Red Bull is expanding its football empire to France. After the coup with Jürgen Klopp, the Austrian energy drink giant and the French billionaire Bernard Arnault are in takeover talks with Paris FC.
It was just six days ago that Red Bull caused a stir with a spectacular personnel change: the signing of Jürgen Klopp (57) as head of football on January 1st. Official job title: “Global Head of Soccer”. Now the next coup will probably follow.
After a few days of speculation as to whether the beverage company would take over shares in Paris FC, the Ligue 2 league leaders confirmed negotiations with the French billionaire Arnault family and Red Bull. The Arnault family, owners of the luxury brand company LVMH, announced “exclusive” information about their holding company Agache Negotiations regarding the acquisition of a majority stake in the French second division club have been announced. According to BILD information, the shares that Red Bull should hold are ten percent, which can increase over the years.
Paris FC, which last played in the country’s top division in 1979, will become the second club after Leeds United in which Red Bull has a minority stake. The group is also the main shareholder in RB Leipzig, the New York Red Bulls, Bragantino (Brazil) and Omiya Ardija (Japan).
Goal: To make the club one of the best in France
LVMH, the Arnault family company, is a global leader in the luxury goods industry with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Moët, Glenmorangie and Dior. When he entered the football business, Bernard Arnault was looking for investors – and Red Bull boss Oliver Mintzlaff maintains excellent relationships with his family. Red Bull, for its part, wants to have better access to the French market with its huge talent pool. If a top jewel falls through the cracks at industry giant Paris Saint-Germain, RB wants to be there with Paris FC.
As the French news agency AFP reported, the Arnault family would like to take over 55 percent of the club’s shares, while Red Bull is aiming to buy 15 percent. The remaining 30 percent remained in the possession of the current club boss Pierre Ferracci. This already ruled out changing the club name.
The Agache Group, led by LVHM managing director Bernard Arnault, said it wanted to develop the club into one of the country’s leading clubs. The aim is “the long-term establishment of men’s and women’s teams among the elite of French football and in the hearts of Parisians”.
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