Hermes CEO says Epstein was financial predator, believes he was a "target"
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 12, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 12, 2026
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 12, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 12, 2026
Hermes CEO Axel Dumas claims Epstein targeted him as a financial predator during a takeover battle, refusing his meeting requests.
PARIS, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Hermes CEO Axel Dumas said he resisted multiple attempts by Jeffrey Epstein to meet with him, saying he believed he was a target of the financier who was a "financial predator" and approached the company in the middle of a takeover battle.
"I think we were a target, I was a young CEO and we were in the middle of the LVMH affair. He was a financial predator," Dumas said on a call with journalists on Thursday. "He already had a hateful reputation."
Files released by the U.S. Department of Justice show Epstein emailed Hermes multiple times asking for meetings with Dumas, as well as contacting the luxury brand to request they design the interior of his private jet. Hermes refused.
(Reporting by Helen Reid and Tassilo Hummel; editing by Richard Lough)
Financial predation refers to exploitative practices where individuals or entities manipulate financial systems or relationships for personal gain, often at the expense of others.
Corporate governance is the system of rules, practices, and processes by which a company is directed and controlled, ensuring accountability and transparency in its operations.
Investment managers are professionals who manage investment portfolios on behalf of clients, making decisions about asset allocation and investment strategies.
A takeover battle occurs when two or more companies compete to acquire a target company, often involving negotiations and strategies to gain control.
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