Whitbread approached over David Lloyd

Approaches have been received to buy Whitbread's David Lloyd fitness clubs but no decision has been taken on whether to sell.

Morningstar.co.uk Editors 26 March, 2007 | 7:40AM
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Leisure group Whitbread says this morning that, in the light of recent press reports, it confirms it has received a number of unsolicited approaches to acquire David Lloyd Leisure.

Whitbread is still in the early stages of assessing whether to take matters further but in the meantime it stresses it has not decided to sell the clubs.

Weekend press reports suggested that Whitbread was preparing a £1bn auction of David Lloyd and has allowed interested parties to look at the books.

The approaches are believed to have come from owners of other fitness chains.

Chief executive Alan Parker has sold a number of other Whitbread businesses since taking over three years ago. Pizza Hut and the TGI Friday restaurant chains have gone along with its four star hotel chain, leaving the budget hotels including Premier Travel Inn plus Costa Coffee cafes and pub restaurants.

Whitbread shares have shot up from just above 500p four years ago to nearly 2000, with a particularly strong gain rom 1640p to 1934p in the past fortnight on speculation about a possible bid for the whole group.

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