Pinault says Kering is looking at M&A options but focus is on organic growth

FILE PHOTO: Francois-Henri Pinault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of French luxury group Kering, attends the annual news conference of Kering at the company’s headquarters in Paris, France, February 12, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) – French luxury goods group Kering is looking at possible mergers and acquisitions seriously, but M&A is not indispensable for its future growth, Chairman and Chief Executive Francois-Henri Pinault said on Wednesday.

Pinault said his group was in a strong position, both in term of financial bandwidth and know-how, to potentially acquire and integrate a big target if the right opportunity arose, although he added that the priority for now was to focus on organic growth.

Asked about recurring rumours that Kering could be eyeing a tie-up with Swiss rival Richemont, Pinault told reporters: โ€œItโ€™s a group that we know well, itโ€™s one of our partners that gave us a licence for their eyewear so we are in regular contact. But itโ€™s a group that is controlled by a family, as is Kering, and there is nothing else on this matter.โ€

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