Private equity investor LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, has invested in performance marketing agency Shoptimised. Founded in 2018, Tyneside-based Shoptimised’s SaaS platform is designed to help retailers increase online sales. It employs over 40 people and has more than 1,000 customers in the UK and Europe.
LDC is backing Shoptimised’s management team, led by Nick McQue, Brad Hall, Scott Hollande, Alex Sinden, Scott Walters and Co-Founder John Cave. David Zborowski recently joined the business as CTO to lead the future development roadmap and help the business to combine product feed optimisation with artificial intelligence.
The transaction was led by LDC’s North East & Scotland team, including Investment Director Aaron Lawson-Clark and Investment Manager Peyman Atapour. Lawson-Clark and Atapour will join the board as Non-Executive Directors alongside Steve Nelson who joins as Non-Executive Chair.
Nelson brings experience in the technology sector, currently serving as Non-Executive Chair of ReciteMe and Non-Executive Director of SaleCycle and Leighton Group. In addition, Brian Lavery will become an Advisor to the board. He is the former Head of Google Shopping Ads in Europe and will support with marketplace strategy and enterprise customer go-to-market.
In the last decade, LDC has invested over £755m into technology businesses. Its current portfolio includes 21 technology businesses such as the cloud-based technology platform Uinsure and student accommodation advertising platform UniHomes.
LDC was advised by Cavu Corporate Finance, Muckle, PWC, Graph, Panmoure, FSP, AON, and Confidas. Shoptimised was advised by RMT, Clive Owen, and Sintons.
