We work with private equity firms across the investment lifecycle

Operations and private equity are in our DNA. Since its foundation in 1998, we have been supporting private equity firms, pension funds, hedge funds, and their portfolio companies to excel in their mutual value creation from an operational point of view.

In today’s world of ever-increasing deal flows and higher multiples paid, private equity (PE) firms must create value through several levers, one of them being operations improvements. A successful exit must prove those improvements to be sustained and embedded in the portfolio company. We partner with the PE firm and the portfolio company throughout the entire investment cycle – starting with the operations due diligence (ODD), the first 100-day detailed analysis, operations carve-out and merger integration to the implementation and sustainment of the investment thesis.

Acquisition Support:

Over the past 20 years we have performed countless operations due diligences (ODD) for our global private equity clients, including vendor due diligences (VDD). Our expert team has worked in more than 25 countries covering almost any industrial vertical, delivering the ODD report with accuracy, speed, and precision.

We scrutinize every aspect of the operation that are critical for our PE clients’ investment thesis and will constitute an opportunity for incremental EBITDA. In today’s uncertain times, we also perform a business risk assessment alongside the opportunity analysis. The insight of both components allow our PE clients balance all factors to submit the best possible bid to the seller.

First 100-Day Detailed Analysis and Implementation Support:

Once the company has been added to the portfolio of the PE firm, we support the operations value creation plan with the detailed analysis of the topics that sustain the investment thesis. Together with the management team of the portfolio firm, we establish a detailed roadmap, a complete business case, and a sustainment model that allows our client’s leadership to commit their resources with a specific result in mind.

We provide revenue and margin enhancement through the development of growth strategies, sales operations improvement, pricing and margin management, value engineering, innovation, portfolio optimization and aftermarket optimization.

Our cost optimization methodology focuses on improving direct costs, G&A, and human capital. We have developed over 20 years of global experience comparing our client’s cost structure to industry benchmarks.

Our asset optimization structure is focused on maintenance reliability and overall equipment effectiveness with a philosophy of improvement driven by data and asset performance. Our consultants understand the strategies associated with growing revenue, as well as improving the product life cycle service cost structure.

Our supply chain, manufacturing, procurement, industrial aftermarket and value engineering and innovation services are led by seasoned professionals who have extensive industry experience.

Changes in operations entail changes in behaviors. Our sustainability workstreams create specific solutions to make sure that the process changes get through the finish line, and the leadership mindset supports the ongoing culture change. Whether it’s the setup of the appropriate KPI structure and the meeting cadence for their management, a shopfloor management structure (also applied to areas outside the shopfloor), or the overriding leadership behavior methodology, we apply the appropriate mix of tools to ensure that the changes remain over time.

Exit Support:

Our sell side vendor due diligence and synergy assessments provide a critical look into the portfolio’s performance and strategies to support the exit. We provide assessment and implementation support required to optimize value during the selling process.

Our experience-based approach to create value:

Dedicated Global Practice: We speak private equity in 22 languages across a focused set of industry verticals. With a presence in over 20 countries and serving the U.S., European and the Asia-Pacific markets, Argo’s private equity practice has a solid track record.

Argo Difference: Dedicated private equity consulting team with deep operating and functional expertise. We leverage our broader operations group bringing expertise to private equity portfolio companies.

Dedicated Industry Vertical and SMEs: Dedicated transaction expertise with a deep subject matter knowledge in wide variety of industries. Our business insights help us quickly understand the business topics

Speed and Precision: We understand the urgency that this type of work demands and have highly responsive teams that complete the work in short order. Once the acquisition is made, our biggest contribution is assisting our clients in achieving the full revenue and EBITDA potential.

Dedicated Relationship Management: Consistent level of quality senior-level account relationship leads and client service teams.

 

 

OVERVIEW

 

 

ACQUISITION SUPPORT

 

 

EBITDA IMPROVEMENT

 

 

ASSET EFFICIENCY

 

 

EXIT SUPPORT

 

Private Equity Services

Industries Served

 

 

Buy Side Due Diligence

Merger Integration / Carve-Out Planning

  • Day One / 100-Day Plan Development
  • Carve-Out Planning and Execution
  • Post Merger Integration Execution
  • PMO Planning

 

Portfolio Assessment

  • Operational Analysis
  • Benefit quantification
  • Implementation Roadmap

Revenue / Margin Enhancement

  • Growth strategy
  • Sales Ops improvement
  • Pricing / margin management
  • New product / market entry
  • Aftermarket Optimization

Cost Efficiency / Reduction

  • Direct Costs
  • SG&A
  • Human Capital

Supply Chain / Procurement

  • Outsourcing and Off-shoring
  • Strategic Sourcing
  • SIOP

Product Innovation & Value Management

Working Capital Management

  • Improve Cash Conversion Cycle
  • DIO Improvement
  • DPO Improvement
  • DSO Improvement
  • Inventory Turns

Asset Optimization

  • Data quality and availability assessment
  • Monitoring diagnostic and prognostics
  • Service revenue enhancement
  • Service cost optimization
  • Asset Reliability & OEE
  • Maintenance system and structure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sell Side Due Diligence

  • Vendor Due Diligence
  • Synergy Assessment
  • Cost reduction implementation planning