* 2019-20 core earnings up 5%
* Forecasts growth in 2020-21 of 10-30%
* Stores successfully reopened after lockdown, online strong
* To invest 100 mln stg in online
* Shares up 12%
(Adds detail, shares)
By James Davey
LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Mike Ashley's Frasers Group
, formerly Sports Direct, brought some cheer to
Britain's battered retail sector, reporting a 5% rise in 2019-20
core earnings and forecasting growth of up to 30% in its current
year despite COVID-19.
Britain's stores sector has been hit hard by the pandemic
with many companies slashing jobs, but the sporting goods
retailer and owner of other brands including House of Fraser
said its business was strong and it was well placed for the
future.
The group's UK stores were closed in the March 23 to June 14
lockdown period, while its European stores were also subject to
restrictions. However, it was able to continue trading online.
It said on Thursday it had successfully reopened its stores
after the lockdown and was seeing a continuing strong online
performance.
Shares in Frasers were up 12% at 0747 GMT, having risen 8%
on Wednesday - paring their 2020 losses to 25%. Ashley owns
about 64% of the equity.
"We continue to expect Frasers to be a long-term winner and
believe that the elevation strategy and the benefits to flow
from its M&A activities are not fully appreciated," said
analysts at Liberum, referring to its move upmarket.
Frasers said it intends to invest more than 100 million
pounds ($131 million) in its online activities, with a focus on
its Flannels designer fashion business and a better customer
experience.
For the year to April 26, Frasers made core earnings - or
underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortisation (EBITDA) - of 302.1 million pounds, up from 287.8
million in 2018-29. It forecast growth of between 10% and 30% in
2020-21.
Group revenue rose 6.9% to 3.96 billion pounds, helped by
the acquisition of GAME, Jack Wills and Sofa.com, while net debt
fell to 366 million pounds.
Ashley's long-stated desire is to make Frasers the
"Selfridges of sport", emulating the status of the London
department store.
Buying other businesses and strategic stakes forms part of
that plan. This year Frasers has purchased stakes in luxury
brand Mulberry and German fashion house Hugo Boss
.
($1 = 0.7648 pounds)
(Reporting by James Davey
Editing by Kate Holton and David Holmes)