Ray-Ban heir buys 2% stake in Italian paper Il Fatto Quotidiano (updated)
UPDATE 1-Ray-Ban heir buys 2% stake in Italian paper Il Fatto Quotidiano Adds background
By Alvise Armellini
ROME, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, an heir to the late founder of Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica ESLX.PA, said on Friday he had bought a 2% stake in the company that controls an Italian opposition newspaper with which he has an ongoing feud.
He previously expressed his interest in a full takeover bid for Il Fatto Quotidiano's owner SEIF SEIFT.MI, but dropped his plans after the company's main shareholders last week rejected his request for access to due diligence.
Del Vecchio, 31, has emerged as one of the most colourful figures in the Italian business world, recently revealing details of his private life such as past drug problems and having slept with more than 2,000 women.
On Friday, he posted a picture of himself reading Il Fatto, wearing sunglasses and sitting on what appeared to be a private jet, along with the message "I also bought Il Fatto Quotidiano. 2%."
A spokesperson confirmed the investment.
Del Vecchio already has significant media holdings in Italy through his indebted holding company LMDV, namely the QN newspaper and a 30% stake in another daily, Il Giornale, formerly owned by the Berlusconi family.
His family holding company Delfin is the largest investor in EssilorLuxottica, with 32.4%. It also owns 10% of insurer Generali GASI.MI, 17.5% of lender Monte dei Paschi BMPS.MI and has a small stake in larger bank UniCredit CRDI.MI.
'RATS OF JOURNALISM'
Before offering to buy Il Fatto Quotidiano, Del Vecchio often took aim at the daily over its critical reporting of his affairs. In an October 22 post on X, he accused it of running a "smear campaign", and called its reporters "rats of journalism".
The Ray-Ban heir, who is drawing growing attention in Italy's business and political world, is currently embroiled in an inheritance battle linked to the control of Delfin, and has locked horns with EssilorLuxottica's CEO Francesco Milleri.
On Thursday he hosted a gala event in Rome for the relaunch of his QN newspaper that was attended by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the head of the main opposition party Elly Schlein and other top political figures.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante, Elisa Anzolin and Alvise Armellini, editing by Gianluca Semeraro and Gavin Jones)