Investment group may win Jurys auction

QUINLAN Private, the investment group led by former Revenue tax inspector, Derek Quinlan, was the slight favourite to buy the chain of Jurys Inns, as the auction approached a close yesterday.

According to reports, Quinlan Private is believed to have made the highest bid of the four remaining parties in the auction with an offer worth as much as €1.2 billion.

Also believed to be in the running is British leisure group and Premier Travel Inn owners Whitbread, who this week hinted it would use proceeds from its sale of the David Lloyd health club chain to pursue Jurys Inn.