JellyWorks man eyeing Moss Bros

STRUGGLING menswear group Moss Bros has attracted the attentions of another young entrepreneur, only weeks after successfully rebuffing a £46m takeover approach from Shami Ahmed.

Dotcom millionaire Jonathan Rowland has been buying shares in Moss Bros over the past few weeks, although his stake remains below the 3% disclosable level. Son of property entrepreneur David 'Spotty' Rowland, 26-year-old Rowland made his name as founder of the internet incubator business JellyWorks, which was sold for £65m almost two years ago.

The Moss Bros purchases have been made through several Rowland family investment vehicles. Rowland was one of the financial backers of Ahmed's Moss Bros move, but is thought to view his recently-acquired stake as a 'speculative investment' rather than a platform for a renewed bid approach.