17 sep 25   m winkworth plc - half-year report m winkworth plc | wink | 195 0 0.0% | mkt cap: 25.2m    rns number : 5901z m winkworth plc 17 september 2025   m winkworth plc   interim results for the six months ended 30 june 2025     m winkworth plc ("winkworth" or the "company") is pleased to announce its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 june 2025.   highlights for the period: ·    network revenues 15% higher at £32.0 million (h1 2024: £27.9 million) o  network sales revenues up by 27% to £16.9 million (h1 2024: £13.4 million) o  network lettings revenues up by 4% to £15.1 million (h1 2024: £14.5 million) ·    network sales revenues accounted for 53% of total network revenues (h1 2024: 48%) ·    winkworth revenues up by 1% at £5.20 million (h1 2024: £5.14 million) ·    four majority-owned businesses generated revenues of £1.67 million and pbt of £0.08 million (h1 2024: revenues of £1.51 million; pbt: -£0.04 million) ·    profit before taxation down by 19% to £0.83 million (h1 2024: £1.02 million), largely reflecting one off costs including office relocation and a planned increase in marketing spend in prime central london ·    net cash generated from operating activities doubled to £0.96m (h1 2024: £0.48m) ·    cash balance at 30 june 2025 of £3.86 million (30 june 2024: £4.12 million); no debt in both periods ·    three new offices opened and two refranchised ·    increased ordinary dividends of 6.6p (h1 2024: 6.0p) per share declared during the period.   dominic agace, ceo of the company, commented: we are delighted with our performance in sales in h1 2025 and the solid contribution from lettings, where management fees are making an increasingly important contribution. net cash generated by the business nearly doubled compared to the first half of 2024, and we have continued to invest in our franchisees, while supporting them through new marketing initiatives. we have also substantially increased the payout to shareholders. further activity in our network should result in us finishing the year above our target of opening or reselling eight franchises per year.   investor presentation dominic agace, ceo of the company, and andrew nicol, cfo of the company, will present the interim results via the investor meet company platform on 17 september 2025 at 11.00 bst. the presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders who can sign up and register to participate for free at: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/m-winkworth-plc/register-investor investors who already follow winkworth on the investor meet company platform will automatically be invited. for further information please contact: m winkworth plc tel: 020 7355 0206 dominic agace (chief executive officer)  andrew nicol (chief financial officer)  shore capital (nominated adviser & broker) tel: 020 7408 4050 david coaten / henry willcocks / george payne  milbourne (financial pr) tel: 07921 881800 charlotte mcmullen    about winkworth   winkworth is the leading london franchisor of residential real estate agencies with a pre-eminent position in the mid to upper segments of the sales and lettings markets. the franchise model allows entrepreneurial real estate professionals to provide the highest standards of service under the banner of a long-established brand name and to benefit from the support and promotion that winkworth offers.   winkworth is admitted to trading on the aim market of the london stock exchange.   for further information please visit: www.winkworthplc.com      chair's statement   i am pleased to report that royalty fees from franchising continued to rise in the first half of this year. at group level, it is clear that sales are reverting to being the prime revenue earner for the business, having risen from 48% of turnover in the last financial year to 53% of turnover in h1 2025.   as anticipated, 2025 has to-date been characterised by a high volume of properties for sale, these being reported as running at 10% above the average of recent years. i am delighted that our franchisees have been able to take advantage of the upturn in instructions, especially at our newly opened offices, enabling these to become established quickly.   the sharp increase in sales in the first quarter of the year, in advance of the reduction in the stamp duty exemption threshold for first time buyers as of april 2025, provided a powerful reminder of how government intervention can influence the market. we watch with interest the suggestions of proposals for further reforms in the autumn budget. a tax on the sale of higher value properties, for example, which, if implemented, would be a form of double taxation on owners who have already paid stamp duty on the purchase price, could prove to be a further hurdle for transactions at the top end of the market.   within our lettings and management business, the 'let only' side of the business, that is private landlords instructing winkworth to source tenants without using our full management service, has shown some decline. it is interesting to note, however, that the revenue from property management, where typically we both find the tenant and provide ongoing management services, has increased in many of our offices. we believe that, in an ever more demanding regulatory environment in the rentals market, a rising number of private landlords are relinquishing managing their own property investments and instructing winkworth in order to benefit from its specialist management skills.   this also means that the group has seen a flow of sales of 'let only' rental investments, with up to 10% of the rented-only property portfolio being offered for sale. in the short term, some of this rental stock is likely to return to the market as a result of vendors not achieving their anticipated price levels and choosing to relet properties pending a market improvement. there is an identifiable shift, however, away from private landlords towards institutions looking to enter this market through new-build accommodation.   turnover from our equity-owned offices is still growing, with pimlico achieving a 31% year-on-year increase in the first half of 2025, crystal palace a 21% increase, and more modest growth from tooting of 3%, which has consistently recorded a high level of activity.    we remain confident for the future and, as always, are grateful to all of our franchisees for their dedication to their customers and their ability to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace.      simon agace non-executive chair 16 september 2025     ceo's statement   the first half of this year marked another successful period for the group, with network revenue 15% ahead of h1 2024. sales activity was the main driver, with revenue up by 27% year-on-year. after more subdued activity in recent years, our outer london offices were prime beneficiaries of falling interest rates and, consequently, reduced mortgage rates, leading the way with comparable revenue growth of 33%. our central london offices also showed a revival, with growth in revenue of 25%, reflecting our reinvestment in this area and a realistic approach by sellers to accept pricing changes and transact.   the picture outside of london was more mixed. the race to beat the april 2025 deadline on stamp duty thresholds proved to be a strong motivation in the first quarter of the year, but this was followed by a slowdown in the second quarter, leading to an aggregate increase in revenues of 20% compared to h1 2024.   overall, our network transactions rose by 21% over h1 2025, markedly outperforming the increase in the national average.   as noted in the 16 july 2025 trading update, our lettings and management business was more subdued, growing by 4% at the end of the period. but while lettings revenue fell by 4%, management fees rose by 10% and now represent 25% of network turnover. these numbers reflect our network adjusting to a tightening of supply of rental stock as landlords exit the sector and our franchisees provide an increased level of service to those remaining, typically in need of greater help to manage changing legislation and increased regulation.   our ongoing policy of investing in people continues to pay off, with a variety of options on offer to talented operators at different stages of their careers and with varying financial circumstances. this flexibility is allowing us to attract a high-quality pool of ambitious managers that we can match to new openings or resales. we also continue to provide support to existing franchisees with the desire and experience to expand their territories or acquire further businesses.   we opened three new offices in h1 2025 in clapham, west putney and belsize park, and resold two offices in beckenham and hammersmith. a further two offices in newbury and weybridge have already been resold in h2 2025 and two more offices are scheduled to be resold and a further two offices are due to open before the end of the year. of these 11 offices, three involve existing franchisees expanding their footprint and nine are within greater london, where growth is currently strongest and there is the headroom for both new and existing franchisees to add value to the group. two offices, worthing and wimbledon, will have closed over the course of 2025, positioning us above our target of opening or reselling eight franchises per year.   we saw a significant improvement in the performance of our equity-owned offices in crystal palace, pimlico and tooting. the latter has benefitted from strengthened management and, we believe, will show an acceleration in performance in h2 2025.   in h1 2025, gross revenues of the franchised network of £32.0m were 15% higher year-on-year (h1 2024: £27.9m). total sales income was 26% higher at £16.9m (h1 2024: £13.4m) while lettings and management increased by 4% to £15.1m (h1 2024 £14.5m).   at £5.20m, winkworth's revenues were 1% higher than h1 2024 (h1 2024: £5.14m) with the year-on-year comparable numbers being impacted by timing differences on revenues booked on new or resold franchise agreements, in particular, the ongoing proceeds from the sale of the kennington lettings business to our kennington sales franchisee. profit before taxation declined by 19% to £0.83m (h1 2024: £1.02m), largely as a result of a planned increase in marketing costs in prime central london to support the new talent and other one-off costs, relating to our head office move and consultancy work relating to our systems development. net cash generated from operating activities doubled to £0.96m (h1 2024: £0.48m). after an increase in pre-paid acquisition support to franchisees and a 10% increase in ordinary dividends paid, the group's cash stood at £3.86m at 30 june 2025 (h1 2024: £4.12m) with no debt. increased ordinary dividends of 6.6p (h1 2024: 6.0p) per ordinary share were declared for the first half of the year.   outlook after the strong uplift in q1 completions ahead of the stamp duty holiday in april 2025, activity slowed in q2, but we have since seen renewed interest from sales applicants over the summer, up by around 10% year-on-year. this provides encouragement for a busier autumn market, albeit that the autumn statement will inevitably be a cause of uncertainty. the bank of england's cut to bank rate in august, to 4.0%, is feeding through to lower mortgage costs, improving affordability, particularly for first-time buyers, with any further cuts set to provide additional support. uk house prices have remained resilient and we expect modest growth of up to 4% in 2025, with london expected to outperform as confidence and demand improve. we expect transactions to pick up in the autumn with stronger buyer sentiment as inflation cools and wages continue to outpace living costs. we expect the rental market to stabilise in h2 2025, with prices remaining subdued, providing some relief for tenants after years of steep rises. in the medium term, however, structural undersupply suggests that rental pressures will return in 2026. our focus remains on growing the business through recruiting best-in-class operators, supporting our franchisees, and expanding our network, positioning winkworth to continue to build market share and deliver sustainable returns.     dominic agace chief executive officer 16 september 2025 m winkworth plc   consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the period 1 january 2025 to 30 june 2025       (unaudited)  (unaudited)         period  period         1.1.25  1.1.24  (audited)       to  to  year ended       30.6.25  30.6.24  31.12.24       £000's  £000's  £000's            continuing operations           revenue  2    5,202  5,143  10,794            cost of sales      (764)  (880)  (1,666)            gross profit      4,438  4,263  9,128            administrative expenses      (3,668)  (3,273)  (6,842)            operating profit      770  990  2,286            finance costs      (29)  (32)  (60) finance income      84  63  138        profit before taxation      825  1,021  2,364                       taxation      (218)  (262)  (592)            profit and total comprehensive income for the period      607  759  1,772   profit and total comprehensive income attributable to: owners of the parent      615  759  1,756 non-controlling interests      (8)  -  16           total comprehensive income since last annual report        607    759    1,772           earnings per share expressed           in pence per share:  3         basic      4.77  5.88  13.73 diluted      4.63  5.83  13.33                                            m winkworth plc   consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 june 2025  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (audited)  30.06.2025  30.06.2024  31.12.2024         notes £000's  £000's  £000's assets      non-current assets      intangible assets 4  1,192  1,275  1,238 property, plant and equipment 801  869  828 prepaid assisted acquisitions support 926  572  822 investments 7  7  7 trade and other receivables 823  693  674        3,749  3,416  3,569       current assets      trade and other receivables 1,770  1,492  1,539 tax receivable 34  -  26 cash and cash equivalents 3,860  4,124            4,085        5,664  5,616  5,650 total assets 9,413  9,032  9,219       equity      shareholders' equity      share capital   65  65  65 share premium   179  179  179 retained earnings 6,366  6,380  6,603    6,610    6,624  6,847   non-controlling interests   8    -    16 total equity 6,618  6,624  6,863       liabilities      non-current liabilities      trade and other payables 567  706  638 deferred tax 159  173  163  726  879  801 current liabilities      trade and other payables 2,045  1,476  1,461 tax payable 24  53  94        2,069  1,529  1,555       total liabilities 2,795  2,408  2,356 total equity and liabilities 9,413  9,032  9,219             m winkworth plc   consolidated statement of changes in equity for the period 1 january 2025 to 30 june 2025     share     retained   share premium   share option   non controlling     shareholders'  capital   earnings   account   reserve   interest   equity  £000's  £000's  £000's  £000's  £000's  £000's             balance at 1 january 2024 65  6,396  179  -  -  6,640             total comprehensive income -  759  -  -  -  759 dividends paid   -  (775)   -   -   -   (775)              balance at 30 june 2024 65  6,380  179  -  -  6,624 (unaudited)              total comprehensive income   -    997    -    -    16    1,013 dividends paid -  (774)  -  -  -  (774)             balance at 31 december 2024 65  6,603  179  -                   16  6,863 (audited)              total comprehensive income   -    615    -    -    (8)    607 dividends paid -  (852)  -  -  -  (852)             balance at 30 june 2025 65  6,366  179  -  8  6,618 (unaudited)                                                                     m winkworth plc   consolidated statement of cash flows for the period 1 january 2025 to 30 june 2025     (unaudited)  (unaudited)      period  period      1.1.25  1.1.24  (audited)    to  to  year ended    30.6.25  30.6.24  31.12.24  notes  £000's  £000's  £000's cash flows from operating activities        cash generated from operations i  1,258  858  2,385 interest paid   (2)  -  - tax paid   (300)  (375)  (700)         net cash generated from operating activities   956  483  1,685         cash flows from investing activities        purchase of intangible fixed assets     (75)  (82)  (158) purchase of tangible fixed assets   (75)  (24)  (70) sale of fixed asset investments   -  57  56 prepaid assisted acquisition   (170)  (8)  (330) interest received   84  63  138         net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities   (236)  6  (364)                 cash flows from financing activities         payment of lease liabilities   (66)  (106)  (175) interest paid on lease liabilities   (27)  (32)  (60) equity dividends paid   (852)  (775)  (1,549)         net cash used in financing activities   (945)  (913)  (1,784)                   decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (225)  (424)  (463) cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   4,085  4,548  4,548         cash and cash equivalents at end of period ii  3,860  4,124  4,085 m winkworth plc   notes to the consolidated statement of cash flows for the period 1 january 2025 to 30 june 2025   i. reconciliation of profit before taxation to cash generated from operations   (unaudited)  (unaudited)    period  period    1.1.25  1.1.24  (audited)  to  to  year ended  30.6.25  30.6.24  31.12.24  £000's  £000's  £000's profit before taxation 825  1,021  2,364 depreciation and amortisation 287  288  568 finance costs 29  32  60 finance income (84)  (63)  (138) profit/(loss) on disposal of fixed asset 1  (1)  -        1,058  1,277  2,854   (increase) in trade and other receivables (373)  (385)  (413) increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables 573  (34)  (56)                   cash generated from operations 1,258  858  2,385   ii.           cash and cash equivalents   the amounts disclosed in the cash flow statement in respect of cash and cash equivalents are in respect of these balance sheet amounts:   30.6.25  30.6.24  31.12.24  £000's  £000's  £000's cash and cash equivalents 3,860  4,124  4,085                                                                                                                                                                        m winkworth plc   notes to the consolidated interim results for the period 1 january 2025 to 30 june 2025   1.           accounting policies                                              basis of preparation the interim report for the six months ended 30 june 2025 and the comparative information for the periods ended 30 june 2024 and 31 december 2024 do not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the companies act 2006.  a copy of the most recent statutory accounts for the year ended 31 december 2024 has been delivered to the registrar of companies.  the auditor's report on these accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 498 of the companies act 2006.   the financial information for the six months ended 30 june 2025 and 30 june 2024 is unaudited. the financial information for the year ended 31 december 2024 is derived from the group's audited annual report and accounts.   the annual financial statements are prepared in accordance with uk adopted international accounting standards (uk ifrs). the condensed set of financial statements included in this interim financial report has been prepared in accordance with international accounting standard 34 'interim financial reporting'.   the accounting policies and methods of computation used in this financial information is consistent with those applied in the group's latest annual audited financial statements, except as noted below.   taxation income tax expense has been recognised based on the best estimate of the weighted average annual effective income tax rate expected for the full financial year.   deferred tax is recognised in respect of all material temporary differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date.       m winkworth plc   notes to the consolidated interim results for the period 1 january 2025 to 30 june 2025   2.          segmental reporting   the board of directors, as the chief operating decision making body, review financial information and make decisions about the group's business and have identified a single operating segment, that of estate agency and related services and the franchising thereof.   the directors believe that there are two material revenue streams relevant to estate agency franchising.     6 months 2025 £000  6 months 2024 £000  12 months 2024 £000 revenue           corporate owned offices 1,669  1,512  3,446 commissions and subscriptions due to the group under franchisee agreements   3,533    3,631    7,348     5,202    5,143    10,794   all revenue is earned in the uk and no customer represents more than 10% of total revenue in either of the years reported.     6 months 2025 £000  6 months 2024 £000  12 months 2024 £000 profit/(loss) before tax           corporate owned offices 80  (43)  200   the group under franchisee agreements   745    1,064    2,164     825    1,021    2,364   m winkworth plc   notes to the consolidated interim results for the period 1 january 2025 to 30 june 2025   3.          earnings per share   basic and diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period.     weighted      average      number  per-share  earnings  of shares  amount  £000's  000's  pence       period ended 30.06.25      basic eps      earnings/number of shares 615  12,909  4.77 effect of dilutive securities -  387  -       diluted eps      adjusted earnings/number of shares 615  13,296  4.63       period ended 30.06.24      basic eps      earnings/number of shares 759  12,909  5.88 effect of dilutive securities -  110  -       diluted eps      adjusted earnings/number of shares 759  13,019  5.83       year ended 31.12.24      basic eps      earnings/number of shares 1,772  12,909  13.73 effect of dilutive securities -  387  -       diluted eps      adjusted earnings/number of shares 1,772  13,296  13.33     m winkworth plc   notes to the consolidated interim results for the period 1 january 2025 to 30 june 2025   4.          intangible assets                                   customer lists  website development    total  £000's  £000's  £000's net book value at 1 january 2024 787  513  1,300 additions -  82  82 amortisation (33)  (74)  (107)       net book value at 30 june 2024 754  521  1,275       additions -  76  76 amortisation (36)  (77)  (113)       net book value at 31 december 2024 718  520  1,238       additions -  75  75 amortisation (34)  (87)  (121)       net book value at 30 june 2025 684  508  1,192   5.          financial instruments   categories of financial instruments the group has the following financial instruments:       30.06.2025  30.06.2024  31.12.2024  £000's  £000's  £000's financial assets that are debt instruments measured at amortised cost      trade receivables 1,196  885  880 loans to franchisees 1,139  949  939 other receivables 258  98  143       financial liabilities measured at amortised cost      trade payables 1,054  674  321 lease liability 706  836  772 other payables 37  38  109       financial assets measured at fair value      listed investments 7  7  7   listed investments are valued by reference to publicly available share prices and are considered at level 1 under the ifrs 13 fair value hierarchy.   m winkworth plc   notes to the consolidated interim results for the period 1 january 2025 to 30 june 2025                    7.          related party disclosures   during the 6 months to 30 june 2025, total dividends of £433,558 (30 june 2024: £394,144) were paid to the directors.   8.          post balance sheet events   on 16 july 2025, m winkworth plc declared dividends of 3.3p per ordinary share for the second quarter of 2025.   9.          interim results   copies of this notice are available to the public from the registered office at cannon place, 78 cannon street, london, ec4n 6af, and on the company's website at www.winkworthplc.com this information is provided by rns, the news service of the london stock exchange. rns is approved by the financial conduct authority to act as a primary information provider in the united kingdom. terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. for further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.  rns may use your ip address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share 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