News
LDC welcomes new Investment Director in Yorkshire
3 Dec 2019
LDC, the leading mid-market private equity investor, has bolstered its team in Yorkshire with the appointment of Leigh Daveran as an Investment Director.
Leigh will work closely with LDC’s Head of Yorkshire and the North East John Garner and the LDC team to drive new investment opportunities across the region’s growing community of medium-sized businesses. Leigh will also have responsibility for supporting the management teams of LDC’s portfolio businesses across the region.
Prior to joining LDC, Leigh spent eight years as CFO of private equity backed building product manufacturer Synseal Extrusions. During his tenure he led an acquisitive growth strategy that brought seven complementary businesses into the group, growing the business to £140million turnover.
Leigh trained as a chartered accountant and then spent four years in due diligence at EY before moving into an M&A advisory role at Catalyst Corporate Finance (now part of global investment banking and asset management firm, Alantra). He worked on buy and sell-side transactions across a range of sectors, including consumer products, healthcare, business services, logistics, building products, construction and industrial manufacturing.
Leigh’s considerable M&A and board level experience makes him a perfect addition to our team in the Yorkshire region. I’m confident he’ll play an integral role in our efforts to support the management teams of leading local mid-market businesses.”
Leigh Daveran, LDC Investment Director, added: “It’s an exciting time to be joining LDC. The firm has an exceptional reputation in Yorkshire and the North East, with a portfolio and track record for value creation to match. I’m looking forward to working with John and the team to identify and partner with vibrant business leaders across the region, helping them to realise their growth ambitions.”
Leigh’s addition to the team follows a successful period for LDC in Yorkshire and the North East, which has seen the team invest in two new deals in 2019. Last year, the team supported leading video games publisher Team17 list on AIM and helped in selling Yorkshire crisp business, Seabrook, to Calbee UK. The team is currently backing leading Yorkshire property agent Linley & Simpson to embark on an ambitious buy and build strategy, helping its management team bring nine complementary businesses into the group since June last year. In November, it expanded into Humberside for the first time after acquiring the lettings arm of Beercocks in Hull.
To date, LDC has invested over £600million in Yorkshire and North East businesses to help management teams realise their growth strategies. The firm, which is part of Lloyds Banking Group, has pledged to invest £1.2billion nationally over the next three years as part of its commitment to supporting Britain’s small and mid-sized firms.