British software firm Reapit has joined forces with an Australian IT business in a combined venture.

Reapit and Agentbox, described as the number one customer relationship management provider in Australia, will remain operationally independent.

The aim is to form a close strategic and technical partnership to provide Australian estate agencies with a range of options, functionality and support.

The combined venture is backed by American technology-focused investment firm Accel-KKR.

Reapit has been active in Australia for over four years, and is based in Melbourne.

In the last 18 months it has responded to the growth of the private rented sector in Australia, by focusing on solutions for property management and trust accounts (the Australian equivalent of client accounts).

Reapit will be working closely with Agentbox to bring insights from the Australian market to the UK.

Matthew Goddard, director at Reapit, commented: “We have had a healthy exchange of ideas with leading Australian agents in recent years.

“There are more similarities than differences between the UK and Australian models.

“We will continue to champion best practice on both sides of the globe and I expect our new relationship with Agentbox will help us do even more in this respect.”

Agentbox have a significant number of leading agents as clients, including Alexander Philips, the $10m agent who is headlining the EA Masters this year with Josh Phegan.

Accel-KKR backed the £50m management buy-out of Reapit last October.

Reapit said at the time that it had global expansion in its sights, as well as growth in the UK and Australia, and that the American market was potentially a large opportunity.

Here is Reapit CEO Gary Barker talking to Eddie Cetin, CEO of Agentbox: