VAIBHAV SHANKAR SHARMA’s Post

France’s billionaire Arnault family, owners of luxury group LVMH and one of the richest dynasties on the planet, is preparing to secure majority ownership of minor soccer club Paris FC . ➡️ Antoine Arnault, son of LVMH CEO and Chairman Bernard Arnault, told CNBC the investment looks to replicate the sporting success Red Bull has achieved in its own acquisitions of German soccer club Leipzig and Austria’s Salzburg. ➡️ The team are set to gain additional momentum from the recent appointment of Jürgen Klopp, who took English club Liverpool to Premier League success, as Red Bull’s global head of soccer. Read more: https://cnb.cx/3V9Grb2

Popularization of #luxury continues: The Arnault family acquisition of a majority stake in Paris FC reflects the continued expansion into sports following investments in the Olympic Games and Formula 1. This move proves once again LVMH global influence by aligning luxury with major cultural and sporting platforms. And, hold on, PSG! #LuxuryStrategy #BrandExpansion #BusinessDevelopment #MarketingInnovation #LuxuryLeadership #SportsMarketing

LVMH brands can choose to forge deals with Paris FC soccer club or not, Arnault family says By Reuters 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 - https://lnkd.in/dzGA_B2v

LVMH and Red Bull are in talks to acquire majority stakes in Paris FC , with Pierre Ferracci selling 55% to the Arnault family and 15% to Red Bull. Ferracci will retain a 30% share until 2027, after which LVMH is expected to assume full ownership. This acquisition is the latest in LVMH’s strategic push into sports, following its landmark 10-year central sponsorship deal with Formula 1, the longest in the sport’s history. #RedBull, meanwhile, expands its multi club ownership football strategy under the direction of Jürgen Klopp, recently appointed head of global soccer. Amid PSG’s stadium uncertainties, an Arnault-led Paris FC could alter the competitive landscape in Parisian football. ✍ Gavin Hamilton 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e-Zd54mv

LVMH’s Antoine Arnault reveals plans for investing together with Red Bull (who else) in Paris FC setting them up to become local competition to PSG. The aim of Arnault is “not to waste money” acknowledging the complexity of the football industry. Considering the fact that Paris is a huge local market in a country that is one of the largest in Europe, but struggling with the competition in the top-5 leagues and selling the media rights, this could become an interesting project. Considering LVMH’s brand portfolio, chances are that Paris FC will aim to become a premium brand leaning into the trend of how the Venezia FC’s of the industry have marketed themselves lately. And the Parisians are also a classy bunch, so very curious how this will enrich the footba industry. https://lnkd.in/eaE8swve

Just when I couldn’t love LVMH any more after their brilliant summer supporting the Olympics and Paralympics, the Arnault family buys into Paris FC as a long-term investment. The Arnault family, owners of the luxury conglomerate LVMH, have acquired a majority stake in Paris FC, a football club competing in France’s Ligue 2. This strategic move aims to elevate Paris FC to the top tier of French football, challenging the dominance of city darling Paris Saint-Germain. The acquisition involves Agache, the Arnault family’s holding company, securing a 55% stake in Paris FC, with energy drink giant Red Bull obtaining a 15% minority share. Current club president Pierre Ferracci will retain a 30% stake until 2027, after which the Arnault family plans to increase its ownership to 85%. Antoine Arnault, representing the family on the Paris FC board, expressed a commitment to providing the necessary resources to establish both the men’s and women’s teams among the elite of French football. This initiative reflects a broader vision to enhance the city’s sporting prestige following the Paris Olympics. This development signifies a significant shift in Parisian football, potentially reshaping the city’s football landscape and providing more opportunities for homegrown talents. This move by the Arnaults is part of a broader trend of high-profile individuals and businesses investing in football clubs. ❤️Manchester United: Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, owner of INEOS, recently agreed to purchase a minority stake in Manchester United, adding the iconic club to his portfolio of sports investments, which already includes Nice (France) and Lausanne-Sport (Switzerland). ❤️Wrexham AFC: Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquired the Welsh club in 2021, revitalising the team and bringing international attention to the lower leagues of British football. ❤️AFC Bournemouth: American businessman Bill Foley, owner of the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL, acquired Bournemouth in 2022, further expanding his sports empire. These examples underscore the growing appeal of football as a global business opportunity, attracting influential figures from diverse industries to invest in the sport’s unparalleled cultural and commercial potential. The Arnault family’s involvement with Paris FC reflects this trend and signals a new chapter for French football. #TheCPGGeek #IBMRetail #IBMConsumer #FMCG #ConsumerGoods #Retail Proud to be a #RethinkRetailTopExpert - RETHINK Retail #RethinkRetail Proud to be an #NRFRetailVoice - National Retail Federation #NRF https://lnkd.in/e6Xb8pX9

How LVMH’s Paris FC Acquisition is changing the game ⚽ 🔎 Why is this acquisition important? 👉 Discover how LVMH is blending luxury, branding, and football to grow its empire. 👉 Learn about Red Bull’s 15% stake and their role in developing Paris FC. 📈 👉 Understand the business strategy behind Paris FC’s rise and how it could reshape French football. 🌍 📌 In the article, you'll find key insights into the deal structure, the risks involved, and the long-term vision driving this investment. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eue74epp Don't forget to join our upcoming newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e9Py9TeG #FootballBusiness #Finance #LuxuryInvestments #SportsManagement #LVMH #ParisFC

The most interesting piece of news I've heard so far this week is that the Arnault family - yes, the one that owns LVMH - is going to buy the other Parisian football club, Paris FC. I found it quite curious because the Arnault family and its estimated net worth of $200 billion is specialised in the production and marketing of luxury products from fashion to spirits via LVMH. And so investing in something as 'popular' and as nonexclusive as football is not only uncharacteristic, but also is a completely different playground for them. It is probably why the Arnault family has partnered with Red Bull - yes, the energy drink company -  in a deal which will see Red Bull run the operations of the club. My friend called this move a masterstroke. Why? Simply because Red Bull successfully owns and runs four football clubs; RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, and RB Bragatinno. And when you remember that Jorgen Klopp - yes, the former Liverpool FC coach - is now director of football at Red Bull this whole operations gets even more interesting. The sports economy fan that I am is geeking out to see how this whole thing will unfold especially at a time when the Qatari holding that owns PSG is rumored to be looking for a buyer. PSG is only fifty years old but has spent decades in the French elite. And it has a very strong and loud fanbase in Paris and francophone Africa. Paris FC on the other hand has been yo-yoing between the lower echelons of the French league. They are currently first place in the second division and are poised to climb to the first division.  It is not clear if they have a core fanbase that can fill up large stadiums. Or how they'll attact new fans. Or perhaps they'll be a tourist, cardboard club like Manchester City, with its newly-minted fair weather fans created by the smell of Emirati banknotes. How this nouveau-riche of French football will fight for hegemony in the French capital with 'unlimited' cash and with Red Bull at the helmet of operations will be very interesting to watch. Football, money, power, influence.  The pundits will be talking about this for years.

LVMH is rewriting the rules of luxury by making strategic power moves in the world of sports. From dominating the Paris Olympics to partnering with Formula One, and now investing in Paris FC, LVMH isn’t just putting its logo on the sidelines—they’re taking center stage. Why sports? Because while culture has fractured into countless niches, sports remains the last great arena where emotion, influence, and entertainment collide on a global scale. From the thrill of Drive to Survive to Netflix’s latest Starting 5 docuseries, featuring the NBA’s biggest stars, sports stories are the modern epicenter of fandom and narrative. LVMH sees this, and rather than standing on the sidelines, they’re stepping in, driving change, and shaping the story. This isn’t just a play for exposure—it’s a power move. The sports world is one of the few remaining bastions of collective cultural capital, and LVMH is betting big on its future—not just to stay relevant, but to lead the conversation on what “luxury” really means today.

Frasers Group announces the departure of Ger Wright, Managing Director of Sport, who has played a key role in the company’s elevation strategy. While Wright steps down on November 30, her impact will resonate through Frasers' ongoing global expansion in sports retail. With strategic growth across the Benelux region and opening of new Sports World locations, Frasers continues to redefine sports retail on a global stage. Read more here👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/gfmrYE8A #ApparelResources #FrasersGroup #SportsDirect #RetailExpansion #GlobalGrowth #Benelux #SportsRetail #GerWright #LeadershipChange #StrategicAlliances #RetailInnovation #SportsWorld #RunningRetail #OutdoorGear #MarketExpansion #GlobalAmbitions #SportsMerchandising #NewStores #RetailStrategy #SportsIndustry #RetailLeadership #FrasersStrategy #TalentAndDrive #EuropeanExpansion #SportsMarket #RetailExcellence #RetailNews