JD Sports reported to eye takeover of rival Go Outdoors

JD Sports Fashion would be exploring a takeover of Go Outdoors in a bid to expand its dominance in fitness clothing, media reports broke this weekend.

As reported by Sky News, JD Sports is thought to be one of several bidders looking to make an offer for Go Outdoors, under current auction by KPMG.

Several buyout firms are also in the running and, while it was still unclear on Saturday whether JD Sports had tabled a formal bid yet for Go Outdoors, the auction run by KPMG is expected to reach a conclusion by the end of the year.

The Manchester-based JD Sports' interest in a takeover underlines the continuing ambitions of its management team, led by executive chairman Peter Cowgill, highlights Sky News.

JD Sports has demonstrated a remarkable track record of growth, and now has a market value over 2.5 billion pounds.

Four years ago, it acquired ailing Blacks and Millets estates when they ran into difficulty.

The company posted record sales and profits earlier this year as it asserted itself over troubled rival Sports Direct; profits at JD Sports jumped 45 per cent and like-for-like sales in its sports fashion division were up 10 percent, publishes ‘City A.M.’