Client Successes - Case Study Two

Project: Acquisition - high value metal stockholding

Background issue

A £12m owner-managed metals stock-holding company wanted to accelerate its growth by acquisition yet had little experience of corporate or integration activities.

Firth Interim Management input

In order to underpin its position, it decided to appoint a professional interim managing director to manage this challenging time.

Results

As a result, the due diligence was far more professional than it would have been and the number of "surprises" was kept to a minimum. Within 9 months, the new acquisition was fully relocated and integrated; sales, operations, finance, IT and quality systems were all amalgamated smoothly and turnover increased 20%.

The business was refocussed into market sectors and lean manufacture concepts were introduced. The Board of Directors was restructured and the management team strengthened. By the end of the assignment, the organisation was placed on a more professional footing.

Endorsements

"Without Stuart's input, I doubt if we would have been able to successfully acquire and integrate our target so quickly and smoothly".

Stephen Maher, chairman, Maher Ltd