Family businesses should turn to private investors (KPMG). - According to KPMG's international survey - “Family matters: financing family business growth through individual investors”, 58% of family businesses are struggling to find external finance to fund their investment plans, but finding the right strategic investment partner can sometime be challenging. While family businesses create more than 70% of global GDP, they can find their fundraising options limited, says KPMG. In the short term, family businesses with a turnover of $20 million or over cite their needs for financing as being for everyday management (39%), domestic growth on existing markets (32%) and the creation or improvement of their products or services (17%). In the longer term, however, their priorities are for acquisitions (22%), followed by expansion into new geographical areas (18%) and into new sectors (16%). For 30% of these businesses, financing from the bank is the most important source of financing, followed by self-finance (28%). Nearly three quarters of these family businesses, however, state that their ability to finance their projects through bank loans is affected by the economic context (74%). They could thus be open to new sources of finance such as those potentially offered by private investors. Among the 44% of private investors that have already invested in a medium-sized family business, 95% bear witness to a positive experience and, at the same time, 62% of private investors today state that they are interested in the perspective of investing in a family business. KPMG comments that medium-sized businesses and private investors could develop more synergies while building a lasting and productive relationship. As well as financing, the investors could bring their expertise and experience to family businesses, KPMG states.