Just a casual observation. Mega conglomerations tend to dilute the identity, character and the geographical synergy between individual brands and the locale that has nurtured them. After a conglomeration goes on a buying spree and takes over multiple brands, including them all in a convenient portfolio, everything ends up being about marketing and cost analysis. Brand identity becomes orchestrated in a very artificial manner--I won't name names but one conglomeration seems to stand out particularly in my view. Does anyone like beer here?--because in the same vein, that's why so many people are against the Belgian/Brazilian InBev taking over Anheuser-Busch here in the States.
thanks for the reply and friendly welcome by the way--I didn't know that Audemars was actually a conglomerate. I need to learn more, obviously!