Operational Due Diligence
We conduct a quick but thorough expert review of existing and prospective operating value and vulnerabilities of the target company, providing an edge in the buying process – avoiding “bad deals” and finding “hidden diamonds”. Our deep operations expertise enables us to identify issues and find value where others often can not. We incorporate our operations and industry expertise and a highly analytical approach to create the clearest picture possible of the target and a solid understanding of future operations requirements (e.g., investment, KPIs, skill base) to maximize value capture. We then offer pragmatic and value-driven recommendations to maximize investment potential and a top- level roadmap to jump start operations improvements post-acquisition.
Validating Management's Operations Plan and Identifying Additional Savings at Customized Consumer Products Company
Identified $35-45MM in cost reduction opportunities, 2-3x management’s savings plan, giving our client an edge to win the auction. Despite very limited access to the target’s management, plants, and data due to the nature of the auction, Gotham was able to leverage dataroom information, a plant visit, and our relevant experience to build a solid fact base of the target’s cost structure – including a detailed 4-year line-item-level view of the operational cost structure and an analysis of 2,000-employee workforce linking each individual to the specific cost line in the cost structure – and to both validate and expand savings opportunities via a comprehensive outsourcing/consolidation model and an analysis of sales, marketing, customer service, and G&A costs.
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Establishing Quick Read On Cost Savings at National Coffee Roaster and Distributor
Conducted 2-week operations assessment of target to establish initial read on cost reduction opportunities. Despite limited access to the target’s management, plants, and operations data, Gotham was able to create a clear picture of the target’s cost structure in both operations and its DSD network. While the cost reduction opportunities needed to achieve our client’s financial target did exist, capturing those savings posed significant culture and business strategy challenges. Given the high valuation of the target and the significant hurdles standing in the way of savings, the client leveraged our work to make a fact-based decision at the early stage of the process to exit the auction process.
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Rapidly Validating Margin Improvement Opportunities and Assessing Capacity/CapEx Risk at Testing Services Provider
Conducted 2-week operational due diligence to validate margin improvement opportunities and assess capacity/CapEx risk. Gotham visited 7 facilities and conducted full-day operations review with management to understand operations management approach/processes and visions/plans moving forward. To fill gaps in this data poor situation, we performed various in-depth analyses – recasting labor cost structure, analyzing job-level data to understand profitability, building a bottom-up labor utilization and fixed cost model to project margins with revenue growth, etc. Gotham’s due diligence work enabled our client to move forward with confidence and successfully acquire target in a proprietary deal.
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Properly Valuing Diverse Manufacturing Operations at Fabricated Metal Products Holding Company
Analyzed operations and cost structure of 5 independent companies engaged in forging, casting, and stamping operations. Deciphered cost structure, reviewed manufacturing operations, and analyzed material spend. Identified $7-15MM of labor, overhead, and material cost reduction opportunities in the largest of the companies, which was engaged in steel casting. Identified another $6-9MM in scheduling, labor, efficiency, and consolidation opportunities for the remaining companies. After delayed acquisition, now helping to capture opportunities.
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Assessing Product Design and Network Simplification Opportunities at Global Environmental Machinery Manufacturer
Analyzed product portfolio and design platforms, manufacturing and engineering facilities, and cost structure to establish cost reduction opportunities at a machinery manufacturer with operations distributed over 13 facilities in 8 countries. Due diligence identified $23-39MM (12-21% of total COGS) in cost savings from standardizing/modularizing product line and executing a low-cost manufacturing strategy, simplifying/consolidating the manufacturing and engineering network, and reducing material, labor, and freight costs.
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Finding and Valuing Cost Reduction Opportunities at Global Tier 2 Automotive Components Supplier
Conducted opportunity assessment at Tier 2 Automotive Parts supplier with manufacturing locations in 4 countries. Identified $6-9MM in short-term and $27-37MM in longer-term cost reduction opportunities. Near-term opportunities included improving efficiency of US operations and re-sourcing materials and components from lower cost locations. Longer-term opportunities involved closing a European facility, migrating labor-intensive products from the US to Mexico facility, and building up a Chinese JV to supply all Asia product needs. Identified opportunities far exceeded management plan.
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