Zoopla acquisition of Expert Agent is cleared by Competition and Markets Authority

ZPG’s acquisition of software firm Expert Agent has been cleared by the Competition and Markets Authority.

ZPG, which also operates a number of other estate agency software brands after its acquisition of the Property Software Group for £75m last year, completed on the purchase of Expert Agent in March.

However, later that month the purchase was ‘called in’ by the CMA.

ZPG was told to ‘hold separate’ Expert Agent pending the outcome of the review.

Yesterday the transaction received the green light, and ZPG said it is now able to progress with its integration plans for the business, although it indicated at the time of its acquisition that it intends to continue to operate Expert Agent as a stand-alone brand and platform.

Mark Goddard, managing director of ZPG’s Property division, said: “We are delighted but not surprised by the outcome of this review by the CMA.

“We always felt that the UK property software sector is well served by numerous players who offer strong, effective competition, and are pleased that the CMA has come to the same conclusion.

“With this matter now concluded, we will be progressing our plans to integrate Expert Agent into the wider ZPG business and to deliver the related benefits for our partners.”

We were unable to reach Expert Agent founder Mike Griffiths for comment. He and his staff were on an away day to Weymouth and said to be enjoying ice creams and donkey rides.

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9 Comments

  1. Jrsteeve

    Watch this space for annual price ‘reviews’.

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    1. 1stTimeBuyer

      Wrong company, not RM…

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  2. AgentV

    Wonder if related benefits includes selling hard earned harvested data to YOPA to then target local potential vendors.

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    1. wardy

      Related benefits is the exact part of that sentence that worries me. This is where me and expert agent part company unfortunatly.

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  3. fluter

    Can anyone explain why this should not be a concern to any small independent agent?

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    1. 1stTimeBuyer

      Personally, I can not see why a small independent would have concern.  One company brought another.  It happens across the industry all the time.

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    2. AgentV

      Because the software is used by many agents to store their local contacts, data and business relationships that they have built up over many years, involving many man hours and cost.

      All that will, in theory, now belong to zoopla who seem to have no problem whatsoever about selling it to the ‘online listers’, such as YOPA, for targeted emails aimed at stealing potential vendors. 

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      1. LordElpus56

        That’s just scaremongering with no basis in reality or foundation
        Any data entered onto any cloud system by an agent belongs to the agent and no-one else. ZPG would not be allowed to use that data for ANYTHING, much less sell it on.
        It’s about time people stopped trotting out this tired old line.

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        1. AgentV

          Thats fine …then Expert Agent and Zoopla should have absolutely no problem announcing that is the case and they will guarantee it…should they?

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