Rumours have been circulating for months that the Surrey-based college – which has eight branches – is being prepared for sale, with a range of potential buyers thought to be jousting to bag the 50-year-old institution, which currently has charitable status.
It had been understood that the law school would soon announce the sale, having accepted a £200 million offer from Montagu Private Equity. Other potential suitors waiting in the wings include media giant Pearson and Providence Private Equity.
Firepower
However, a spokesman for the college told the Gazette: ‘This is yet more speculation. We remain in a strategic review process and, if or when that process is concluded, we will notify accordingly.’
Montagu has a history of successful investments, including buyouts of British Car Auctions and Marlow Foods, known as the maker of Quorn. The firm’s website also claims there is a ‘large pool of available funds’ for further buyouts.
It goes on to state: ‘We have a preference for businesses offering products or services that are differentiated and would otherwise be badly missed. We have investment executives based in six European offices and a fund of €2.5 billion to invest. So we have plenty of firepower and plenty of resource to deploy.’
Bursaries
An article in The Sunday Times suggests that the proceeds from the sale of the college would be put into a foundation to provide hundreds of bursaries for law students each year.
It had been understood that the law school would soon announce the sale, having accepted a £200 million offer from Montagu Private Equity. Other potential suitors waiting in the wings include media giant Pearson and Providence Private Equity.
Firepower
However, a spokesman for the college told the Gazette: ‘This is yet more speculation. We remain in a strategic review process and, if or when that process is concluded, we will notify accordingly.’
Montagu has a history of successful investments, including buyouts of British Car Auctions and Marlow Foods, known as the maker of Quorn. The firm’s website also claims there is a ‘large pool of available funds’ for further buyouts.
It goes on to state: ‘We have a preference for businesses offering products or services that are differentiated and would otherwise be badly missed. We have investment executives based in six European offices and a fund of €2.5 billion to invest. So we have plenty of firepower and plenty of resource to deploy.’
Bursaries
An article in The Sunday Times suggests that the proceeds from the sale of the college would be put into a foundation to provide hundreds of bursaries for law students each year.
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