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Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group Acquires Shopping Center

Robin Retail Park in U.K.’s town of Wigan has been acquired by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group for an undisclosed amount.

The retail park was last sold to Otium Real Estate in March 2020 in a transaction valued at 12.4 million pounds ($15.5 million). Otium said the site houses an 11-screen cinema, with 999 parking spots, and is located next to a 25,000 capacity DW Stadium.

The retail park is within walking distance from Wigan’s central shopping center and nearby rail systems. Ashley’s Sports Direct and Next brands are already housed in the retail park. Other retail concepts at the center include TJMaxx, a JD gym, as well as Pizza Hut and KFC. Wigan, once a major cotton mill and coal mining district, is a town in Greater Manchester.

The deal by Frasers Group represents its second retail park acquisition within the past six months. The company acquired Berryden Retail Park in Aberdeen in October.

Frasers plans to transform Robin Retail Park into a “modern, aspirational shopping destination for the local area,” Michael Murray, Frasers Group’s head of elevation, told BBC. “We are excited to bring our new elevated retail concepts to Wigan and breathe new life into the area.”

Ashley has been busy on the acquisitions front.

In January, Frasers Group acquired apparel retailer Psyche, and also increased its investment in Hugo Boss AG. And last year Ashley was active on the bankruptcy front, checking out assets belonging to Debenhams, Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Arcardia Group after each fell into administration.