Former executive of the Garden Centre Group Nicolas Marshall is looking to bid for the home improvement branch of Home Retail Group, Homebase. Marshall told the Financial Times that he had been interested in the retailer for the past few years.
While he has been discussing his next move with private equity groups, the Home Retail Group is yet to be approached. Though its Argos chain is suffering, bankers have suggested that Homebase could be valued at several hundred million pounds as its profits have increased under the leadership of former Tesco Executive Echo Lu.
If the acquisition were to be made, it has been suggested by those close to Marshall that he may be looking to lessen Homebase‘s DIY focus and transform it into a softer, family friendly retailer with pet products and concessions and more garden centre outlets.
Marshall is not alone in his recent interest in Homebase: multiple private equity groups are also eyeing the Home Retail branch. “It is definitely back on people‘s radar,” said one of the bankers.
Home Retail Group has not commented on this speculation and insists on focusing on its peak trading period for the year (despite the group‘s closure of approximately a quarter of the Homebas
