Client
A leading safety services company
Industry
Safety services
Primary goal
Strengthen operations, improve performance, and prepare for sale
Technologies
Data and analytics, enterprise performance management, CRM, and cloud-based reporting tools
MAKE deals deliver
A leading safety services company had grown rapidly through organic expansion and more than 130 acquisitions, creating greater scale and new complexity across systems, data, operations, and financial management. Through a multi-year relationship with KPMG Canada, the company strengthened its operating model, built a more connected view of performance, and advanced a value creation program focused on sustainable margin improvement.
The work helped translate operational change into a more compelling enterprise value story, showing both the improvements already delivered and the future value creation opportunities still ahead. When the company prepared for sale, this stronger foundation gave buyers greater confidence in the company’s performance, growth potential, and ability to continue scaling.
20% run-rate EBITDA
improvement achieved ahead of sale
One integrated team
across the full transaction lifecycle
Multi-year support
across private capital ownership
Client transformation journey
- Before
- During
- After
Growth created complexity
As the company expanded, each acquired business brought different systems, data structures, and ways of working. Continued organic growth added further operational strain, making it harder to manage performance consistently across the organization.
The business operated in a decentralized environment with varied workforce management, inconsistent pricing and service delivery, and uneven processes across regions. These fragmented operations limited the company’s ability to measure performance, manage costs, and operate with the consistency needed at scale.
The company needed a more connected view of operations and a practical plan to improve margins, strengthen governance, and support sustained value creation as it prepared for a future transaction.
Strengthening operations to drive value creation
The company’s work with KPMG Canada evolved from initial diligence into a multi-phase value creation program. Early financial analysis created a clearer view of how rapid growth, decentralized operations, and varied regional practices were influencing performance across the business.
With greater clarity into performance, the company worked with KPMG Canada to identify and prioritize margin improvement opportunities across pricing, procurement, workforce management, working capital, and overhead and administrative costs. These initiatives helped strengthen governance, support more consistent operating practices, and create a more disciplined approach to performance improvement.
As the company prepared for sale, the focus shifted from identifying value to demonstrating it. By consolidating information, improving consistency across data sources, and quantifying operational improvements, the company was able to build a more evidence-based value creation narrative for buyers across four areas:
- Data and analytics: A single, integrated view of performance enabled buyers to assess trends efficiently and supported a smoother diligence process
- Value creation: A quantified view of delivered and future value demonstrated the sustainability of operational improvements and highlighted future value creation opportunities
- Financial due diligence: Quality of earnings and net working capital analysis provided buyers with a consistent basis to evaluate financial performance
- Tax: A comprehensive view of transaction costs, tax considerations, and tax value creation supported transaction planning and execution.
A successful sale supported by demonstrated value creation
By advancing its value creation program and embedding more consistent ways of working, the company achieved a 20% run-rate EBITDA improvement ahead of sale. These improvements strengthened financial performance, increased operational discipline, and supported a more reliable view of how the business had scaled.
The company was able to present a stronger performance story to the market, showing how growth and improved results were supported by stronger infrastructure, better information, and enhanced governance. This helped buyers understand both the value already delivered and the future value creation opportunities that remained.
With a stronger operating model and a clearly supported value creation story, the company was able to move through the transaction process with confidence. Buyers could see the improvements already delivered, the discipline behind them, and the opportunities for continued growth.
How we make the difference
KPMG Canada brought together data and analytics, value creation, financial due diligence, and tax capabilities to help the company connect operational improvements, financial performance, and future value creation opportunities into one clearer view of the business.
Through a multi-year relationship, the company strengthened its operating model and improved performance, supported by better information and more consistent ways of working. This helped the company engage buyers with greater confidence.
Let’s connect to explore how KPMG can help you strengthen operations, demonstrate value creation, and build confidence for your next transaction.
KPMG. Make the Difference.
Meet the team
John Cho
Partner, National Private Capital Leader in Canada, Global Institutional Investors Group Leader
Toronto
KPMG Canada
