Our twentieth update email continues to track recent actions and news concerning European Family Investment Companies (FICs). This Edition contains news items featuring 26 FICs from Sweden, France, Norway, Germany. Italy, UK, Greece, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Portugal, Switzerland and The Netherlands. Again, we are examining how European FICs are managing as the pandemic crisis continues.

Standout themes this month include FICs forming partnerships – with major corporates, significant families outside Europe and specialist firms – to help them grasp opportunities, spread the risk by bringing outside capital and complement existing expertise. Another is FICs leveraging family history, heritage, stories and anniversaries to support continuity, change and culture. Otherwise, we see further stories about successful generational transition, one mother to son and another father to sons, FICs making senior appointments, both promoting from within and bringing in outside talent. Portfolio companies continue to be supported as they make add-on acquisitions, launch new ventures and increase capital. Investment strategies continue to be supported and new markets entered via investments in funds and businesses, and acquisitions. And the long-running saga of one embattled, major listed FIC appears to be entering the endgame as it makes fundamental changes to its governance structure, again, of course, confirming the flexibility of the FIC model.

The News Briefing concludes with 14 practical Takeaways, our interpretations of what the news means for Family Investment Companies.

NOTE: EFIC News Briefing is sent to our subscribers, members of our Advisory Network and selected others at our discretion. We hope it is of use in these challenging times. We will be happy to answer any questions or discuss anything further. And do send us your comments, ideas and suggestions and any news stories you see.

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