Private equity firm Carlyle acquires 48 percent share in Turkish education establishment

Private equity firm Carlyle Group said on Wednesday it had acquired a 48 percent stake in Turkish private education provider Bahçeşehir Koleji. Carlyle did not disclose details of the transaction.

Existing shareholders, the Yücel and Karataş groups, will remain significant investors in Bahçeşehir, Carlyle said in a statement.

Bahçeşehir Koleji, which was established in 1994, is active in nursery, primary and secondary school education. As of August 2011, it operated 20 primary and 11 secondary schools, serving approximately 12,000 students.”

Demand for private education in Turkey is increasing, driven by a number of factors including a growing student population and higher incomes,” said Walid Musallam, Carlyle managing director and head of Carlyle MENA”. He also added “The private school sector remains fragmented and penetration remains low in Turkey”.

Previous investments made by Carlyle MENA include Medical Park, Turkey’s second largest healthcare group, in December 2009.

05.01.2012
SOURCE: SABAH ENGLISH