Skip to content
General

Sanpower named in Hamleys bid

By Minjun Park
1 min read
dsc 2521 edited 1
dsc 2521 edited 1
In this article (4)

Chinese language investor Sanpower is reported to be getting ready a bid for worldwide toy retailer Hamleys.

Sanpower is the corporate which purchased 79 per cent of UK division retailer chain Home of Fraser final yr with the intention of increasing the enterprise into China, paying £480 million ($790.three million).

UK newspaper The Sunday Occasions studies Sanpower is in discussions with France’s Groupe Ludendo, Hamleys father or mother, in what can be the primary of a number of deliberate investments in European retailing.

Sanpower is concentrating on retailers with robust manufacturers and lengthy historical past – and with robust cashflow and worldwide presence – to increase the manufacturers into China the place a rising center class clamours for overseas branded items.

Home of Fraser will open three malls in China’s mainland – in Nanjing, Chongqing and Xuzhou – between subsequent yr and 2017.

Hamleys, which just lately opened an enormous flagship in Moscow and has this month introduced plans for its Vietnam debut, was based in 1760, initially branded Noah’s Ark.

It’s London flagship on Regent St opened in 1881. Groupe Ludendo purchased Hamleys from collapsed Icelandic financial institution Landsbanki three years in the past for £60 million.

Questions & Answers

Q.

What is Sanpower's primary motivation for acquiring European retail brands like Hamleys?

A.

Sanpower aims to acquire retailers with strong brands, long histories, robust cashflow, and international presence. The strategy is to expand these brands into China, capitalising on the growing middle class's demand for foreign branded goods.

Q.

Which company currently owns Hamleys, and how long have they owned the toy retailer?

A.

Hamleys is currently owned by France's Groupe Ludendo. Groupe Ludendo acquired Hamleys three years ago, purchasing it from the collapsed Icelandic bank Landsbanki for £60 million.

Q.

When and where are the new Home of Fraser stores expected to open in China?

A.

Home of Fraser plans to open three new malls in mainland China between next year and 2017. These new stores will be located in the cities of Nanjing, Chongqing, and Xuzhou.

Reader pulse

Is Hamleys a good fit for Sanpower’s China strategy?

23,239 votes so far

Weekly Briefing

Asia's retail intelligence, in your inbox

Monday, Wednesday and a Friday Weekly Wrap: the retail stories, numbers and moves that mattered across Asia. Nothing else, and you can unsubscribe in one click.

  • Top industry moves and market shifts
  • Weekly data-driven analysis from across Asia
  • Monday, Wednesday and the Friday Weekly Wrap

Read by retail operators, investors and brand teams across Asia.

Protected by a quick human check. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe in one click.

SecureGDPR ready