Reliance Industries acquires 100% stake in global toy retailer Hamleys.

Hamleys Store in Singapore.

Reliance Brands Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, and Hong Kong-based C Banner International Holdings have signed a definitive agreement for Reliance Brands to acquire 100% shares of Hamleys Global Holdings Limited, which owns and operatives Hamleys brand worldwide, from C Banner International. The acquisition is valued at approx Rs 620 crores in an all-cash deal.

Founded in 1760 by Williams Hamley in London, Hamleys has over 250 years of celebrated history of being the oldest and largest toy shop in the world and bringing smiles to children all over the world. From soft toys to dolls and GenX remote control cars, Hamleys truly represent a unique model leveraging the quality and wide range of toys.

Globally, Hamleys has 167 stores across 18 countries. In India, Reliance has the master franchise for Hamleys and currently operates 88 stores across 29 cities. Hamleys started with the India journey by opening a 22,000 sq feet store at Phoenix Malls in Lower Parel, Mumbai. The first Hamleys store in London is as huge as 7 floors and covers 54,000 sq feet store area with over 50,000 lines of toys at the sale. The London Hamleys store is UK's prominent tourist attraction with 5 million visitors every year. In early 2018, Hamleys opened its largest ever store of 1,15,000 sq feet in Beijing, China. This acquisition will catapult Reliance Brands to be a dominant player in the global toy industry.

While kids dream to have every single toy on display at Hamleys, Mukesh Bhai has fulfilled RIL's long cherished dream by acquiring the World's largest toy store chain in an all-cash deal altogether. The worldwide acquisition of the iconic Hamleys brand and business, places Reliance into the frontline of global retail.