Private equity group acquires majority holdings in maritime e-learning firms
The shares have been bought by group company Oakley Capital IV from the existing shareholders, Herkules Private Equity Fund IV and Nasdaq quoted KVH Industries, respectively. In a recent statement, Oakley described itself as partnering with the management teams of the two companies to acquire the majority holdings.
Shipping’s digital transformation offers a significant opportunity for the providers of e-learning services and the management teams of both companies believe a combined unit will be able to make the most of these opportunities as a combined unit. Each company already provides services to more than 10,000 ships and generated revenues totalling more than USD 50 million in 2018.
Oakley has a successful track record of investing in the maritime and education sectors, with holdings in Headland Media, North Sails, Career Partner Group, a private university in Germany, and Schülerhilfe, an after-school tutoring business.