Analysts say Frasers ‘was right’ about Mulberry as it faces long road to recovery Retail Analysts have painted a grim picture for the future of British luxury fashion brand Mulberry, which announced its half-year results this morning. It implied job cuts with talk of “streamlining” the business, and told markets that retail sales and revenue dropped 17 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively. Its share price fell 10 per [...]
Are job cuts on the horizon at struggling luxury giant Mulberry? Retail Struggling luxury brand Mulberry has announced it will streamline and rebuild the business as its profit continues to fall, signalling possible job cuts. Mulberry told markets this morning that UK retail sales fell by 14 per cent in the six months to September 28. Sales in Asia fell 31 per cent, while group sales overall [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers abandons Mulberry bid amid governance concerns Retail Frasers Group, led by Mike Ashley, has confirmed it will not pursue a bid for Mulberry, after the iconic British luxury brand rejected its two previous cash offers earlier this month. The first bid, launched on 1 October at £83m, was dismissed by Mulberry as undervaluing the brand. A subsequent offer on 10 October at [...]
Mulberry rejects ‘untenable’ second offer from Mike Ashley’s Frasers October 22, 2024 The board of Mulberry has unanimously rejected the second bid from retail giant Frasers as “untenable”. Frasers launched its first bid on 1 October for £83m, which was subsequently rejected as too low by Mulberry, and its second of £111m on 11 October. Mulberry reiterated its statement from the first time it rejected Frasers’ bid: [...]
Sir Rocco Forte leads 300 business leaders in call to scrap ‘spectacular own goal’ tourist tax October 21, 2024 Over 300 business leaders have signed a letter asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reinstate tax-free shopping in the UK, calling the so-called tourist tax a “spectacular own goal” for retail. The signatories, which include hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, Paul Smith, Heathrow, John Lewis and Shakespeare’s Globe, have said that if Reeves is serious about promoting [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group backs N Brown takeover amid Mulberry pursuit October 18, 2024 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has backed the £191m proposed takeover of JD Williams-owner N Brown and announced the sale of its 20 per cent stake in the company for £38m. The retail empire, which includes Sports Direct and House of Fraser, holds nearly 95,000,000 shares in the Manchester business and will sell them for 40p [...]
Mulberry to ponder bid from Mike Ashley’s Frasers despite lack of interest from majority shareholder October 14, 2024 British retailer Mulberry has announced that it is evaluating Frasers’ second bid for the firm, despite a lack of interest from its majority shareholder, Challice. In light of Frasers’ £111m bid, the luxury brand is “working with advisers to consider the company’s position,” it said, despite Challice’s public snub of the deal. Challice, which is [...]
Stefano Cantino: Who is Gucci’s new boss tasked with turning the luxury brand around? October 9, 2024 First Mulberry, then Burberry, and now Gucci – reshuffles at the very top of luxury businesses are definitely in vogue. Gucci, owned by Kering, has announced the appointment of Stefano Cantino as its new chief executive. He will take over from interim boss Jean-Francois Palus on 1 January 2025. Much like Mulberry and Burberry’s new [...]
Mulberry founder suggests LVMH could be the right buyer for the brand October 7, 2024 Mulberry founder Roger Saul has suggested that French luxury behemoth LVMH could be the right company to step in and aid the struggling brand after it rejected an offer from Mike Ashley’s Frasers group last week. Saul, who launched the brand in the 70s before leaving in 2002, told This Is Money that Mulberry was [...]
Mulberry rejects Frasers £83m offer as too low October 1, 2024 British luxury brand Mulberry has rejected a possible takeover from minority shareholder Frasers Group on the grounds that it doesn’t recognise the company’s future value and will not lead the group back to profit. Frasers announced a possible takeover bid yesterday, 30 September, after it was snubbed from Mulberry’s £10m capital raise with majority shareholder [...]