MandM Direct’s private equity owner is mulling exit options for the etailer that could value it at up to £150m. Retail Week takes a look at its vital statistics.

  • Founded by Martin Churchward and Mark Ellis in 1987 as a mail order retailer for clearance end-of-line sports products.
  • The brand has evolved since its genesis into an etailer with some 34 million website hits a year
  • It offers discounts of up to 75% on its high street rivals. 
  • A management buyout backed by ECI Partners in 2004 preceded a period of success and major growth for the brand leading to a further buyout in 2008, this time by US private equity firm TA Associates which has owned it since.
  • In 2010 the etailer kicked off international expansion with launches in Germany, Denmark, France and Ireland.
  • The etailer went through a tough time between 2010 and 2012, when sales growth slowed and then declined in 2011/12 by 4.2%.
  • M and M Direct’s mobile site and app were launched in 2012 as signs of recovery at the etailer started to emerge.
  • In May 2012 former John Lewis Direct managing director Jonathan Brown took the helm after Steve Robinson’s departure in September the previous year. Robinson had been in charge of the company since 2007.
  • MandM Direct made a pre-tax profit of £6.4m last year on sales of £113.3m.
  • TA Associates face a range of options for the company, including an IPO or a straight sale. In 2011 it was rumoured that Mike Ashley made a bid for the company, but TA Associates held on.
  • Some reports have indicated MandM Direct could fetch as much as £150m, but others are more reserved, suggesting an £80m valuation.

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