In 1963, with a loan from his family and a bank, François Pinault opened the Établissements Pinault in Brittany (France) specialized in timber trading. The company became Pinault S.A. and grew organically and through acquisitions. In 1988, Pinault S.A. was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.[2]
In 1989, Pinault S.A. purchased 20% of CFAO, a French distribution conglomerate active throughout Africa. In 1990, Pinault S.A. and CFAO merged, and François Pinault became head of the newly formed group. This accelerated its acquisitions in the retail sector: Conforama (French furniture retailer) in 1991, Printemps (department stores in France) in 1992, which also owned 54% of La Redoute (French mail-order shopping retailer), and Fnac (French bookstore, multimedia and electronics retailer) in 1994. To align with its new activities, the group was renamed Pinault-Printemps-Redoute in 1994.[2]
In 1999, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute purchased a controlling 42% stake of the Gucci group for $3 billion and 100% of Yves Saint Laurent.[3][4][5] Those acquisitions marked the cornerstone of the group's shift towards luxury. After Gucci, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute acquired Boucheron (2000), Bottega Veneta (2001), Balenciaga (2001), and signed strategic partnerships with Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney.[6] In 2004, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute reached a 99.4% ownership of Gucci.
There is also the Kering Foundation with the daughter of Jaques Chirac (former French President), Claude Chirac on the Board of Directors together with Salma Hayek!
In 1992, the French entrepreneur François Pinault transferred his majority stake in Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR, renamed Kering in 2013) to his new company, Groupe Artémis, created as a family investment vehicle.[2] Throughout the 1990s, he engaged in a series of prestigious acquisitions.
There is more:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kering#Brands
From timber trading to retail
In 1963, with a loan from his family and a bank, François Pinault opened the Établissements Pinault in Brittany (France) specialized in timber trading. The company became Pinault S.A. and grew organically and through acquisitions. In 1988, Pinault S.A. was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.[2]
In 1989, Pinault S.A. purchased 20% of CFAO, a French distribution conglomerate active throughout Africa. In 1990, Pinault S.A. and CFAO merged, and François Pinault became head of the newly formed group. This accelerated its acquisitions in the retail sector: Conforama (French furniture retailer) in 1991, Printemps (department stores in France) in 1992, which also owned 54% of La Redoute (French mail-order shopping retailer), and Fnac (French bookstore, multimedia and electronics retailer) in 1994. To align with its new activities, the group was renamed Pinault-Printemps-Redoute in 1994.[2]
In 1999, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute purchased a controlling 42% stake of the Gucci group for $3 billion and 100% of Yves Saint Laurent.[3][4][5] Those acquisitions marked the cornerstone of the group's shift towards luxury. After Gucci, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute acquired Boucheron (2000), Bottega Veneta (2001), Balenciaga (2001), and signed strategic partnerships with Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney.[6] In 2004, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute reached a 99.4% ownership of Gucci.
Emma Watson is on the Board of Directors: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kering#Board_of_Directors
There is also the Kering Foundation with the daughter of Jaques Chirac (former French President), Claude Chirac on the Board of Directors together with Salma Hayek!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kering_Foundation#Board_of_Directors
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kering_Foundation#Goals_and_missions
In 1992, the French entrepreneur François Pinault transferred his majority stake in Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR, renamed Kering in 2013) to his new company, Groupe Artémis, created as a family investment vehicle.[2] Throughout the 1990s, he engaged in a series of prestigious acquisitions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupe_Art%C3%A9mis#Investments
Compagnie du Ponant belongs to Groupe Artémis = Francois Pinault -> CRUISE SHIPS!!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compagnie_du_Ponant