Terra Firma expected to make a bid for Dobbies

It is widely believed that Terra Firma – owner of Wyevale Garden Centres – will make a bid for Tesco-owned garden centre chain, Dobbie’s.

Earlier this week it was reported that Tesco had appointed Greenhill, an investment banking firm, to oversee the sale of the Dobbie’s business. Last month the retailer confirmed plans to close its ‘healthy lifestyle’ Nutricentre business and, in recent weeks, speculation has been rife that Tesco is looking to exit a number of non-core business areas including restaurant chain Giraffe, Harris & Hoole coffee shops, and Euphorium bakeries.

Terra Firma has made two unsuccessful attempts to acquire the Dobbies business in the last two years and, in January 2015, then Wyevale CEO Kevin Bradshaw said that if a 30-garden centre group came on the market he would be interested in talking to them (the Dobbies network currently consists of 35 garden centres).

If a deal was reached, Wyevale would become a chain of nearly 190 garden centres, spread all over the UK.

Source : Insight DIY