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This article is from the Australian Financial Review. Click here for the original article.
Quadrant Private Equity is eager to buy small tertiary colleges on Australia’s east coast as it seeks to transform its latest investment, Stanley College, into a national education powerhouse.
The firm’s $660 million third growth fund has officially taken the keys to Stanley College, a 17-year-old business that provides vocational training, and undergraduate and post-graduate degrees across four campuses in Perth and Adelaide.
Under the deal, Quadrant will own 58 per cent of the business alongside founders Alberto Tassone and Dhyan Singh. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission gave it the green light in May, but the deal closed last month after final checks.
The purchase price was not disclosed, but Quadrant’s growth funds typically look to invest $50 million to $100 million. It was advised by Alvarez & Marsal, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, and L.E.K. Consulting.
Quadrant is now turning its mind to bolt-on acquisitions to grow Stanley College’s national footprint, which currently spans more than 200 staff and 4000 students. It is hoping to launch a Sydney campus in 2028.
The college reported $52.7 million in revenue for the 2025 financial year, up from $44 million the year before, according to the latest accounts filed with ASIC. Profits after tax were also up, sitting at $7.7 million last year, up from $2.1 million.
Higher education is a tried and tested trade for private equity firms. BGH Capital acquired Perth-headquartered education provider Navitas in 2019 while Pacific Equity Partners has Up Education, the largest privately owned provider of tertiary education in Australia and New Zealand.
Quadrant is also working through ACCC approvals to buy storm and wastewater collector Pipe Management Australia as a bolt-on acquisition to its Total Drain Group business, which offers similar services across Australia and New Zealand. It acquired Total Drain Group six years ago.