PPR history

Established in 1963 by François Pinault in the timber and building material businesses, the PPR group positioned itself in the middle of the 1990s in the Retail sector, in which it soon became a major player.

The purchase of a controlling stake in Gucci Group in 1999 and the establishment of a multibrand Luxury Goods group marked a new stage in the development of the Group. In 2007, the group seized a new growth opportunity with the purchase of a controlling stake in Puma, a world leader and reference in Sportlifestyle. PPR thereby continued to develop its activities in the most buoyant markets, through strong and highly reputed brands.

 

1963
- François Pinault establishes the Pinault group, specialising in timber trading.

 

1988
- Flotation on the Paris Stock Market’s Second Marché of Pinault SA, a company specialising in timber trading, distribution and processing.

 

1990
- Acquisition of CFAO, specialising in electrical equipment distribution (through CDME, which became Rexel in 1993) and in trading with Africa.

 

1991
 - With the acquisition of Conforama, the Group enters the Retail activity.

 

1992
 - The Pinault-Printemps Group is born with the takeover of Au Printemps SA, which held 54% of La Redoute and Finaref.

 

1994
- Merger of La Redoute with the Group, which is renamed Pinault-Printemps-Redoute.
- Takeover of Fnac.

 

1995
- Launch of the Group’s fi rst website, laredoute.fr.

 

1996
- Acquisition by CFAO of SCOA, the leading pharmaceutical distributor in West Africa through its subsidiary Eurapharma.
- Creation of Orcanta, a women’s lingerie chain.
- Launch of fnac.com, the Fnac website.

 

1997
- Takeover by Redcats (PPR home shopping activity) of Ellos, the leader in the Scandinavian home shopping market.
- Creation of Fnac Junior, a store concept for children under 12.

 

1998
- Takeover of Guilbert, the European leader in office supplies and furnishings.
- Acquisition by Redcats of 49.9% of Brylane, the fourth largest home shopping company in the United States.
- Creation of Made in Sport, a chain of stores dedicated to sports enthusiasts.

 

1999
- Purchase of the remaining stake in Brylane.
- The Group enters the luxury goods sector with the acquisition of 42% of Gucci Group NV.
- First steps towards the creation of a multi-brand luxury goods group, with the acquisition by Gucci Group of Yves Saint Laurent, YSL Beauté and Sergio Rossi.

 

2000
- Acquisition of Surcouf, a specialised PC retailer.
- Acquisition by Gucci Group of Boucheron.
- Launch of Citadium, the new Printemps sports store.

 

2001
 - Gucci Group acquires Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga and signs partnership agreements with Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen.
- Conforama enters the Italian market with the purchase of the Emmetza group, one of the leaders in the home furnishings market in Italy.
- Pinault-Printemps-Redoute raises its stake in Gucci Group to 53.2%.

 

2002
- The Group raises its stake in Gucci Group to 54.4%.
- Sale of Guilbert home shopping activity to Staples Inc.
- Sale of part of the Credit and Financial Services activity in France and Scandinavia to Crédit Agricole SA (61% of Finaref) and to BNP Paribas (90% of Facet).

 

2003
- The Group raises its stake in Gucci Group to 67.6%.
- Sale of Pinault Bois & Matériaux to the Wolesley group in the UK.
- Sale of the Guilbert “contract” activity to the American group Offi ce Depot.
- Further sale of 14.5% of Finaref.

 

2004
- The Group raises its stake in Gucci Group to 99.4% following a tender offer.
- Sale of Rexel.
- Sales of the 24.5% residual stake in Finaref.

 

2005

- Change in the corporate name: Pinault-Printemps- Redoute becomes PPR.
- Sale of MobilePlanet.
- Sale of the 10% residual stake in Facet.

 

2006
- Sale of 51% of France Printemps to RREEF and the Borletti group.
- Sale of Orcanta to the Chantelle group.
- Sale of the Bernay industrial site (YSL Beauté Recherche et Industrie).
- Cessation of Fnac Service activities.
- Conforama acquires majority control of Sodice Expansion.
- Redcats Group acquires The Sportsman’s Guide, Inc.

 

2007
- Sale of the 49% residual stake in France Printemps to RREEF and the Borletti Group.
- Sale of Kadéos to the Accor Group.
- Acquisition of a 27.1% controlling stake in Puma, followed by an increase in this stake to 62.1% on completion of a tender offer.
- Acquisition by Redcats USA of United Retail Group.