Another exciting day at LAVA HQ sees us announce new funding from Beechbrook Capital, one of Europe’s leading SME lenders, allowing us to accelerate our next exciting phase of growth whilst protecting the employee ownership status that means so much to us.
When we decided to consider an investment injection to unlock our latest growth strategy, we were of course better placed than most to understand the range of options available. As is the LAVA way, we explored all possible routes before ultimately taking the path that we would advise our clients to, and agreeing to £8 million in debt funding from Beechbrook.
We have always tried to run LAVA in the way we would advise our clients to run their own businesses. Having reviewed the options as carefully as we did when establishing the EOT, we chose funding that supports our ambitions while preserving both our independence and our employee ownership structure, and allows us to keep our people at the heart of our process.
Hamish Martin LAVA Partner
By avoiding equity funding we can protect LAVA from a medium-term sale or exit, as well as retaining 100% of the company in trust for the benefit of our employees. Stability was one of the main draws of transitioning to the EOT in the first place, and this has proven a fantastic decision all round, reassuring not only the team, but also our long-term clients and partners, of LAVA’s longevity, so there was no way we were prepared to part with it. That Beechbrook could see both the significance of our achievements to date, and the strategic savvy at the heart of our next-level plans, cements LAVA as a key player in mid-market M&A.
We’re really proud of what we achieved in our first five years. The team, the clients, the values we’ve established in such a short time have given us a rock-solid foundation for growth. With our plan for the next five years underway, we’ve set ourselves ambitious goals around our strategic pillars, and with the support of an institutional investor like Beechbrook, it’s full steam ahead.
Simon Woodcock LAVA Partner
This move enables increased investment in our three-pillar growth plan which focuses on partner-led sector expertise, preparing for international expansion, and futureproofing the firm’s operational infrastructure for sustainable growth. Our clear vision for success and proven ability to deliver on our goals made LAVA a compelling investment opportunity.
LAVA has a clear and consistent view of where the business is going, supported by a strong market opportunity and a leadership team with the experience and determination to deliver its plans. The momentum around the firm is supported by a clear strategy and a properly structured growth plan. That, along with our past interactions, gives us confidence in the business and makes LAVA a compelling firm for Beechbrook to support.
Elliot Gargan Investment Director, Beechbrook Capital
The recent promotion of Tom Rowe Jones to Partner is a key step in delivering on this next-phase strategy, and there are more developments to come as we redesign and refresh our office space, and announce even more exciting plans.
So stay tuned for a very LAVAly summer!
