A RISE in revenues of 45 per cent to more than £5 million has been reported by York estate agent Hunters in its inaugural results announcement as a public company.

In its interim results, for the six months to June 30, 2015, Eboracum Way-based Hunters revealed turnover had increased from £3.61 million for the same period in 2014 to £5.23 million.

With a balance sheet containing net assets of £5.1 million, up £3.5 million from 2014, Hunters reported adjusted pre tax profits of £344,000, marking a rise of 14 per cent from the previous year.

The results are the first to be announced by Hunters since its listing on the London Stock Exchanges’s smaller counterpart AIM in July, which saw around 22 per cent of the group raise £16.9 million through issuing 28,149,919 ordinary shares, priced at 60p.

The first half year also saw Hunters expand its branch network to 161, including the acquisition of Acquired Country Properties in May, a long established 23 branch franchise business focused in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

The company also launched its first national television marketing campaign? and relocated its headquarters to a new custom built facility in Eboracum Way, York.

Kevin Hollinrake, chairman of Hunters, which opened its first branch in York 22 years ago, said: "It gives me great pleasure to comment on Hunters' inaugural reported results as a public company.

"The last six months have seen the transformation of our estate agency business into an AIM listed company that operates both sales and lettings on a national scale.

"The hard work and support that has been displayed by the staff and the franchise network is a credit to this company and has made the last six months possible. I offer my greatest thanks and gratitude to all those involved, we are all immensely proud of what we have achieved.

"The first half of 2015 has been a strong period for Hunters with the Group delivering profit, network and revenue growth despite the backdrop of the slow market to May, exaggerated by the General Election.

"Stronger transaction volumes in the last 3 months, plus a robust pipeline and the uplift expected from our new branches and acquisitions will underpin the result in H2."