Edmund Lazarus shares some of the highlights of the QA deal. This deal won UK mid-sized deal of the year at the Private Equity Awards.

1. EDMUNDLAZARUS
Deal
Highlights:
QA Deal by EMK Capital

2. ABOUT
QA DEAL
In 2018, the annual
Private Equity Awards
(Real Deals Awards)
recognized the top
performers in the private
equity industry
throughout Europe. The
QA deal won the UK mid-
sized deal of the year.

3. At the end of the
ceremony 750
attendees from the
entire European
private equity
industry vote for the
overall winner of
European Deal of the
Year from the nine
categories.

4. QA was voted the
overall winner by a
large majority. The
deal was led by EMK
Capital LLP. prevailed
not because of brand
recognition but
because of truly
exceptional operating
performance and
investment returns.

5. In 2007 QA was
acquired with a c.£2m
EBITDA in the first
year of ownership. As
of 2017 the company
reached an EBITDA
rate over £50 million
under the guidance of
CEO William
Macpherson.

6. Macpherson was
recruited by Lazarus
as the CEO in 2008
because of his proven
track record building
training programs
and leading a big part
of Kaplan.

7. Macpherson &
Lazarus successfully
revamped QA,
providing leadership
renewal, improved
salesforce
management,
systems and
commission
structures, and
improved
management of
scheduling.

8. QA grew its sales from
£100 million to £250
million and was sold
in 2017 (as a bilateral
process). The exit of
QA brought a “15x
multiple on capital on
an initial investment
of c.£45m.”

9. It’s no doubt that this
deal rightly earned
both the UK mid-sized
Deal of the Year and
Overall European Deal
of the Year 2018.

10. Edmund
Lazarus
FOUNDING
PARTNER,
EMK CAPITAL
Background
Edmund Lazarus is a
managing partner at
EMK Capital.
Projects
Learn more about
him at
EdmundLazarus.net