Hermès

"Here are two entrepreneurs who are also heirs; who have tremendously developed what they inherited, even though Férinel's real estate was in much better condition than Bolloré's papers; who each identified a sleeping beauty (Dior, within the Boussac empire, for Arnault, and Rivaud bank for Bolloré); who followed the advice of the same godfather in the Parisian establishment-Antoine Bernheim-to finance their rise to power; who ensured the construction of their empire through a very unusual blend of entrepreneurial aggression and ability to leverage new financial market instruments; who experienced both failures and windfalls (Gucci for Arnault and Bouygues for Bolloré); who moved into the new century without forgetting how to wield hostility (Hermès and Havas learned this to their detriment); who practiced financial engineering with incredible dexterity-Arnault increased his share of LVMH's capital from 38% to 46% in one day, crushing the Christian Dior holding, while Bolloré reached 27% in Vivendi, thanks in large part to the billions inherited from the opportune merger of the communication group with Havas; and who, finally, share the same dynastic ambition, a fierce determination to firmly establish this resolutely familial choice over time. In fact, it is the defense of family capitalism that is the cause of their joint presence in Lagardère's capital, and the potential source of a collision..."

"A Latin phrase teaches us that "Words fly away, writings remain". Thus, the original document of Thierry Hermès' birth certificate is carefully preserved in the municipal archives of Krefeld. But a birth certificate can unfortunately also be a source of misunderstandings, a real linguistic trap for anyone interested in the history of the Hermes/ Hermès family. Unaware of primary sources, one might well imagine that the ancestors of Thierry Hermès were French, but this is not the case since extensive research on this family has revealed a specifically German lineage, the surname Hermes being quite common in the entire region of Krefeld and this since the 17th century. The result? It is frequently asserted, without providing the slightest proof, that Thierry Hermès not only had French ancestors, but also that they were Huguenots, French Protestants who took refuge in Germany after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 by Louis XIV, which gives an aura to a young Prussian saddler who emigrated to France in 1821."

"Hermès, in Greek mythology, is the god of travelers, merchants, and thieves. Hermès also evokes a six-generation family business, a globally known luxury giant, famous among other things for its exclusive leather goods and iconic silk scarves. A company that attaches great importance to tradition and a Protestant ethic."

"In 1837, the Hermès family returned to Paris. Thierry set up his workshop at 56 rue Basse-du-Rempart, a commercial street near the Madeleine, this monumental, albeit unfinished, church reigning over a vast square. The Madeleine district is where high-end carriage and luxury saddlery are found. Thierry observes the uninterrupted flow of idlers, elegant horsemen, and horse-drawn carriages. He'll be able to offer his services to a wealthy clientele, the future looks promising."

"Similarly, Kroll was commissioned by LVMH to obtain information on other competitors, such as Hermès, Versace, Ferragamo, or Armani. Regarding Domenico De Sole, the investigations that Kroll is conducting at the request of LVMH go far beyond9."

"Non-exclusivity. Note that Branding is a non-exclusive type of Power. Indeed, a direct competitor might have an equally impactful brand that targets the same customers (e.g., Prada and Luis Vuitton and Hermès). All competitors with brand Power, however, still will…"

"In fact, Alain Chevalier and Henry Racamier will only carry out one operation together, which will not succeed: the secret purchase of 10% of Hermès' capital through Crédit Lyonnais. A hostile operation that the president of Vuitton will carefully hide from Hermès' president, Jean-Louis Dumas. The veil will never be lifted, and Lyonnais will eventually resell this stake to the traditional bankers of the saddler."

"When Karl-Johan is introduced as the new CEO on February 11, 2009, he is indeed wearing a shirt and suit from H&M, but around his neck is a real class marker: a tie from the French top brand Hermès. And he drives nice cars. In Sweden, a gray Mercedes Benz GL 420 and a black Lexus RX400H. In London, where he lives in the fashionable Knightsbridge, he drives a Lexus."