LVMH

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{{Infobox Company | company_name = LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A. | company_logo = Image:Lvmh logo.gif | company_type = Société Anonyme (S.A.) | foundation = 1987 | location = Paris, France | key_people = Bernard Arnault (Chairman & CEO) | industry = Luxury goods | products = | revenue = $16.84 billion US (2005) | num_employees = 59,840 (2004) | homepage = http://www.lvmh.com }} LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A. (Template:Euronext), usually shortened to LVMH, is a French holding company and the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate. It is the parent of around 50 sub-companies that each manage a small number of prestigious brands. The child companies are run, to a large extent, autonomously. The group was formed after mergers brought together champagne producer Moët et Chandon and Hennessy, a leading manufacturer of brandy. In 1987, they merged with baggage manufacturer Louis Vuitton to form the current group.

The group is partly owned by the Christian Dior group, and Bernard Arnault is Chairman and CEO of both companies. His successful integration of various famous brands into the group has inspired other luxury companies into doing the same. Thus Gucci (now part of the French conglomerate PPR), Prada and Richemont have also created extended portfolios of luxury brands. The oldest of the LVMH brands is wine producer Château d'Yquem, which dates its origins back to 1593.

De Beers LV: in 2001 De Beers launched a joint venture with LVMH in order to establish De Beers as a retail brand.

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Corporate structure

LVMH is based in Paris, France, and is listed on Euronext Paris and is a constituent of the CAC 40 index. As of 2003, the group had a turnover of approximately 12bn euros with a net income of 2bn euros. The group currently employs 56,000 people. The company is headquartered in Paris, and 40% of the staff work in France. LVMH operates around 1,500 stores worldwide. Its current business plan aims to tightly control the brands it manages in order to maintain and heighten the perception of luxury relating to their products. For example Louis Vuitton products are sold only through Louis Vuitton boutiques found in upmarket locations in wealthy cities and in concessions in other luxury goods shops (such as Harrods in London). This practice contrasts greatly with less exclusive brands which can be bought in shopping malls around the world.

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