INTELLIGENT IT MARCH 2013
LEADING THE WAY IN THE PROVISION OF STRATEGIC IT AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY SERVICES TO COMPANIES SUPPORTED BY PRIVATE EQUITY. Working exclusively with senior management teams, Intuitus helps clients to achieve operational improvement through the intelligent use of IT. Whether it is helping clients select and procure a new business system or advising on an acquisition, our board level, commercially-focused consultants provide unrivalled, real-world expertise. In addition, our independence helps ensure that our focus is on your business and your plans for the future.
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS. Since Intuitus was founded, a decade ago, the company has gone from strength to strength with our tenth year being our most successful to date. Over the last twelve months we have supported more clients and a greater number of investors than ever before - as well as broadening our management team and consultancy network. Despite the uncertain times, our reputation amongst companies supported by private equity continues to grow. We have seen increased demand for our services supporting more and more management teams as they seek to maximise business performance. While most of our work is in the UK, several of the companies we worked with in 2012 have overseas operations. Many of our consultants have international and crossborder experience and are aware of the implications of working outside the UK. In addition our team continues to work closely with many of the UK’s private equity houses specialising, predominantly, in the low to mid-market sector. The team provided IT due diligence services to over 70 completed transactions in the last 12 months – up 44% on the previous year. These included 59 buy-side engagements, 12 M&A transactions and one sell-side engagement.
Expert IT and technology advice throughout the investment life-cycle HERE IS A SELECTION OF OUR ASSIGNMENTS FROM THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS:
CLIENT
CLIENT BUSINESS
SERVICES PROVIDED
DATE
Ferry operator
Interim IT Management
Jan-13
Provider of supply chain services and engineered alloys to the oil and gas secto
Systems Selection & Procurement
Feb-13
IT services provider
IT Operations Assessment
Feb-13
Supplier of furniture and related services to the property industry
IT Operations Assessment
Dec-12
Service provider to the pipeline, civil engineering and utility construction sectors
IT Operations Assessment
Dec-12
Metal and waste recycling
IT Operations Assessment
Dec-12
Manufacturer and multi-channel shoe retailer
IT Operations Assessment
Nov-12
Home-based healthcare services
IT Operations Assessment
Nov-12
Online learning provider
Project Management
Nov-12
Branded technical sportswear
Project Implementation Support
Sep-12
Global courier for clinical trials
IT Operations Assessment
Aug-12
Equipment rental to the offshore and onshore oil and gas sector
Project Management
Aug-12
Employee benefits solutions
IT Operations Assessment
Jul-12
Digital banking software for web and mobile channels
IT Operations Assessment & CTO Recruitment Support
May-12
IT Solutions Provider
IT Operations Assessment
May-12
Designer and distributor of commercial and domestic lighting products
IT Operations Assessment
Mar-12
Medico legal reports and services
IT Operations Assessment
Mar-12
Insurance solutions provider
IT Strategy & Roadmap Development
Feb-12
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INTELLIGENT IT THINGS ARE HOTTING UP
PROVING DIRECT IT ADVISORY SERVICES
Hotter Shoes, a leading UK
INTUITUS’ SERVICES
brand of quality, comfortable
Our bespoke IT services are often defined and driven by strategic
footwear, is growing fast. Once
change, be it rapid growth or restructuring. Our consultancy network
a predominantly mail-order
allows us to address many requirements, but typically services can be
catalogue business, in the last
categorised as follows:
couple of years Britain’s largest shoe manufacturer has opened more than 35 stores across the UK as part of a dynamic expansion programme. Rising sales volumes and new channels
Intuitus has recently completed an objective
of Gresham Private Equity’s investment in
learndirect is the UK’s market-
to market have tested the performance of
IT Operations Assessment. Our team
Hotter in December 2007, the private equity
the current IT platform. Intuitus has been
was led by a consultant with 15 years
firm asked Intuitus to provide an IT due
leading provider of online learning
working with the shoemaker’s executive
experience as an IT Director and CTO within
diligence assessment of the company’s IT
team to ensure that as the company’s
the fashion retail sector.
systems and its plans to introduce a new,
customer base grows, its technology will
fully integrated, business system.
enable the same high-quality customer care
But this is not the first time that Intuitus has
and support that is synonymous with the
worked alongside executives at Hotter. A
business.
relationship was forged much earlier. Ahead
THE JOURNEY WITH P&O
and assessment solutions. Private equity is provided by
Supporting companies to recruit with
(yet pragmatic) disciplines are
confidence, defining the requirements
deployed with regards to requirements
for, and then recruiting, senior IT
definition, the short-listing of potential
personnel.
systems and their providers, system evaluation and selection, business case development and, ultimately, procurement of the preferred system.
IT OPERATIONS
(LDC).
MANAGEMENT
ASSESSMENT
The provision of highly experienced,
An objective, expert assessment of
Having worked with LDC providing an IT
sector relevant, Programme or
the fitness for purpose of a company’s
Due Diligence assessment of learndirect’s
Project Managers to take day-to-day
IT infrastructure, systems and
IT operations pre-investment, Intuitus
responsibility for “making it happen.”
resources, identifying pragmatic ways
continues to work alongside learndirect’s
This includes business liaison, risk
for improving business performance
executive team providing a range of
and change management, planning
and/or eliminating unnecessary cost
strategic IT services.
and control, internal and third party
through more effective IT.
diligence and post investment, has added significant value to learndirect’s journey from
comprehensive route network and
a charitable trust to commercial company
the most frequent passenger and
under private equity ownership. Using their board level team to help us identify our key
freight services from the UK to
technology strengths, risks and opportunities
Europe.
has been invaluable.
The ferry operator’s management team
Development teams in complex global
the underlying issues. We also had regular
“Post investment, the real benefit of working
asked Intuitus to evaluate a key third
organisations in the distribution and logistics
dialogue with Intuitus during the three month
party service provider relationship with
sector.
engagement. This meant that we were
with Intuitus is their breadth and ability
a view to identifying opportunities and
always up to date with Intuitus’ progress and
recommendations both for improved service
Karl Howarth, P&O Ferries’ Chief Financial
able to quickly respond to findings as and
delivery and cost savings.
Officer said;
when they emerged.”
and had led Operations, Infrastructure and
RECRUITMENT SUPPORT
Intuitus ensures that best practice
“Working with Intuitus, both during the IT due
than 20 ships, it offers the most
operated as an IT Director for eight years
& PROCUREMENT
management, and reporting.
company. With a fleet of more
Chief Financial Officer. He had previously
CTO/CIO/IT DIRECTOR
PROGRAMME & PROJECT
Lloyds Development Capital
P&O Ferries is the leading UK ferry
Our consultant worked closely with P&O’s
SYSTEMS SELECTION
“Intuitus quickly grasped the nature of our challenge and its business impact. They were objective and focused throughout the evaluation process as they pin-pointed
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to translate business requirements into a pragmatic IT approach. With their advice we have been able to reduce the cost base by consolidating and renegotiating some key contracts, and align the technology platform and strategy to our new growth agenda.” Gill Craven, Director of Service Operations.
INTERIM IT MANAGEMENT
IT STRATEGY & ROADMAP
The provision of an experienced IT
Providing a company with the
Director (or equivalent) to lead the
rationale and approach for the
IT function. They might typically be
development of its applications,
required to help the Board deliver
systems, infrastructure and IT
a change programme where the
management practices over the short
incumbent IT resources do not have
and medium term in line with the
the required level of experience.
business plan
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
M&A TRANSACTION
SUPPORT
SUPPORT
Including expert advice and guidance
Independent, expert advice to help guide
to the Project Board or the creation
the decision-making processes that
of relevant project governance
govern which operational systems should
structures, independent third
be retained, the make up of the new IT
party supplier / service provider
function, the IT Integration Strategy and
assessments, or project reviews.
Plan and the costs of integration and ongoing operations.
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INTELLIGENT IT OUR CONSULTING EXPERTISE The Intuitus management team knows that the capability and credibility of our consultants are of paramount importance to our clients as significant decisions with potentially farreaching consequences will be influenced by their findings and recommendations. We
deploy
experienced
CTOs,
CIOs
and IT Directors from successful UK and international businesses, who understand the real-world challenges and who themselves have
had
Board
and
technology
responsibility strategy,
for
IT
leadership
and delivery. Their technical expertise is matched by strong sector and commercial awareness and this enables an incisiveness that is well-suited to, for example, due diligence
The track record table within this newsletter
respond when required to do so - and have
illustrates our breadth of sector expertise, from
most recently brought in additional healthcare,
the “traditional” sectors such as manufacturing
waste
to the more technology-led sectors that
telecoms experience.
comprise, for example, IT service providers, network
and
communications
providers,
online and multi-channel retailers and software companies. We also offer a real depth of expertise in all supply chain environments, across the financial services spectrum, and in
management,
public
sector
and
This approach to service delivery provides our clients with a highly flexible, responsive and multi-disciplined model that represents a single point of reference for all strategic IT advisory and IT management requirements.
the support services, healthcare, travel, media, oil and gas, leisure and telecoms sectors. We continue to take a considered approach to expanding our consultancy network to ensure we have the capability (and capacity) to www.intuitus.co.uk/consultingexpertise
engagements.
INTUITUS MANAGEMENT TEAM Intuitus’ management team comprises Calum Stewart (Managing Director), Iain Mackay (Technical Director), Adrian Astley-Jones (Business Development Manager) and Maria Hamilton (Delivery Support Manager). In addition to our IT due diligence expertise, our collective experience includes technology leadership, boardlevel IT management and programme management across several industry sectors and different geographies, in companies of all sizes. As a management team we strive to be approachable and responsive, and we aim to build lasting client relationships by consistently delivering expert services of the highest quality.
For more information please contact
Adrian Astley-Jones
Business Development Manager t 0131 208 0624 m 07432 087187 e adrian.astley-jones@intuitus.co.uk
Intuitus is a member of the BVCA
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Calum and Adrian are your initial points of contact for new requirements, whereas Iain and Maria are responsible for service management and delivery. The proven strength of the Intuitus business model is the management team’s understanding of our clients’ expectations with regards to strategic IT and technology advice, allied with the technical, sector and commercial expertise of our realworld consultants.