Who Will Buy Lowe’s Australian Business?

Lowe’s hasn’t yet sold its share of a failed home improvement business in Australia, but other big-box retailers, including a large South African company, have expressed interest in buying the venture.

The home improvement business includes 63 Masters Home Improvement stores, as well as multiple operations under the Home Timber & Hardware Group brand, all of which Lowe’s owns with Australian company Woolworths Limited. Woolworths also operates businesses in the supermarket, liquor, hospitality and home improvement sectors.

Australian news agencies are reporting that South African company Steinhoff International is working on a deal to buy some Masters stores as part of its plan to rapidly expand in the country with POCO-branded stores, according to news.com.au. POCO currently operates two locations in Australia and sells furniture, hardware and appliances, the news site says.

Lowe’s has attempted to untangle itself from the Australian venture with Woolworths. Part of an agreement with Woolworths included the ability for Lowe’s to sell its stake in the business to Woolworths as an exit plan, but “the partners have yet to agree (on) a price,” The Australian Business Review reports.