Capital advise on North Wales Training Ltd acquisition

Mergers between Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Menai and Coleg Meirion-Dwfor led to the formation of Grŵp in 2012. Now, with a staff of 2,000, they deliver courses to around 21,000 students (including 1,500 higher education students) across Anglesey, Conwy, Denbigshire and Gwynedd. Grŵp also runs the Work Based Learning Consortium, which North Wales Training Ltd forms a part.

We assisted Grŵp, alongside Thomas Edwards at Lexington Corporate Finance, in negotiating and structuring the transaction, and managing its completion – ensuring a mutually agreed outcome, and avoiding disruption to employees at North Wales Training Ltd, or the learners.

Grŵp now plans to expand its offering to the commercial sector, serving the requirements of employers in North Wales and further afield, which is forecasted to increase its turnover to over £70m.

The management and staffing structure of North Wales Training will remain the same, and the Board of Directors will be chaired by Grŵp board member, Alun Thomas.

Tom Kelleher, Corporate Partner, and Elizabeth Cotton, Corporate Solicitor, led the acquisition on behalf of Capital.

Elizabeth said:

“This acquisition provides Grŵp with a fantastic platform from which to extend its services across North Wales and beyond. It was also a great opportunity for Capital to advise on yet another acquisition of a training provider. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Kath and her team and we wish Grŵp all the best with its future expansion plans.”

Kath Coughlin, Executive Director of Corporate Services at Grŵp, said:

‘Grŵp has worked successfully with Capital Law and Lexington to complete the purchase of North Wales Training, and I was very pleased with the professional guidance we received during this journey.’