Gowling WLG has advised AD Education, a European platform specialising in private higher education, on its new acquisition of French school Institut des Médias avancés, des Arts et des Technologies (IMAAT).
Founded in 2015, the IMAAT school specializes in audio and film production, and has more than 300 students on five campuses based in Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes, Nice and Toulouse.
Founded in 2009, the AD Education group now accounts for 18,000 students in 14 schools across France, Italy, Germany and Spain. With its 46 campuses, it covers the main innovative and creative areas: design and arts graphics, video game, media and digital, audiovisual, culture and luxury.
Gowling WLG advised AD Education with a team led by partners Patrick Mousset (M&A-Private equity) and Emilie Renaud (Tax), and associate Géraldine Gonzalvez (M&A-Private equity).
IMAAT was advised by ALTIJ law firm with partners Sylvain Favier (M&A) and Audrey Lafon-Pouyssegur (Employment law), and associate Corentin Clair (M&A).
In December 2020, Gowling WLG had advised AD Education's founder Kevin Guenegan, majority shareholder and CEO on the sale of its majority stake to Ardian, a world-leading private equity house (one of the largest-scale LBO of the year). This partnership has supported the group in accelerating its organic and external growth, in France and in Europe. The IMAAT deal follows multiple acquisitions that Gowling WLG has handled for the AD Education group during the last year.