FAQ Summary

These 12 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Answers provide a Summary about MeritBSC.

1. What is MeritBSC?
MeritBSC is an independent management consulting firm assisting companies in enhancing Market Value and Competitive Advantage since 1986. MeritBSC is Merit Business Strategy Consulting.

2. What does MeritBSC do?
MeritBSC does Business Valuation and Strategy projects that diagnose, plan, implement and deliver results for client companies. We also provide Advice to clients.

3. What products or services does MeritBSC offer clients?
MeritBSC provides project consulting and advisory services in these 7 areas -

• Business Valuation - We apply multiple methods in appraising a company's value. Valuation results are applied to business strategy and capital investment decisions, as well as acquisitions and divestitures. Valuation projects have also been used in mediating disputes among owners.

• Business Strategy - Whether used in a 3 day offsite Strategic Review for the Board of Directors, an Investor Relations presentation, or a 3 month, more participative, Strategic Planning or Operating Plan project across the company, we focus on decisions which will improve performance, competitive position and value. Project scope can include the corporate portfolio, a restructuring program, a division or business unit, or specific product market groups.

• Competitive Positioning - Projects focus on the key variables which directly link to value in assessing relative competitive performance and position. Together with analysis of the company's business model and the industry economics, competitive positioning yields tangible recommendations, and is often a component of business valuation and strategy projects.

• Acquisitions & Divestitures – We do acquisitions to capture growth, and divestitures to reallocate capital to higher profit or growth businesses. Projects tend to focus on small scale, existing business related acquisitions or divestitures in adjacent geographic markets. We think there are many specific opportunities to capture growth via cross-border international acquisitions, as well as marketing and distribution agreements or alliances.

• Marketing & Distribution – The focus is on achieving internal organic growth by improving marketing strategy, planning and execution. Distribution projects focus on realigning channels or expanding distribution to adjacent markets. Emphasis is always on implementing to get results. The cornerstones are: competitive positioning, market segmentation, product or service group performance, new product development, pricing, distribution channels, and promotional plans. Distribution channel realignment and/or expansion have proved to be particularly beneficial in capturing profit and growth opportunities.

• Turnaround Plans - For an underperforming business, the emphasis is on making and implementing decisions to turnaround performance. In some cases, the goal is to stop losses while preparing to divest. In others, the viability of a genuine long run improvement is real. The critical elements in any successful turnaround are a tightly knit team, a business strategy functional review, as well as cost/volume and margin/growth tradeoffs among products, markets and channels.

• Advice - 1 Day Consultation - For companies seeking advice, who may want to spend just one day focused on a specific business situation, without a business strategy project, we offer our 1 Day Consult service.

4. Who are your clients?
Clients range from diversified global enterprises to domestic companies competing in a single business. Clients include large capitalization firms, as well as small capitalization companies, and private firms in a wide array of industries. 

5. Who do you work with within client companies?
We work with Chief Executives and senior executives of public and private companies to improve profits, growth, productivity, competitive performance, returns on capital and market valuation.

6. How do you work with clients?

We work with clients in a 4 step process to get the project started:

• Initial contact and discussion,
• Project objectives and scope discussion and review,
• Project proposal letter with specific deliverables, timeframe, staffing and fees,
• Confirmation letter and start of the project.

The project structure and staffing includes:

• A well defined project scope and workplan,
• Direct project involvement by partner on the project,
• Small project teams, typically a partner with 1 or 2 consultants,
• A retainer agreement is fully applied to professional fees,
• A monthly fee range is provided with fixed limits,
• Most projects take 1 to 3 months to complete, and,
• We provide monthly project reports on status, progress and results.

Client benefits include quality, on time performance. Confidentiality is assured. MeritBSC does not work with your competitors. We seek long term client relationships and the benefits of advocacy on behalf of our clients.

7. What industry experience do you have?

MeritBSC has worked with clients since 1986 in a broad range of industries that span consumer products and retail, energy and natural resources, financial services, healthcare, industrial goods and services, telecommunications and technology.

8. Which geographic markets do you serve?
MeritBSC has served clients across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. In Europe, we have worked with or called on companies in England, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Scotland and traveled to Austria, Denmark, Monaco, Norway, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. In Asia, we have worked with companies in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan as well as Hong Kong and Guangdong in China and traveled to Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. In Australia, we have worked with companies in Sydney and Melbourne.

9. Can you describe a few client relationships and cases?
Client relationships can span several years with distinct projects capturing the benefits of continuity, insight, and advocacy. Client collaboration has led to dramatic improvements in performance:

• Tripling of market value in 3 years for a global industrial company.
• $125 million profit turnaround in 2 years for a regional financial services firm.
• Restructuring and turnaround in 3 years for an office technology company.

10. Who formed MeritBSC and what is your background?
MeritBSC was formed by Tim Butler in San Francisco in 1986 and expanded to New York in 1995. Together with seasoned professionals who bring industry and consulting experience to clients, Mr. Butler has served clients in providing business valuation, strategy and advice for more than 20 years.

Previously, Mr. Butler was a Vice President and Partner with Marakon Associates, and a Senior Consultant with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Tim Butler received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, did his undergraduate work in Economics and Finance, and received his B.S. and B.A. degrees from The Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as at Bath University in England.

11. What is different about MeritBSC?
MeritBSC works with a limited number of clients, avoiding conflicts of interest and retaining client confidentiality. We are responsive, dedicated and loyal to our clients.

We collaborate with clients. More than just team work, Our Work Is Your Work.™ Good teamwork and having the client give the presentation can build consensus for change more easily within the organization. With MeritBSC, total partner involvement, small teams, and jointly refining project scope, yields cost effective services for clients.

12. What is the best way to contact you?

The easiest and fastest way to reach us is via E-Mail or Telephone: