Reliance Industries's Hamleys Franchising business faces strike-off in UK

Reliance Industries' step-down subsidiary Hamleys (Franchising) Ltd is set to be struck off the United Kingdom company register following an application for voluntary strike-off, the Ambani-owned company said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.

Reliance had acquired the British toy retailer Hamleys for about Rs 620 crore in an all-cash deal. Reliance Brands completed acquisition of 100 per cent stake of Hamleys Global Holdings (HGHL) through a special purpose vehicle company set up in UK for cash consideration of GBP 67.96 million.

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Shares of Reliance Industries Ltd. were trading at Rs 1174.80 per scrip after a Rs 16.30 hike around 11:04 on BSE on Thursday.

The UK Registrar of Companies published a gazette notice on October 27, 2026, stating that Hamleys Franchising will be struck off the register and dissolved unless an objection or cause is shown to the contrary within two months from the date of the notice.

Hamleys Franchising reported a turnover of Rs 56.08 crore in calendar year 2025. Its contribution to Reliance Industries' consolidated turnover in FY26 was 0.0048%, while its net worth stood at nil as of December 31, 2025.

However, the company did not specify the reasons for the voluntary strike-off application. Reliance said it received the intimation at 3:11 p.m. on October 28.

Founded in London in 1760, Hamleys is one of the world's oldest toy retailers and is known for its flagship store on Regent Street in London. Before the acquisition, Reliance Retail already operated Hamleys stores in India under a master franchise arrangement launched in 2008.

At the time of the acquisition in 2019, the brand had 167 stores across 18 countries, while Reliance Retail operated 88 stores across 29 Indian cities.