230 likes | 368 Views
The link between success and succession Katleen Van Havere, senior expert UNIZO 22 nd of April 2005, Portoroz, SLO. Business transfer planning. I. About transfer of businesses II. Facts and figures (ING study – 2004) III. What needs to be done ?. About transfer of businesses.
E N D
The link between success and succession Katleen Van Havere, senior expert UNIZO 22 nd of April 2005, Portoroz, SLO Business transfer planning
I. About transfer of businessesII. Facts and figures (ING study – 2004)III. What needs to be done ?
About transfer of businesses • 610.000 SMEs changing hands each year (Netherlands: 20.000; Germany: 70.000; Flanders: 13.500) • 2.4 million jobs • Who will take over these businesses ? - Some worrying tendencies • More transfers outside the family circle • Starting up a new firm is more popular • Ageing population
About transfer of businesses (2) • Major socio-economic importance of successful tranfers (job creation!) • Preparing the successor • ING study, February 2004 : competences (“quality”) and personality of the successor are crucial Also confirmed by recent research (EIM, March 2005, Netherlands) -> www.eim.nl/mkb-en-ondernemerschap
Business transfers in the Netherlands, Germany and Flanders • ING economic bureau, UNIZO and MKB Netherlands • Published February 2004 • 1.300 SMEs - industry and services – N, G, F • Perspective of the successor • Report • Preliminary definitions - focus • Size of the transferred enterprises • Objectives of the transfer • Assistance of advisors • Bottlenecks • Results after transfer
Focus • ‘Transfer of ownership’ = the transfer of the ownership of an enterprise to one or more persons (private individuals) OR to another company or enterprise, who continue the commercial activity of the enterprise and want to guarantee the continuity • 5 types of transfer • Phases in the process of transfer • Measuring success by ‘growth’ - three categories : • Top of the class • Middle of the class • Bottom of the class
1. Succession within the family 2. Management-buy-out (MBO) Transfer to private individuals 3. Management-buy-in (MBI) Transfer of ownership 4. Takeover/ acquisition Transfer to another company 5. Merger Transfer of ownership: 5 types Transfer to private individuals 5. Merger
Phases in the process of transfer of ownership Phases Actions Orientation– strategy – search for companies Preparation Validation – financial, legal and fiscal analysis – finding finances – negotiating and concluding the agreement Negotiation and transfer Implementing changes – reaping rewards Post-transfer
Average number of employees involved with a transfer of ownership, by degree of success
Assistance of advisors • 5 categories • Accountants • Banks • Business brokers • Lawyers • Tax advisors • Netherlands : 94 %, • Flanders : 91 % • Germany : 83 %
Bottlenecks for the top of the class, by region(in % of the respondents)
Business transfers in the Netherlands, Germany and Flanders :conclusions • Investing in education of entrepreneurs – importance of professional advice • What about family businesses ? • How to finance a business transfer ? • Paying attention to the market of business transfers ‘pays’ in terms of profit, employment, tax income for the government, innovation
What needs to be done ? • Parties concerned = EU (EC), national governments, business organisations AND the enterprises themselves • Europe ? • Recommendation (1994) – Communication (1998)– Best report (2002) – Final report Vienna (2002) – MAP report (2003) – ‘good practice guide’ (2003) • A new Recommendation (?) • For the future : • promotion (business transfers = start-ups!) • research • support (awareness – training – assistance)
What needs to be done ? (2) • Business organisations – UNIZO • March, 2004 : UNIZO-conference on business transfers (‘SME-policy-day’) • ‘Action plan’ 1. Sensitisation and information 2. A transparant market place for buyers and sellers 3. Improving the fiscal environment (inheritance and gift taxes) 4. Better financial instruments 5. Investing in professional advice 6. More research to address unanswered questions
Sensitisation and information • UNIZO training institute (‘Integraal’) • Book (practical guide) – ca. 5.000 issues • Four seminars – autumn 2005 • Special program for SMEs with high potential for further expansion (‘KMO Contact’) • ‘Startersdag’ : a yearly event for everyone interested in starting up a business • Draft code on corporate governance : special attention to family businesses (‘family governance’)
A transparant market place for buyers and sellers www.overnamemarkt.be • Launched by UNIZO, April 2005 • With the support of the Flemish government • Contact mediation system for buyers and sellers in Flanders + practical information and useful contacts/links on business transfer
Professional advice • ING study : positive correlation between the assistance of advisors and being top of the class • Flemish support measure : ‘adviescheques’ : cheques to pay for advice, for 50 % paid by the Flemish government • www.vlaanderen.be/adviescheques