Bonmarche shares drop as billionaire Philip Day snaps up retailer in cut-price deal April 2, 2019 Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group owner Philip Day is set to take struggling retailer Bonmarche private in a deal that values the firm at just £5.7m. Bonmarche has been plagued by profit warnings, issuing its third in late March when it told investors to expect up to a £6m loss due to “significantly weaker” March trading. [...]
Discounter Aldi ramps up market share as Easter approaches April 2, 2019 Cut-price supermarket Aldi continued its rise up the grocery food chain in March, achieving a record market share of eight per cent as it made ground on its rivals. The German-owned chain’s sales increased by 10.6 per cent in the 12 months to 24 March compared to a year earlier, pushing its market share up [...]
Dunkerton lawyers warn Superdry about alleged remarks to shareholders in latest feud April 1, 2019 The bitter boardroom battle at Superdry escalated once again this evening amid reports that co-founder Julian Dunkerton has hired lawyers to warn the company against making allegedly defamatory statements about him to shareholders. According to Sky News Dunkerton, whose audacious attempts to return to the retailer's board will be voted on at a crunch investor meeting tomorrow, has [...]
Joules chief executive to resign after five years in charge of fashion retailer April 1, 2019 Joules chief executive Colin Porter has announced plans to retire after five years in charge of the fashion retailer. Shares slid more than three per cent after Porter, who has been with the business since 2010, revealed he would resign before the end of the next financial year. Read more: Joules boss Colin Porter to [...]
Easyjet shares lose altitude on weaker passenger traffic outlook April 1, 2019 Easyjet was the biggest faller on the FTSE 100 today – closing down 9.7 per cent – after investors baulked at the low-cost carrier's 'cautious' outlook for the second half. Budget airline Easyjet said earlier today it is “more cautious” in its outlook for the second half of the year, blaming macroeconomic uncertainty and Brexit for [...]
Findel says it has backing of major shareholder in blow to Ashley bid April 1, 2019 Online shopping specialist Findel claimed today that it had the support of its second largest shareholder, as it looks to see off a takeover bid from Sports Direct. In the latest blow to retail tycoon Mike Ashley, the British home shopping company published a letter of support from Schroders, which controls an 18.85 per cent [...]
Philip Day steps back from race to buy collapsed high street shoe store LK Bennett March 31, 2019 Philip Day, the billionaire owner of retailer Edinburgh Woolen Mill, has removed himself from the competition to buy collapsed shoe seller LK Bennett. The retail tycoon had lodged a bid with administrators at EY, joining Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley, as well as Chinese fashion entrepreneur Rebecca Feng and former LK Bennett chief executive Darren [...]
Sports Direct calls on Debenhams shareholders to protest against financing deal March 30, 2019 Sports Direct has today called on Debenhams shareholders to protest against its latest funding deal that could see investors wiped out, and instead support Mike Ashley’s installation as chief executive. Sports Direct issued an announcement containing a link to a letter of protest which it encouraged shareholders to send to Debenhams. The statement said: “Sports [...]
Debenhams completes £200m funding round to blow Ashley bid out of the water March 29, 2019 Debenhams completed its £200m refinancing deal this morning, defeating a takeover bid by Sports Direct billionaire Mike Ashley. Read more: Debenhams bondholders back £200m rescue loan in blow to Ashley bid The announcement sent shares up almost 30 per cent as the embattled retailer said shareholders remain in its plans. The move means the department [...]
Five retail tips for small businesses worried about Brexit March 29, 2019 So much of the political debate over Brexit has focused on the impact on big business. The banks, multinational drug companies, carmakers, and other corporate pressure groups have been leading the conversation. But Brexit also impacts the hundreds of thousands of small businesses that employ most Britons and are the heartbeat of the economy. Read [...]