Kaplan Financial acquires Hawksmere

Two of the UK’s leading training companies join forces

13 January 2008, London – Kaplan Financial, one of the UK’s leading providers of financial and business training, has acquired Hawksmere Limited, the London-based training and conference provider, for an undisclosed sum.

Peter Houillon, Chief Executive of Kaplan Financial, said: “This deal is an excellent strategic addition to Kaplan Financial’s offerings in the UK.  We are well-known for our finance and accountancy training with 29 centres throughout the UK, and we are gaining Hawksmere’s brand-leading programme of public and in-house professional development courses with a strong presence in London.”

“This year, Kaplan Financial celebrates 50 years of success in training the UK’s business community, and Hawksmere has been providing public courses and other events in London for 25 years.  Combining our well-established pedigrees and reputations for excellence creates a powerful business with exciting opportunities for growth, underpinned by the strength and depth of Kaplan’s $2 billion global business.” 

The combined business, with its broader offering, will trade under the name of Kaplan Hawksmere.  Hawksmere’s programmes will continue without interruption.

The vendors were advised by KPMG Corporate Finance (financial adviser), PricewaterhouseCoopers (financial due diligence) and Olswang (legal adviser).

About Kaplan Financial

Kaplan Financial is one of the UK’s leaders in financial and business training.  Kaplan Financial is a part of Kaplan, Inc., which provides educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses around the world. Kaplan, with projected 2007 revenue of $2 billion, is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO - News). For more information, please visit www.kaplanfinancial.co.uk.

About Hawksmere

Hawksmere is a market leader in UK training operating in three key areas – legal, management and compliance training. The company has over 25 years’ experience and serves over 20,000 delegates every year across 1,000 events, with a guarantee of high quality, professional training and consistent delivery. The company has one simple aim – that every delegate leaves each course better equipped with the latest knowledge, skills and techniques to make a difference back in the workplace.

Press Contacts:

Elizabeth Hess, Kaplan Financial

Phone: + 44 20 7645 8968

elizabeth.hess@kaplan.com

Dominic Riley, Hawksmere

Phone: + 44 20 7960 5628

 
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