Barings Co-Arranges Unitranche Facility to Support Bridgepoint Development Capital’s Buyout of Inspiring Learning

CHARLOTTE, N.C., 2016-11-01 17:47 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barings, one of the world’s leading asset management firms with $284 billion in assets under management, announced today that it acted as co-lead arranger of a unitranche facility to support Bridgepoint Development Capital’s acquisition of Inspiring Learning.

Barings’ role in the buyout marks the third transaction for the former European private finance group of Babson Capital Management since Babson consolidated its operations with the former Baring Asset Management and rebranded the new firm under the Barings name in September 2016.

Inspiring Learning is a leading U.K. provider of residential learning activities and travel programs for school-aged young people, operating 10 residential activity centres in the U.K. and France. The company serves a diverse customer base, delivering a service that is engrained into the fabric of the U.K. school system.

“We are very pleased to support Bridgepoint Development Capital on its investment in Inspiring Learning and are looking forward to supporting the business over the next growth phase,” said Mark Wilton, managing director at Barings. “We believe that Inspiring Learning represents a compelling opportunity given its leading market position, highly recurring revenues driven by repeat school bookings and high barriers to entry into the market.”

About Bridgepoint Development Capital 
Bridgepoint Development Capital ('BDC') is a dedicated team that is focused on buyouts and growth capital investments, typically in businesses with an enterprise value of between €20 million to €150 million. BDC seeks to invest between €10 million to €75 million of equity in individual businesses, which will typically have the potential for value creation through organic growth, acquisitions and operational improvement. BDC is a division of Bridgepoint, a major international private equity group focused on investing in market-leading businesses, working with management teams to create and realize value within its portfolio companies. Learn more at www.bridgepoint.eu.

About Barings LLC
Barings is a $284 billion* global asset management firm dedicated to meeting the evolving investment and capital needs of our clients. We build lasting partnerships that leverage our distinctive expertise across traditional and alternative asset classes to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional service. A member of the MassMutual Financial Group, Barings maintains a strong global presence with over 1,700 employees and 600 investment professionals across 41 offices in 17 countries. Learn more at www.barings.com.

*As of September 30, 2016

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         Contact:
         (U.K.) Ali Dyson, Barings, +44 (0) 20 7214 1093, alison.dyson@barings.com
         (U.S.) Brian Whelan, Barings, 704.805.7244, brian.whelan@barings.com