Britain's Sports Direct buys stakes in U.S. firms Iconix and Dick's

LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Sports Direct, Britain's biggest sportswear retailer, said it had acquired small stakes in two U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) . companies, continuing its strategy of buying shares to develop commercial relationships with new partners and brands.

Sports Direct said it now held 11.5 percent of Iconix Brand (NasdaqGS: ICON - news) Group Inc and 2.3 percent of Dick's Sporting Goods Inc as indirect economic interests through contracts for difference.

In Britain, Sports Direct formerly acquired a position in department store group Debenhams (Other OTC: DBHSF - news) , in whose outlets it has opened a number of concessions.

"The main rationale for these stakes is to allow Sports Direct to hopefully build a relationship and develop commercial partnerships with the relevant parties," Sports Direct said in a statement on Wednesday.

 (Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Kate Holton)