Halls reveals merger deal

One of Shropshire's leading firms of auctioneers, estate agents, surveyors and valuers is to merge with a national property company in a move which managers say could trigger expansion.

Halls, which is based at the Welsh Bridge in Shrewsbury and has eight other offices across Shropshire, North Worcestershire and Mid Wales, today revealed it was joining forces with London-based Humberts.

Halls said its nine offices - at Barker Street in Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Auction Centre, Welshpool, Oswestry, Bishop's Castle, Ellesmere, Whitchurch and Kidderminster - and the company's workforce of 75 were being retained in the merger.

Humberts is one of the leading independent national firms of chartered surveyors and estate agents, offering advice on residential, rural and commercial property. The company also has a fine art division.

Halls chairman Peter Willcock said the merger was the culmination of nine months of detailed discussions and he was delighted to join forces with Humberts.

"We are very excited about the national brand as a whole, as we believe that the greater resources now available to us, coupled with the expansion plans that Humberts has nationally, will provide considerable benefits to us and our clients," said Mr Willcock.