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September 2019

FWD Training & Consultancy

Adviser to FWD Training & Consultancy on their sale to Davies Group

£undisclosed

Grant Thornton team

Keely Woodley
Head of Deals Advisory & Consulting
Andrew Frame
Director

Education

Sell side

Corporate finance

We are delighted to have advised FWD Training & Consultancy Limited on their sale to Davies Group Limited.

FWD Training & Consultancy Limited is a specialist provider of insurance and financial services skills training, serving over 1,000 learners with an enviable employer base of blue-chip Apprenticeship Levy paying clients. Established in 2014, FWD is recognised as the leading provider of skills training for the insurance sector.

Following a period of significant and sustained growth, the business received an off-market approach which prompted the shareholders to consider their strategic options. AELP, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, introduced us based on our track record of success and commitment to the skills sector.

We were appointed to oversee a limited marketing process to a handful of buyers, leveraging existing relationships. Over the course of the transaction we provided lead advisory, transaction tax and financial modelling services.

The buyer, Davies Group, is a specialist provider of operations and digital solutions to organisations in highly regulated markets with over 2,000 employees in five countries worldwide.

Our knowledge and understanding of Davies’ strategic plans to create an insurance and financial services focussed Learning Solutions division led to the introduction of a buyer outside of the skills sector.

We acted as lead advisors to FWD Training & Consultancy Limited, preparing the company for sale and then running a tailored marketing process in a short window. Our familiarity and prior knowledge of the sector enabled the shareholders to maximise value and delivered a strategic buyer whose network of clients will further supercharge FWD’s growth.

Testimonial

Grant Thornton delivered fantastic support to FWD from day one until completion. Their deal expertise plus specialist sector knowledge and contacts was a winning combination for us. All members of the team were extremely professional in all aspects of the process, demonstrating patience, support, responsiveness and expert guidance throughout. I would have no hesitation in recommending Grant Thornton’s corporate finance team.

Marcus Bowsher Managing Director, FWD Training & Consultancy Limited

Having identified learning solutions as a strategic new capability for Davies, we were delighted that the FWD directors saw the excellent fit as we bring together the complementary strengths of FWD and Davies. Deepening and broadening our capability is an essential ingredient of our strategy to remain both relevant and valuable to our clients, and we look forward to being able to offer a deeper range of learning and management solutions to our more than 500 clients across the wider Davies business.

Dan Saulter CEO, Davies Group