Stock Markets April 1, 2026

Kering Sells Majority Stake in Milan Flagship to Al-Mirqab for €1.16bn

Gucci-owner retains minority interest as part of plan to pare debt and protect its credit profile amid soft sales

By Ajmal Hussain
Kering Sells Majority Stake in Milan Flagship to Al-Mirqab for €1.16bn

Kering has agreed to sell an 80% stake in its Via Monte Napoleone property in Milan to Qatar's Al-Mirqab Group for 1.16 billion euros. The French luxury group will hold a 20% stake via a joint venture and will receive an initial cash payment of 729 million euros, with a deferred residual of 432 million euros payable in five years. The disclosed terms imply a nominal property valuation of 1.45 billion euros; Kering bought the asset in 2024 for 1.3 billion euros. The transaction is presented as part of Kering's efforts to reduce leverage and shore up its credit rating amid weak sales across its fashion brands.

Key Points

  • Kering is selling an 80% interest in its Via Monte Napoleone property in Milan to Qatar’s Al-Mirqab Group for 1.16 billion euros, while retaining a 20% stake via a joint venture - impacts luxury real estate and corporate finance sectors.
  • The deal provides Kering with an immediate cash injection of 729 million euros and a deferred 432 million euros payable in five years, altering the company's liquidity profile and balance-sheet flexibility - relevant to credit markets and corporate debt management.
  • The disclosed terms imply a nominal valuation of 1.45 billion euros for the building; Kering purchased the property in 2024 for 1.3 billion euros - relevant to commercial property valuation trends in prime retail districts.

Kering, the French luxury conglomerate that owns Gucci, announced a transaction on Wednesday selling an 80% interest in its Milan property on Via Monte Napoleone to Al-Mirqab Group of Qatar for 1.16 billion euros ($1.35 billion).

Under the terms disclosed, Kering will continue to hold a 20% equity stake through a joint venture with Al-Mirqab. The deal includes an immediate cash consideration of 729 million euros and a deferred payment of 432 million euros that is due in five years.

The figures disclosed by the company point to a nominal valuation of 1.45 billion euros for the Milan building. Kering originally acquired the property in 2024 for 1.3 billion euros.

Kering said the disposal is part of a broader programme of transactions intended to lower its debt burden and to defend its credit rating in the face of weak sales at its fashion brands. The company will therefore convert a direct majority ownership of a prime retail asset into liquidity while maintaining a minority stake that preserves exposure to future property value and revenue.

Key elements of the structure - the split between an upfront payment and a deferred balance - mean Kering receives most proceeds immediately while leaving a material portion payable after a multi-year interval. The company will also remain economically involved in the Milan asset through the retained 20% interest.

The move is presented by Kering as one component in its efforts to strengthen the group’s financial position amid a challenging sales environment across parts of its fashion portfolio. The sale concentrates ownership with Al-Mirqab while preserving Kering’s minority participation and potential upside through the joint venture arrangement.


Summary

Kering has sold an 80% stake in its Via Monte Napoleone building in Milan to Al-Mirqab Group for 1.16 billion euros, retaining 20% via a joint venture. The company will receive 729 million euros immediately and 432 million euros in five years. The disclosed terms imply a 1.45 billion euro valuation for an asset Kering bought in 2024 for 1.3 billion euros. The transaction is part of efforts to reduce debt and protect the company’s credit rating amid weak sales.

Risks

  • A portion of the proceeds - 432 million euros - is deferred for five years, introducing timing and payment risk tied to the future settlement of that amount; this affects Kering's medium-term liquidity planning and creditors.
  • The transaction is framed as part of efforts to reduce debt and defend the group's credit rating amid weak sales at its fashion brands, highlighting uncertainty around revenue performance in the luxury goods sector and potential pressure on credit metrics.
  • Concentrating ownership with an external investor while retaining minority exposure through a joint venture maintains some exposure to property market and operational risks in prime retail real estate, which could influence future returns for Kering's retained stake.

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