Deals/M&A

PwC Legal advises Learnship on the acquisition of a majority stake by THI Investments

Nuremberg, 23 February 2018

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal AG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft (PwC Legal) has provided comprehensive legal advice to Learnship Networks GmbH and the majority of its shareholders on the sale of their shares to THI Investments GmbH. As part of the transaction THI Investments GmbH also invested €10 million in the company. Shareholders of the Cologne-based company include, amongst others, its founding shareholders Sushel Bijganath and Thomas Sonntag. Already in the past KfW, NRW.BANK, BDMI GmbH, Wecken & Cie. (limited partnership), DME Invest GmbH & Co. KG and Cartus Corporation have invested in the startup.

Founded in 2008, Learnship Networks GmbH is one of the leading providers of online foreign language training for companies. The edutech startup intends to use the additional capital to expand its presence in the international market. Currently it works for more than 2,000 companies from 75 countries.

THI Investments GmbH is a German family office, which was established in 2016. The company purpose is investing in a diversified portfolio of financial and company assets and grow them over long term.

Advisors to Learnship Networks GmbH and its shareholders (except for Cartus Corporation):

PwC Legal (Nuremberg):

Gerhard Wacker (Lead, Corporate / M&A) and Klara Körber and Raffael Cammareri (all Corporate / M&A)

Advisors to Cartus Corporation:

Watson Farley & Williams LLP (Frankfurt):

Dr. Christoph Naumann (Lead, Corporate)

Advisors to THI Investments GmbH:

P+P Pöllath + Partners Rechtsanwälte und Steuerberater mbB (Munich):

Dr. Michael Inhester (Lead, M&A / Private Equity / Venture Capital / Corporate / Tax) and Dr. Roman Stenzel (M&A / Private Equity / Venture Capital / Corporate / Tax)

About PwC Legal Business Solutions:

In our global, rapidly changing business world, cooperation, restructuring, transactions, financing and social responsibility are topics that increasingly concern our clients. They need legal certainty for a wide range of complex tasks. That is why we advise them holistically and in close cooperation with PwC’s tax, human resources and finance experts and our international legal network in over 100 countries. Whether a globally active company, a public corporation or a wealthy private individual, every client has a personal contact at our firm who supports them responsibly in all matters of commercial law. In this way, we help our clients to secure their economic success in the long term.

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About PwC Germany:

Our clients face diverse challenges, strive to put new ideas into practice and seek expert advice. They turn to us for comprehensive support and practical solutions that deliver maximum value. Whether for a global player, a family business or a public institution, we leverage all of our assets: experience, industry knowledge, high standards of quality, commitment to innovation and the resources of our expert network in 149 countries. Building a trusting and cooperative relationship with our clients is particularly important to us – the better we know and understand our clients’ needs, the more effectively we can support them. 

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