In late 2004, former agricultural co-operative Gold Kist completed an initial public offering in order to improve governance and access to capital. Now one of the largest chicken companies in the United States, Gold Kist today has a stronger balance sheet and access to the capital it needs for growth. The company is also better positioned to attract the talent required to compete as a public company. CEO John Bekkers discusses the reasons behind the decision to take the 70-year-old cooperative public; the challenges associated with changing an organizational structure; and the future of farming cooperatives.
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