Press Release

December 6, 2017

Kaplan Professional Education to Acquire College for Financial Planning from Apollo Education Group

Mark Harrad

Kaplan, Inc.

Transaction Will Enhance Kaplan’s Leadership Role in Financial Education and Professional Certification.

La Crosse, WI –December 6, 2017 – Kaplan Professional Education (Kaplan Professional), a unit of global education provider Kaplan, Inc., signed an agreement to acquire the College for Financial Planning (CFFP) from Apollo Education Group, Inc., enhancing its leadership role in educating and preparing professionals in the financial services industry globally by expanding its already superb selection of offerings.

CFFP provides financial education and training to individuals through comprehensive programs of study that lead to licensing or certification through individual courses, graduate-level study, and education for professionals pursuing the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP) designation. The College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and authorized by the Colorado Department of Higher Education to offer a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning and a master’s degree in finance.

“The College is an excellent complement to Kaplan’s existing Certified Financial Planner (CFP) education offerings and brings with it additional programs, in areas such as retirement planning that includes the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM or CRPC® designation, which will permit us to build on our strong position in this sector,” said Dr. Andrew Temte, president of Kaplan Professional. “We are excited about building on CFFP’s mission to be the education provider of choice for working adults in the financial services industry.”

“This opportunity is beneficial both to the College for Financial Planning and Kaplan, and will help us continue providing the high standard of education in financial planning that we have offered for decades,” said John Sears, president of the College for Financial Planning. “We are proud of the important role we play in supporting professional development in the financial services industry, and this transaction brings together the resources and institutional experience of two of the most significant education providers in the sector.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition is expected to close this summer, pending review by the Higher Learning Commission, CFFP’s accreditor.

About the College for Financial Planning

Founded in 1972, the College for Financial Planning provides accessible and flexible degree, non-degree, and continuing professional education programs to students nationwide. Shortly after its founding, the College introduced the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, which has evolved into the world’s most recognized and respected financial planning credential, with more than 65,000 professionals in the U.S. having earned the credential.

In addition to its CFP® Certification Professional Education Program, the College offers two graduate degree programs that provide more in-depth knowledge of the finance industry. Professional designation programs are also available, with specializations ranging from asset management to retirement planning. The College for Financial Planning is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. More than 155,000 students have graduated from the College’s programs. For more information, visit cffpinfo.com.

About Kaplan Professional

Kaplan Professional helps professionals obtain in-demand certifications, licensing and designations that enable them to advance and succeed in their careers. Through live and online instruction, Kaplan Professional provides test preparation, licensing, continuing education, and professional development programs to businesses and individuals in the accounting, insurance, securities, real estate, financial planning, and information technology, industries.

Kaplan Professional is part of Kaplan, Inc., which serves over one million students globally each year through its array of higher education, test preparation, professional education, English-language training, university preparation programs, and offerings to individuals, institutions, and businesses. Across its nearly 80-year history, first as small test-prep pioneer and then an early online education leader and now a global education provider, Kaplan has been recognized for expanding educational access and using technology and learning science innovations to continually improve outcomes for its students and partners. Kaplan has operations in over 30 countries, employs more than 15,000 full- and part-time professionals, and maintains relationships and partnerships with more than 1,000 school districts, colleges, and universities, and over 2,600 corporations and businesses. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Kaplan, Inc.
Mark Harrad
Office: 212-974-6231
mark.harrad@kaplan.com

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