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.
-
Jun- 2019 -28 JuneHigh Street
French Connection delays company sale
Fashion retailer French Connection is set to delay completion of its sale to September, to coincide with the company’s interim earnings report. Talks will still be ongoing with interested parties in the meantime. The statement from the company released today (28 June) said: “Discussions have progressed since then and are…
Read More » -
12 JuneDepartment Stores
Sports Direct challenges Debenhams CVA
Department store Debenhams has confirmed Sports Direct is among the parties which have sent applications to challenge its CVA which was voted through by creditors on 9 May. Debenhams went under the control of its lenders when it entered a pre-pack administration in April. Debenhams Group Holdings Limited, its subsidiaries…
Read More » -
5 JuneHigh Street
Mike Ashley makes £51.9m offer for Game after increasing stake
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct has made a £51.9m offer for the gaming retailer Game Digital after it increasing its stake from 20% to 38.5%. Sports Direct acquired the shares from Marlborough UK Micro-Cap Growth Fund passing the 30% threshold requiring Ashley to make an offer for the shares he does…
Read More » -
May- 2019 -13 MayDepartment Stores
Mike Ashley plans to invest millions to revamp House of Fraser
Mike Ashely has revealed he plans to pledge hundreds of millions of pounds into relaunching House of Fraser in return for a three-year rent holiday. According to The Sunday Times, Ashley plans to open 31 upmarket stores rebranded to “Frasers” over the next five years – with five of these…
Read More » -
3 MayHigh Street
Sports Direct facing probe from financial regulators
Sports Direct is facing scrutiny from two financial regulators over its accounts and information relating to a possible bid for Debenhams. According to The Times, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is looking into the retailer regarding the disclosure of information in relation to its bid for the department store. Questions…
Read More » -
Apr- 2019 -15 AprilHigh Street
Mike Ashley warned over plans for retail ‘oligopoly’
Former Marks and Spencer boss Lord Stuart Rose has warned Mike Ashley over plans for a retail ‘oligopoly’, following his attempted acquisition of embattled department store chain Debenhams. According to a report by Aol.com, Rose said he would “think twice about building an empire of high street chains”, and he…
Read More » -
10 AprilDepartment Stores
Mike Ashley promises to ‘save’ Debenhams
Mike Ashley has made a promise to “save as many Debenhams stores and jobs” as he can similarly to House of Fraser, following the department store going under the control of its lenders. Sports Direct released a statement after Debenhams was placed into administration saying it was a “national scandal”…
Read More » -
9 AprilDepartment Stores
Debenhams enters pre-pack administration
Debenhams has entered pre-pack administration and gone into the control of its lenders following the department store’s rejection of Sports Direct’s offer to underwrite £150m equity issuance. The pre-pack administration will see all of the company’s shareholders – including Sports Direct which has a 30% stake – wiped out and…
Read More » -
8 AprilDepartment Stores
Sports Direct makes Debenhams £150m offer
Sports Direct has made an offer to Debenhams to underwrite £150m equity issuance in Mike Ashley’s latest attempt to take control of the embattled department store. The proposal is subject to the conditions that Ashley is appointed CEO of Sports Direct and Debenhams’ lenders agree to write-off (in aggregate) £148m…
Read More » -
1 AprilDepartment Stores
Debenhams shareholders back Mike Ashley becoming CEO
Sports Direct has said a number of other shareholders in embattled department store Debenhams have expressed support in Mike Ashley becoming CEO of the company. Ashley’s retail company Sports Direct has an almost 30% stake in Debenhams and as the department store has been seeking funding to help with its…
Read More »