KERING

This company, formerly known as Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, is the world leader in retail of luxury goods. The group is a French multinational holding company specializing in retail shops and luxury brands. Based in Paris, the company was established by billionaire businessman François Pinault in 1963.The group went through a major reorganization in the early years of the new millennium, selling off its holdings in timber, electrical equipment, and consumer credit services to focus on its retail businesses and luxury goods. It has built a profitable growth profile by combining retail and luxury goods businesses. It has principal operating units such as Gucci Group N.V., Printemps, Redcat, Fnac, Conforama and CFAO. The group is a leading retail group in Europe through companies such as Redcats - a mail order retailer which operates La Redoute, Ellos, Empire, Brylane, Cyrillus, Vertbaudet, Somewhere, Daxon, Edmée, Celaia, La Maison de Valérie, and Josefssons; Conforama, a household furnishing retailer; Printemps, Le Printemps department stores; CFAO, a distributor of cars and pharmaceuticals in Africa; and FNAC, a French-based music and book retailer. The group is also the world's third-largest luxury group, which includes the luxury brands of Gucci Group (Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Yves Saint Laurent, YSL Beauté, Boucheron, Sergio Rossi, BEDAT & CO, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Balenciaga). Other main subsidiaries include: SCOA, a West African pharmaceuticals supplier; Guilbert, Europe's largest office supply and equipment; and Surcouf, France's largest computer retailer.