Procurement optimisation for private equity
Maximising EBITDA growth and exit value through professional procurement: Procurement optimisation is the quickest and most effective lever for immediately increasing the profitability of portfolio companies. We identify untapped return potential, professionalise the procurement organisation, and achieve measurable cost reductions – for significant value enhancement in the shortest possible time.
Portfolio Value Enhancement: Strategic Procurement Optimisation for Private Equity
In the holding phase, every percentage point of margin counts. While revenue increases are often time-consuming and fraught with risks, optimising direct and indirect costs has an immediate impact on results. We support PE firms and management teams in developing procurement from an administrative function into a strategic value driver. We focus on a pragmatic „hands-on“ approach that not only delivers concepts but also guarantees implementation right down to the P&L.
Key Facts about our Expertise:
- Quick EBITDA effects: Realising quick wins within the first 3 to 6 months.
- Transparency & Reporting: Building valid spend analyses as a basis for management decisions.
- Professionalisation: Transformation of purchasing through the implementation of modern processes and digital tools.
- Portfolio Synergies: Bundling requirements across different portfolio companies to achieve economies of scale.
- Enhancing exit readiness: Creating a scalable and transparent cost structure that maximises enterprise value upon divestment.
Private Equity Value Appreciation
Private Equity: Doubling the Enterprise Value of Your Portfolio Companies
With approximately 50% of revenue share, purchasing represents the most significant earnings factor in companies. If it is possible to Purchasing costs om 8% to reduce, the company result can be increased by up to 50% in a short time. With an average leverage share of approx. 50%, the company value can thus be doubled within 12 months through purchasing optimisation measures.
Investment companies are keen to use Kloepfel Consulting's services because these value-creation effects for the portfolio are important to them. Furthermore, private equity firms appreciate Kloepfel Consulting's 100% success-based fee model. If we don't save money, we don't earn a fee. We regularly provide support during due diligence with analyses on the evaluation of savings potential in procurement and supply chain. If the company is acquired, we guarantee the realisation of the analysed potential in the form of a joint project. In this way, our industry teams quickly recover large parts of the purchase price in the form of increased earnings.
Excellent as BEST ADVISORS – 11th time in a row
Example Project Outcome (anonymised)
Processed material groups, among others.
Logistics, including courier services, IT, telecommunications, printer management, energy (electricity, gas), auditing, tax consulting, insurance, office supplies, personnel services, printed materials
Example Project Scorecard
Project volume: 80 million Euros
Managed volume: €40 million
Project Team: 2 Consultants
Project duration: 8 months
Satisfied customers
„We enjoy working with Kloepfel Consulting. Sustainable and comprehensive optimisations in the material share increase the value of our holdings.“
„Kloepfel Consulting impresses with fast and sustainably effective measures to increase company value.“
„The project result achieved together of over €800,000 within the first 7 months has far exceeded our expectations and confirmed that we have found the absolute right partner in Kloepfel Consulting.“
„The result achieved of over €1 million after just eleven months pleasantly surprised us and convinced us of your performance.“
Would you like to learn more about the private equity sector, or do you have other questions about KLOEPFEL Consulting?
Convincing
References
Hoffmann Group
The Hoffmann Group stands for quality, precision, and trust. As a leading system provider for tools, it supports companies on their journey to greater efficiency and success.
Spitz
For more than 150 years now, Spitz has been an integral part of the Austrian food and beverage tradition. Founded in Linz in 1857 by Salomon Spitz, Spitz has developed over time into one of the largest and best-known producers of food and drinks in Austria. Today, more than 1.2 million products leave the production facility in Attnang-Puchheim every day. Spitz offers a wide range of products: fruit juices, syrups, energy drinks, spirits, baked goods, jams, or also mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup are among them, as are own brands for leading international retail chains.
Bühler
Bühler is a traditional Swiss company that feeds and moves the world with technology and passion. From food to high-tech materials – Bühler stands for quality, sustainability, and progress.
Hirtenberger
The Hirtenberger Group is a collective of leading technology and engineering companies that can distinguish themselves as innovation and technology leaders in their respective markets. The group concentrates on niche markets, aiming for market leadership within them. The group covers a broad spectrum of business areas, ranging from the handling of pyrotechnics and chemicals through to the automotive and defence industries, and on to resource conservation in environmental technology.
Voss
VOSS Automotive is an international partner to the automotive industry, specialising in innovative line systems, couplings, and components for fluid and air management. With state-of-the-art technology, high development expertise, and decades of experience, VOSS delivers solutions that improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability in vehicles worldwide. As a reliable systems partner, the company actively shapes the mobility of the future – from conventional drives to electric mobility.
Sona
„In particular, the fact that you not only work strategically, but also actively support the operational implementation underpins your attractive consulting approach.“ - Carl-Albert Petzoldt (Managing Director). Sona BLW Präzisionsschmiede GmbH was founded in 2008 as a result of the takeover of ThyssenKrupp Präzisionsschmiede GmbH by the SONA-GROUP. The company operates nationally and internationally and manufactures precision-moulded components for the automotive industry. It can also look back on 50 years of experience in the precision forming sector. With four locations in Duisburg, Remscheid, Munich and Selma, Sona is well positioned nationally.
Underberg
The company Underberg has existed since 1846 and is now in its fifth generation of leadership. For the manufacturer of spirits, wine, and sparkling wine, environmental protection is an important issue. Underberg uses select, aromatic herbs from 43 countries worldwide, fresh spring water, and high-quality alcohol in its production. The composition of the ingredients is personally put together with passion by family members of the fourth and fifth generations using a secret process.
Hiestand Schweiz
Hiestand Switzerland is renowned for its freshly baked artistry. With passion and Swiss quality, the company brings moments of delight to bakeries and gastronomy worldwide.
Our industry expertise
Automotive
Handel
Mechanical and Plant Engineering
FAQ: Key Questions for Procurement Optimisation for Private Equity
Why is procurement the most important lever for PE investors?
As material and service costs often make up the largest part of total expenditure, every euro saved in procurement flows directly into EBITDA. With an assumed exit multiple of 10x, a saving of €100,000 immediately leads to an increase in enterprise value of €1 million.
How quickly can initial savings be realised?
Initial results (quick wins) are usually visible within the first 12 to 16 weeks. Our focus is on swift implementation that does not burden day-to-day operations.
Will the achieved effects be sustainable?
Yes. Our aim is not just one-off cost reduction, but to empower the organisation. We are implementing sustainable structures, optimising supplier contracts, and training local staff.
How do you handle portfolio companies in different industries?
Through our broad industry expertise, we can leverage specific benchmarks. We know what „best-in-class“ is in the respective industry and tailor our strategies individually to the market situation of the portfolio company.
Do you also support bundling across the entire portfolio?
Absolutely. We identify product groups that can be consolidated across various holdings (e.g., logistics, energy, IT) to achieve significant volume advantages through cross-portfolio sourcing.