The Metropolitan College and AKMI IEK in Greece, with 27 campuses and locations across the country, have been acquired by an international investment firm.
BC Partners has taken over a majority stake in the post-secondary education providers that specialise vocational and transnational education courses.
AKMI IEK is a vocational training institute offering courses such as gastronomy, recognised by École Hôtelière de Lausanne and Ducasse Education, while Metropolitan College also provides a range of international qualifications.
Metropolitan College, for example, offers business and marketing managements undergraduate courses from Queen Margaret University, accounting and postgraduate programs from Oxford Brookes and Computer Science programs from the University of East London.
The TNE provider also works with VET by EHL, Southampton Solent, The University of Arizona and the University of North Alabama.
Together, Metropolitan College and AKMI IEK teach some 22,000 students annually.
According to BC Partners chairman of Europe, Nikos Stathopoulos, the education providers exemplify “the characteristics we look for in our investments: market leaders benefiting from long term and resilient growth with multiple value creation levers”.
“We will support the next stage of growth through innovative learning programs, digital initiatives, and expanding the business internationally”
“We will support the group in its next stage of growth through innovative learning programs, digital initiatives, and expanding the business internationally,” he added.
Founders of Metropolitan College and AKMI IEK, Konstantinos and Kalliopi Rodopoulos – who remain shareholders and will continue to support the business – noted that BC Partners brings “a wealth of international and operational expertise”.
BC Partners has previously invested in global scientific service provider, Springer Nature, content publisher, Keesing, and higher education software and tech service provider, EAB.
“This landmark investment highlights the robust fundamentals of the Greek market and will support us to continue delivering the highest standards of education to young people in Greece and beyond,” the two founders added.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and expected to close by Q2 2023.
