ZPG PLC Acquisition (1478Y)

TIDMZPG

RNS Number : 1478Y

ZPG PLC

01 March 2017

1 March 2017

ZPG PLC ACQUIRES EXPERT AGENT

Further enhancing mission to provide best-in-class offering to its partners

   --    Cloud based SaaS workflow tools and website products for property professionals 
   --    Strong fit with ZPG mission & strategy to offer UK's most comprehensive products 
   --    Highly experienced team with deep expertise of UK property and software markets 

ZPG Plc (LSE:ZPG) ("ZPG") owner of some of the UK's most trusted home-related digital platforms including Zoopla, uSwitch, PrimeLocation, Hometrack and Property Software Group today announces that it has acquired Expert Agent, following the announcement on 31 January that ZPG was in negotiations on a potential further acquisition.

Established in 2003, Expert Agent was the first UK provider to take estate and letting agency software online and provides fully cloud-based software solutions and essential systems for the day-to-day management of inventory, marketing and communications for estate agents and lettings agents across the UK.

The acquisition of Expert Agent is part of ZPG's continuing mission to provide the most useful resources to and be the most effective partner for UK property professionals. Expert Agent has a strong track record and experienced management team with deep knowledge of UK property and software markets. Expert Agent will continue to operate as a standalone platform and brand and the team will become an integral part of the Property Services division of ZPG.

Mark Goddard, Managing Director, ZPG Property Services said, "This acquisition helps us continue to enhance the services we offer to UK property professionals, including software and CRM, digital marketing and data insight tools. We will integrate our MoveIT and MyPropertyFile products into the Expert Agent platform in time to provide its members with a range of new revenue opportunities. Our ambition is to be the most effective partner to the UK property industry and this deal is another step towards that goal. We look forward to welcoming Mike and his team to the ZPG family."

Mike Griffiths, Managing Director at Expert Agent added, "We have known the ZPG team for many years and the combination with Expert Agent will be a clear win for UK agents. Whilst remaining an independent solution, we will now be able to take Expert Agent to the next level with the backing of ZPG by integrating its existing products and investing further in the platform to ensure our members benefit from an end-to-end marketing and software solution."

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:

ZPG Plc

Lawrence Hall, Head of Communications - [e-mail] / 07890 078 945

Rachael Malcolm, Head of Investor Relations - [e-mail] / 07774 671 082

Maitland

James Isola 020 7379 5151

Notes to Editors

About Expert Agent

Expert Agent provides a complete workflow solution and essential systems for the day-to-day management of inventory, marketing and communications for estate agents and lettings agents across the UK. Established in 2003, Expert Agent was the first UK provider to take estate and letting agency software online and provides fully cloud-based software solutions to estate agents and lettings agents across the UK.

About ZPG Plc (www.zpg.co.uk)

ZPG Plc (LSE:ZPG) ("ZPG") owns and operates some of the UK's most trusted home-related digital platforms including Zoopla, uSwitch, PrimeLocation, Hometrack and Property Software Group. Our mission is to provide the most useful resources for consumers when finding, moving or managing their home and be the most effective partner for related businesses.

We help consumers to understand the property and home services comparison markets and make smarter decisions, whilst helping professionals to win more business and operate more effectively. Our multi-brand, multi-channel approach creates a unique and unrivalled proposition with our websites and mobile apps attracting over 50 million visits per month and over 23,000 business partners using our services.

Zoopla is the UK's most comprehensive property website, helping consumers to research the market and find their next home by combining hundreds of thousands of property listings with market data and local information.

uSwitch is the UK's leading comparison website for home services switching, helping consumers to find the best deal and save money on their gas, electricity, broadband, TV, phone and personal finance products.

PrimeLocation is one of the UK's leading property websites, helping house-hunters in the middle and upper tiers of the market explore and find their dream home from the top estate agents, letting agents and property developers.

Hometrack is a leading automated valuation model (AVM) provider in the UK and Australia, providing residential property market insights, analytics, valuations and data services to over 400 partners including mortgage lenders, new home developers, investors, housing associations and local authorities.

Property Software Group is the UK's largest supplier of software and workflow solutions to the property industry with a portfolio of brands including Alto, Jupix, CFP, Vebra, Core, Encore, MyPropertyFile and MoveIT.

ZPG was founded in 2007 and has a highly experienced management team, led by Founder & CEO, Alex Chesterman OBE.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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March 01, 2017 02:01 ET (07:01 GMT)