Learna

We’ve advised Cardiff-based education specialist, Learna, on its sale to Netherlands-based edtech specialist, Reducate.

Founded in 2010 by Professor Steve Davies, Learna is a fully online provider of postgraduate medical qualifications for working healthcare professionals. Its portfolio of more than 100 postgraduate Masters-level degrees is university-accredited, tutor-led, and delivered anywhere, any time. Harwood Capital became a minority investor in Learna in 2021, and since then the business has delivered impressive growth – expanding its suite of specialty programmes and increasing pupil numbers to 12,000 students worldwide.

The business has now been acquired by Reducate, a Netherlands-based edtech company specialising in online continuing professional development, which is backed by European private equity firm, All Seas Capital.

Our Corporate Finance team was appointed by Learna’s shareholders as their sell-side advisers. We prepared Learna for market, helped to assess the value of trade and private equity avenues, and ran a targeted, international search, before leading on the negotiations and due diligence through to completion. 

The deal marks an important next step in Reducate’s ongoing buy-and-build growth strategy, expanding its UK presence alongside its existing UK brand, Oxford Medical. Meanwhile, Learna will now be able to benefit from partnering with Reducate’s existing medical education brands to further cement its position as a market leader in this space.

Geraint McGrath, Director at FRP Corporate Finance, said: “Learna is a real local success story, offering a high-quality service to an international customer base from its headquarters in Cardiff.

“This transaction puts Learna in a strong position for the next stage of its development, with access to additional resources and a broad network as part of the wider Reducate group. We wish it the very best for its next stage.”

Professor Steve Davies, Founder of Learna, added: “Reducate’s complementary offering and scale made it the perfect partner for our next stage of growth.

“I’m grateful to Geraint and the team at FRP Corporate Finance for their support with this transaction. Their understanding of the education sector and guidance throughout the process were critical to us finding such a good fit for a partner and getting the transaction over the line within our desired timeframe.”