Private equity firm LDC has backed the secondary buyout of Mandata, a developer of transport management software, in a £20 million deal that will accelerate organic growth.

Headquartered in Northumberland, Mandata designs and develops software that allows road transport operators to manage workflow and data more effectively.

Its transport management system integrates a suite of end-to-end products, including traffic planning and management, tracking, telematics, and invoicing.

Recent innovations have extended functionality into mobile technology platforms including electronic proof of delivery, and a completely new cloud transport management system, which is available to smaller hauliers.

Under the leadership of CEO Mark Norcliffe, Mandata has grown rapidly. Today it supports many of the UK’s haulage business, actively managing more than 10,000 vehicles, and employs 60 people at its offices in Cramlington and Leeds.

With LDC’s support, Norcliffe and his team will embark on the next stage of their growth strategy, underpinned by continued investment in product and proposition development, and further investment in its market-leading team. 

He said: “Businesses across the transport and logistics sector are continually looking for new ways to reduce costs, drive efficiencies and improve productivity.

“By developing innovative software solutions, we’re helping to streamline activity and deliver results that have a tangible impact on our customers’ bottom line.”

He continued: “We’ve made significant progress in recent years and are now at a key point in our growth journey. We’re an ambitious business and by partnering with LDC we not only have the financial support to help us turbocharge growth, but a strategic partner that brings a track record of supporting high-growth technology businesses, has an on-the-ground presence in the North and an in-depth knowledge of our sector.”

The transaction was led by investment directors Ben Snow and Gareth Marshall, and director John Garner at LDC in Leeds. Snow will join the board as non-executive director.

He said: “Hauliers and logistics businesses want data at their fingertips. By investing in its product offering, Mandata is helping its customers to harness their data, make the shift from paper-based to online operations and ultimately operate more efficiently.

“The business has gone from strength to strength under Mark’s leadership and as market demand increases there is huge potential for further growth.

“For us, Mandata has the three key ingredients we look for in any business. It has a fantastic product and proposition, an ambitious and highly-skilled management team and a clear growth strategy.”

The deal also represents an exit for Synova Capital.

Pic caption: (L-R) Chris Wall, Client Services Director at Mandata; Ben Snow, Investment Director at LDC; Gareth Marshall, Investment Director at LDC; Mark Norcliffe, CEO at Mandata; and Kevin Marshall, Development Director at Mandata

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