Mike Ashley weighs up bid for Evans Cycles January 26, 2015 SPORTS Direct founder Mike Ashley is looking to expand his retail empire after joining several suitors in considering a bid for Evans Cycles. Private equity group Active Capital hired Canaccord Genuity last year to find a buyer for the cycling specialist, which has 56 stores and employs around 1,200 people. Sports Direct is understood to [...]
Sport Comment: Van Gaal system is nothing new but needs refinement January 22, 2015 THERE are lies, damned lies and statistics, so the saying goes. And while British sport is not as consumed by stats as our Stateside cousins, the numbers game is catching on fast. Football formations are not stats in themselves, but are becoming an important part of the game’s currency. This season, more than ever, there [...]
Newcastle named the 19th richest club in the world – but how much of Mike Ashley’s money goes on transfers? January 22, 2015 Newcastle United are the 19th richest football club on the planet. In an era in which St. James’ Park has become synonymous with fan discontent, that seems tough to believe. Yet according to Deloitte’s Football Money League for the 2013/14 season, the north east club made more cash than European giants such as Roma, [...]
Hope of euro stimulus plan boosts shares – London Report January 21, 2015 DETAILS of the European Central Bank’s move to begin quantitative easing pushed the FTSE to a six-week high yesterday. It was also helped by a rally in energy stocks on the back of stronger oil prices. A programme by the European Central Bank for a year from March would amount to some €600bn, based on [...]
What to watch, see and listen to in 2015: From Avengers and Shaun the Sheep to an exhibition about beards January 21, 2015 Our pick of the upcoming films, music art and theatre. FILM SELMA David Oyelowo in Selma 6 February This movie chronicles Martin Luther King’s epic march from Selma to Montgomery as part of the civil rights movement, which culminated in President Johnson signing the Voting Rights act of 1965. English actor David Oyelowo [...]
Sports Direct share price tumbles after Mike Ashley sells three per cent stake January 21, 2015 Sports Direct shares have fallen over five per cent in this morning's trading after Goldman Sachs revealed yesterday that it was selling a 2.57 per cent stake on behalf of company founder Mike Ashley. Ashley’s holding in the UK’s biggest sports retailer has been cut down to 55 per cent following the placing of 15.4m [...]
Sports Direct share sell-down gives Ashley £117m cash boost January 20, 2015 SPORTS Direct founder Mike Ashley has employed Goldman Sachs to help him reduce his stake in the company from 58 to 55 per cent. Goldman Sachs said it was placing up to 15.4m shares in the retailer on behalf of Ashley, which at yesterday’s closing share price of 760.5p, would be worth £117m. Ashley, who [...]
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to raise £117m from Sports Direct share sale January 20, 2015 Goldman Sachs is selling up to 15.4m ordinary shares in sports retailer Sports Direct on behalf of founder and deputy executive Mike Ashley. In a statement the investment bank said it would immediately start selling the shares by way of an accelerated bookbuild to institutional investors. At today’s closing price of 751p per [...]
Rangers considers two shareholder offers and could use Ibrox stadium as security January 19, 2015 The board of Rangers football club is considering two offers from existing shareholders to help rescue the Scottish club from financial difficulties. The club has also admitted that its stadium, Ibrox, could potentially be used as security on any financing, despite previously insisting it would not be used on a loan. “At the current time [...]
Mike Ashley and Rangers board draw fan protests over £10m Ibrox loan offer January 17, 2015 The board of Rangers football club and shareholder Mike Ashley have drawn the ire of football fans over a potential £10m loan to the struggling Scottish club. Hundreds of Rangers fans gathered at the Ibrox Stadium last night to protest against the offer made my the Sports Direct and Newcastle United owner who wants the [...]