| Exhibit No. | Description | ||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||
| 2 | |||||||||||
| (i) | Unaudited condensed consolidated interim income statement for the six months ended 30 June 2025 and 2024 |
||||||||||
| (ii) | Unaudited condensed consolidated interim statement of comprehensive (loss)/income for the six months ended 30 June 2025 and 2024 |
||||||||||
| (iii) | Unaudited condensed consolidated interim cash flow statement for the six months ended 30 June 2025 and 2024 |
||||||||||
| (iv) | Unaudited condensed consolidated interim balance sheet as at 30 June 2025 and 31 December 2024 |
||||||||||
| (v) | Unaudited condensed consolidated interim statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 30 June 2025 and 2024 |
||||||||||
| (vi) | Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements | ||||||||||
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document* | ||||||||||
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Linkbase Document* | ||||||||||
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document* | ||||||||||
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document* | ||||||||||
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document* | ||||||||||
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document* | ||||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)* | ||||||||||
| * Filed herewith | |||||||||||
| WPP PLC | ||||||||
| (Registrant) | ||||||||
| Date: 7 August 2025 | By: | /s/ Balbir Kelly-Bisla | ||||||
| Balbir Kelly-Bisla | ||||||||
| Company Secretary | ||||||||
|
Three
months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Reported
change
three months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Like-for-like
change
three months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Reported
change six
months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Like-for-like
change six
months
ended
30 June 2025
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| £m | % |
% |
£m | % |
% |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Global Integrated Agencies |
3,024 | (6.6) | % | (3.9) | % | 5,871 | (4.0) | % | (2.2) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public Relations | 176 | (43.4) | % | (9.3) | % | 351 | (41.6) | % | (7.8) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Specialist Agencies |
220 | (17.3) | % | (0.5) | % | 441 | (13.4) | % | (0.5) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Group | 3,420 | (10.4) | % | (4.0) | % | 6,663 | (7.8) | % | (2.4) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Three
months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Reported
change
three months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Like-for-like
change
three months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Reported
change six
months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Like-for-like
change six
months
ended
30 June 2025
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| £m | % |
% |
£m | % |
% |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Global Integrated Agencies |
2,183 | (8.7) | % | (6.0) | % | 4,302 | (6.4) | % | (4.5) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public Relations | 168 | (42.7) | % | (7.8) | % | 335 | (41.0) | % | (7.2) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Specialist Agencies |
193 | (15.0) | % | (1.9) | % | 389 | (10.8) | % | (0.4) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Headline operating profit
six months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Headline
operating profit
margin1
six months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Headline
operating profit
six months
ended
30 June 2024
|
Headline
operating profit
margin1
six months
ended
30 June 2024
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| £m | % | £m | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Global Integrated Agencies |
352 | 8.2 | % | 551 | 12.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Public Relations | 39 | 11.6 | % | 80 | 14.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Specialist Agencies |
21 | 5.4 | % | 15 | 3.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Group | 412 | 8.2 | % | 646 | 11.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||
|
Three months
ended 30 June 2025
|
Reported
change
three months
ended 30 June 2025
|
Like-for-like
change
three months
ended 30 June 2025
|
Six months
ended 30 June 2025
|
Reported
change
six months
ended 30 June 2025
|
Like-for-like
change
six months
ended 30 June 2025
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| £m | % |
% |
£m | % |
% |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| N. America | 1,279 | (12.8) | % | (2.8) | % | 2,537 | (8.8) | % | (1.1) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 517 | (5.0) | % | (6.6) | % | 1,011 | (4.4) | % | (6.2) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| W. Cont. Europe | 713 | (6.4) | % | (1.1) | % | 1,351 | (7.3) | % | (1.0) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AP, LA, AME, CEE1 |
911 | (12.6) | % | (6.2) | % | 1,764 | (8.6) | % | (3.1) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Group | 3,420 | (10.4) | % | (4.0) | % | 6,663 | (7.8) | % | (2.4) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Three
months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Reported
change
three months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Like-for-like
change
three months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Six months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Reported
change
six months
ended
30 June 2025
|
Like-for-like
change
six months
ended
30 June 2025
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| £m | % |
% |
£m | % |
% |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| N. America | 974 | (15.5) | % | (4.6) | % | 1,966 | (10.9) | % | (2.4) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 381 | (3.8) | % | (6.5) | % | 749 | (3.9) | % | (6.0) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| W. Cont. Europe | 534 | (12.2) | % | (6.5) | % | 1,021 | (12.3) | % | (5.5) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
AP, LA, AME, CEE2 |
655 | (13.4) | % | (6.8) | % | 1,290 | (11.0) | % | (5.4) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
For the
six months ended
30 June 2025
|
For the
year ended
31 December 2024
|
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| Revenue | — | — | |||||||||
| Costs of services | — | — | |||||||||
| Gross profit | — | — | |||||||||
Administrative income due from non-guarantors |
120 | 223 | |||||||||
| Earnings from associates - after interest and tax | — | — | |||||||||
| Finance and investment income from non-guarantors | 105 | 237 | |||||||||
| Finance costs to non-guarantors | (372) | (779) | |||||||||
| Loss for the period | (187) | (706) | |||||||||
| At 30 June 2025 | At 31 December 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| Non-current assets (excluding amounts due from Non-Guarantors) | 390 | 396 | |||||||||
| Current assets (excluding amounts due from Non-Guarantors) | 84 | 72 | |||||||||
| Current liabilities (excluding amounts due to Non-Guarantors) | (105) | (153) | |||||||||
| Non-Current liabilities (excluding amounts due to Non-Guarantors) | (447) | (479) | |||||||||
Payables due to Non-Guarantors1 |
(10,058) | (9,840) | |||||||||
|
For the
six months ended
30 June 2025
|
For the
year ended
31 December 2024
|
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| Revenue | — | — | |||||||||
| Costs of services | — | — | |||||||||
| Gross profit | — | — | |||||||||
Administrative income due from non-guarantors |
120 | 223 | |||||||||
| Earnings from associates - after interest and tax | — | — | |||||||||
| Finance and investment income from non-guarantors | 105 | 237 | |||||||||
| Finance costs to non-guarantors | (372) | (779) | |||||||||
| Loss for the period | (187) | (706) | |||||||||
At 30 June 2025 |
At 31 December 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| Non-current assets (excluding amounts due from Non-Guarantors) | 390 | 396 | |||||||||
| Current assets (excluding amounts due from Non-Guarantors) | 84 | 72 | |||||||||
| Current liabilities (excluding amounts due to Non-Guarantors) | (105) | (153) | |||||||||
| Non-Current liabilities (excluding amounts due to Non-Guarantors) | (447) | (479) | |||||||||
Payables due to Non-Guarantors1 |
(10,058) | (9,840) | |||||||||
| Revenue | Three months ended 30 June |
Revenue | Six months ended 30 June |
|||||||||||
| £m | % | £m | % | |||||||||||
| 2024 Reported | 3,815 | 7,227 | ||||||||||||
| Impact of exchange rate changes | (135) | (3.6) | % | (175) | (2.4) | % | ||||||||
| Impact of acquisitions and disposals | (107) | (2.8) | % | (214) | (3.0) | % | ||||||||
| Like-for-like growth | (153) | (4.0) | % | (175) | (2.4) | % | ||||||||
| 2025 Reported | 3,420 | (10.4) | % | 6,663 | (7.8) | % | ||||||||
Six months ended 30 June 2025 |
Six months ended 30 June 2024 |
|||||||
| £m | £m | |||||||
| Profit before taxation | 98 | 338 | ||||||
| Finance and investment income | (49) | (74) | ||||||
| Finance costs | 178 | 210 | ||||||
| Revaluation and retranslation of financial instruments | 11 | (35) | ||||||
| Profit before interest and taxation | 238 | 439 | ||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 116 | — | ||||||
Impairment of investments in associates |
— | 23 | ||||||
| Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets | 32 | 57 | ||||||
| Restructuring and transformation costs | 32 | 131 | ||||||
Property-related restructuring costs1 |
13 | 22 | ||||||
| Gains on disposal of investments and subsidiaries | (2) | (8) | ||||||
| Gains on disposal of property | — | (2) | ||||||
| Share of adjusting items of associates | — | (1) | ||||||
| Headline PBIT | 429 | 661 | ||||||
Six months ended 30 June 2025 |
Six months ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
Profit before taxation |
98 | 338 | |||||||||
Goodwill impairment |
116 | — | |||||||||
Impairment of investments in associates |
— | 23 | |||||||||
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets |
32 | 57 | |||||||||
Restructuring and transformation costs |
32 | 131 | |||||||||
| Property-related restructuring costs | 13 | 22 | |||||||||
| Gains on disposal of investments and subsidiaries | (2) | (8) | |||||||||
Gains on disposal of property |
— | (2) | |||||||||
Share of adjusting and other items of associates |
— | (1) | |||||||||
Revaluation and retranslation of financial instruments |
11 | (35) | |||||||||
Headline PBT |
300 | 525 | |||||||||
|
Six months ended
30 June 2025
|
Six months ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| Net cash outflow from operating activities | (1,036) | (540) | |||||||||
Corporation and overseas tax paid |
168 | 168 | |||||||||
Interest paid on lease liabilities |
50 | 47 | |||||||||
Other interest and similar charges paid |
117 | 118 | |||||||||
Interest received |
(24) | (69) | |||||||||
Investment income |
(5) | (5) | |||||||||
Dividends from associates |
(15) | (18) | |||||||||
| Contingent consideration liability payments recognised in operating activities | 13 | 1 | |||||||||
| Cash used by operations | (732) | (298) | |||||||||
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (42) | (82) | |||||||||
Purchase of intangible assets |
(46) | (25) | |||||||||
Repayment of lease liabilities |
(120) | (140) | |||||||||
| Interest paid on lease liabilities | (50) | (47) | |||||||||
Investment income |
5 | 5 | |||||||||
| Adjusted operating cash flow | (985) | (587) | |||||||||
Corporation and overseas tax paid |
(168) | (168) | |||||||||
| Interest and similar charges paid | (117) | (118) | |||||||||
| Interest received | 24 | 69 | |||||||||
| Dividends from associates | 15 | 18 | |||||||||
Contingent consideration liability payments |
(15) | (25) | |||||||||
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests in subsidiary undertakings |
(26) | (34) | |||||||||
| Adjusted free cash flow | (1,272) | (845) | |||||||||
| Net disposal proceeds | 6 | 33 | |||||||||
| Net initial acquisition payments | (133) | (29) | |||||||||
| Share purchases | (92) | (57) | |||||||||
| Adjusted net cash flow | (1,491) | (898) | |||||||||
£ million |
30 June 2025 |
31 December 2024 |
30 June 2024 |
||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,437 | 2,638 | 2,128 | ||||||||||||||
| Borrowings due within one year | (936) | (584) | (1,201) | ||||||||||||||
| Borrowings due after one year | (3,845) | (3,744) | (4,298) | ||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments |
83 | (52) | (55) | ||||||||||||||
Adjusted net debt1 |
(3,261) | (1,742) | (3,426) | ||||||||||||||
Average adjusted net debt1 |
(3,383) | (3,506) | (3,633) | ||||||||||||||
|
Six months ended
30 June 2025
|
Six months ended 30 June 2024 |
|||||||
| £m | £m | |||||||
| Share of profit before interest and taxation | 19 | 18 | ||||||
Share of adjusting and other items of associates |
— | 1 | ||||||
| Share of interest and non-controlling interests | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| Share of taxation | (5) | (5) | ||||||
Earnings from associates |
17 | 16 | ||||||
| Notes | Six months ended 30 June 2025 | Six months ended 30 June 2024 |
|||||||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | 3 | 6,663 | 7,227 | ||||||||||||||
| Costs of services | (5,826) | (6,187) | |||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 837 | 1,040 | |||||||||||||||
| General and administrative costs | (616) | (617) | |||||||||||||||
| Operating profit | 221 | 423 | |||||||||||||||
| Earnings from associates | 17 | 16 | |||||||||||||||
| Profit before interest and taxation | 238 | 439 | |||||||||||||||
| Finance and investment income | 49 | 74 | |||||||||||||||
| Finance costs | (178) | (210) | |||||||||||||||
| Revaluation and retranslation of financial instruments | (11) | 35 | |||||||||||||||
| Profit before taxation | 3 | 98 | 338 | ||||||||||||||
| Taxation | (28) | (92) | |||||||||||||||
| Profit for the period | 70 | 246 | |||||||||||||||
| Attributable to: | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity holders of the parent | 44 | 205 | |||||||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests | 26 | 41 | |||||||||||||||
| 70 | 246 | ||||||||||||||||
| Earnings per share | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic earnings per ordinary share | 5 | 4.1 | p | 19.1 | p | ||||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per ordinary share | 5 | 4.0 | p | 18.8 | p | ||||||||||||
|
Six months ended
30 June 2025
|
Six months ended
30 June 2024
|
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| Profit for the period | 70 | 246 | |||||||||
| Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: | |||||||||||
| Foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign operations | (359) | (37) | |||||||||
| Gain/(loss) on net investment hedges | 88 | (18) | |||||||||
| Cash flow hedges: | |||||||||||
| Fair value gain/(loss) arising on hedging instruments | 19 | (45) | |||||||||
| Amounts reclassified to profit or loss | (46) | 29 | |||||||||
| Costs of hedging | 3 | 11 | |||||||||
| (295) | (60) | ||||||||||
| Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: | |||||||||||
| Movements on equity investments held at fair value through other comprehensive income | (9) | (2) | |||||||||
| (9) | (2) | ||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss for the period | (304) | (62) | |||||||||
| Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period | (234) | 184 | |||||||||
| Attributable to: | |||||||||||
| Equity holders of the parent | (248) | 142 | |||||||||
| Non-controlling interests | 14 | 42 | |||||||||
| (234) | 184 | ||||||||||
| Notes |
Six months ended
30 June 2025
|
Six months ended
30 June 2024
|
|||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
Net cash outflow from operating activities1 |
6 | (1,036) | (540) | ||||||||
| Investing activities | |||||||||||
Acquisitions1 |
9 | (127) | (33) | ||||||||
Disposals of investments and subsidiaries |
5 | 29 | |||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (42) | (82) | |||||||||
Purchases of intangible assets |
(46) | (25) | |||||||||
| Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Net cash outflow from investing activities | (209) | (110) | |||||||||
| Financing activities | |||||||||||
| Principal elements of lease payments | (120) | (140) | |||||||||
| Cash consideration received from non-controlling interests | — | 3 | |||||||||
| Cash consideration for purchase of non-controlling interests | (7) | (20) | |||||||||
Share repurchases and buybacks |
(92) | (57) | |||||||||
Proceeds from borrowings |
666 | 1,060 | |||||||||
Repayment of borrowings |
(418) | (13) | |||||||||
Repayment of borrowing related derivatives2 |
(26) | — | |||||||||
Financing and share issue net costs |
— | (6) | |||||||||
| Dividends paid to non-controlling interests in subsidiary undertakings | (26) | (34) | |||||||||
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities |
(23) | 793 | |||||||||
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(1,268) | 143 | |||||||||
Foreign exchange translation of cash and cash equivalents |
(31) | (59) | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 2,467 | 1,860 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 7 | 1,168 | 1,944 | ||||||||
| Notes | 30 June 2025 | 31 December 2024 | |||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| Non-current assets | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | 7,348 | 7,610 | |||||||||
Other intangible assets |
726 | 737 | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | 841 | 909 | |||||||||
| Right-of-use assets | 1,396 | 1,385 | |||||||||
| Interests in associates | 238 | 253 | |||||||||
| Other investments | 346 | 398 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | 304 | 323 | |||||||||
| Corporate income tax recoverable | 64 | 59 | |||||||||
| Trade and other receivables | 280 | 174 | |||||||||
| 11,543 | 11,848 | ||||||||||
| Current assets | |||||||||||
| Corporate income tax recoverable | 100 | 113 | |||||||||
| Trade and other receivables | 7,366 | 7,722 | |||||||||
Accrued income and unbilled media |
2,948 | 3,188 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 7 | 1,437 | 2,638 | ||||||||
| 11,851 | 13,661 | ||||||||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Trade and other payables | (11,067) | (13,056) | |||||||||
Deferred income and customer advances |
(1,216) | (1,160) | |||||||||
| Corporate income tax payable | (182) | (333) | |||||||||
| Lease liabilities | (222) | (240) | |||||||||
| Borrowings | 7 | (936) | (584) | ||||||||
Provisions for liabilities and charges |
(137) | (143) | |||||||||
| (13,760) | (15,516) | ||||||||||
| Net current liabilities | (1,909) | (1,855) | |||||||||
| Non-current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Borrowings | 7 | (3,845) | (3,744) | ||||||||
| Trade and other payables | (136) | (229) | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | (173) | (142) | |||||||||
Employee benefit obligations |
(129) | (132) | |||||||||
Provisions for liabilities and charges |
(192) | (232) | |||||||||
| Lease liabilities | (1,751) | (1,780) | |||||||||
| (6,226) | (6,259) | ||||||||||
| Net assets | 3,408 | 3,734 | |||||||||
| Equity | |||||||||||
| Called-up share capital | 109 | 109 | |||||||||
| Share premium account | 579 | 579 | |||||||||
| Other reserves | (140) | 151 | |||||||||
| Own shares | (208) | (191) | |||||||||
| Retained earnings | 2,824 | 2,827 | |||||||||
| Equity shareholders’ funds | 3,164 | 3,475 | |||||||||
| Non-controlling interests | 244 | 259 | |||||||||
| Total equity | 3,408 | 3,734 | |||||||||
| Called-up share capital |
Share premium account |
Other reserves |
Own shares |
Retained
earnings1
|
Total equity shareholders’ funds |
Non- controlling interests |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at 1 January 2024 | 114 | 577 | 187 | (990) | 3,488 | 3,376 | 457 | 3,833 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profit for the period | — | — | — | — | 205 | 205 | 41 | 246 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | (61) | — | (2) | (63) | 1 | (62) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive (loss)/income | — | — | (61) | — | 203 | 142 | 42 | 184 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | — | — | — | — | — | — | (34) | (34) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasury shares used for share option schemes | — | — | — | 54 | (54) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash share-based incentive plans (including share options) | — | — | — | — | 56 | 56 | — | 56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax on share-based payments |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net movement in own shares held by ESOP Trusts | — | — | — | (4) | (53) | (57) | — | (57) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net movement of liabilities in respect of put options |
— | — | 12 | — | 2 | 14 | — | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net movement in non-controlling interests2 |
— | — | — | — | (34) | (34) | (4) | (38) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total transactions with owners | — | — | 12 | 50 | (83) | (21) | (38) | (59) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at 30 June 2024 | 114 | 577 | 138 | (940) | 3,608 | 3,497 | 461 | 3,958 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Called-up share capital |
Share premium account |
Other reserves |
Own shares |
Retained
earnings1
|
Total equity shareholders’ funds |
Non- controlling interests |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at 1 January 2025 | 109 | 579 | 151 | (191) | 2,827 | 3,475 | 259 | 3,734 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profit for the period | — | — | — | — | 44 | 44 | 26 | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss |
— | — | (282) | — | (10) | (292) | (12) | (304) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive (loss)/income |
— | — | (282) | — | 34 | (248) | 14 | (234) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | — | — | — | — | — | — | (26) | (26) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasury shares used for share option schemes | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash share-based incentive plans (including share options) | — | — | — | — | 41 | 41 | — | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax on share-based payments |
— | — | — | — | (1) | (1) | — | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net movement in own shares held by ESOP Trusts | — | — | — | (17) | (75) | (92) | — | (92) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net movement of liabilities in respect of put options |
— | — | (9) | — | — | (9) | — | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net movement in non-controlling interests2 |
— | — | — | — | (2) | (2) | (3) | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total transactions with owners | — | — | (9) | (17) | (37) | (63) | (29) | (92) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at 30 June 2025 | 109 | 579 | (140) | (208) | 2,824 | 3,164 | 244 | 3,408 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six Months Ended 30 June 2025 |
Six Months Ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
Staff costs1 |
3,685 | 3,985 | |||||||||
| Establishment costs | 219 | 242 | |||||||||
| Media pass-through costs | 1,279 | 1,208 | |||||||||
Other costs of services and general and administrative costs2 |
1,259 | 1,369 | |||||||||
| 6,442 | 6,804 | ||||||||||
| Six Months Ended 30 June 2025 |
Six Months Ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
Goodwill impairment |
116 | — | |||||||||
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets |
32 | 57 | |||||||||
| Restructuring and transformation costs | 32 | 131 | |||||||||
| Six Months Ended 30 June 2025 |
Six Months Ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
Revenue1 |
|||||||||||
| Global Integrated Agencies | 5,871 | 6,117 | |||||||||
| Public Relations | 351 | 601 | |||||||||
| Specialist Agencies | 441 | 509 | |||||||||
| 6,663 | 7,227 | ||||||||||
Revenue less pass-through costs1,2 |
|||||||||||
| Global Integrated Agencies | 4,302 | 4,595 | |||||||||
| Public Relations | 335 | 568 | |||||||||
| Specialist Agencies | 389 | 436 | |||||||||
| 5,026 | 5,599 | ||||||||||
Headline operating profit1,3 |
|||||||||||
| Global Integrated Agencies | 352 | 551 | |||||||||
| Public Relations | 39 | 80 | |||||||||
| Specialist Agencies | 21 | 15 | |||||||||
| 412 | 646 | ||||||||||
Adjusting items within IFRS operating profit3 |
(191) | (223) | |||||||||
Financing items4 |
(140) | (101) | |||||||||
Earnings from associates |
17 | 16 | |||||||||
| Reported profit before tax | 98 | 338 | |||||||||
| Six Months Ended 30 June 2025 |
Six Months Ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
Revenue1 |
|||||||||||
North America2 |
2,537 | 2,781 | |||||||||
| United Kingdom | 1,011 | 1,058 | |||||||||
| Western Continental Europe | 1,351 | 1,458 | |||||||||
| Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe | 1,764 | 1,930 | |||||||||
| 6,663 | 7,227 | ||||||||||
Revenue less pass-through costs1,3 |
|||||||||||
North America3 |
1,966 | 2,207 | |||||||||
| United Kingdom | 749 | 779 | |||||||||
| Western Continental Europe | 1,021 | 1,164 | |||||||||
| Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe | 1,290 | 1,449 | |||||||||
| 5,026 | 5,599 | ||||||||||
Headline operating profit1,4 |
|||||||||||
North America2 |
281 | 336 | |||||||||
| United Kingdom | 47 | 78 | |||||||||
| Western Continental Europe | 36 | 117 | |||||||||
| Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe | 48 | 115 | |||||||||
| 412 | 646 | ||||||||||
Adjusting items within IFRS operating profit4 |
(191) | (223) | |||||||||
Financing items5 |
(140) | (101) | |||||||||
Earnings from associates |
17 | 16 | |||||||||
| Reported profit before tax | 98 | 338 | |||||||||
| Six Months Ended 30 June 2025 |
Six Months Ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
Profit for the period attributable to equity holders of the parent (£ million) |
44 | 205 | |||||||||
Weighted average number of shares used in basic EPS calculation (million) |
1,077 | 1,075 | |||||||||
Basic EPS |
4.1p | 19.1p | |||||||||
| Six Months Ended 30 June 2025 |
Six Months Ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
Profit for the period attributable to equity holders of the parent (£ million) |
44 | 205 | |||||||||
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted EPS calculation (million) |
1,093 | 1,092 | |||||||||
| Diluted EPS | 4.0p | 18.8p | |||||||||
| Six Months Ended 30 June 2025 |
Six Months Ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares used in basic EPS calculation |
1,077 | 1,075 | |||||||||
| Other potentially issuable shares | 16 | 17 | |||||||||
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted EPS calculation |
1,093 | 1,092 | |||||||||
| Six Months Ended 30 June 2025 |
Six Months Ended 30 June 2024 |
|||||||
| £m | £m | |||||||
| Profit for the period | 70 | 246 | ||||||
| Taxation | 28 | 92 | ||||||
| Revaluation and retranslation of financial instruments | 11 | (35) | ||||||
| Finance costs | 178 | 210 | ||||||
| Finance and investment income | (49) | (74) | ||||||
Earnings from associates |
(17) | (16) | ||||||
| Operating profit | 221 | 423 | ||||||
| Adjustments for: | ||||||||
| Non-cash share-based incentive plans (including share options) | 41 | 56 | ||||||
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | 82 | 81 | ||||||
| Depreciation of right-of-use assets | 101 | 110 | ||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 116 | — | ||||||
Impairment of investments in associates |
— | 23 | ||||||
Property-related impairment charges |
5 | 4 | ||||||
| Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets | 32 | 57 | ||||||
| Amortisation of other intangible assets | 20 | 14 | ||||||
Gains on disposal of investments and subsidiaries |
(2) | (8) | ||||||
Gains on sale of property, plant and equipment |
— | (2) | ||||||
| Operating cash flow before movements in working capital and provisions | 616 | 758 | ||||||
| Decrease in trade receivables and accrued income | 375 | 430 | ||||||
| Decrease in trade payables and deferred income | (1,303) | (1,055) | ||||||
| Increase in other receivables | (219) | (109) | ||||||
Decrease in other payables |
(186) | (337) | ||||||
(Decrease) / increase in provisions |
(15) | 15 | ||||||
Cash used by operations |
(732) | (298) | ||||||
| Corporation and overseas tax paid | (168) | (168) | ||||||
| Interest paid on lease liabilities | (50) | (47) | ||||||
| Other interest and similar charges paid | (117) | (118) | ||||||
| Interest received | 24 | 69 | ||||||
| Investment income | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Dividends from associates | 15 | 18 | ||||||
Contingent consideration liability payments recognised in operating activities1 |
(13) | (1) | ||||||
| Net cash outflow from operating activities | (1,036) | (540) | ||||||
| 30 June 2025 | 31 December 2024 | ||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents as presented in the consolidated balance sheet | 1,437 | 2,638 | |||||||||
| Bank overdrafts | (269) | (171) | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents as presented in the consolidated cash flow statement | 1,168 | 2,467 | |||||||||
| Borrowings due within one year (excluding bank overdrafts) | (667) | (413) | |||||||||
| Borrowings due after one year | (3,845) | (3,744) | |||||||||
| Total borrowings (excluding bank overdrafts) | (4,512) | (4,157) | |||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| £m | £m | £m | £m | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 June 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivatives in designated hedge relationships | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative assets | — | 86 | — | 86 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | — | (3) | — | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Held at fair value through profit or loss | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | 12 | — | — | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | 60 | — | 198 | 258 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative assets | — | 2 | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | — | (2) | — | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration liabilities |
— | (31) | (88) | (119) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Held at fair value through other comprehensive income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade and other receivables | — | 237 | — | 237 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | 2 | — | 86 | 88 | |||||||||||||||||||
Contingent consideration liabilities |
Other investments |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| January 1, 2025 | (133) | 322 | |||||||||
Losses recognised in the income statement |
(3) | (15) | |||||||||
| Losses recognised in other comprehensive income | — | (9) | |||||||||
| Exchange adjustments | 2 | (20) | |||||||||
Transfers |
31 | — | |||||||||
| Additions | — | 6 | |||||||||
| Settlements | 15 | — | |||||||||
| 30 June 2025 | (88) | 284 | |||||||||
30 June 2025 |
31 December 2024 | ||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
Amounts owed by related parties |
109 | 68 | |||||||||
Amounts owed to related parties |
(124) | (104) | |||||||||
| Six Months Ended 30 June 2025 |
Six Months Ended 30 June 2024 |
||||||||||
| £m | £m | ||||||||||
| Profit before taxation | 98 | 338 | |||||||||
Finance and investment income |
(49) | (74) | |||||||||
Finance costs |
178 | 210 | |||||||||
| Revaluation and retranslation of financial instruments | 11 | (35) | |||||||||
| Profit before interest and taxation | 238 | 439 | |||||||||
Earnings from associates |
(17) | (16) | |||||||||
Operating profit |
221 | 423 | |||||||||
Goodwill impairment |
116 | — | |||||||||
Impairment of investments in associates |
— | 23 | |||||||||
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets |
32 | 57 | |||||||||
Restructuring and transformation costs |
32 | 131 | |||||||||
Property-related restructuring costs1 |
13 | 22 | |||||||||
Gains on disposal of investments and subsidiaries |
(2) | (8) | |||||||||
Gains on disposal of property |
— | (2) | |||||||||
Headline operating profit |
412 | 646 | |||||||||