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JD Acquires RD Scott

By FashionUnited

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John David Group, owner of the JD Sports chain, has acquired privately-owned branded casual fashion retailer RD Scott for £4m. Scotts operates 23 stores in the North West, Midlands and Yorkshire, selling brands such as Henri Lloyd, Rockport, Lacoste, Ted Baker, Paul Smith, Hackett and Firetrap.

In the 15 months to April 4, it had a turnover of £18m and reported an operating loss of £138,000, which JD said included two calendar year first quarters which were loss making quarters due to the seasonality of the business. Scotts will operate as part of JD's existing fashion division, which currently has 34 stores. The group's flagship fashion chain is ATH, which JD said recently has "suffered from a lack of consistency in its image and brand offer as well as an inherited stock buy which was poor in selection."

JD said the acquisition is expected to be immediately earnings enhancing for JD and, "more importantly, will bring the group an experienced, branded fashion management team capable of accelerating performance improvement in the fashion division." JD executive chairman Peter Cowgill said: "This acquisition brings together two smaller fashion operators to compete more strongly in the growing market of multiple branded fashion for young men and women, thereby increasing our critical mass in the sector.

"It enables us to access a more comprehensive brand offering and, importantly, provides us with an experienced branded fashion management team who will be joining us from Scotts. The team will be responsible for a truly autonomous and accountable fashion division and should be the foundation of a profitable future for the combined business."

JD Sports