Zoopla Property Group surprise purchase

Zoopla Property Group (ZPG), the digital media business which owns and operates some of the UK’s leading online property brands including Zoopla and PrimeLocation, has conditionally agreed to acquire Ulysses Enterprises Limited, owners of price comparison site uSwitch, in a £160m deal.

Founded in 2000, uSwitch is one of the most widely recognised and trusted brands in the price comparison space.

The acquisition of uSwitch is a significant step in ZPG’s mission to be the most useful resource for consumers and the most effective marketing partner for professionals across the property space. This deal  brings together two of the UK’s best-known digital consumer brands and fastest-growing technology businesses of the past few years.

This has really put the cat amongst the pigeons, I wonder how many agents may be regretting their move to onthemarket.com and dropping Zoopla in the course of doing so, this news will certainly cause some reflection on recent decisions.

Alex Chesterman, Founder & CEO of Zoopla Property Group Plc was reported as saying “This is a transformational acquisition and a meaningful step towards delivering our long-term strategy to be the market-leading resource for consumers and most effective lead generation engine for professionals in the property space”

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

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