Elegant solutions for
complex issues: examples

A blue chip multibillion quoted company was dissatisfied with the status a division that was meant to be a growth driver; doubts arose. As sparring partner, mas reviewed the strategy, which was, however, in principle confirmed. Based on mas deep industry experience, it was demonstrated that the service portfolio has clearly reached the end of it’s life cycle, that the governance led to massive market restrictions and that the positioning along the value creation chain was suboptimal. Based on the assessment of the market development, the product basis was changed, the structure of the shareholders adjusted and an acquisition made in order to complement the service portfolio. We work with this company since 2003 in different assignments.

A large company listed on the stock exchange wished to ensure its flexibility in order to respond to structural change of it’s fast moving industry and to position itself accordingly in regard to ICT. Based on mas’ analysis of the company strategy, a basically new system architecture was designed which ensured a decoupling of ICT and the organization and put the focus on flexibility and time-to-market. The result was an ICT roadmap for the next five years. Following up, the focus was put on the implementation issues to make sure that the high level concept was put in place in an efficient mode. For that mas has been active in a “vertical mode" from the project level up to the board of directors to secure the “vertical coherence” of the approach.

Based on our in depth market knowledge and on mas market intelligence, we recommended a very successful software company to change its ownership structure to avoid conflicts of interests regarding its market activities. We assessed the company’s strategy, defined an ideal buyer for a minority stake, searched possible candidates and executed the m&a transaction. Both parties, buyer and seller were very happy with the transaction and the further development of their strategic and operational collaboration. They recognize mas’ out of common capabilities to perform such mandates taking all different aspects into consideration, like a true “win-win”, political, reputation and soft factors. Since, mas has been active with market analysis and further m&a transactions.