Register for a hard copy of the report. Amsterdam, 28 October 2009 – Accenture released the findings today for its high-performance business study in the Netherlands, which shows that AEX-listed companies are more weakly positioned to emerge stronger from the recession than their international competitors. The study also indicates what specific steps these companies may take in order to improve their performance to survive the current economic crisis and to create a sustainable base for future competitive advantage. The study by Accenture, compares the performance of 21 of the largest listed companies in the Netherlands with that of 169 direct global competitors in the current economic context. Performance is, amongst others, measured on short-term financial health and on long-term potential of the companies. When compared to their competitors, more than 60% of AEX-listed companies are less well positioned for long-term success. The main reasons for this are that AEX-listed companies are generally less responsive to changing economic conditions and are underrepresented in growth markets such as Brazil, Russia, India, Korea and China. On the positive side, the profitability of AEX-listed companies is equal to that of the global competition while 62% have greater opportunities to attract or release capital for investments. The study also reveals that, in the short term, two thirds of the AEX-listed companies are more vulnerable than their foreign competitors as regards the financial challenges of the crisis. “The Minister of Economic Affairs, Maria van der Hoeven, agrees with the recommendation to invest now as so to guarantee market share and growth. ‘Companies must invest now in innovation projects in order to keep ahead of the competition in the future’. The Minister however, also acknowledges that at the moment this is difficult for companies. ‘Many companies are having difficulties of obtaining financing for new investments. To make sure that companies can keep on investing the so called “Garantieregeling Ondernemingsfinanciering” has been raised from 50 million Euros to 150 million Euros. New investments are the basis for the success of our companies in the future. The European Investment bank has also funding available for companies.” Not one AEX-listed company qualifies as a ‘high potential business’. Accenture defines high potential businesses as businesses that not only survive severe crises like the current one, but actually exploit a crisis, seizing it as an opportunity to create a platform for future competitive advantage, break away from the pack, and potentially become a truly high potential business. Of the international competitors, 12 companies stand out as high potential businesses. “Further to the study results, Accenture has two recommendations for companies that want to emerge as a winner from the recession,” says Joost de Haas who leads the Accenture Strategy consulting practice in the Netherlands and is responsible for the study. “The current economic climate forces companies to manage and save costs. In doing so, they must avoid cost reductions that may jeopardise their long-term competitive position. In addition, companies that have the resources to invest in growth must now take advantage of the weakened competition and take action in order to secure market share and growth. The opportunities here lie in fast-growing economies in particular.” About the study
This study was conducted in the context of the Accenture high-performance business research programme which studied over 6,000 companies including more than 500 that meet the criteria as high performers. Harvard Business Review called the Accenture high-performance business programme “one of the ten most important initiatives in this area of the past 25 years”. About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With approximately 177,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$21.58 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2009. Register for a hard copy of the report.  To Top
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