Wpp Plc SEC Filings

WPP received a TR-1 notification reporting that BlackRock, Inc. has crossed the 10% disclosure threshold and now holds 12.17% of WPP's voting rights. That total is made up of 10.32% via voting rights attached to shares (111,390,921 votes) and 1.85% via financial instruments. The filing records the issuer's total number of voting rights as 131,487,131, establishing the percentages reported.

The filing itemises the financial-instrument breakdown that contributes to the 1.85%: American Depository Receipts 3,032,103 (0.28%), securities lending 15,070,889 (1.39%) and CFDs 1,993,218 (0.18%). The document also shows the prior reported position of 10.00% (6.55% shares; 3.45% instruments), confirming an increase in BlackRock's disclosed exposure.

H1 2025 results show sustained headwinds for WPP (ticker: WPP): revenue fell to £6,663 m (-7.8% reported, -2.4% LFL) while revenue less pass-through costs slipped to £5,026 m (-4.3% LFL). Headline operating profit dropped 36% to £412 m and margin compressed 2.9 pts to 8.2%. Reported operating profit halved to £221 m after a £116 m goodwill impairment; diluted EPS plunged to 4.0 p (-78.7%). The Board cut the interim dividend 50% to 7.5 p.

Balance-sheet and cash: adjusted free cash outflow widened to £1.27 bn, average adjusted net debt is £3.4 bn (1.98× EBITDA, above the 1.5–1.75× target). Cash-flow guidance for 2025 lowered to £1.1–1.2 bn (from £1.4 bn).

Outlook & strategy: FY25 guidance maintained at -3% to -5% LFL revenue less pass-through costs and 50–175 bp margin contraction. Headcount cut 3.7%; severance expected to yield >£150 m annual savings from 2026. Reorganisation of WPP Media, acquisition of InfoSum and launch of AI-driven Open Intelligence strengthen data stack; 85% of client-facing staff now use WPP Open. CEO hand-over to Cindy Rose on 1 September will include a strategy and capital-allocation review.

WPP plc filed a Form 6-K disclosing its monthly share capital update. As of 31 July 2025, the company had 1,091,394,251 ordinary shares of 10 pence in issue, of which 12,591,893 are held in treasury.

After deducting treasury stock, the total voting rights stand at 1,078,802,358. This figure is the denominator investors should use when determining whether shareholdings or changes in holdings require notification under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. No other financial data, transactions or strategic updates were included in the filing.

WPP plc (LSE/NYSE: WPP) has filed a Form 6-K to disclose a major leadership change. Cindy Rose, currently Chief Operating Officer, Global Enterprise at Microsoft, will become Chief Executive Officer on 1 September 2025, succeeding long-time CEO Mark Read, who will assist with the transition until year-end.

Rose brings three decades of senior experience across Microsoft, Vodafone, Virgin Media and Disney, and has served as a WPP Non-Executive Director since 2019. She holds dual UK/US citizenship, will split her time between London and New York, and was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to UK technology.

Remuneration: Rose’s annual salary will be £1.25 million; she will also be eligible for short- and long-term incentive plans and buy-out awards for forfeited Microsoft incentives, all aligned with WPP’s 2023 shareholder-approved Directors’ Compensation Policy. Details of Read’s exit package will be published later.

The Board highlights Rose’s digital-transformation and AI expertise as key to steering WPP through industry disruption. The announcement contains inside information under EU MAR and was authorised by Company Secretary Balbir Kelly-Bisla.

WPP plc’s 9 July 2025 Form 6-K delivers a down-beat first-half trading update and resets full-year expectations.

H1 2025 headline figures

• LFL revenue less pass-through costs expected at roughly £5.0 bn, a -4.2% to -4.5% decline.
• Q2 deterioration sharper: -5.5% to -6.0%.
• Headline operating profit guided to £400-£425 m; margin 8.0-8.5%, down 280-330 bps YoY (ex-FX).

Segment & geographic colour

• North America trending “low-single-digit” negative for H1.
• Global Integrated Agencies – mid-single-digit decline, with WPP Media and Ogilvy singled out for weaker client spend and net new business.

FY 2025 revised outlook

• LFL revenue less pass-through costs now -3% to -5% (prior: flat to -2%).
• Headline operating profit margin decline expected at 50-175 bps (prior: ~flat).
• Severance actions at WPP Media to unlock >£150 m annualised gross cost savings; broadly neutral margin impact in 2025.

Management commentary CEO Mark Read cites intensifying macro pressures, weaker net new business and an unexpectedly soft June as drivers. The company will balance long-term investment with structural cost reduction.

Capital-markets events Interim results set for 7 August 2025; a conference call was held 7:30 am UK.

Investor implications The update signals weaker top-line momentum and margin compression despite cost-cutting. Guidance reset indicates limited second-half recovery potential, raising downside risk to consensus forecasts.