Major Acquisition for Granada Learning

Major acquisition for Granada Learning London-based school assessment specialist, Granada Learning Group, has boosted its position in the education sector following a major acquisition. Bath firm, Target Chartered Accountants, carried out the due diligence work on the deal for Granada Learning, which saw it acquire the trade and assets of Newcastle-based Kirkland Rowland, the UK’s largest independent supplier of stakeholder surveys for schools. The move is part of Granada Learning’s ongoing expansion into the education sector, as it looks to strengthen its position as the leading provider of self-evaluation, leadership training and assessment services to primary and secondary schools. Andrew Sandiford, Head of Advisory and Assurance at Target Chartered Accountants, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Granada on this acquisition. This is an important milestone in their strategy and cements the company’s position as the market leader in this sector. “Granada’s acquisition reflects the increased appetite that there is for deal making now that confidence is returning to the market. We have seen a growing number of enquiries and deals during the first quarter of this year, as businesses look to expand and invest in strategic acquisitions,” he adds. Granada Learning Group is owned by Veronis Suhler Stevenson, a private equity firm which acquired the company from ITV for £53 million in 2006. Adrian Eaglestone, managing director of Granada Learning Group, said: “The acquisition of Kirkland Rowell will ensure we can complete the picture in terms of offering schools a total self-evaluation service. Ian Rowe, Kirkland Rowell’s general manager, who will remain in the post to drive the business forward, said: “The requirement for self-evaluation of parental and pupil attitudes’ is now the corner-stone of the inspection process. By combining our expertise with Granada Learning’s, we will have a unique proposition for schools. We can also take advantage of a larger team behind us to enable more schools to benefit from our products.” Kirkland Rowell and its 25 members of staff will continue to operate out of the company’s Tyneside office. ENDS For media enquiries contact Corrina Cockayne at Target Chartered Accountants on 01225 486348, or e-mail corrina.cockayne@target-accountants.com. Editor’s notes Target Chartered Accountants Target is a top 40* firm of chartered accountants working exclusively with entrepreneurial individuals and their businesses around the country. The firm has 14 directors and 180 staff working out of four UK offices in Bath, London, Reading and the Midlands. Established 11 years ago as a specialist tax consultancy, Target has leading advisers in six core integrated service areas: Audit and Assurance, Business Services, Tax Planning, Corporate Finance, Financial Management and HR Consultancy. *(source: Accountancy magazine, 2010) Granada Learning Group Granada Learning Group is the UK’s leading provider of assessment solutions for children’s education, mental health and wellbeing. The company’s online and print-based tests assess children’s progress in literacy, numeracy and reasoning, and identify a broad spectrum of special educational needs. Granada provide parent, pupil and staff stakeholder surveys for schools, training for teachers and have published an online self-evaluation and school development planning tool that helps schools work efficiently and effectively to meet their pupils’ needs. The Group consists of four divisions – GL Assessment, Granada Learning Professional Development, Kirkland and The Skills Factory.

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