Infinitas Learning, parent company of educational publishing houses Noordhoff (Netherlands), Liber (Sweden) and Plantyn (Belgium), is set to return to Dutch ownership. Current owner Compass Partners today signed an agreement to sell the Company to the family-owned investment firm NPM Capital. The strategy going forward is to continue investments in digital products, with a strong eye for developing personalized learning solutions for students and teachers, and spur international growth for Infinitas in Europe. No financial details of the intended transaction will be disclosed. Parties expect the transaction to be closed during the second half of this year. The agreement is subject to normal EU regulatory clearance procedures and the company is currently in the process of finalizing the compliance of all formal requirements.
Infinitas Learning is an important provider in its key markets the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden through well-known and established educational content brands. The company reaches more than five million students with innovative products and services for students and teachers. Their blended learning propositions incorporate the full range of interactive online learning and digital teaching solutions, complemented by text books for all major topics taught in primary schools, secondary schools, further education colleges and health professionals. Infinitas companies have a proud history of developing leading titles in partnership with some of the most talented teachers in the countries they operate in. Over the past years, Compass Partners supported management with significant investments to help the company accelerate personalized learning through digital learning solutions.
“Since acquiring Infinitas, we have supported substantial investment in transforming the business into a true digital educational solutions provider. The management team has done a fantastic job on delivering innovative products and services to satisfy the needs of students and teachers. The business is well placed to take its market leading products into other European markets under new ownership,” comments Alister Wormsley of Compass Partners.
“Infinitas Learning, parent company of Noordhoff, is a publisher that has delivered learning materials to children in the Netherlands for almost two hundred years. I remember using the books when I was a kid. It’s very exciting to add brands like Noordhoff, Liber and Plantyn to our portfolio, not only for their heritage, but also for their great range of educational products and materials. They are very well positioned to connect the more traditional folio based learning and teaching with their cutting- edge EdTech solutions”, says Bart Coopmans, Managing Director of NPM Capital. “This acquisition fits with two of our four megatrends we have defined for our investments: everything is digital and healthy life and learning. It is our ambition to help expand Infinitas across Europe and bring more digital solutions to teachers and students on the continent. With our company Futurewhiz covering the ‘learning at home’-field and the Infinitas brands focusing on school environments, we create a very complementary portfolio of education related brands”.
Taco Morelisse, CEO of Infinitas Learning: “Our journey of improving learning results by creating the best learning and education solutions will never stop. Our products and services are developed with the joint aim of assisting students achieve superior outcomes and enhancing the role and efficiency of teachers and educators. Having powerful and inspirational owners is crucial to do this successfully. This has helped us over the past years and will be of great benefit in the next phase of the company, where we will further expand into Europe. We thank the people at Compass for their fantastic guidance and are looking forward to working with the team at NPM. We are excited to be further developing the company and creating meaningful, engaging learning experiences for all children, students and adults to encourage them in achieving their individual potential.”
About Infinitas
Infinitas Learning is a key European provider of innovative products and services for learning and education. We help learners to realize their full potential. Our mission is to create flexible, leading solutions that support innovative, 21st century ways of learning. Our brands offer a comprehensive suite of educational tools that are used in primary and secondary schools, further education and in companies.
Our teaching materials are based on insights from thorough research into learning processes, resulting in leading didactics, the foundation of effective learning. Our products contain interactive software, online learning and teaching material, of which many enjoy a leading position in their markets. The Infinitas Learning group includes Noordhoff (The Netherlands), Liber (Sweden) and Plantyn (Belgium), as well as Infinitas Product & Technology (The Netherlands). The group employs around 600 people and is headquartered in Utrecht (The Netherlands). https://www.infinitaslearning.com
About NPM
NPM Capital invests in mid-market companies in the Benelux and supports companies to enter the next growth phase in their development. NPM Capital, with SHV as its sole shareholder, has sufficient capital in order to apply a long investment horizon. Currently, NPM Capital has a portfolio of 26 participations (majority as well as minority holdings, including growth capital) and focuses on the following trends: Everything is Digital, Future of Energy, Feeding the World and Healthy Life & Learning. www.npm-capital.com
About Compass
Compass is a boutique private equity firm specialising in delivering asset managers bespoke liquidity solutions, comprising direct secondaries (portfolio) acquisitions and increasingly focused on GP led transactions. Compass works in partnership with selling GPs, delivering confidential and tailored deals to unlock the potential in underlying portfolio companies. Compass is a transatlantic business with offices in London and Stamford, Connecticut with AUM in excess of €1b. www.cpil.co.uk
Advisors
NPM was advised by Rothschild (M&A/debt), Rabobank (M&A), Nauta Dutilh / Wilkie Farr (legal), SIG (IT) and PWC (accounting and tax). Compass was advised by UBS (M&A), Dickson Minto / Loyens and Loeff (legal) and Deloitte (accounting and tax).