Sir Tom's war with Tesco over Dobbies set to go back to court after setback

Published on Friday 16 May 2008 10:33

THE battle between Scotland's richest man and one of the UK's biggest companies could return to court for a second time.

Retail billionaire Sir Tom Hunter lost his feud with Tesco after Edinburgh's Court of Session ruled against his bid to block an open offer of shares at Lothians-based Dobbies Garden Centres, where the supermarket giant is the majority shareholder.

Lord Glennie ruled that the court "should not be used to further the interest of one or other party in a commercial sense", a reference to Sir Tom's ownership of rival garden chain Wyevale, but Ewan Hunter, a spokesman for the philanthropist's investment vehicle West Coast Capital, would not rule out a return to court.

He said: "It is our intention to speak to Tesco in order to seek a fair solution for all 300 shareholders, many of whom have written to us unsolicited in support of our actions."

If Tesco, which currently holds a 65 per cent stake in Dobbies Garden Centres, was to raise its share by 10 per cent, it could take the company private.