LDC expands Yorkshire dealmaking team with new investment director

Joining from Bank of Scotland, Tony’s role at LDC will see him work with the four-strong deal team which invests in businesses with ambitious management teams and significant growth prospects.

Tony is a qualified chartered accountant who won Yorkshire Business Insider’s ‘Young Private Equity Provider of the Year’ award in 2006 and was nominated for ‘Young Dealmaker of the Year’ in both 2006 and 2007.

Tony will now play a key role in LDC’s strategy to invest £250 million in 2009. So far this year it has completed 11 deals and committed over £115 million in new equity.

In February 2009 the Yorkshire team invested £14 million in Quantum Specials, one of the UK’s largest suppliers of tailor-made medicines to the pharmaceuticals industry.

Although the business is based in the North East, the deal was entirely advised and funded by Yorkshire’s corporate finance community.

In March this year LDC also completed the £17 million buyout of Driffield-based Cranswick Pet & Aquatics from Cranswick plc.

John Swarbrick, senior director of LDC Yorkshire, said: “LDC has the strongest regional network of any private equity house and Tony’s appointment reiterates our commitment to continuing to grow our presence in Yorkshire.

“Tony has extensive transaction experience across a number of sectors and has a proven track record of backing high quality businesses in the region.

“He will be a valuable addition to LDC and ensure we continue to be one of the most active and successful investors in the region.”

Commenting on his appointment, Tony said: “LDC is the market leading provider of private equity to the mid-market both locally and nationally and I am absolutely delighted to be joining the team in Leeds.

“Yorkshire has a strong base of well-run and successful companies and I am looking forward to working with the team and local corporate finance community to continue to identify and back new investment opportunities in the region.”