Simon Morris
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simon Morris, (born 1977) in Leeds, West Yorkshire is an English business entrepreneur specializing in property. He is the owner / founder of Morris Properties (UK) and majority owner of First City Rentals. He is currently worth £69 million.[1]
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[edit] Business Biography
Morris began in business selling leather coats after he had dropped out of studying a year into a law degree at Lancaster University. He soon swapped his coats for bricks and mortar, bought his first flat, refurbished it and sold it for a profit. That was the beginning of Morris Properties, which specialises in residential property for students and young professionals. Its foundations are in Leeds, but the company is also involved in developments across Yorkshire as well as in Nottingham, Derby and Cardiff as it continues to grow at a brisk rate. Morris Properties (UK) is totally owned by its founder and made a £15.4m profit in 2005-06, while First City Rentals, in which Morris has a 65% stake, made a £2.3m profit. Morris is a former director of Leeds United football club. Morris Properties has just moved into new £8m purpose-built headquarters at Brewery Wharf in Leeds city centre and employs about 100 people.
[edit] Leeds United
Simon, a former director of Leeds United recently tabled a bid to buy the club.[2] That bid however failed as Ken Bates retained control of club after winning 75.2% of the votes from the creditors.[3] As the take over bid is being challenged in court by HM Revenue & Customs, there was a possibility that Simon could once again mount a bid to gain control of the club.[4] In the end Ken Bates retained control of the club after increasing his offer to creditors.
[edit] Suspected Shooting
On Friday, 24th August 2007 at 20:45, Simon's Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was attacked in Tong Lane, Leeds. Police are investigating what they are calling a 'firearms incident'. Simon says that it may have been a brick that struck his car. He suffered minor injuries in the incident and did not require any medical treatment nor did his 26 year old passenger.[5]
[edit] BBC Investigation
The BBC ran an expose on their Inside Out programme discussing alleged malpractice from Simon Morris companies.[6] The Daily Mail have stated that Morris Properties is under investigation by West Yorkshire Police and Serious Fraud Office. Two people have reportedly been arrested as part of this investigation. [7] In February 2008 the BBC produced an episode of Panorama detailing their investigation into Simon Morris along with the solicitors involved in the matter.
