Press Room

Grant Thornton News

Return to press room

 

Grant Thornton advises CIPD on £3 million acquisition

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has acquired Bridge Partnership, a business transformation and strategy consultancy for £3 million. Grant Thornton acted as lead advisers and undertook financial due diligence for CIPD.

CIPD, which is a registered charity, has identified a need for greater capacity to lead thinking at the most senior level of the HR profession.  In acquiring Bridge, the CIPD says it is accelerating the Institute’s ability to meet its strategic objectives, as well as acquiring a financial asset in the form of a well regarded consultancy with a globally recognised customer base.

Bridge's clients include Tesco, BP, Asda, Cadbury, PepsiCo and HSBC as well as clients in the public sector.

The acquisition of Bridge by CIPD is the second deal Grant Thornton has worked on for a registered charity in recent weeks following the acquisition of AIM-listed home-care provider Claimar Care Group in September.

Grant Thornton's Head of M&A David Brooks commented: "Charities are always very aware of their revenue streams but we are seeing more of them consider the benefits of mergers and acquisitions to achieve both strategic and financial objectives. There is real commercial thinking behind the deal.

"This acquisition will enable the CIPD to draw on Bridge’s insight-led thinking and applied expertise in organisational development in driving sustainable performance in organisations. But it should also prove an excellent commercial decision", he concluded.