Overview

• Nicolas Puech, a billionaire heir of the Hermès luxury goods empire, is reportedly planning to adopt his former gardener and bequeath him at least half of his £10 billion fortune.
• The move has sparked a public row with the Isocrates Foundation, a charity Puech founded, which stands to have its funding cut as a result.
• A source close to Puech has filed a legal complaint to the Swiss child and adult protection agency against the gardener and his wife, alleging they held disproportionate sway over Puech for personal gain.
• The Isocrates Foundation has formally opposed Puech's decision to change his testamentary arrangements, stating that the abrupt and unilateral annulment of a succession agreement appears void and unfounded.
• The adoption plan is likely to face significant legal challenges, as adult adoption is not a typical occurrence in Switzerland and requires the adopting party to have shared a relationship with the adoptee for at least some part of their childhood years.