Commercial & Operational Due Diligence
Providing buy-side and vendor due diligence.
Javelin Group’s Michael Fine wins Deal Maker of the Year in Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2019.
Javelin Group wins Due Diligence: Synergy Valuation Advisory Firm of the Year UK in Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2017.
Javelin Group wins Retail Strategy Consulting Firm of the Year – UK in Corporate Insider’s Business Excellence Awards 2017.
Javelin Group wins Commercial Due Diligence Adviser of the Year UK in Finance Monthly Global Awards 2017.
As a retail and consumer sector specialist, we go beyond the traditional scope of ‘commercial’ due diligence (market, competitors, customers, proposition). We integrate all elements of value creation and ‘operational’ due diligence (store rollout, digital/online growth, product management, business processes, logistics, IT and MIS) for both buy-side and vendor due diligence.
This provides a comprehensive evaluation of a target or vendor’s market, company, growth plans and management teams. The specialist skills of our functional teams, across the retail value chain, from source to store to customer, enable us to deliver this differentiated approach.
Recent commercial & operational due diligence work has been completed on the buy-side for Livingbridge on superbikefactory.co.uk, for Cinven, Permira & Mid Europa on the acquisition of Allegro (Polish ecommerce marketplace), LDC on the acquisition of Vital Ingredient, ECI on the acquisition of Imagesound, and TPG on the acquisitions of both Poundworld and Prezzo. On the vendor side we have recently completed work on HS1 Retail, The Cotswold Company, Long Tall Sally, sofa.com and Fat Face.
Please see below for commercial & operational due diligence clients, or contact Michael Fine at michael.fine@javelingroup.com or on +44 (0)20 7961 3200 to discuss your requirements.
Javelin Group worked closely with us on a large discount retailer in the UK. Their work was of a high standard and they left no stone unturned during a rapid diligence process. Their specialist team were a real differentiator and produced a great result. Javelin Group was a pleasure to work with; responsive, articulate and fun. I would highly recommend them.
Andy Dawson, Director, Advent International.
Javelin Group did an excellent job in evaluating an investment opportunity in the food retail space. It was refreshing to work with a genuine specialist in this area, and their team of consultants who’d actually ‘been there and done it’ were able to offer us invaluable insight across a wide range of areas, including the target’s commercial proposition, the expansion opportunity, supply chain efficiency and IT adequacy. Combining retail expertise with well honed due diligence skills, Javelin Group was able to produce a comprehensive, robust and thoughtful review of the opportunity, which gave us the confidence to compete hard in the process.
Jamie Rivers, Partner, BC Partners.
When trying to determine which adviser to use for the commercial due diligence on Wiggle, the online-only cycle retailer, there was only one option: Javelin Group. Their multi- channel credentials meant they understood the challenges faced from all competition. Their diagnostic tools allowed us to assess Wiggle against best practice; their assessment of systems in general allowed us to measure scalability. Inevitably there were gaps in information but Javelin Group was able to adapt and redirect work to drive towards resolution of key commercial issues. They met a very tight timetable and we were able to invest with confidence.
Vince Gwilliam, Partner, Bridgepoint.
Javelin Group was invaluable in supporting our appraisal of a leisure sector investment. In a short period of time they helped us to answer a few targeted questions comprehensively. The litmus test is that their work will be used as an effective management tool going forward, and won’t just gather dust as some due diligence reports do.
Benoit Broch, Investment Director, Livingbridge.
This was our first experience with Javelin Group. We were operating under an extremely tight timetable to complete the transaction in a sector where obvious data points and market information was in short supply. Due to the deep retail expertise and experience of the Javelin Group team, we were provided with an extremely well-constructed report. Javelin Group used genuine innovation in the data around the report to allow us to understand the main drivers, risks and mitigating factors of the business we were looking to acquire. Javelin Group brought to life the potential of the business opportunity through use of data and really helped unlock the acquisition for us. We would not hesitate to use Javelin Group again.
Michael Burt, Partner, Promethean Investments.
Javelin Group’s retail experience was essential to understanding the dynamics of our target’s business. What also impressed us was the speed with which they understood the critical success factors of the business and its technology infrastructure. This deep understanding enabled them to produce a very challenging and valuable evaluation of our target’s growth plans.
Nigel Hammond, Partner, Vespa Capital.
Javelin Group consultants are specialists, who worked with us on the commercial growth strategy for an online building supplies company that we had recently acquired. They did a great job, quickly getting up to speed with the business and developing an excellent collaborative working relationship us. Their rapid performance assessment provided rich insight on the strengths and improvement opportunities. By working with Javelin Group we have real clarity on where to focus and how to meet our ambitious growth targets for the business, plus a implementation roadmap. Our management team are already beginning to implement Javelin Group’s recommendations. We will be working with Javelin Group again, and I would highly recommend them to both retailers and investors.
Alex Bayliss, Managing Director, Cairngorm Capital.
Matt Jeffers runs the Digital & Growth Retail Strategy service line. He has led projects covering omni-channel strategy and ecommerce performance improvement for multiple retailers across grocery, DIY/building materials, apparel and luxury goods sectors. Prior to Javelin Group, Matt led Tesco.com’s international development, launched it in China and oversaw the internal strategic growth plan for the Group. He also planned Tesco.com’s strategic development in Central and Eastern Europe and across Asia-Pacific.