The company completed its first three acquisitions in Spain and Mexico and has a large and growing pipeline of active K12 opportunities focusing on Europe and the Americas.
Oakley Capital invests in Thomas’s Schools
Private equity firm Oakley Capital has acquired a minority stake in Thomas’s London Day Schools, a family-run group of independent schools for pupils aged two to 18 years.
Following the deal, the Thomas family, which is led by brothers Tobyn and Ben Thomas, will remain majority owners in full control of the organisation.
The investment will provide growth capital to finance expenditure and development projects across the group of Thomas’s schools, according to a statement.
Founded by Joanna and David Thomas more than 50 years ago, Thomas’s Schools has grown from a kindergarten in a local church hall to a group of independent day schools teaching more than 2,000 children.
This is Oakley’s eighth investment in the education sector. Last year, the firm invested in Affinitas Education, a new platform launched to make acquisitions in the K12 sector and build a global K12 group of schools. Affinitas is led by founder Voctor Lundsten, who was vice-president acquisitions and business development at Inspired Education, a former portfolio company of Oakley.