JD Sports Fashion has proposed to acquire American athletic retailer Hibbett Inc for approximately $1.08 billion. The acquisition comes as shares of athletic apparel companies have declined globally following weak forecasts from Nike and Puma. JD Sports will pay $87.50 per share in cash for Hibbett, representing a 20% premium over its last closing stock price. The deal will extend JD Sports' presence in the U.S. from "coast to coast" through Hibbett's 1,169 stores across 36 states. The combined company would generate around $4.7 billion annually in North American revenues.