finance Private equity driving growth


Firms often hold back in times of uncertainty when it comes to driving growth. But it’s at times like this that they should get on with what they do best – taking opportunities when they arise, while keeping an eye on external risks, writes Yann Souillard, head of London & South at LDC


What is important is that management teams have access to the right support and backing to help them succeed. Whether it’s additional capital or strategic direction and expertise that’s required, they should remember that they don’t have to go it alone and there are options available.


While bank debt finance is often the go-to route for many firms, there are alternative options like private equity funding which can turbocharge growth and bring long-term, added value.


And private equity works best when it is collaborative. We partner with management teams, working closely with them from the outset to understand their vision and motivations.


In doing so, we can establish where we can achieve significant growth and build scale, whether it’s through a buy-and-build strategy, acquiring new premises, launching new products or expanding into new markets.


Take Poole-based BOFA International, a leading designer and manufacturer of fume extraction systems, for example. We invested in the business in 2015 in a £23 million management buyout to support its continued growth and development, including expansion into new markets and further product development.


Since the buyout, CEO Tony Lockwood and his team have expertly driven revenue growth of 25% per annum, with


unrivalled rates of export growth in the US and Europe – revenues are currently £24m and growing.


The business has also invested in growing its team to more than 170 employees, with this investment in people having been accompanied by expansion of the engineering operations which now span more than 48,000 sq ft.


BOFA is a shining example of British engineering excellence, and through expert management its high-quality products are now widely recognised and extremely well regarded globally.


This is just one example of private equity in action. The rewards it can generate are substantial. And the future success of the UK economy is


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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – MAY/JUNE 2017


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