Nottingham educational software firm sold
A Nottingham firm which makes software for the education sector has been sold to an Essex counterpart.
Prime Principle, which is based on Woolpack Lane, is the developer of Classroom Monitor, the tool used to track pupil progress in around 1,500 schools. The firm has been sold to Juniper Education in a deal advised upon by Browne Jacobson and Smith Cooper.
The acquisition expands Juniper Education’s portfolio of software and services for monitoring pupil progress and increases the number of schools using its solutions to over 7,000.
Gavin Freed, chairman of Juniper Education, said: “Education doesn’t stand still and schools want to know they have best-of-breed solutions that will help them understand their pupils’ strengths and the issues holding them back. This is vital information that teachers use to shape interventions that make a real difference.
“The team at Prime Principle have a wealth of experience in the sector and the acquisition will support us in our aim to continue developing software and services that save time for teachers, giving them the information they need to ensure their pupils achieve all they are truly capable of.”
Chris Scarth, founder of Prime Principle, joins the board of directors at Juniper Education.
He said: “We’re really excited about the opportunities this partnership brings to give schools greater access to the tools they need to unlock their pupils’ potential.”
The Browne Jacobson team advising Prime Principle was led by corporate finance partner Richard Cox, supported by corporate finance associate Victoria Hustler and tax associate Christian Burchardt.
The Smith Cooper team advising Prime Principle was led by corporate finance partner Dan Bowtell supported by tax partner Richard Stanley.
Bowtell said: “It was a pleasure to advise the vendors on the sale of their business to Juniper Education, and I look forward to watching the business flourish even further under it’s new owners.”
Cox added: “We are delighted to have acted for the shareholders of Prime Principle. Prime Principle is a fantastic local success story and the sale to Juniper Education is a great opportunity for the team to continue to build on a very successful business”.
