(Sept 26): Having a grandfather with four wives can make for some complex succession issues, as Cheong Wing Kiat found when running his family’s Singapore-based drug company a few years ago.

The patriarch and his three co-founders had more than 20 heirs with competing agendas. Buying out about half helped, but involved tough negotiations and family fights. Now, the number of shareholders is climbing again and Cheong, 59, worries for the next generation.

“Within the next 10 years, we will have to do another pruning, " he said. "But it will not be my task, and I am happy about that.”

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