Sports store linked with takeover of toy retailer

SPORTS Direct has been linked with the acquisition of another big high-street name.

Mike Ashley’s retail group has been named as one of the companies vying to take over Hamleys.

Toy retail chains The Entertainer and Smyths are other possible new owners for the world-famous store.

Hamleys has an outlet in St David’s shopping centre, which is also home to a large Sports Direct store.

Smyths has four stores in Wales, while The Entertainer has six outlets in the country.

It is understood the current owner, C.banner International, is considering bids for the business, although, according to Sky News, formal bids for Hamleys are not due until after Christmas.

C.banner, which bought Hamleys three years ago for £100m, was linked in the summer with a takeover of House of Fraser.

However, the Chinese company pulled out of the deal, which paved the way for Mr Ashley to acquire the department store.

Sports Direct took over House of Fraser and following the £90m buyout Mr Ashley declared his intention to turn it into the “Harrods of the high street”.

Sports Direct owns, has shares in or a partnership agreement with a number of high-street retail brands, such as Game, USC and French Connection.

It recently took over bike chain Evans Cycles.