Mike Ashley
This coverage examines Mike Ashley’s activities and influence within the UK retail sector, including his leadership roles, acquisitions, strategic decisions, and impact on companies such as Sports Direct and Frasers Group. Reporting provides retail managers and executives with insights into his business approach and its implications for the wider industry.
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Feb- 2020 -6 FebruaryDepartment Stores
PETA buys Frasers Group stake amid anti-fur protests
PETA US has become a shareholder in Frasers Group, the animal rights group has announced. The move is in response to House of Fraser reportedly reversing its pledge to not to sell any fur products. The animal rights activists said that by breaking its previous pledge, the retail group was…
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4 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Frasers Group acquires stake in Mulberry
Frasers Group has bought a 12.5% stake in luxury fashion brand Mulberry. The Mike Ashley-owned group said the move was a “key strategic priority”, and follows on from previous acquisitions of premium brands. Last November, the former Sports Direct International group rebranded as Frasers Group as part of a “multi-channel…
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Jan- 2020 -30 JanuaryHigh Street
Sports Direct battles order to hand ‘private’ documents to FRC
Sportswear retailer Sports Direct is fighting an order to hand over “private” documents to the UK’s accounting watchdog. According to a report by the Financial Times (FT), the retailer is attempting to overturn a High Court ruling from 2018 which ordered it to submit 40 company documents to the Financial…
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30 January
Frasers Group settles Belgian tax dispute
Frasers Group has announced it is in the clear with Belgian authorities over an outstanding tax bill that equated to £571m. Belgian authorities had been looking into a number of matters with the group, including ‘Matter 1’, which accounted for 73% of the total £571m owed. In its latest update,…
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16 JanuaryAnalysis
How in-store experiences will shape gaming retail in 2020 and beyond
A little over a year ago the Entertainment Retailer Association (ERA) announced that the gaming market accounted for more than half of the entire UK entertainment sector at more than £3.8bn, making it bigger than video and music combined. The top games released that year included FIFA 2019, Red Dead…
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Dec- 2019 -19 DecemberHigh Street
Debenhams landlord challenges High Court CVA decision
A Debenhams landlord has decided to appeal against a recent High Court ruling which paved the way for the embattled retailer’s CVA to go ahead. According to a report by the Telegraph, the Salford-based landlord is hoping to “overthrow” the legal win from two months ago. In September, the High…
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17 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Mike Ashley warns of more House of Fraser closures
Despite experiencing the first “green shoots of recovery” further House of Fraser store closures are to be expected, Mike Ashley has warned. Commenting on the company’s latest half-year results, Ashley said Sports Direct is doing “as much as we can” to save as many jobs and stores as possible however…
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12 DecemberOnline & Digital
Homebase rated ‘worst’ online retailer in the UK for 2019
Homebase has been rated the worst online retailer in the UK for 2019, according to the latest Which? Annual Online Shops Survey. Shoppers complained about the retailer ignoring complaints and selling products that were actually out of stock. Which? asked more than 7,500 members to rate the most popular online…
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6 DecemberHigh Street
Sports Direct seeking Lillywhites London lease sale
Sports Direct has reportedly put the lease for its Lillywhites store in Piccadilly Circus up for sale. According to The Guardian, the 97-year lease for the 67,000 sq ft building has been put on the market, as landlord Criterion Capital, conducts rent review talks. Lillywhites has been trading at the…
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Nov- 2019 -26 November
Sports Direct International set to rebrand as Frasers Group
Sports Direct International is set to change its name to Frasers Group, the parent company of Sports Direct has revealed. The name change forms part of a new “multi-channel elevation strategy” that aims to provide “unrivalled multi-brand offering to customers across sport, lifestyle and fashion”. News of the rebrand comes…
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