The Next Level of Service Integration for Mergers and Acquisitions Projects

Point of View #05 - Q2.2007   PMI Advisory Services In France : Overview

The French Advisory Services Market is a mature one from an international perspective.  Most major international consulting firms do have offices in France since the 70's. They have developped solid local brands and networks.

 

	US Firms	European Firms	French Firms
Strategy Boutiques	ADL Strategy Partners AT Kearney Bain BCG - The Boston Consulting Group Booz Allen & Hamilton Oliver Wymans (Mercer) McKinsey Ineum (ex Deloitte)	Celerant ICME (Switzerland) Roland Berger (Germany)	Mars (BCG spin-off) CVA (McKinsey spin-off) Orga Consultants Karistem (Capgemini spin-off) Izsak Grappin & Associés (Mac Group spin-off) Hemeria (Bossard spin-off) KA Consulting (Bossard spin-off)
Audit Firms	Deloitte Ernst & Young KPMG Grant Thornton Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC)		Fiducial Mazars
IT Firms	EDS CVC Unilog		Capgemini
Others	ERA Exetor LEK		Transformance

 

 

Consulting firms do not have similar PMI capabilities. The table below is a synthesis based on our knowledge of the various PMI consulting firms and teams. As such, the intent of this table is not to provide an exhaustive view of all the potential capabilities of each consulting firm. This table will evolve over time.

Name/  global Website	Core Business Specialty	Geographical Coverage     French presence/ Website	Dedicated PMI Practice Web link	PMI Coverage	French PMI-dedicated  team?	PMI Factory® contacts at Executive Management level
Arthur D. Little	Management Consulting Strategy Telecoms	Global Yes	Yes Strategy & Organisation/ Post Merger Integration	Operations Due Diligence Project Management Organisational Design R&D	No	No
AT Kearney	Management Consulting Operations Manufacturing	Global Yes	na Strategy consulting/Merger Integration	Operations Due Diligence Project Management Synergies Marketing & Sales Supply chain Manufacturing IT	No	Yes
Booz Allen Hamilton	Management Consulting Strategy Energy	Global Yes	Yes PMI	Operations Due Diligence Project Management Organisational Design Change Management	No	No
BCG	Management Consulting Strategy Financial Services Consumer Retail	Global Yes	Yes Corporate Development/ Postmerger Integration	Project Management Synergy Management Organisational Design	Yes	No
Capgemini Consulting	Management Consulting IT Utilities	Global  Yes	No Transformation Consulting	Project Management Synergy Management Supply chain HR IT	Yes	Yes
Celerant	Management Consulting Operations	Global Yes	No	Marketing & Sales Supply chain Manufacturing	Yes	Yes
Deloitte	Audit Transactions support Finance Transformation	Global Yes	Yes Consulting/Strategy	Operations Due Diligence Project Management Synergy Management Finance Tax & Legal	Yes	Yes
Ernst & Young	Audit Transactions support Finance Transformation	Global Yes	Yes Transaction Advisory Services	Operations Due Diligence Project Management Synergies Risk Management Finance Tax & Legal	Yes	Yes
Headstrong	Management Consulting Strategy	Global  Yes	na	Operations Due Diligence Project Management IT Supply chain HR	No	Yes
IBM Global Services	IT / Management Consulting IT	Global  Yes	No	Operations Due Diligence Project Management IT	No	No
KA Consulting	Management Consulting Operations Consumer Retail Telecoms	France	No	Project Management Marketing & Sales Supply chain IT HR	No	Yes
Iszak Grapin & Associés	Management Consulting Strategy Telecoms Consumer Retail	France	No	Marketing & Sales Branding Organisational Design	No	Yes
McKinsey	Management Consulting Strategy Financial Services Consumer Retail Telecoms	Global Yes	Yes Corporate Finance/Post Merger Management	Project Management Synergies Marketing & Sales Organisational Design	Yes	No
Roland Berger	Management Consulting Aerospace & Defence Insurance	Global Yes	No Corporate Development	Project Management Synergies Marketing & Sales Manufacturing R&D	Yes	Yes

 

 

 Conclusion - Recommendations :

 

The French business environment proposes a wide number of options for the international investor. In most cases, it is easy to find local correspondants to major firms. In the same time, smaller local teams have developped strong functional or sector-based expertise and contacts. For an international investor, leveraging such local capabilities may present an interest - in terms of cost, but also in some cases in terms of methodology adjustment to local patterns and risk coverage. PMI Factory can be a "one-stop shop" contact point to secure such a leverage.

 

 

Author: Gilles Ourvoie (gilles.ourvoie@pmifactory.com).

Gilles has worked for c.15 years on strategy and PMI projects for major international groups. He has participated to or managed target screening and market entry strategy assignments in the following industries: Financial services (Life Insurance, Investment banking, Mortgage, and Consumer Banking), the Construction and Equipment sector, Paper & Pulp, Defence, Healthcare. Gilles is the founding partner of PMI Factory.