Marks Electrical Group PLC - Leicester, England-based electrical products retailer - Frasers Group PLC has a 6.4% stake in Marks, all in shares, up from none reported previously, according to a regulatory disclosure on Tuesday. No other information is provided. Frasers owns 6.7 million Marks shares as of Monday.

The Shirebrook, England-based owner of the House of Fraser, Sports Direct and Flannels retail chain and its majority owner Mike Ashley are known for collecting stakes in other UK retailers. These have tended to be clothing and fashion retailers, including stakes in both boohoo Group PLC and Asos PLC, which are online fast-fashion rivals, and in handbag maker Mulberry Group PLC. However, last year, Fraser also bought a sizeable stake in online appliances retailer AO World PLC and electronics retailer Currys PLC.

Marks Electrical recently has struggled with rising costs, something it says will be worsened by higher employer national insurance contributions and a higher national minimum wage in the UK. Last month, Marks reported a swing to pretax loss of £1.1 million in the six months that ended September 30 from a profit of £1.2 million a year ago, even as revenue rose 8.5% to £58.4 million from £53.9 million.

Current stock price: 51.20 pence, up 1.4% in London on Tuesday for £53.7 million market capitalisation

12-month change: down 42%

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