Who owns GO OUTDOORS?

GO OUTDOORS has been 100% owned by JD SPORTS since November 2016.

At what enterprise value was GO OUTDOORS acquired in 2016?

During the acquisition of GO OUTDOORS by JD SPORTS in 2016, the transaction's Enterprise Value is estimated to be in the range of 100M - 350M GBP.

When was GO OUTDOORS acquired by JD SPORTS?

GO OUTDOORS was acquired by JD SPORTS in 2016.

What was the revenue of GO OUTDOORS at the time of the deal?

The revenue of GO OUTDOORS at the time of the deal is estimated to be in the range of 150M - 250M GBP.

How is the data for the GO OUTDOORS acquisition sourced and is it reliable?

Mynth data is contributed by a professional community of M&A and Private Equity experts. Each transaction, including the GO OUTDOORS deal, is systematically cross-verified by our team using private deal documents and official sources. You can also find the official press release for this transaction here: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/28/jd-sports-buys-go-outdoors-for-112m

What is the average EV/EBITDA multiple for the Retail & Consumer sector in 2026?

The average EV/EBITDA multiple for the Retail & Consumer sector in 2026 is 11.2x.

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Home Database Retail & ConsumerGO OUTDOORS

11/2016

GO OUTDOORS acquired by JD SPORTS

UNITED KINGDOM Retail / Specialized Retail / Sport EV 100M - 350M GBP

Context

JD Sports acquired 100% of Go Outdoors (>�200m of revenues) from its founders and private equity backers (YFM Equity Partners and 3i Group). The strategic rationale was purely about portfolio complementarity: while JD's existing brands (Blacks, Millets) dominated the traditional "High Street" locations with smaller footprints and higher price points, Go Outdoors dominated the "Out-of-Town" destination market with massive inventory and lower prices. There was minimal geographic overlap between the two estates. This "Hub and Spoke" coverage allowed JD Sports to capture the full wallet of the outdoor enthusiast—from the casual walker buying a jacket in the city center to the family buying a 6-person tent at a retail park. The founders exited the business post-completion.

GO OUTDOORS, which reported an EBITDA margin of in 2016, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of , a level to compare with the average currently observed in the Retail & Consumer sector (11.2x).

-> Deep-dive in Retail & Consumer market trends

Target

Founded in 1998 in Sheffield, Go Outdoors revolutionized the UK outdoor market with a "category killer" supermarket approach. Unlike traditional small high-street shops, Go Outdoors operates massive warehouse-style stores (avg. 30,000 sq ft) located in out-of-town retail parks. It offers a vast range of branded equipment for camping, walking, climbing, and cycling at discounted prices, driven by its popular £5 discount card membership scheme.

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2016

2015

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REFERENCES

Valuation range: EV 100M - 350M GBP

Revenue range: 150M - 250M GBP

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of GO OUTDOORS by JD SPORTS are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.

Acquirer: jd sports