Global law firm Ashurst has advised PJT Partners as financial adviser to Leopard UK Bidco Limited (Bidco) on the £802.4m recommended acquisition by Bidco of Learning Technologies Group plc (LTG). The acquisition values the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of LTG at approximately £802.4 million on a fully diluted basis.
LTG is a key player in the growing workplace digital training and learning and talent development market. LTG offers end-to-end learning and talent solutions ranging from strategic consultancy, through a range of content and platform solutions to analytical insights that enable corporate and government clients to close the gap between current and future workforce capability. LTG's shares are traded on AIM.
Bidco is a newly formed company owned by funds managed by GASC APF, L.P. and certain of its managed funds (including Atlantic Park), accounts and/or affiliates (General Atlantic). General Atlantic is a global growth investor founded in 1980. It has approximately US$100bn in assets under management and 225 current investments, employing more than 900 professionals.
General Atlantic has a long and successful track record of investing in the technology sector and it has leveraged this experience to help develop some of the most widely known online platforms in the e-learning industry, including Duolingo, Kahoot!, Fluency Academy, Arco, Crehana, Panorama Education, Articulate, Zoomin, Quizlet, Unacademy, Ruangguru and Little Golden Star.
The Ashurst team was led by Tom Mercer and Darren Phelan, supported by senior associates Sarah Curry and Colin Bugler, associate Shashtika Sundar, and trainee Ashleigh Smithson.