Potential bidder considers options
Wyevale Garden Centres is once again at the centre of bid speculation.

The store group, where veteran retailer Jim Hodkinson was recently installed as chairman, issued a statement in response to speculation that private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital was once again eyeing the business.

Wyevale said: 'The board understands that one of the companies involved in the discussions last year about a potential sale of the company, which were terminated in October 2005, continues to monitor the situation at the company and is considering its options.'

For much of last year, the Wyevale board was engaged in a bitter dispute with rebel shareholder Laxey Partners. The uncertainty surrounding the business put off venture capitalists from bidding.

Seymour Pierce analyst Richard Ratner said: 'The difficulty for private equity to make an offer at present - say 580p - is that in order to achieve doubled profitability, which we believe is possible, money needs to be spent.'