Dobbies Garden Centres

Brewin Dolphin (formerly trading under Bell Lawrie) were brokers to Dobbies Garden Centres since the company floated on AIM in 1997. Through a combination of green-field developments and acquisitions Dobbies expanded successfully and by 2007 they had 21 garden centres making them the one of the largest operators in the UK. From mid 2007 onwards Brewin Dolphin advised Dobbies through a successful, extended and extremely complex take over process.

Dobbies Garden Centres were approached by Tesco and in June 2007 announced a recommended all cash bid that valued Dobbies at £151m.

Dobbies offered Tesco a natural platform on which to develop an offer for customers looking for sustainable solutions, green initiatives and energy saving products; the strength of the management, culture and brand were added attractions. This deal would provide the capital required to accelerate development of the Dobbies Garden Centre chain towards national coverage.

A protracted bidding contest followed with a competing trade buyer building a 29.2% stake in the business. After a complex process of negotiation, including certain legal challenges to the approach, Tesco gained full control of Dobbies in May 2008.