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From strategy development to operational improvementTailoring solutions that fit

Wood · PaPer · Packaging

StepChange Consulting

Driving Change to Deliver Results.

Stepchange consulting gmbHKoestlergasse 1/401060 ViennaAustria

Phone: +43 1 5870 220Fax: +43 1 5870 221E-Mail: office@stepchange.comwww.stepchange.com

StepChange Consulting

StepChange ConsultingStepChange

Consulting• Merger & Acquisition• Industry Studies• Investment Decision Support• Benchmarking & Performance Assessment• Market Research

STakeHolder ServiceS

induSTry ServiceS

• Strategy Definition• Operational Performance Improvement • Turnaround management• Post-Merger Integration• Supply Chain Transformation• Restructuring & Organizational Design• Sales Strategy and Effectiveness

our Service PorTFolio

HelPing our clienTS manage induSTry cHallengeSThe forest and paper value chain is character-ized by tremendous changes. Despite solid demand growth, and price increases, margins remain under pressure. Companies competing in this industry are exposed to industry dynamics driven by both ends of the value chain.

On the one side, increasing competition for wood, rising energy costs, and high pulp prices are putting pressure on all downstream industry players to secure their resource base and manage costs effectively.

On the other side the industry is in transition to deliver against growing customer demands while also returning to profitability.

These market pressures are resulting in a raw material basket shift - capacity consolidation in Western Europe & North America and capacity investment in Asia and Latin America.

To manage against these challenges, industry players need to develop effective strategies.

StepChange Consulting is a fully specialized forest and paper value chain management consultancy with a proven track record in supporting clients in developing the appropriate concepts to deliver sustainable value.

StepChange is able to offer support from strategy development to operational improvements. We provide innovative and yet pragmatic solutions for expansion strategies, global restructuring, merger integration efforts, and performance improvement initiatives.

Wood & Timber

Pulp & Paper

Converting & Packaging Distribution

our SucceSS iS baSed on FirST Hand and FronT-line induSTry exPerTiSe

PerFormance imProvemenT and Turnaround managemenTStepChange Consulting conducts transformation and turnaround projects for pulp & paper, packaging, converting and merchant companies focusing on rapid and sustainable profit and process improvements. The scope of these projects encompasses all functional and operational areas to develop collaborative and holistic business improvements. As a result of solid data analytics, benchmarking, industry expertise, and applied Best Practices, these projects have resulted in sustainable annual improvements between 3-8 % of turnover.

Wood SuPPly STraTegy & TranSFormaTionStepChange Consulting has supported companies in the industry in defining their wood supply strategies to secure the raw material supply and to operationally improve the wood supply chain. The approach we use is based on multi-national wood sourcing knowledge combined with Supply Chain and Procurement Best Practices. Projects have resulted in a redefinition of the end-to-end wood supply chain strategy and now put the focus on a longer-term partnership between the customer and the supplier.

Additional benefits are captured through an operational focus on transport, handling, quality, and usage of wood in the production process. Increased transparency and new performance metrics support a revised management approach of the wood supply chain.

STraTegic groWTH, acquiSiTion & inTegraTion managemenTStepChange Consulting supports clients with their strategic growth plans throughout acquisition and merger integration support. Based on analytical and operational industry knowledge, StepChange identifies and quantifies synergy targets in M & A scenarios.

Additionally, StepChange supports integration projects on both corporate and site levels. We help companies restructure locally acquired sites and develop management structures for corporate integration programs. These projects have resulted in institutionalization of an integration measurement process and helped achieve pre-acquisition synergy targets.

revenue groWTH & margin imProvemenTStepChange Consulting is supporting clients to develop sales strategies and improve sales force effectiveness. Assessing detailed customer and market performance results in improved transparency of true customer profitability. Based on improved understanding of customer potentials, new and analytically supported sales strategies can be defined. With an improved decision platform, re-aligned sales processes, and updated customer strategies, clients are able to capture between 0,5 % -1,5 % in margin improvements.

STakeHolder ServiceSBased on the broad industry exposure and expertise, StepChange Consulting is continuing to support industry stakeholders, such as investment banks and institutional investors, with market research, industry studies, and benchmarking reports.

“STeP cHange” = SigniFicanT cHange in direcTion or a SHiFT in Paradigm THaT leadS To increaSed value

abouT uS

driving cHange To deliver reSulTS.

StepChange Consulting is an industry focused and independent management consulting company.

StepChange was founded in early 2006. Our broad client base consists of the leading organizations in the industry. All of our clients continue to rely on our services, loyalty that attests to our industry-focused strategy and supports our international growth. Our proven track record is based on an international team of industry experts who hit the ground running – from strategy development to operational improvement.

We place our emphasis on delivering measurable business improvements that are supported by solid value analytics, while at the same time institutionalizing a reusable change mechanism. We thereby foster a creative and collaborative approach with our clients to tailor solutions that fit.