Arnault family to simplify LVMH shareholding structure through Christian Dior

PARIS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The family of French billionaire Bernard Arnault unveiled a plan to simplify the shareholding structure of the luxury group LVMH through Christian Dior, which also belongs to the family, a Dior statement said on Wednesday.

• The Arnault family will merge its holding company Agache with Christian Dior. Agache currently owns 96% of Dior shares and 97.1% of the voting rights in Christian Dior and 6.77% in LVMH and 8.49% of the voting rights in LVMH.

• The new entity will be named Agache and it will control directly 49.76% in LVMH and 65.55% of voting rights.

• The merger, expected in December, will include a tender offer for the 2.44% of the Christian Dior shares Agache does not own. The Arnault family will offer a price to be defined based on the market price of the LVMH share price.

• The Arnault family does not plan to delist the shares of the new entity.

• The Arnault family controls 50.33% of LVMH and 66.27% of the voting rights.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)