JD Sports strengthens position in Arabic, Spanish and Dutch markets

British sports retailer JD Sports has acquired the remaining half of the shares in the Iberian Sports Retail Group, retaking full control of two Dutch chains in the process. At the same time, an expansion into the Middle East is announced.

Re-taking

JD Sports is acquiring the remaining 49.98 % of the ISRG, the holding company owning numerous sports shops in Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands – including Sport Zone in Portugal, and Sprinter and the webshop Deporvillage in Spain. Since 2021, Dutch chains Aktiesport and Perry Sport have also been part of the Spanish holding company. The British will also get a 50.1 % stake in fitness equipment company Bodytone.

For Aktiesport and Perry Sport, it is a return to the familiar pastures: JD Sports had bought both formulas out of bankruptcy back in 2016, but sold them to Iberian five years later. JD Sports already had its majority stake in the Iberian group by then, now the British are paying 500 million euros for the remaining half.

At the same time, JD Sports announced expansion into the Middle East. For the first time, the group is entering a franchising contract for that purpose: with the help of Dubai-based GMG, the chain plans to open fifty shops in the region. Initially, the focus is on the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt. The group also wants to acquire French sector peer Courir, but has yet to get approval to do so.