DGC Dobbies Garden

RNS Number:8520B
West Coast Capital (Lios)
09 August 2007



           Statement regarding Dobbies Garden Centres plc ("Dobbies")



West Coast Capital (Lios) Limited ("WCC Lios") announced on 14 June 2007 that it
was considering all its options in relation to its shareholding in Dobbies, one
of which was a possible offer for Dobbies.

The announcement of WCC Lios on 14 June 2007 followed an announcement by Tesco
Holdings Limited ("Tesco") on 8 June 2007 that it was making a recommended cash
offer for Dobbies at a price of 1,500p per share ("the Tesco Offer").  Tesco
posted its offer document on 20 June 2007, which contained details of agreements
entered into between Dobbies, the Directors of Dobbies and Tesco, under the
terms of which Tesco was given, inter alia, a bettering right1 if a superior
alternative offer arose and options over the Directors' and certain of their
related parties' shares. Furthermore, the Board of Dobbies agreed to accept
restrictions on the solicitation of competing offers. Given the nature of these
arrangements and the issues which they have created, WCC Lios announces today
that it does not currently intend to make an offer for Dobbies.

The Board of WCC Lios believes that the interests of all shareholders would have
been better served if the Board of Dobbies had created a framework which would
have allowed a more competitive bidding process to take place and had sought to
attract, and pursue interest shown by, other potential bidders with a view to
maximising value for shareholders.

Since the announcement of the Tesco Offer, WCC Lios has increased its holding of
Dobbies Shares to 2,614,255 Ordinary Shares (26.02%) and paid up to 1,845p per
share, a premium of 23% to the Tesco Offer price.  WCC Lios continues to believe
that the Tesco Offer does not reflect the long term value potential of Dobbies,
as is demonstrated by its acquisition of shares significantly in excess of the
Tesco offer price. As the Board of WCC Lios does not consider that the Tesco
Offer reflects the true value of Dobbies, it will not be accepting the Tesco
Offer.

In accordance with the Tesco Offer document, WCC Lios expects the listing of
Dobbies to be retained and that there will continue to be a public market for
the trading of shares in Dobbies.

In any event, WCC Lios expects the Board of Dobbies to ensure that the business
of Dobbies is run in the interests of the company and shareholders as a whole.
The Tesco Offer document contains a number of statements about the plans of
Tesco to grow the business if the Tesco Offer is successful and, in particular,
to develop Dobbies' product offering and online business and to create
operational benefits and synergies going forward. As a significant minority
shareholder, the Board of WCC Lios looks forward to participating in this
potential upside together with other shareholders who wish to remain investors
in Dobbies.

For the purposes of Rule 2.8 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers ("the
City Code"), WCC (Lios) reserves the right to announce an offer or possible
offer for Dobbies or make or participate in an offer or possible offer for
Dobbies (and/or take any other action which would otherwise be restricted under
Rule 2.8 of the City Code) within the next six months if there is a material
change in circumstances or in the event of any of the following:-
     
1    subject to the Tesco Offer having lapsed or having been declared wholly 
     unconditional, the agreement or recommendation of the Board of Dobbies;

2    the announcement by a third party of an offer or possible offer for or a 
     merger with Dobbies;

3    the announcement by or on behalf of Dobbies or by a third party of a 
     "whitewash" proposal (for the purposes of Note 1 on the dispensation from 
     Rule 9 of the City Code) or any other proposal to implement a scheme of 
     arrangement, reverse takeover, demerger or any other business combination 
     with a third party other than Tesco; or

4    the undertaking or announcement by Dobbies of an intention to undertake any 
     material recapitalisation or security issue (where material is defined as 
     10% of the equity market capitalisation of Dobbies as at the close of 
     business on the date of this announcement) or any acquisition, merger joint 
     venture or other business combination, transaction, or any disposal, of or 
     involving a material amount (where "material amount" is as defined in Note 
     2 on Rule 21.1 of the City Code).


1Bettering right

The bettering right means that the Dobbies board, were WCC Lios to make an
offer, would not recommend such an offer to its shareholders without first
informing Tesco of the offer and giving Tesco the opportunity to better such an
offer.


Contacts:

WCC Lios
Ewan Hunter                +44 (0) 7803 904769

Rothschild
Robert Leitao              + 44 (0) 20 7280 5000
Majid Ishaq                + 44 (0) 20 7280 5000

N M Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild"), which is authorised and regulated
in the UK by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively as
financial adviser to WCC Lios, and no one else, in connection with the matters
referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other
than WCC Lios for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rothschild or
for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this
announcement.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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