M&A

Integrated Supply Chain Benefits Go Beyond the Internal Stuff

By Jim MacLennan ⋅ November 12, 2007 ⋅ Post a comment

I met Lora Cecere this evening, well-known AMR analyst for Supply Chain – a good conversation about the deeper potential for supply chain integration technology. The topic: are there bigger benefits here? Is it really only limited to optimization of your own supply chain? Don’t get trapped into thinking that the business benefit of supply [...]

Under New Ownership: Projects Begin Again

By Jim MacLennan ⋅ August 23, 2004 ⋅ Post a comment

Now that the sale process is winding to a close, the execs are looking anew to reopening projects started in the past and put on hold. The big one that will impact me is a datamart implementation that aggregates revenue data from all of our different business units. No surprises here – we’re talking 5 [...]

Under New Ownership: Calm Before the Storm?

By Jim MacLennan ⋅ August 16, 2004 ⋅ Post a comment

Nothing of import happening yet, but getting some interesting rumblings / indicators of what’s to come. Definitely all business, no fooling around. The upper management and finance groups are quickly asking “how high” whenever these guys say jump. I feel the rest of the company is blissfully unaware of the train that’s heading down the [...]

Under New Ownership: First Impressions

By Jim MacLennan ⋅ July 31, 2004 ⋅ Post a comment

The announcements of our new owners were interesting, based on what was said, and what was not said. Like any published material, the point of view shifts depending on who’s saying what … From the seller: ” … The sale is the final in [our] strategic refocusing …”; it’s all about the “disposal” of assets [...]

Under New Ownership: It Begins

By Jim MacLennan ⋅ July 25, 2004 ⋅ One comment

This past week, Culligan was acquired by a private equity firm. Not stunning news for me, we’ve been watching the process unfold over the past 10-12 months. Still, it is finally upon us, and I anticipate some interesting events over the coming months. Personally, it’s going an interesting process because this is my first experience [...]

Back from vacation, tackling the backlog

By Jim MacLennan ⋅ July 25, 2004 ⋅ Post a comment

I don’t often take very long vacations, usually just long weekends, but I am returning to work tomorrow. Interesting things I’m noting: over 1000 pieces of junk mail, even though we have corporate filters some low-level surprises in the email, such as folks scheduling interviews / meeting with me even though the time is blocked [...]