Superstar Quebec entrepreneur Guy Laliberte is shopping his famous circus.
The Cirque de Soleil founder wants to sell all but 10 per cent of his share in the company, said to be worth about $2 billion.
Laliberte owns about 90 per cent of the company and has reportedly asked Goldman Sachs to find a buyer.
Laliberte said he would like any new owners to keep the head office in Montreal, where about 1,600 employees are based.
Premier Philippe Couillard also expressed the need to keep the Quebec-made success story based in the province.
During a press conference on Thursday before the Liberal caucus meeting, Couillard asked the Cirque’s founder to remember his roots and not let the head office move.
He recalled that many years ago, when he was trying to get the project off the ground, the Quebec government contributed financial support to the fledgling Cirque du Soleil in Charlevoix.
As a Quebecer, Laliberté will “certainly be sensitive” to the importance of keeping the head office here in Quebec, Couillard said.
CAQ Leader Francois Legault echoed the premier’s statements, saying the Cirque is a source of great pride for all Quebecers in addition to a major employer in Montreal.
He called on the Couillard government to “be active” in this dossier in order to make sure the business stays put.
Minister of Economy Jacques Daoust said Thursday the Liberal government had no intention of intervening in the transaction, but mentioned that a number of Quebec’s “serious financial players” are involved in the case.
Laliberte, 55, launched his circus, unique at the time for having no animal performances, in 1984. Over 90 million people have seen Cirque du Soleil shows.
He is now said to be Canada's 11th wealthiest resident.
-- with files from The Canadian Press
