BPEA EQT is to acquire IMG Academy, an education institution supporting over 100,000 student-athletes across its suite of sports education services, from Endeavor Group Holdings in a deal valued at $1.25bn.
BPEA EQT is to acquire IMG Academy, an education institution supporting over 100,000 student-athletes across its suite of sports education services, from Endeavor Group Holdings (Endeavor) in a deal valued at $1.25bn.
Headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, USA, IMG Academy supports provides a sports-focused boarding school, sports camps, online coaching and college recruiting, and is known for its strong outcomes from the Ivy League to professional leagues. Across its suite of sports education experiences, IMG Academy helped place 30,000 students onto college sports rosters in 2022 alone.
With Asia being IMG Academy’s largest source of international students, BPEA EQT sees strong potential to support the company’s expansion across multiple markets in the region, including Singapore, India, Vietnam, Greater China, and Indonesia. BPEA EQT plans to leverage its proven sector expertise within education and track record from having supported its existing portfolio company Nord Anglia Education’s international growth over the past 15 years.
Today, Nord Anglia operates 82 schools in 33 countries, supporting over 75,000 students globally, integrating outside expertise from world-leading organisations into its curriculum. Notably, Nord Anglia has global partnerships with Juilliard to further enhance its performing arts offering, with MIT to enrich science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching and learning (STEM), and UNICEF to help develop students’ social purpose and global citizenship.
Over time, Nord Anglia plans to offer IMG Academy’s sports and student wellbeing curriculum across its global network of schools. BPEA EQT also plans to invest in IMG Academy’s technology and in the continued diversification of its sports offering to broaden the pool of prospective students and attract more female athletes.
The transaction is subject to customary conditions and approvals. It is expected to close in Q3 2023.
BPEA EQT was advised by Deloitte (Financial & Tax), Oliver Wyman (Commercial), and Ropes & Gray (Legal).
With this transaction, BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII is expected to be 20-25% invested (including closed and/or signed investments, announced public offers, if applicable, and less any expected syndication).
