This is your playbook for turning family values into global growth. Whether you’re a family business owner, investor, or M&A advisor, the insights in this whitepaper will help you avoid costly mistakes in international expansion, leverage ‘patient capital’ as a competitive edge, and build governance and financing strategies that align with long-term vision.
Download the BDO Whitepaper here and start transforming your international growth strategy today!
For Belgian M&A professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors, international expansion is no longer optional – it’s a strategic necessity. But how do family businesses, with their unique values and long-term vision, navigate global markets successfully?
The new BDO whitepaper, ‘Patient capital and family values as a compass: best practices for international expansion and growth of family businesses’, authored by Jan Oosterlinck (Partner, BDO Advisory) and Jan Baetens (Senior Manager, BDO Advisory), provides actionable insights tailored specifically for Belgian family-owned enterprises.
Why this whitepaper is a must-read
Belgium’s economy thrives on family SMEs, many of which operate internationally – yet expansion is far from straightforward. This whitepaper breaks down:
• The 4 forms of internationalisation – From commercial exports and contractual partnerships to strategic alliances and foreign direct investments (FDI), each with varying levels of commitment, risk, and reward.
• The ‘patient capital’ advantage – How family businesses’ long-term horizon and emotional attachment to legacy create unique strengths (and challenges) compared to impatient investors or listed companies.
• Key lessons from investment funds – How family businesses can adopt speed, governance structures (like Advisory Boards), and external expertise without sacrificing their core values.
• Financing strategies – Why self-financing and reinvestment are preferred, but how strategic external capital (from family offices or private equity) can accelerate growth without losing control.
"Family businesses often enter international markets later than others—but their patience, flexibility, and deep local roots can become competitive advantages if leveraged correctly", explain Oosterlinck and Baetens. "This whitepaper shows how to turn those strengths into global success."
