Retail: JD Sports (GBR) acquires sporting goods group Courir (FRA) for €520m "subject to conditions"

"The European Commission has approved, subject to conditions, the proposed acquisition of Groupe Courir SAS (a French sports goods retailer) by JD Sports Fashion Plc Group (a British sports goods retailer)," announced the European Union's executive arm on 27/11/2024.

The Courir brand was owned by London investment fund Equistone Partners Europe, which acquired it from Go Sport Group for €283m in 2019, and has sold it to JD Sports for €520m. Courir has 323 shops in Europe, mostly in France, and 36 outlets operated via franchise agreements in North-West Africa, the Middle East and French overseas territories.

"We had concerns that the acquisition of Courir by JD Sports could affect the retail markets for sports footwear in France and Portugal," said Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president in charge of competition policy at the European Commission.

"To address the Commission's competition concerns, the parties offered to divest all Courir stores in Portugal and several stores in certain areas of France to Snipes, a direct competitor focusing on the retail supply of leisure sports…