When a granular, value-focused approach to strategy development drives double-digit growth

Overview

  • Clorox, a global cleaning products manufacturer, was experiencing a slowdown in top line growth and needed to refocus on value to improve profitable growth
  • The identification of where the profitable growth potential was concentrated across the Clorox portfolio - by brand, channel, geographic region and customer - shaped business investment and decision-making to maximize profitable organic growth, alongside other improved commercial strategies
  • Results across a subsequent 5-year performance period delivered compounded annual economic profit growth of 13% per year and top quartile shareholder returns

SITUATION: Slowing top line growth requires a value-focused approach

In the five years prior to new CEO Mr. Knauss’ appointment, Clorox had delivered above average shareholder returns versus its peers, driven by leading brand equities in profitable market niches, a disciplined approach to cost and capital management, and recent share repurchases at a discount.

However, the company’s top line growth had slowed, and senior management was not satisfied with the profit growth in their base case forecast in the existing management plan.

Mr. Knauss, who had recently reinvigorated the growth of Coca-Cola’s North American business began applying the same, value-focused approach to improving profitable growth and shareholder value at Clorox.

APPROACH: Rebuilding Business Unit capabilities to maximize shareholder value growth

Our Corporate Strategy and Transformation team helped senior management communicate to the organization an unwavering commitment to maximizing share owner returns; Clorox needed to change its measure of success to economic profit and push this down into the Business Units, given that years of SG&A centralization to improve scale economies had resulted in a misalignment of accountability and control.

We piloted a new, more granular approach to strategy development within select Business Units, which was then rolled out across the organization.

We conducted training sessions with senior management, line management, and key contributors in each business – focused on the requirements and necessary capabilities to successfully manage for maximizing shareholder value growth.

We also participated in performance management meetings to ensure the concepts were integrated with “the way we run the business” at Clorox.

THE SOLUTION: Granular identification of profitable growth potential delivers top quartile shareholder returns

We established the corporate goal of sustaining superior shareholder returns relative to peers and began measuring all brands and businesses on economic profit growth with line-of-sight between internal economic profit growth and investor expectations.
We identified where the profitable growth potential was concentrated across the Clorox portfolio, by brand, channel, geographic region and customer to maximize profitable organic growth.

We identified profitable adjacent markets where Clorox could leverage its competitive advantage to create profitable inorganic growth and improved commercial strategies and marketing investment, at a channel and sometimes individual customer level. Some profitable product lines were being “starved” for investment and there was a lack of breakthrough business models being investigated for some chronically unprofitable ones.

We also improved internal management decision processes and focused incentives on economic profit growth.

Results across a subsequent 5-year performance period delivered compounded annual economic profit growth of 13% per year and top quartile shareholder returns.

Person standing in front of tall windows

WHEN IT REALLY MATTERS: EBITDA IMPROVEMENT IN SEVEN MONTHS—AND A HIGHLY PROFITABLE EXIT IN FIVE YEARS

The performance improvement achieved at our client’s newly acquired portfolio company—an $11 million increase in annual EBITDA in just seven months—speaks volumes about the importance of implementation planning early in the investment game.

  • The outcomes of this case show how AlixPartners’ approach is distinctive in other respects as well. Specifically:
  • We support our PE clients throughout all stages of the investment lifecycle, including pre-transaction, pre-close planning, value creation, and achievement of full potential. 
  • We help clients with crisis management in all stages of the lifecycle—such as determining how to turn around a target that’s in bankruptcy or getting a struggling transformation program back on track at a newly acquired business.
  • We identify, drive, and help secure sustainable improvements in portfolio companies’ performance.
  • We work side-by-side with PE sponsors and their portfolio companies’ management teams to ensure that deals deliver the intended value. 

Our unique approach enabled this client to quickly restore their distressed portfolio company’s EBITDA performance to levels that attracted a buyer willing to pay a handsome price—one that nearly doubled the investment value at exit.

The performance improvement achieved at our client’s newly acquired portfolio company—an $11 million increase in annual EBITDA in just seven months—speaks volumes about the importance of implementation planning early in the investment game.

  • The outcomes of this case show how AlixPartners’ approach is distinctive in other respects as well. Specifically:
  • We support our PE clients throughout all stages of the investment lifecycle, including pre-transaction, pre-close planning, value creation, and achievement of full potential. 
  • We help clients with crisis management in all stages of the lifecycle—such as determining how to turn around a target that’s in bankruptcy or getting a struggling transformation program back on track at a newly acquired business.
  • We identify, drive, and help secure sustainable improvements in portfolio companies’ performance.
  • We work side-by-side with PE sponsors and their portfolio companies’ management teams to ensure that deals deliver the intended value. 

Our unique approach enabled this client to quickly restore their distressed portfolio company’s EBITDA performance to levels that attracted a buyer willing to pay a handsome price—one that nearly doubled the investment value at exit.

Meet the team

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

When it really matters in the life of a company, AlixPartners works side by side with our clients.