Mike Ashley’s Frasers group defies cost-of-living crisis

Bloomberg

Frasers group Plc’s string of acquisitions and property sales are helping bolster Mike Ashley’s shopping empire as the cost-of-living crisis weighs on most retailers’ performance.
Frasers, which owns Sports Direct and House of Fraser, is sticking to its goal of adjusted profit before tax at a record £450 million ($549 million) to £500 million for this financial year. The group said it had “strong strategic and trading momentum” at a time when many consumers are pulling back on spending.
The shares fell more than 3% in early trading in London.
Acquisitions are supporting the group’s performance with first-half revenue rising by 12.7%, but only 3.9% when takeover deals are stripped out of the numbers. The profit forecast is also being boosted by gains on property sales and foreign exchange movements, rather than profit from retail operations which fell 40% in the first half, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Charles Allen.
Founded by entrepreneur Mike Ashley, Frasers is now run by his son-in-law Chief Executive Officer Michael Murray who has introduced a strategy of upgrading stores. He wants to position Frasers to cater to both tighter budgets and bigger spenders with the Flannels brand selling luxury goods.
Murray is also following Ashley’s lead and driving a highly acquisitive strategy. Frasers, one of the only British retailers to see its share value increase this year, has snapped up struggling rivals including Savile Row tailor Gieves & Hawkes and online businesses Missguided and Studio Retail Group. It has increased its stakes in suitmaker Hugo Boss AG and fast-fashion hub Asos Plc. The company also recently bought Amara Living with a goal of developing luxury homewear for Flannels.
“It’s in the business’s DNA to be entrepreneurial and to acquire strategic acquisitions,” said Murray.
Frasers expects “many more” opportunities for acquisitions in the next six to 12 months and will look at those that have strategic value, Murray said. The group only considers acquisitions that “benefit our brand portfolio, our platform and operating capabilities or increase our distribution channels,” he added.