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United Agents is in the final stages of negotiations to acquire A P Watt.
In a joint statement, UA head of literary Robert Kirby (pictured) and A P Watt chairman and joint managing director Caradoc King said: "In order to quell any rumours we would like to confirm that United Agents and A P Watt are in exclusive negotiations for the purchase by UA of APW."
The Bookseller understands the agencies are hoping to complete the acquisition process by early November.
This follows news last week that UA is restructuring to become a limited liability partnership, with Kirby saying that the move was a way to make the agency more attractive to agents who may want to join the agency.
A P Watt is the world's longest established literary agency, and is currently owned by agents King, Derek Johns and Linda Shaughnessy. Meanwhile, United Agents is one of the youngest agencies, founded in 2008 by a group of agents leaving agency Peters Fraser and Dunlop.
Meanwhile in a separate development, Christine Glover will leave A P Watt to join Blake Friedmann as of 1st October. Glover will join the agency's film and TV department to work alongside agents Julian Friedmann and Conrad Williams.