An investigation by Glitz has traced a Swiss holding company in Zug reportedly connected to wealth manager Éric Freymond. The findings add another dimension to questions surrounding his financial activities, including accounts in Dubai, companies in Panama and his association with individuals involved in the Hermès takeover dispute.
Tracing the Financial Connections
According to Glitz, while an investigation in Paris seeks to trace six million shares allegedly diverted from Hermès heir Nicolas Puech, significant sums reportedly transferred by wealth manager Éric Freymond from his clients remain unaccounted for.
Following earlier reports identifying accounts associated with Freymond in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as approximately 100 Panamanian companies allegedly used to channel financial transactions, Glitz reported discovering another entity in Switzerland.
The company, Financière Axius, is registered in the canton of Zug, a region known for its business-friendly environment and financial confidentiality.
Financière Axius and Its Associated Individuals
According to the documents cited by Glitz, Éric Freymond held a 40% stake in Financière Axius. The remaining shares were reportedly owned by two associates: Belgian aristocrat Xavier del Marmol and Swiss heiress Inès Bodmer.
The company is officially managed by French financier Dimitri Couderc, who also operates the asset management firms Caibuo Capital and Squale Capital from Luxembourg.
Glitz reported that Freymond was not listed in the company’s publicly available association records, despite his alleged shareholding.
Connections to the Hermès Takeover Dispute
Inès Bodmer reportedly came from a Zurich family that built its fortune through the silk trade and was previously a client of Éric Freymond.
Her partner, Xavier del Marmol, was described by Glitz as a close associate of Freymond who assisted him in several operations.
The publication also linked del Marmol to the dispute between Freymond and Bernard Arnault concerning the distribution of profits generated by LVMH’s attempted takeover of Hermès.
These connections form part of the broader financial and business relationships examined in the publication’s investigation.
Xavier del Marmol’s Right of Reply
In a formal right of reply dated January 16, 2025, Xavier del Marmol disputed several statements in the Glitz article.
He acknowledged being a partner in Financière Axius but rejected the suggestion that the company was managed with the secret or covert assistance of Éric Freymond.
Del Marmol stated that he had never observed any deposits of substantial sums that might have been taken from Freymond’s former clients. He also denied directly or indirectly participating in any operation with Freymond relating to the Hermès takeover or the distribution of its associated profits.
He further stated that he would have provided these clarifications before publication had the article’s author contacted him.
A Financial Network Under Scrutiny
The reported discovery of Financière Axius adds another company to the network of financial relationships examined by Glitz in connection with Éric Freymond.
While the publication’s reporting raises questions about the company’s ownership and the relationships between its associated individuals, Xavier del Marmol has expressly disputed the allegations concerning his involvement.
The distinction between the publication’s reported findings and the statements made in the right of reply remains important when assessing the matter.