A Fourth Generation Without a Plan
An Antwerp-based textile trading family sought our guidance when its fourth generation inherited a business they hadn't built. While multiple cousin branches held equal shares, they rarely agreed on anything except the company's underlying importance. When a serious buyer emerged, this passive friction turned into a gridlock. The family fractured into deeply divided camps, with one side pushing for an immediate cash-out, and the other insisting on holding the asset long-term.
To break the stalemate, we conducted closed workshops to listen to each side independently before bringing everyone to the negotiating table. These insights formed a new family charter establishing clear governance rules. This framework allowed them to execute a smooth, staged sale of the business while consolidating their real estate holdings under a single structure. Today, that same charter successfully resolves internal conflicts before they can escalate.