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How the Hermes Family Held Off LVMH
Season 2
Episode 57
Published 3 weeks, 3 days ago
Description
In 2010, Bernard Arnault and LVMH quietly amassed a 23% stake in Hermès, the family-controlled luxury house known for its Birkin bags and silk scarves. The Hermès family fought back with a novel defense: they locked their shares into a holding company, preventing any sale for 20 years. This episode digs into how a 180-year-old family business, with 60-plus heirs scattered across branches, outmaneuvered the world's largest luxury conglomerate. We cover the poison pill they avoided, why French stock market rules actually helped them, and the key role played by a family council that had been meeting for decades before the attack. If you think family businesses are sleepy, this story might change your mind.