Burberry Shares Jump on Moncler Bid Report

A Burberry logo displayed outside its store on New Bond Street in London, Britain, July 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A Burberry logo displayed outside its store on New Bond Street in London, Britain, July 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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Burberry Shares Jump on Moncler Bid Report

A Burberry logo displayed outside its store on New Bond Street in London, Britain, July 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A Burberry logo displayed outside its store on New Bond Street in London, Britain, July 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Burberry shares rose as much as 8% on Monday after a media report said Italian luxury outerwear maker Moncler was considering a bid for the British luxury retailer.

Moncler, known for its puffer jackets, on Sunday, said it would not comment on "unsubstantiated rumors" of a possible deal between the two luxury brands.

Burberry, which had a market valuation of nearly 3 billion pounds ($3.89 billion) as of the last close, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Monday.

The company's shares, which jumped to 876.6 pence in early trading, pared gains to trade around 3.5% higher by 0732 GMT. The stock has plummeted about 40% so far this year.

Moncler shares, largely flat at 50.8 euros currently, fell as much as 1.5% early in the session.

Burberry, known for dressing the English upper class in its classic camel, red, and black check prints, has lagged behind its peers as it struggles to revive demand for its clothing.

It scrapped its dividend and issued a profit warning in July.

Broadly, luxury groups have struggled with tighter consumer spending in recent quarters, especially in China, with Moncler reporting a 3% drop in third-quarter sales last month.



Boohoo Pushes Ahead with Debenhams Rebrand despite Frasers’ Opposition

Debenhams logo is seen on smartphone in front of a displayed Boohoo logo in this illustration taken January 25, 2021. (Reuters)
Debenhams logo is seen on smartphone in front of a displayed Boohoo logo in this illustration taken January 25, 2021. (Reuters)
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Boohoo Pushes Ahead with Debenhams Rebrand despite Frasers’ Opposition

Debenhams logo is seen on smartphone in front of a displayed Boohoo logo in this illustration taken January 25, 2021. (Reuters)
Debenhams logo is seen on smartphone in front of a displayed Boohoo logo in this illustration taken January 25, 2021. (Reuters)

British online fashion retailer Boohoo said on Friday it would rebrand as Debenhams Group even though opposition from top shareholder Frasers meant the name change for its holding company did not get shareholder approval.

At a general meeting, 62.04% of votes cast supported the official name change, falling short of the required 66% of votes, the company said.

"This general meeting was only related to the technical name change of the ultimate holding company," the company told Reuters in an email.

"While this will now remain the same, the company is absolutely moving forward as Debenhams Group."

Boohoo had announced its rebranding earlier this month.

Frasers, which owns just over 29% of Boohoo shares based on LSEG data, voted against the resolution.

Frasers, majority-owned by British retail tycoon Mike Ashley, in January unsuccessfully tried to oust Boohoo's co-founder from the board, and the companies have been involved in a long-running corporate tussle.

Boohoo, boosted by an online shopping surge during the coronavirus pandemic, has been facing supply chain issues, weak demand and stiff competition from e-commerce firms such as Shein and Temu.

The company has said it sees the Debenhams brand having the potential to achieve multi-billion pound gross merchandise value in the medium term.

In March, Boohoo appointed Phil Ellis, Debenhams' finance director, as its CFO, following the appointment of Dan Finley as the group's CEO late last year.