Tyneside edtech makes the grade with with £20m management buyout

A North East educational technology specialist has completed a management buyout with multi-million pound investment.

Hebburn-based eQuality Solutions (eQS) has completed a buyout after securing £20m investment

Founded 14 years ago, eQS specialises in assistive technology equipment, training and software solutions.

The business, which employs 40 full-time staff with 80 consultants operating nationwide, has experienced growth over the last three years with revenues and Adjusted EBITDA expected to exceed £7m and £2m respectively in 2021.

eQS CEO Andy Gough commented: “eQS is the number one provider in this specialist and vitally important sector.

“We are confident, from the platform already established, we can grow the business across the UK and take advantage of the many new opportunities we see ahead.”

Advising the eQS management team on the MBO was Carl Swansbury and Rhiannon Nightingale of RG Corporate Finance (RGCF), with tax advice from Simon Whiteside of RG Business Tax.

Legal advice was provided to the MBO team by Ward Hadaway, led by Corporate Partner, Tom Pollard. He was supported by Corporate Solicitors, Liam Stubbs and Hollie Walsh and debt advice was provided by Partner, Imogen Holland.

Chris Quickfall received tax advice from EY and legal advice from Square One Law, through a team including, Corporate Partner, Marie-Louise Bozonet, Senior Associate, Luke Philpott and Head of Corporate, Mark Lazenby.

RGCF partner and head of corporate finance Carl Swansbury added: “This is a clear signal of the eQS board’s ambition to deliver fast-track growth and we are delighted not only to have advised on the MBO, but to have also been appointed to support this strategy and to help identify suitable acquisition opportunities.

“We are very much looking forward to working with Andy and the management team to help them further develop and scale the eQS Group over the coming months.”