Hi tkc,
The conflict comes down to this.
The interests of the family and shareholders may conflict.
In order to preserve the interests of shareholders, the company's board may demand that certain controls are put in place to ensure the fact that the appearance of family preference is prevented. Disclose those protections and the issue disappears.
There's a middle ground. But instead, folks choose to make it a binary choice between unrestricted family opportunity and family exclusion. There's more subtlety to be had in the conversation, but I don't see that it is going to be had.
Even so, if I were a Sprague and wanted what is best for the company, I'd agree with me that giving the appearance of even-handedness - and actually creating the conditions for equal treatment - is the right approach to resolving the issue!!
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