Exploratory Study on the Factors that Influence Choosing a Mechanism for Equity Succession in Colombian Family Businesses

Abstract

Executive succession is one of the most studied topics in the area of family businesses. That is not so for asset succession, which is essential to the continuity of businesses within the same family core. The objective of this multi-case exploratory study is to identify the factors that most influence the founder in choosing a mechanism for property succession (no testament, simple, national or international) in Colombian family businesses. Among the factors studied, those most inherent were (a) education (the founder’s educational level), (b) experience (negative situations in other successions), (c) security (difficulties in the Colombian environment), (d) culture (based on the concept of family entrapment), and (e) taxes (knowledge of liens).