Sports Direct chairman Keith Hellawell tells City A.M.: “My past is dealing with child murderers, I don’t have a problem saying no in board meetings” September 8, 2016 As Mike Ashley stood sweating under the lights of TV cameras in Sports Direct’s warehouse yesterday, he urged journalists to allow investors some room. Everyone wore high-visibility jackets, but the shareholders were relatively hard to see. The company’s founder had no real intention of listening to investors, though; he was just keen to manage the [...]
Denial and disgrace: Here’s everything that’s happened at Sports Direct over the past year September 23, 2016 Mike Ashley has always controlled Sports Direct, but today he finally took the top job at the company he founded. It's been a rollercoaster year for Ashley. If you're wondering how we got to this point, here's everything that's happened so far: Politicians launch an investigation into working practices at Sports Direct The move comes after [...]
Sports Direct shares fall as it unveils 57 per cent profit hit on weak sterling December 8, 2016 Shares in troubled retailer Sports Direct fell as much as six per cent in early trading, after it revealed pre-tax profits had halved in its first half thanks to weak sterling. Underlying profit before tax dropped 57 per cent to £71.6m from £166.4m, it said, while underlying earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation fell 33.5 [...]
Picks of the day: The three stories to read today September 23, 2016 Friday has finally come around, and the beginning of the weekend is only a few hours away. Catch up on the top stories people are talking about today in bite-sized form, before you clock off for the week! Check out our three at three. The 'stairway to nowhere' Amid the controversy surrounding his Garden Bridge [...]
Sports Direct share price falls as Mike Ashley’s retailer posts underwhelming first half results December 10, 2015 Sports Direct's share price fell this morning after reporting underwhelming first half figures. The figures The Mike Ashley-owned retailer had a solid six months to 25 October, with group revenue ticking up 0.1 per cent to £1.43bn, while underlying pre-tax profit rose 3.6 per cent to £166.4m and EBITDA rose 7.6 per cent to £218.5m. [...]
Sports Direct’s Mike Ashley buys Goals Soccer Centres stake November 16, 2015 Outspoken Sports Direct majority shareholder Mike Ashley has diversified again: this time into Goals Soccer Centres, the Aim-listed five-a-side pitch operator. In a statement this morning, Goals Soccer said Sports Direct had bought a 4.9 per cent stake in the company – worth just under £4m – via a contract for difference (CFD). It's not the first time Ashley [...]
Mike Ashley splashes the cash: Newcastle smash own transfer spending record as Jonjo Shelvey joins for £12m from Swansea January 12, 2016 Newcastle United's transfer spend for the season has reached £64m following the £12m purchase of Jonjo Shelvey from Swansea – the largest total spend for a single season in the club's history. Having made just £3.5m from player sales so far this campaign, Newcastle also currently have the Premier League's second highest net spend at [...]
Picks of the day: The three stories to read today September 20, 2016 Running out of things to talk to coworkers about? We’ve done the legwork for you, and put together the top stories people are talking about today in bite-sized form, just to make your life that bit easier. Check out our three at three. "I do travel to work by helicopter" Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley [...]
Sports Direct’s share price suffers as analysts say company will be hit hard by Brexit July 8, 2016 After a surprisingly healthy day of trading yesterday, Sports Direct's share price fell this morning after analysts cut the retailer's earnings per share (EPS). Liberum analysts said today that they have cut 35 per cent from Sports Direct's projected EPS in 2017, increasing to a 37 per cent reduction in 2019. Read more: Sports Direct calls its financial [...]
Sports Direct breaks silence on working practices, says Mike Ashley will carry out review of terms and conditions in new year December 18, 2015 Sports Direct has issued an unprecedented statement, rebutting claims made about its working practices as putting forward "an unfair portrayal" and said it will carry out a review of staff terms and conditions. The retailer, which has come under fire for many months because of its widespread use of zero-hour contracts, has issued a lengthy statement to [...]