When a company consists of more than one model, management can either let the models operate independently OR try to link models two or more models together.
If the latter option is pursued, the models can share clients, resources, or both.
Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) has 13.1 million basic video subscribers. The company's 2008 10K says 54% of these customers subscribe to at least one of the other two company businesses (high speed internet; telephone service). TWC says 21% of its customers subscribe to all three services.
ABM Industries (NYSE: ABM) is a diversified facilities services provider. Its core business (69% of 2008 net sales) is janitorial services for office buildings, hospitals, etc. It also operates more than 1,600 parking lots (13% of sales) and operates a security service (9% of sales).
In 2007, the company moved to create a Shared Services Center to consolidate back office operations shared by all its models. Targeted for a 2011 completion, the program's rollout resulted in an additional $1.6m in costs in 2008.
The 10K filings of Time Warner Cable are particularly interesting as the company operates a series of Chickens that are under competitive pressure by Verizon (NYSE: VZ).