Yusr International School is a private school in Jeddah which was established in 2007 to cater for the local and expatriate communities. SEDCO acquired a 50% stake in 2017, as part of a strategy to direct our investment priorities towards core growth sectors such as education, which are aligned to Saudi Vision 2030.
In 2020, SEDCO became Yusr’s 100% shareholder and acquired the school’s land and buildings in 2022. In 2023, we transferred the company and its properties to Alandalus Educational Company in return for a minority stake in Alandalus, a leader in the private education sector with 10 campuses and more than 18,000 students across seven Saudi cities.
Adding Value Post Acquisition
Following SEDCO’s initial investment in 2017, we appointed a world-class Board of Directors, including two independent members with extensive educational expertise. We also appointed a new faculty and executive team and began to invest in new facilities, and a state-of-the-art campus, to further enhance Yusr’s academic offerings.
Further, we also began to research strategic opportunities for growth, as a means of raising our profile and exposure in the education sector. We worked with advisors to filter and review a number of regional platforms, ultimately identifying a potential strategic fit with Alandalus.
This led to the development of a dual due-diligence process which was consummated with an asset swap transaction whereby – in return for a minority shareholding – the Yusr business would be fully integrated with Alandalus.
Alandalus Share Swap in 2023
Through its representation on the Alandalus Board, SEDCO is now contributing to a multi-faceted, strategic transformation of the company ahead of a planned IPO.
Our Direct Investment department has been mobilized to support the company’s executive team in preparation for the IPO, while an IPO Readiness Committee has been formed with SEDCO’s Chief Domestic Investment Officer as Chair.
Simultaneously, the two companies are collaborating to assess further M&A opportunities, undertaking a range of activities, including deal sourcing, due diligence, valuation, and post-merger synergy simulations.
Key Facts
