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From Vincent Massey to Ed Rogers: Canada’s history of family firm feuds rivals Succession

November 26, 2021

In 1925, Vincent Massey, the scion of one of the wealthiest families in Canada, did something that Ed Rogers today would find unthinkable. He quit.

In 1925, Vincent Massey, the scion of one of the wealthiest families in Canada, did something that Ed Rogers today would find unthinkable.

He quit.

Massey (pictured below right) was the fourth-generation heir to his family’s Massey-Harris farm equipment company, then already well on its way to becoming Canada’s first truly global firm. Despite this, Massey decided that his future lay not in tractors, but in public service and philanthropy. He later became governor general of Canada.

Life after family business exit: Where will the road lead next?

November 24, 2021

For many, it’s the culmination of a lifetimes work. You’ve sold your business, the deal has completed and a large amount of cash has landed. Where do you go next?

For many, it’s the culmination of a lifetimes work. You’ve sold your business, the deal has completed and a large amount of cash has landed. Where do you go next?

FB Roundup: Oppenheimer Generations, Fortescue Metals Group, The Ford Foundation

October 25, 2021

Oppenheimer family drives Asian investments with new Singapore family office, Mining magnate Andrew Forrest pushes green hydrogen, Ford Foundation to divest millions from fossil fuels.

Oppenheimer family drives Asian investments with new Singapore family office

The Oppenheimer family, heirs to the DeBeers diamond fortune, is the latest family enterprise to extend its family office into Singapore.

FB Roundup: Adani Group, Maersk, Ford Motor Company

September 27, 2021

Adani doubles green investment pledge of rival Reliance, Maersk makes waves with series of e-commerce deals; the 40-year vindication of Bill Ford, the auto environmentalist.

Adani doubles green investment pledge of rival Reliance

Gautam Adani, India’s second wealthiest tycoon and leader of his infrastructure and energy empire Adani Group, has announced a $20 billion investment in renewable energy only weeks after rival Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest person, committed to producing the green energy hydrogen.

The impact on philanthropy and charities when ultra-wealthy divorce

August 17, 2021

Charitable giving is increasingly becoming a keystone in ultra-high net worth family estate planning. Therefore, in considering how to unwind an estate plan on divorce, thought must be given to how to disentangle the family’s charitable activities.

How a philanthropic programme can be bisected such that each party can pursue their own independent path depends significantly on the form of that programme; at its most complex it involves a close investigation of UK charity and trust law to determine the best way to separate the two individuals.

FB Roundup: Frasers Group, Toennies Group, News Corp

August 6, 2021

Frasers Group founder Mike Ashley anoints daughter’s fiance as successor, Toennies family cancels meat business exit, Murdoch family’s News Corp to buy Oil Price Information Service for $1.15 billion.

Frasers Group founder Mike Ashley anoints daughter’s fiance as successor

British billionaire Mike Ashley will make way for his future son-in-law as the head of his international $4.1 billion retail empire.

FB Roundup: Exor, Ermenegildo Zegna, L Brands

July 23, 2021

Agnelli family’s Exor linked to Armani, Zegna family lists luxury group via $3.2 billion SPAC, Les Wexner distances from L Brands with $2.2 billion share sale.

Agnelli family’s Exor linked to Armani

The Agnelli family that made its fortune in the Italian auto industry is expanding its interests in luxury goods with apparent overtures to Armani, only months after acquiring a quarter-stake in Christian Louboutin.

Agnelli scion John Elkann (pictured left), 45, the billionaire chairman and chief executive of Exor, the family-controlled holding company, has been in talks with fashion designer Giorgio Armani, Reuters reported.

Do most family businesses really fail by the third generation?

July 22, 2021

Many articles or speeches about family businesses include a reference to the “three-generation rule,” which says that most don’t survive beyond three generations. But that perception could not be further from the truth.

If you’re a fan of the HBO show Succession, or if you’re aware of the conflicts playing out publicly and perennially among some of the most visible family businesses in the world—think the Murdochs or Sumner Redstone’s family—you might assume that family businesses are more fragile than other forms of enterprise.

Sanjay Mehta on family offices investing in startups

July 11, 2021

What is so attractive about Flipkart, Unacademy, CoinDCX, Swiggy, Byju and Oyo—the new age companies? The answer is their nonlinear business growth and venture capital. For investors it's perpetual activity to find that one-in-a-thousand team whose ambitions to grow the idea nonlinear way and dominate market segments.

Nonlinear ideas become successful after massive scale. Social networks, messaging, e-commerce and gaming have seen huge amounts of venture capital investment.

The future of family business in pandemic recovery

June 8, 2021

The new financial year has begun. It is the first financial year post-lockdown, with the new challenges that the pandemic has brought to the table. In what way has the pandemic broadened the scope of the agenda for business owners who are looking to retire or sell within the next couple of years?