UK mid-market private equity firm LDC has launched in the Benelux market. The firm has announced the appointment of Ronald Verhoef as director of its Netherlands operation.
The news follows the opening of a Hong Kong office earlier this year as the formerly UK-focused buyout group becomes an international concern. In January, it revealed that Craig Wilkinson, previously an investment director at LDC Leeds, had been made managing director of its Hong Kong office.
LDC is owned by Lloyds Banking Group. Since the UK government took a 43% stake in the bank, questions had been asked about the future of LDC which invests from the bank’s balance sheet.
However, the captive firm, historically one of the most prolific buyout firms in the UK, says it is sticking to its strategy and aims to invest £250m of new equity in 2009 in the UK and its two new investment regions. Typically it invests between £2m and £100m of equity per deal.
Verhoef was previously chief financial officer at privately-owned investor Reggeborgh Group, where he focused on mid-market investments in the energy sector.
Kevan Leggett, managing director of LDC, said: “Ronald’s appointment is further evidence of our commitment to continue growing LDC’s presence both in the UK and abroad.
“Much of our success has been based on the ability to draw on local understanding and contacts to deliver a management-focused approach to investment.”
Source: Thomson Merger News