Published by Jessica Weisman-Pitts
Posted on November 20, 2024
2 min readLast updated: January 28, 2026
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PARIS (Reuters) – The Arnault family holding will not pressure LVMH brands into forging partnerships with Paris FC once it acquires a controlling stake in the French capital’s soccer club, Antoine Arnault, son of billionaire Bernard Arnault, said on Wednesday.
PARIS (Reuters) – The Arnault family holding will not pressure LVMH brands into forging partnerships with Paris FC once it acquires a controlling stake in the French capital’s soccer club, Antoine Arnault, son of billionaire Bernard Arnault, said on Wednesday.
Instead, if brands want to do so, Antoine Arnault said he would put them in touch with the club but would not force them to strike a deal if it does not fit their brand strategy.
Arnault, who will represent Agache, the Arnault family’s holding company, on the second-tier French soccer club’s board, also said buying a controlling stake was a long-term investment.
“It’s important, sports-wise, to do things gradually, to build, grow and improve by doing things gradually, step by step, without rushing,” he told a press conference, adding: “We’re in it for the long run.”
The proposed takeover continues a trend of billionaires buying soccer clubs across Europe, while overhauling a Paris-based club that could potentially rival Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain, owned by Qatar Sports Investments.
Paris FC have struggled to find a fan base, with the average attendance last season at just under 5,500 in their 19,000-capacity Charlety stadium despite tickets being free since last November.
Agache said last month that LVMH Chair Bernard Arnault had teamed up with energy drinks company Red Bull to enter into exclusive talks to buy a controlling stake in the club.
Paris FC’s current owner Pierre Ferracci told the same press conference that a deal was imminent.
(Reporting by Mimosa Spencer and Vincent Daheron; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
A partnership is a formal arrangement where two or more parties agree to manage and operate a business together, sharing profits, losses, and responsibilities.
An investment is an asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or appreciation. It can include stocks, bonds, real estate, or other financial instruments.
Sports sponsorship is a form of marketing where a company pays to be associated with a sports team or event, aiming to increase brand visibility and reach.
A controlling stake refers to owning enough shares in a company to influence its decisions and operations, typically more than 50% of the voting shares.
Brand strategy is a long-term plan for the development of a successful brand in order to achieve specific goals. It encompasses the brand's mission, target audience, and competitive positioning.
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