29 PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM


OF THE YEAR AWARD


SPONSORED BY HMT LLP WINNER LDC


Above: Kimberley Carr of LDC Right: The LDC team collect the Award


As the gathered professional dealmakers settled to hear details of the first award of the evening, Andrew Thomson, managing partner of Henley-based independent practice HMT LLP, was invited to the main stage to announce the category winner on behalf of the sponsors.


There were four shortlisted finalists for the title PE Firm of the Year: Bowmark Capital, LDC, Mobeus Equity Partners and NVM Private Equity.


Bowmark backed the management buyout (MBO) of leading property services business, the Romans Group, at a valuation in excess of £50 million. Bowmark is also providing significant additional capital to support the rollout of new offices and future acquisitions.


LDC had enjoyed a record year in terms of both investments and profits. In 2013, with local advisory assistance, the office committed £100m of equity investment supporting four new investment platforms, alongside two bolt-on acquisitions for existing investee companies. Exits from Leasedrive and JCC generated profits of more than £70m.


Mobeus Equity Partners, which specialises in the lower mid-market, backed the £11m MBO of Veritek Global, and was also a funder of the MBO of Virgin Wines out of Reading-based Direct Wines


Last year’s winner of the PE Firm of the THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2014


Year title, Reading-based NVM Private Equity, once again put in a top-class performance, backing the £5.5m MBO of Kirton Healthcare Group, the leading UK manufacturer and supplier of specialist seating and other products for the elderly and disabled.


The names of the individual contenders were screened for the eager audience, background music reached a crescendo, then died as Andrew Thomson revealed the first of the evening’s secrets – LDC had won.


One key 2013 involvement for LDC was its investment to support the £17.8m MBO of Guardian Media Group Property Services, now rebranded as The Property Software Group, the UK’s leading provider of software services to estate agents. Strong support from the Thames Valley advisory market helped secure the deal, which was complicated by a wide auction process.


With client nominations running into double figures, LDC had gained many plaudits for its strong financial support. “We have enjoyed a close working partnership with LDC for the past five years, during which time they have been a very supportive and engaging partner,” said the MD of one Thames Valley company.


Another CEO commented: “LDC’s support will allow us to further strengthen our market leading position, to invest for


www.businessmag.co.uk


future growth organically and through acquisitions, as well as continuing to provide high quality service for all our customers.”


After collecting the award trophy with his LDC colleagues, Yann Souillard, MD of the Reading office, commented: “It’s fantastic to win this. It’s great for the team. They have worked very hard over the past 12 months and it’s good to see that effort rewarded. It’s also good for the community (corporate finance), not to worry about what the press says about how horrible life is, and just to get out there, back good businesses and good management teams, get deals done, and have fun doing it.”


And Souillard’s explanation for LDC’s success? “There are a lot of clever people in the world, but actually, in my view, it’s all about effort and belief. It’s all about keeping at it. This year, I guess we just redoubled our effort. It’s not rocket science; just work hard and believe.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60