On Tuesday 22 October, the European Commission cleared, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Groupe Courir SAS (France) by JD Sports Fashion Plc Group (UK).
The investigation showed that the transaction, as initially notified, would have reduced competition in the retail markets for leisure and performance sports footwear and apparel in Portugal, and leisure sports footwear in certain local markets in France. The Commission found that the online and offline sales constrain one another and form part of the same relevant market.
To address the competition concerns, the parties offered to divest all Courir stores in Portugal and several stores in certain regions of France to Snipes, a direct competitor in the retail sale of leisure sports goods.
The Commission approved Snipes as a suitable purchaser of the divested businesses after finding that it fulfils all the relevant criteria. In a separate procedure, the Commission will approve the conditions of sale and assess whether they are in line with the proposed commitments.
Link to the case: https://aeur.eu/f/dzp (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)