Birmingham property consultancy Harris Lamb has acquired a rating practice in the East Midlands.
The agency, which also has offices in Worcester and Stoke-on-Trent, has bought the rating team from Humberts in Nottingham for an undisclosed fee.
The team based there will be pulled under the Harris Lamb umbrella and rebranded.
Harris Lamb's director Neil Harris said: "At the beginning of 2016, we said that this would be a huge year for us as we looked to grow our business through acquisition for the first time.
"In May, we completed our first, with the purchase of Worcester-based planning specialists Malcolm Scott Consultants, and we're delighted to secure a firmer foothold within the East Midlands with this deal.
"This acquisition strengthens our existing rating team enormously - with the revaluation 2017 coming into force early next year, and much movement within the business rates market over the coming months, we anticipate the next 12 months to be incredibly busy for the team.
"Securing additional specialist expertise and resource, as well as cementing our foothold across the Midlands as a whole, was a very appealing opportunity."
Humberts' managing director Ian Westerling added: "Following a strategic review of our East Midlands operation, we decided that it was in the best interest of our staff and clients that we look to dispose of our rating business in the Nottingham area.
"The agreement with Harris Lamb suited both parties and we are delighted with the outcome."