News
Dual Director appointment strengthens LDC Manchester team
30 Apr 2019
LDC, the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investor, has strengthened its team in Manchester with two senior hires.
The appointments of Dale Alderson and Aziz Ul-Haq as Directors creates a nine-strong team in Manchester and underpins firm’s pledge to invest £200million in businesses across the North of the UK over the next 12 months.
Dale joins the team as a Director and makes the move from LDC in Yorkshire, where he held the position of Investment Director. He has worked at LDC since 2012 and has played an integral role on a number of LDC’s most successful investment partnerships. This includes LDC’s successful partnership with global games developer and publisher Team17, helping the management team to acquire a complementary development studio and then list on London’s AIM market in 2018. Before joining LDC, Dale spent more than 10 years in professional services with Deloitte and EY.
Aziz Ul-Haq joins as Director from Deloitte, where he was partner in the firm’s M&A advisory team. With more than 20 years’ experience in corporate finance and private equity, he specialised in preparing businesses for investment and supporting buy-and-build activity, and advised businesses across a range of sectors including support services, travel and energy. Aziz brings extensive international experience having led Deloitte’s M&A team in the Middle East for three years and more recently worked with its US firm across different client and investor groups. In his new role, Aziz will work closely with the team in Manchester to identify opportunities to expand LDC’s portfolio in the North West and support the growth ambitions of management teams across the region.
The appointments follow a successful 12 months for LDC in the North West, which saw the team invest more than £25million to support business energy comparison service Love Energy Savings and help to grow North West businesses both locally and internationally through six bolt-on acquisitions across its portfolio. It also completed the sale of Seabrook, the iconic crisp brand, to leading snack brand Calbee UK following a three-year partnership that saw LDC help Seabrook invest in its manufacturing infrastructure, launch a series of new products and expand internationally.
Most recently, it exited its partnership with procurement specialist Inprova, following a successful buy-and-build programme that enabled the firm to acquire five complementary businesses, establishing itself as a leading energy procurement consultancy.
The North West is home to some of the UK’s most dynamic and ambitious organisations, and we’re pleased to welcome Aziz and Dale to the team as we work with businesses across the region to help them expand and drive growth."
“Their proven expertise in supporting management teams will be key to driving value within our portfolio and in future deals, and will further strengthen our origination and buy-and-build operations in Manchester.”
Dale Alderson, Director at LDC, said: “Our team in Manchester has a strong track record for establishing partnerships that drive growth and value, and I’m looking forward to working closely with the team as we further strengthen our relationships with management teams across the North West.”
Aziz Ul-Haq, Director at LDC, added: “LDC’s portfolio in the North West is recognised as one of the most diverse and dynamic groups of private equity-backed businesses in the region, making this an exciting time to be joining the team in Manchester. I’m looking forward to building relationships with the team’s existing portfolio, as well as new management teams to help them realise the full potential of their business.”
LDC’s North West team has invested more than £725million since its inception in 2000, and its investment portfolio remains one of the largest groups of private equity-backed businesses in the region, spanning multiple sectors including energy, technology, healthcare and leisure.