Hermès V. LVMH

Call it a hostile takeover, but relations have been bubbling over between luxury brand conglomerate LVMH and family-owned Hermès, for years. On October 23, 2010, LVMH announced its ownership of 14.2% of the Hermès company. Since then, it have increased its holdings to 22.3%, all the while claiming that they don't intend to seek control. Hermès won a major victory in 2011 after a French court green lighted the formation of a holding company that will retain 50.2 percent of its equity. This creates an obstacle for anyone who is, ahem, not trying to appropriate anyone else. Ugly words have been exchanged, and LVMH plans to countersue for "blackmail, false accusations, and unfair competition."