LAVA is delighted to have delivered the acquisition of L’Ecole des Petits and L’Ecole de Battersea bilingual schools by Globeducate, a leading K-12 worldwide education group with the reach and dedication to secure the legacy of this highly successful, family run pair of primary and pre-primary schools.
LAVA was engaged by Nick and Mirella Otten to provide a combination of specialist education sector expertise, and a genuine commitment to finding exactly the right outcome for a business so close to the hearts of its founders.
Founded in 1977 by Mme Otten (Officier des Palmes Academiques) on her arrival in the UK, L’Ecole des Petits and L’Ecole de Battersea combine the best elements of the French and English education systems into a holistic, family led environment with excellent results. From an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating to AEFE recognition as an ‘Ecole Partenaire’ with glowing reviews from parents and pupils alike, LAVA could wholeheartedly get behind maximising the deal value of this wonderful business.
L'Ecole des Petits international schools combine the best of the French and UK education systems for happy, thriving pupils
The unique positioning of L’Ecole as a specialised bilingual educator with an international flavour and impressive track record, as well as a highly promising level of growth potential for the sector, meant we were able to have compelling conversations with carefully selected parties. However, our experience quickly confirmed that Globeducate would be the perfect solution due to their ability to unlock financial potential without compromising on educational ideals and outcomes for pupils and staff.
Not only do Les Ecoles have an exceptional educational history, but responses from parents and staff quickly confirmed the significant potential for expanding their footprint into secondary education, allowing pupils to continue their learning in the environment they are comfortable in, making life easier for their parents, and ensuring a solid financial plan for future growth.
The LAVA approach ensures no two deals are the same but are treated as the unique propositions they are. It was through stringent research and a dedicated deal team, on-hand throughout the process, that we were able to pull together a strong data book that answered key financial and commercial questions any prospective buyer might have. Combined with our specialist storytelling expertise, we were able to demonstrate the clear strengths of this business to a prestigious buyer audience.
The key thing for us was finding the right buyer to protect the future of the school while giving it access to a premium global educational network and financial strength. LAVA’s multifaceted skillset meant they took the time to truly understand what matters to us, our parents and pupils, and managed the entire process to deliver a deal we couldn’t be happier with.
Nick Otten Founder, L'Ecole des Petits
Far from the one-size-fits-all approach people often expect from the M&A industry, LAVA prides itself on crafting and delivering only the deal that works best for all parties, a philosophy that makes us the go-to advisor for founders looking to protect their legacy and ensure a smooth transition for their team.
From the moment I first spoke with the proprietors and visited the premises I knew that this would be an exceptional opportunity to preserve the legacy of these schools by sourcing a worthy educationalist, as we have been able to do with Globeducate.
Simon Woodcock Founder, LAVA
We were delighted to put both our educational and technical expertise to work for the benefit of such a brilliant, unique institution and secure its future with a powerful and supportive partner like Globeducate.
Rob Telkman Associate Director, LAVA
We have no doubt the school will continue to go from strength to strength, embracing the opportunities Globeducate brings, while allowing the founders to protect their legacy and the pupils to continue to thrive.
Loic Bourdonnec Associate Director, LAVA
If you’re looking to buy, sell, raise funds, or simply need some advice on your future plans, drop our lovely team a line.
