Reliance Brands Limited, a subsidiary  of  Reliance Industries,  and C Banner International  Holdings,  a Hong Kong-listed company,  today signed a definitive agreement  for Reliance Brands to acquire 100% shares  of  Hamleys  Global   Holdings  Limited,  the  owner   of  the  Hamleys  brand,  from  C  Banner International.

Founded in 1760, 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 by bringing toys to life. Hamleys truly represents a unique model leveraging the quality and wide range of its toys,  combined with the theatre, entertainment and its retail experience. 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. This acquisition will catapult Reliance Brands to be a dominant player in the global toy retail industry.

Commenting on the development, Darshan Mehta, President and CEO of Reliance Brands, said;

"Over the last few years, we have built a very significant and profitable business in toy retailing under the Hamleys  brand in India.  This  250 year  old English toy  retailer pioneered  the concept  of  experiential retailing, decades before the concept of creating unique ex periences in brick and morlar retailing became the new  global  norm.  The  worldwide  acquisition  of the  iconic Hamleys  brand  and  business,  places Reliance into the frontline of global retail. Personally it is a long cherished dream come true."

Hamleys opened its flagship Regent Street London store in 1881. This flagship store is set over seven floors covering 54,000 sq.ft, with more than 50,000 lines of toys on sale. It is considered one of London's prominent tourist attractions, receiving over 5 million visitors each year.  Children and teens from all over the world visit the store for its year-round events, parades, demonstrations and elaborate displays.