As 精东影视 went to press, Sir Tom Hunter was thought to be preparing a 拢2bn bid for Wilson Bowden, which would be his third offer for a UK housebuilder in four months.

Rival housebuilders Barratt and George Wimpey were also expected to bid for the company.

Two weeks ago, Hunter, who is Scotland鈥檚 richest man, gained the support of the board of Crest Nicholson for a 拢713m offer for that housebuilder. In September, he bought retirement home specialist McCarthy & Stone for 拢1.1bn.

Both acquisitions were backed by bank HBOS, which is also thought to be supporting Hunter鈥檚 Wilson Bowden bid.

Hunter is the analysts鈥� favourite in the race to acquire the housebuilder after a recent flurry of private equity investment in the housebuilding sector.

Were Barratt or Wimpey to prove successful in the takeover battle, however, they would become the UK鈥檚 biggest housebuilder, ahead of current leader and FTSE 100 company Persimmon.

It first emerged last July that David Wilson, chairman of Wilson Bowden, was reviewing his majority stake in the company.

Wilson Bowden鈥檚 share price was 拢23.08 as 精东影视 went to press on Wednesday, valuing the company at 拢2.2bn.

Postscript

For more on Tom Hunter, click here..

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