Scalextric Sold: Hornby's New Growth Plan

0:00It's February 27, and this episode is brought to you by NordVPN, Fast, Reliable, Online Privacy. Links in the episode description. And now, here's what's happening across the UK. Hornby, the century old model train maker, just sold its famous Scaleless Strix Latcar Racing brand for 20 million pounds. The buyer is Perbek Capital Partners, a firm led by Mark Brown, who used to run a major U.S. spirits company. Hornby has owned Scaleless Strix since 1968, and the brand dates back to its first set in 1956. Meanwhile, Hornby saw a big hobby boom during the COVID pandemic, boosting sales of its trains, planes, and cars under brands like AirFix and Corgi. This deal marks Brown's first move with his new family office, and he's setting up Scaleless Strix Motorsports to run the business. Hornby plans to use the sale money to cut debt and invest in its core lines. So keep helping Scaleless Strix through their setup, acting as agents for smooth operations. Recently, Hornby de-listed from London's junior stock market after nearly four decades

1:04as a public company. Sports director Mike Ashley also joined as a consultant, following his group's nearly 9% stake. Brown wants to expand Scaleless Strix into fresh Motorsport areas, focusing on family fun and skills like hand-eye coordination to counter screen time. With dedicated ownership ahead, both Hornby and Scaleless Strix live primed for independent