The Arnault family, owners of the LVMH French luxury goods conglomerate, and Austrian energy drinks giant Red Bull are finalizing a deal to acquire French second-tier soccer club Paris FC.
The Ligue 2 side’s current majority shareholder Pierre Ferracci will sell a stake of between 55-56% to the Arnault family, headed up by Bernard Arnault, while Red Bull will acquire around 15%, according to the L’Equipe publication.
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Ferracci will keep a stake of around 30%.
The deal will enhance Red Bull’s multi-club model but represent a first move into soccer ownership for the Arnault family.
Through LVMH, the family has been increasing its presence in the sports market and recently announced a major 10-year sponsorship deal with the Formula 1 motor racing series.
The luxury goods giant was also a premium sponsor of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
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By GlobalDataRed Bull, meanwhile, recently expanded its sporting portfolio by investing in a UK team for the first time, taking a minority stake in English second-tier club Leeds United.
Leeds have been added to a multi-club network that includes RB Leipzig in Germany, Austria's Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls in the US’ Major League Soccer, and Brazil’s Red Bull Bragantino.
The company also owns two teams in motor racing’s Formula 1, Red Bull Racing and a sister outfit, as well as ice hockey club EC Salzburg.
Yesterday, Red Bull hired Jurgen Klopp as global head of soccer. The former Liverpool manager will take up the role on January 1, 2025.
Paris FC, which plays in Stade Charlety in the south of the city, plays second fiddle in terms of reputation and fan numbers to perennial Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain (PSG).
With new ownership, the club, which has a men's and women's team, will look to reach the top-flight Ligue 1 and compete with PSG, who regularly feature in Europe's elite UEFA Champions League, both on and off the pitch.
Read: Deal Focus: Lucrative LVMH-F1 partnership maintains the series' opulence
Deal Focus: Red Bull enters UK soccer with Leeds stake
