Editing Homebase (section)

===Hilco ownership===
On 25 May 2018, it was announced that Homebase had been sold by Wesfarmers to turnaround specialists Hilco, for a nominal one pound sterling.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44248409|title=DIY disaster ends as Homebase sold for £1|date=25 May 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=25 May 2018}}</ref> Hilco took ownership of the business on 12 June 2018 through a new holding company, '''HHGL Limited.''' All 24 stores converted to the Bunnings format were rebranded back to Homebase. At the end of August 2018, a [[company voluntary arrangement]] (CVA) proposed by Hilco to close 42 stores, and reduce rent on others, was approved by Homebase's creditors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45180984|title=Homebase to close 42 stores and cut jobs|date=14 August 2018|website=BBC News|access-date=14 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45184971|title=Homebase: The stores that will close|date=14 August 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>

The stores identified for closure in the CVA were planned to close by the beginning of 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Homebase rescue plan voted through by creditors |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45367910 |access-date=2 September 2018 |work=BBC News |date=31 August 2018}}</ref> Homebase secured a £95&nbsp;million asset lending contract with [[Wells Fargo]] Capital Finance on 26 November 2018.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Homebase Completes Refinancing with Wells Fargo |url=https://wellsfargocapitalfinance.com/uk/2018/11/26/homebase-completes-refinancing-wells-fargo-london-26-november-2018/ |access-date=28 December 2018 |publisher=Wells Fargo |date=26 November 2018}}</ref>

On 24 December 2018, Hilco opened its first redesigned store nicknamed BoB (Best of Both) in Orpington.<ref>{{cite news |title=Homebase Orpington Gets a Makeover |url=http://www.insightdiy.co.uk/news/homebase-orpington-gets-a-makeover/6776.htm |access-date=28 December 2018 |publisher=InsightDIY |date=24 December 2018}}</ref> The store featured traditional Homebase "gondola" shelving alongside the Bunnings red racking, with a heavy focus on decorating, moving away from Wesfarmers' primary focus on tools. At that time Homebase had over 170 stores in the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Appleby|first1=Matthew|url=http://www.hortweek.com/analysts-give-reaction-homebase-bunnings-quarterly-results/retail/article/1431882|title=Analysts give their reaction to Homebase/Bunnings quarterly results|date=28 April 2017|work=Horticulture Week|access-date=10 May 2017}}</ref> with a further eleven in Ireland.

In February 2020, it was announced that Homebase had returned to profit earlier than initially forecast, with nearly all of its 164 locations profitable. The company said that its overhauled website, and the reintroduction of in-store concessions (many of which were removed by Wesfarmers) had helped it to achieve the reprise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/02/homebase-returns-profit-earlier-expected/|title=Homebase returns to profit earlier than expected |work=Retail Gazette|last=Jahshan|first=Elias|date=27 February 2020 |access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> Homebase confirmed that it would exit its CVA earlier than planned by April 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eley |first1=Jonathan |title=Homebase to exit CVA early after returning to profit |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e2dd3b22-5938-11ea-a528-dd0f971febbc |access-date=28 January 2021 |work=Financial Times |date=27 February 2020}}</ref> In November 2020, Hilco put Homebase up for sale.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eley |first1=Jonathan |title=Hilco puts Homebase up for sale |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bbb06f6b-6567-4795-9750-58305eea1cfb |access-date=28 January 2021 |work=Financial Times |date=11 November 2020}}</ref>

In 2021, [[Hugh Osmond]] was understood to have been assembling a takeover bid for Homebase for £300&nbsp;million.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last1=Fish |first1=Isabella |title=Homebase goes into administration with jobs at risk |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/homebase-heads-for-administration-0rqsvxbdm |website=The Times |access-date=14 November 2024 |date=14 November 2024}}</ref>

In February 2024, Hilco put Homebase up for sale for the second time within four years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Eloise |title=Homebase for sale for second time within four years |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/02/homebase-up-for-sale/ |website=Retail Gazette |access-date=14 November 2024 |date=27 February 2024}}</ref> In the same month, it was reported that Homebase had made heavy losses in the previous year, with Hilco continuing to look for a buyer, and that [[B&M|B&M European Value Retail]] and [[The Range (retailer)|CDS (Superstores International)]] (owner of The Range and [[Wilko]]) had been approached regarding takeover deals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Eloise |title=Homebase plunges into the red after 'challenging year' |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/02/homebase-heavy-losses/ |website=Retail Gazette |access-date=1 March 2024 |date=28 February 2024}}</ref> In July 2024, it emerged that CDS had approached Hilco Capital regarding a Homebase takeover deal, with an insider revealing that a formal sale process was due to begin within the next few days.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Eloise |title=Homebase owner approached by The Range as it eyes sale |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/07/homebase-sale-the-range/ |website=Retail Gazette |access-date=21 July 2024 |date=21 July 2024}}</ref> In August 2024, Hilco sold 10 Homebase locations to [[Sainsbury's]] for £130&nbsp;million, to be converted into supermarkets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Eloise |title=Sainsbury's snaps up 10 Homebase stores in £130m deal |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/08/sainsburys-homebase-stores/ |website=Retail Gazette |access-date=29 August 2024 |date=29 August 2024}}</ref>