Five Things Friday EU Edition Petit Bateau → Regent, Kering–Valentino 2028, EU Retail Media Shake‑Up
Description
Kering pushes Valentino buyout to 2028, Armani’s will lays out a staged sale/IPO, Petit Bateau heads to Regent, and Valiuz × Infinity create a European retail media leader—plus Qijco adds repairs to the “Vinted of DIY.”
Kering defers the full Valentino acquisition to 2028 as debt pressure bites; Giorgio Armani’s will instructs heirs to sell a first stake and later a controlling tranche or pursue an IPO; Groupe Rocher selects Regent to acquire Petit Bateau; and a major alliance—Valiuz × Infinity Advertising—emerges to form a European retail media leader. We also spotlight Qijco, the Belgian “Vinted of DIY,” adding repair services to resale and rentals.
Stories & sources
• Kering–Valentino delay (Reuters): https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/kering-delays-full-valentino-acquisition-2028-amid-debt-concerns-2025-09-10/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• Armani’s will (Reuters): https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/giorgio-armanis-will-instructs-gradually-sell-fashion-brand-or-seek-ipo-document-2025-09-12/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• Petit Bateau → Regent (FashionNetwork): https://www.fashionnetwork.com/news/Groupe-rocher-selects-regent-to-acquire-petit-bateau,1760833.html
• Retail Media alliance (Groupement Les Mousquetaires press release): https://www.mousquetaires.com/communique/valiuz-et-infinity-advertising-sunissent-pour-creer-le-leader-europeen-du-retail-media/
Additional context
• Qijco (“Vinted of DIY”) adds repairs to resale/rentals (FR coverage):
– eCommerceMag: https://www.ecommercemag.fr/Thematique/retail-1220/veille-internationale-2170/Breves/qijco-vinted-bricolage-etend-marketplace-service-reparation-outils-485086.htm
– Zepros Habitat: https://habitat.zepros.fr/actus/qijco-marketplace-brico-jardin-produits-occasion-location-desormais-prestations
Copyright & fair use
All linked articles are © their respective publishers and are referenced here for news reporting, commentary, and attribution. Please read the originals for full context.
00:00 — Intro & NRF Europe week
01:15 — Qijco: the “Vinted of DIY” adds repairs (BE/FR)
05:48 — Kering–Valentino deal deferred to 2028 (Reuters)
06:31 — Petit Bateau: Groupe Rocher selects Regent (FashionNetwork)
09:32 — Armani’s will: staged sale or IPO path (Reuters)
11:13 — Retail Media: Valiuz × Infinity Advertising (press release)
13:54 — Wrap
Episode type: Full
Author/Artist: The Retail Podcast
Language: English
Luxury consolidation pressure: Kering’s delay and Armani’s succession terms point to valuation resets and capital discipline across European luxury in 2025–2029. Reuters+1
Iconic brands under new ownership: Petit Bateau’s path with Regent mirrors the “heritage brand + global scale-up capital” pattern; execution will determine whether heritage becomes international growth or dilution. FashionNetwork+1
Retail media scale: Valiuz × Infinity Advertising expands reach across 10,000+ stores in six countries, raising the bar on first‑party retail audience activation in Europe. Expect escalating competition with Carrefour and others. Groupement Mousquetaires
Circular economy in DIY: Qijco’s repair layer on top of resale/rental strengthens utilization and lifetime value of tools—smart signal for home improvement ecosystems. ecommercemag.fr+1