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JD Sports deal to buy Footasylum to be investigated by regulator

Press Association
17 May 2019

The competition regulator has announced it is investigating JD Sports’ acquisition of Footaslyum.

JD Sports completed a deal in March to buy the high street footwear specialist for £90m. Both JD Sport Fashion and the owner of Footasylum, the Pentland Group, have been issued with an initial enforcement order as investigations take place into the deal.

The Competition and Merger Authority (CMA) inquiry will look into whether the acquisition will result in the “substantial lessening of competition” in the UK market.

JD Sports acquired the competitor in March, a month after it purchased a 19% stake and told investors that it would not purchase Footasylum outright.

Restrictions had been in place regarding the number of shares which JD could purchase in the company, but these were lifted in February.

The move followed a slump in Footasylum’s value after it suffered two profit warnings last year, blaming tough trading conditions on the high street.

Until a decision is made by the anti-monopoly body, JD Sports and Pentland are banned from taking any actions to integrate the two businesses.

JD announced on the confirmation of the deal that it plans to combine the Footasylum with its own business to deliver “significant operational and strategic benefits going forward”.

JD Sports has seen revenues surge over the past year, driven by its acquisition drive which also included a £1.5m deal last month to buy Pretty Green, the clothing brand founded by former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.

The retailer reported a 49.2% increase in annual revenue to £4.7bn for the 52 weeks to 2 February, while pre-tax profits rose 15.4% to £339.9m.

JD Sports shares are down 0.3% for the day to 632p.

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