One of the descendants of the founder of the famous French leather goods store Hermès wants to adopt his domestic worker in order to bequeath to him part of his multi-billion Swiss franc fortune, the Tribune de Genève said on Friday.
Nicolas Puech, based in Switzerland in the canton of Valais in the south of the country, is “the largest individual shareholder in Hermès” with a stake of around 5%, explains the Swiss daily newspaper.
The single and childless octogenarian decided to “turn his fortune upside down” to bequeath part of his fortune to a “former gardener and craftsman,” “aged 51” and “from a modest Moroccan family,” he said the Tribune de Geneva.
According to Bilan magazine, which annually ranks the 300 richest people in Switzerland, his fortune is estimated at 9 to 10 billion Swiss francs (9.4 to 10.4 billion) thanks to his activities in the leather goods store, known for its handbags Euro) valued and silk squares.
In a letter dated “October 2022,” this descendant of the founder of Hermès commissioned a lawyer to “regulate his inheritance situation,” the daily explains, pointing out that this lawyer was also commissioned to carry out inheritance proceedings. According to him, the adoption is “still in progress”.
“In Switzerland, adopting an adult is not impossible, but it is unusual,” the daily explains, explaining that if the procedure is successful, he could inherit “at least half” of his assets.
When asked by AFP, the Valais administration did not immediately respond as to whether this process had been confirmed or not.
However, this project is encountering resistance, the Swiss daily newspaper continues. In 2011, Nicolas Puech signed an inheritance agreement – more binding than a will – in favor of a Geneva-based foundation called Isocrate, which funds projects to combat disinformation through NGOs that support journalism.
But in a “handwritten note” dated “February 2023” consulted by the daily, the billionaire made a “U-turn” and stated that he “intends to make other will arrangements.”
The foundation contacted by AFP said it had “recently learned of its founder’s wish to terminate the inheritance contract” but was “not aware of any further provisions”.
“This desire to unilaterally terminate the inheritance contract appears unfounded,” the foundation believes. “We have spoken out against it, but leave the door open for a discussion,” it emphasizes.
The foundation regrets that “its charitable activities” are “endangered in their sustainability by circumstances that are completely beyond their control” against the background of “interpersonal conflicts and desires of all kinds”.