Ackermans & van Haaren

It is neither a single-family office nor a conventional asset manager. The firm is a publicly traded investment company listed on Euronext Brussels. The founding Ackermans and van Haaren families retain significant influence, but the entity deploys permanent balance-sheet capital and invites external shareholders to co-invest alongside the families indefinitely, making it a hybrid between a family holding and a diversified industrial group (per the firm's website).

Its portfolio is organized into five pillars: marine engineering and contracting (DEME, CFE), private banking (Delen Private Bank, Bank Van Breda), real estate (Nextensa), energy and resources (SIPEF, Verdant Biosciences, Sagar Cements), and a growth-capital book of about 20 companies. These are concentrated, long-term stakes rather than a broad basket of fund commitments.

The model favours direct, active ownership. The growth-capital segment does make minority and majority investments, but the group does not market itself as an LP in third-party funds. Its disclosed strategy emphasizes buying and building operating companies rather than fund-of-fund placements.

The original wealth traces back to large-scale dredging and infrastructure contracts in and around the Port of Antwerp, starting in 1876. Reinvested profits over 150 years, broadened through diversification and the 1984 IPO, built the balance-sheet today.

It practices what it calls ‘active ownership’ — the firm sits on the governing bodies of its holdings, helps select senior management, defines long-term strategy, and supports strategic projects including M&A and internationalization. It does not run daily operations but engages as a permanent, hands-on shareholder.

AvH welcomes co-shareholders and families as long-term partners. Its shareholder agreements are structured around balanced governance rather than control-for-control’s-sake, and the group is willing to take minority positions when aligned with management and other anchor investors.

The parent company does not disclose a standalone charitable foundation under its direct ownership. Sustainability and social programs are run through the individual portfolio companies, and the group publishes an annual report covering its ESG strategy at the consolidated level.