Country: Germany
Europe · 3 posts
How the Henkel Family Kept Control for 150 Years: The Share-Pooling Agreement
Henkel turned 150 in September 2026 and is still controlled by the founder's descendants. The tool is a contract: a family voting pool with 61.85% of the votes, inside a German KGaA.
From Steel to Vermeer: The Thyssen Collection Goes Back to The Hague
Madrid's Thyssen-Bornemisza museum and the Mauritshuis are swapping 25 paintings each way. Behind the exchange is a family collection that was split, bought back and finally sold to Spain.
Should Business Heirs Pay Inheritance Tax? Germany's Top Court Takes the Case
Germany's constitutional court hears two inheritance tax cases on 12 and 13 October 2026. At stake: relief that lets the largest business transfers pay almost no tax.