Del Vecchio Heirs reach provisional agreement to end inheritance dispute

Yesterday 10:30

Two heirs of the late billionaire Leonardo Del Vecchio have reached a provisional agreement aimed at resolving a long-running inheritance dispute, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The agreement involves members of the Del Vecchio family and relates to the control structure of Delfin, the family holding company that manages major investments, including a significant stake in EssilorLuxottica, the global leader in eyewear.

The dispute had led to multiple legal challenges between family members over ownership rights and governance within Delfin, which also holds shares in major financial institutions such as Assicurazioni Generali and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

Under the provisional deal, the involved heirs are expected to withdraw their cross-lawsuits, although sources indicated that a final agreement has not yet been fully concluded and several technical and legal details remain unresolved.

The settlement could facilitate a broader restructuring of the family’s holdings, including a potential buyout plan previously approved within Delfin. That proposal was valued at around €10 billion and aimed to simplify decision-making within the holding company.

Leonardo Del Vecchio, the founder of the Luxottica empire and one of Italy’s most influential industrialists, died in 2022. His estate was distributed among his children, his widow, and other family members, leading to ongoing disputes over control and governance of the family’s vast business empire.

The potential resolution is seen as a step toward stabilizing one of Europe’s most powerful family-controlled investment structures.