17 September 2015
sports direct international plc
(the "Company")
The Company has been informed today in accordance with DTR 3.1.2R that Matt Pearson, a Director and Person Discharging Managerial Responsibilities, has on 16 September 2015 exercised options granted to him under the Company's Bonus Share Scheme 2011 (the "Scheme") to acquire ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the Company ("Shares"). The options consisted of a HMRC approved option to acquire 6,875 Shares at an exercise price of 299.5 pence per Share and a "linked award" to acquire Shares for nil cost, which was to fund the exercise price of the approved option.
The linked award was exercised over 2,691 Shares which were sold to Appleby Trust (Jersey) Limited as Trustee of the Sports Direct Employee Benefit Trust (the "Trustee") to fund the exercise price of the approved option. The 6,875 Shares acquired on the exercise of the approved option were also sold to the Trustee.
All Shares sold to the Trustee were sold at a price of 765.25 pence per Share being determined by reference to the mid-market closing price of a Share on 16 September 2015, under an off-market transaction effected in Jersey.
As in the case of the Trustee's acquisition of 4,117,365 Shares following the recent vesting under the Scheme (as announced on 8 September 2015), the Trustee has purchased these Shares in order to help meet future obligations arising under the Company's share schemes.
Matt Pearson's resultant shareholding following the above transactions continues to be Nil Shares (representing 0.0% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital).
-Ends-
For further information, please contact:
Sports Direct International plc T. 0344 245 9200
Cameron Olsen, Company Secretary
Powerscourt T. 0207 250 1446
Rory Godson
Lisa Kavanagh