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Seized Drafts Revive Agnelli Succession Battle Over 25% Dicembre Stake

Filings from a closed criminal probe now shape a civil case over whether Gianni Agnelli meant to transfer a pivotal Dicembre share to his son Edoardo.

Overview

  • Four drafts found by the Guardia di Finanza include a 14 November 2000 text stating Gianni Agnelli would donate the bare ownership of roughly 25% of Dicembre to Edoardo while retaining lifetime usufruct.
  • Companion drafts outline changes to Dicembre’s partnership terms and a registered-office move, and investigators also seized a draft tied to Marella Agnelli’s later donation formalized in 2003.
  • A copy of a 20 January 1998 holographic will, produced in court on 29 September, is cited by Margherita Agnelli’s lawyers as evidence that would supersede the 1996 “Letter of Monaco” favoring John Elkann.
  • Lawyers for John, Lapo and Ginevra Elkann argue the drafts have no legal value, do not affect the Agnelli or Caracciolo successions, and are being selectively publicized for sensational effect.
  • After prosecutors closed the criminal inquiry—requesting probation for John Elkann, seeking to archive charges for Ginevra and Lapo, and accepting a plea from accountant Gianluca Ferrero—the documents were filed in the civil suit, which also notes Dicembre’s current split of 60% for John and 20% each for Lapo and Ginevra.