rewardforhisservice.AlexandreVangeersadalsohadhisownfortune,whichheusedtopurchaseconsiderablesectionsofforestedlandinNorrland.Hisson,Adrian,wasborninFrance,butathisfather’srequesthemovedtoHedebyinthatremoteareaofNorrland,farfromthesalonsofParis,totakeovertheadministrationoftheestate.Hetookupfarmingandforestry,usingnewmethodsimportedfromEurope,andhefoundedthepulpandpapermillaroundwhichHedestadwasbuilt.
Alexandre’sgrandsonwasnamedHenrik,andheshortenedhissurnametoVanger.HedevelopedtradewithRussiaandcreatedasmallmerchantfleetofschoonersthatservedtheBalticsandGermany,aswellasEnglandwithitssteelindustryduringthemid-1800s.TheelderHenrikVangerdiversifiedthefamilyenterprisesandfoundedamodestminingbusiness,aswellasseveralofNorrland’sfirstmetalindustries.Helefttwosons,BirgerandGottfried,andtheyweretheoneswholaidthebasisforthehigh-financeVangerclan.
“Doyouknowanythingabouttheoldinheritancelaws?”Vangerhadasked.“No.”
“I’mconfusedaboutittoo.Aordingtofamilytradition,BirgerandGottfriedfoughtlikecats—theywerelegendarypetitorsforpowerandinfluenceoverthefamilybusiness.Inmanyrespectsthepowerstrugglethreatenedtheverysurvivalofthepany.Forthatreasontheirfatherdecided—shortlybeforehedied—tocreateasystemwherebyallmembersofthefamilywouldreceiveaportionoftheinheritance—ashare—inthebusiness.Itwasnodoubtwell-intentioned,butitledtoasituationinwhichinsteadofbeingabletobringinskilledpeopleandpossiblepartnersfromtheoutside,wehadaboardofdirectorsconsistingonlyoffamilymembers.”
“Andthatappliestoday?”
“Precisely.Ifafamilymemberwishestosellhisshares,theyhavetostaywithinthefamily.Todaytheannualshareholders’meetingconsistsof50percentfamilymembers.Martinholdsmorethan10percentoftheshares;Ihave5percentaftersellingsomeofmyshares,toMartinamongothers.MybrotherHaraldowns7percent,butmostofthepeoplewhoetotheshareholders’meetinghaveonlyoneorhalfapercent.”
“Itsoundsmedievalinsomeways.”
“It’sludicrous.Itmeansthattoday,ifMartinwantstoimplementsomepolicy,hehastowastetime