Brompton sells stakes to Decathlon and Chinese Labubu backer

British bike maker says cycling market is recovering from sales slump and investments will add new expertise

The French sports gear retailer Decathlon and a Chinese investment group that was an early backer of Labubu soft toys have bought stakes in the British folding bike maker Brompton, as its boss said the cycling market was recovering from a slump in sales.

Decathlon has acquired a 10% stake in the manufacturer while BA Capital has bought 5% in a deal understood to collectively be worth about £18m.