Watchstone Group plans final asset distribution and windup

Published 23/05/2025, 07:06
Watchstone Group plans final asset distribution and windup

LONDON - Watchstone Group plc (LSE:WTG.L), a company previously engaged in a variety of business activities, has announced its preliminary results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and outlined plans for its final windup. The company’s activities have concluded following a series of legal resolutions and the settlement of a historic property lease in May 2025.

The company reported a loss after taxation of £1.58 million for the year, a significant reduction from the previous year’s loss of £7.11 million. Administrative expenses were also reduced from £7.54 million in 2023 to £1.62 million in 2024. The reduction in losses and expenses reflects the company’s efforts to rationalize costs and resolve outstanding legal issues.

Watchstone’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for June 27, 2025, in London, where shareholders will vote on proposals, including a reduction of the share premium account and a return of cash to shareholders. Additionally, the company will propose the cancellation of its Aquis Exchange listing and discuss the potential windup of the company, barring any alternative options presented to the board.

The company has experienced a complex restructuring process with various challenges. In 2024, Watchstone returned £3.7 million to shareholders as a capital return following court approval for a capital reduction. The two remaining directors, who are also the only employees, agreed to contract variations effective January 1, 2025, to further reduce costs, with total non-contingent fees of £50,000.

Watchstone’s legal disputes have come to an end, with the Upper Tier Tax Tribunal ruling in favor of HMRC regarding a historic tax repayment claim. The company appealed to the Court of Appeal, which heard the case in March 2025, but the appeal was dismissed in April 2025. The board decided not to seek permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The company’s financial statements will be published and made available on its website in due course. The auditors’ report on the accounts was unqualified and did not contain any statements requiring attention under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

This announcement, based on a press release statement, marks the end of Watchstone Group’s restructuring journey and sets the stage for its final corporate actions.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.