GRVTY Media acquired by Towerhill, raises funding to boost growth

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Singapore-based media company GRVTY Media declared now (July 29) that Towerhill — the investment decision motor vehicle of Kiat Lim, who is the son of billionaire Peter Lim — has obtained a greater part stake of the corporation for an undisclosed quantity.

Portion of the deal is a funds injection, which will be employed to gasoline the company’s development.

Started in April 2017, GRVTY Media is a creative company and digital media group that properties Vulcan Put up, VP Label, Millennials of Singapore, and The Day by day Ketchup. GRVTY Media also has a regional place of work at Malaysia which houses Vulcan Submit Malaysia and Explore KL.

It was previous valued at S$3.6 million in July 2017 — just 3 months following its inception — in which it lifted S$1 million from Spout Leisure Group (its shares had been afterwards transferred to REAPRA).

What led to the acquisition?

Jacky Yap, co-founder of GRVTY Media, informed Vulcan Publish that via 1 of his several projects, Kiat acquired acquainted with the corporation and experienced a opportunity to improved recognize its media and company abilities.

This opened the door to quite a few other “synergistic” small business prospects. Especially, Kiat sought GRVTY’s assistance in the different corporations he is involved in, such as Thomson Health-related Team, NFT local community ARC, and digital football platform zujuGP. 

zujuGP Insider Talks with Red Devils
Behind-the-scenes of a livestream shoot for zujuGP Insider Talks with Purple Devils, featuring previous Manchester United players / Impression Credit rating: GRVTY Media

As company relations and billings grew, Kiat initiated the discussion on a probable acquisition.

“Our original reaction was, ‘let’s just see exactly where this goes’. We have acquired a range of other acquisition provides, but this one feels a lot more authentic because of our existing relationship and friendship. The whole matter wrapped up really promptly – in just two months, they verified their broad final decision to obtain and then we started out performing through the figures,” shared Johnathan Chua, co-founder of GRVTY. 

When requested why earlier acquisition gives did not go by way of, he cited two crucial good reasons: there have been no strategic added benefits for GRVTY, and they experienced gained “lowball” offers. 

For this distinct acquisition offer, the founders manufactured it quite clear that the explanation they approved the present is simply because they can see that it will enable them “take superior care” of their personnel, which features much better salaries, and bringing in additional senior hires who can lead their prosperity of expertise.

We see a good deal of strategic value in the acquisition for different good reasons. Kiat is obviously effectively-related, enabling us entry to new enterprise prospects. With the extra funding, it lets us to scale quicker in spite of a probable looming economic downturn. I individually appear up to Kiat and he thinks in our business. Even just before the acquisition, we’ve experienced several conversations at length as to how Jacky and I can even further mature GRVTY Media, and now, I’m glad we’re going to increase it jointly.

– Johnathan Chua, co-founder of GRVTY Media

Separately, Kiat explained to Vulcan Article that he has witnessed GRVTY’s regular and significant calibre of get the job done high quality and competence through their operating romance. 

“Having labored with John, Jacky, Sarah and the crew above the study course of the previous 12 months, their perform ethics strongly resonated with me. I am proud to have them, the skills they have nurtured, and the manufacturers they’ve crafted to be a aspect of our ecosystem and I seem forward to having the GRVTY brand to the future level,” expressed Kiat.

​​It’s time to get “aggressive” with their enlargement options

Jacky Yap and Johnathan Chua, co-founders of GRVTY Media
(L-R): Jacky Yap and Johnathan Chua, co-founders of GRVTY Media / Image Credit rating: GRVTY Media

According to the founders, GRVTY Media relished a solid begin — it was rewarding from the initial month, and they realized near to S$2 million in earnings in their 1st year as companions back again in 2017.

Nevertheless, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Jacky shared that GRVTY’s progress slowed down as businesses tightened their marketing and advertising budgets. Irrespective, they counted them selves lucky to survive this hard interval unscathed.

While consumers did scale back again on spending, they did not reduce any significant accounts. 

“We did not lose dollars and much more importantly, we did not drop any individual due to price range cuts. We even squeezed out a small bonus for our colleagues during the pandemic,” reported Johnathan. 

In fact, GRVTY has bounced again more powerful than at any time this calendar year, as purchasers return with even larger budgets. 

“This calendar year is also essential for us as we were being awarded tenders for both of those Whole of Federal government (WOG) imaginative services and media shopping for. It’s a massive milestone, and we purpose to scale our group accordingly to superior service our clientele,” explained Jacky. 

He extra that while they have the skill to obtain and ramp up profits, it is the payment cycle that is keeping them again. 

Thanks to the nature of the company small business, when we near a deal, we get the job done on the campaign for a few to twelve months, and then we have to hold out a further three to 6 months for the payment to appear in. Even though the business is fiscally balanced and lucrative, we have large receivables so cashflow was an situation.

Now that we have this latest injection of funds, we are a lot more assured to scale the company — to employ far more, and do more. We took this investment so we can have place to breathe and be somewhat far more intense [with our expansion plans].

– Jacky Yap, co-founder of GRVTY Media.

For the Malaysia office which is helmed by Sarah Enxhi and her workforce, the corporation has also been rewarding and have been getting potent support from models and advertisers.

During the two many years of movement handle orders, GRVTY Media Malaysia has been ready to increase our income, keep our talents, give out bonuses and increments. This is many thanks to our Vulcan Article crew here in Malaysia who’s put in the operate collectively to assistance GRVTY thrive, and lots of supportive purchasers. I’m seeking forward to far more extra development and much more tips occur to lifestyle with Jacky, John and Kiat.

– Sarah Enxhi, co-founder of GRVTY Media Malaysia.

What’s following for GRVTY?

kiat lim arc
Serial entrepreneur and trader Kiat Lim / Graphic Credit: ARC

While Kiat owns the the greater part stake in the organization, the two founders are nevertheless really a lot in regulate of the enterprise and all the things will continue being the exact same operationally. 

The only mandate is that we grow the organization and it has to be profitable, but that’s a objective we presently share. … It is very critical for us to be a sustainable organization so we really don’t have to hold on raising resources that’s just nerve-racking. [This acquisition] is absolutely not an endgame for us, consequently why the two founders are being on.

We just want to expand as much as probable — we want to increase our income, hold our workers satisfied, retain crucial abilities, and bring in extra top skills.

– Jacky Yap, co-founder of GRVTY Media

Going ahead, the corporation is searching to scale its teams and capabilities in its three small business divisions: media, company, and progress hacking.

“With the funding, we also goal to double our present headcount of 36 by following 12 months,” said Johnathan, including that he individually sights GRVTY to be at ‘Phase 3’ of its expansion phase. 

“We are still a quite younger enterprise, and we still have a ton to discover and a lot of home to expand. As the business matures, a bulk of the fund will be channeled into talent acquisition. We’re on the lookout to retain the services of individuals we (the founders) and the relaxation of our staff can discover from,” he summed up.

Highlighted Impression Credit rating: GRVTY Media



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