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Francois-Henri Pinault's Artemis to buy majority stake inCAA

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French luxury goods billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault has reached an agreement for a majority stake in Creative Artists Agency, adding Hollywood’s premiere talent agency to his family empire which spans fashion, wine and contemporary art, parties involved said on Tuesday.

Financial details of the deal, in which Artemis will buy the financial stake belonging to private equity firm TPG, were not provided.

The deal gives the Hollywood talent agency an enterprise value of $7 billion including debt, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“CAA’s exceptional insight, relationships, and access across key sectors, combined with their widely regarded level of collaboration and innovation, gives the company a formidable role in driving global opportunities for its diverse and culture-defining clients,” Pinault, who is chairman and CEO of Kering, the French group that owns fashion label Gucci, said in a statement.

The presence of stars like Beyonce, Zendaya and Rihanna have become key to drawing the spotlight to fashion shows, and Kering’s larger rival LVMH recruited Pharrell Williams to head menswear designs for Louis Vuitton.

The Los Angeles-based agency, which represents thousands of actors, directors and music artists including Beyonce and Pinault’s wife, Salma Hayek, branched into representing athletes in 2006.

Talks between the parties were reported in July.

TPG first invested in CAA in 2010 and increased its stake to 53% in a deal valuing the agency at $1.1 billion.

The sale comes at a tumultuous time in Hollywood, due to strikes of Hollywood actors, film and television writers disrupting shows and movies.

It also comes amid a flurry of deal-making in the luxury goods industry, including Kering’s recent purchases of fashion firm Valentino and perfumer Creed, as high-end spenders begin reining in purchases after a strong post-pandemic spending spree.

Global investment firm Temasek will remain a minority investor in the agency while CMC Capital will remain a “strategic partner,” according to the statement.

CAA’s leadership triumvirate of Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane and Richard Lovett will remain as the agency’s co-chairmen, though Lourd will be named chief executive officer when the transaction closes, expected to be finalized this year.

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Noelle Montes

Update: 2024-05-17