(JD-.L) JD Sports Fashion PLC Buy/Sell

RNS Number : 7992B JD Sports Fashion Plc 02 November 2009

2 November 2009

J D SPORTS FASHION PLC (the "Company")

Director Shareholding

The Company was informed today that the following director today, 2 November 2009, purchased 4,000 ordinary shares of 5p each.

Registered holder No of shares Purchase price Percentage of issued Resultant Holding Percentage of issued
purchased (p) share capital share capital
Brian Small 4,000 446.74 0.0% 21,750 0.04%

Enquiries:

Brian Small, Finance Director Tel: 0870 873 0333

This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

RDSFSMFMESUSESF

LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - British sportswear retailer Sports Direct is ready to defend its claim to a 28.5 percent stake in outdoor goods firm Blacks Leisure, rejecting a counter claim by administrators of Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander. "Sports Direct is in the process of taking an action against Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander and its administrators, Ernst & Young," Sports Direct said in a statement on Tuesday. "Those parties are aware of our determination to protect and vindicate our legal rights and the situation remains ongoing."
The retailer, controlled by Newcastle United soccer club owner Mike Ashley, had originally purchased the shares, and a 13 percent stake in rival JD Sports Fashion, with loans from Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, which is the UK arm of failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing.
The stakes were seized by Ernst & Young when Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander collapsed last year, prompting Sports Direct to write-off the 26.2 million pound ($42.82 million) value of the holdings in its year to April 26 results.
Ernst & Young maintains the shares belong to the administrators and on Tuesday issued a holding in company statement to this effect through the stock exchange.
"The joint administrators are applying to the court for directions as to beneficial ownership of the shares in respect of the dispute," said a spokeswoman for the firm.
Nobody at Blacks was immediately available for comment.
Shares in Sports Direct were up 2.4 percent at 103.9 pence at 1241 GMT, while shares in Blacks were up 1.7 percent at 29.5 pence.
(Reporting by James Davey, editing by Paul Hoskins and Rupert Winchester) ($1=.6119 Pound) Keywords: SPORTS DIRECT/

(james.davey@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 7674; Reuters Messaging: james.davey.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

COPYRIGHT

Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.

RNS Number : 4003B JD Sports Fashion Plc 26 October 2009

TR-1: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTEREST IN SHARES

1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer JD Sports Fashion
of existing shares to which voting rights are Plc

attached:

2 Reason for the notification (please tick the appropriate box or boxes):
X

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights An acquisition or disposal of qualifying financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached An acquisition or disposal of instruments with similar economic effect to qualifying financial instruments An event changing the breakdown of voting rights Other (please specify):

3. Full name of person(s) Kaupthing Singer &
subject to the notification Friedlander Limited (In
obligation: Administration)

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.):

5. Date of the transaction and 08.10.2008

date on which the threshold is crossed or reached:

6. Date on which issuer 26.10.2009

notified:

7. Threshold(s) that is/are 11%

crossed or reached:

8. Notified details: A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of Situation previous Resulting situation after the triggering transaction
shares to the triggering
transaction

if possible using the ISIN CODE
Number Number Number Number of voting % of voting rights
of of of shares rights
Shares Voting
Rights
Direct Direct Indirect Direct Indirect
Ordinary Shares 0 0% 5,775,255 11.87%

Isin: GB0004771548

B: Qualifying Financial Instruments Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of financial Expiration Exercise/ Number of voting % of voting
instrument date Conversion rights that may be rights
Period acquired if the
instrument is
exercised/
converted.

C: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect to Qualifying Financial Instruments Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of financial Exercise Expiration Exercise/ Number of voting % of voting rights
instrument price date Conversion rights instrument
period refers to
Nominal Delta

Total (A+B+C)

Number of voting rights Percentage of voting rights
11.87%

5,775,255

9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable: Kaupthing, Singer & Friedlander Ltd (In Administration) is in administration (the "Company"). The Company was placed into administration pursuant to a court order made on 8th October 2008. Margaret Elizabeth Mills, Patrick Joseph Brazzill, Thomas Merchant Burton and Alan Robert Bloom were appointed joint administrators of the Company (the "Joint Administrators"). The shares referred to above are held in a Crest account of Sinjul Nominees Limited ( a subsidiary of the Company) as nominee and custodian for, and on behalf of, the Company. Please refer to Additional Information below.

Proxy Voting:

10. Name of the proxy holder:

11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:

12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:

13. Additional information: Disclosure based on 48,661,658 shares in
issue.

The Company is aware of a claim by a third
party alleging that such third party is the
beneficial owner of the shares. As far as the
Joint Administrators are aware, the Company is
the ultimate beneficial owner of the shares.
It is the current intention of the Joint
Administrators to apply to the Court for
directions as to beneficial ownership of the
shares in respect of this dispute.

14. Contact name: Mark Gradie

15. Contact telephone number: 020 3205 6612

This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

HOLPUGRUUUPBGMQ

Mail on Sunday

VODAFONE DENIES CORRUPTION CLAIMS

Vodafone will fight any allegations of irregularities in its acquisition of a majority stake in Ghana Telecom when an inquiry commissioned by the Ghanaian government is published this week.

Vodafone has fully co-operated with the investigation of its 450 million pound purchase. However, leaked documents claiming to be extracts from the report have alleged that the company underpaid for the stake and that the government received a fraction of the sale price.

Vodafone said: "We have seen excerpts. There are things in there that we are amazed at and we look forward to publication so we can provide rebuttals."

SALES AT WPP SHOW AN END TO THE DECLINE

Although the marketing services group WPP is next week expected to release third quarter results showing a further fall in sales, the rate of decline is believed to be slowing.

WPP is likely to report a fall of around 9.3 percent in revenue during the quarter, an improvement on the 10.5 percent drop during the second quarter.

Chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell remains cautious about the prospect of a sustained upturn, although he has stated that "a recovery of sorts" is expected in 2010.

THREATS TO BASSETT CROSS FIRM

The Institute of Chartered Accountants has warned accountancy firm Vantis that it may have to answer for the dubious activities of former partner Ronald Bassett Cross.

Bassett Cross is accused of misappropriating assets belonging to the G St. Pierre Harris Will Trust, selling a friend a portfolio of properties (also belonging to the trust) in a "sweetheart" deal and lying about the matter to an investigator from the ICA.

Sunday Times

SIMPLE WILL CLEAN UP IN 250M POUND SOAP SALE

Duke Street Capital has placed Simple up for sale with a price tag of more than 250 million pounds. Duke Street has received a number of unsolicited approaches for Britain's third largest facial skincare brand over the past year, and the private equity firm has hired Goldman Sachs to run an auction process.

The sale would lead to a further windfall for the senior management team, led by chief executive Geoff Percy and finance director Peter Hatherly, who have already led two buyouts.

CENTRICA TO SEAL 400 MILLION POUNDS WIND DEAL

Centrica is set to pocket 400 million pounds from selling half its stake in Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm off the Lincolnshire coast, as part of a wide-ranging programme of asset sales that Sam Laidlaw, chief executive, launched in July.

Centrica is selling assets to raise money for investments in gas storage projects, new nuclear plants and offshore wind farms.

Credit Suisse was hired several months ago to find a buyer and it is understood that a deal has now been completed with an infrastructure fund that will buy an equity stake.

JD PLOTS 42 MILLION POUNDS FOOTBALL COUP

JD Sports is preparing to gatecrash the 42.5 million pound takeover of AIM-listed Powerleague. The sports fashion chain is understood to be taking advice from bankers at Investec over purchasing Britain's biggest operator of five-a-side football centres.

Powerleague has already agreed a takeover by Patron Capital, which owns 29 per cent of the shares and has the backing of management and independent directors. Investors are due to vote on the deal at an extraordinary meeting next month.

SHAREWATCH

Punch Taverns (Best to give this one a miss)

Sunday Telegraph

FORENSICS GROUP ON THE BLOCK

LGC has been put for sale by Legal & General Ventures for 200 million pounds, more than double the 80 million pounds the private equity owner paid for the forensic sciences group in 2003.

A successful sale would represent a mark-up in value of a company that raised just three million pounds when it was privatised in 1996, highlighting the growth of the industry. L&G Ventures has appointed KPMG to find a buyer for LGC, with initial interest believed to be strong.

CASINO SET TO RAKE IN 10 MILLION POUNDS

London Clubs International is in advanced talks to finalise the sale of the Fifty casino in Mayfair for around 10 million pounds.

LCI, which is owned by debt-ridden American gambling giant Harrah's, has halted gaming at the venue recently to avoid trading volatility as LCI thrashes out the "complex" terms of the sale of the St James Street venue, which it co-owns with Robert Earl, the Planet Hollywood restaurant entrepreneur.

LCI was bought by Harrah's for 279 million pounds and is one of the country's largest casino operators.

Sales of swine flu vaccines are expected to deliver a big boost to Britain's drug companies in the final three months of 2009.

GlaxoSmithKline has taken a prominent role in developing a vaccine, Pandemrix, for the fight against H1N1 and has taken orders for 440 million doses.

The consensus among analysts in the UK is that GSK will register one billion pounds in sales for Pandemrix in the fourth quarter and 180 million pounds from Relenza in the third and fourth quarters.

SUNDAY QUESTOR

Dechra Pharmaceuticals (Buy)

Cape (Buy)

VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunities Fund (Buy)

Independent on Sunday

STANDARD LIFE LOOKS TO SELL ITS CANADIAN INSURANCE BUSINESS

Standard Life has reportedly asked its advisers to review the insurer's Canadian business with a view to a possible sale.

"Everyone needs some firepower in this market and Standard Life, which frankly looks a little vulnerable, could get it with a sale.

But it's early days," said a source. It is also likely that Standard Life Bank could be sold to Barclays for as much as 300 million pounds.

Although Standard Life's Canadian business posted a 102 million pound loss last year, based on IFRS accounting standards, the group has since improved. Oriel Securities analyst Marcus Barnard believes the business will post underlying profits of 70 million pounds in 2010, based on the same standards.

FLOORS-2-GO SEEKS MORE INVESTMENT TO CARPET ITS GROWTH

Flooring retailer Floors-2-Go is close to confirming an injection of capital from new backers, after being saved from extinction in 2008 following a pre-pack administration.

The group, based in Birmingham, is conducting a beauty parade of venture capital investors. It is likely to seek as much as five million pounds in growth capital to help fund expansion plans.

A spokesman for Floors-2-Go was unavailable to comment, but a source close to the process said its "numbers look pretty good. They are benefiting from people improving their homes rather than moving. It's a good business".

CHIME CLOSE TO DEAL TO BUY PELHAM PR FIRM AND MERGE IT WITH.

PR firm Chime is on course to acquire Pelham, the public relations group. The listed company, led by former Tory spin doctor Lord Bell, is likely to merge Pelham with the City operation of Bell Pottinger.

Last year Pelham appointed former Telegraph newspapers chief executive Jeremy Deeds as non-executive director. It acquired sports marketing group Essentially last month for 18 million pounds, and saw shares rocket to 211 pence on Friday. The stock is up from just 81 pence this time last year.

The Observer

BOSSES TOLD: GIVE STAFF RIGHT TO GO PART-TIME

Government ministers are considering the extension of flexible working laws in an attempt to make employers offer more part-time jobs to working parents.

The work and pensions secretary Yvette Cooper has criticised the lack of "good quality part-time jobs", and would like businesses advertising full-time jobs in unemployment offices to think about offering them to job sharers or part time workers. Business lobbies, however, are likely to oppose the move.

STOBART TO GO GREEN WITH FOOD DELIVERIES BY ECO-TRAIN

Refrigerated rail containers are to pass through the Channel rail tunnel for the first time, thanks to the transport company Eddie Stobart.

The low-carbon train will carry a cargo of fruit and vegetables from Valencia to Dagenham in east London. The company has stated that this trip alone will mean that 30 of its lorries will not have to make the trip, drastically reducing carbon emissions.

In the past, high charges and a lack of co-operation amongst European rail networks have scuppered attempts to open rail freight networks.

CALL FOR BANK CHIEFS TO FACE PERSONAL FINES ON MIS-SELLING

The chairman of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, Adam Phillips, has called for senior executives at banks which have mis-sold payment protection insurance policies to be punished with a personal fine.

So far, the most significant figure to be fined has been the chief executive of Land of Leather, who had to pay 14,000 pounds, but if Mr. Phillips' proposal is acted upon then the chief executives of the retail divisions of large banks such as Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland could face retribution.

Prepared for Reuters by Durrants

Mail on Sunday

VODAFONE DENIES CORRUPTION CLAIMS

Vodafone will fight any allegations of irregularities in its acquisition of a majority stake in Ghana Telecom when an inquiry commissioned by the Ghanaian government is published this week.

Vodafone has fully co-operated with the investigation of its 450 million pound purchase. However, leaked documents claiming to be extracts from the report have alleged that the company underpaid for the stake and that the government received a fraction of the sale price.

Vodafone said: "We have seen excerpts. There are things in there that we are amazed at and we look forward to publication so we can provide rebuttals."

SALES AT WPP SHOW AN END TO THE DECLINE

Although the marketing services group WPP is next week expected to release third quarter results showing a further fall in sales, the rate of decline is believed to be slowing.

WPP is likely to report a fall of around 9.3 percent in revenue during the quarter, an improvement on the 10.5 percent drop during the second quarter.

Chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell remains cautious about the prospect of a sustained upturn, although he has stated that "a recovery of sorts" is expected in 2010.

THREATS TO BASSETT CROSS FIRM

The Institute of Chartered Accountants has warned accountancy firm Vantis that it may have to answer for the dubious activities of former partner Ronald Bassett Cross.

Bassett Cross is accused of misappropriating assets belonging to the G St. Pierre Harris Will Trust, selling a friend a portfolio of properties (also belonging to the trust) in a "sweetheart" deal and lying about the matter to an investigator from the ICA.

Sunday Times

SIMPLE WILL CLEAN UP IN 250M POUND SOAP SALE

Duke Street Capital has placed Simple up for sale with a price tag of more than 250 million pounds. Duke Street has received a number of unsolicited approaches for Britain's third largest facial skincare brand over the past year, and the private equity firm has hired Goldman Sachs to run an auction process.

The sale would lead to a further windfall for the senior management team, led by chief executive Geoff Percy and finance director Peter Hatherly, who have already led two buyouts.

CENTRICA TO SEAL 400 MILLION POUNDS WIND DEAL

Centrica is set to pocket 400 million pounds from selling half its stake in Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm off the Lincolnshire coast, as part of a wide-ranging programme of asset sales that Sam Laidlaw, chief executive, launched in July.

Centrica is selling assets to raise money for investments in gas storage projects, new nuclear plants and offshore wind farms.

Credit Suisse was hired several months ago to find a buyer and it is understood that a deal has now been completed with an infrastructure fund that will buy an equity stake.

JD PLOTS 42 MILLION POUNDS FOOTBALL COUP

JD Sports is preparing to gatecrash the 42.5 million pound takeover of AIM-listed Powerleague. The sports fashion chain is understood to be taking advice from bankers at Investec over purchasing Britain's biggest operator of five-a-side football centres.

Powerleague has already agreed a takeover by Patron Capital, which owns 29 per cent of the shares and has the backing of management and independent directors. Investors are due to vote on the deal at an extraordinary meeting next month.

SHAREWATCH

Punch Taverns (Best to give this one a miss)

Sunday Telegraph

FORENSICS GROUP ON THE BLOCK

LGC has been put for sale by Legal & General Ventures for 200 million pounds, more than double the 80 million pounds the private equity owner paid for the forensic sciences group in 2003.

A successful sale would represent a mark-up in value of a company that raised just three million pounds when it was privatised in 1996, highlighting the growth of the industry. L&G Ventures has appointed KPMG to find a buyer for LGC, with initial interest believed to be strong.

CASINO SET TO RAKE IN 10 MILLION POUNDS

London Clubs International is in advanced talks to finalise the sale of the Fifty casino in Mayfair for around 10 million pounds.

LCI, which is owned by debt-ridden American gambling giant Harrah's, has halted gaming at the venue recently to avoid trading volatility as LCI thrashes out the "complex" terms of the sale of the St James Street venue, which it co-owns with Robert Earl, the Planet Hollywood restaurant entrepreneur.

LCI was bought by Harrah's for 279 million pounds and is one of the country's largest casino operators.
Keywords: PRESS DIGEST British business

COPYRIGHT

Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.