JD Sports profits dented by Blacks purchase

Image caption, JD Sports said recent trading had been satisfactory

Sports fashion retailer JD Sports has said its recently bought Blacks Leisure made an operating loss of 拢2.2m in the first three weeks of its ownership.

It said the loss from Blacks was due to a lack of stock, an "excessively large and over-rented" store portfolio and "disproportionate" costs.

It also set aside 拢3.5m for restructuring costs, after buying the outdoor retailer for 拢20m on 9 January.

Pre-tax profits at JD fell 14% to 拢67.4m for the year to 28 January 2012.

Revenues rose almost 20% to 拢1.06bn.

JD said that trading since the end of the financial year had been "satisfactory", though profit margins were still under pressure as consumers sought out special offers.

Sales at stores open for more than a year in the UK and Ireland were up 1.2%.