Baker McKenzie has advised International School Partnership ("ISP"), a leading international group of private schools, on the acquisition of Berda Claude International School of Phuket ("BCIS") and Bangkok Prep in Bangkok, enabling ISP to secure a strong foothold in the education industry in Thailand and strengthening their strategic growth plan. Both schools will form part of ISP’s Thailand and Vietnam regional cluster.
ISP is a growing group of private schools around the world educating children and students from 2–18 years of age and dedicated to delivering high-quality education.
Bangkok Prep, located on a state-of-the art campus in central Bangkok, consistently performs well in academic terms (and leads quality rankings in SE Asia), and its students study in the very best tier one universities globally. BCIS is in the south-east area of Phuket and stands out for being the only dual British and French curriculum school on Phuket Island, providing a student-led curriculum to over 900 students, supported by over 200 staff.
Led by Bulin Sanooj, Corporate and M&A Partner in Bangkok, Baker McKenzie advised on all aspects of the transaction, from advising on corporate structure suitable to their business model and operational requirements to compliance with specific laws and regulations governing the operation of private schools in Thailand, requirements of W&I insurance, legal due diligence, and transaction documents. The team composed of Sirikan Buranasiri (Corporate and M&A) and Narawit Rujanant (Corporate and M&A).
Bulin Sanooj commented "The transaction was an important strategic acquisition in the region for ISP and a highly complex one. We are proud to be part of this journey with ISP, assisting them to expand their growing portfolio in the region and around the globe."
ISP has now expanded to 76 schools delivering multiple curricula and building on local brands and reputations with around 65,000 students and 9,000 staff located across the globe.