Alain Clarou

"The funds for the capital increase still need to be found. On one side, Alain Clarou, on the other, Antoine Bernheim, take up their pilgrim's staff. Arnault had assured Bernheim that he could put 90 million on the table, but he actually only has 40 million, from the sale of Férinel's construction activities. Crédit Lyonnais, in which Michel Lefebvre has kept excellent contacts, is ready to advance 50 million. In any case, 90 million is by far insufficient. Lazard Bank will fully engage to bring together a solid consortium."

"The Willots are suspicious. But a friendly investment banker, Alain Clarou, urges them to accept. Deputy CEO of Louis Dreyfus Bank, he has the same problem as Worms & Cie: in the spring of 1984, he had some of his clients buy packages of SFFAW shares and panics at the idea of a judicial liquidation that would completely defraud these investors of the last hour, very ill-advised. On October 9th, faced with the threat of liquidation which is to be pronounced on November 16th by the commercial court of Lille, the brothers give in. In the imposing wood-paneled library of the SFFAW, on the ground floor of an old building facing Lille station, they sign a provisional agreement for the sale of their 129,904 shares to Bernard Arnault, who, for the first time, begins to believe in his chances of success."