Hamley’s reportedly close to £60m sale

Groupe Ludendo is hoping to buy Hamleys in a supposed deal worth 60 million.

The toy retailer – which has stores in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain – could purchase Hamleys by the end of the month, claims The Sunday Times, as reported byFT.com.

Hamleys was previously sold to Icelandic retailer Baugur in June 2003 for 58.7 million. It is currently controlled by nationalised Icelandic bank Landsbanki, although Hamleys is being supervised by a committee which reportedly hopes to return sale proceeds to Landsbanki’s creditors.

Last year Hamleys reported turnover of 43 million. Its flagship Regent Street store first opened in 1881.

Ludendo was founded in 1977. In 2006 it acquired Swiss toy retailer Franz Carl Weber.

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