MEDIA RELEASE
Independent Sports joins INTERSPORT and the International Big League to bring “Sport to the People” Melbourne, 26th August 2013 – Pioneering a new direction in the Australian sports retail market: The Sports Retail chain Independent Sports comprising 70+ specialist shops concluded a license agreement with INTERSPORT International Corporation. Under this agreement, the Independent Sports shops will be rebranded to INTERSPORT over the next four years. With over 5,400 stores in all five continents the INTERSPORT Group is the world's leading sporting goods retailer. Independent Sports announced today that it has succeeded in bringing the internationally renowned INTERSPORT retail brand to Australia, with operations to commence in mid 2014. Independent Sports CEO Kevin O’Hanlon says “Two years of confidential negotiations have led to a contract signed today. We will now be able to offer even better value to our customers and counter online sales from overseas retailers whose only weapon so far has been price due to regional wholesale differences.” The 40 sports retailers running more than 70 Independent Sports stores realizing an annual turnover of AUD 130 million, will now be able to offer a “point of difference” to other local sports retailers with exclusive products from the major global sports brands, as well as introducing a number of quality INTERSPORT exclusive in-house brands. The deal takes effect on July 1, 2014. The INTERSPORT brand will be seen increasingly in Australia over the next 2-3 years as existing Independent Sports stores introduce the new signage and as potential new business partners clamour to join the new flagship group. CEO Kevin O’Hanlon says “Despite the general gloom witnessed recently in Australian retail, we have focused on how to improve the position of our member stores. We have developed and delivered a winning strategy for our Membership, and the next few years will be challenging and exciting as we establish a new marque in the Australian sporting scene.” "Australia’s population is incredibly enthusiastic about sports and extremely sporty," says Franz Julen, CEO of INTERSPORT International Corporation. "With Independent Sports, we have found a successful and competent local partner. INTERSPORT and Independent Sports stand for passion, expertise, advice and top offers." With the acquisition of the U.S. athletic footwear retail chain The Athlete's Foot concluded at the end of 2012, INTERSPORT is already represented in Australia with 140 stores mainly focused on sports shoes. Now the license agreement with the multi-sports chain Independent Sports allows the selling of the entire range of sporting goods.
Contacts Franz Julen CEO INTERSPORT International Corporation T +41 31 930 78 03 E franz.julen@intersport.com
Kevin O‘Hanlon CEO Independent Sports T 0438 056 055 E kevin@theteam.com.au Darlene Beauchamp Group Operations Manager T 03 9863 8298 E darlene@theteam.com.au
References www.intersport.com
www.independentsports.com.au
About INTERSPORT With retail sales of EUR 10.2 billion and more than 5,400 affiliated stores in 42 countries, INTERSPORT is the world's leading sporting goods retailer. In December 2012 INTERSPORT acquired the U.S. athletic footwear retail chain The Athlete's Foot with over 400 stores in 27 countries. The INTERSPORT Group is represented on all five continents and is the official event store of the World Football Association FIFA for the sale of official licensed products of the 2014 FIFA World Cup BrazilTM.