Buyout Firm 3i Drops as Bad Weather, France Weighs Down Action

Shares in private equity firm 3i Group Plc tumbled after its largest portfolio company, the Dutch discount retailer Action, reported weaker-than-expected sales at the start of 2026.

Bad weather weighed on footfall in Action’s stores in northern Europe with like-for-like sales growth in its key French market “slightly below” expectations at 0.9%, according to a trading update Thursday. The Middle East conflict also has the “potential to present further challenges.”

“The outlook for discount retailers in Europe looks tougher now, given ongoing spending pressures on low income consumers and higher competition,” analysts at RBC Europe said in a note. “We ...