Galliford, Persimmon and Wilson Bowden are all understood to be in the running to buy north Nottinghamshire-based housebuilder Rippon. The sale will follow the £30m takeover of Rippon’s parent, housebuilder and quarry operator Breedon, by the larger materials firm Ennstone. Rippon will be sold when the deal, announced last week, is completed. It is expected to fetch about £9m.
Last year, Rippon sold 117 homes at an average price of about £100 000.
Galliford Group managing director George Marsh said: “I think it’s the sort of bolt-on acquisition we would be interested in, but – obviously – at the right price.”
Analysts say Rippon would be attractive to Persimmon because of its location. Wilson Bowden Has also been linked with the company, as its chairman, David Wilson, is a close friend of Ennstone chairman Vaughan McLeod.
