Operations Activities

The success of the Mills & Partners' companies has been achieved through strategic acquisitions as well as significant growth in revenues and earnings within the core operating businesses. These strong operating results are driven by a committed group of employees and a dedicated professional management team. Each of the operating companies has a management team consisting of a President, Vice-President Finance, Operations Managers and a Sales and Marketing team. This management team is responsible for the day-to-day performance of their respective company and daily reporting to Mills & Partners. Mills & Partners participation in the operations of the companies includes strategic and tactical planning and direction; day-to-day decision-making and operating counseling including daily bookings, billings and cash monitoring; monthly operating reviews; and corrective action planning.

The planning and decision-making function of Mills & Partners encompasses activities that look to the future and take necessary steps to ensure the long-term strength of the companies. Mills & Partners' involvement in planning and decision-making at the operating company level includes the following:

Developing and Implementing
Performance Enhancing Strategies

• Penetration of Adjacent Markets
• Optimization of Distribution Channels
• Vertical Integration
• Recessionary Planning
• Supplier and Customer Contract Negotiations
  
  

Developing and Implementing Cost Reduction Strategies

• Overhead Reduction Through Plant Consolidation
• Product Synergies
• Market Synergies
  
  

Ancillary Financing

• Capital Leases/Operating Leases
• Sale/Leasebacks
• Sale of Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Receivable Securitization Transaction
• Industrial Revenue Bonds
  
  

Monitoring performance activities

• Analysis of Daily Bookings, Billings and Cash
• Analysis of Financial and Operational Results
• Monthly Operating Reviews
  
  

Overseeing the Budgeting Process

Overseeing the auditing Process

Communicating Results

• Equity Partners
• Board of Directors
• Stockholders
• Bondholders
• Senior Bank Lenders
• Investors/Analysts

The overall objective of the operating strategies and activities developed and executed by Mills & Partners is to grow revenues and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) while ensuring the long-term strength of the companies and superior returns for the investors.