Since Baar Swiss town of 20,000 inhabitants, the giant commodities Glencore pilot one of the most important steps in its history: its market introduction. This introduction, which should be finalized in mid-May, would allow the group to emerge between 9 and 11 billion euros. Glencore would succeed and the third largest IPO in history for a European company (after those of the German Deutsche Telekom in 1996 and Italy's Enel, 1999).
The company, which acquires its credentials in the financial markets, turn the page of his early years, under the leadership of sour Belgian businessman Marc Rich. There is no doubt that he is behind the success of Glencore.No doubt also that its leaders do not regret the departure in 1993, a man who imagined a time on the top ten most wanted by the FBI.
When Marc Rich founded in 1974, at age 40, his trading company in raw materials - Marc Rich + Co - he already has the reputation of a trader of genius. During the oil embargo decided by the Gulf States in 1973, he plays on his own - or almost - from OPEC.This Belgian then succeeds in buying oil in Iraq and Iran to sell twice as expensive in the United States.
Paranoid and hunted by the FBI
In early 1980, Marc Rich was able to get their hands on 40% of global aluminum market and "undertaker" also a large market share of the money. Marc Rich also sells, for years, oil to South Africa - while the country is on the blacklist of the world trade because of apartheid.It is with a lot of such shots, not always legal, Marc Rich made his company one of the major players in commodity markets. His methods earned him strong enemies.
But his crime, at least in the eyes of Washington, is to buy millions of barrels of oil to Iran crisis of American hostages in 1979. A fact which earned him a weapon to be prosecuted by U.S. authorities in 1983 for violating the embargo and tax evasion.Marc Rich refuses to appear and becomes hunted by the FBI, which is considered as one of the ten most wanted criminals in the world.
He continues to lead his company from the canton of Zug, Swiss tax haven, but would have lived from this time in a permanent state of paranoia, according to Daniel Ammann, a journalist who has devoted a biography called "The King of oil" , released in November 2010.
The wildest rumors begin to circulate about his lifestyle, as reported by the newspaper The Observer in May 2001. It would have to build a tunnel under his office to avoid being assassinated on his way to his favorite restaurant.In addition, Marc Rich never moves without a dozen bodyguards - all former Mossad.
The shot of (the) presidential pardon
A lifestyle wearing. In 1993, he ended up making a bad transaction that makes it lose hundreds of millions of dollars. Marc Rich is then obliged to sell its stake in Marc Rich + Co's co-shareholders, who pushed him toward the exit.
It seems so out of business and devotes part of his fortune, estimated by Forbes at $ 800 million to charitable and cultural activities. But the FBI did not forget it either. At least until the end of the term of Bill Clinton in 2001. While it does have a few more hours at the White House, he grants his forgiveness to everyone's surprise.He explained later that he received several requests by influential people, including Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
