Deal Details

Learning Pool Is Acquired By Marlin

Technology & Services

Learning Pool, a portfolio company of CCI, acquisition by Marlin

Summary

Learning Pool (the “Company”), a portfolio company of Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (“CCI”), has been acquired by Marlin Equity Partners (“Marlin”) to support the company’s continued growth for an undisclosed amount.

Baird served as the financial advisor to Learning Pool on this transaction.

About

Learning Pool, a strategic leader in the United Kingdom and the United States learning technology markets, is a full-service online training provider to workplaces around the world, offering eLearning courses, platforms, analytics and custom content development services to over 1,100 organizations and 5.1 million learners. The Company has been featured on numerous eLearning Industry lists for excellence in learning platforms and content creation. Learning Pool is headquartered in Derry, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom.

CCI is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group (“Carlyle”) and Cardinal Capital Group (“Cardinal”). The €292 million private equity fund is focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across the island of Ireland and investors include the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and Enterprise Ireland. Carlyle is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across four business segments: Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit and Investment Solutions. Cardinal is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Melior Equity Partners, whose team members invested the CCI fund from 2014 to 2019, is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.

Marlin Equity Partners is a global investment firm with over $7.5 billion of capital under management. Marlin is focused on providing corporate parents, shareholders and other stakeholders with tailored solutions that meet their business and liquidity needs. Marlin invests in businesses across multiple industries where its capital base, industry relationships and extensive network of operational resources significantly strengthen a company’s outlook and enhance value. Since its inception, Marlin, through its group of funds and related companies, has successfully completed over 180 acquisitions. Marlin is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with an additional office in London, the United Kingdom.

Technology & Services

Learning Pool, a portfolio company of CCI, acquisition by Marlin