Frasers Group is reportedly considering buying up to 20 stores from the collapsed Unlimited Sports Retail chain in the Netherlands including those under the Perry Sport, Aktiesport and Sprinter brands.
According to local news outlet RTL Nieuws, this would leave around 36 outstanding stores closed. Frasers is reportedly planning to source its own stock for the stores, leaving ongoing sales of existing stock in place until at least 1 March 2024.
Frasers Group had not responded to Just Style’s request for comment at the time of going to press. The group already owns five stores in the Netherlands under its Sports World brand.
Perry Sport and Aktiesport were previously owned by rival British retail group JD Sports, but were declared bankrupt in December 2023.
In October 2023, Frasers Group acquired German retailer SportScheck, one of the country’s leading sports retailers, as part of wider plans to increase its European presence.
At the time, Frasers Group CEO Michael Murray commented: “Acquiring the leading sporting goods retailer in Germany is a big step in our journey to becoming the number one sports retailer in EMEA – and we are delighted to do this with the full support of major global brand partners, adidas and NIKE. Growing and expanding our sports business is a key focus area in becoming an international retail business.”
Frasers ups stake in Asos, Boohoo
The news comes as Frasers Group announced that it has again increased its stake in online retailer ASOS. Frasers now has 17.1% of voting rights attached to shares at Asos, and 8.84% of voting rights through financial instruments. This gives Fraser 25.9% of voting rights at the group.
Frasers has been topping up its share of Asos for several years. Back in 2022, it announced it had acquired a 5.1% stake in the company. By October 2023, it had a 22.7% stake.
Frasers Group has also increased its stake in online retail group Boohoo, which includes Boohoo, Boohoo Man, Pretty Little Thing and Nasty Gal. Frasers now owns a 21.48% stake in the company.
In October 2023, Frasers became the largest single shareholder at Boohoo with a 13.4% stake in the company.
