Prouvost

"the Arnault and Savinel families rub shoulders with Jean-Pierre and Régis Willot but do not socialize with them. The Willot brothers are neighbors, as are the Mulliez family (who would later found Auchan), but they are only greeted furtively. Instead, they seek recognition, even an invitation from the Tiberghien, Prouvost, Masurel, Dewavrin, and other prominent families, often in vain."

"The providential opportunity came with Peaudouce. The last French diaper company is very profitable. It generates a turnover of 2.1 billion francs and makes nearly 100 million in profits. Arnault will be able to sell it at a high price. Therefore, he begins negotiations with the Swedish group Mölnlyck in the fall. As a skilled negotiator, he manages to impose his price: 2 billion francs. This decision provokes the anger of the public authorities who threaten to refuse the sacred authorization for foreign investments in France to the Swedish group. "Peaudouce was too small to resist the global giants in the sector," argues Bernard Arnault. On January 20, 1988, he signs the sales agreement. At the same time, during a lunch with Christian Derveloy, the president of Prouvost, he negotiates the sale of his textile activities. 14."