JD Sports in Talks To Acquire French Sportswear Brand Courir — Retail Bum

JD Sports Fashion is looking to acquire French sportswear brand Courir as part of its effort to expand operations across the globe.

The company is said to have entered “exclusive negotiations” with Equistone Partners Europe, which acquired the brand from Groupe Go Sport in 2018. Its initial offer stands at €325 million in cash after deducting a net debt of €195 million, according to FashionUnited.

The deal is still subject to merger control approval and assessment processes and is expected to be completed after the end of the year. If approved, the brand’s identity, leadership, and operational infrastructure are expected to remain in place under JD’s French operations.

Courir presently operates 313 physical stores in six European countries and another 36 in North West Africa, the Middle East and French overseas territories. The brand’s acquisition is aimed at helping JD expand its operations overseas and establish itself as a leading global sportswear specialist — a strategy the company highlighted during its most recent Capital Markets Event.

JD sold 14 of its fashion brands to Fraser’s Group earlier this year as part of the same effort. And more recently, the company has sought to simplify the minority ownership structure of its European…