Success Factors

The Certina management does not believe in "group advantages" through centralization. Often, the exploitation of so-called synergy effects in industry concepts has proven to be difficult in practice. Certina sees success factors elsewhere:

• business understanding
• management knowledge and experience
• transparent structures and responsibilities
• motivation and reduction of hierarchy
• strict controlling
• short decisional routes

Majority shareholdings

Certina only enters into majority shareholdings.
Focus
Certina Holding AG only acquires businesses whose value can clearly be increased:

• with existing value appreciation potential,
• equipped with specialized know-how,
• not operating in a purely price-based competition,
• with a turnover of 20 to 200 million Euro.

Value Appreciation

The Certina management team concentrates on the following:

• interfaces and process optimization
• cost reduction and design to cost optimization
• EDP integration of all processes
• consistent management of overheads
• result orientated remuneration system
• inclusion of the staff

Industry Openness
All these levers are basically process orientated and thereby general (not industry sector-specific).

Autonomy of the Holdings

Each business remains completely independent. Functions such as purchasing, accountancy and IT are not centralized.

Risk Spread

Since it's holdings are not tied into specific industry sectors, Certina Holding AG has a balanced risk. Each individual company profits from the knowledge and proficiency of the other group companies.

Operational Action

In the business takeover phase, Certina takes direct action in the operative leadership of the companies. As soon as the required personnel adaptations and the measures for realignment have been realized, the companies are released into "freedom". From this point on, the management of the companies is solely responsible for the running of the business.

Management Team

The Certina Group has a finely tuned management team that can intervene effectively and quickly in a business which has been taken over.

Transparency

The essential key facts and figures of the respective shareholdings are made available to the staff and the workers' council on a regular basis. With transparent monthly controlling Certina Holding AG and the individual companies avoid unpleasant surprises. Development flaws are recognized early.

Caution

Experience shows that balance sheets of companies for sale do not always show the whole truth. This experience has led to the Certina Holding AG proceeding critically with acquisitions.

© Certina Holding AG