Will Sports Direct add Debenhams to its latest raft of acquisitions? That’s the question many are asking as news comes of an offer of a £40m loan with strings attached made to Debenhams by Mike Ashley to tide the business over. Ashley has, or course, seen the value of his stake in Debenhams plummet as the retailer struggles to get the grips with turning the business around. Sports Direct has built up a 29.7 per cent stake in Debenhams and has quite openly expressed a desire to take it over and merge it with House of Fraser. Some say it is only a question of time, before Mike Ashley gets his way, as prices are slashed across the high street in this ‘post-Black Friday – run up to Christmas period’ – as certain challenged retailers desperately battle to generate enough revenue to stay afloat.
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