PRESS DIGEST - British Sunday business press - Oct 14

The Sunday Times

HOSPITAL GROUP BIDS FOR CANNONS

Nuffield Hospitals, one of Britain's biggest private healthcare operators, has emerged as a surprise bidder for Cannons, the gym chain that was put up for sale last year. Nuffield Hospitals, which was founded in 1957 as a not-for-profit organisation and a registered charity, made a pre-tax loss of 27 million pounds on turnover of 105 million pounds in the year to December 2005. A number of other companies are also eyeing Cannons, owned by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

BRIDGEPOINT WEIGHS SALE OF PETS AT HOME

Bridgepoint [BRDG.UL] has drawn up a shortlist of investment banks, thought to include Citigroup (C.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Goldman Sachs (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and N.M. Rothschild, in preparation for a possible sale or flotation of Britain's biggest pet retailer, Pets at Home. The private equity firm bought Pets at Home in 2004 for 230 million pounds. Pets at Home employs 3,500 staff and 800 jobs have been created since Bridgepoint bought the company. In another development, it has emerged that Peacock, the fashion chain, has received at least three unsolicited approaches.