Co-CEOs J. Lampert and U. Schelkes as well as further members of the management team significantly ramp up their stake in the share capital of the Group
The European Private Equity company EMZ Partners has entered into a binding contract to acquire the majority in Aspire Education Group (“Aspire” or “the Group”), headquartered in Vienna, Austria. In addition to EMZ, Co-CEOs Johannes Lampert and Udo Schelkes as well as further members of the management team of Aspire become significant shareholders in the Group.
Established in 2014 through the merger of ibis acam, Stepin and ARS, Aspire is a leading education provider operating both in the B2P and B2B/B2C markets in Austria and Germany. The portfolio was further expanded with ETC in 2018 as well as the entry in the German B2B and B2P market with brainymotion in 2022.
Aspire operates more than 80 locations in Austria and Germany and employs c. 1,200 people (c. 850 FTEs). Its course offering comprises job orientation and application coaching, IT trainings, seminars for higher skilled employees as well as high school exchange programs. In recent years the Group has consequently increased its degree of digitization and offers courses both online and in physical/hybrid session. Furthermore, Aspire is a pioneer in the Austrian hire-train-deploy market, helping both job seekers in finding the right job as well as firms in training their prospective employees.
”We are delighted to acquire Aspire together with the Co-CEOs Johannes Lampert and Udo Schelkes and the management team. As a leading education provider of vocational training, IT training, subjects in law, as well as high-school exchange experience we believe in its sustainable future growth potential. We are a key believer in equal opportunities and fully identify ourselves with Aspire’s mission to offer life-long-learning experiences to its customers. As partner of the management team and all stakeholders of Aspire we will actively support the growth plans of the Group“, says Klaus Maurer, Senior Partner in the Munich office of EMZ.
Johannes Lampert and Udo Schelkes, Co-CEOs of Aspire, add: ”With EMZ Partners as new majority shareholder we gain a strong partner who values the importance of education in today’s world and fully shares our vision and growth plans for Aspire. In addition to organic growth, the further development of our hire-train-deploy program as well as the acquisitions of add-ons sharing the same values and with a complementary offering form the key pillars for future growth.”
EMZ was advised by Latham & Watkins (Legal, Corporate and Structure), Herbst Kinsky (Legal, Corporate), Roland Berger (Commercial), Deloitte (Financial, Tax), EY (Structure), Houlihan Lokey (Debt Advisory) as well as Goodwin Procter (Legal, Financial).
Visit website aspireeducationgroup.com
