OFT to review Sports Direct’s JJB deal

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

Sports Direct bought the assets for £24m at the start of the month after JJB went into administration.

The OFT is considering whether the deal will result in any lessening of competition. It is inviting comment with a deadline of November 2.

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.