North and West Yorkshire estate agencies join forces in ‘transformational’ acquisition

Estate agency Linley & Simpson is acquiring follow Yorkshire chain Dale Eddison.

The deal saw Leeds-headquartered Linley & Simpson buy Dale Eddison’s five offices in Ilkley, Guiseley, Otley, Skipton and Silsden, expanding its presence across the Wharfe and Aire Valleys.

Completed for an undisclosed sum, the acquisition is the fourth since Linley & Simpson secured backing from mid-market private equity investor LDC in June, and its eighth so far in 2018.

Dale Eddison’s 43-strong team will remain with the business and four of the Dale Eddison offices will continue to operate as they do now, while the branch in Ilkley will change its focus to sales. Linley & Simpson’s Ilkley office, located on Brook Street, will switch its focus to lettings.

The combined business employs 220 people across a branch network spanning West and North Yorkshire.

Linley & Simpson chief exec Will Linley, who co-founded the company with business partner Nick Simpson, said: “Dale Eddison has a deserved reputation for quality among the communities it serves, borne out by being voted ‘Britain’s best’ by its clients.

“We are delighted they have now joined our family of branches. 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.”

He continued: “This is a transformational deal that is a great fit for us strategically and geographically. This synergy gives us the platform to add an extra dimension to the service we already offer our customers in Ilkley, as well as taking us onto the High Street of neighbouring areas for the first time.

“We can now take advantage of more than four decades of collective estate agency expertise to drive customer service improvements and lead industry innovation across the area – one that is growing in popularity as a place to live.”

Speaking further, Will said the acquisition signals the firm’s “confidence in the future of Yorkshire’s residential property market”.

Bill Dale, joint founder of Dale Eddison, commented: “We are thrilled to be becoming part of another national award-winning agency, especially one which has strong Yorkshire roots, the same traditional values, and shares our passion for properties and the people who live in them.”

Gareth Marshall, LDC investment director for Yorkshire and the North East, said of the deal: “This latest acquisition rounds off a stellar six months for Linley & Simpson. The business is quickly increasing its footprint in Yorkshire and firmly cementing its position as a leading agent in the region.”