The British retailer’s holding rose after put options were exercised, with less than a week left for its €38-a-share, roughly $2.2 billion bid for full ownership of Hugo Boss.
Frasers said its stake in Hugo Boss has risen to about 30.28% after acquiring shares representing 3.69% of the German premium-apparel company following the exercise of put options last week. The increase leaves the U.K. retail group above the 30% threshold that triggers a mandatory takeover bid under German rules and comes with less than one week remaining on its offer to take full ownership of Hugo Boss. Frasers proposed in June to buy the company for €38 per share, valuing it at roughly €2 billion, or about $2.2 billion. Hugo Boss has urged shareholders to reject the approach as "financially inadequate." Frasers said the 30.28% figure excludes additional shares that have already been tendered into the takeover offer.