The founder of Gymshark is in talks to buy back a portion of the 21% stake he sold to private equity in 2020. Ben Francis, who has built the business into a high-profile billion-pound international sportswear brand with a flagship store on London’s Regent Street, wants to regain more control from US private equity firm General Atlantic.
Currently Francis, who maintains a 70% stake and is worth an estimated £726 million, is reportedly holding talks with General Atlantic about the potential valuation and size of the stake he wants to buy back, but isn’t looking to acquire the entire 21%, according to the Financial Times.
Francis, who is chief executive of the business, is also in talks with banks over the financing of the deal with General Atlantic, which has a representative on the company’s board.
Reports say Gymshark’s stellar growth has slowed as competition has intensified and consumers have become more cautious making spending decisions as household costs have soared in recent years.
Last year, the company cut hundreds of roles in a restructure to “weather near-term storms” and better service customers in continental Europe.
Gymshark’s revenues rose 6.5% to £647m in the year to July 2025, however pre-tax profits fell from £11.8m to £6.9m, according to the most recent financial filing at Companies House.
Neither party has commented on the report.
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