Assess Operational Performance to Uncover Risks and EBITDA Improvement Opportunities Pre-Deal
We help assess a target’s operational scalability, efficiency, and readiness to execute on its business plan. Our teams identify cost optimization opportunities, process gaps, technology constraints, and working capital inefficiencies that could affect value post-acquisition. With deep sector and operator expertise, we uncover the EBITDA improvement levers, operating risks, and integration enablers that shape the long-term value thesis — often before the deal is done.
Why Partner with Us
Our Experts
Amith Karan
Managing Director
Mumbai India
Amith Karan
Managing Director
Mumbai
- 19 years of performance improvement, turnaround and management experience
- Helped leading private equity funds and corporates on improving performance and achieving targets
- Expertise in operating diligence at investment stage
- Essayed interim management roles to manage companies and effect turnaround
Amith Karan leads the Private Equity Performance Improvement (PEPI) practice in India. He brings 19 years of line operations, interim management and advisory experience.
His experience includes supporting PE funds and investors on operating diligence during the investment stage and helping portfolio companies and corporates improve performance post investment. Operating diligence work involves identifying critical issues with operations and having a clear 100 Day Plan post investment to ensure a successful scale up of the business. At A&M he has successfully helped investors evaluate operations across retail, consumer, infrastructure and industrials businesses.
The performance improvement support is focused on driving a step up in EBITDA performance, improving working capital efficiency and ensuring the business capabilities are in shape to achieve business goals. He recently helped a castings business optimize EBITDA performance through an end-to-end performance improvement effort across sourcing, supply chain, lean manufacturing and sales model optimization. He also helped a retail business improve working capital efficiency and free up 'locked cash' through better demand planning and inventory management.
His turnaround and interim management experience has seen him essay COO and CRO roles across EPC, auto ancillary, manufacturing and consumer businesses. Interim management often includes stabilizing the business on a day to day basis, building a clear plan for turnaround and then leading the execution with the management team.
Amith has authored articles on performance improvement and operations and coordinates the A&M Operating Club focusing on operations improvement at PE funds.
Prior to A&M, he spent three years as part of the leadership team of Aranca, a leading outsourced research and analytics services firm. Before that, he spent six years with McKinsey & Co. in Europe across industries such as consumer, retail, industrial and private equity. He also spent four years with Asian Paints India, where he was also responsible for building operations in Africa and later leading business operations in Kerala.
Mr. Karan has an MBA from the London Business School, a Masters in International Business from NMIMS and BSC in Science.
Praveen Pajiar
Managing Director
Mumbai India
Praveen Pajiar
Managing Director
Mumbai
- 18 years of experience in manufacturing and supply chain in discrete and process industry
- Specializes in product supply strategy, cost optimization, demand and supply planning, inventory management, lean manufacturing and operational excellence
Praveen Pajiar is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal in Mumbai. He brings 18 years of experience in manufacturing and supply chain in both discrete and process industry.
Mr. Pajiar specializes in product supply strategy, cost optimization, supply and distribution planning, network optimization, inventory management, lean manufacturing, operational excellence and process improvement. He has worked with clients in various industries, including manufacturing, automobile, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and industrials.
Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Pajiar worked with Deloitte, focusing on supply chain and manufacturing operations for the consumer and industrial product sector. He led multiple transformation and performance improvement engagements, advising global clients across US, China, India, Australia and Europe. Previously, Mr. Pajiar worked with Procter and Gamble in their product supply group and led the implementation of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), High performance work system (HPWS) and Lean Six Sigma in India. Prior to that, he worked with Eicher Motors, focusing on manufacturing and operations.
Mr. Pajiar has also authored various articles and thought pieces on performance improvement, operations and inventory management.
Mr. Pajiar earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA in supply chain and manufacturing operations from NITIE Mumbai.
Featured Insights
