Frasers Group, the UK retailer controlled by Mike Ashley, has built an 8.8% holding in US sportswear brand Under Armour. The position is just under 16.6 million shares, valued at about $80.1 million at Tuesday's close, and was disclosed in an SEC filing dated October 1. Frasers shares were up 2.9% at 844 pence in London on Wednesday morning. The group already holds stakes in Hugo Boss, AO World, Mulberry, Puma and Asos, and raised its Hugo Boss holding to 48% in August after a bid of nearly 2 billion pounds was rejected.
Why it matters for listed companies
For Frasers the outlay is small, about $80 million, but it follows a pattern: the owner of Sports Direct takes holdings in brands it sells, which has in the past led to closer supply arrangements or, as with Hugo Boss, a bid. For Under Armour it means a new large shareholder that is also one of its retail customers in Europe. No offer or commercial agreement has been announced, and the filing by itself changes nothing in either company's trading.
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