Kendals owner buys stake in Manchester fashion group promoted by Davina McCall and Amanda Holden

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The owner of the iconic Kendals department store in Manchester has bought a stake in a fashion brand in the city. Frasers Group, which also owns Sports Direct, has snapped up a 4.54% stake in N Brown, whose brands include Simply Be, JD Williams and Jacamo.

JD Williams counts Davina McCall and Amanda Holden as ambassadors who appear in adverts for the brand. READ MORE: Click here to sign up to the BusinessLive North West newsletter Frasers Group, was founded by billionaire Mike Ashley and is now run by Mr Ashley's son-in-law Michael Murray, also counts the likes of Jack Wills, Evans Cycles, Everlast and Flannels among its brands.

Earlier this year it acquired Lancashire-based Studio Retail Group after it collapsed into administration owing more than £80m.

It later bought Manchester-based online fashion brand Missguided for £20m after it also entered administration. I Saw It First, which is also located in the city, was acquired by the group for an undisclosed fee in July.