Houlihan Lokey Advises BPP

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that BPP, a portfolio company of TDR Capital, has acquired Firebrand Training. The transaction closed on 16 June 2022.

Established in 2001, Firebrand Training is a leading provider of IT and digital training with industry-recognised certifications, operating across the UK, DACH, Nordics, and Benelux regions and with a physical presence in the UK, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Firebrand also delivers IT apprenticeships that have been developed alongside leading employers in the industry to provide cutting-edge digital skills. Firebrand’s differentiated ‘accelerated learning’ approach underpins both its commercial training and apprenticeship programmes, providing the fastest route to certification through focused, immersive learning.

BPP is a global leader in professional and vocational education, providing education and training in law, business, finance, accountancy, banking, technology, and nursing both through relationships with corporates and directly to consumers across test preparation, university, apprenticeship, and professional development. Established for over 45 years, BPP’s education is delivered to be as real-world, relevant, and innovative as possible.

Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to BPP on its acquisition of Firebrand Training.

This transaction builds on Houlihan Lokey’s market-leading position in the education and training sector in general and the higher education, professional training, and apprenticeship market in particular. The Houlihan Lokey deal team has advised on the disposals of ICS Learn to Skill & You; BIMM to ICG; The College of Law to Montagu Equity, and BPP Education Group to Apollo Global Education, as well as advising on the acquisitions of The University of Law, Arden University, and LCCM by Global University Systems; Corndel by THI Investments; Lifetime Training by Silverfleet Capital, and BPP by TDR Capital, as well as its subsequent acquisition of Estio Training.

Other Houlihan Lokey transactions in the higher education and professional training sector include acting for Circus Street on its sale to QA; Skillsoft on its Chapter 11 restructuring and subsequent sale to Churchill Capital Corp. II; EducationDynamics on its sale to Renovus Capital; Questionmark on its sale to Learnosity; Oakley Capital on the acquisition of Seagull; Kallidus on its sale to Apse Capital; Inflexion on its acquisitions of Times Higher Education, Inside Higher Education, and Calco; Atlas Knowledge on its sale to Mintra Group; and Primary Capital on the acquisition of ICS Learn.