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THE LANCLOS LEGACY
Long before the Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, and Carnegie families were leaving their mark on America's industrial revolution, the LANCLOS family, which dates back to the 11th century, was leaving its own everlasting impression upon France. The surname Lanclos, pronounced (Lawn-kloh), is very rare and originated during the Middle Ages in a historical territory called Picardie. It is derived from the old French word L'ENCLOS, meaning the enclosed land. In terms of individuals, some of France's most renowned figures are linked to the Lanclos name.
In 1063, Robertus de L'Enclos, a prosperous landowner, was the first to be mentioned in the medieval Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Étienne de Caen. As a passenger on the Profound, Jean Baptiste de Lanclos was the first member of the Louisiana lineage to make the voyage in 1720, settling in Opelousas. From successful explorers to renowned artists to a highly decorated military officer who was awarded, under Napoleon, France's highest honor for bravery—many successful men bore the Lanclos name. However, the most prominent figure of them all was a woman who went by the nickname NINON.
"For seventy years she held undisputed sway over the hearts of the most distinguished men of France; queens, princes, noblemen, renowned warriors, statesmen, writers, and scientists bowing before her shrine and doing her homage, even King Louis XIV, when she was eighty-five years of age, declaring that she was the marvel of his reign." Gutenberg.org
THE LANCLOS HERITAGE
THE LANCLOS LEGACY
Anne "Ninon" de L'Enclos was born in 1620. Even though she was not born into nor married into royalty, she became one of the most powerful members of the ancien régime. This exclusive group made up the political, social, economic, and cultural structures in France prior to the French Revolution. Her impact on France was so great that she established a legacy of personally financing and assisting individuals, from a wide range of backgrounds, in the advancement of their careers. In addition to the countless women she helped educate in her social salon, many once unknown individuals went on to become some of the most popular figures whose bodies of work are still in existence today. To name a few, Ninon played an important role in the successful careers of Voltaire, Molière, Saint-Evremond, de Sévigné, Scarron, Fontenelle, La Rouchefoucauld, La Fontaine, the Great Condé, and de Grammont.
Despite her share of personal misfortunes, including being orphaned as a young girl, the early death of a son, and being imprisoned for her strong opposition against unjust societal norms placed upon women, the Lanclos name will always remain an important part of France's rich history. Today, portraits of her are hung on the walls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre Palace, and Château de Versailles, while countless books, operas, poems, and movies honor her incredible influence. Ninon's prominence was so deeply rooted in France that she became one of the most important confidants to King Louis XIV. During trying times, he had a very popular saying: "What would Ninon do?"
THE LANCLOS APPROACH
Lanclos, C is the current CEO/President of Lanclos Limited. He oversees the governance of their Louisiana-based, privately held investment house that is founded on the ideology where people are viewed as their most valuable assets in their partnerships. Before any financial data is ever discussed, Lanclos makes it his sole objective to personally speak with every founder in order to thoroughly understand their vision. As generational entrepreneurs themselves, investing alongside some of the most seasoned co-investors in the industry, experience has taught them that this detailed level of understanding is paramount to assembling the best possible investment team to provide the necessary resources.
Supporting a single exceptional founder with the proven characteristics to disrupt an entire industry and build best-in-class companies far outweighs assembling a portfolio of countless investments. This very exclusive selection process is a testament to their family's commitment to building lasting relationships with visionary founders. Overall, they prefer to invest in middle-market companies across all industries that are headquartered in North America with a global presence. Smaller, distressed or carve-out entities may be considered if they can complement larger platform companies as bolt-ons.
As the investment arm of a Lanclos family trust, their independence from strict investment mandates allows them the freedom to hand-select their co-investment partners based solely upon the needs of a business. In keeping with the spirit started by Ninon, and a source of immense family pride, is their tradition of connecting individuals with their extensive network, seizing opportunities to assist them, regardless of investment outcomes.