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Sandra Halliday Published December 16, 2024 Reading time
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Selfridges co-owner says he overpaid, but it will pay off long term

By

Sandra Halliday Published
December 16, 2024

The Boss of Selfridges’ Group’s co-owner has admitted the consortium that acquired it for £4 billion in 2021 may well have overpaid. But he also thinks the luxury department store group was a good investment.

Tos Chirathivat, executive chair and CEO of family-controlled retail giant Central Group linked with Signa Group to buy the business in a 50:50 deal. But it’s now the majority owner following Signa’s spectacular implosion.

Chirathivat told the Financial Times that looking back, the price was “high” as interest rates have risen globally. But in the first interview given by the Thai tycoon since the purchase, he added: “Maybe 10 years from now it won’t be too high, but if you ask today, then of course it’s too high.”