Frasers snaps up stakes in Boohoo and Currys
The business revealed on Tuesday morning that it had taken a 5% stake in Boohoo.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The company behind Sports Direct has said that it hopes a new stake in Boohoo can lead to collaborations between the fashion brand and Missguided.
Frasers Group said that its new holding in its fellow listed company would allow it to find synergies and make its own brands stronger.
The business, majority owned by Mike Ashley, revealed on Tuesday morning that it had taken a 5% stake in Boohoo a day after purchasing 8.9% of the shares in electricals retailer Currys.
“Boohoo is an attractive proposition to us with its laser focus on young female consumers,” Frasers said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
“We see potential synergies and an opportunity to strengthen our own brand proposition in collaboration with Boohoo, most obviously with Frasers Group brands I Saw It First and Missguided.”
It added that investments are “a core part” of the company’s DNA.
“We have a clear strategy to identify opportunities to invest in businesses which complement our existing sport, premium and luxury businesses, or help us to build and further utilise our sector-leading ecosystem.”
It said that the investment in Currys will help it build on its foothold in the electricals industry and said that Currys could also benefit from Frasers’ knowledge of the retail industry.
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Frasers Group is putting its fingers into more retail pies, snapping up slices of companies which have proved unappetising for investors in recent years.
“Boohoo and Currys have struggled with falling sales as the cost-of-living crisis affects discretionary spending, but Frasers Group clearly sees significant value in both companies, once inflationary winds die down.
“It also bought up a stake in AO World, the electrical retailer hit by the post-pandemic shifts in spending, which has been showing positive signs from its turnaround strategy.”