The life and less ordinary times of LDC

In association with StartUp Britain, Mischcon de Reya and Baker Tilly, LDC is supporting a  master class aimed at helping companies looking for potential funding options. The full details are provided below:

Free legal master class for growing companies: raising money in difficult economic times

Essential tips to maximise your potential funding options

Content Essential tips to maximise your potential funding options
The master class will discuss the options, and how to improve your chances of success:

• Business Angel
• Venture Capital 
• MBO 
• Top tips from the inside – the venture capitalist’s perspective�
  • What works and what doesn’t
• 99% perspiration / 1% inspiration
  • Be prepared – due diligence is key
• Business plan/pitch documents�
  • Make or break…your chances of success 
  • Follow the money…

This session will be followed by a 30 minute Q&A.

Chaired by Andrew Rimmington, Partner, Corporate Department – Mishcon de Reya

Panellists:

• Duncan Cheatle, Co-Founder of StartUp Britain and Founder of the Supper Club
• Kevin McCarthy, Head of Private Equity – Mishcon de Reya
• Tim Farazmand, Managing Director – LDC
• Rowan Williams, Partner – Baker Tilly 

When: Wednesday 8 February 2012, 8.30am to 10.30am (breakfast from 8.30am)

Where: Mishcon de Reya, Summit House, 12 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4QD

To secure your place at this event, click here

Directions to Mishcon de Reya

Add this event to your calendar

How can I attract an investment Partner? By Yann Souillard, Managing Director LDC South.

In today’s uncertain economy, many businesses in search of strategic advice, operational guidance and funding are turning to private equity specialists to allow them to capitalise on the growth opportunities. So how can companies like these attract a potential investor?

For a relationship-focused backer like LDC the starting point will always be the ambitions and quality of the management team. Understanding the motivations of the management team is one of the most important factors in our investment decision. A business with an experienced management team with the right mix of strategic and operational strengths will naturally be in a position to thrive with the support of the right private equity backer. 

Also when considering whether to back a company, the first operational area a private equity house will review is its financials – the fundamentals of any firm. Investors will want to see evidence of good financial management, sustainable growth, as well as a defensible forward business plan. 

It is therefore crucial to present a strategy based on realistic projections with strong visibility of earnings, to allow investors to appraise your organisation’s expansion potential.

Other key factors that will increase your attractiveness include demonstrating a strong understanding of the main structural trends in your marketplace, highlighting key service differentiators that will help you outperform your competitors, and how your business strategy is aligned with your customers’ needs. 

Private equity backers typically look for businesses with the potential to deliver upper-quartile returns, so firms that are scalable have a valuable proposition, particularly those with products and services that have sustainable international demand. LDC’s own overseas presence offers significant benefits for companies looking to develop strategic partnerships and cross-border trading opportunities. 

Ultimately though, a decision often comes down to chemistry and whether both parties feel they are the right fit to work closely together to take the company to the next stage of its growth.

Last week LDC, in conjunction with CBBC, held a seminar on the practicalities of expanding business into China.

This event was hosted by LDC at our Vine Street offices and our guests, MDs and CEOs from Mid Market businesses, heard from a number of contributors about the financial, tax and legal implications of making this move.

Whilst a full report can be found in the attached document both LDC and CBBC would like to thank the speakers at this event, Nick Emmerson and Sharon Shi from Eversheds, Maria Carradice and Craig Wilkinson from LDC, Steve Roberts-Mee from UK Export Finance, and Duncan Levesley, Senior Manager at CBBC.

A list of speakers and their biographies can also be found here.

For more information about LDC’s operation in Asia please contact Craig Wilkinson by email at cwilkinson@ldc.co.uk

LDC’s South Region encompassing the Reading and Bristol offices has been a key part of LDC’s regional footprint for over 13 years, and in that time, has played a key role in developing LDC’s investment track record. The team have also had a busy 2011 with new investment activity surpassing £50million with investments in eConveyancer, A-Gas and EDM Group as well as committing a further £50million into the oil and gas sector investor Epi-V. They have also recently exited Airclaims, Ascend and Davies Group in which these companies achieved transformational growth throughout LDC’s investment.

This year’s Southerly Forecast publication, the seventh edition, focuses upon growth of businesses in any economic climate with case studies about LDC’s recent investments, exits and portfolio companies including Ascend, Airclaims, Leasedrive, EDM Group and Quantel. The publication also features an insightful interview on delivering growth with Ruby McGregor-Smith, CEO of the FTSE 250 Bristol-based company Mitie Group. It also reviews some of the technologies that are driving growth in the media sector..(ever heard of an Xbox or YouTube?) with Peel Hunt’s Patrick Yau, an area of focus for LDC.

A full copy of the newsletter can be downloaded here: Southerly Forecast-Winter 2011.

LDC has teamed up with the China Britain Business Council (‘CBBC’) to run a practical seminar for those businesses looking to trade in China.

This seminar has called upon the strength of CBBC, the overseas legal expertise from Eversheds, and LDC’s in-house team to create a forum which will provide interested businesses with a host of information on finance, tax and legal issues of expanding trade into China.  

CBBC’s history dates back to the early 1950s when British companies were among the first to trade with communist China. From this time to the present day the team has maintained a number of strong relationships in the region that has enabled British companies to take advantage of a new market.

British companies are increasingly aware of the huge business opportunities that China offers. A rapidly growing economy, increasing consumption and burgeoning wealth is creating demand for the full range of goods and services that the UK produces. However, taking advantage of these opportunities takes significant amounts of knowledge and resources. In a market where the opportunities are vast, but turning a profit can take time, money and commitment, finding the necessary expertise and resources for success can be one of the biggest challenges to business

Designed for business leaders, you will hear from seasoned experts on the practical solutions and potential pitfalls of expanding your business into China. Take a look at the attached brochure for more details and how to get involved.

If you would like more information about LDC’s activity in Asia take a look at www.ldc.co.uk/hongkong or read this article: http://www.ldclessordinary.com/adding-value/focus-on-asia