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FB Roundup: Rami Cassis, Alex Chesterman, Li Ka-shing

May 18, 2022

In this week’s FB Roundup, Rami Cassis stakes a claim in luxury brand Hervia; Alex Chesterman snaps up additional stock in Cazoo; and Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s family office sets up in Singapore.

Rami Cassis stakes claim in luxury brand Hervia
International growth investor Rami Cassis has entered the luxury goods market with the acquisition of UK-based fashion brand Hervia through his private family office, Parabellum Investments.

The deal, which was made for an undisclosed sum, gives Cassis a 75% stake in the Manchester-based business which sells designer clothing and jewellery.

FB Roundup: François Pinault, Robert Kraft, Ashwin Damera

April 20, 2022

In this week’s FB Roundup, François Pinault looks to acquire music streaming platform Deezer; Robert Kraft’s family donates $24 million to Harvard Business School; and Ashwin Damera invests in an Indian venture lending firm.

François Pinault looks to acquire music streaming platform Deezer
French businessman François Pinault [pictured left] is aiming to buy music streaming platform Deezer in a deal estimated at $1.6 billion.

The founder of the luxury group Kering and investment company Artémis, along with other founders of the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) I2PO, plans to take the company public if the deal goes ahead.

FB Roundup: Oppenheimer Generations, Fortescue Metals Group, The Ford Foundation

October 25, 2021

Oppenheimer family drives Asian investments with new Singapore family office, Mining magnate Andrew Forrest pushes green hydrogen, Ford Foundation to divest millions from fossil fuels.

Oppenheimer family drives Asian investments with new Singapore family office

The Oppenheimer family, heirs to the DeBeers diamond fortune, is the latest family enterprise to extend its family office into Singapore.

Transitioning from a family business to a family brand

July 16, 2021

One of the greatest challenges any business experiences in transforming from a profitable small business to a legacy enterprise is navigating the waters of succession. An effective succession plan requires more than just moving names around on an org chart or a legal charter. To invest in its future, a family enterprise must build the power of its brand.

Many family enterprises develop strong branding around their visionary founders. But what happens to this brand when the next generation assumes leadership? We explore how a family enterprise should build the power of its brand in conjunction with succession planning.

What are the eight factors transforming family business?

July 7, 2021

Up until March 2020, family business transformation would have been a major programme of change, mapped out well in advance and considered carefully by the leadership team. After all, it is defined it as a strategic change made to respond to an exceptional event and my team label it a "high-risk" corporate activity.

And then came the pandemic. It accelerated some trends at a pace we couldn’t have imagined—volatility and speed of market change is causing the creation and disappearance of business models faster than ever.

FB Roundup: Groupe Artemis, News Corp, H&M Group

July 1, 2021

Pinault family’s Artemis and James Murdoch venture into Gen Z video platform Brut, Rupert Murdoch closes the book on $349 million Houghton Mifflin Harcourt deal, H&M profits rebound by $1.2 billion but stores cut.

Pinault family’s Artemis and James Murdoch venture into Gen Z video platform Brut

Francois-Henri Pinault and James Murdoch, the scions of family-owned traditional media groups, are investing millions into Brut, a new “socially conscious” digital news provider for Generation Z and millennials.

The DeFi Revolution: The opportunities and risks for family offices

May 17, 2021

We have reached the point where many family offices are open to some form of crypto-assets investment, and a number have allocated serious resources to crypto-assets. In some cases, this is driven by the lure of returns, in other cases by next generation family members advocating crypto investment.

I wrote an article for CampdenFB in November 2017, which included the following statement:

“Only a courageous chief investment officer would stand before a family committee meeting to advocate a crypto investment... But perceptions are changing.”

Impact, digital, luxury eco-tourism and real estate funds presented at Campden Wealth webinar

May 15, 2021

A Caribbean impact fund, an arts, culture and shopping platform for London, a Brazilian luxury eco-tourism venture and a blended US real estate income fund will exclusively present to qualifying family offices and private investors at the 10th virtual Campden Wealth Funds & Direct Investments Event on 27 May.

Each of the four investment opportunities will be introduced in 15-minute slots to all family offices and investors who will be able to ask questions and discuss the potential.

Application Programming Interfaces are transforming businesses

December 8, 2020

Increasing numbers of technology platforms are now incorporating APIs—Application Programming Interfaces which enable those businesses to embed other platforms within their own apps or websites. These APIs are behind many of the digital transformations that are opening new pathways to forge profitable partnerships and monetise data for tech innovation and growth.

FB Roundup: Melia, Otto Group, Clarks

November 8, 2020

Digitalisation, flexibility and safety keep Melia’s doors open against drop in revenue, Otto Group ‘bounces back’ off e-commerce acceleration, Clark family rescue shoe business with LionRock Capital deal.

Digitalisation, flexibility and safety keep Melia’s doors open against drop in revenue

Spain’s Escarrer family is determined to improve the competitiveness and efficiencies of its global hotel business after counting the cost of the “terrible” impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the travel industry.