LVMH's initials refer to Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, combining Louis Vuitton with Moët & Chandon and Hennessy.
The modern group was formed in 1987 through the merger of Louis Vuitton with Moët Hennessy. Moët Hennessy itself resulted from the earlier combination of champagne producer Moët & Chandon and cognac maker Hennessy. The initials therefore preserve the names of three historic luxury businesses rather than describing a single product category.
LVMH later expanded into a broad portfolio of luxury brands covering fashion, leather goods, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, watches and jewelry, and selective retailing. Its houses include many brands, but the group name specifically uses Louis Vuitton, Moët, and Hennessy.
Dior, Gucci, and Hermès are major luxury names, yet none completes the initials LVMH. LVMH is headquartered in Paris and has frequently ranked among Europe's most valuable public companies by market capitalization.