SEP now holds a majority stake in Qimam El Hayat: EFG Hermes-backed K-12 operator Spark Education Platform (SEP) inked definitive agreements to acquire a majority stake in Riyadh’s Qimam El Hayat International School, it said in a press release (pdf). The size of the stake and the value of the transaction were not disclosed.

The rationale: “This move, coupled with our recently announced acquisition of 4 additional schools in Riyadh, positions SEP as a major player in the Saudi education sector,” SEP CEO Ahmed Wahby said. The transaction will increase SEP’s portfolio to 8 schools “with over 10k enrolled students spreading across KSA, UAE, and Bahrain,” he added.

REFRESHER- SEP is backed by the USD 300 mn Saudi Education Fund (SEF), launched launched in November 2024 by EFG Hermes to address the rising demand for private education, driven by a rapidly expanding student population expected to more than double under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. SEF plans to deploy its capital over the next three years, with a primary focus on the Kingdom, alongside its ventures in the UAE and Bahrain. The fund has previously acquired seven schools under the Britus Education brand, four of which are in the Kingdom.

What’s next? The move includes relocating the school to a new fit-for-purpose campus, and boosting the K-12 institution’s student-capacity by 50% to 4.5k. Two new buildings are to be launched, adding a capacity of 1.5k additional students.

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