Oakley Capital Fund IV has entered into a strategic partnership to provide growth capital to Thomas’s London Day Schools, in order to fund capex and development projects across the Thomas’s schools. Oakley Capital Investments’ indirect contribution via Fund IV will be £14m. This is Oakley’s eighth investment in the education sector.
Thomas’s is a family run group of co-educational independent schools which are consistently among the top rated and most in-demand independent schools in London [famous for educating Prince George and Princess Charlotte]. Founded by Joanna and David Thomas more than 50 years ago, the group has grown from a kindergarten in a local church hall into now a group of five prestigious, over-subscribed and interconnected independent day schools teaching more than 2,000 children. The business is led by Joanna and David’s sons, Tobyn and Ben Thomas. The schools have a reputation for combining very high academic standards with a broad, kind and creative approach to education and a strong emphasis on the arts and sports.
Oakley’s partnership with Thomas’s will provide capital resource, support and know-how to enable the upgrading and further development of current facilities across the Thomas’s schools and to invest in new opportunities to expand Thomas’s offering. Led by brothers Ben and Tobyn Thomas, the Thomas family remain majority owners in full control of the group, with Oakley taking a minority stake. This will enable Thomas’s to grow organically and pursue its development plans whilst remaining a privately owned and run family business.
The quote from Ben Thomas that formed part of the press release underlines a key component of Oakley’s investment strategy – its ability to do deals that other private equity firms can’t. Ben said “We had never seriously considered bringing on board a financial partner for Thomas’s, until we met Oakley. We have found that they understand the long-term nature of education, are aligned with our values and are willing to support us as a minority investor.”
OCI : Oakley funds Thomas’s London Day Schools