H&M Billionaire Quietly Moves Brand Toward Private Ownership (1)

Hennes & Mauritz AB, the fast-fashion retailer that’s been listed on the Swedish stock market since 1974, is steadily moving back toward private ownership.

The founding family has stepped up purchases of H&M shares, spending more than 63 billion kronor ($6.6 billion) since 2016 to amass nearly two-thirds control and fueling speculation it could take the Stockholm-based company back into private hands — despite denials from family members.

The Perssons, one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, have built up a growing stake through holding company Ramsbury Invest, saying little about their intentions other than that they “believe” in H&M, ...