Canadian property services giant to acquire Manchester’s WHR

Manchester-based WHR Property Consultants LLP is being acquired by Canadian commercial real estate services firm Avison Young.

The deal will see WHR rebrand as Avison Young as it becomes the Toronto-headquartered company’s fifth office in the UK.

Joining the new business are 35 members of staff, with WHR’s Mark Williams, Gareth Buckley, Mike Rooney and Dan Crossley becoming principals of Avison Young.

Mark will lead the firm’s Manchester office as managing director.

Mark E. Rose, chair and CEO of Avison Young, said: “The WHR team will enable us to further bolster our service offering and provide us with insight and market knowledge at a local level.

“Mark, Gareth, Mike and Dan are well-respected leaders within the North West commercial property industry, and their combined experience and approach to the delivery of client projects will be extremely beneficial to Avison Young as we continue to execute our strategic growth plan throughout the UK.”

The transaction will complete, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, within the next 30 days.

Jason Sibthorpe, Avison Young’s managing director for the UK, commented: “We are committed to rapid and intelligent growth in the UK as we add businesses and talent that align with Avison Young’s culture and client-centric model.

“Our approach is both disruptive and holistic, starting with client needs and business objectives – not with real estate.”

He added: “The acquisition of WHR is tremendously exciting and gives Avison Young significant regional presence and profile, underlining our commitment to deliver a full-service real estate platform in all of our markets.”

Upon completion of the WHR deal, Avison Young will have grown in the last nine years from 11 offices to 81 across 73 markets.