Paul Y Engineering, only weeks away from upgrading its name to the exalted "Louis XIII Holdings", is readying itself for this higher plane. A missive from its public relations firm arrives headed, "Behold the world's most fabulous jewels at Louis XIII". Louis XIII, as we are reminded, is "the world's first ever ultra-exclusive hotel and casino, which targets wealthy Chinese business tycoons".
Having recently formed a partnership with the Paris Michelin 3-star restaurant L'Ambroisie, Paul Y has signed up Graff Diamonds. The hotel is setting up what it calls the "Louis XIII Atelier", which will offer "an unprecedented shopping experience to a lucky few and will be by invitation and appointment only". All the stones will have a minimum value of US$1 million, ranging up to more than US$100 million.
What makes this experience even more enticing is that "even Louis XIII hotel and casino guests will not be granted automatic access to the Atelier". Some might take exception to being refused access. Let's hope that the mining executive that trashed the departure gate at Kunming airport doesn't show up. He flew into a rage after he and his family weren't allowed to board their flight because they arrived late.
HSBC's latest annual report carries a gleaming photograph of a large aircraft disgorging cargo from its hold underneath the headline: "Connecting customers to opportunities." On closer inspection, the aircraft bears the livery of Cathay Pacific Cargo. With James Hughes-Hallet, who is on HSBC's board and chairman of John Swire & Sons, Cathay's ultimate controlling shareholder, you might wonder if HSBC's front cover constitutes a connected transaction.