Acquisition

Sports Direct International Plc
29 June 2007

29 June 2007


                     SPORTS DIRECT ACQUISITION OF EVERLAST

The board of directors of Sports Direct International plc ("Sports Direct") is
pleased to announce that Sports Direct has entered into a definitive agreement
with Everlast Worldwide Inc ("Everlast" or the "Company") to merge a wholly
owned subsidiary of Brands Holdings Limited (itself the wholly owned subsidiary
of Sports Direct) with Everlast at a price of $30 per share of Everlast which
equates to $135.2 million. Together with assumed liabilities as at today's date,
this would represent a total transaction value of approximately $168.2 million
(approximately £84.1 million) including expected tax benefits.  The transaction
remains subject to approval of the shareholders of Everlast and other customary
conditions, including receipt of all necessary antitrust approvals, and is
expected to be completed during the second half of calendar 2007.

This acquisition is in line with Sports Direct's strategy of acquiring further
brands whose heritage and core values are consistent with Sports Direct's
existing group brands portfolio. By cross-leveraging the technical expertise and
know-how within the Sports Direct and Everlast businesses, Sports Direct sees
opportunities for efficiencies in research and development and to accelerate new
product development in boxing and related fitness categories. Moreover,
Everlast's platform in the US market, where Sports Direct currently has a
limited presence, will enable Sports Direct to launch other group brands into
the US market as well as provide the opportunity to derive benefits from an
optimised US distribution network.

"The Sports Direct board is confident that this acquisition will benefit our
wholesale, licensing and retail businesses, while providing us with a
significant stepping stone into the important US market," said Dave Forsey,
Chief Executive of Sports Direct.

Everlast, which trades on the NASDAQ market under the symbol "EVST", engages in
the design, manufacture, import, and sale of boxing and fitness related sporting
goods in the United States and is the worldwide licensor of the Everlast brand
for apparel, footwear, sporting goods equipment and other active lifestyle
products and accessories. Since 1910, Everlast has been the pre-eminent brand in
the world of boxing and among the most recognised brands in the overall sporting
goods and apparel industries. In fiscal year 2006, the Company generated sales
of $39.6 million (approximately £19.8 million) and EBITDA of $9.3 million
(approximately £4.7 million).

The approximate aggregate consideration of $168.2 million (approximately £84.1
million) including tax benefits will be financed by Sports Direct via a drawdown
under a credit facility. As at, and for the year ending, December 31, 2006 the
gross assets and profits of Everlast were $65.3 million (approximately £32.7
million) and $6.8 million (approximately £3.4 million), respectively.

Credit Suisse is acting as exclusive financial adviser to Sports Direct in this
transaction.


For further enquiries, please contact:

Sports Direct International
Dave Forsey, Chief Executive                         0870 333 9400
Bob Mellors, Group Financial Director

Financial Dynamics
Jonathon Brill / Ben Foster / Andrew Dowler          020 7831 3113




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