Freeths advises Zoopla on bolt-on acquisition of New Homes for Sale

Leading law firm Freeths has advised leading property website Zoopla Limited (Zoopla) on its acquisition of specialist new homes property portal New Homes for Sale.

Zoopla is one of the UK’s most prominent property platforms, offering property search, market data and valuation tools to millions of users across the country. The platform t provides buyers, renters and homeowners with comprehensive listings, insights and digital tools to support informed property decisions and works closely with estate agents, landlords and developers across the UK.

Founded in 1998, New Homes for Sale is the UK’s leading specialist new-build property portal, supporting more than 200 developer customers and showcasing over 2,500 active developments across England, Scotland and Wales. The business connects more than one million buyers with new homes each year.

The acquisition is complementary to and builds on the momentum of Zoopla’s new homes offering. The addition of New Homes for Sale will further strengthen Zoopla’s capabilities and deepen its relationships with home builders across the UK. This follows a series of recent strategic partnerships with major developers, including Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes.

The multi-disciplinary Freeths team was led by Corporate Partner Francis Dalton, supported by Senior Associate Christian Davison and Associate Shivani Fakey. The Tax and Incentives team was led by Partner Claire Boyce and Associate Dhruv Shah.

Reflecting on the deal, Francis Dalton said: “We are delighted to have worked with the brilliant team at Zoopla on this strategic bolt-on. The transaction was a great example of Freeths' expertise in private equity portfolio work and our knowledge in the tech sector.”

Amelia Guilfoyle, Zoopla’s GC, said: "We really enjoyed working with the exceptional Freeths team on this transaction. We benefitted from their deep knowledge of portfolio transactions and their efficient and commercial approach."