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corporate governance

Why planning for succession is planning for success

December 8, 2021

There is careful planning involved at every stage of the business life-cycle, such as launching new product lines, entering new markets and moving into adjacent industries. An owner-managed business would be adept at managing such transitions, and the rigorous planning that precedes them.

Why is it then, that a different logic should apply when faced with the question of planning for succession to the family business?

How Covid-19 spurred an Indian family business to embrace ESG

May 27, 2021

In the family council meeting in a city in India, the patriarch of the fast-moving consumer goods family business proudly proclaimed: “I have blocked a bed, nurse, doctor, oxygen cylinder and injection, which will be available for anyone of us if we fall prey to Covid-19. I’m not taking any chances.”

A hand went up: “Uncle, what if more than one of us needed it at the same time?” He smiled and said not to worry.

How best to integrate ESG at the core of investment processes for corporate private debt at Amundi?

February 11, 2021

ESG has been at the heart of the investment process of Amundi’s corporate private debt funds since 2014. Integrating ESG into private debt is part of Amundi's strategy to be a leading asset manager in ESG.

The corporate private debt team at Amundi has two objectives, namely to reduce certain risk factors in their portfolios and to support companies’ efforts to improve their ESG practices.

But how are ESG criteria integrated within the investment and tracking processes? And how does it translate in to practical terms?

Future portfolio success will be built on impact

October 13, 2020

The volatility throughout this global pandemic has served as a blunt reminder of the vulnerability of our financial system to global shocks. Having spent 35 years in the private equity space, I have witnessed numerous economic cycles, but this downturn appears to be unique.

As we move further along the dreaded “second wave”, the main issue paralysing the finance sector is uncertainty. Concern over when consumer and investor confidence will return is widespread—and unfortunately, there is no immediate end in sight.

Why impact investors don’t have to sacrifice financial returns

October 12, 2020

Families and private investors say long-term impact investing delivers social and environmental outcomes while growing capital and managing risks in an era of global disruption.

Families and private investors say long-term impact investing delivers social and environmental outcomes while growing capital and managing risks in an era of global disruption.

More than 300 respondents with an estimated accumulated net worth of $264 billion from 41 countries surveyed by Campden Wealth reported an average return on impact investments of 9% in 2019, compared to 12% for traditional investments.

When not to keep it in the family: How to hand over to a non-family executive

February 12, 2019

You can’t choose your family, but you can choose who runs your business. Alexandra Newlove talks to a range of experts about bringing in outside help

In 2006, as Ford Motor Company headed towards a $12.7 billion loss, the worst in the company’s 103-year history, Bill Ford, chief executive and great-grandson of the legendary Henry Ford, realised he needed help.

In an email to staff, Ford introduced his new top man: former Boeing transformation master Alan Mulally, who over the next eight years executed a revitalisation which saw the automaker’s stock appreciate more than 1000% from recession lows, and Mulally remembered as one of the all-time great business leaders.

Businesswomen's organisation launches council for family firm board members

July 3, 2014

The world’s largest organisation for female corporate directors has announced it is establishing a family business council to explore how family firms can improve corporate governance.

The world’s largest organisation for female corporate directors has announced it is establishing a family business council to explore how family firms can improve corporate governance.

Women Corporate Directors (WCD) said a growing number of its members, especially those from emerging markets, were requesting in-depth information about family business-specific issues.

Business and Succession Planning: Not Learning the Hard Way

May 6, 2014

When establishing succession arrangements business owners should always consider how such arrangements correspond with personal estate planning. One recent case, involving a family farm in Cambridgeshire, illustrates the importance of such considerations.

Legal flexibility encouraged to safeguard family governance

April 10, 2014

Families need to ensure that flexibility is built into the legal framework of their businesses and family trust vehicles to avoid “context conflict” and safeguard governance, a legal whitepaper suggests.

Context Conflict: Preserving Goals and Values in the Family Enterprise highlighted the potential conflict in family businesses between value maximisation in the present and creating long-termvalue for the family in the future.

The Jafar Brothers: Oil, gas and governance

March 13, 2014

Majid and Badr Jafar are busy guiding Crescent Group through expansion in Iraq, embracing global diversification, and tackling family governance. They are also sounding the alarm over the bulge in Arab youth unemployment, and the $700 billion family business governance time bomb. CampdenFB reports

Badr Jafar has had a long day. Dressed in immaculate business attire, his tie is askew and, although it is mid-afternoon, he’s still got a packed schedule for the rest of his day. In the evening, he flies to New York for a meeting at the United Nations about the Pearl Initiative, the private-sector partnership he set up to enrich Gulf corporate accountability and transparency.