11 November 2009

80% of social enterprise leaders questioned said there should be more mergers in the sector.  

These statistics and others formed the basis of the "Mergers and Acquisitions and Other Routes to Growth" event on 3rd November, hosted by Breakthrough.

The event brought together social enterprise leaders and corporate organisation who have experience of mergers and acquisitions (M&As)

Both sides had valuable experiences, tips and practical advice to share, leading to interesting debates on the realities and perceptions around mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.

The event also saw the launch of the report 'Is There Appetite for M&As in the Social Enterprise Sector?' The report summarises the findings from the recent Breakthrough survey of social enterprise leaders on their appetite for inorganic routes to growth in the social enterprise sector

According to the results:

• culture, inexperience and fear of diluting mission are the biggest barriers to more mergers and acquisitions in the social enterprise sector.
• 62% of social enterprise leaders polled had considered mergers but just 30% had experience of them.
• Almost 80% of the leaders questioned said there should be more mergers in the sector and they highlighted duplication of services and lack of co-ordination between organisations as their biggest reasons.

Download the full report findings here

List of speakers / panellists:

• John Harley, Global Head of Private Equity, Ernst & Young
• Adele Blakebrough, co-founder and former chief executive of CAN
• Dai Powell, Chief Executive, HCT Group - download Dai's presentation
• Graham Elton, Partner, Bain & Company - download Graham's presentation
• Ian King, Deputy Business Editor, The Times
• Damon Buffini, Chairman, Permira
• Neil Goulden, Executive Chairman, Gala Coral Group
• Craig Dearden-Phillips, MBE, former CEO, Speaking Up
• Karin Pappenheim, Acting Director, Work & Lifelong Learning, Shaw Trust
• Nick Wilkie, Chief Executive, London Youth
• Ulla Barlow, Executive Director, Law for All
• Fay Selvan, CEO, The Big Life Group
• Brian Mullens, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, McDonald's UK & Northern Europe,
• John Bennett, CEO, Pack-IT Group (now chief executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition Wales)