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family business

CampdenFB hosts family business roundtable

October 13, 2011

Many of Spain’s top family businesses, as well as a sprinkling of businesses from other parts of Europe, gathered at a CampdenFB/Ernst & Young roundtable in September.

Hosted by the Torres family, makers of some of Spain’s most famous wines, in its bodegas outside of Barcelona (pictured), delegates discussed the big issue of non-family directors in family businesses.

Exhibition to celebrate 19th-generation family business

September 27, 2011

Getting a family business to survive past the third generation is usually a difficult task, it is often said. But not so for one British company - John Brooke and Sons is currently in its 19th generation.

Getting a family business to survive past the third generation is a difficult task, it is often said. But not for one British company - John Brooke and Sons is currently in its 19th generation.

The Huddersfield-based business, which can trace its history back to 1541, will soon be celebrated in a new exhibition called A Story of a Yorkshire Mill: 400 Years of Cloth Making.

Family business Coopers to become Australia's largest brewer

September 22, 2011

Family-controlled Coopers Brewery says it will become the largest Australian-owned brewer once a planned takeover of rival Foster’s is completed.

Foster’s, the maker of VB and Crown Lager, has agreed to an offer worth AUS$9.9 billion (€7.2 billion) from London-based brewer SABMiller, producer of Grolsch and Miller Lite.

Although it only controls 4% of the market, the Foster's takeover should make Coopers, which will enter its 150th year in 2012, the biggest Australian brewery.

Study reveals strengths and weaknesses of family businesses

September 20, 2011

The majority of top managers and family business owners think that the nature of family firms helps them survive economic downturns, but they also believe that absence of meritocracy and rivalry among family members can affect commercial success.

These are the findings of a survey among 720 family business owners and executives from the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe by executive search firm Egon Zehnder International.

Ex-Thorntons chairman to unveil plaque celebrating the family business

September 16, 2011

Switzerland might be the chocolate capital of the world, but the UK was the birthplace of many big-name sweet brands such as Cadbury and of course Thorntons.

The original founders of the chocolate makers, set up as a family business in the early 1900s, will be honoured this weekend in Sheffield.

Family businesses won't drive wealth growth in Asia, analyst

September 15, 2011

Family businesses are unlikely to play a big role in driving growth in the number of high net worth individuals in Asia, according to a Hong Kong-based analyst.

Amar Gill, head of special projects research at brokerage and investment group CLSA Asia-Pacific Market, told CampdenFB that family businesses will account for only around 20% to 30% of new wealth created over the next four years.

Family businesses aid US recovery

May 17, 2011

Family businesses in the US will make a significant contribution to the country’s economic recovery, according to the latest survey by Family Enterprise USA.

The survey, which questioned around 190 family businesses in the US, revealed that companies plan to add employees or retain their current staff numbers despite an overall sluggish recovery.

According to the survey, 52% of respondents will add more staff while 42% of businesses intend to maintain their workforce over the next 12 months.

IFB calls for simplification of family business trusts

February 3, 2011

The UK-based Institute for Family Business has recommended that the rules governing creation of a family business trust be simplified so that families can plan their succession successfully.

According to IFB, family businesses use trusts to ensure stable management of the business, especially when handing over control to the next generation.

Samsung ranked second for number of patents received

January 10, 2011

Samsung Electronics Company, a part of family-controlled Korean conglomerate Samsung Group, has been ranked second for the number of patents received in 2010, according to research done by IFI Claims Patent Services.

Next Generation; Independent spirit

August 26, 2010

Next gens are no longer expected to join the family business as soon as they are able, but many are left with the difficult choice of whether to follow in their ancestors' footsteps or branch out on their own, writes Katie Barker.