
Suma acquires 48% of GEC and takes control
Spanish private equity firm Suma Capital has acquired a further 48% of Barcelona-based e-learning company Gestión del Conocimiento (GEC) from Caixa Penedès, increasing its stake in the business to 98%.
Caixa Penedès, until now a partner through its subsidiary Vector Capital, has sold all its shares to Suma. Previously, Vector and Suma each held a 48.5% stake in GEC. The remainder was held by GEC's management team, led by CEO Francesc Fàbregas. The investors plan to develop the company's international presence.
Previous funding
Vector and Suma acquired GEC from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and La Caixa in 2009. The university held 65% of the shares and La Caixa owned 35%.
The transaction was sourced via a controlled auction led by Caixa Corporate Finance and was completed in six months. Suma invested via its Wind Private Equity SCR and Wind Private Equity I SCR funds.
Company
Founded in 1996, GEC currently employs more than 100 people. The company designs, produces and provides e-learning courses to employees in large companies.
GEC, which has more than 200,000 users, has offices in Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and London. It acts in the banking, insurance, automotive, telco, utilities, pharmaceuticals and public sectors. In 2008, GEC had a €10m turnover and a €2m EBITDA.
People
José Cuevas led the deal for Vector and Enrique Tombas and Pablo de Muller worked on the deal for Suma.
Latest News
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme
Multi-family office has seen strong appetite, with investor base growing since 2016 to more than 90 family offices, Meiping Yap told Unquote
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m
Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO
Partners Group to release IMs for Civica sale in mid-September
Sponsor acquired the public software group in July 2017 via the same-year vintage Partners Group Global Value 2017
Change of mind: Sponsors take to de-listing their own assets
EQT and Cinven seen as bellweather for funds to reassess options for listed assets trading underwater