AURELIUS Equity Opportunities : closes the acquisition of Footasylum from JD Sports

AURELIUS closes the acquisition of Footasylum from JD Sports

Luxembourg/Munich, August 8, 2022 - AURELIUS announces the successful completion of the acquisition of Footasylum, one of the leading retailers of athleisure in the UK, from JD Sports Fashion Plc (JD Sports). The transaction was valued at approximately EUR 45m (GBP 37.5m). In 2022, Footasylum is expected to generate total revenues of more than EUR 340m (GBP 287m) with an attractive EBITDA margin.

Footasylum is an omni-channel retailer of fashion streetwear and sportswear operating across 63 stores in the UK, with a 'hyper-local' approach - seeking to serve the local community. The company was founded in 2005, was acquired by JD Sports in 2019 and is headquartered in Rochdale, UK. Footasylum operates through its retail estate, seven websites (group and own brand sites) and associated warehouse facilities. The business sells a mix of footwear, apparel and accessories through stores, websites, and a wholesale channel.

AURELIUS will work closely together with Footasylum's management team, aiming to enhance digitalisation, continue to build on the prominent local presence and leverage own brand opportunities. Various initiatives are expected to improve profitability and ensure Footasylum remains one of the UK's favourite destinations for fashion streetwear and sportswear.

"We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming Footasylum to AURELIUS' dynamic portfolio of British companies. Footasylum has exceptional brand recognition with a strong presence across our local high streets. This has been supported by an impressive trading performance over the past few years, particularly when considering the retail sector's recent challenges. Moving forward, AURELIUS will be looking to support Footasylum's next phase of growth by enhancing the company's online offering and developing its own brand proposition", stated Tristan Nagler, Partner at AURELIUS.

The transaction was completed by AURELIUS' mid-market co-investment structure comprising AURELIUS European Opportunities IV Fund and AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA.

AURELIUS was advised on the transaction by Lincoln International (Corporate Finance & Debt Advisory), OC&C (Commercial), Baker & Mackenzie; DLA Piper (Legal), and EY (Tax).