Scaleup programmes
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LDC 2021
Finance and Risk Capital
Impact for scaleups
49
UK companies backed
82%
Investments outside of London
19
Growth-stage investments
Key sectors
LDC is the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group and has been an active investor in UK companies since 1981, during which time it has supported over 650 management teams and invested more than £5.5bn in mid-sized businesses.
It backs management teams from UK-based medium sized companies seeking up to £100m of investment to fund management buyouts or development capital transactions. Its initial investments are between £10m and £50m and it looks to invest £400m per annum. Its investment criteria are that a company must demonstrate minimum revenues of £5m with profits of £1m and a two-year profits history.
The firm invests solely in UK companies and has 12 locations in the UK. In the first half of 2021, for example, it invested in Bristol-based digital media group Hybrid, Southampton-based equestrian brand LeMieux and Rochdale-based Wireless CCTV, a supplier of surveillance solutions. Notable scaleups include Babble, Sohonet, Plimsoll Productions and Croud.
In the period between January 2014 to June 2021, it invested in 49 companies whose average turnover was £30.7m and average employee count was 231.
Portfolio companies are provided with sector-specific guidance, access to an executive network, and peer network opportunities with other portfolio companies. A value creation team of experts is available to help identify particular pressure points and new growth opportunities, supporting management teams with projects from sales effectiveness, to digital marketing, procurement and operations.
In addition, LDC’s “Backing Youth Ambition” partnership with The Prince’s Trust aims to support over 1,200 young entrepreneurs across the UK over the next three years. It publishes an annual list of the 50 most ambitious business leaders.
