Inspirit Capital<\/a> says it will support KLG in delivering \u201cambitious growth plans, whilst continuing its fundamental mission to transform lives through language education\u201d. The acquisition, worth an undisclosed amount, is also set to see a refreshed brand identity for KLG in the coming months, although it is understood that the company will continue operate under the same name in the immediate aftermath of the sale.<\/p>\n In an exclusive interview with The PIE News, Kaplan International CEO David Jones said that the decision to sell KLG had been \u201ctremendously difficult\u201d and came with \u201cno little pain\u201d.<\/p>\n Jones said that the decision at Kaplan International to sell KLG had come \u201ca little while ago\u201d after a regular review of the business. He indicated that the company wanted to focus its attention on its portfolio of higher education institutions and the parts of Kaplan International dedicated to professionals in the finance and accountancy fields.<\/p>\n \u201cThe time really felt right to find a new owner for\u00a0Kaplan\u00a0Languages \u2013 an owner that might give it the attention that it deserves going forward,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of us have been involved in language training for a very, very long time \u2013 many decades, in my case,\u201d he told The PIE, adding that the language-learning sector was \u201cfull of wonderful people\u2026 with high ideals, people who have strong beliefs in the positive impact of international experiences for young minds\u201d.<\/p>\n He continued that colleagues within KLG were a \u201cquite exceptional team of people who are completely dedicated to the best values in international education\u201d, and that those who remained in the Kaplan group after the acquisition would inevitably miss having daily interactions with their KLG colleagues.<\/p>\n \u201cBut at the same time, [KLG colleagues will] have new opportunities under the ownership of Inspirit. We\u2019ve got real hopes that Inspirit\u2019s plans for investment and growth will pay dividends in the coming years, and that there\u2019ll be a great future for our staff,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The time really felt right to find a new owner for\u00a0Kaplan\u00a0Languages \u2013 an owner that might give it the attention that it deserves going forward KLG has been delivering language education since 2006, with its portfolio growing to operate more than 20 language schools in eight countries and its language travel agency ESL Education overseeing 200+ partner destinations around the world, teaching 17 languages.<\/p>\n He added that Inspirit had \u201ca good track record\u201d in successfully carving out business from larger umbrella organisations, and that the team at Kaplan International would do everything it could to help smooth the transition of KLG to new ownership.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to see them succeed, and we\u2019ll help them in every way we can. We have good channels of communication with them, and we wish them every success,\u201d he told The PIE, acknowledging that while there could be changes under the new ownership, he was hopeful that the \u201cgreat team ethic\u201d that had been built at KLG would continue under Inspirit\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have assurances from Inspirit that they\u2019re going to take over this business and listen to the management and proceed sensibly, cautiously and with sensitivity towards the staff,\u201d said Jones. \u201cIt\u2019s a difficult period for any group when they come on a new ownership, but we have confidence that it will be managed professionally and well, and that there will be opportunities with the new owners, who are prepared to do other new things with the business.\u201d<\/p>\n In a media statement on the acquisition, Jones said that KLG\u2019s schools had been \u201cwelcoming students from all corners of the world\u201d for decades, creating a reputation for academic excellence and pastoral care. \u201cOur highly experienced management team will undoubtedly continue this tradition, and I wish them every success for the future,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, investment director at Inspirit Capital, Paul Youens, said the company would focus on \u201cgiving the business the support and independence\u201d it needs to build on the \u201cstrong set of trusted brands\u201d it has built over the years. <\/p>\n \u201cStudents, families and agents can expect continuity and consistency \u2013 the same high-quality schools, experienced teams and strong standards of education, safety and student care \u2013 alongside the continued delivery of established programs and support services,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n On the future of Kaplan International, Jones told The PIE that there are \u201cso many exciting opportunities in international higher education\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a very ambitious plan for the next decade,\u201d he said, pointing to Kaplan\u2019s pathways business<\/a> in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand \u2013 which he said had \u201cdemonstrated a consistent upward trajectory over 20 years\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got long-lasting partnerships with some of the world\u2019s top universities, and our plan is to expand those partnerships, and offer more services to [them],\u201d said Jones.<\/p>\n He highlighted Kaplan\u2019s successful TNE projects in Singapore and Hong Kong and said the business would look to expand into other geographical areas.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re very excited about that. Our university partners are very excited about it,\u201d said Jones. \u201cSo you\u2019ll be seeing major new developments there.\u201d<\/p>\n And he added that Kaplan sees opportunities to grow its online university business. \u201cWe think that online education globally is just going grow and grow,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kaplan International also sees opportunities in its professional training arm, said Jones \u2013 particularly with the growth of AI, in which he said the business was \u201cinvesting heavily\u2026 going forward\u201d.<\/p>\n Kaplan International added Alpadia Language Schools<\/a> and ESL Education<\/a> to its portfolio in 2019, marking it as a giant of the ELT industry.<\/p>\n
David Jones, Kaplan International<\/p>\n
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