Corporate specialists at Shoosmiths have advised learndirect on two linked acquisitions of training businesses.
The UK's leading online learning provider, learndirect has bought the shares of TABS Training Ltd. and the business and certain assets of TLE Ltd
The TABS acquisition was led by partner Karen Procter (corporate) with support from partner Karen Fletcher (employment) and associate Lisa On-Iam (real estate); while the TLE purchase was led by partner Mark Dawson (corporate), with partner Sarah Teal (insolvency).
Procter said: "There was an unusual element to this deal, which saw us help learndirect strategically align the completion of the share acquisition of TABS with the purchase the next day - out of administration - of the TLE business, its assets and employees directly into the newly acquired TABS.
Launched in 2000 and bought by private equity house LDC in 2011, learndirect merged with fellow LDC portfolio training company JHP Group last November, with Shoosmiths advising both management teams. In addition to online learning, the enlarged group provides vocational education and training nationally.
All nine TLE and 16 TABS Training centres will now be rebranded learndirect centres, and continue to offer maths, English and IT courses, among others, which reach into local communities, the workplace and people's homes through supported online learning.