Ray White Commercial Auckland and Wilson Hurst announce merger

Commercial property company Wilson Hurst’s Auckland sales and leasing arm is to merge its longstanding business with Ray White Commercial Auckland.

The two businesses have come to an agreement of terms which will involve the majority of Wilson Hurst’s sales and leasing team moving to operate under the Ray White Commercial Auckland brand.

Wilson Hurst principal and director Finn Hurst will become the fifth and final shareholder and director of Ray White Commercial Auckland, owning a 20 per cent share along with John Davies, Nigel Ingham, John Bowring and Megan Jaffe.

“We’re very excited about the business this partnership forms,” Mr Hurst says.

“We see it as a real springboard for Ray White Commercial into the Auckland market, building on the solid platform the Ray White residential network has already established.

“The year 2018 is already shaping up to be incredibly exciting for Ray White Commercial across greater Auckland.”

The Wilson Hurst team will move into the new Ray White Commercial Auckland offices in Parnell shortly but will remain operating under their existing brand while the business completes its transition to the Ray White Commercial software and systems, Mr Hurst says.

The merger is expected to be completed early in the second quarter of 2018.

Mr Davies says: “There are real synergies in the two companies combining resources to better serve our clients. The merger will add to Ray White Commercial’s scale and presence in the Auckland region. We all knew each other and it just fitted well.”

Mr Ingham says: “Wilson Hurst brings specialist skills and expertise, particularly as Auckland city centre and fringe office and retail leasing specialists. Their people are great and a good cultural fit and this will build on the service we offer our clients.”

Wilson Hurst’s property consultancy business will remain operating unchanged from its Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch offices.

Mr Hurst says this part of the business will not be included in the Ray White Commercial Auckland merger.

The Auckland office is the newest in the Ray White Commercial network, which comprises more than 50 offices in Australia and New Zealand.