Despite the abovementioned challenges and economic uncertainty statistics reveal a strong resilience for recovery. In the current financial year. 51% of family businesses are eyeing opportunities for growth in the domestic market, 22% shall be focusing on diversification, while 10% are contemplating entering the international markets[1]. However, it has also paved the way for drastic changes in the ways a family business shall operate.

Two areas that will be witnessing restructuring in the family business operations are; legacy planning and digitization. According to PWC’s 10^th Global Family Business Survey, 2021[2] over 87% of family-run businesses have identified digital innovation and technology as the focal point of priority over the next two years. Succession planning is one of the most sensitive issues in family-run businesses. However, Covid 19 appears to have concentrated minds in this area. The survey confirmed that 20% of business families have incorporated a formal succession plan, while 7% of such families have revised their legacy plans in light of the pandemic.  

This piece intends to explore various tactics, legal resources, and preventive measures that are currently available at the disposal of family businesses to adopt a viable succession plan and lay down a comprehensive list of suggestions and actions that can be immediately incorporated and undertaken by such entities to this effect.

Dos and Don’ts of Succession Planning

While undertaking measures to establish a legacy plan, family harmony and communication are the two keys, which are imperative to be kept at the forefront. It is pertinent to ensure that succession planning does not prove to be detrimental to a family’s peace and unity.

The following two approaches should be incorporated while formulating a succession plan for a family business, in favor of the family’s interest:  

• Family Harmony Comes First: Successful family business owners have believed that selflessly putting the family first is key to the survival of their business. Decisions that keep the family together should be given priority even if they could potentially cause short-term losses. Dynasties crumble due to family feuds and individual egos overpowering affection and mutual respect.

• Communication is the Key: There needs to be clarity amongst all the family members, especially the next generation about their future roles. The older generation needs to have an open discussion with the young beneficiaries, about their exit and the subsequent taking over of the business after them. Similarly, the younger generation needs to communicate their plans for the future and expectations in advance so that a succession plan can be tailored in line with their mutual terms of agreements and prospects. It is advisable to engage an external facilitator who can assist the concerned parties to convert their aspirations, interests, and competencies and formulate a plan in the larger interest of the business. If the younger generation wants no part in the family business, then their decision should be respected otherwise a forced responsibility in the family business either through a Will or otherwise will only lead to resentment and strife in the family; and be violative of industry’s regulatory clauses depending upon the nature of business.

Planning for Protection of Assets in the Event of Succession

Most Indian family-owned businesses managed their assets and wealth themselves. Therefore, succession was either governed by will or personal laws. However, since succession and property laws are unique to every religion, the process became complex.

The indifference and ignorance of senior members of the family towards these issues is the primary cause for extensive litigation cases, mainly pertaining to title disputes. The following succession planning tools are recommended to sidestep from such scenarios:

1. Will: Leaving behind a validly executed Will is the most uncomplicated mode through which a property can be passed down to the next owner. There is no fixed format for a Will under the law. The only requirements for a valid Will according to the Indian Succession Act, 1925 are; it should be made by a sound adult, signed by them, and attested by two witnesses. It is recommended that an Executor be appointed in the Will to reduce hassles. It is not compulsory to register a Will. Probate is also required only if the Will is made in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and Assam and within the local limits of the ordinary original civil jurisdiction of the High Courts of Madras and Bombay or where the property of the deceased is situated in these areas.

There are two scenarios that are to be considered while determining the ownership of a share in the family business after the death of a person:

• In case a person dies leaving a Will: A person can make a bequest of his share in the family business by a Will according to the constitution of the family business:

1. 1. Corporate Structure: Large family businesses often operate through a private company structure in which the shares are issued to family members and the management positions are held by family members. Shares held by an individual family member can be willed by that person. A family company continues to operate after one’s death as it is a separate legal entity. The assets in the company belong to the Company alone and cannot form part of the estate and therefore cannot be transferred by a Will.
   2. Partnerships: Most small-scale family businesses in India work through the partnership model. The Partnership Deed between the family members as partners should ideally have a clause that provides for the procedure to be followed on the death of a partner. A family business owner can make a bequest of his share in the partnership in the Will, but the beneficiary does not become a partner to the firm unless all the partners of the firm consent to it.
   3. HUF: Many traditional family businesses do not have a formal document in place but may operate through a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF). According to Section 30 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, a person can make a testamentary disposition of his share in a co-parcenary property i.e he may dispose of his share in the assets of the family business (HUF) through a Will.

• In case a person dies without leaving a Will: The ownership of the stake in the family business will be determined by intestate succession i.e succession according to the personal law of the deceased individual. The heirs will be determined in accordance with the religion of the intestate for example Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains will be governed by the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, Muslims will be governed by the Mohammedan Law and all others will be determined by the Indian Succession Act, 1925.

2. Trusts: The Indian Trusts Act, 1882 governs the creation of a Private Trust. A trust may be created during the lifetime of a person, referred to as the author / s It may be created with a written legal document through which the assets of the settlor are placed into a trust and trustees are appointed therein who manage these assets for the benefit of the settlor and the beneficiaries named in the Trust Deed. The biggest advantage of Trust is that it operates both during and after a person’s life.

• • A written Trust Deed is signed by the Settlor, requires a minimum of two trustees and two witnesses. The trust may or not be registered; registration is required only if an immovable property is transferred to the trust.
  • Family wealth can be secured with the help of trusts. The manner of conducting business, areas of responsibility, and pre-empting scenarios can also form part of the trust constitution.
  • Another benefit of Trust as a planning option is its dependability during a crisis. It helps in ringfencing the assets from any action taken by creditors or banks in the event of a financial crisis.
  • When a settlor dies, the trustee pays the debts, files the tax returns, and distributes the assets of a deceased. Trusts are an effective estate-planning tool if one wants to avoid the costs and hassles involved in obtaining probate. It is a quick and quiet procedure, preserving one’s privacy and done without any court interference.

3. Family Constitution/ Charter/ Framework: Business assets such as securities can be accounted for in a Will or a Trust, however, it is also necessary for a family business to plan for succession of management of the business. These are often covered in Family Constitutions or any other business manifests. It clearly lays out the interaction between the family and the business. It is a document that can be used for governing the administration of the family business. Apart from detailing the values and ethos of the family business, it may also specify rules like the incoming generation would need to get a master’s degree and, work outside to ensure they are well equipped when they join the business. It may also make provisions for events like death, marriage and divorce in the family. However, for any family members to succeed onto the Board of Directors or any other Key Managerial Position, resolutions by the existing Board of Directors and/or shareholders would be required. It is recommended that the younger generation (if adults) should be made aware of the Family Charter, allowed to participate and their opinions should be given due consideration so that the document is in line with the thoughts of the incoming members of the business. This helps in maintaining a balance between the old and the new.

4. Family Arrangements: Family arrangement resolves present or possible future disputes among family members ensuring equitable distribution of property among the family members. In a Family arrangement, a member gives up all claims in respect of all the properties in dispute other than the ones falling to their share. The rights of all the others are recognized. Therefore, under a Family arrangement, members of a family may decide amongst themselves about the distribution of the property of the deceased. A Family arrangement would have to be appropriately stamped and registered. However, even oral arrangements are valid in the eyes of law.

5. Clear Retirement Policies: While making a succession plan, there should be a provision for a clear retirement policy that includes defining the benefits and shareholding of the outgoing generation post-retirement.

6. Guardianship: Where minor children are involved, it is very important to make provisions either in a Will or by Trust, for appointing a guardian for minor children in the event of a parent’s death. If one parent dies, then the other living parent likely becomes the guardian subject to personal laws. If both parents die, then it is needed to mention who will be accorded guardianship. Failure to do so will involve the intervention of courts and various applicable laws given India’s pluralistic society. The need for an appropriate guardian is not only to provide for personal needs but to also ensure that the share of minors in family businesses are protected during the period of minority.

7. Conflict Resolution Forums: Family disputes are often dragged to courts and fought in public. Creating conflict resolution forums in the family constitution is recommended where family members can discuss their differences and resolve disputes amicably. These forums may consist of trusted family members or outsiders like family friends who can fairly resolve the dispute. In case the dispute continues, family members may resort to mediation or arbitration. Litigation should be used only as a last resort. To maintain peace in the family, a well-drawn-out conflict resolution forum is necessary. Resorting to legal recourse at the first opportunity creates hostility and breaks down family relations.

8. Setting up of Family Offices: Keeping track of investments and family wealth as it grows can become an extremely cumbersome task. Family Offices rescue family businesses and high net worth individuals from such burdens along with managing the administrative issues that crop up daily. Family Offices handle investment portfolios, taxes, provide legal support, maintain documentation, and manage shared assets of the family businesses.

9. Choosing a Successor: The family business will flourish only if a family member has the passion to take on the responsibilities to run the day-to-day business. It is, therefore, important to identify a successor who not only has the skill sets to be the leader but also has the drive and excitement to take the business forward. Forcing the responsibility of running the family business onto uninterested family members would be detrimental to the business as the stakes are high for all stakeholders. When deciding between family and non-family members to run the business, the family should objectively identify and evaluate a variety of candidates early on. Whether family or non-family, they should be given the requisite training and opportunities to grow, and the best candidate often emerges over time. If no family member is qualified and/or willing to take the position, then the current leader must make the tough decision to appoint an external candidate or professional for the role.

10. Mentoring the Next Generation: An important factor for successful business transfer is mentoring of the next generation of leaders before and after they take over the family business. It would be fruitful to train and groom them so that they learn and understand the culture and values on which the business was built. Often, business owners are afraid to give up their central roles in the system and hand over the reins of the business to newcomers even if they are family members. Successful family business leaders have kept aside their egos and objectively help build the mindset of the prospective leaders. One way to groom the next generation is to give them challenging tasks and the autonomy to make their own decisions. The current generation can also create a management training program for the next generation joining the business, in consultation with key senior personnel. This gives them a flavour of various aspects and functions of the business.

11. Tackling Issues of Nepotism: One of the biggest challenges in any family business is tackling nepotism allegations, especially by the younger generation. Nepotism is inevitably a part of the package deal that cannot be avoided. If an undeserving family member is given a senior position in the business, it may result in low morale amongst the employees. What can be done is, minimalize its effect on the non-family employees. A good way to tackle nepotism is to set out clear employment policies. What qualifications would be required for a certain position in the business and what is expected from a family member if they do take up that role? Giving them compensation based on their performance instead of their relationship within the family, preparing them thoroughly for a position, and giving them jobs that fit their skill sets are some of the best practices which can be adopted by family-run businesses.