Acquisitions Quote by William N. Thorndike Jr
““CBS spent much of the 1960s and 1970s taking the enormous cash flow generated by its network and broadcast operations and funding an aggressive acquisition program that led it into entirely new fields, including the purchase of a toy business and the New York Yankees baseball team. CBS issued stock to fund some of these acquisitions, built a landmark office building in midtown Manhattan at enormous expense, developed a corporate structure with forty-two presidents and vice presidents, and generally displayed what Buffett’s partner, Charlie Munger, calls “a prosperity-blinded indifference to unnecessary costs.”1””
About This Quote
Source Book: Business Strategies by William N. Thorndike Jr, 2021
CBS pursued aggressive growth, buying diverse assets and incurring high costs, showing a disregard for prudent expense management.
In simple terms: CBS expanded wildly, spending heavily on acquisitions and facilities.
Key Takeaway
Balance growth with disciplined cost control.
Themes
growth
acquisitions
cost management
corporate governance
financial strategy
Mood
analytical
critical
cautious
Type
Acquisitions:1
Baseball team:1
Cash flow:1
Customer:0
Yankees baseball:1
York Yankees:1
Cbs Spent:1
Cbs Issued:1
Team Cbs:0
Acquisitions Built:0
When to use this quote
- shareholder meetings
- board decisions
- industry analysis
- media coverage
- financial reports
Key Concepts
strategic expansion
capital allocation
organizational structure
Questions to Reflect On
- Are acquisitions always worth the cost?
- How can companies keep expansion sustainable?
A Different Perspective
Excessive spending can erode long‑term value.
