Sports Direct buys French Connection stake amid investor row

Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct has taken control over an 11% stake in French Connection, setting up a potential power struggle over the future of the ailing fashion chain.

The 10.7m shares, controlled via a complex form of derivative known as a contract for difference, would give Sports Direct the power to disrupt any takeover bid for the retail group.

It is not clear whether Sports Direct, which has a history of taking strategic stakes in related companies including Debenhams, JD Sports and online specialist Findel, is interested in making a bid itself.

French Connection is under pressure to make acquisitions to meet its growth targets and some industry insiders believe it would fit well with Sports Direct’s fast=growing Flannels fashion business.

But Stephen Marks, who founded the business in 1972, still owns a near 42% stake and will be key to deciding the future of the business.

Marks is currently fighting off pressure from an activist shareholder to surrender his dual role as chairman and chief executive as the business continues to nurse heavy losses.

Gatemore Capital Management, a US hedge fund that has built an 8% stake, has joined forces with other investors OTK and Zoar Invest to control 15% of French Connection shares.

The retailer is in its fifth loss-making year and Liad Meidar, a managing partner at Gatemore, said it was time to “rip off the Band-Aid”.

He accused Marks of overseeing a “tremendous decline in value” – the retailer reported a pre-tax loss of £7.9m for the six months to 31 Julyand its shares have plummeted in value by 57% since May 2014.