The league table, which ranks UK private-equity backed companies with the fastest-growing profits (ebitda), shows LDC has the highest number of portfolio companies than any other private equity house for the second consecutive year.

Portfolio companies featured include BigHand (11^th), the dictation software developer, and A-Gas International (56^th), the global blender and distributor of speciality gases and chemicals. In total LDC current or recent exited businesses comprise over 10% of the businesses represented.

LDC said the league table – now in its sixth year - demonstrated the importance of private equity investment to UK economic growth, with the 100 companies featured responsible for a total of 22,731 new jobs over their latest two-year period. 

Last year, LDC invested over £300m in 17 new companies, as well as providing additional funding to existing portfolio companies. This follows its £240m of investment into 11 new companies during 2010. 

Darryl Eales, CEO of LDC, said: “This is an outstanding achievement by the management teams of all those companies featured and we congratulate them on their success. 

“At LDC, we’re proud of our commitment to backing British small and medium sized companies throughout the economic cycle and supporting their continued growth. Identifying quality UK businesses and backing ambitious management teams remains the cornerstone of our investment philosophy.” 

ENDS

Issued on behalf of LDC by Citypress.

Press information: 

Martin Currie                                        

Citypress                                             

T. 0161 235 0310                                 

M. 07976 291532                                 

E. martin.currie@citypress.co.uk