Partners Group, a player in the global private markets industry, has announced a significant investment in International Schools Partnership (ISP). CVC Strategic Opportunities (CVC), a leading global private equity manager, is set to acquire a 20% minority stake in ISP.
Following this deal, Partners Group will retain its position as the majority shareholder. Additionally, OMERS, which invested in ISP in 2021, will continue to hold a minority stake in the company.
ISP was established in 2013 by Partners Group in collaboration with the ISP management team. Since its inception, the Company has evolved into one of the largest K-12 school platforms in the world, serving over 110,000 students across 111 schools situated in 25 countries.
The foundation of ISP’s success lies in its effective growth strategy, which focuses on expanding its network by integrating high-quality schools into its platform in regions where demand is strong. The Company enhances these schools through its distinctive learning approach, which aims to provide a well-rounded educational experience.
ISP is dedicated to delivering a holistic education that fosters the development of all areas of a student’s life. This includes not only academic advancement but also the cultivation of essential language, digital, and life skills. The commitment to comprehensive education is at the core of ISP’s mission, ensuring that students are well-prepared for their futures.
Throughout its ownership period, Partners Group has employed a transformational investing approach to help ISP’s schools maintain and enhance the quality of education they provide. As ISP embarks on its next phase of growth, the new shareholder group, along with the management team, will collaborate to strengthen the Company’s successful strategy further.
Some of the key initiatives for future growth include the addition of new schools to the ISP platform, which will expand the Company’s reach and capabilities. There will be a strong emphasis on investing in the development and implementation of proprietary technology solutions that will enhance the teaching process. Furthermore, the Company plans to improve school infrastructure, which will not only enrich the student experience but also create opportunities for continued growth in the future.
KEY QUOTES:
“ISP’s schools seek to be the ‘school of choice’ in their area. We seek to cultivate lifelong learners who possess the resilience, adaptability, and self-belief to navigate a changing world and future working environments. Partners Group has always shared our fundamental belief in putting students and their education first. As we reflect on our growth to-date, we look forward to welcoming our new shareholders at CVC on board and continuing our mission.”
Steve Brown, Chief Executive Officer, International Schools Partnership
“ISP is one of our proudest achievements as a private equity platform. We started with just an idea, a team, and a thematic conviction that the global education market would continue to grow. After over a decade of hard work, strategic planning, and careful execution alongside the talented management team, we stand as a global leader in K-12 education with a differentiated learning approach. The tailwinds driving our growth are strong and we are excited about the next chapter for ISP. We look forward to welcoming CVC as a new shareholder.”
Andrew Deakin, Partner, Partners Group
“We are excited to embark on our partnership with ISP, one of the world’s leading K12 education platforms. The K-12 sector, and ISP in particular, is an excellent fit for our Strategic Opportunities strategy, which focuses on supporting value creation in long-term partnership investments. We believe ISP is exceptionally well placed for continued growth and, most importantly, provides high-quality education to more than 110,000 students worldwide, creating long-lasting value for families and communities. We look forward to supporting this mission over the coming years, alongside Partners Group having successfully built the group since inception.”
Jan Reinier Voûte, Managing Partner and Co-Head of CVC Strategic Opportunities, CVC
