Albert Frère, the veteran Belgian billionaire, has been called many things. Some dub him the Warren Buffett of Belgium. After all, he has spent most of his life buying and selling stakes in large companies and has weathered more than one stock market crisis. Others describe him as a pioneer of European cross-border deals, a consummate corporate matchmaker and a catalyst for change in the businesses he invests in.

The son of a modest nail merchant, Albert Frère was ennobled by King Albert in 1994 in recognition for his business achievements. And perhaps nothing sums up the publicity-shy 82-year-old baron more than his coat of arms. This features some bees, underlining his industrious and indefatigable nature. Nothing makes him angrier than talk of retirement. Then there is a vine reflecting his passion for fine wine. He jointly owns with his friend Bernard Arnault, the French luxury tycoon, the celebrated Chateau Cheval Blanc in St Emilion. Finally, there is a wild boar, highlighting his love for hunting, not just in the forests of Ardennes but also in the jungles of corporate Europe.