14 February 2007

For immediate release
Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in into or from any jurisdiction where it would be illegal to do so
 
Sports Direct International plc ('Sports Direct')
No intention to make an offer for Blacks Leisure Group Plc ('Blacks')


Following recent press comment, Sports Direct confirms that it has no current intention to make an offer for Blacks or to acquire a shareholding in Blacks which would trigger an obligation to make an offer for the shares in Blacks.*

*Under Rule 2.8 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the 'Code'), this announcement will prevent Sports Direct for a period of six months from today from, inter alia, announcing an offer or possible offer for Blacks unless there is a material change of circumstances or there has occurred an event which has been specified in this announcement as an event which would enable the statement in the asterisked paragraph above to be set aside. Sports Direct accordingly reserves its rights under Rule 2.8 of the Code to announce an offer or possible offer for Blacks and/or to take any other action otherwise precluded under Rule 2.8 of the Code within six months of the date of this announcement in the event that:

(i) the board of directors of Blacks agrees to the making of such an announcement or the taking of such action; or

(ii) a third party announces an offer or a possible offer for Blacks; or

(iii) Blacks or a third party announces a 'whitewash' proposal (as described in Note 1 of the Notes on Dispensations from Rule 9 in the Code) or a reverse takeover (as described in Note 2 to Rule 3.2 of the Code) in respect of Blacks; or

(iv) an announcement is made of a transaction or possible transaction between two or more of the principal businesses involved in the sports retailing sector in Great Britain (other than Sports Direct) which would give rise to a concentration falling within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) 139/2004 (as amended) or a relevant merger situation as defined for the purposes of Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002; or

(v) Blacks undertakes or announces an intention to undertake any acquisition, disposal, merger, joint venture, scheme of arrangement or other business combination transaction of or involving a material amount (where 'material amount' is defined in Note 2 to Rule 21.1 of the Code) or any material recapitalisation or security issue (where 'material' is defined as 10% or more of Blacks' equity market capitalisation as at the close of business on the date of this announcement).

Enquiries:

Tulchan

Susanna Voyle

Kirstie Hamilton

Tel: +44(0)20-7353-4200



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