Frasers Group, the British holding company that owns Sports Direct, has reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Italian retailer Maxi Sport. The current shareholders – Emanuele Sala, Giovanni Sala, Ester Sala and Giulia Sala – will retain a stake in the company and remain part of the management team.
The future of Maxi Sport
Maxi Sport operates 18 stores across Italy, including six flagship store, and offers a huge assortment ranging from extreme sports to winter sports equipment.
In addition to Maxi Sport, the group oversees several specialized banners: Space23, focused on streetwear, sneakers and sportswear; Frisco, specializing in skateboard and snowboard; Athletic, dedicated to technical running; Special, centered on sneakers, streetwear and basketball; and BSS, with an offering focused on basketball, streetwear and snowboard.
According to statements made to SGB Media, Frasers said that Maxi Sport “will continue to offer Italian consumers its premium sports retail format, while the British group intends to explore further growth opportunities for the Sports Direct brand in the region in the near future.”
“Maxi Sport represents excellence in premium sports retail in Italy, and this partnership marks a new chapter in that journey,” Frasers Group ceo Michael Murray told SGB. “I look forward to working with Emanuele, Giovanni, Ester, Giulia and their team, combining our international expertise and strong relationships with global brands with their deep knowledge of the local market, to grow Maxi Sport’s distinctive offering and, in time, launch Sports Direct in Italy.”
Frasers’ other deals
The transaction follows the acquisition last November of Hervis Hungary and Hervis Romania, which added more than 75 new stores to Frasers’ portfolio in Central Europe. Hervis is one of the leading sports retailers in those markets and, according to the group, the deal will expand consumers’ access to leading global sports and lifestyle brands through Sports Direct.
In October, Frasers also acquired a majority stake in U.S.-based luxury fashion news platform The Webster.
In addition to Sports Direct, Frasers Group controls numerous other retail banners, including Frasers, Flannels, Game, Jack Wills and Evans Cycles, and owns several historic sports brands such as Karrimor, Slazenger, Lonsdale and Everlast.
