JD Sports Fashion Plc has confirmed that it has acquired a majority stake in ActivInstinct Limited for an undisclosed sum.
ActivInstinct, which has annual sales of £24 million is a leading online multisport retailer of premium, technical sporting and outdoor footwear, apparel and equipment. JD Sports will work with the existing management team of ActivInstinct in order to increase its presence in its core UK market and also continue its expansion overseas.
Peter Cowgill, Executive Chairman of JD said “We are delighted to extend our e-commerce and sports and outdoor performance operations through the acquisition of the www.activinstinct.com and www.milletsports.co.uk websites and we look forward to working with its existing management team to continue to grow the business from its Borehamwood premises.”
In a joint statement, Michael Thornhill and Simon Millet, CEO and Managing Director respectively of ActivInstinct, said “After several years of rapid growth, we are pleased to be partnering with JD for the next phase of our development.”
ActivInstinct is the online multisport site of UK high street sports retailer Millet Sports. The original retail business started life over 20 years ago when Simon Millet founded his first Millet Sports shop in north west London.
At the end of 2008 the online business was relaunched as ActivInstinct. The site was developed following extensive customer research.
As a specialist online multisport retailer, ActivInstinct offers an extensive range of equipment and clothing for every sport, from triathlon to tennis. The online retailer stocks triathlon clothing and triathlon wetsuits from leading sporting brands such as Orca, 2XU, Aqua Sphere, Pearl Izumi, Zone 3 and more.
Established in 1981 with a single store in Bury, in the north west of England, JD Sports is a leading retailer and distributor of branded sportswear and fashionwear.
Following the acquisition of the trade and assets of the Blacks business, JD Sports now boasts 800 stores across a number of retail fascias in four countries. Millets was acquired alongside Blacks in 2012, with the operations of Millet’s specialist online multisport retailer, ActivInstinct, now joining the JD Sports group.
www.activinstinct.com
www.jdplc.com
