It looks like Frasers Group’s on again-off again pursuit of struggling Norwegian sports retailer XXL ASA is on again. 

That news comes just a month after the UK retail giant pulled out of its intended voluntary offer for the shares of the business that it didn’t already own at NOK10 (around 71p) per share.

It had made its interest in buying the business public back in December, but XXL didn’t seem too keen on the idea of being taken over. It said its board decided Frasers’ offer to buy the rest of its shares was unlikely to be successful and it opened for a rights issue that Frasers had actually opposed. 

The February announcement seemed to draw a line under any deal, but on Tuesday, Frasers said it would make a mandatory offer for the shares of XXL ASA that it doesn’t already own, after increasing its stake through the rights issue.

It now owns 32.9% of all shares in the company and approximately 40.8% of the voting A-shares after all shares related to the issue have been issued. And that means it’s above the threshold at which it has to make a bid for the remaining shares under Norwegian trading rules.

There weren’t many more details available but it’s clear that Frasers being rebuffed by Mulberry and failing to get its representatives onto the Boohoo Group (now Debenhams Group) board haven’t dimmed its appetite for acquisitions where its target is less than enthusiastic.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has appointed Ben Smith, Matalan‘s former chief trading officer, as its Clothing managing director to lead the Tu brand.

Reporting to chief commercial officer, Rhian Bartlett, Smith brings substantial clothing retail experience to the wide-ranging Tu brand.

He joined Matalan in March 2023 as interim buying and merchandising director before taking up the chief trading officer position just two months later. 

Before stepping down in January, he led the company’s transformation, overseeing Commercial Strategies for over £1 billion turnover in Clothing and Home. He has also previously held trading directorship roles at mass fashion brands Pep&Co and Primark.

Smith’s expected to replace to replace Christine Kasoulis, who has been leading the supermarket’s clothing, home, and furniture ops for nearly three years, according to reports.

In a January statement for the Christmas period, Sainsbury’s reported positive trading. In Q3 (16 weeks to 4 January) total sales increased 3.7% and over Christmas they rose 3.8%. However, branded  general merchandise and TU clothing saw a 0.1% sales dip, but in the Christmas period this changed to a 3.4% increase.

Clothing sales grew by 2.2%, “outperforming the market and all supermarket competitors, reflecting significant improvements in range and availability”.
 

Independent British fashion retailer Palava has launched its first ever collaborative collection with London’s Natural History Museum.

The marine-inspired collection is the result of the brand’s founder, designer and nature lover, Bryony Richardson gaining exclusive access to the museum’s extensive archive and rare books library.

Poring over a “treasure-trove of illustrations filled with incredible creatures from the depths of the ocean”, the result is a “unique capsule collection of three, marine life-inspired prints” – ‘coastal migration’, ‘ocean jellyfish’, and ‘the coral reef’ – which feature on the range’s signature silhouettes.

“When the opportunity presented itself, we knew we had to go for it,” said Richardson. “Collaborating with the Natural History Museum felt just up Palava’s street and to have special access to the incredible archives to pick and choose from was a total joy. With our fascination for the natural world, coupled with our tendency to collect all sorts of weird and quirky specimens and objects, it feels like a match made in colourful heaven.”

So the collection “pays homage to the talented illustrators and scientists whose important work has helped develop our understanding of the natural world”. 

Maxine Lister, head of Licensing at the Natural History Museum, added: “Given our aligned values and dedication to sharing the wonder and beauty of marine life, it should come as no surprise that we’ve collaborated on a wonderful collection showcasing the incredible archive of illustration at the Museum. Creating a collection which is both sustainable and striking was and continues to be key for the… Museum, and this new collection is no exception.” 

The current Palava x Natural History Museum collection  will see a further drop arrive on 5 April on the brand’s website and into its North London store. Prices range £89 for its Coral Reef Kit shirt and Coral Reef Peggy blouse to £198 for the Coastal Migration Louise Dress and Ocean Jelly Fish Cynthia Dress.