The Sika takeover battle
The longest corporate takeover battle in the history of Switzerland – and possibly the world – pitted Sika, a Swiss chemicals manufacturer, against Saint-Gobain, a French conglomerate. At the heart of the dispute was a family business. Sika was a very successful family-controlled firm whose fourth-generation descendants decided to sell their stake in the company. The sale created a quandary for Sika’s board of directors, however. How could the board reconcile the wishes of the family owners with the interests of the other shareholders and the company itself? The case highlights the governance dilemma faced by Paul Hälg, the Chairman of Sika’s board of directors, and discloses how all parties came to an agreement after a protracted legal dispute lasting 41 months.
- Highlight the importance of a strong board of directors including independent board members, especially in a conflicting situation
- Understand how to navigate turbulent times in a family business and develop the leadership traits needed to negotiate a fair solution
- Establish governance principles that protect and uphold the rights of all company stakeholders in an ownership transition phase
Sika, Manufacturing, Chemicals
2014 – 2020
Cranfield University
Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]
Harvard Business School Publishing
60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]
NUCB Business School
1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]
IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Family businesses hold a unique place in the economic and social landscape. They represent not just entrepreneurship but also heritage, values and a legacy passed down through generations.
Family businesses have long been the backbone of the global economy, contributing significantly to employment, innovation, and economic resilience. As we approach 2025 and beyond, family businesses must adapt to a range of emerging trends to stay ...
We investigate family CEO birth order as an antecedent of family firms' CSR behavior. Despite psychology literature recognizing it as a key predictor of individual behavior, birth order has been largely neglected in management research. Drawing on...
Family businesses are an essential part of the global economy, as they combine the power of a common goal. Long-term vision, and deep personal commitment. But these unique characteristics create a special context in which personal relationships bl...
Ferrero, Fiat, Intesa Sanpaolo and Eni invest in pleasure assets to enhance their reputations and family ties. But collections also become a strategic tool to enhance corporate identity, stimulate employee creativity and enhance national heritage.
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is a significant challenge, especially for family-owned businesses where family matters and business operations are deeply intertwined.
Building trust in family-owned companies involves overcoming challenges from overlapping family and business dynamics. Non-family employees often face a “glass ceiling” due to perceived favoritism and limited career growth. Strategies like transpa...
This study expands upon previous research on family firm leadership by exploring the role of CEO identity – i.e., family vs. nonfamily CEO – concerning the way media perceive the brand of the family firm– i.e., brand importance. Drawing on endorse...
Working with family members in a business setting is a unique experience that brings both opportunities and challenges. Entrepreneurial families—those engaged in creating and managing businesses over generations—often rely on the strength of famil...
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal 25 December 2024, ePub before print, https://doi.org/10.1002/sej.1530
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in Journal of Family Business Strategy 28 November 2024, ePub before print, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2024.100646
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications