CVC-led group to buy 30 pct of GEMS Education
Summary
The transaction sees the successful exit by a consortium led by Fajr Capital Limited including Tactical Opportunities funds managed by Blackstone (“Blackstone”) and Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company B.S.C. Özgür Önder, Managing Director and a member of CVC’s Eastern Europe & Middle East team, said: “We are very excited about CVC Funds’ first major investment in the GCC region, where we see significant growth opportunities. We are all very pleased with the progress GEMS Education has made since our investment – with the company building 16 new schools, entering into new markets through organic and inorganic expansion, strengthening corporate governance, enhancing its capital structure, and improving overall academic excellence. The sale of our stake in GEMS Education marks the end of a very successful partnership and also highlights the positive role strategic financial investors can play to help realise the potential of high-growth businesses in the Middle East. In November 2018, GEMS Education exercised its option under an existing partnership with Egypt’s leading private equity firm and investment bank, EFG Hermes, to acquire a 50 per cent stake in four schools in Egypt.