Family offices are entering 2026 in a strong position. With 8,030 single-family offices worldwide now controlling an estimated $5.5 trillion in private capital—projected to reach $9 trillion by the end of the decade—these investors have the resources and flexibility to compete directly with traditional private equity firms on major deals. More importantly, they’re well-positioned to take advantage of an emerging opportunity: multinational companies being sold off by larger corporations or private equity firms.
Why Family Offices Have the Advantage in 2026
Several market trends are creating opportunities for family offices. Corporate divestiture activity has surged—transaction volumes jumped 39.7% year-over-year, with most dealmakers projecting this trend to continue driving M&A. We see two main reasons for this increase. First, parent companies are focusing on their core businesses and spinning off divisions to operate independently. Second, stricter government oversight on international operations is prompting companies to sell foreign assets.
At the same time, private equity firms face mounting pressure to exit portfolio companies. They’re holding more than 30,000 companies with average holding periods reaching 8.5 years—more than double historical norms—while investors intensify demands for returns. Economic pressures are also surfacing distressed asset opportunities, as companies with overleveraged balance sheets seek buyers who can provide patient capital and operational stability.
Family offices can move on these opportunities in ways institutional investors can’t. Without external investors demanding quarterly results or rigid exit timelines, they can take their time with integrations, structure deals creatively, and hold companies through full business cycles. When a multinational business needs time to establish itself independently after being carved out, when a distressed asset requires operational turnaround, or when operations span multiple countries, family offices can commit to the timeline needed to build value.
Why International Acquisitions Require Specialized Infrastructure
These opportunities require sophisticated operational infrastructure. When a family office acquires a multinational company—especially one being carved out from a larger parent or sold by PE—they’re taking on complex operations across multiple countries, each with different corporate structures, employment laws, payroll systems, and tax rules.
Most family offices keep small teams by design—a typical office may have a dozen professionals managing billions in assets. This works well for finding deals, evaluating financials, and making investment decisions. But post-acquisition, when the portfolio company operates across multiple countries with different compliance requirements, that lean team faces a decision: hire more people to handle international compliance, or find a partner who can handle it without the overhead.
The challenge intensifies with carved-out businesses. These deals often come with messy vendor arrangements or compliance gaps inherited from the previous owner. Separating a division from its parent company means transitioning payroll, setting up new legal entities, transferring employees correctly, and managing it all while keeping the business running.
What Family Offices Need for Successful International Acquisitions
Making these deals work requires infrastructure that matches the complexity. When a family office acquires a multinational business, the basics need to get handled quickly: keeping corporate registrations current, running payroll correctly, making sure employment contracts meet local laws, identifying tax obligations before they become problems. These aren’t just paperwork tasks—they protect the deal’s value and prevent regulatory issues that could hurt a future sale.
The infrastructure also needs to provide visibility across the entire portfolio. As family offices build their collection of international companies, they need clear answers: Which entities have filings coming due? Where are we creating tax obligations? Are employment arrangements compliant everywhere we operate? When a company expands or restructures, are compliance issues being caught and handled proactively?
Most importantly, managing all of this shouldn’t require building a massive internal team. Family offices buy these companies because they see value others don’t. The operations should support that strategy, not consume resources that should go toward finding the next deal.
How HSP Supports Family Office Operations
HSP provides dedicated, hands-on support for family offices managing international portfolio companies. Unlike large-scale providers handling hundreds of clients through standardized processes, we work directly with a select group of family offices, tailoring our approach to each portfolio’s specific structure and needs.
When you acquire a company with overseas operations, we become an extension of your team. We handle the legal, financial, and HR setup required to establish compliant operations in each country, then provide ongoing back office management through our in-country experts who understand local nuances. You work with the same core team throughout—people who know your portfolio, understand your investment strategy, and can move quickly when opportunities arise.
For family offices managing acquisitions across multiple borders, this translates to proactive management rather than reactive problem-solving. When a portfolio company hires locally, changes directors, or expands into adjacent markets, your dedicated HSP team manages the compliance implications immediately.
Governance and Board Support
Beyond operational back office management, HSP assists family offices with governance frameworks that many find increasingly important:
- Family charter and constitution development: Formal documents that codify family values, vision, and wealth management plans
- Succession planning: Managing the transfer of leadership and assets between generations
- Board setup and advisory: Establishing boards for investment or advisory purposes, including recruitment of independent directors
- Director training: Outlining key considerations, liabilities, and governance oversight requirements for directors operating in different countries
- Conflict resolution and mediation: Facilitating discussions to manage generational differences and align on future direction
- Board technology platforms: Implementing software for secure board packs, document storage, real-time dashboards, and formal voting systems
Seasoned Hands-On Partners for Portfolio Growth
As private equity becomes the leading asset class within family office portfolios, family offices need partners who understand their dual focus: making strategic acquisitions while managing portfolio companies efficiently across jurisdictions. The infrastructure should deliver compliance visibility and operational consistency without requiring dedicated internal resources in every country where portfolio companies operate. HSP’s approach is built around direct relationships—you work with a consistent team that knows your portfolio structure, understands your investment thesis, and responds quickly when operational issues need resolution.
Ready to discuss how HSP can support your family office’s international operations? Contact us to learn more.
HSP is an end-to-end global expansion solutions provider focused on helping companies, private equity firms, and family offices scale and operate their businesses overseas compliantly.
Our in-country experts have delivered the full spectrum of global expansion solutions—from entity formation and operationalization to back-office admin—across 0+ countries. HSP offers payroll, accounting, tax, legal, and HR services, to both guide and execute across every domain.
Contact us to discover how our full suite of global expansion services can help your family office successfully manage portfolio companies across borders.
