SIMON MORRIS

'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]

Contents

Business Biography

Leeds United

Suspected Shooting

References

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. It’s 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 he 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. Its owner’s confident projections for 2007 are for a 150% increase in turnover. In all, adding smaller stakes in a number of other companies.

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.

Suspected Shooting

On Friday, 24th August 2007 at 20:45, Simon's car 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]

References

1. 8th Richest Young Brit
2. Morris tables £10million bid for Leeds
3. Ken Bates retains control as Simon Morris' bid is rejected
4. Leeds 'may not start next season'
5. Leeds Tycoon in car attack