LDC, the private equity investor which is part of Lloyds Banking Group, has appointed Vera Kuehne as an Investment Manager and Sally Tam as an Investment Executive to increase its support of businesses in Wales and the South West of England.

Vera brings six years’ experience in private equity and investment banking. Most recently, she was a Senior Associate at CPP Investments, where she worked on all stages of the transaction process, from deal origination to post-acquisition value creation.

Sally joins LDC from PwC in Bristol, where she was an M&A Manager and played a key role advising on transactions in the UK and overseas.

In their new roles, Vera and Sally will support the team with originating, executing and managing portfolio investments.

The firm’s now six-strong team of investors in Wales and the South West, led by Partner Dewi Hughes, works from its Cardiff and Bristol offices to support businesses across the region.

Dewi Hughes, Partner and Head of LDC in the South West and Wales, said: “Wales is home to so many innovative and fast-growth businesses. We’re pleased to welcome Vera and Sally to the team to help boost our support for them, as we continue to focus on meeting and backing the entrepreneurs and business leaders that make the nation so vibrant.”

Vera Kuehne, Investment Manager at LDC, added: “LDC stands out as one of the leading supporters of medium-sized businesses across Wales and the South West of England. I’m looking forward to working with the team and its network of advisers to help local management teams to grow their businesses.”

Sally Tam, Investment Executive at LDC, said: “I’m relishing the prospect of helping the team build on its recent successes, and supporting ambitious business leaders across the region and a variety of sectors to realise their growth potential.”

LDC’s team will also continue to work with various local Welsh charities, including Cardiff-based charities Ty Hafan and Fareshare Cymru. This is in addition to the firm’s national partnership with The Prince’s Trust aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs across the UK.

The appointments follow a busy period for LDC in Wales and the South West of England. In 2023, the team completed six transactions, including backing the management teams of Cardiff-headquartered Idwal Marine Services and Taunton-based legal services firm The Barrister Group, and exiting its investment in Bristol-based Cakesmiths, following a two-year partnership which saw the artisan cakemaker almost treble its revenue. The team also supported the buy-and-build strategies of its existing portfolio, including Hybrid’s acquisition of Prompt Marketing and Sohonet’s acquisition of Los Angeles-based 5th Kind.