Who Owns Gucci?

Gucci is a well-known luxury goods brand from Italy that is currently part of the French Kering SA group. This article will dive deeper into Gucci’s history and its history with shareholders. It will also provide some insight into the five largest Gucci shareholders.

Key Takeaways 

• Gucci opened its first store in 1921 in Florence, specialising in handcrafted luggage and equestrian accessories. 
• In 1999 Gucci was taken over by the publicly traded French group Kering SA (KER), who is currently still the owner. The group also own other fashion brands including Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexandar McQueen, Brioni and others. 
• The largest shareholders of Kering SA are Groupe Artémis, Vanguard International Growth Fund Investor Shares, Oakmark, Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares and New Perspective Funds.

Who Owns Gucci

Guccio Gucci's journey into the world of luxury goods began in 1921 when he opened a small leather shop in Florence, Italy. He was inspired by the luxurious luggage he was working with when he worked as a bellboy at London's Savoy Hotel. This experience kickstarted his passion for quality craftsmanship and luxurious goods, which led him to create a brand that would soon become synonymous with Italian luxury.  

As the company grew and expanded, Guccio’s sons joined the family business. Each contributes in its way to its growth and evolution. One son, Aldo, played a pivotal role in elevating the brand, introducing iconic and innovative designs like the Bamboo Bag and the well-known “GG” logo. Gucci grew globally under their guidance, with the company opening new stores in Rome, Milan, and New York.  

When Guccio Gucci passed away in 1953, a new era started for the brand. His sons, particularly Aldo, guided Gucci towards global success. However, the family business suffered from internal conflicts soon after that.

Gucci's Ownership 

In 1987, Gucci's ownership started shifting. This was the time during which Investcorp bought a 50% stake and had purchased the remaining shares from Maurizio Gucci by 1993. In 1995, Gucci went public on the stock market and Investcorp eventually sold its shares for a substantial profit. In 1999, Kering SA, back then known as PPR, stepped in and prevented a hostile takeover by LVMH, solidifying their control over Gucci.  

Despite the challenges of the 80s and early 90s, Tom Ford's appointment as creative director in 1994 brought new life to the brand. The sales went up from $206 million in 1995 to $624 million by 2000. By 2004, Kering SA had bought nearly all of Gucci's shares. They removed the company from the stock exchanges and fully integrated it into its luxury brand portfolio. 

Kering itself is also mainly owned by shareholders, including institutional investors, retail investors and Kering employees. Since 2021, Kering has been selectively repurchasing its own shares, with some of these stocks allocated to its free employee share grant program. This helps with the sustainability of the brand and holding on to great contributors to the famous Gucci brand. 

Largest Gucci Shareholders

Kering currently has complete ownership over Gucci, but who owns Kering is a more complex question. Below are Kering’s top five largest shareholders. 

1. Groupe Artémis 

Holding company Groupe Artémis has been Kering’s largest shareholder since its founding by François Pinault in 1992. It holds around 52 million Kering shares, which translates to 42.2% of the company. Groupe Artémis, still owned by the Pinault family, has a substantial influence on the governance and strategies of Kering. It had a great influence on Kering’s direction towards luxury goods like Gucci in 1999 for example. With each share priced at around €228.95, Artémis' stake is valued at about €14.9 billion. 

2. Vanguard International Growth Fund Investor Shares 

The Vanguard International Growth Fund Investor Shares is a fund that was founded by the Vanguard Group in 1981. The fund aims to invest in international companies with a high growth potential. Vanguard itself is one of the biggest asset management companies in the world. It holds 1.2 million shares of Kering, amounting to 0.98% of the company’s total shares, with a value of approximately $305 million.  

3. Oakmark International Fund 

Oakmark International Fund was founded by Harris Associates in 1992 and it invests in international value stocks. The fund aims to identify companies with high quality and strong management that seem to be undervalued compared to their intrinsic value. Oakmark International Fund owns 1.18 million shares in Kering, giving it ownership over 0.96% of the company, which is valued at roughly €299 million. 

4. Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares 

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares was founded in 2010 by Vanguard Group. The fund uses a benchmark index to track stock performances in developed and emerging markets. By holding 980,796 shares in Kering, the fund owns 0.79% of Kering, with a value of about €204 million. 

5. New Perspective Fund by American Funds 

New Perspective Fund by American Funds was founded by Capital Group in 1973. Investing in established multinationals as well as leaders of emerging industries, the fund aims to benefit from changes in trading patterns. Capital Group itself was founded in 1931 and is one of the oldest and biggest investment management companies. New Perspective Fund owns 865,655 shares in Kering, representing 0.70% of the total shares. Their share of the company is valued at approximately €180 million.

How to Invest in Gucci

The Gucci brand is owned by the publicly traded French company Kering SA, which also owns Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexandar McQueen, Brioni and others.  With Admiral Markets, you can trade and invest in over 4,000 stocks and ETFs, like Kering SA with the following commissions:      

• UK stocks and ETFs – 0.1% of trade value, 1 GBP minimum commission.     
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• France/Germany stocks and ETFs - 0.1% of trade value, 1 EUR minimum commission.    

You can learn more about trading and investing commissions on the Admiral Markets Contract Specification page. Search for global stocks and ETFs from the MT5 web platform and invest in four steps:

1. Open an account with Admiral Markets.
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4. Click Create New Order in the bottom window to open a trading ticket to input your trade size, stop loss and take profit level.

Conclusion 

Kering SA is currently the sole owner of Gucci, but the question of who controls and owns Kering requires a deeper dive into its ownership structure. Kering has approximately 123 million outstanding shares, with Groupe Artémis holding about 52 million of them. Other significant shareholders are Vanguard International Growth Fund & Index Shares, Oakmark International funds, Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares and New Perspective Fund.  

Under the ownership of Kering SA, Gucci has made major strides, with annual revenues exceeding €10.5 billion in 2022. The brand remains a symbol of luxury, with a strong presence in designer apparel and accessories, with 528 stores worldwide. Today, Gucci is part of a prestigious portfolio that includes Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Saint Laurent: all under the Kering Group's umbrella.

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