December 2009/January 2010

Leaders make a key acquisition

Adams lets portfolios add to Sussex strength

LEADERS, the UK's largest independently owned letting specialists, have acquired the branches and residential lettings and property management portfolios of Henry Adams in Chichester and Bognor.

The acquisition gives Leaders full coverage of the South Coast — from Eastbourne in Sussex to Poole in Dorset — and consolidates the company’s already strong presence in Sussex, where it was first established in 1983.

Leaders now have a total of 42 branches across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Henry Adams, one of the most successful and well-respected firms of estate agents and chartered surveyors in the Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire areas, will continue to trade as estate agents from their network of offices across the region, and as letting agents outside the area covered by the portfolios Leaders has purchased.

As part of the agreement, Henry Adams will refer any lettings enquiries they receive in Chichester and Bognor to Leaders.

Leaders' managing director Paul Weller said: "The Henry Adams teams at Chichester and Bognor will join Leaders and we extend a very warm welcome to them all."

"They bring with them an outstanding knowledge of their local lettings market and exceptional customer service skills which will complement our own."

"Our new colleagues can expect excellent training and career development opportunities with Leaders as we are an Investor in People Company and value our staff very highly."

"Despite the doom and gloom over the UK and world economies, we intend to continue steering Leaders on a careful course that will continue to include well considered acquisitions that improve our strength and career prospects for our employees."

Richard Williscroft, senior partner at Henry Adams, said: “We are delighted to have sold our Chichester and Bognor lettings business to Leaders who, like us, are market leaders in their own field, offering such professional service and expertise in lettings. "Henry Adams is also an Investor in People company and the sale allows us to further develop our multi-discipline range of services including an entirely new business venture in the New Year."