As we move into the second year of publishing EFIC News Briefing, our eighteenth update email continues to track recent actions and news concerning European Family Investment Companies (FICs). This Edition contains news items featuring 16 FICs from Greece, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and Finland. Again, examining how European FICs are managing as the pandemic crisis continues.
In addition to announcements of more results from 2020, we also report the first Q1 trading statements from six FICs. While most FICs are cautious about the outlook for 2021 and some have fared better than others in its first quarter, all report bounce-backs from the lows of the early days of the pandemic, once again underlining the resilience of the FIC model. And, as further evidence of FIC sustainability in times of crisis, FICs continue to make new – this month in e-tailing, disruptech and agritech – and add-on investments. Two FICs issue ‘green bonds’ to raise long-term debt finance and another launches a new green fund. We also report on a FIC co-investing with another family to take its heritage business private and two FICs partnering to meet the challenging of digital disruption. Two senior appointments confirm another key FIC attribute of flexibility, with one appointing from within and another recruiting external talent. Meanwhile, there is a new twist in the long-running story of a listed FIC battling ‘activist’ shareholders. In sad news, we note the passing of an important family business leader.
The News Briefing concludes with 14 practical Takeaways, our interpretations of what the news means for family investment companies.
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