4 hours ago

Businessman Mike Ashley's Frasers has made a takeover offer for German fashion brand Hugo Boss.

The retail group already owns just over a quarter of Hugo Boss, having steadily built up the stake since 2020, but said on Wednesday it wanted to buy the rest of it for €1.98bn (£1.73bn).

Hugo Boss said it would "thoroughly examine the offer and issue a reasoned statement".

Frasers, formerly known as Sports Direct, owns House of Fraser, Game, Jack Wills, Evans Cycles and many other brands. It is also the largest shareholder in Boohoo but has had a frosty relationship with the firm.

Frasers has built a reputation for swooping in to buy retail brands which have fallen into administration, but its gradual increase in ownership of profit-making Hugo Boss over several years is a different approach.

Because it has grown its shareholding so much, Frasers is now close to the 30% ownership level that German law requires it to make an offer for the whole company.

The deal would value Hugo Boss at €38 a share, higher than the €36.5 it closed at on Wednesday.

Frasers said that it expected the takeover to be completed by the end of this year, providing it passes all the legal checks.

Hugo Boss said the "unsolicited" offer had "not been coordinated with the company", adding that it would "inform its shareholders and the public about further developments and next steps".

Frasers said on Wednesday that it had "a strong track record in making strategic investments".

It said it was "a long-term investor" in Hugo Boss and that it "remains supportive" of its chair and chief executive.

Boohoo for Debenhams

It has not had as friendly a relationship with Debenhams, which is still formally named Boohoo.

Boohoo bought the Debenhams brand out of administration after Frasers decided against buying it.

Last year, Boohoo tried to formally rename itself as Debenhams, but Frasers used its shareholding votes to block the name change.

"It's just the formal change to the name that's listed at Companies House... required a special resolution that didn't pass," he said, adding that he did not know why Frasers blocked the change.

Mike Ashley, a controversial figure in British business who founded Frasers when it was called Sports Direct, remains the largest shareholder of the retail group with his son-in-law as chief executive.

He has previously called unhappy investors "cry babies", faced criticism for the working conditions in Sports Direct factories, and vomited into a fireplace after drinking 12 pints at a business meeting in a pub.

Ashley was also the owner of Newcastle United for 14 years. During that time, he angered fans with his management decisions and his decision to temporarily rename St James' Park as Sports Direct Arena.