News
LDC backs Mandata to drive growth in £20m deal
1 May 2018
LDC, the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investor, has backed the secondary buyout of Mandata, a market-leading developer of transport management software, in a £20m deal that will accelerate organic growth.
The deal also represents an exit for Synova Capital.
Headquartered in Northumberland, Mandata designs and develops software that allows road transport operators to manage workflow and data more effectively. Its transport management system integrates a suite of end-to-end products, including traffic planning and management, tracking, telematics, and invoicing. Used by hauliers across the UK, Mandata helps customers to improve productivity, deliver efficiency savings, and improve real-time visibility of their operations.
Recent innovations have extended functionality into mobile technology platforms including electronic proof of delivery, and a completely new cloud transport management system which is available to smaller hauliers, who can also benefit from the wider technology suite through TMS Go!
Under the leadership of CEO Mark Norcliffe, Mandata has grown rapidly. Today it supports many of the UK’s haulage businesses including 30% of Motor Transport’s top 100 operators, actively managing over 10,000 vehicles, and employs 60 people at its offices in Cramlington and Leeds.
With LDC’s support, Mark and his team will embark on the next stage of their ambitious growth strategy, underpinned by continued investment in product and proposition development, and further investment in its market-leading team.
Businesses across the transport and logistics sector are continually looking for new ways to reduce costs, drive efficiencies and improve productivity. By developing innovative software solutions, we’re helping to streamline activity and deliver results that have a tangible impact on our customers’ bottom line."
“We’ve made significant progress in recent years and are now at a key point in our growth journey. We’re an ambitious business and by partnering with LDC we not only have the financial support to help us turbocharge growth, but a strategic partner that brings a track record of supporting high-growth technology businesses, has an on-the-ground presence in the North and an in-depth knowledge of our sector.”
The transaction was led by investment directors Ben Snow and Gareth Marshall, and director John Garner at LDC in Leeds. Ben will join the board as non-executive director.
Ben noted: “Hauliers and logistics businesses want data at their fingertips. By investing in its product offering, Mandata is helping its customers to harness their data, make the shift from paper-based to online operations and ultimately operate more efficiently. The business has gone from strength to strength under Mark’s leadership and as market demand increases there is huge potential for further growth.
“For us, Mandata has the three key ingredients we look for in any business. It has a fantastic product and proposition, an ambitious and highly-skilled management team and a clear growth strategy.”
John Garner added: “Mandata is a brilliant example of the innovative businesses we have here in the North East and we’re looking forward to supporting the team on its next phase of growth.”
LDC has been operating in the region since 1989 and since then it has delivered some of the firm’s most exciting deals. This includes a multi-million-pound investment in specialist engineering consultancy Patrick Parsons in September 2017, a deal which saw LDC support the UK expansion of the Newcastle-headquartered firm.
LDC was advised by KPMG (corporate finance and transaction services) and Muckle LLP (legal).
Mandata was advised by Clearwater International (corporate finance) and Pinsent Masons (legal).
Debt funding was provided by Santander.