‘Only fittest will survive’ says agent making eighth acquisition of 2018

Yorkshire agency Linley & Simpson is on the acquisition trail yet again - and it’s revealed its eighth deal of the year.

It has acquired the sales and lettings business of Ilkley-headquartered Dale Eddison, which had five offices: they will continue to operate under their original brand name.

Dale Eddison’s 43 staff, including directors Bill Dale, William Eddison and Gary Shankland, remain in place. 

“By pooling our home-grown Yorkshire expertise, we aim to enhance the portfolio of market-leading services we offer all our buyers and sellers, tenants and landlords.This is a transformational deal that is a great fit for us strategically and geographically” explains Linley & Simpson chief executive Will Linley.

“Our sector is heading along a consolidation curve, where the scale of the challenges ahead will ensure that only the fittest will survive and thrive. Our ability to reinvest puts us on the strongest footing to be a market leader and keep pace with a changing property world of the future.”

The acquisition – completed for an undisclosed sum – is the eighth by Linley & Simpson this year, and the fourth since it secured funding from private equity investor LDC. Previous acquisitions this summer included the lettings portfolio of another long-established Ilkley agent, Angus Roberts.

When Linley and Nick Simpson launched their agency 21 years ago, they did so with just two offices in Leeds and a handful of staff. Now, following this latest deal, it employs a team of more than 220 staff across an interlinked network of branches across West and North Yorkshire.

In addition to those acquired as part of the deal, they include Leeds city centre, Ilkley, Horsforth, Roundhay, Chapel Allerton, Harrogate, Ripon, Wetherby, Saltaire, Wakefield and York.