Frasers Group, the U.K.-based parent of Sports Direct, reported it acquired John Anthony, a U.K.-based retailer offering a mix of designer collections from new and established labels. Terms were not disclosed.
Founded in 1979 and one of the U.K.’s oldest independent menswear businesses, John Anthony operates five stores focused on Southwest England (Bristol, Bournemouth, Bath, Swindon, and Southampton) and sells online. The retailer’s brands include Acne Studios, Belstaff, Cole Buxton, Dsquared2, Fred Perry, Hoka, Hugo and Vivienne Westwood.
Frasers is known for acquiring businesses at bargain prices with recent purchases including major stakes in Boohoo Group, N Brown and ASOS, plus a takeover of MySale, multiple brands from JD Sports, SneakerBoy, Gieves & Hawkes, and shopping center The Mall. Missguided, acquired in 2022, was recently sold to Shein.
In October, Frasers backed out of the agreement to acquire SportScheck after the German sports retailer entered bankruptcy proceedings.
Frasers’ businesses include Sports Direct, House Of Fraser, Flannels, 18montrose, Amara Living, Evans Cycles, Everlast, Everlast Gyms, Frasers, Game & Belong, Gieves & Hawkes, Jack Wills, I Saw It First, Slazenger, Sofa.Com, Studio, USA Pro, and USC.
Photo courtesy John Anthony
