Zoopla Property Group surprise purchase

April 30, 2015

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.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

The summer improvements that could add value to your house

The latest research from Yopa has revealed which summer-inspired home improvements could add the most value to your property once the cost of carrying out the work itself has been taken into account, with a summer house potentially boosting the value of the average UK home by almost £8,000. Yopa analysed a range of popular…
Read More →
AI in estate agency letting agency property
Estate Agent Talk

Turning anxiety into advantage: how SMEs can make AI work for them

By Johann Aguirre, founder of Cachi AI   According to the Office for National Statistics, AI adoption among UK businesses has risen from approximately 12% to around 35% since late 2023. However, adoption levels differ considerably depending on the size of a business and the sector in which it operates. Larger, established organisations may be…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Home gym can add more than £24,500 to the value of a new-build home

The latest research from UK Property Development has revealed which sought-after features can add the most value to a new-build home, with dedicated wellness spaces and premium interior finishes commanding the largest price boosts. The research analysed the estimated potential uplift in value associated with some of today’s most desirable new-build features, applying each uplift to…
Read More →
Breaking News

Beachfront homes command £1.4m as Britain’s love affair with the seaside endures

The latest research from LandSale, the property portal dedicated to land and rural property, has found that beachfront homes continue to command a substantial premium across Great Britain, with the typical property carrying a £1.395m asking price, more than five times the average British house price. LandSale analysed its own internal market data for beachfront…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Four to five houses is the sweet spot for first-time buyers

House hunting before the stress kicks in Just 20% of us feel excited on a first property viewing, rising to 47% by viewings 4 to 5 There’s a U shape trajectory of excitement when it comes to the viewing process However, there is a gradual rise in stress levels the more properties viewed Overall just…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Letting Agent Talk

Opinion: Why Letting Agents Are The Cape-Wearing Heroes Landlords Need 

By Sally Lawson | Agent Rainmaker Let’s be honest – no landlords signed up to become compliance officers, legal experts, or legislative gurus. They signed up to invest in property. And yet, the weight of the regulatory obligation that’s landed on their shoulders has never been heavier.  And that’s even before the Renters’ Rights Act…
Read More →