Auction Companies Goffs, Doncaster Discuss Merger

Two of Europe’s premier bloodstock auction companies, Doncaster Bloodstock Sales of England and Goffs of Ireland, are involved in discussions which could lead to a merger.
 
Goffs is Ireland’s number one, while DBS plays second fiddle to Tattersalls, which also trades in Ireland.
 
DBS, run by the Beeby family and involved in an expensive project to build a new sales complex at its Doncaster base, is probably financially stretched at the moment, while Brightwells, Britain’s number three bloodstock auction company, is nibbling away at Doncaster’s traditional jump racing market, enjoying a best-ever sale on April 18.
 
Goffs, which has had a number of revamps in its history and counts the Aga Khan among its shareholders, made its first move into the English market with a breeze-up sale at Kempton Park Racecourse earlier this year.
 
The following statement was issued on April 19 by an Irish-based PR agency: "R J Goff & Co plc and Doncaster Bloodstock Sales have entered discussions with a view to a possible amalgamation of the two companies. The boards of both companies agreed earlier this week to enter due diligence, with immediate effect. There will be no further comment until this process has been completed."