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Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary sells Metamark to UPM Raflatac
February 2025

Primary sells Metamark to UPM Raflatac

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Metamark achieves Ecovadis Bronze Standard
September 2024

Metamark achieves Ecovadis Bronze Standard

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

VJ Technology wins another award for its innovative VJ iStore®
August 2024

VJ Technology wins another award for its innovative VJ iStore®

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

New CEO Appointment at Metamark drives next phase of growth
January 2024

New CEO Appointment at Metamark drives next phase of growth

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary announces promotions
January 2024

Primary announces promotions

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Metamark acquires Fleet Design
November 2023

Metamark acquires Fleet Design

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary makes significant investment into Diversity Travel
September 2023

Primary makes significant investment into Diversity Travel

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

ASL Completes Seventh Acquisition
March 2023

ASL Completes Seventh Acquisition

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Sharples Acquired by ASL Group
February 2023

Sharples Acquired by ASL Group

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

ASL Group Completes Further Acquisition
September 2022

ASL Group Completes Further Acquisition

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary appoints new Chief Financial Officer
June 2022

Primary appoints new Chief Financial Officer

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Skill and You acquires ICS Learn
March 2022

Skill and You acquires ICS Learn

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Sells Readypower to Angel Trains
January 2022

Primary Sells Readypower to Angel Trains

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

ICS Learn Acquires Acacia Learning
January 2021

ICS Learn Acquires Acacia Learning

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Announces Two Promotions for the New Year
January 2021

Primary Announces Two Promotions for the New Year

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

ICS Learn Acquires Development Processes Group
October 2020

ICS Learn Acquires Development Processes Group

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Readypower Acquires RRV Assets of Holyrail
July 2020

Readypower Acquires RRV Assets of Holyrail

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

ASL Group Expands into the North West
February 2020

ASL Group Expands into the North West

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backs the MBO of Foster+Freeman
August 2019

Primary Backs the MBO of Foster+Freeman

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backed ASL Group Acquires Reprotec
July 2019

Primary Backed ASL Group Acquires Reprotec

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backs MBO of ASL Group
June 2019

Primary Backs MBO of ASL Group

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

VJ Technology Acquires Mainline Products
May 2019

VJ Technology Acquires Mainline Products

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

New Board Appointment Drives Metamark International Expansion
November 2018

New Board Appointment Drives Metamark International Expansion

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backs MBO of VJ Technology
June 2018

Primary Backs MBO of VJ Technology

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn
May 2018

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Metamark acquires Trimwel
May 2018

Metamark acquires Trimwel

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

New Acquisition for Portfolio Company Readypower
December 2017

New Acquisition for Portfolio Company Readypower

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Welcome Futurist Ray Hammond to Cliveden House
October 2017

Primary Welcome Futurist Ray Hammond to Cliveden House

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Two New Senior Hires for Metamark
October 2017

Two New Senior Hires for Metamark

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backs the MBO of Metamark
May 2017

Primary Backs the MBO of Metamark

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Hires new Investment Manager
May 2017

Primary Hires new Investment Manager

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Announces New Promotions
April 2017

Primary Announces New Promotions

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Awarded UK Mid-Cap Deal of the Year
April 2017

Primary Awarded UK Mid-Cap Deal of the Year

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backs MBO of Readypower
February 2017

Primary Backs MBO of Readypower

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Sale of Leisure Pass Nominated as UK Mid-Market Deal of the Year
January 2017

Sale of Leisure Pass Nominated as UK Mid-Market Deal of the Year

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

David Richard Promoted to Assistant Director
January 2017

David Richard Promoted to Assistant Director

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Sells Leisure Pass Group
December 2016

Primary Sells Leisure Pass Group

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Sells Pacific Direct to ADA Cosmetics
September 2015

Primary Sells Pacific Direct to ADA Cosmetics

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary grows Manchester office with addition of Chris Hopwood
September 2015

Primary grows Manchester office with addition of Chris Hopwood

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Cutty Sark Among New London Pass Attractions for Summer 2015
March 2015

Cutty Sark Among New London Pass Attractions for Summer 2015

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Announces Sale of Amtech to Trimble
November 2014

Primary Announces Sale of Amtech to Trimble

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Backs Buy-Out of GatenbySanderson
November 2014

Primary Backs Buy-Out of GatenbySanderson

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Expands Team with New Partner Appointment
September 2014

Primary Expands Team with New Partner Appointment

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Exceeds Target for Fund IV
August 2014

Primary Exceeds Target for Fund IV

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Gothenberg City Card to Use Leisure Pass LPOS System
August 2014

Gothenberg City Card to Use Leisure Pass LPOS System

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary Expands Team with Appointment of David Richard
July 2014

Primary Expands Team with Appointment of David Richard

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Primary awarded Mid-Cap Deal of the Year for sale of Napier Turbochargers
April 2014

Primary awarded Mid-Cap Deal of the Year for sale of Napier Turbochargers

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Leisure Pass teams up with Gourmet Society to launch expanded London Pass Dining Guide
April 2014

Leisure Pass teams up with Gourmet Society to launch expanded London Pass Dining Guide

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Second Amtech BIM Conference another massive success
March 2014

Second Amtech BIM Conference another massive success

Primary Backs MBO of ICS Learn

Leisure Pass Group joins up for New China Tourism Campaign
January 2014

Leisure Pass Group joins up for New China Tourism Campaign

ICS Learn is pleased to announce the completion of a management buyout of the business from the current owners, Angus MacDonald and Par Equity. The management team was backed by Primary Capital Partners (“Primary”), one of the UK’s leading mid-market private equity firms. The terms of the transaction are undisclosed. 

ICS Learn is a leading online professional education platform, operating in the human resources, accountancy and health and wellness markets. The ICS Learn brand is long-established and the business currently educates over 15,000 active students. The buyout was led by Colin Kennedy, who will remain as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Colin has led the business for the last three years, presiding over a period of increasing student numbers and profit growth, driven by a clear focus on high quality delivery and customer service. Under Colin’s leadership, the business has transitioned to a purely online delivery model and rationalised its offering to focus on the provision of leading professional qualifications.

Colin Kennedy, CEO of ICS Learn, commented, “ICS Learn is a well-recognised brand, providing online professional training in growing end markets. I am excited about the business’s future and the opportunities we have in both existing and new qualifications. We will continue to drive growth in student numbers whilst retaining our student-centric service ethos. I am delighted to be partnering with Primary, who have demonstrated a commitment to continued investment in ICS Learn and share our ambitions for the future.” 

The deal was led by Oliver Melliss, Alec Parkinson and David Richard at Primary. ICS Learn is Primary’s sixth investment from their Primary IV Fund.

Oliver Melliss commented, “ICS Learn provides high quality online delivery of market-leading professional qualifications, such as the CIPD for HR professionals. Customer demand continues to grow, the business’s student-focused delivery model has helped forge its leading reputation and the online platform offers a scalable business model. We look forward to working with Colin and the rest of the management team to support further growth of ICS Learn over the coming years.”

Santander provided debt finance for the deal. Quayle Munro / Houlihan Lokey advised Primary. The vendors were advised by Baird. 

 

Contact Neil Wallace for more information

Tel: +44 (0)20 7920 4800
Email: neil@primary.pe

Related News

Skill and You acquires ICS Learn
Mar 2022

Skill and You acquires ICS Learn

ICS Learn Acquires Acacia Learning
Jan 2021

ICS Learn Acquires Acacia Learning

ICS Learn Acquires Development Processes Group
Oct 2020

ICS Learn Acquires Development Processes Group

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