Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments is rarely likened to Wesfarmers, but as the retail investment company grows, it is increasingly taking on conglomerate characteristics.

Like Wesfarmers, Premier owns some of Australia’s most popular retail brands: sleepwear outfit Peter Alexander, children’s stationery powerhouse Smiggle, and clothing outlets Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Dotti, Portmans and Jacqui E. It operates a portfolio of 1100 bricks and mortar stores, one of the largest in Australia, as well as more than a dozen e-commerce sites.