LDC pipeline in the North East “looks promising”

As featured in Insider.

LDC is starting to see deal flow in 2026, and its pipeline is “looking interesting”, according to a partner at the firm and its head of the North East and Scotland. 

Gareth Marshall explained that, in the North East, business confidence is “showing signs of returning, and we’re seeing that translate into stronger deal flow across the region”.

“The North East’s fundamental strengths remain. For example, Newcastle’s connectivity and infrastructure enable businesses to scale nationally, while Durham’s growing technology and knowledge-based economy benefits from the university’s research capabilities and talent pipeline.”

Sector wise, the investor expects to see high demand for businesses in healthcare, software and technology-enabled services “as has been the case over recent years”. These, he believes, have “proven resilient and offer clear pathways to scale”.

The region’s “close-knit” business community, and network of adverts, is what sets it apart, Marshall said. “That ecosystem consistently generates quality investment opportunities.”

When it comes to key trends, Marshall said that buy-and-build is a “consistent theme”

“Whether businesses are looking to consolidate market share, expand geographically or broaden their capabilities, acquisitions alongside organic growth remain a proven route to scale.

“We’ve seen this firsthand with Lomond Group and Aspire Technology Solutions. Supporting businesses through multiple acquisitions requires specific expertise and experience – it’s not just about providing capital, it’s about helping management teams identify the right targets, execute transactions effectively and integrate successfully. I expect this to remain a key area of focus across our portfolio.”

There is also strong demand for development capital, the partner said. He added: “These are typically founder-led companies with proven business models who want a partner to help them scale without taking all the financial risk themselves.

“For LDC in the North East, 2026 is about maintaining momentum. We’ll continue backing ambitious management teams across all sectors and supporting our portfolio companies through their next phases of growth.”