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Family business roundup: Acquisitions for Joh A Benckiser and PPR, Gruma buys back company shares

December 19, 2012

From tortilla and coffee producers to luxury goods and retail groups, it’s been a week of acquisitions for family businesses in North America and Europe, with companies including Jon A Benckiser and PPR buying new assets.

Joh A Benckiser

Joh A Benckiser, the holding company of the German Reimann family, is to acquire the US’s second largest coffee operator – Caribou Coffee – for about $340 million (€258 million).

Family business roundup: Saputo invests, Sabanci teams up with Eon and Arcadia gets an outside investor

December 7, 2012

It has been a week of new partnerships for family businesses, with Sabanci starting afresh with Eon and Arcadia Group taking on an outside investor.

It has been a week of new partnerships for family businesses, with Sabanci starting afresh with Eon and Arcadia Group taking on an outside investor. Meanwhile, Saputo has spied opportunity for growth in the US, while PPR has divested its plus-sized clothing chain.

Family business roundup: Auchan and Lactalis splash out, Fiat plans merger

December 4, 2012

Family businesses continue to look to divestments, mergers or acquisitions in a bid to maximise opportunities, with French firms Auchan and Lactalis buying new assets while Italy's Agnelli family is merging two if its companies.

Family business roundup: L’Oreal buys, Hancocks sold and more acquisitions in the limelight

November 26, 2012

A number of acquisitions and sales have made headlines as family businesses around the world look to consolidate operations.

French family-controlled cosmetics group L’Oreal said on 26 November that it has acquired American make-up company Urban Decay. No financial details were disclosed.

Set up in 1993, Urban Decay is known for products such as Naked Palette – a brand of eye make-up – and Naked Skin, a foundation launched recently by the company.

Family business roundup: Billion-dollar mergers and sales for AG Barr, Comex and United Spirits

November 14, 2012

Scottish drinks-maker AG Barr, controlled by the founding family, has merged with rival Britvic to create one of the largest soft drinks groups in Europe by revenues, while a number of other family businesses are also expanding or selling.

AG Barr, famous for the Irn-Bru drink, said on 14 November that its merger with fellow British firm Britvic will create a new company to be named Barr Britvic Soft Drinks.

Family business roundup: Lacoste family bows out, Hearst, Lactalis and Maple Leaf expand operations

November 8, 2012

It’s a busy time for sales and acquisitions in the family business world, with companies in France, Vietnam and the US buying controlling stakes, while the Lacoste family has sold off its shares in the eponymous clothing brand.

On 7 November, family member and chairwoman Sophie Lacoste Dournel said she and family members had decided to sell their remaining 28% shareholding to Maus Freres “with great sadness”.

Family business roundup: Winning some and losing some in media, cars and casinos

October 29, 2012

It’s been a case of winning some and losing some for family businesses across the globe, through a series of acquisitions, closures and deal-breakers.

Leading the way is media group Bertelsmann, controlled by the Mohn family, which is linking up with UK rival Pearson.

The agreement will see the merger of Random House and Penguin, respectively the publishing arms of Germany’s Bertelsmann and Pearson.

Family business roundup: JCDecaux and JBS expand operations, LVMH and ArcelorMittal consider sales

October 23, 2012

Sales and acquisitions have been proving popular with family businesses recently, with French outdoor advertiser JCDecaux and Brazilian food processor JBS in a buying mood, while L Capital and ArcelorMittal are considering selling some of their subsidiaries.

Family-controlled JCDecaux has acquired a 25% stake in Russia’s largest billboard operator, Russ Outdoor, which until 2011 was a subsidiary of fellow family-controlled group News Corporation.

Family business roundup: Changes at Douglas, Bertelsmann and PPR

October 16, 2012

The long-running sales saga at German retailer Douglas finally appears to be coming to an end, with Advent International teaming with the Kreke family to buy out shareholders. Meanwhile two other family-controlled businesses are weighing up their shareholdings in subsidiaries.

American buyout firm Advent offered €1.5 billion to buy Douglas Holding after almost a year of talks and months of speculation. The bid was worth about €38 a share.

Greek bottling family business to leave country

October 12, 2012

Greek bottling company Coca-Cola Hellenic, controlled by the David-Leventis family, plans to leave Greece, move its headquarters to Switzerland and list in London.

The family business, known for bottling Coke in 28 countries from Russia to Nigeria, said in a statement on 11 October that the move will benefit both the company and shareholders.