Op-Ed | Could LVMH Buy Richemont?

So now we know.

In January, Bernard Arnault sang the praises of Cartier owner Cie Financiere Richemont SA. He also quipped that if its chairman Johann Rupert wanted “support to maintain his independence, I’ll be there.” It was an odd thing to say — and had luxury watchers wondering what he had in mind.

On Tuesday, we got the answer. Bloomberg Businessweek reported that Arnault had taken a personal equity stake in Richemont.

It’s…