French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, through his family's investment company, Artémis, is set to acquire a majority stake in Creative Artists Agency (CAA), one of Hollywood's top talent agencies.
CAA, known for representing A-list clients like Zendaya, Brad Pitt, Ryan Murphy, and Tom Hanks, will become part of Pinault's extensive portfolio, which includes luxury brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, auction house Christie's, and Château Latour winery.
The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
The leadership at CAA, including Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, and Richard Lovett, have pledged to remain at the helm of the talent agency. Once the transaction is finalized, Lourd is expected to become the CEO, while Jim Burtson will continue as the agency's president.
Considered a strategic investment by Artémis, the move will provide CAA with diverse opportunities and global reach. While there are speculations about potential synergies between CAA and Kering brands due to the association with Pinault's family, sources indicate that Artémis sees this as a smart investment beyond fashion endorsements.
Temasek, owned by the government of Singapore, will retain a minority stake in CAA, and China's CMC Capital remains a strategic partner.
The transaction is expected to be completed later this year, pending customary closing conditions.
CAA was valued at $5.5 billion when it acquired talent and sports agency International Creative Management (ICM) in 2022, expanding its influence across various entertainment sectors.