Good Morning! I hope you enjoyed the weekend! I have the feeling that as the summer is approaching more and more, the business news will become more filled with entertainment and sports. Today already a little taste of that!

In today’s news:

• An emotional first weekend for Pixar’s new movie

• Is LVMH ready for it’s own version of Succession

• Are the Olympics going green?

Hope you enjoy it!

X Nils

FEELING
Inside Out 2 helps Pixar out of the troubled waters

What Happened
Anxiety was likely the feeling the executives at Pixar had this weekend when sequel of box office hit Inside Out 2 launched. Luckily, Joy quickly took over from Anxiety, as the first weekend was a great success with $155 million U.S. sales in its opening weekend. The success comes as a welcome surprise for the Pixar, which has faced its fair share of challenges in recent years.

Why it Matters

• Pixar has experienced a rough patch with underperforming releases like Elemental and Lightyear. The strong opening of Inside Out 2 not only reinforces Pixar's position as a leader in the animation industry but also demonstrates the studio's ability to bounce back from setbacks.

• Movie producers have faced a challenging period, with the recent actors and writers strike and a 24% decline in box office revenue over the past 6 months. A succes at the box office if more than welcome.

• Inside Out 2's success is a testament to the power of sequels and familiar IP in driving box office sales. As Hollywood studios increasingly rely on established franchises to attract audiences.

What’s Next
If the success of Inside Out 2 is the start of the recovery of the movie industry over the upcoming months, we have to see. It is likely that Hollywood studios will more and more rely on existing franchises to drive sales. If that is something for the good, I leave that up to you…

Side-bar
→ Personally, I found Inside Out one of the best animated movies there is, so I highly recommend it.
→ If you want to know more about building up movie franchises, I recommend listing to this podcast of the Tim Ferriss Show, with the creator of the Marvel Universe.

LVMH
Is the richest man in Europe ready for succession?

What Happened?
The fashion world always benefits from some drama, but it seems that the LVMH gang will not let that happen as the Godfather of them all is picking the succession carefully. In its latest move, Bernard Arnault appointed his son Frederic a head of one of the family holding companies that controls the luxury conglomerate LVMH. This comes after a wider reshuffle within the company. A day after the news broke, LVHM appointed Cécile Cabanis as deputy finance director to work alongside the groups CFO. It seems that LVMH is getting ready for it’s generational shift

Why it Matters

• All five of Bernard Arnault's children hold key positions within the LVMH group, and any changes in their roles are subject to intense scrutiny. After all, with a father who's not getting any younger, the question of who will take the reins looms large.

• Last year, the LVHM already raised the maximum age for it CEO to 80. While Bernard says that he has no plan of retirement yet, it does seem optimising the company to the optimal governance structure for his succession.

• As the current Executive Board of LVMH is not getting any young either, it seems that with the appointment of Cabanis, Bernard Arnault is not only looking after his own succession.

What’s Next
Bernard is not ready to step down yet. But with the 80 approach fast, it can go faster than expected. For now, we can only watch and see. This all can go either very smoothly, as it seems like right now, or it can end up in a real Succession-drama

Side-bar
→ Keen to know more about LVMH, I highly recommend this podcast of Acquired. It will cost you four hours, but it is worth the time!

OLYMPICS
In a summer full of sport, the world is still heating up.

What Happened? 
This summer of 2024 will be a summer full of sports. With the Euros kicking off this weekend and the Olympic Games starting next month. But these sport event are under more and more pressure to reduce their carbon footprint.

This sent the organizers of the Paris Olympics Games on a mission to prove that the world's biggest sporting event can go green. With ambitious sustainability targets, such as cutting greenhouse gas emissions by half compared to the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games, Paris 2024 aims to set a new standard for eco-friendly mega-events in the face of climate change.

Why it Matters

• The Paris Olympics serve as a crucial test case for the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) new sustainability strategy. The success or failure of Paris 2024's green initiatives will have far-reaching implications for the future of the Olympic Games and their ability to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

• The Olympics and other sport event are facing increasing pressure due to rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns. Research suggests that by 2040, the number of viable host countries for the Winter Olympics could be reduced to just 10, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions.

• Critics argue that the Paris organizers' plans do not go far enough, and some question whether such large-scale events can ever be truly green given the air travel and construction they require. The debate surrounding the sustainability of the Olympics raises important questions about the future of mega-events in an era of climate change.

What's Next? 
As the Paris Olympics approach, all eyes will be on the organizers' efforts to deliver a greener Games. The event's success in reducing emissions, minimising waste, and promoting sustainable practices will set the tone for future Olympic host cities, such as Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032. The efforts should be applauded, but as a world we should also look where we host these events. Because Winter Games in Saudi Arabia and a Football World Cup in Qatar will definitely not lower the energy bill.