Fashion Investments and M&A

Date: December 2020
Buyer: JD Sports Fashion PLC
Target: Shoe Palace
Business: US footwear retailer
Value: $325million
Details: UK-based sportswear retailer, JD Sports has continued with its US expansion by acquiring California based Shoe Palace, giving the brand a stronger presence on the West Coast. In a statement JD Sports has said that the deal with the family-owned business would “strengthen its connection with Hispanic and Latino consumers who represent a significant proportion of Shoe Palace’s customer base.”

Date: April 2019
Buyer: JD Sports
Target: Pretty Green
Business: Fashion retailer
Value: Undisclosed
Details: JD Sports has bought Pretty Green out of administration for an undisclosed sum including its brand, online and wholesale business and its flagship store in Manchester.

Date: 18 June 2018
Buyer: JD Sports Fashion Plc
Target: The Finish Line, Inc.
Business: Sportswear retailer
Value: US$558 million
Details: British retailer JD Sports Fashion Plc has acquired the entire issued share capital of US athletic footwear, apparel and accessories retailer, The Finish Line Inc., at a price of $13.50 per share.

Date: 31 January 2018
Buyer: JD Sports Fashion Plc
Target: Sport Zone
Business: Multi-branded sports retailer (Portugal / Spain) of apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment
Value: Cash of c.€7.1m, consideration shares comprising a 30% shareholding in JD Sprinter Holdings 2010 S.L. (“JDSH”, JD’s existing Iberian business) and contingent consideration of up to €23.5m payable by JDSH based on value: creation.
Details: JD Sports Fashion acquired Iberian sports retailer Sport Zone with unconditional clearance from the European Commission.

Date: June 2017
Buyer: JD.com
Target: Farfetch
Business: Online luxury marketplace
Value: US$397m
Details: China’s largest retailer invests to bring platform to Chinese market and becomes one of the largest shareholders.

Date: November 2016
Buyer: JD Sports Fashion
Target: Go Outdoors
Business: Outdoor clothing retailer
Value: £112m
Details: Private equity investor YFM Equity makes 40x money on the sale.