DEADLINE: 19TH MARCH, 2021
MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR CONSULTANTS FOR THE KANO STATE TURNAROUND PROJECT

BACKGROUND
Tetra Tech International Development is delivering LINKS, a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Formerly DFID) funded program. LINKS was created to catalyse economic growth in northern Nigeria through initiatives that would boost the development of a vibrant and diversified economy in the region over the next seven years. The front-line components of LINKS are innovation, investment promotion, financial flows facilitation and business environment reforms.

The decline of industries and Businesses in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa over the past two decades has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic leading to disruption and economic uncertainty that have come at a significant cost to the Nigerian Government. In a bid to reverse this trend, LINKS in collaboration with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Kano State Investment Promotion Agency (Kaninvest) have designed, and are implementing, the Kano State Turnaround Project – an intervention that would facilitate the influx of turnaround specialists to rescue, reorganize, restructure, and repair shortlisted companies.

For this reason, LINKS seeks to facilitate the engagement of experts in business
restructuring and turnaround advisory to help underperforming and distressed
companies in Kano State. The turnaround firms, or consortia must have significant operational experience, strong industry knowledge and other skills relevant to turnaround management. They will be required to objectively assess each company with a goal of identifying problems and proffering/implementing solutions. These solutions will be outlined in comprehensive turnaround plans that will be implemented in partnership with the management of the business until specific recovery milestones are met.

Specific Requirements of each group of specialists are outlined below:
1. TURNAROUND ADVISOR (INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT)
The Turnaround Advisor (an individual) will be responsible for monitoring the activities of turnaround experts engaged to work with clients in Kano State in relation to a range of matters, as determined by their strategy, directly impacting the implementation of the Kano State Turnaround Project. The Advisor will be required to assess all technical proposals for reasonability, effectiveness and sustainability. The Advisor will also be responsible for ensuring that the targets set and agreed upon for all companies are met.

Skills & Experience
• Strong academic record with a master’s degree in Finance, Economics,
Engineering or any relevant equivalent
• Prior experience implementing or participating in turnaround projects involving
evaluations and negotiations; experience in implementing cost reduction
initiatives is required
• Prior experience in corporate finance; investment banking experience is an
advantage
• Prior experience in corporate advisory services
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong team orientation and a demonstrated ability to work effectively with
multi-location teams
• Self-starter with a strong work ethic and high attention to detail
• Demonstrated personal integrity and leadership qualities
• Good interpersonal and stakeholder management skills
• Special Requirements – The position is virtual with frequent travel to Kano.

2. LEGAL ADVISORY FIRM/CONSORTIA
The Legal Advisor will be responsible for the provision of all legal services required during the turnaround project. The Advisor will work with the Project Steering Committee, beneficiary companies and Turnaround Consulting Firms to implement the rescue, reorganize, restructure, and repair plan.
A key deliverable will be the development, and implementation, of a legal strategy unique to each company. This strategy will be subject to the approval of the beneficiary and the Kano Turnaround team (made up of LINKS, a Project Steering Committee and other key stakeholders). It is anticipated that each Legat Firm will be responsible for 5 to 10 companies each. The firm will provide technical assistance and support towards the planning and implementation of the turnaround project.

3. TURNAROUND SPECIALIST FIRMS/CONSORTIA
LINKS seeks to facilitate the engagement of a reputable expert turnaround advisor, turnaround firms or consortia, and legal advisors to help underperforming and distressed companies in Kano State, The turnaround firms, or consortia must have significant operational experience, strong industry knowledge and other expert skills relevant to turnaround management. They will be required to objectively assess each company with a goal of identifying problems and proffering/implementing solutions. These solutions will be outlined in a comprehensive turnaround plan that will be implemented in partnership with the management of the business until specific recovery milestones are met. It is anticipated that each tirm/consortia will be responsible for between 5 to 10
companies each.

The consulting firms or consortia will be required to outline and implement a strategy that reverses the decline of selected businesses in Kano.

For more information, please visit the website-www.links-nigeria.com

INDICATIVE TIMELINES
The indicative timetable for this activity which may be subject to change is:

ActivityDate
Deadline for requests for additional information12 March 2021
Deadline for submission of EOI19 March 2021
Notification to applicants of outcome of assessment26 March 2021

SUBMISSION PROCESS
All Expressions of Interest should be emailed to ktp@links-nigeria.com stating
“Kano State Turnaround Project EOr” as the subject of the email. Submission should be received on or before each date below:

Deadline
Turnaround Advisors19 March 2021
Legal Advisory Firms19 March 2021
Turnaround Specialist Firms19 March 2021

Prospective applicants that require clarification on any part of this call for EOls may wish to direct requests to: ktp@links-nigeria.com

Applications will not be accepted if they:
(a) are not sent electronically
(b) are hard copy submissions
(e) are not sent or delivered on or before the specified deadline
(d) do not conform to the provisions of this call for EOls

Applicants are directed to the important notices below. EDis must be prepared in
English language and are to be submitted electronically by interested applicants
Partnerships are allowed if it is a combination of a local (Nigerian) Law firm and others, however such EOls must be submitted in one email.
1. You are required to present your EOl with:
a) the company profile including
b) CVs of team members showing expertise in business turnaround transactions

2. Selected firms shall be evaluated based on the following technical criteria:
a) General qualifications and adequacy for the proposed assignment
b) Experience In working in Northern Nigeria and knowledge of the region
c) Similar Experience In the required area of expertise of the assignment

3. All EOIS must be submitted by Spm(WAT) anthe due dates.

4. Only successful applicants will be contacted for further evaluation.

5. Shortlisted applicants will be sent some company profiles to select for review
due to the uniqueness of the services required for each beneficiary company
and submit within two weeks a technical and financial proposal for turning
around the companies.

6. The Expected duration of the assignment is one to two years

IMPORTANT NOTICES
a) Nothing in this call for EOls shall be construed to be a commitment on the
part of LINKS/FCDO to appoint a Legal and Consulting Services Provider on
the Kano Turnaround project; nor shall it entitle any applicant to make any
claim whatsoever and seek indemnity from LINKS by virtue of responding to
this call for EOI.