Gymshark founder Ben Francis is reported to be in talks to buy back part of the stake he sold to private equity firm General Atlantic. The discussions are aimed at increasing the founder’s control of the fitness apparel business after a period described as challenging for the company.
According to coverage, Francis, 34, originally built Gymshark from a small start in 2012 by sewing gym clothing in his parents’ garage. In 2020, he sold a 21% stake in Gymshark to General Atlantic. The deal is described as helping create a billion-pound sportswear brand, with reporting noting a valuation of around £1.25bn for the business tied to that transaction.
The outlets agree the current talks focus on repurchasing at least part of the interest held by General Atlantic, though the final terms, price, and the exact percentage to be bought back are not stated in the provided excerpts. No definitive agreement or timeline is reported.
