Finance
Kering strikes deal to make Valentino eyewear
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 15, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 15, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Kering partners with Valentino for eyewear production, delaying full acquisition until 2028 to focus on Gucci and debt reduction.
PARIS (Reuters) -French luxury group Kering has struck a licensing deal to develop eyewear for Valentino, deepening ties between the two companies days after Kering said it would take more time before buying full control of the Italian fashion brand.
The agreement announced Monday, which gives Kering the rights to develop and distribute glasses and sunglasses under the Valentino label, was announced as Kering CEO Luca de Meo started his first official day at the French group.
Kering said last week it would not purchase the 70% stake it does not own in Valentino until at least 2028, pushing back its commitment to buy the Italian brand from Qatar-backed Mayhoola as it focuses on its main earner Gucci and on reducing its 9.5 billion euros ($11.2 billion) of debt.
The delay reduces the list of tasks facing de Meo as he takes on his new role with a mandate to put the struggling Gucci owner back on track.
Kering shares traded up 5.5% on Monday.
Kering and Valentino said the first glasses collection under the agreement - which comes into effect in January 2026 - would be presented at Valentino's fashion show in Paris on October 5, with eyewear sold in stores and online from March 2026.
($1 = 0.8498 euros)
(Reporting by Mimosa SpencerEditing by Mark Potter)
Kering has struck a licensing deal to develop and distribute eyewear under the Valentino label, which includes glasses and sunglasses.
The first glasses collection under the agreement will be presented at Valentino's fashion show in Paris on October 5, 2026.
Kering has delayed its commitment to purchase the remaining 70% stake in Valentino until at least 2028, focusing on the licensing agreement instead.
Kering shares traded up 5.5% on the day the licensing agreement was announced.
Luca de Meo is the CEO of Kering, and he has a mandate to put the struggling Gucci owner back on track.
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