A Strategic Alliance for the Family Business Community
The Institute for Family Business (IFFB) and ICEA Lion Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant milestone in the effort to professionalise and strengthen family business continuity across Africa. The partnership brings together IFFB's deep expertise in family business governance and ICEA Lion's financial services capabilities to create a unified offering for family enterprises navigating complex generational transitions.
What the Partnership Covers
Under the terms of the MoU, the two institutions will collaborate to deliver an integrated suite of family office services, focusing on three critical pillars:
1. Succession Planning Families in business often face their greatest risk at the point of leadership transition. The IFFB–ICEA Lion partnership will provide structured succession planning frameworks that help families identify, prepare, and transition leadership to the next generation, ensuring business continuity without disruption to operations or family harmony.
2. Financial and Tax Planning Managing family wealth across generations requires careful, long-term financial structuring. Through this partnership, member families will have access to expert financial planning and tax advisory services designed specifically for the complexities of family-owned and family-controlled enterprises, including family trusts, holding structures, and estate planning.
3. Investment Management Growing and preserving family wealth requires disciplined investment strategies. ICEA Lion's investment management expertise will be made available to IFFB members, enabling families to develop and execute investment portfolios aligned with their long-term legacy goals and risk appetite.
Why This Partnership Matters
Family businesses are the backbone of Africa's economy, yet many struggle to access the specialised professional services they need to survive generational transitions. Statistics show that fewer than 30% of family businesses successfully transition to the second generation, and fewer than 12% survive to the third. Lack of structured succession and financial planning is among the leading causes.
This MoU directly addresses that gap, bringing professional-grade family office services within reach of IFFB's growing membership community.
Quotes
"At IFFB, our mandate is to ensure that family businesses not only survive but thrive across generations. Partnering with ICEA Lion gives our members access to world-class financial expertise that complements our governance and leadership programs. This is a game-changer for the family business community in this region." - IFFB Leadership
"ICEA Lion has always been committed to helping families secure their financial futures. This partnership with IFFB allows us to reach family businesses at the exact moment they need structured financial guidance, during succession and transition. We are proud to be part of this important work." - ICEA Lion Group
What This Means for IFFB Members
IFFB members will have preferential access to family office services offered under this partnership, including:
- Dedicated succession planning consultations
- Personalised financial and tax planning sessions
- Tailored investment management advisory
- Joint workshops and learning forums on wealth preservation and family governance
- Access to ICEA Lion's network of financial specialists
About ICEA Lion Group
ICEA Lion Group is one of East Africa's leading financial services groups, offering life assurance, general insurance, asset management, and financial planning services. With decades of experience serving individuals, corporates, and institutions, ICEA Lion brings proven expertise in long-term wealth management and financial structuring.
About the Institute for Family Business (IFFB)
The Institute for Family Business is the premier Business Membership Organisation (BMO) for family-owned and family-controlled enterprises in Africa. IFFB is dedicated to supporting families in business through governance advisory, leadership development, succession planning, peer networking, and now, through strategic partnerships like this, comprehensive family office services.