TIDMJD.
RNS Number : 2657F
JD Sports Fashion Plc
07 July 2023
7 July 2023
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in
part, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a
violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction
JD Sports Fashion Plc
Update on Iberian Sports Retail Group, S.L. ('ISRG')
Further to the announcement on 9 May 2023, JD Sports Fashion Plc
('Group' or 'Company') announces its intention to acquire the
remaining 49.98% shares in ISRG ('Transaction') that are currently
held by Balaiko Firaja Invest, S.L. and Sonae Holdings, S.A.
(together the 'Minority Parties') for total cash consideration of
EUR500.1 million which will be funded from the Group's existing
available cash resources. Upon completion, the Group will own 100%
of ISRG.
Information on ISRG and rationale for the Transaction
ISRG currently operates more than 460 stores across Europe
including JD in Iberia, Sprinter in Spain, Sport Zone in Portugal
and Aktiesport and Perry Sport in the Netherlands. ISRG also has a
98% holding in the Deporvillage online business and a 50.1% holding
in the Bodytone fitness equipment business.
A summary of the key financial information relating to ISRG for
the financial years ended 31 January 2022 and 31 January 2023 is
set out below:
Year ended Year ended
31 January 31 January
2022 2023
Audited Unaudited
EURm EURm
Consolidated revenues 1,037.8 1,239.3
Consolidated profit
before tax 73.2 96.6
Consolidated gross
assets 659.4 767.7
We believe that there are opportunities to continue to develop
Sprinter and Sport Zone and that the ISRG team in Iberia also have
an important part to play in the further development of the JD
fascia in Iberia and beyond.
Related Party Transaction
As Sonae Holdings, S.A. and Balaiko Firaja Invest, S.L. are
29.99% and 19.99% shareholders of ISRG respectively, each of the
Minority Parties is deemed to be a related party of the Company for
the purposes of the Listing Rules. The Transaction is therefore
considered to be a related party transaction and, in accordance
with Listing Rule 11.1.7, is conditional upon the approval of an
ordinary resolution ('Resolution') by the Company's shareholders at
a General Meeting.
An explanatory circular containing a Notice of General Meeting
will be sent to shareholders in due course. The Board currently
anticipates that this General Meeting will be held in September
2023.
The Transaction is supported by the Board of the Company who
intend to recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the
Resolution at the General Meeting to be convened in due course. In
this regard, all the Directors who hold ordinary shares of 0.05p
each in the capital of the Company ('Ordinary Shares') have
confirmed their intention to provide an irrevocable undertaking to
vote in favour of the Resolution in respect of their respective
holdings of, in aggregate, 1,517,291 Ordinary Shares, representing
approximately 0.0% of the Company's issued share capital.
Furthermore, Pentland Group Limited has also confirmed its
intention to provide an irrevocable undertaking to vote in favour
of the Resolution in respect of its entire holding in the Company,
representing approximately 51.6% of the Company's issued share
capital.
Accordingly, the Company has, in aggregate, received
confirmations of an intention to provide irrevocable undertakings
to vote in favour of the Resolution in respect of 2,677,908,486
Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 51.6% of the Company's
issued share capital.
Completion of the Transaction
No antitrust filings will be necessary to complete the
Transaction. Accordingly, upon approval of the Resolution by the
Company's shareholders, the Group currently expects the Transaction
to complete in October 2023.
Régis Schultz, CEO of the Group, said:
"At our Capital Markets Event earlier in the year, we emphasised
the benefit of having strong complementary concepts to support our
'JD first' global growth strategy. ISRG is a highly successful
business and one of the leading players in sports retail in Iberia.
By bringing the two businesses closer together, there is
significant potential for accelerating growth.
"We sincerely thank the minority shareholders, Balaiko and
Sonae, for their important contributions to the business during our
time as partners."
Enquiries:
JD Sports Fashion Plc Tel: 0161 767 1000
Andy Higginson, Chair
Régis Schultz, Chief Executive Officer
Neil Greenhalgh, Chief Financial Officer
Theresa Casey, Legal Counsel & Company Secretary
Alison Lees, Director of Investor Relations and Treasury
FGS Global Tel: 0207 251 3801
Rollo Head
Jenny Davey
James Thompson
This announcement contains information which is deemed by the
Company to constitute inside information stipulated under the
Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of
this announcement via the Regulatory Information Service, this
inside information is now considered to be in the public
domain.
This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer,
invitation to sell, otherwise dispose of or issue, or any
solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for, any shares
or other securities nor shall it or any part of it, nor the fact of
its distribution form the basis of, or be relied on in connection
with, any contract commitment or investment decision.
This announcement has been prepared solely for the Transaction
referred to in this announcement. A shareholder circular will be
published by JD Sports Fashion Plc in connection with the
Transaction in due course.
The person responsible for arranging the release of this
information on behalf of the Company is Theresa Casey, Company
Secretary.
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