10.11.09 Comments: Mergers and Acquisitions

‘We’re not empire building maniacs’ – CEOs claim

Chrisanthi Giotis, Social Enterprise magazine

The culture of the third sector is stopping social enterprises from growing by mergers and acquisitions, claimed several social enterprise leaders yesterday. A CAN Breakthrough conference on mergers and acquisitions heard a number of speakers blame cultural antagonism for the lack of merger activity. Craig Dearden-Phillips said: 'Mergers are counter-cultural in the sector we operate in. Some people think I'm an empire building maniac just for talking about it.' 
 

McSocial Enterprise franchises could be the future

Chrisanthi Giotis, Social Enterprise magazine

Social enterprises should be learning from McDonalds when thinking about expansion, said the head of a leading social enterprise yesterday. Training for Life CEO Gordon D'Silva was speaking at a CAN Breakthrough conference about mergers, acquisitions, franchises and other methods of expansion. He said: 'Interestingly enough we've turned to McDonalds for the business model of expansion which is most in keeping with the third sector.