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14 September 2021 JD Sports Fashion Plc ( the ' Group ' ) , the leading retailer of sports , fashion and outdoor brands , today announces its interim results for the 26 weeks ended 31 July 2021 ( comparative figures are shown for the 26 week period ended 1 August 2020 ) . Revenue ● ● Gross profit % EBITDA * Depreciation / amortisation Operating profit ( before exceptional items ) * Net interest expense JD SPORTS FASHION PLC UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE TWENTY SIX WEEKS TO 31 JULY 2021 Profit before tax and exceptional items * Exceptional items Profit before tax O 2021 £ m 3,885.8 48.5 % O 746.4 ( 274.7 ) 471.7 ( 32.2 ) 439.5 ( 74.9 ) 364.6 22.19p 29.16p IFRS 16 995.1 2020 £ m 2,544.9 45.6 % 337.0 ( 241.6 ) 95.4 ( 33.5 ) 61.9 ( 20.4 ) 41.5 3.85p 6.09p Proforma IAS 17 764.9 2021 £ m 3,885.8 48.5 % 554.3 ( 99.4 ) 454.9 ( 3.4 ) 451.5 ( 74.9 ) 376.6 Basic earnings per ordinary share Adjusted earnings per ordinary share * Interim dividend payable per ordinary share Net cash at period end ( b ) a ) Throughout this release *** the end of these interim results . b ) Net cash consists of cash and cash equivalents together with interest - bearing loans and borrowings . 23.35p 30.33p 2020 £ m 995.1 2,544.9 45.6 % 148.9 ( 73.2 ) 75.7 ( 2.9 ) 72.8 ( 27.9 ) 44.9 4.08p 6.32p Group Highlights Record result for the first half with profit before tax and exceptional items of £ 439.5 million ( 2020 : £ 61.9 million ; 2019 : £ 158.6 million ) including significant contributions from : O United States where the aggregate profit before tax and exceptional items increased to £ 245.0 million ( 2020 : £ 73.4 million ; 2019 : £ 35.7 million ) which includes a total contribution of £ 72.9 million from the recently acquired Shoe Palace and DTLR businesses . All of the Group's businesses have successfully capitalised on the favourable trading conditions provided by a second round of fiscal stimulus from the Federal Government JD business in the core UK and Republic of Ireland market where the profit before tax and exceptional items increased to £ 170.8 million ( 2020 : £ 52.0 million ; 2019 : £ 114.9 with a strong retention of sales through digital channels in the first quarter whilst the stores were temporarily closed , combined with strong pent - up demand after reopening 764.9 indicates the first instance of an alternative performance measure which is explained at Significant acquisitions in the period include : O DTLR which enhances the Group's exposure to key consumer demographics in the highly important East Coast market in the United States O Marketing Investment Group in Poland to give the Group a presence in Eastern Europe for the first time International development of JD in other markets continues to progress positively , although the pace of new stores has been impacted by the ongoing restrictions on construction and fit out works in certain markets : O 21 new JD stores opened across Western Europe Six new JD stores in the Asia Pacific region with four new stores in Australia and two stores in Thailand 66 stores now trading as JD in the United States