Campden FB/Mishcon de Reya survey: family businesses reveal views on economic turmoil

Campden FB and Mishcon de Reya carried out an exclusive global survey on the views of family business owners to the current economic climate between May and August. The results, published today, show family businesses are feeling the effects of the recession but it has not made the majority more willing to sell up.

When asked how they rate trading conditions at present, 38.3% rated them as neither very bad or very good but somewhere in the middle. However, the rest of the responses were weighted towards a more negative than positive view of the economy. The longer-term outlook taken by family businesses is considered to give them an advantage during downturns, but amid an economic climate that is the most hostile since the end of the second world war, even the most successful family businesses are struggling.

"The survey results demonstrate a subtle, albeit definite, shift in mindset over the last three months away from pessimism to a more cautious optimism," said Jonathan Berman, partner in the Families in Business Group at Mishcon de Reya.

The downturn has already claimed some high-profile victims. Arcandor, the 128-year-old, family-owned German retailer, filed for insolvency in June due to the pressure caused by the economic environment. Two of the most successful Saudi family businesses, the Saad Group and Ahmed Hamad Algosaibi and Brothers Company, have been forced into debt restructuring talks, had their ratings removed and turned against one another as their business flaws were exposed by the crisis.

The reaction of the two Saudi families does not appear to be representative of the family businesses in our survey; however, a significant minority, 27.3%, said they had seen an increase in tensions between active and passive shareholders since the crisis began.

Tony Morton-Hooper, private client partner at Mishcon de Reya, said: "Family businesses may well experience greater levels of internal and external conflict in the current economic environment. Assessing and managing the risk of such conflict is therefore more important today than before. It also means businesses need the most suitably experienced advisors to assist them and they need to be healthily sceptical about the advice they receive."

Family businesses are traditionally seen as less likely to lay off staff when compared with non-family companies, but 54% of respondents said they had let go of staff in the past six months. This suggests that when trading conditions are as tough as they have been, family companies, like all businesses, will do what they need to in order to survive.

But although they may be struggling, families are very reluctant to sell. Eighty eight percent said their preference was to continue under the current ownership structure. "Despite the current economic climate, there is an incredible sense of stability within family businesses with almost 9 out of 10 respondents wishing to continue their business under its present ownership and with very few, less than 4%, expressing a desire to sell," commented Berman.

Whether or not families intend to sell, planning for the possibility of doing so is vital. If they are forced to sell, having not planned will only make a difficult situation even worse. The survey results suggest this is an area that needs addressing by family companies as 78% said they had not planned for the possibility of selling their businesses.

The Bancroft family are one case where a lack of contingency plan left them significantly disadvantaged when Rupert Murdoch bought the family publishing business in 2007. No sale contingency plan meant the family was split over whether to sell Dow Jones & Co and when they eventually did sell, was at a time when the business was not as profitable as it could have been.

The experience of the Bancrofts and others like them may make families even more reluctant to sell, as 72.8% said it was unlikely they would sell their business in the next two years. The effect of the recession on this seemed minimal according to the results, with 70% stating the recession had caused no change in their view of selling up.

Despite not wanting to sell their own businesses, families are open to purchasing new ones, and the recession has provided the perfect opportunity to do so. Sixty four per cent of respondents claim to have seen an increase in opportunities to purchase companies while 46% said they were actively seeking acquisitions, suggesting family businesses are not as conservative as is sometimes believed.

"Whilst it would appear that a significant number of respondents are considering acquisitions, we are surprised this figure is not higher for this type of business given the current stage of the economic cycle," said Berman. "Recently publicised 'big deals' may be comparable to the 'mega deals' that heralded the end of the last two recessions and these are clearly opportunistic times."

Of those who were seeking acquisitions, the most common way to buy was through a combination of leveraging and cash/cash equivalent. This is typical of businesses throughout this recession, as cash has become a valuable commodity so they are more willing to take on some debt if they can get it.

Although less likely to sell, even family businesses can be bought for the right price. Sixty three percent said the principal reason they would sell would be if they received an offer they couldn't refuse. This is perhaps unlikely in the current climate, but once again illustrates that families are realistic about business and will sell up if it makes financial sense.

And family businesses themselves are looking attractive in the downturn – 37% said they have received an approach to buy their business in the last 12 months. Recessions have traditionally been seen as potentially a good opportunity for acquiring businesses, and this response suggests family-run companies are looking like a good investment.

Some of the results of the survey have subverted traditional views of family businesses; they are looking for acquisitions, they will sell if the price is right and they will lay off staff in order to survive. However, other responses re-enforce some classic family business traits, but none more so than when asked what would be the biggest drawback to selling the business – 40% said it was the desire to give the next generation more than just money.

Click here to read the full results
Click here to read a geographical analysis of the results
Click here to email us and share your views on the results

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