China's C.banner to buy British toy store chain Hamleys (updated)

C banner International Holdings

29/10/2015 16:06

(Adds detail, background) 
    Oct 29 (Reuters) - Chinese footwear retailer C.banner 
International Holdings  1028.HK  said on Thursday it would buy 
iconic British toy store chain Hamleys for 100 million pounds 
($153 million) in cash. 
    Hamleys, most famous for its 134-year-old flagship store on 
Regent Street in London, offers quintessentially British toys 
such as Beefeater Bear dolls and miniature London taxi cabs. 
    C.banner announced earlier this week that it was in talks to 
buy Hamleys from France's Ludendo Groupe, which has owned the 
chain since 2012.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nHKS16jkYp  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N12M2MY 
    The announcement comes a week after the conclusion of 
Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day visit to the UK. 
    The trip featured the signing of a raft of business deals 
worth a total 40 billion pounds ($61 billion).  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N12L5D1 
    ($1 = 0.6539 pounds) 
 
 (Reporting By Mamidipudi Soumithri in Bengaluru; Editing by 
Anil D'Silva and Ted Kerr) 
 ((soumithri.mamidipudi@thomsonreuters.com; within UK +44 20 
7542 1810, outside UK +91 806 749 6837; Reuters Messaging: 
venkateshasoumithri.mamidipudi.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: HAMLEYS M&A/C.BANNER