BPEA EQT acquires IMG Academy to expand global sports education footprint

A USD 1.25 billion purchase has been made by BPEA EQT from Endeavour Group Holdings for IMG Academy

Asian private equity firm BPEA EQT has announced acquisition of the sports education brand IMG Academy from Endeavour Group Holdings for an enterprise value of USD 1.25bn. The Florida-based education institution provides a sports-focused boarding school, sports camps, online coaching and college recruiting, and supports over 100,000 student-athletes across its suite of sports education experiences.

According to a press statement, IMG Academy is known for its sports-led approach to holistic education and for empowering student-athletes, and has strong secular tailwinds, including a growing focus on health and wellbeing0 within academia and increased spending on education.

IMG Academy’s curriculum aligns with current trends within education, where sports is a key differentiator for United States college admissions, both for domestic and international students. With Asia being the largest source of international students for IMG Academy, BPEA EQT and Nord Anglia Education plan to support its overseas expansion and leverage partnership opportunities between the two institutions, including integrating IMG Academy’s sports-focused education services in Nord Anglia’s curriculum global platform spanning 33 countries, adds the statement.

Nord Anglia operates 82 schools in 33 countries, supporting over 75,000 students globally with a unique educational approach, integrating outside expertise from world-leading organisations into its curriculum. BPEA EQT says it sees strong potential to support IMG Academy’s expansion across multiple markets in the region, including Singapore, India, Vietnam, Greater China, and Indonesia. The acquisition further underscores BPEA EQT’s commitment to developing leading educational platforms and helping them expand globally, for the benefit of students, parents, and teachers.

Jack Hennessy

“We are deeply impressed by IMG Academy’s unique offering and its world-class sports and wellbeing curriculum. IMG Academy’s brand is globally recognized and we see compelling opportunities in supporting its international expansion, including Asia, and broadening its educational offering, leveraging BPEA EQT’s insights from having led Nord Anglia Education’s growth in the region,’’ says Jack Hennessy, Partner and Co-Head of Education within BPEA EQT’s Advisory Team.

Brent Richard

“Our purpose is to empower student-athletes to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. We are constantly trying to raise the bar in pursuit of that purpose through our on-campus and online experiences. Simultaneously, our staff is passionate about growing the impact we have on the world, reaching more families, and helping them on their journey. BPEA EQT and Nord Anglia are ideal partners to achieve and accelerate those goals, and we are excited for that future,’’ says Brent Richard, President of IMG Academy.

Andrew Fitzmaurice

“The learning experiences we create through our global partnerships with Juilliard, MIT and UNICEF stretch far beyond the classroom. They are designed to help our students develop important life skills that go hand-in-hand with impressive academic results so they leave our schools with everything they need for success in the future. Our partnership with IMG Academy will create an exciting new global sports programme offering outstanding experiences for our students that bring to life the importance of wellbeing, resilience, teamwork, and leadership,’’ says Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of Nord Anglia Education.

Kosmo Kalliarekos

“We are truly excited about the opportunity to invest in IMG Academy and the possibilities to integrate its sports-focused curriculum across Nord Anglia’s global network of schools. This acquisition brings together a world-class sports education brand and a premier education group, and it further underscores BPEA EQT’s commitment to developing leading school platforms and help them expand across Asia and beyond, for the benefit of students, their parents, and teachers,’’ says Kosmo Kalliarekos, Partner and Co-Head of Education within BPEA EQT’s Advisory Team.