National law firm Shoosmiths has advised MML Capital Partners on its investment into education and training provider, the Learning Curve Group.
MML, which has invested more than 1.6 billion (EUR) in 84 businesses across 11 countries, will hold a 50% share of the business. Executive management including chief executive Brenda McLeish, commercial director Jon Cummins and finance director Julie Gilhespie will hold the other 50% share.
The Learning Curve Group delivers education, apprenticeships and training directly to learners and employers, primarily on a flexible basis. Since being established in 2004 the Group has helped more than 400,000 learners to gain nationally accredited qualifications and progress into employment and within their chosen careers.
Shoosmiths corporate partner, Alastair Peet, led the deal, with assistance from Georgina Gurnhill, (corporate solicitor) and Rebecca Hawkins (corporate trainee). Assistance was also provided by David Adams (banking partner), Victoria Sham (banking solicitor), Richard Crawley (banking trainee) and Kate Featherstone (tax partner). Due diligence support was provided from a number of other Shoosmiths' teams including real estate, employment, pensions, commercial and intellectual property.
Richard Mayers, investment director, at MML Capital Partners, said: 'The Group has performed and grown extremely well over recent years and this investment brings great opportunities for both the Learning Curve Group and MML.
'Alastair Peet and the team at Shoosmiths gave us exceptional advice, advising us on all aspects transaction. This deal means Learning Curve can exercise a strategic plan which will put in place the resources and structure that will allow them to respond to the very strong demand for these market-leading products.'
Shoosmiths' Alastair Peet, said: 'It was a pleasure to advise MML Capital Partners on what is a very important and complex deal, and wish them every success with the Learning Curve Group.'
Shoosmiths' corporate team has advised public and private companies, management teams, investors and debt providers through the business life cycle. Shoosmiths work with businesses from start up and first round finance through to mergers and acquisitions, MBO and MBI transactions, development funding and on exits, by way of sale, listing or private equity investment.
The national corporate team has recently been placed second by deal volume in Experian's UK Deal Review and Advisor League Table.