Leading Provider of IT And Business
Skills Training To Accelerate Growth Strategy
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NEW YORK, October 25, 2011 – MidOcean Partners
(“MidOcean”), a leading private equity firm, announced today that
it has acquired Global Knowledge, a worldwide leader in IT and
business skills training.
Based in Cary, NC, Global Knowledge was founded in 1995 and
today employs more than 1,300 people worldwide. The company
provides training solutions to enterprise and government
organizations and delivers courses via its global training centers,
private facilities, and the Internet. More than 250,000 students
receive instruction annually.
Brian Branson, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Global Knowledge who will continue in those positions,
said, “Our new relationship with MidOcean will enable us to
accelerate our growth plan and our response to the changing market
needs for high quality IT and business skills training. We look
forward to working with MidOcean to further develop and deliver
innovative training solutions.”
Mr. Branson and his senior management team
will benefit from the support of Jim Kelly who has been named
Global Knowledge’s Executive Chairman. Mr. Kelly is a senior
executive who has worked with MidOcean as a management resource to
the firm and has extensive experience in the business services and
IT areas. He served most recently as President of Global Payments,
Inc. In addition MidOcean has named Doug Fox, former Senior
Vice President of Marketing at Compaq to serve on the Global
Knowledge Board of Directors.
Tyler Zachem, a Managing Director at MidOcean
Partners, said, “We are very pleased to partner with the superb
management team at Global Knowledge. This investment provides us
the opportunity to support this exceptional company, which is well
positioned to excel in a fragmented but robust corporate training
market. We believe the company has tremendous growth prospects as
the need for quality technical training remains a critical
component to IT and business professionals at organizations of all
sizes.”
The transaction was supported by BMO Capital
Markets, acting as financial advisor, and Ropes & Gray LLP,
acting as legal advisor to the seller. Morrison Cohen LLP
acted as legal advisor to MidOcean Partners.
About Global Knowledge
Global Knowledge is the worldwide leader in IT
and business skills training, with more than 1,200 courses that
span foundational and specialized training and certifications. Its
core training is focused on Cisco, Microsoft, Avaya, VMware, Red
Hat, business process improvement, and leadership development.
Training is offered through multiple delivery methods, ranging from
instructor-led to self-paced learning in classrooms or via the
Internet, enabling customers to choose when, where, and how they
want to receive training programs and learning services. For
more information, visit www.globalknowledge.com.
About MidOcean Partners
MidOcean Partners is a premier private equity
firm headquartered in New York focused on the middle market.
MidOcean is committed to investing in high quality companies with
stable market positions and multiple opportunities for growth.
Targeted sectors include consumer, media and communications,
business and financial services and industrial services. MidOcean
utilizes a broad foundation of expertise in its focus industries to
create value for its investors and partners. For more
information, visit www.midoceanpartners.com.