Puma Private Equity exits special education needs schools, Sunlight Education Nucleus

Puma Private Equity has completed an exit of its stake in Sunlight Education Nucleus (SEN). SEN is a provider of special educational needs schools in the Midlands run by an expert management team with a proven track record of sourcing, developing and launching highly successful special needs educational settings.

In November 2017 Puma invested £4,700,000 in SEN. The exit represents a 3.2x return on the Company’s equity investment. This follows Puma’s successful exit of Tictrac Limited on 3 May 2022.

Rupert West, Managing Director of Puma Private Equity, commented:

“We’re incredibly proud to have played a role in SEN’s development over the last four years. Run by two inspirational leaders, SEN has created a fantastic model that supports the special education needs community, incorporating personalised, therapeutic practices to help each pupil engage and develop. SEN’s current schools have a very strong performance record and this deal should allow them to expand further and support even more children.”  

Chairman of SEN commented:

“Puma invested in our management team in 2018 which provided a significant catalyst for our organic expansion into new geographical areas. Puma were our investors for a 4 year period and we always enjoyed a good relationship with them. Their focus was to assist in areas of strategic discussion and development; they played a particularly strong role in the increased professionalism of the financial function, the strengthening of financial reporting and the identification and measurement of KPIs. It has proven to be a very successful partnership for all involved.”

Puma Private Equity and the other shareholders were advised by Grant Thornton Corporate Finance Advisory, DWF Law LLP and Charles Russell Speechlys.