Kering

French multinational luxury goods holding company owning prestigious fashion, jewelry, and watchmaking brands including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Bottega Veneta.

Company Type

public

Founded

1963

Headquarters

Paris, France

Stock

Euronext Paris: KER

About Kering

Kering is a publicly traded French luxury goods holding company founded in 1963 by François Pinault, headquartered in Paris, France. Under CEO Luca de Meo, Kering trades on Euronext Paris (KER) and owns prestigious brands including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Bottega Veneta. The company reported 2025 revenue of €14.675 billion (down 13% as reported, 10% comparable) with recurring operating income of €1.631 billion, forecasting return to growth and margin improvement in 2026.

History of Kering

Kering traces its origins to 1963 when François Pinault founded Pinault Distribution, a timber trading company in Brittany, France. The company expanded into retail and distribution throughout the 1970s and 1980s, eventually becoming Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR), establishing itself as a major French retail conglomerate with diverse business interests across multiple sectors.

In 1999, PPR made a strategic move that would transform the company forever by acquiring a controlling 42% stake in the Gucci group for $3 billion, along with 100% ownership of Yves Saint Laurent. These investments marked the cornerstone of the group's shift towards luxury goods, positioning PPR as a major player in the global luxury market and initiating a series of acquisitions that would define the company's portfolio for decades to come.

Throughout the 2000s, PPR expanded its luxury brands portfolio through strategic acquisitions of prestigious fashion houses. The company acquired Balenciaga in 2001, transforming it into a disruptive fashion house, and added Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen in the same year, establishing a comprehensive portfolio of luxury fashion brands. The company also acquired Saint Laurent in 1999, further strengthening its position in the high-fashion segment.

In 2013, PPR officially rebranded as Kering, reflecting its complete transformation from a retail conglomerate into a focused luxury goods holding company. The rebranding signified the company's commitment to its luxury brand portfolio and strategic positioning in the global luxury market, moving away from its retail and distribution roots to concentrate entirely on luxury goods.

Under the leadership of François-Henri Pinault (son of founder François Pinault), Kering continued to expand its portfolio while emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation. The company became known for its commitment to environmental responsibility and social governance within the luxury sector, pioneering initiatives in sustainable luxury and ethical business practices.

In 2025, Kering faced significant challenges as the company reported revenue of €14.675 billion, down 13% as reported and 10% on a comparable basis, reflecting difficult market conditions and strategic brand repositioning across its portfolio. The company's recurring operating income totaled €1.631 billion with a margin of 11.1%, down from 14.5% in 2024, impacted by the decline in revenue and increased investments in brand transformation.

In late 2025, Kering appointed Luca de Meo as CEO, bringing new leadership to guide the company through its next phase of transformation. Under de Meo's leadership, the company took decisive actions in the second half of 2025, strengthening the balance sheet, tightening costs, and making strategic choices that would lay the foundations for the company's next chapter of growth and recovery.

In February 2026, Kering announced its 2025 results and provided an optimistic outlook for 2026, forecasting a return to growth and margin improvement. The company announced plans for a Capital Markets Day on April 16, 2026, where it would present a clear roadmap to boost the desirability of its Luxury Houses and reignite growth, with well-defined brand strategies, a more effective organization, and strong financial discipline.

The company's 2025 performance showed sequential improvement throughout the year, with Q4 revenue down 9% as reported and 3% on a comparable basis, reflecting gradual improvement over the course of the year. Sales from the directly operated retail network decreased 4% on a comparable basis in Q4, with Western Europe and North America broadly in line with Q3, while trends improved sequentially across all other regions.

Gucci, Kering's cornerstone brand, reported 2025 revenue of €6 billion, down 22% as reported and 19% on a comparable basis, but showed signs of recovery in Q4 with revenue decreasing only 10% on a comparable basis. The launch of the collection La Famiglia, presented in September 2025 and rolled out progressively since early January, along with newness injection, helped revive interest in the Gucci brand.

Yves Saint Laurent reported 2025 revenue of €2.6 billion, down 8% as reported and 6% on a comparable basis, demonstrating relative resilience compared to other brands in the portfolio. The company's performance in 2025, while challenging, provided the foundation for the strategic transformation and roadmap that would guide Kering's next phase of sustainable and profitable growth in 2026 and beyond.

Brands Owned by Kering

View all 10 brands

Kering owns 10 brands in our database. Showing featured brands below.

Alexander McQueen

Owned by Kering

British luxury fashion house known for haute couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories, recognized for dramatic design, craftsmanship, and theatrical presentations.

luxury-fashionhaute-couturebritish-heritage

Balenciaga

Owned by Kering

Spanish luxury fashion house known for haute couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories, recognized for innovative design and architectural silhouettes.

luxury-fashionhaute-couturespanish-heritage

Bottega Veneta

Owned by Kering

Italian luxury fashion house known for leather goods, ready-to-wear, and accessories, recognized for its understated elegance and exceptional craftsmanship.

luxury-fashionitalian-heritageleather-goods

Boucheron

Owned by Kering

French luxury jewelry house known for fine jewelry, high jewelry, and accessories, recognized for exceptional craftsmanship and prestigious heritage.

luxury-jewelryfrench-heritagefine-jewelry

Girard-Perregaux

Owned by Kering

Swiss luxury watchmaking brand known for fine watches, innovative timepieces, and exceptional horological craftsmanship.

luxury-watchesswiss-heritagewatchmaking

Gucci

Owned by Kering

Italian luxury fashion house known for high-end clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories, recognized for its iconic GG monogram and distinctive design aesthetic.

luxury-fashionitalian-heritagehandbags

View all 10 brands owned by Kering

Shop Kering Brands

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Alexander McQueen on Amazon

Balenciaga on Amazon

Bottega Veneta on Amazon

Stock Information

Kering Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Diversified portfolio across multiple luxury categories
+Strong brand recognition with iconic brands like Gucci and Saint Laurent
+Global distribution network and retail presence
+Innovation in luxury goods and sustainable practices
+Public company access to capital markets
+Commitment to environmental and social responsibility

Considerations

-Competition from other luxury conglomerates like LVMH and Richemont
-Dependence on luxury consumer spending and fashion trends
-Need to balance brand autonomy with operational efficiency
-Manufacturing complexity across global production facilities
-Market challenges in highly competitive luxury goods industry
-Supply chain dependencies on luxury material sourcing

Frequently Asked Questions About Kering

Who owns Kering?

Kering is owned by its public shareholders who trade the company's stock on Euronext Paris under ticker symbol KER. The company operates as an independent publicly traded corporation without any parent organization or controlling owner. Major shareholders include institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual investors worldwide, with the Pinault family maintaining significant influence through their historical ownership and continued involvement in the company's leadership.

Is Kering publicly traded?

Yes, Kering is publicly traded on Euronext Paris under ticker symbol KER. The company has been publicly traded for decades, allowing investors to purchase shares and participate in the company's growth and profitability as one of the world's leading luxury goods conglomerates.

When was Kering founded?

Kering was founded in 1963 by François Pinault as Pinault Distribution, a timber trading company in Brittany, France. The company evolved through various stages, becoming Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR) before rebranding as Kering in 2013 to reflect its transformation into a focused luxury goods holding company.

Who is the CEO of Kering?

Luca de Meo serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Kering, appointed in late 2025 to guide the company through its next phase of transformation. Under de Meo's leadership, Kering has taken decisive actions to strengthen the balance sheet, tighten costs, and make strategic choices that lay the foundations for the company's next chapter of growth and recovery.

What does Kering own?

Kering owns a prestigious portfolio of luxury brands including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Girard-Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin, and holds 86% ownership of PUMA. The company manages these brands through a multi-brand strategy that allows each house to maintain its distinct identity while benefiting from centralized resources and global scale.

Where is Kering headquartered?

Kering maintains its corporate headquarters in Paris, France, where the company manages its global operations and extensive brand portfolio. The company's Paris headquarters serve as the strategic center for its worldwide luxury goods operations and brand management activities.

What is Kering's market position?

Kering holds a leading position in the global luxury goods market, particularly in fashion and jewelry categories, with iconic brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga. The company reported 2025 revenue of €14.675 billion and is one of the world's largest luxury conglomerates, competing directly with LVMH and Richemont for market leadership in the luxury sector.

What are Kering's recent achievements?

In 2025, Kering demonstrated sequential improvement throughout the year despite challenging market conditions, with Q4 revenue showing only a 3% decline on a comparable basis compared to earlier quarters. The company appointed new CEO Luca de Meo, strengthened its balance sheet, and announced plans for a Capital Markets Day in April 2026 to present a clear roadmap for growth and margin improvement in 2026.

What is Kering's outlook for 2026?

Kering is forecasting a return to growth and margin improvement in 2026, with CEO Luca de Meo stating "we will see growth in 2026, we will see increasing margins on all the brands." The company plans to present a detailed roadmap during its Capital Markets Day on April 16, 2026, focusing on building a leaner, faster Group, enhancing brand desirability, and strengthening cash generation for sustainable, long-term value creation.

What are Kering's main brands?

Kering's portfolio includes iconic luxury brands: Gucci (cornerstone brand with €6 billion 2025 revenue), Saint Laurent (€2.6 billion 2025 revenue), Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, Brioni in fashion; Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo in jewelry; and Girard-Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin in watches, along with 86% ownership of PUMA in sports and lifestyle.

About Kering

History of Kering