Exclusive: Spicerhaart 'poised to snap up major independent regional agency'

Estate Agent Today understands that Spicerhaart is in the final stages of talks to acquire major regional independent firm butters john bee.
 
If the acquisition takes place it will add another brand to the Spicerhaart portfolio which includes Chewton Rose, Darlows, Felicity J Lord, Haart and Haybrook, as well as Spicerhaart Land and New Homes. 

Financial companies owned by Spicerhaart include Spicerhaart Financial Services and Just Mortgages.
 
butters john bee has in its earliest form been operating for over 150 years and now has 19 offices in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, the East Midlands and West Midlands.
 
Last year it described itself as the seventh largest auctioneer in the UK, selling more than £50 million of property annually. 

The agency’s sales and lettings network has seen openings in recent years in Macclesfield, Cannock, Wolverhampton, Telford, Winsford and Northwich.
 
In the past 18 months it attracted a number of 'refugees' from the troubled Countrywide group - chiefly the ex-Countrywide directors Andy Townsend, who became managing director for lettings, and Dominic Green, who became managing director for sales and auctions. 

The financial circumstances surrounding the Spicerhaart deal have not been released but EAT understands that an announcement is expected later this week.
 
A spokesperson for Spicerhaart told Estate Agent Today that the agency was ‘not able to comment at this time’. 

butters john bee has also been asked for comment.