The Dutch retail chain Hema is for sale. Its current owner, the Lion Capital investment company, is seeking buyers for the popular department store, which has 530 high street branches in the Netherlands.

Lion purchased the chain in 2007 and has said "it is now a good time to investigate the possibilities of an exit for Hema". Under the current ownership, the store expanded, both in terms of the number of outlets and in terms of turnover. Last year saw a 3 percent turnover increase to 1.1 billion euro. Net losses, however, amounted to 18.7 million euros, 3.5 million euros worse than the preceding year.

An asking price for the Hema chain has not been published. Lion paid 1.1 billion euros in 2007.

Hema is a Dutch household name with a long history. Its mid-priced range includes smartly designed kitchen appliances, clothes, and toiletries, as well as sweets, wines and interior decoration.

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