ZPG has bought Expert Agent, the cloud-based agent software workflow system used by 16,000 negotiators in over 2,500 branches that was started up in 2004 by former estate agent Mike Griffiths (pictured, below) and sold to a private equity firm in 2013.

This means ZPG now owns two former rivals in the agent software business; it bought PSG last year for £75 million, based on annual profits of £5.1 million.

Griffiths, who is 55 years old, says he ‘drifted’ into writing agency software for his own sales and lettings outfit during the late 1980s before turning it into GMW Systems, which he subsequently sold to former Rightmove rival assertahome.com in 2000.

That has now happened again with Expert Agent, which ZPG has bought from the private equity firm for an as-yet undisclosed sum based on a turnover of £3 million and which it says has a ‘strong fit’ with its ‘mission and strategy’.

ZPG also says it also likes the company’s highly experienced team ‘with deep expertise of UK property and software market’.

“We have known the ZPG team for many years and the combination with Expert Agent will be a clear win for UK agents,” says Mike Griffiths.

“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.”

Expert Agent, which is the trading name of London-based Websky Ltd, has a team of 34 staff in business park in Frome, Somerset and £2.6 million in the bank, latest accounts show.

But Zoopla is taking a risk – Griffiths has in the past framed Expert Agent strongly as the software of choice for independents, which now that Expert Agent is part of ZPG, might sit uncomfortably with some of them.

“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,” says Mark Goddard, MD of ZPG Property Services.

“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.”

The people behind Expert Agent include Griffiths as well as Tom Levitt, its head of sales, and the company’s three key software engineers – Marcus Kilgour, Dave Kayira and Steve Shenton.