Ben Francis buys back Gymshark stake

Ben Francis, the founder and CEO of Gymshark, is in talks to buy back a portion of the 21% stake he sold to private equity firm General Atlantic in 2020. This move aims to increase his control over Gymshark, which was valued at £1 billion after General Atlantic's £200 million investment. The discussions involve the potential valuation and size of the purchase, with Francis also seeking financing from banks. This development follows a challenging period for Gymshark, marked by slowed growth, increased competition, and a drop in pre-tax profits from £11.8 million to £6.9 million in the year to July 2025, despite a 6.5% rise in revenues to £647 million. The company has also undergone restructuring, cut hundreds of roles, and invested in physical stores, which has weighed on profitability. While an IPO was previously considered, Francis's current focus is on consolidating his ownership, which currently stands at around 70%.