As Whitbread admitted it was assessing unsolicited bid approaches for the David Lloyd Leisure chain, its chief executive, Alan Parker, appeared to hint that further sales would also be considered. Sunday Telegraph.
The David Lloyd freehold property portfolio is estimated to be worth £4.1bn, and a sale would follow Whitbread disposals of the Marriott hotel chain, Pizza Hut, TGI Friday’s and 240 Beefeater and Bewers Fayre pub-restaurants under Parker’s stewardship.
He said: ‘I someone was to come in for part of our business with what we regard as a price far in excess of our own valuation of it, then we would have to sit down for a cup of Costa coffee to discuss it.’