Vista Technology Support (formerly Vista Retail Support) specialises in providing technology deployment and on-going support in fast-paced physical trading environments including retail, hospitality, healthcare, leisure and entertainment.

Established in 1995, the Cardiff-based firm provides EPoS, Retail and Hospitality IT Support to over 120 businesses in 31 countries, including household brands such as McDonalds, Wagamama, Costa Coffee, Coop and Spar. Vista offers a unique proposition as all of its services are delivered by its own employees based in the UK and Ireland, providing comprehensive Managed IT services support, all under one roof.

Funding growth

Vista chose to partner with LDC in October 2017 to help accelerate its growth strategy and fund new acquisitions.

The deal enabled the firm’s existing backers WestBridge Capital and Octopus Investments to exit their investment.

LDC took a significant stake in the business, while the management team increased its shareholding and continued to drive the business forward.

Expanding opportunities

With its total market opportunity growing due to the increase in technology in retail estates, the partnership with LDC is supporting Vista’s ongoing growth strategy, both at home and abroad. This includes funding for potential acquisitions and helping the business expand into new sectors.

In July 2024, Vista announced the acquisition of Store Computer Technology (SCT), which further expanded the company’s retail and hospitality support capabilities in Ireland and Europe.

Since the acquisition, the SCT business has gone from strength to strength experiencing a 23% growth in revenue. The wider Vista Technology Support group has also experienced a 30% increase in annuity-based revenues which successfully transition to the business throughout 2025.

In July 2025, Vista unveiled its ground-breaking new training facility, the McTraining Centre, a fully operational replica that mirrors the technology and layout of a real McDonald’s restaurant and enables engineers to train in a realistic, hands-on setting.

CitySprint is the UK’s premier same day delivery company. 

CitySprint supports businesses across the UK with a range of delivery solutions, including same day, bespoke logistics design and specialist services for key sectors such as retail and healthcare.

Its unique national same day delivery network comprises 30+ service centres across the UK with geographical reach to over 88% of the mainland population within 60 minutes.

Backing an acquisitive growth strategy

In 2016, LDC backed the secondary buyout of CitySprint.

Our support helped the business to further develop its market-leading delivery services and to build scale through acquisitions.

During our partnership, CitySprint completed multiple acquisitions including The Courier Co-operative in Birmingham, ASAP International and Peps Couriers, both located in London and Sterling Services’ same day courier division based in Leeds.

In January 2022, CitySprint was acquired by DPD UK, part of DPDGroup, Europe’s largest parcel delivery network.

Centiq is a leading IT services and software provider. The business specialises in the design, configuration and implementation of SAP services.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Nottingham, Centiq provides comprehensive SAP-related professional and managed services and solutions throughout Europe. The business also offers its proprietary software, Monitiq, to manage and monitor customers’ IT infrastructures.

Proprietary development

In August 2015 Centiq chose to partner with LDC in order to fund and support its organic growth plan.

Following a six year partnership, in September 2021, LDC exited its investment in Centiq to SoftwareONE, a global provider of end-to-end software and cloud technology solutions.

Established in 1973, Express Engineering has an international reputation for unrivalled product quality, service and best-in-class processes.

The business, based in Gateshead at a 100,000 sq.ft facility, provides precision manufacturing solutions to customers in the oils & gas, aerospace, defence, marine and power generation sectors.

Support for international expansion

Express Engineering’s management team, including Chris Thompson, secured support for its international expansion strategy from LDC in October 2013. LDC’s capital injection is enabling the business to drive growth in new markets and increase capacity.

In 2021 Express Engineering made the Sunday Times International Track 200. The list, published annually, recognises Britain’s mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing overseas sales.

Investing for growth

LDC supported the business to open a new £3.5m 48,000 sq.ft purpose-built centre in the Team Valley in April 2021 as it continues developing in global markets.

Express Engineering Chairman Chris Thompson said: “The new centre positions us strongly for further expansion and success as we look forward to providing customers with the most competitive, high quality subsea products.”

Angus Fire is a global leader in firefighting technology, developing quality, high-performance products. The group designs and manufactures fire hoses, industrial hoses, foam concentrates and engineered firefighting systems.

With customers in more than 100 countries, Angus Fire’s high spec and often mission-critical products are supplied into the oil & gas, aerospace, firefighting, military, port and utilities sectors.

Investing for growth

In June 2013, the management team completed a management buyout backed by LDC.

We were chosen based on our experience in organic growth through business improvement, and the business is using the investment to increase capacity and drive operational improvement.