Investor Livingbridge celebrates seven Northern deals totalling £300m

Mid-market private equity firm Livingbridge completed seven Northern deals in 2017.

Last year saw the company invest £300m across the North in sectors such as ecommerce, technology and law.

Among the transactions was a deal with online fashion e-tailer In The Style and another with AI software provider Mobysoft, both based in Manchester.

Also backed was Superbike Factory, a Macclesfield-headquartered motorcycle finance broker and supplier of used motorcycles; and Cumbria-based special educational needs care business Witherslack Group.

In Yorkshire, Livingbridge completed deals with Harrogate law firm Stowe Family Law and Hull firm Giacom, a cloud services marketplace for SMEs.

Livingbridge added to its Northern headcount in 2017 with the appointment of investment managers Charlie Ross and Matthew Jacobs, both part of the Manchester team.

Pete Clarke, from the investment team at Livingbridge, said: “2017 was another successful year for our Northern team, working alongside extremely talented management teams and completing some exciting investments.

“We have always recognised that the North is a crucial area of focus for an investor looking to back fast-growth entrepreneurial businesses.”

He continued: “Our ever-expanding pipeline of deals is a testament to the brilliant work and passion of the corporate finance community in the region, as well as the innovative management teams.

“We are really positive about prospects in 2018 and look forward to supporting more ambitious businesses across the North this year.”

Livingbridge is looking to invest around £250m nationally in 2018, with both new deals and acquisitions across its portfolio of 41 companies on the cards.