OFT clears Sports Direct’s JJB deal

THE Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has cleared the acquisition of 20 JJB Sports shops by Sports Direct.

Sports Direct bought the assets for £24m in October after JJB went into administration.

The OFT called the deal in to consider if it could result in any lessening of competition.

Sports Direct also acquired the freehold of JJB’s head office and warehouse at Martland Mill in Wigan, securing 228 jobs in the warehouse, but 150 head office staff were made redundant.

Around 2,200 jobs were lost in total and 133 shops closed. Some 550 shop jobs were saved by the Sports Direct deal.