British group JD Sports is set to acquire 49.98 percent of Sprinter, owned by Balaiko Firaja Invest, the Segarra family from Elche, and the Portuguese Sonae Holding. The move would make Sprinter a wholly owned subsidiary of the Iberian Sports Retail Group ISRG, with other chains including Sport Zone in Portugal and Aktiesport and Perry Sport in the Netherlands part of the package. The deal is valued at 500.1 million euros, according to information the company filed with the British regulator where JD Sports is listed.
The decision follows a dispute initiated by the Segarra family and Sonae last May, who triggered a buy or sell clause in their contract to force JD Sports to either purchase their stake or divest fully. The split was driven by ongoing disagreements over strategy. Sprinter’s owners from Elche and Portugal want continued growth with Sprinter, while JD Sports prefers to prioritize its own brands across Europe.
In an interview for the economic supplement of Prensa Ibérica Activos, Ángel and David Segarra, co-CEOs of Sprinter, explained their aim to remain with the company and keep the business run by the family that founded it in 1995 alongside the Bernad family. JD Sports’ move to hold 100 percent of the group would remove their ownership, a development they view with reluctance but are prepared to face.
The segment photo caption notes that Ángel and David Segarra are brothers who share leadership of Sprinter alongside Alex Dominguez.
Sprinter and JD began their alliance in 2011 when the British company entered Sprinter’s capital as part of a strategy to appeal to the Iberian market. After a period of expansion, the two parties in 2017 expanded their cooperation through a joint venture that helped form ISRG. At present, JD owns 50.02 percent of the shares, Sonae holds 29.9 percent, and the Segarra family via Balaiko Firaja Invest owns the remaining 19.9 percent.
The headquarters of Sprinter in Alicante highlighted the impact of this initiative as the chain prepared to launch its first megastore in Madrid and to extend its footprint further. The regulatory process for JD Sports to complete the acquisition still requires formal approval from the group’s own governing body. The general shareholders’ meeting is scheduled for September, with management already securing backing from Pentland Group Limited, the main shareholder.
The board of Sprinter supports the proposal and recommends shareholders vote in favor. Executives who hold ordinary shares, totaling 1.5 million units, have expressed their intent to support the transaction. As a result, 51.6 percent of the capital would be aligned with the deal.
The statement indicates Sprinter will complete the transaction using available cash resources, as disclosed in the letter to the London Stock Exchange. The group emphasizes opportunities to continue expanding Sprinter and Sport Zone. It also notes that the Iberian ISRG team will play a key role in extending the JD brand not only in Iberia but across additional markets.
ISRG reported sales of about 1,239.3 million euros in the last financial year, with a consolidated profit of 96.6 million euros, up roughly 19.4 percent from the prior year, and a near 32 percent increase in some metrics. The group operates more than 460 stores across Europe, including JD in Iberia, Sprinter in Spain, Sport Zone in Portugal, and Aktiesport and Perry Sport in the Netherlands. It also holds a 98 percent stake in Deporvillage, an online cycling retailer, and a 50.1 percent stake in Bodytone, a fitness equipment company. The share change aligns with Sprinter’s ongoing expansion to 212 stores, including the first megastore opened in Alcorcón in April.