Miller Group eyes Linden as it plans expansion in South

Miller Group is considering a bid for the £300m Linden Homes group as part of plans to expand its housing business in the south of England.

Building understands that it has signed a confidentiality agreement with Linden as a preliminary to making an offer.

Miller is unlikely to have a clear run at Linden, as other housebuilders, such as Bellway, Redrow and Barratt, are thought to be considering bids.

Linden appointed investment bank NM Rothschild in August to advise on a possible sale.

Miller, a private Scottish company that is expanding rapidly in England, bought Fairclough Homes for £264m in September last year.

Tim Hough, the chief executive of Miller Homes, declined to comment on Linden but did say Miller had made it clear that it wanted to expand, whether organically or through acquisition in the South.

“We have said on more than one occasion that we intend to grow and further penetrate the south f England. We are in the market and we do look,” said Hough.

After the Fairclough acquisition Miller Homes said it planned to build 4,000 homes this year, and Hough said that the company was on course to hit that target. The firm aims to increase that figure to 5,000 within five years.

In June Linden reported a £12.8m pre-tax profit on a £280m turnover.

The ownership of the firm is split between Philip Davies, the founder and chief executive, Andrew Sells, the chairman, and HBOS, which owns 32%. HBOS backed a management buyout for £72.9m in 2000.