnings (24,623) 15,407 10,960
Total equity attributable
to equity holders of the 16 (23,191) 16,839 12,392
Parent
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2008
Note 6 months 6 months ended Year ended
ended 30 June 2007 31 December
30 June 2008 2007
£000 £000 £000
Cash flows from operating
activities
Profit for the period 12,591 8,686 18,647
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges 314 218 503
Amortisation charges 207 185 390
Financial income (203) (488) (891)
Financial expenses 524 - 129
Share-based payments charge 958 1,210 2,331
Income tax expense 7,203 3,447 8,472
Operating profit before
changes in working capital 21,594 13,258 29,581
Increase in trade and other (1,283) (1,728) (8,023)
receivables
(Decrease)/increase in trade
and other payables (1,310) 1,117 8,337
Increase/(decrease) in 154 (48) (35)
provisions
Cash generated from 19,155 12,599 29,860
operations
Interest paid (191) - (3)
Income taxes paid (4,100) - (4,250)
Net cash from operating
activities 14,864 12,599 25,607
Cash flows from investing
activities
Interest received 203 488 891
Acquisition of property, (414) (341) (1,157)
plant and equipment
Acquisition of intangible (466) (157) (643)
assets
Acquisition of subsidiary - (3,177) (3,177)
(net of cash acquired)
Net cash used in investing (677) (3,187) (4,086)
activities
Cash flows from financing
activities
Dividends paid 9 (7,082) (3,729) (6,176)
Purchase of shares for 16 (11,917) (4,043) (19,362)
treasury
Purchase of shares for 16 (29,861) - -
cancellation
Share buy back expenses (272) - -
New shares issued - 105 105
Proceeds from borrowings 14 26,500 - -
Debt issue costs (200) - -
Proceeds on exercise of share - 838 838
options
Net cash used in financing (22,832) (6,829) (24,595)
activities
Net (decrease)/increase in
cash and cash equivalents (8,645) 2,583 (3,074)
Cash and cash equivalents at 11,807 14,881 14,881
1 January
Cash and cash equivalents at 3,162 17,464 11,807
period end
NOTES
1 General information
Rightmove plc (the Company) is a Company domiciled in the United Kingdom (UK).
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company as at
and for the six months ended 30 June 2008 comprise the Company and its interest
in its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group).
The consolidated financial statements of the Group as at and for the year ended
31 December 2007 are available upon request to the Company Secretary from the
Company's registered office at 4th Floor, 33 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QU or
from the investor relations website at www.rightmove.co.uk/investors.rsp.
2 Basis of preparation
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standard IAS 34 Interim
Financial Reporting and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the UK's
Financial Services Authority. They do not include all of the information
required for full annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction
with the consolidated financial statements of the Group as at and for the year
ended 31 December 2007.
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements were approved by the
Board of directors on 29 August 2008. The half-year results for the current
and comparative period are unaudited. The auditor, KPMG Audit Plc, has carried
out a review of the interim financial statements and their report is set out at
the end of this document.
The comparative figures as at and for the year ended 31 December 2007 are
extracted from the Group's statutory accounts for that financial year. Those
accounts have been reported on by the auditor and delivered to the registrar of
companies. The report of the auditor was: (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include
a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of
emphasis without qualifying their report, and (iii) did not contain a statement
under Section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.
The Group's financial risk management objectives and policies are consistent
with that disclosed in the consolidated financial statements as at and for the
year ended 31 December 2007.
The directors are satisfied that the Group is a going concern and able to meet
its current obligations as they fall due. The Group net liability position at
30 June 2008 has arisen as a result of the loan facility entered into to
finance the share buy back programme (see Notes 14 and 17). The directors
expect this to convert into a five year term loan as set out in Note 14.
Capital structure
On 28 January 2008, the ordinary shares of Rightmove Group plc (Company no.:
6426485) (subsequently renamed Rightmove plc) (the Company) were admitted to
trading on the official list of the London Stock Exchange and became the
holding company of Rightmove plc (Company no.: 3997679) and its subsidiary
companies. This occurred as part of a Scheme of Arrangement under Section 425
of the Companies Act 1985 under which Rightmove Group plc (Company no.:
6426485) replaced the previously listed company, Rightmove plc (Company no.:
3997679). With effect from 28 January 2008, Rightmove Group plc (Company no.:
6426485) changed its name to Rightmove plc and Rightmove plc (Company no.:
3997679) re-registered as a private company and changed its name to Rightmove
Group Limited.
The corporate restructuring has been accounted for as a reverse acquisition.
Therefore, the condensed unaudited consolidated interim financial statements as
at and for the six-month period ended 30 June 2008 of the Company are prepared
as a continuation of the previously listed company's condensed unaudited
consolidated interim financial statements.
There was no change to the Board of directors, management and corporate
governance arrangements as a result of the Scheme of Arrangement. The
consolidated assets and liabilities of the Group immediately after the Scheme
of Arrangement were substantially the same as the consolidated assets and
liabilities of the Group immediately prior thereto.
3 Significant accounting policies
The accounting policies applied by the Group in these condensed consolidated
financial statements are in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards as adopted by the European Union (Adopted IFRSs) and are the same as
those applied by the Group in its consolidated financial statements as at and
for the year ended 31 December 2007. The same accounting policies are
anticipated to be applied for the year ending 31 December 2008.
Judgements and estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Adopted IFRSs
requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect
the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities,
income and expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on
historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be
reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of
making judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not
readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these
estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the
estimate is revised and in future periods if applicable.
In particular information about significant areas of estimation uncertainty and
critical judgements in applying accounting policies that have the most
significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements is
included in Note 5 Share-based payments, Note 10 Taxation and Note 12 Trade and
other receivables.
4 Segmental reporting
The Group does not have geographical segments, with all revenue derived from
external operations in all periods. Revenue derived from outside the UK is not
material in either 2008 or 2007.
All activities in all periods relate to the property advertising segment and
there were no other separately identifiable business segment income statement
or balance sheet items.
5 Share-based payments
In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 2 a charge
of £958,000 (30 June 2007 : £1,210,000) is included in the income statement,
being the amortisation of the value of the share options granted in 2006 and
2007. Employer's National Insurance (NI) is being accrued at a rate of 12.8% on
the difference between the share price at the balance sheet date and the
average exercise price of the share options. Based on the share price at 30
June 2008 the accrual built up in prior periods has been reversed resulting in
a credit to the income statement of £240,000.
6 Financial income
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£000 £000 £000
Interest income on cash 203 488 891
balances
7 Financial expenses
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£000 £000 £000
Debt issue costs 200 - -
Interest expense 138 - -
Unwinding of effective
interest rate on deferred 133 - 126
purchase consideration
Other financial expenses 52 - 70
Preference dividend interest 1 - -
Interest expense on late
payment of taxes - - 3
524 - 199
8 Earnings per share (EPS)
Weighted average
number of Earnings Pence
ordinary shares £000 per share
Six months ended 30 June 2008
Basic EPS 117,518,535 12,591 10.71
Diluted EPS 119,123,970 12,591 10.57
Underlying basic EPS 117,518,535 13,309 11.32
Underlying diluted EPS 119,123,970 13,309 11.17
Six months ended 30 June 2007
Basic EPS 124,136,849 8,686 7.00
Diluted EPS 132,599,665 8,686 6.55
Underlying basic EPS 124,136,849 10,225 8.24
Underlying diluted EPS 132,599,665 10,225 7.71
Year ended 31 December 2007
Basic EPS 123,023,728 18,647 15.16
Diluted EPS 131,431,538 18,647 14.19
Underlying basic EPS 123,023,728 22,966 18.67
Underlying diluted EPS 131,431,538 22,966 17.47
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (basic)
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
Number of shares Number of shares Number of shares
Issued ordinary shares at
1 January less own shares 121,046,278 124,054,318 124,054,318
held
Effect of own shares held (1,783,400) (59,219) (1,242,710)
in treasury
Effect of own shares
purchased for cancellation (1,744,343) - -
Effect of share options - 140,884 195,890
exercised
Effect of new shares issued - 866 16,230
117,518,535 124,136,849 123,023,728
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted)
For diluted EPS, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is
adjusted to assume conversion of all dilutive potential shares. The Group has
one class of dilutive potential ordinary shares being those shares held by The
Rightmove Employees' Share Trust (EBT) to satisfy share options granted to
employees.
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
Number of shares Number of shares Number of shares
Weighted average number of
ordinary shares (basic) 117,518,535 124,136,849 123,023,728
Dilutive impact of share 1,605,435 8,462,816 8,407,810
options
119,123,970 132,599,665 131,431,538
Underlying EPS is calculated before the charge for share-based payments,
capital reconstruction costs and Employer's NI on share options under issue.
Reconciliation of the basic earnings for the period to the underlying earnings
is presented below:
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£000 £000 £000
Basic earnings for the 12,591 8,686 18,647
period
Share-based payments 958 1,210 2,331
NI on share options under (240) 329 298
issue
Capital reconstruction - - 1,690
costs
Underlying earnings for the 13,309 10,225 22,966
period
9 Dividends
Dividends declared and paid by the Group were as follows:
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
Pence per Pence per Pence per
share £000 share £000 share £000
2006 final dividend - - 3.0 3,729 3.0 3,729
paid
2007 interim dividend - - - - 2.0 2,447
paid
2007 final dividend 6.0 7,082 - - - -
paid
7,082 3,729 6,176
After the period end an interim dividend of 3.0p (30 June 2007: 2.0p) per
qualifying ordinary share being £3,279,000 (30 June 2007: £2,447,000) was
proposed by the directors. No provision was made for the interim dividend in
either period and there are no income tax consequences.
The 2007 final dividend paid on 12 May 2008 was £7,082,000 (31 December 2007:
£ 7,119,000) the difference of £37,000 being due to a reduction in the ordinary
shares entitled to a dividend following share buy backs made in the period
between the year end and the 2007 final dividend record date of
11 April 2008.
10 Taxation
The Group's consolidated effective tax rate for the six months ended 30 June
2008 is 36% (30 June 2007: 28%). The difference between the standard rate and
the effective rate is the reversal of the deferred tax asset on share options
(6%) and disallowable expenditure (2%).
The deferred tax asset of £192,000 as at 30 June 2008 is in respect of tax
losses brought forward, equity settled share options and accelerated capital
allowances.
The deferred tax asset relating to equity settled share options at 30 June 2008
is £4,000 (1 January 2008: £1,252,000). This decrease is due to the Company's
share price decreasing from £4.64 at 1 January 2008 to £2.68 at 30 June 2008.
11 Property, plant and equipment
During the six months ended 30 June 2008 the Group acquired assets with a cost
of £414,000 (30 June 2007: £341,000).
12 Trade and other receivables
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£000 £000 £000
Trade receivables 11,013 2,744 8,865
Less provision for impairment of
trade receivables (726) (4) (91)
Net trade receivables 10,287 2,740 8,774
Amounts owed by related parties 159 335 333
(see Note 18) 159 335 333
Other debtors 763 931 1,016
Prepayments and accrued income 1,276 906 1,079
12,485 4,912 11,202
13 Trade and other payables
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£000 £000 £000
Trade payables 1,080 989 1,696
Amounts accrued in relation to
purchase of shares for treasury - 3,094 -
Of treasury shares
Trade accruals 2,535 2,060 3,215
Other creditors 137 373 609
Other taxation and social security 3,262 2,201 3,300
Deferred income 6,386 1,452 5,894
13,400 10,169 14,714
14 Loans and borrowings
During the period, the Company obtained a Sterling-denominated revolving loan
facility of £40m to support its continuing share buy back programme. Under the
terms of the loan agreement there is an option at maturity (April 2009) for the
revolving loan facility to convert into a term loan for a further five years.
The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.5% together with a mandatory cost
applied by the lender.
Face value Carrying Face value Carrying
30 June value 30 June value
2008 30 June 2008 2007 30 June 2007
£000 £000 £000 £000
Unsecured revolving loan 26,500 26,500 - -
facility
Subsequent to the period end on 16 July 2008, a further £4m was drawn down
under the revolving loan facility.
15 Deferred consideration
The deferred consideration of £2,461,000 relates to the Group's acquisition on
21 March 2007 of 66.7% of the ordinary share capital of Holiday Lettings
Limited (HLL). In terms of the HLL shareholders' agreement, a put and call
option exists to acquire the remaining 33.3% of ordinary shares held by
management. The earliest opportunity HLL management has to exercise the put and
call option is 30 June 2009 based on the audited accounts for the year ending
31 December 2008.
16 Reconciliation of movement in capital and reserves
Share Share EBT own Treasury Capital Merger Other Total
capital premium shares cancelled redemption reserve retained
reserve shares reserve earnings
fund
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
At 1 January 2007 1,327 - (17,663) - - - 32,345 16,009
Profit for the - - - - - - 8,686 8,686
period
Dividends to
shareholders - - - - - - (3,729) (3,729)
Equity settled
share options - - - - - - 1,210 1,210
charge
New shares issued - 105 - - - - - 105
Purchase of shares
for treasury - - - (7,137) - - - (7,137)
EBT own shares held - - 514 - - - - 514
Gain on exercise of
share options - - - - - - 324 324
Tax in respect of
share options
recognised directly - - - - - - 857 857
in equity
At 30 June 2007 1,327 105 (17,149) (7,137) - - 39,693 16,839
At 1 January 2007 1,327 - (17,663) - - - 32,345 16,009
Profit for the year - - - - - - 18,647 18,647
Dividends to
shareholders - - - - - - (6,176) (6,176)
Equity settled
share options - - - - - - 2,331 2,331
charge
New shares issued - 105 - - - - - 105
Purchase of shares
for treasury - - - (19,362) - - - (19,362)
EBT own shares held - - 514 - - - - 514
Gain on exercise of
share options - - - - - - 324 324
At 31 December 2007 1,327 105 (17,149) (19,362) - - 47,471 12,392
At 1 January 2008 1,327 105 (17,149) (19,362) - - 47,471 12,392
Capital (33) (105) - 19,362 138 (19,362) -
reconstruction
Profit for the - - - - - - 12,591 12,591
period
Dividends to
shareholders - - - - - - (7,082) (7,082)
Equity settled
share options - - - - - - 958 958
charge
Purchase of shares
for treasury - - - (11,917) - - - (11,917)
Purchase of own - - - (29,861) - - - (29,861)
shares
Cancellation of own
shares (82) - - 29,861 82 - (29,861) -
Share buy back
expenses - - - - - - (272) (272)
At 30 June 2008 1,212 - (17,149) (11,917) 82 138 4,443 (23,191)
17 Share buy back
In June 2007, the Company commenced a share buy back programme to purchase its
own ordinary shares. The total number of shares bought back in the six months
to 30 June 2008 was 10,712,806 (30 June 2007: 1,176,966) representing 9% of the
issued share capital (excluding shares held in treasury). Of the 10,712,806
shares bought back in the period 8,207,376 shares were cancelled and 2,505,430
shares were transferred to treasury. The shares were acquired on the open
market at a total consideration (excluding costs) of £41,778,000 (30 June 2007:
£7,137,000). The maximum and minimum prices paid were 501p and 319p per share
respectively.
18 Related parties
As at 30 June 2008 Rightmove plc has one principal shareholder, Connells
Limited, who holds 17.9% of the issued share capital (excluding shares held in
treasury). As at 30 June 2007 there were two principal shareholders, Connells
Limited and Halifax Estate Agencies Limited. Halifax Estate Agencies Limited
sold its remaining interest in the Company in May 2008. The Group's
transactions and balances with these shareholders for all periods were as
follows:
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
30 June 2008 30 June 2007 31 December 2007
£000 £000 £000
Amounts owed by shareholders:
Sequence (UK) Limited 58 102 183
(Connells)
Connells Residential 32 127 62
Halifax Estate Agencies 69 106 88
Limited
159 335 333
Amounts invoiced to
shareholders:
Sequence (UK) Limited 337 210 539
(Connells)
Connells Overseas Property 2 1 3
Department
Connells Residential 186 106 291
Halifax Estate Agencies 404 241 543
Limited
929 558 1,376
Amounts invoiced by
shareholders:
Connells Residential - 4 34
Dividends paid:
Connells Limited 1,275 826 1,251
Halifax Estate Agencies 974 639 1,065
Limited
2,249 1,465 2,316
Amounts owed to shareholders:
Connells Estate Agents - 4 -
Included within trade and other receivables is £159,000 due from related
parties (30 June 2007: £335,000).Trade and other payables include £nil due to
related parties (30 June 2007: £4,000).
Independent review report to Rightmove plc
Introduction
We have been engaged by the company to review the condensed set of financial
statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June
2008 which comprises the condensed consolidated interim income statement, the
condensed consolidated interim statement of recognised income and expense, the
condensed consolidated interim balance sheet, the condensed consolidated
interim cash flow statement and the related explanatory notes. We have read the
other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered
whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with
the information in the condensed set of financial statements.
This report is made solely to the company in accordance with the terms of our
engagement to assist the company in meeting the requirements of the Disclosure
and Transparency Rules ("the DTR") of the UK's Financial Services Authority
("the UK FSA"). Our review has been undertaken so that we might state to the
company those matters we are required to state to it in this 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 for our review work, for
this report, or for the conclusions we have reached.
Directors' responsibilities
The half-yearly financial report is the responsibility of, and has been
approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the
half-yearly financial report in accordance with the DTR of the UK FSA.
As disclosed in note 3, the annual financial statements of the group are
prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU. The condensed set of
financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been
prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by
the EU.
Our responsibility
Our responsibility is to express to the company a conclusion on the condensed
set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our
review.
Scope of review
We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review
Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410 Review of Interim Financial Information
Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity issued by the Auditing
Practices Board for use in the UK. A review of interim financial information
consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial
and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A
review is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance
with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does
not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant
matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an
audit opinion.
Conclusion
Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to
believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly
financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2008 is not prepared, in all
material respects, in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the EU and the DTR
of the UK FSA.
KPMG Audit Plc
Chartered Accountants
Milton Keynes
29 August 2008