HAMLEYS, one of the most famous names in toy retailing, could be set to change hands in a multi-million pound deal.
Icelandic retail group Baugur said the board of Soldier, a company created to make the offer for the 200-year-old Regent Street group, had agreed a proposed £47.7m deal with a management team.
If the deal succeeds, Baugur will take ultimate control of Soldier, with Hamleys managers owning a minority interest.
The news came as Hamleys reported pre-tax profits of £5.6m in the year to March 29, a 35 per cent rise on the £4.1m total last year.
Besides its flagship central London store, Hamleys has satellite outlets at Heathrow Airport, Covent Garden and Schipol Airport in Amsterdam.
It also has a web-based direct sales operation and 37 specialist Bear Factory soft toy stores in the UK and overseas, including one in Newcastle
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