ABOUT US

The HGL Private Capital team have successfully invested in mid-market private equity for more than 25 years.

As well as their investment expertise, the team have sat on numerous boards across various sectors and stages of growth. As such, our team have the experience to navigate the challenges that businesses typically encounter when executing their growth plans.

During this time, we’ve collectively completed over 300 deals and successfully managed a £2.5 billion private equity portfolio that consistently generates upper-quartile returns.

Our experienced legal team ensure all aspects of the process are handled in a smooth and efficient manner.

We also have vast experience in helping businesses prepare for – and maximise value on – exit to both financial and trade purchasers.

100

years’ combined experience

160

successful exits

300

completed deals

Our People

Chris Hurley

Founding Director

Chris is a successful private equity investor who has operated in the UK sector for the last 30 years. He worked at regional players Murray Johnstone (1998-2003) and LDC (2004-2021), then the UK’s largest-volume private equity firm. Prior to this, Chris trained as a Chartered Accountant.

From 2011 to 2021, Chris was a standing member of the LDC Investment Committee and was Chairman from 2013 onwards. During this period, £3.2 billion was invested into MBOs across the UK in over 180 primary lead investments, of which more than 150 have been realised generating strong upper-quartile returns.

Alongside leading the firm strategically and operationally, Chris was solely responsible for the entire investment portfolio of 100 companies valued at £2.5 billion, and he led the transformation of the operating partner model to maximise growth potential. This period has been the most successful in LDC’s 45-year history for deal activity and investment returns.

Chris is passionate about entrepreneurship, hence the creation of HGL Private Capital. He is also Non-Executive Chairman of RAS Group and OTG, and Non-Executive Director for Stelvio Group.

In his spare time, Chris enjoys travelling, reading, playing golf and football, and watching Birmingham City.

Ged Gould

Founding Director

Ged has over 30 years’ experience in the private equity and advisory arena. He met Chris and Andy at LDC, where he was responsible for the North West, a region that accounted for a third of LDC’s business. Ged has led a significant number of successful private equity investments across a variety of sectors during his career. He has also sat as a Non-Executive Director on the board of a number of private equity-backed businesses, and he’s been the Finance Director at two successful private equity-backed businesses.

Ged is a Non-Executive Director at Futuremeds Limited and Stelvio Group Limited. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a graduate of Manchester University.

When he’s not walking into the boardroom, Ged loves strolling the fairway. As well as golf, he enjoys football, although he’s more likely to be watching Manchester City than running onto the pitch himself.

Andy Lyndon

Founding Director

Andy is a successful private equity professional and Non-Executive Director who has operated across the UK mid-market for over 30 years. He worked for LDC, the UK’s largest-volume MBO house from 2001 to 2019, which was where he met Chris and Ged. Prior to this, Andy was a Director at PWC in their corporate finance team, advising both corporates and private equity houses on fundraising, strategic reviews and business/asset disposals. Andy qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

Andy was appointed regional head for LDC’s Midlands region in 2011 and, from 2014, he was a standing member of the LDC investment committee and senior management team during a period of unprecedented growth. This was the most successful period in the firm’s 45-year history, during which it delivered upper-quartile returns across its regional network. Andy is passionate about supporting management teams to deliver their growth ambitions, and it was this passion that led to the creation of HGL Private Capital.

Mark Beardmore

General Counsel

Mark is a corporate lawyer specialising in private equity. He was a partner for over 20 years at global law firms DLA Piper and, since 2014, Eversheds Sutherland where he led the national private equity team. Mark retired from his role of Senior Office Partner of the Birmingham office of Eversheds Sutherland in 2024.

Mark is a leading private equity lawyer acting for institutions and management teams, and he led numerous investments and exits each year for mid-market private equity houses including Livingbridge, CBPE and LDC. He is also a trustee of the charity Lifespace Trust and a governor of RGS Worcester.

Mark is a keen marathon runner and has completed more than 60 marathons around the world. Now no longer a full-time lawyer, he has set himself an ambitious target of running 100 marathons and improving his personal best.

Mark is a lifelong West Bromwich Albion fan and a season ticket holder with his two sons.

Interested in finding out more about investment?