EXPANSION plans for a Thames Valley-based IT firm have taken a step forward with a significant investment in from a private equity investment.
LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, has given its backing to database, cloud and applications managed service provider, DSP, a partner to Thames Valley Park-based Oracle.
The enterprise data and cloud platform specialist manages high-performance database and IT infrastructure to customers in a wide range of sectors, including financial and professional services, transport, healthcare, education and the public sector.
CEO Simon Goodenough has led DSP for the past five years, and seen the firm grow through investment in staff, new products and service capability and complementary strategic acquisitions including Oracle Applications Partner Claremont, its fifth acquisition to date, which increased its client base to over 500.
The support from LDC means it will be able to further expand its customer offering through continued investment in its team, and enhance its product and services capability, both in the UK and new international market.
The transaction marks an exit for YFM Equity Partners (YFM) following a five-year partnership. Since YFM’s investment in 2018, DSP has grown revenues by 500% to £30m in its current financial year, and increased headcount to circa 200 people across the UK and Ireland.
LDC’s investment was led by Investment Director Chris Baker and Investment Manager James Garland. As part of the transaction, John Hawkins will continue as DSP’s Chairman and technology entrepreneur Graham Gilbert will join the board as Non-Executive Director.
Simon Goodenough, CEO at DSP, said: “From early on, LDC’s technology expertise and management-led approach were clear to see. They took the time to understand our business and our ambition for the future, drawing on their experience of helping technology businesses scale.”
“We’ve grown significantly in recent years, both organically and by bringing fantastic, complementary businesses into the DSP family, which has helped us broaden our customer offering and service capabilities. I’ve been fortunate to work with first-class leaders, both alongside me on the board and indeed throughout the whole company.
“We are now firmly established as the UK and Ireland’s leading Oracle services provider for Cloud, Database Technology and Applications. The LDC team has a strong track record in helping management teams of technology businesses to expand through acquisition, and this makes them the perfect partner to help us achieve our ambitions.”
He added: “As we move to a new investor it’s important to thank the team at YFM for the support they have given the business over the last five years. It’s been an incredible journey together involving some unexpected global conditions, but we always worked well together, and I couldn’t have asked for more from an investor.
“The financial growth, customer success and positive working culture that we have developed are all testament to this teamwork.”
Chris Baker, investment director at LDC, said: “DSP is an excellent business with a distinct people- first culture centred on delivering the best possible outcomes for customers. Oracle is the global leader in database technologies with exciting levels of innovation and adoption within its Cloud Platform and OCI products.
“DSP’s ability to help customers manage, optimise and modernise these technologies is really clear to see – and its reputation amongst its customers is a key reason for LDC wanting to partner with Simon and the team.
“As the UK’s leading Oracle Cloud managed services provider, DSP is uniquely positioned to further enhance its customer offering and scale globally. We are excited to support Simon and the team in delivering DSP’s next phase of growth”.
And Roshan Puri, investment director at YFM, said: “We’ve been very fortunate to have been able to partner with Simon and the DSP team on the amazing journey.
“The business has achieved significant growth since our original investment and we’ve enjoyed working with the team on strategic initiatives around talent, culture, go-to-market strategy and acquisitions.
“LDC will be a great partner to the business for the next stage of growth through international expansion and continued investment in people, customers and innovation.”
Banking facilities were provided by Ares and Clydesdale Bank.
DSP was advised by BDO M&A and Browne Jacobson, CIL and KPMG.
LDC was advised by Alantra, Altman Solon, Gateley, KPMG and RSM.
