Europe

European family business titans Fiat Chrysler and LVMH look to consolidate their dominance in their automaking and luxury goods markets in an uncertain world by eyeing multi-billion dollar mergers.

The Italian Agnelli family, which controls Fiat Chrysler through its holding company Exor, was expected to approve the proposed $48 billion union with Peugeot-owner PSA, itself 12.2% owned by the French Peugeot family.

The Swedish family controlled appliance giant Electrolux is setting the benchmark on sustainability with its launch of green bonds this week and ambitious renewable targets on track for 2020.

The world’s fifth largest consumer goods manufacturer issued the first bond loan within its green bond framework, raising SEK 1 billion ($108.4 million) to fund investments and other projects with environmental benefits.

Business families of significant wealth are reviewing the implications of Brexit as the scheduled date for Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union looms.

PwC has been urging clients to start activating contingency plans in areas where Brexit may affect supply chains and cross-border change. For the sector as whole, many organisations were still waiting to see what the final outcome of negotiations will be before taking significant investment decisions, Peter Englisch (pictured above), global and EMEA family business leader at PwC Germany, said.

Food and hospitality is “the next business frontier” for Europe’s luxury fashion families, with Bulgari descendant and investor Francesco Trapani the latest to help himself to a side of Italy’s food industry.

Trapani, who sold his family’s stake in jeweller Bulgari to LVMH in 2011 for €4.8 billion ($5.5 billion), has added Italian pizza chain Briscola and gelato maker Geloso to his portfolio, alongside the 5% stake he owns in Tiffany.