ARA-PROFILE-JULY 2017-REV10

ARA ENTERPRISE

Ara Enterprise is a multi-faceted
consulting group in Iran with a 20-
year history.

Consisting of five separate
registered companies, Ara
Enterprise offers as diverse services
as Research and Market
Intelligence, Strategy Advisory
Services, Business Partner Match-
making and Due Diligence, Business
Development, Marketing
Communication and turnkey Event
Management.

Our client base consists of some of
the most prestigious local and
international companies and global
brands from all corners of the
world.

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Mission
To provide end-to-end consulting
services and solutions to help our

clients and partners grow their
business in Iran and surrounding

markets

2

FOUNDERS

25 years of management experience, AMIR CYRUS RAZZAGHI
including Regional Manager Europe for
the world’s 2nd largest software company
Numerous publications, articles,
interviews, commentaries (including The
Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal,
New York Times, Bloomberg, Washington
Post BBC, CBS, CBC…)

High-level local and global contacts and
lobbying power

Skills:
Senior management, strategic planning,
brand strategy, business development &
sales, negotiation, int’l marketing

Education:
B.Com. (UBC-Canada), MBA & EMBA (LSE-
UK, HEC-France), PhD Candidate

4

ARAM RAZZAGHI 24 years of consulting and management
experience

Numerous successful projects (JVs, FSs,
Events, and over 120 feasibility studies
and business plans for local an foreign
companies)
Skills:

High-level consulting (financial,
industrial, management), analytical
skills, PR & lobbying and event
management and business partner
match-making

Education:

B. Econ. (SBU-Iran), Diplomas in
Marketing, Investment & Finance,
Export, Insurance, Customs, FS of
Industrial Projects from various
universities and EIs.

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NEWSAra in the

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1. Shamim Consulting Network GROUP OF COMPANIES

Market Research and Strategy Advice

2. Sarmayeh Ara

Investment & Commercial Consulting

3. BrandO

Marketing and Brand Strategy

4. Hamayesh Ara

Event Management & PR

5. ATD

Training

6. AHRD

HR

7. Andisheh Ara

Software & Solution Providing

8. Andisheh Ara Nafis

Industrial B2B e-Commerce

9. Parsian Londvile

e-Commerce

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• Research, Strategy Advisory CORE COMPETENCIES
Services

• Investment & Commercial
Advisory Services

• Business Development,
Business Match Making &
Due Diligence

• Marketing Communications
Strategy, Events and PR

• Human Resources
Development & Training

10

ACTIVITIES • Market & Marketing
Primary & Secondary
Research

• Strategy and Management
Advisory Services

• Investment Consulting
• ICT (Mobile, e-Commerce

and Social Media Strategy)
• Marketing
• Brand Development
• Advertising
• PR
• Event Management
• HR & Training

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Ali Dibaei Claudia Frey Parag Khana Hans-Jacob Schindler Nazila Homayounfar
CEO of Director, German Expertise: Strategy Expertise: Sanctions & Risk Expertise: Legal,
Speaking Countries Corporate
Hamayesh Ara Credentials: Management Law/Dispute
Int’l Co. Brookings Institute, Credentials: United Nations
Security Council Sanctions Company Formation
Singapore
Government, London Monitoring Team
School of Economics

PARTNERS & ADVISORS

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Arash Arian Cyrus Arman Alireza Haghdoust Andreas Schweitzer
Expertise: Research, Expertise: Expertise: Fashion & Expertise: Capital
Due Diligence and Industrial Raising, Frontier
Retail Market Markets Business
Business Development Development
Development Credentials: Credentials: Auchan, Development
Credentials: JP Goldman Sachs, Rosha Center, GoSport, Credentials: Metallco,
Morgan, Canadian ThyssenKrupp Celio, Morgan, Etam
Central Bank Jacobs Suchard

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CONSULTANCY

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SERVICES

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Our Advantages MARKET RESEARCH &

• Strong and experienced
team, using modern tools
and techniques

• Access to propriety and
exclusive information
through key contacts at
strategic organizations

• Access to networks of field
researchers throughout the
country

• Familiarity with most key
industry sectors and sub-
sectors

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DUE DILIGENCE SERVICES Sample Content

- Political and Economic
Analysis
- Industry-specific Analysis
including Related Policies &
Regulations (Ministries of
Industry, Mining & Trade as
well as Health, Food and Drug
Administration…)
- Competition analysis

Methodology

- Primary Research (Interviews
with Insiders, Surveys…)
- Desktop Research
- Media monitoring and
analysis

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Sample Specific Issues LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICES

• Local entity issues
• Risk assessment and

management
• Investment securitization
• Crisis management and

dispute resolution

Methodology

• In conjunction with top 3
law firms in Tehran

• Getting support from major
international lawyers when
needed

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STRATEGY ADVISORY SERVICES Sample Strategy Services

• Market entry strategy
• Business and revenue

models (including
distribution)
• Growth strategy (organic
and potential acquisitions)

Methodology

• Internal brain storming as
well as meetings with
sample

• Best practices and success
stories analysis from other
companies

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Our Advantages INVESTMENT &

- Vast experience and access to
high ROI investment opportunities
- Strong and experienced
Commercial Consulting team
- Solid track record in assisting
clients establish their businesses in
Iran, managing risk and resolving
complex commercial and legal
challenges
- Affiliation with and support from
top International an local legal
firms in Iran
- Access to networks of insiders in
key organizations such as Iran’s
Ministry of Industry, Mine and
Trade, Customs Office, Chamber of
Commerce, Food & Drug
Administration

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COMMERCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES Sample Specific Issues

- Investment Opportunities
- Identification & Analysis
- Classification &
Prioritization

- Due Diligence on Investment
Targets
- Negotiation and Term Sheet
Preparation

Methodology

- Directly and through partners
(experts in the stock exchange
brokerages, other investment
companies/funds etc.)

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Our Advantages BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

- Strong and experienced
Business Development, Match-
making, PR and Lobby teams
- Access to propriety and
exclusive information through
key contacts at strategic
organizations
- Access to networks of
insiders in key trade and
service organizations, buyers
and project owners
- Familiarity with most key
industry sectors and sub-
sectors
- Lobby power with
government and public
organizations

2

SERVICES Sample Services

• Partner and sales channel
development
• Key retail accounts (coops
etc.)
• Key corporate accounts
(hotels, banks etc.)
• Re-export opportunities
(Iraq, Afghanistan etc.)

Methodology

• In conjunction with sample
partners (importers &
distributors)

• Direct and through outside
partners

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Sample Issues COMMUNICATIONS &

• Sales channel and end user
newsletters

• Media relations (press
releases, press
conferences, interviews)

• CSR (sustainability & good
corporate citizen image
management)

• Cultural and sports
sponsorships

2

PR ADVISORY SERVICES Methodology

• Localization of existing
policies and materials as
well as developing new
ones

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Sample Issues GOVERNMENT LOBBYING SERVICES

• Meeting with and
developing good rapport
with policy makers and
regulators

• Writing to government and
industry stakeholders
(associations) to improve
industry conditions

Methodology

• Direct (through Ara’s strong
governmental connections)
and in conjunction with
other partners such as the
local distribution partner
and advertising agency

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BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES Sample Services

• Visa and travel logistics for
executive team

• Meetings and appointment
management

• Translation services
• Local office and long term

accommodation
• Local talent recruitment
• IT Infrastructure and local

solutions (accounting etc.)

Methodology
• Direct and through local

partners

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PROJECT

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EXAMPLES

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- Conducted comprehensive RESEARCH &
research in Earth Removing
Machinery market, focusing on
10 segments (from
infrastructure to construction,
oil and gas etc.)
- Prepared the presentation
and provided support for the
Geneva meeting which
resulted in Arya Machine being
appointed as the sole
distributor

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BUSINESS PLANNING - Assisted in business
development in Oil & Gas,
Infrastructure and
Construction industries…
- Assisted the local entity with
their set up strategy
- Recruited several key
managers for the local entity

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- Initiated contact and MATCH-MAKING
negotiated with SONY Japan
on behalf of the local client
- Presented to the client in
Dubai and Tehran and drafted
the MOU
- Took part in the Feasibility
Study part of the project and
drafted the final contract

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JV FORMATION - CKD operation for production
of 50,000 21” and 29” TVs
begun in August 2005, and
volume has increased to more
than 300,000 units
- Assisted in Business
Development, Marketing
Communication and Sales
Channel Development
afterwards…

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- Created the concept for and set RESEARCH & BUSINESS PLANNING
up IDRO Venture Capital Company
(IVCC)
- Wrote the complete constitution
for Iran’s first high-risk, high-tech
venture capital fund in 2 volumes
- Used local and foreign consultants
and interviewed international VC
funds, suggested valuation
methods, foreign partnerships,
phased launch, and developed all
the procedures, flowcharts, forms,
and checklists
- Assisted in Corporate ID
development and Marketing
Communications
- The fund’s 1st successful
investment was on AfraNet and
many others after that

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MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS - Services provided: Brand
Strategy, Corporate ID and
Marketing Communications
Campaigns, HR &
Organizational Restructuring,
Sales Channel Development
- Advised Panasonic Iran on
general mission, strategies,
goals, and plans.
- Devised HR policies and hired
more than 50 staff for the
company
- Delivered numerous award-
winning advertising campaigns
(some concepts have since
been used globally)

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- Iran e-Commerce Feasibility CONSORTIUM FORMATION
Study
- Iran’s largest IT research
project at the time ($4m)
- 10 segments studied for the
possibility of implementing e-
Commerce solutions
- Formed the consortium of
Iranian, French, and Malaysian
companies that won the
contract and conducted the
study
- Contributed to the
management of the project…
- Managed various Marketing
Communications projects that
came out of it…

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MARUBENI-DUE DILIGENCE - Thorough due diligence on a
specific Iranian company in the
automotive sector,
- Depicting the structure and
true ownership of the
company and existing links
with Iranian government and
risky entities (such as the IRGC)
- Analyzing the risk of doing
business with the company

- Financial Risk
- Legal Risk
- Reputational Risk
- Making recommendations on
the way to proceed, minimizing
risk exposure while not losing
market opportunities for
Marubeni in Iran

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- Has been retained by Efes for the EFES BEHNOUSH
past 3 years to:

- Provide market intelligence
- Commercial consulting
- Crisis management with
regards to changing local partners
- Has successfully managed to turn
a major threat into an opportunity
(smooth transition from the old to
new partner, avoiding a major legal
action and financial/reputational
damage)
- Working on a major production
operation while evaluating M&A
opportunities for down the road
- Is being appointed as the advisor
to the entire group to help bring
other division (hypermarkets, other
beverages, fast food restaurants) to
Iran

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Advisor to some of the biggest
local banks including Mellat,
Keshavarzi, Maskan, EN Bank,
Saman, Tejarat, Ayandeh with:
• Research
• Strategy & Branding
• Marketing Communications
• Training
• Major Accounts Financing
• Special Opportunities

BANKING INDUSTRY ADVISORY SERVICES

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• Food, Beverage, and FMCG INDUSTRY FOCUS
• Automotive &

Transportation
• Energy
• Consumer Electronics &

Home Appliances
• Retail & Luxury
• ICT
• Banking
• Education
• Construction and Real

Estate

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METHODOLOGY • Understand client’s
philosophy and business
inside out

• Assess opportunities and
risks for the client’s
business in Iran

• Devise mission and
strategies

• Get client’s buy-in and
support

• Assign various teams to
work in parallel to address
various aspects of the
assignment

• Execute, evaluate
effectiveness, rethink
strategy and continue
execution…

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• More than 70 successful EVENT MANAGEMENT
events in the past 12 years
alone, managing all aspects
of the events from Concept
Development to Public and
Media Relations

• From large conferences
with more than 2000
delegates to small/focused
workshops

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SERVICES • Including Brand/Product
launch, business
partner/channel partner
meetings

• Local and International
experience (UK, Germany,
France, Korea, Japan,
UAE…)

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Brazilian President Meets Iranian Leaders

EVENT MANAGEMENT

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SERVICES

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• Senior Level Management HR & TRAINING
Headhunting
• Including Iranian
expats living in Dubai
• Through Affiliation
with foreign partners

• Orientation Training for
Foreign Expats

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SERVICES • Business Development,
Customer Service and
Negotiation Courses for
Foreign Managers

• Industry-specific Seminars
and Workshop for Foreign
Companies.

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SOME OF OUR CLIENTS

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