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AEC Education plc Sale of Non-core Subsidiary AEC is pleased to announce that it has agreed the sale of its non-core examinations subsidiary, Educational Resources Pte Ltd (“ER”), which provides London Chamber of Commerce & Industry examinations in Asia, to Pearson Education South Asia Pte. Ltd (“Pearson”) for a total consideration of £2.5 million cash upon completion and a deferred payment of an amount equal to the net consideration received by Pearson Education Limited (a company owned and controlled by Pearson plc) for the sale of 3,000,000 shares it holds in AEC. The sale is expected to complete before the end of October*. The sale is in line with the Board’s view expressed in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report & Accounts that the Group’s examination activity was becoming less of a strategic focus as its college activities grow. For the financial year ended 31 December 2011, ER contributed revenues of S$3.92 million (equivalent to approximately £2 million), representing 10.5% of overall Group revenues. EBITDA was S$205,651 (equivalent to approximately £0.10 million) and its total assets as at 31 December 2011 amounted to S$6.54 million (equivalent to approximately £3.27 million). The sale proceeds will be used by AEC to expand its core businesses. Commenting on the transaction, Chairman of AEC, Liam Swords said, “We are pleased to have agreed the sale of our LCCI examinations business to Pearson. It was no longer a key area of our activities and we will be investing the sale proceeds in AEC’s core businesses.” * Completion is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, all being conditions which are standard in a transaction of this type and within the control of the parties to the transaction.
For further information contact: AEC Education plc
Liam Swords Tel: +44 (0) 20 7448 1000 (today)
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8308 1202
WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD)
Dan Bate Tel: +44 (0)161 832 2174
Biddicks
Katie Tzouliadis Tel: +44 (0) 20 7448 1000
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