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Rottner Security moves premises

Due to the rapid expansion of Rottner Security UK since its launch, it has recently moved from its Bedford sales office and third party warehousing to fully refurbished offices and warehousing. 
10 July 2007

Stong sales for Dunelm year-end; predicts difficult next few months ahead

Homewares retailer Dunelm has announced full year results with overall sales for the year to end-June up 12.5% at £354.7m up from £315.2m. 
10 July 2007

BASF rules itself out of ICI acquisition

The German chemicals group BASF has told Dutch newspapers it is not interested in purchasing chemical firms, including ICI, as they are too expensive. 
9 July 2007

Hunter prepares for bid battle

It appears Sir Tom Hunter is preparing to table a counter bid for Dobbies following his acquisition of 25,000 Dobbies shares on Friday. 
9 July 2007

Partnership to open new garden centre in County Durham

A garden centre partnership is to run a new retail outlet on the site of Lintzford Bridge Nurseries, County Durham. 
9 July 2007

Exclusively Housewares receives rave reviews

The sixth edition of the two day show has been hailed the most successful yet - and work has already started on the 2008 Show. 
6 July 2007

New leisure exhibition to challenge Glee

Lofa has announced the launch of its own trade show to be held in 2008. 
6 July 2007

Glee responds: No need for Solex

Research conducted by Glee organisers raises possible concerns about the market need for Lofa’s exhibition. 
6 July 2007

John Lewis tops week with Which? award

John Lewis' week got better and better following its award for best British Retailer as trading figures for the week to June 23 indicated sales rose 5.1%. 
29 June 2007

Business news round-up

Debenhams leases Irish outlet; Carpetright targets investments to fuel improvements; Galiform restructures 
29 June 2007

Maisie retires from GIMA

Maisie Slater will end her 17-year association with the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) on Wednesday (July 4). 
27 June 2007

Webbs of Wychbold wins Ruxley Rose

Midlands garden centre, Webbs of Wychbold was crowned regional winner of the Ruxley Rose Award for its plants department. 
22 June 2007

Hunter further increases his stake

Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital investment vehicle has taken its stake up to 21.4% by acquiring a further chunk of shares at 1800p a share. 
20 June 2007

Green light to shine at HTA conference

This year’s HTA conference will not only be distinctly green in its business agenda, but will also be the first major carbon neutral event in the garden industry. 
20 June 2007

Hunter gets his 25%; Tesco reduces conditions for shareholders

Another day, another Dobbies tale to relate.
Sir Tom Hunter has gained 25.57% to block Tesco's cash bid, however it has emerged that Tesco reduced the acceptance level to shareholders saying its bid would be valid with only 50% of the shares taken. 
20 June 2007

Akzo Nobel's cash offer for ICI could trigger competing bids

Speculation is mounting that after Akzo Nobel's £7.2bn offer for ICI, any one of a number of bidders – including BASF, DuPont, Dow Chemical, and private equity – will come in to try and trump the Dutch paint giant. 
18 June 2007

Cerberus ties up deal for Focus

Focus DIY was sold today to Cerberus. The private equity firm will pay off debts of £174m to bondholders, and bring in two former Wickes directors. 
18 June 2007

‘Two Bills’ set for Focus DIY

Two men who revived the fortunes of Wickes in the 1990’s are set to be asked to repeat the trick at troubled Focus DIY. 
17 June 2007

Battle lines drawn as Sir Tom Hunter increases his stake in Dobbies

Sir Tom Hunter shows no sign of backing down in the face of Tesco's £156m bid after acquiring a further 10% of Dobbies' shares with backing from investment bank Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander. 
14 June 2007

Focus confirms sale talks

Focus DIY has today (Thursday June 14) confirmed it is in talks with US hedge fund Cerberus about a sale of the company. 
14 June 2007
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