A leading private equity firm needed to evaluate a potential investment in a specialized logistics services provider that operates within chemical plants and oil refineries. Before bidding, the client needed to understand detailed aspects of the business that were largely opaque because they occur within the confines of the industrial facilities. The PLG team brought an insider’s view because of its logistics experience and contacts within the chemical and refining sectors. Among the key questions for the client were the total addressable market, key differentiators between the target and its competition, and the ability of the target to retain and expand its contracted services for the customers it serves.
PLG Consulting comprehensively analyzed the target company’s market position and growth potential. The project team’s unique approach included:
- Market Size Assessment: Conducting detailed market research to estimate the total addressable markets across various industrial sectors.
- Customer Analysis: Performing voice-of-customer interviews to evaluate the target company’s performance, competitive advantages, and customer retention strength.
- Service Expansion Review: Conducting an in-depth market assessment of rail-related services that the target company had been growing through acquisitions and organic expansion.
- Growth Strategy Evaluation: Analyzing potential organic and inorganic growth opportunities through sector diversification and service expansion.
Services Provided
Working collaboratively with the client, PLG Consulting delivered a comprehensive analysis that included:
- Market research to estimate the total addressable markets for various sectors
- Voice of the customer interviews and analysis to assess the target’s performance, differentiators, and stickiness to customers
- In-depth market assessment for a particular rail-related service that the target company has been growing through acquisitions and expansion
- Evaluation of the target’s ability to achieve organic and inorganic growth by broadening either the industrial sectors it serves or the types of logistics services it provides
- Assessment of the client’s investment thesis, pointing out areas where the due diligence strongly supported it and areas where there were caveats that the investor should keep in mind
Results
PLG’s thorough approach equipped the client with the strategic insights needed to make an informed investment decision:
- The client gained a comprehensive understanding of the target company's market position & performance
- Clear identification of available white space within the addressable market
- Strategic roadmap for the most attractive organic and inorganic growth opportunities
- Enhanced confidence in the bidding process through detailed market intelligence
- Ability to make an informed investment decision based on a thorough understanding of the target's business model and market potential
